He had tried. He had tried for nearly two years to leave her behind him. To make her part of a pleasant past of his. Aurin though he had succeeded to a point even. It was easy to banter and smile with her the pervious day in the courtyard. To treat her just like he seemed to treat all his friends, with an easy smile and a ready laugh. He had believed he could manage it. All that flew out of his mind when he saw her crying. Every feeling he had tried to forget came flooding back. He had simply acted, and he couldn’t lie to himself about that anymore. It would happen every time that he saw her in trouble. He couldn’t forget. He didn’t want to forget. It might have been better, it might have caused less heartache. He didn’t pay any attention to the logic behind it anymore. He simply knew that he couldn’t, and it was easier to accept it than to go on fooling himself over something that he couldn’t change.
It was an excuse, the search for baked goods was. A change of subject to something more safe. He was almost surprised when she responded to him with a smirk. It was a pleasant enough surprise. It was also one he was entirely willing to follow though with. The smile on his face grew at her words and he couldn’t keep the laughter out of his voice as he replied. “You are? Well then good. I could do with something to eat as well, so we’ll raid them for cookies and whatever else we can find.” He paused for a moment before he thoughtfully added. “No cheese though, I didn’t know your new commander was so protective of that specific food,” his words were followed by an impish smile. “Maybe all of the new Wardens should all find a wheel for him sometime in our travels and bring it back to the Keep.”
His smile nearly faltered as she simply stared at his hand for a long few heartbeats. Its difficult to retract an offer like that and look graceful about it. He was working out in his might just how he might do it when he saw her move. The comforting weight of her own fingers against his was welcome, as was the warmth that came from the touch. Strong fingers curled around hers as he nodded once towards her. They /could/ just go right to the kitchen its true. However what fun would that be? It was more enjoyable to pretend to be children again, if just for a day.
“…I can’t /believe someone told Dee about that,” he replied as he started to pull her towards the door. There was laughter in his voice as he spoke. He had fond memories of that part of his life in the tower. It was exciting and free of any worry besides the mild scolding he might get if he got caught. She wasn’t a little girl anymore though, but a beautiful woman. She looked even more lovely out of those robes that had been the only thing he had seen her in. He might not be able to hold her like she deserved, but he could still appreciate her. He could still give her just a little taste of what it used to be like, a little bit of fun on the eve of their next parting and adventure.
“Come on then,” he finally said wryly as he pulled the woman towards the door. “Lets go be thieves for a day. If you are going to call me Black Fox I might as well live up to it.”