It feels like a slap in the face when Anders hears the news. It feels like he's been deluding himself into thinking that he's liked and a part of the group all over again, and it has him trying to figure out if he's fooling himself for the rest of the day.

By the time evening falls and he's stumbled his way back to the warehouse, he hasn't decided. Nate passed him over, despite everything he's done, despite how many Darkspawn he'd fought while holding Amaranthine fortress, because what? He'd been betrayed by the Wardens and had to flee? All he knows is he's frustrated and hurt and having doubts all over again about his choices.

When Nate gets home, the glance he gets isn't happy to see him or warm. It's defensive, because Anders isn't sure what sort of shields he needs here or even how to put them up anymore against Nate.

"So I'll just be the, what, junior Warden, the one the Wardens took in to spare his life, but can't show any sort of acceptance for? I've been a Warden longer than them. I've done more than they have. I've put my trust back in the Wardens, but the Wardens can't put theirs back in me? The only reason I left was because I got betrayed by the Wardens."

Now that he's speaking he knows what he's feeling: betrayal all over again, and like he'll never get anywhere no matter what he does if even the one who claims to love him can't show any faith in him publicly.

"You tell me I'm a good person in private, but then tell the world that you can't believe in me or stand behind me. One of those comes across much louder than the other."

And comes across as the true sentiment. Anything can be whispered behind closed doors. This is public.