Her answer and the soft way she tilted her head pulled at his lips a little. She was just so… so… damn cute! Adorable, even. It was strange; he had only ever thought of pups in that way before, but this was also entirely different. She was innocent and pure like a child, yes, but he was not finding his adoration from her merely in her youthful aspects. The way her expression melted into disappointment when she couldn’t offer him an answer, the soft whimper of worry, the way she lowered he gaze bashfully to the moss at her paws… She was delicate and open. She was rich with passion and wore it as brightly as her dazzling white coat.

Ra’s ducked his head to try to catch her gaze, his black banner waving at his ankles. As adorable as he found her actions, he did not want her to look away from him. There was no reason for her to feel ashamed or embarrassed and, whimsical though the thought may be, he hoped there never would be. ”Don’t hide from me?” Ra’s pleaded softly just as she looked back up and began to speak herself, his spring green gaze meeting those navy blue pools that were only inches away. His eyes continued to beseech her as she questioned him and rambled on to talk about her home. He wondered if she had heard him or perhaps she had been too caught up in her thoughts and worries and missed it.

A smile spread across his face slowly as she spoke of her favorite place by the ocean, of sea monsters and scary things, and he listened without any hint of boredom of annoyance at its apparent endlessness. The boy found listening to her to be easy and there was genuine interest in his eyes and he romanticized these black beasts, visualizing a stormy sea and creatures befitting a gypsy camp story. He chuckled with amusement as her words came to a close, taking note of the fact that this place she loved was also a place she was apparently not supposed to go.

”Troublemaker,” Ra’s accused with a mischievous grin and wag of his tail, holding her with a playful stare for only a moment. As delicate as she was, he wondered how she would respond to a bit of light teasing, hoping she knew well enough by now not to take him for serious. Then again, he had nearly convinced her she had struck him, and unintentionally at that!

”Sweetheart,” he addressed her with a smirk and rather theatrical bow of his upper body after she added a small hook to her speech, suggesting the others in her pack might know better about the local gypsies. ”I can hardly deny a girl of help, let alone an angel. If you’ll lead, I’ll follow.”

Before she had time to process his answer and act accordingly, the blackened boy dipped his muzzle down and took possession of the large ball of moss at their paws. He was a capable young man and there was no way in hell he was letting this beautiful little lady carry a thing if he could help it. She could protest, but she wasn’t getting her moss back until they were in her pack lands. Ra’s raised his eyes to hers and stepped to the side, motioning with his head for her to lead the way.

and I've been doing just fine