“Suit yourself,” Crow shrugged when Penelope said she’d only have a little food. All that meant was that there would be more for him, so he wasn’t going to complain if she didn’t want more. He was about to turn to head back to the table, when she spoke up again. Glancing back at her, the thief grinned. “Maybe not,” he mused. “If there is a limit, I certainly haven’t found it yet.” As she approached the table, he followed after her and took a seat beside her, picking up his plate to fill it with a second serving.

“I have a feeling my ‘limitless’ appetite has more to do with this though,” he added thoughtfully, resting a hand on his middle where the bandages were located beneath his shirt. “I still haven’t regained all the weight I lost during those two weeks when I couldn’t eat.” He tore off a piece of bread and popped it into his mouth, turning his attention back to the food in front of him as a silence fell between them. By the time Penelope spoke up again, he’d already finished off most of his second helping.

“Hm?” he turned to her, swallowing a mouthful of food as he listened to her ask if he’d changed his mind about his decision. At her offer to cause a distraction so he could escape if he had, he smirked in amusement. “I appreciate the offer, but my mind is still made up,” he chuckled, leaning over to press a kiss to her cheek. “Also, I’ve already asked Hunter to tell my father that I want to speak with him this morning, so there’s no going back now. I’m going through with my decision.”

Plucking a grape from a dish of fruit, Crow lifted it to his lips and chewed thoughtfully. He was a bit surprised by the strength of his resolve that had developed since he’d made his choice the day before. Initially, he’d been quite hesitant to accept the job, but now that he’d had some time to come to terms with the fact that his life was going to be changing, it didn’t feel as suffocating as it had at the start. He was confident that he would adjust to everything with time, even if it was difficult in the beginning.

“I just hope my father will let me have the time I need to see my companions once more,” he sighed, absently swirling the remaining liquid in his wine goblet. “I don’t want to just disappear without giving them an explanation, you know? They don’t deserve that.”