[ don't worry about it... instantaneously, his smile is back, and not the creepy one - the real one. ]

Of course. I was kidding around. Well, mostly. [ he'd never hurt the kids, but if anyone ever truly did anything to hurt her or bother her, he will not be happy, to say the least... but he's trying to turn over a new leaf. Use his strength to protect, not to destroy. ] But they do like to tease. It's the first time anyone's talked that way to me in a long time.

[ he leans forward a bit, watching the distance as the lights of a train begin to appear; the wind ruffles his black hair a bit. People had laughed at him before, but it wasn't kind, and only for a little while. After a certain point in his life, no one dared to try. ]