In my effort to appear composed and nonchalant about my arrival, I had mostly missed Leonidas’ initial reaction to my presence. Of course only a deaf wolf would have missed that tart yelp he’d emitted, and the ear closest to him flicked slightly to catch it. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the shift in his expression, though I had most unfortunately missed any display of delight that had graced his features however briefly. Leonidas had spun his body away from me, facing me in a t-bone fashion as I casually questioned him. The smile that tweaked at my lips remained coyly present as I cocked my head just enough to see him clearly.

As usual, a look of pure displeasure held steadfast to his painted jaw. It would be wrong of me to deny that knowing his outlook when it came to me hadn’t changed caused a slight pang in my chest. But I was getting better at hiding my emotions, at masking my motives, and so the smirk remained upon my lips and the frown that I felt creeping up my throat was kept contained. When he looked away I turned my head to view him at a better angle, and then his eyes flashed back and locked upon mine. My pure mahogany gaze does not falter, does not break contact from his mismatched orbs. I would show him no weakness, and looking away from his fierce gaze would give him the impression that he held the upper hand in our relationship (if you could call it that). Even as his words figuratively bit out at me, hostile and repellent, my look and stature were unwavering.

What was this? Was that the trace of a smile licking at his lips? I almost couldn’t believe the sight that hazily occurred at the edge of my vision. But I did not allow my disbelief to pull my eyes from their locked state upon his. “Perhaps you do not see what you are looking for because you do not observe,” I said, tail swishing once behind me with the comeback. Where his words had been flippant and antagonistic, I made an effort to be calculating with my replies. I wasn’t looking to start a fight with him, I just found conversations with him to require a bit more thought and required the gauging of the potential volatility of Leo’s reactions. “I’m certain there were far better things I should have been doing, but here I am despite that fact.” The grin that had been glued to my maw since my arrival on the rock widened ever so slightly. Some part of me felt determined to break that impenetrable coat of armor Leonidas always wore. He was most certainly a monad, always choosing to live alone or stalk me from the shadows. Maybe I would not succeed in changing his ways today, but someday, even if I was the only one he shed it for, I would find a way in. Determined, or just plain stubborn, I wasn’t about to give up.