Crow sank into Penelope’s lips as they kissed, grabbing at her somewhat clumsily as he tried to pull her even closer. His heart raced excitedly as it struck him yet again that she was his. This wasn’t just some random fling at a tavern; this woman actually loved him. The thought made him press more deeply into the kiss, so that he came away breathless when they eventually parted. His chest heaved, and he held her gaze with a dazed grin, taking a moment to wind down from the heated moment.

He laughed at her breathy word. “If y’like that, I c’n promise ye’ll like wha’ else I c’n do,” he slurred flirtatiously, leaning in to meet her halfway when she moved to kiss him again. However, just before their lips met, he paused at the sound of a furious voice. Frowning confusedly, he looked up to see that Gavin had gotten up from his table and had marched across the room to confront them. The knight was scowling at him with more hatred than he had seen in him in quite a while.

At Gavin’s question, Crow felt a pang of annoyance. The knight was always accusing him of something or other, and it was really starting to grate on his nerves. He stood up from the table to step in front of the other man—he noticed with a petty satisfaction that he was slightly taller than him—and curled his lip hostilely, “Maybe I did, ‘n maybe I di’n’t. What’s it t’you?”

Gavin tensed with clear discomfort at the lack of distance between them, his upper lip twitching slightly in disgust at the scent of alcohol on the thief’s breath. “I see you’ve had some more as well,” he growled in clear annoyance. “I knew I should have gone with her. All you do is distract her from our goal.”

“I don’ distract ‘er,” Crow argued, smirking at the knight haughtily. “I jus’ ‘elped ‘er see wha’s more impor’nt.” He looked down at Penelope and rested a hand on her shoulder in a mildly possessive manner. “She ‘ad fun. Right, love?”

“That’s it,” Gavin narrowed his eyes at the thief and moved to push past him to where his comrade was seated. “Alright, Penelope, you’ve done enough. I’m going to take over the rest of this interrogation.” Before he reached her, however, he was stopped again by Crow, who had forced his way between them rather aggressively.

“Back off,” the thief snarled. “’M gettin’ real tired of watchin’ y’try an’ act like y’know more about wha’s better for ‘er than I do.” He took a step forward, making the knight backtrack to keep from running into him. “She chose me, so ye’re jus’ gonna have t’get over it.”

“Please,” Gavin snorted. “I’m not going to just hand her over to some delusional criminal who’s going to ruin her life. She’s still my comrade, so whether you like it or not, I do know what’s best for her, and I’m going to help her. Now, stand aside before you get hurt, thief.”

“Make me,” Crow snapped, curling his hands into fists at his sides. “Pe’elope’s th’love of my life. I’m not goin’ an’where, an’ ‘m cer’ainly not gonna let anoth’r man act like he knows ‘er better than me. If y’really think y’do, then prove it!”