"Been dat stray an' misfit a few times m'self. Only makes sense." Even in their group, he was still often the one on the outside. They didn't always mean him to be, but it was still true. And it was getting better.

Most of the time, at least.

He brushed his thumb across an intact spot on the back of her glove before bringing it up to press a kiss in the same spot. It was covered and safe, if maybe not as safe as she would generally prefer it. "I mean dat Australia was 'bout a year or so back for me." Leave it a little vague so she probably wouldn't ask too many questions. Maybe.

"An' I bet you can still stand up to most of what we might go up 'gainst." He lifted her hands with a half smile. "I mean, you already done better 'gainst de ball pit dan I would've."