"Do you know how many treats I had to stick on your face to get her to sit there? I'm not undoing all of that training." He hadn't done that at all. It doesn't matter. What matters is that he's got the comforting safety of jokes taking the edge off of all the possibilities he doesn't want to think about.

The shower of kisses are returned, Anders leaning in close and drinking in every bit of affection. He'll have to do so much for Justice later. He can already feel it. At least a double shift tomorrow, potentially more, work on his writings, but it will be worth it. He'll give the day over. With that assurance, the spirit grudgingly relents.

"Lead the way. I'm with you."