He'd been ready to switch to teasing and joking, safer things, and then Nate asks yet another serious question and throws off Anders' whole deflecting game. The man knows him too well... or maybe just well enough. Either way, it's been some time since he's actually spoken with someone who can cut through his defenses.

"I..." Yes. The answer is yes, he badly wants Nate to stick around, but he doesn't want to be so openly weak. He also doesn't want to lie. Anders looks away.

"Anyone who is here who knows me will likely be caught in the crossfire when who I am comes out. I... I want your company, yes. But I don't want to see that happen to you. You should keep the future in mind when deciding."

He doesn't want to see it happen to anyone. But Nate's the one asking, and Nate's the one who has known him the most.