I'm convinced that if Nathaniel was more assertive, he'd be the most Slytherin of Slytherins. Not evil, but manipulative, gaining from others' protection, that kind of thing. It's not a bad thing. For someone as submissive as Nathaniel is, it's the best he can hope for to survive.

I'm not sure Asher was sparing Anita's feelings so much as he was avoiding a confrontation. The "What do you mean, you were going to shot me??" confrontation.