The smile turned into a pouty frown at the nickname Barclay persistently used for him. He'd told the witch a dozen times that he wasn't without teeth, that he could easily bite and rip even full grown cows in half - and did when he fed. The name wasn't fearsome or strong or accurate, but that didn't stop Barclay from using it. Ashton didn't stop to consider that maybe it was accurate after all, because, for a dragon who wanted to appear fierce and dangerous, he was disarmed and truly without bite when it came to his witch.
The frown turned into a softer smile again as Barclay joined him and Ashton reached out to cup the back of the boy's head to tip it up enough to press his own brow against his. The touch was followed by a gentle nuzzle before Ashton released Barclay. He knew how the druid felt about touching in public.
Greeting established, Ashton began moving down the hall, automatically adjusting his long strides to match Barclay's. "Come."