[He frowns a bit more, trying to connect teasing to reality. It takes him a moment, where he just stares at Hawke, before it clicks.]
...Was a lot to do.
[He yawns again, and then rubs at his eyes. He'd sit up, but Pearl is still pinning him down, and he still can't be bothered to chase her off. She's warm.]
And you ran yourself ragged trying to do the work of ten healers all by yourself.
[Hawke knows how this song and dance goes, all too well. He's glad the staff at the clinic can be counted on to look out for Anders' best interest, since the man himself obviously can't or won't.]
[He can't leave injured people when he knows he can save them, and it was only after the most critical patients were stable that he'd agreed to go home. At that point, though, the adrenaline was wearing off and he'd nearly collapsed in front of one of the nurses.
It probably was for the best he'd left then.
Again he tries to shift, and again Pearl stops him, with a happy lick to his nose that has him grimacing.]
I was going to move closer, but your dog is stopping me.
Oh, I don't know, let some of the other healers have a turn?
[The fact that Anders is tolerating Pearl licking his nose makes Hawke smile.]
Funny, I was about to say the same thing, only about your cat.
[The only real reason he's not draped more thoroughly over Anders is because Apawstate is still curled up in Anders' lap, preventing Hawke from draping a leg over.]
[The doctors there are capable enough for Anders to trust them, although his healing magic can save people that otherwise would be bleeding out in moments. Clearly they need more mages working there.
He hesitates, but can't bring himself to push Pearl off. That would require more energy than he's got, and Hawke might pout.]
We don't allow the pets in bed.
[well, that's a dirty lie. They just don't allow them in bed when they're going to have sex, but right now Anders is just objecting for the point of it.]
[Honestly, Anders, how many times has he head that one now?]
Technically, they're on you, not the bed.
[But you know what, Pearl's clearly had plenty of Anders snuggles today, and Hawke's still feeling shitty about Carver being gone, so he's going to be selfish and gently push her off Anders' chest so he can drape on him instead. Apawstate can stay where she is for the moment.]
He smiles as Hawke pushes Pearl off, even as she lets out a whine of complaint. But there's only room for so many people on top of him, and even a small dog gets heavy after a while. Apawstate, though, doesn't mind. She tries to headbutt Hawke's hand as it passes her, misses, and then tumbles onto her side as she loses her balance. She stays there, flopped over and watching Hawke with an expression that clearly says "pet me!"]
Aren't you being selfish, love? Taking the place of your poor dog.
[Hawke is paying attention to Anders, not Apawstate, so he doesn't see her demand for pets - he would totally pet her, otherwise. Once he's comfortably draped, with an arm slid around and under Anders' side for extra security, he sighs heavily and goes back to using Anders' shoulder as a pillow for his head.
Pearl, not in the least discouraged by her abrupt displacement, hops back up and begins walking around on Hawke's back, obviously searching for a level spot upon which she can curl back up.]
[he's still teasing, especially since Hawke is always encouraging him to spend more time with Pearl. Except then Hawke continues, and something twists in his stomach. He might not get along with Carver, but he knows how important he is to Hawke.]
I'm sorry, love.
[What else can he say? There isn't much, he knows. But since Hawke is laying on his shoulder, he shifts that arm behind him, pulling him a bit tighter, the best he can do for a hug. He, at least, isn't going anywhere.
Meanwhile, and completely unaware of the sudden change in mood, Apawstate continues her quest for attention. It is completely unfair that she, the center of this household, is being ignored during all this! So she makes her way across Anders' chest and starts determinedly rubbing herself against Hawke's chin, purring at him as endearingly as she knows how.]
[Saying it aloud has only made him feel worse, so he's sort of smashing his face against Anders' shoulder now, and taking what comfort he can from that arm around him.
...And then there is a kitten purring and smashing her flat little face against his chin.
Wow the animals in their lives sure make it hard to be upset.
Not that he's not going to pull an Anders, here...]
[Anders hugs Hawke more tightly in response. He doesn't mind at all, and their pets will be fine.
Although he has one arm free, and since he can't use that to further hug his lover, he'll reach up to pet Apawstate. She purrs louder and curls up contentedly, a warm little ball of fluff against the curve of Hawke's neck.]
[Even while that kiss does help make him feel a little better, it also causes his throat to tighten, making it kind of hard to speak...so he doesn't, instead opting to snug his arm even more firmly around Anders while closing his eyes and pressing his face against him.]
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