I wouldn't say it was payback exactly... [ Her smile sharpens just a tick. ] But it worked, didn't it?

[ She curls that lock of his hair around her finger before giving it another little tug and letting it slip free. Instead, her hand drifts up to his face and, stroking some of his hair back, she cradles his cheek in her palm. It's not quite the bold teasing she'd tempted him with last time - there's really nothing you can call this but affectionate. ]

It's totally your own fault, though. If you're scared of something getting stolen, shouldn't you swoop in and take it first?

[ hint, hint. ]