“That’s true,” Crow nodded faintly as Penelope tried to reassure him that Rikki might not have said something to the others so quickly. Just because her first attempt at getting between him and the knight had failed didn’t necessarily mean she was going to give up right away. It was entirely possible that she would come at him from a different angle before she got the others involved. After all, even though he didn’t like the fact that she was trying to insert herself in his personal life, he knew she was only doing it because she cared about him and believed he was making the wrong decision. If she told Simon and Alistair about his relationship now, that could easily be the nail in the coffin that ended their friendship. He doubted she would be so hasty to risk that.

Feeling a little better, he smiled as Penelope leaned up to kiss his cheek. “Alright,” he nodded when she said they should leave, following after her as she turned to walk out of the clearing. As she went on to say that she was glad they didn’t have to part right away from this meeting point, he shook his head in agreement. “I still wish we didn’t have to part at all, but I suppose this is better than nothing,” he said with a smirk, slipping one arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her head.

For most of the walk back Crow didn’t speak much, since his weariness from the day had finally set in. Instead, he simply focused on enjoying Penelope’s warm presence at his side. He laced his fingers with hers as they made their way towards the waterfall, letting out a soft sigh as the landmark soon came into view, and with it, the time for them to part ways. Slowing to a stop, he turned to murmur his goodbyes to her, but was interrupted by a sharp voice.

“There you are,” Hazel growled as she stormed over to him from where she must have been waiting by the riverbank. The thief blinked in surprise as she planted her hands on her hips and glared at him angrily. “What the hell, Crow?” she curled her lip. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you all day!”

“Sorry,” he frowned, confused as to why she would be so mad at him for taking some time alone. Casting a furtive glance at Penelope, he let go of her hand, just in case the herbalist would be irritated further by seeing them touch. “Why were you looking for me?” he asked as he turned back to her.

“Oi vey,” Hazel pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head in exasperation. “To give you your medicine, idiot! Since you were out all day doing whatever the hell it was that you were doing, I had to wait up for you to get your inconsiderate ass back here, so I could make sure you take it.”

“Oh, right,” Crow flushed, realizing that after everything that had happened with Rikki, he had completely forgotten to meet with her. “I’m sorry. It must have slipped my mind.”

“‘Slipped my mind’ my ass,” Hazel grumbled, shoving the jar of medicine at him in annoyance. “You better not let it happen again, you hear me? Next time, I might just let you go without it and suffer the consequences… moron.”

“I won’t forget again,” he assured her.

“Good,” she muttered. “Now then, I’m going to get some very overdue sleep. Goodnight, dumbass.” She glanced at Penelope and nodded curtly. “Rat.” With that, she spun around and headed back into the tunnels without waiting for a reply.

Crow rolled his eyes and turned back to Penelope. “Sorry about that, love,” he shrugged and offered her a hapless smile. Casting one more glance over his shoulder to make sure they were really alone, he wrapped his arms around her and leaned in to kiss her one more time. He lingered for a bit, savoring the feeling of her soft lips moving against his before he pulled back again. “I love you, Penelope,” he sighed, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. “Be safe on your way back.”