He smiled at her words. They were cute. Adorable even. He was skilled at avoiding cameras, which she obviously was not. This was a fact, not based on re-writing ones history and pretending the events didn't happen. Caleb studied her for a moment, as though to find some sort of vulnerability in his ice Princess. He tossed the sphere a few times in his right palm and felt the texture. It called to her, the hum vibrated deep in its core, but he wouldn't call attention to it. Caleb understood his Princess, even if she thought he was ignorant to the fact of her own behavior.
She needed him, more than he needed her. He had the prize. The sphere could contain information to her lineage, or some sort of ancient magic. Either way, it was a priceless item and he wasn't about to hand it over to this snobby woman. It was apparent that nobody had the guts to put her in her place, but to him, she was just another woman on the streets. Her heritage meant nothing to him when she wandered the dark streets.
Caleb's smile remained, as though he knew something she didn't. His eyes remained impassioned, the thrill of his hunt over, but the intensity remained in his veins.
"You were questioned by the police. Not I, Princess." Caleb paused and allowed that to be processed by Her Highness. "Perhaps it is you who needs to learn not to be seen by your own men." He smirked at her, unmoved by her words. "The streets are not for the soft hearted and vulnerable." At those words, he pocketed the sphere and reconsidered his offer. She could be more trouble than she was worth. He could always have someone hack into the device and override its function. The thought had crossed his mind before, but with her in the picture, that changed things. Besides which, what if there was some dormant power in the sphere and he gained access to it? She'd want a piece of the cut, or she could have him arrested and imprisoned for "stealing," the artifact.
In other words, he was royally fucked, but he didn't have to tolerate her nonsense, even if they ended up as partners. With slim options and police patrolling the grounds, he motioned for her to follow him to his place. They could investigate the relic in private. His underground world was about to be opened to an outsider with royal blood. Caleb wondered if it was worth the effort, or if this relic was causing him more trouble in the long run.
Lanterns illuminated the pathways and reflected against the cobblestone streets. It was eerily quiet, with only the sound of crickets chirping, or the echo of someone's footfalls in the distance. Caleb walked a few feet ahead of her, but only to scout the area before he took her to his home. There was always someone watching and waiting for you to fumble at your most vulnerable state. He was unprotected and with a person of high status. This was one of the most dangerous moments in his life, but he embraced it with a smugness.
Evening invaded their moment and the moon became their only guided light. Stars penetrated against the darkened blanket of the night sky, their silvern miniscule bodies, flickered like jewels cast against velvet. For any other couple, this would have been a romantic venture, but Caleb was too concerned about making it to his home safely and escorting a Princess with little attention.
Once they arrived, he knew she'd judge the exterior and interior of his small apartment. Caleb acted unbothered and motioned for her to step inside with a hint of sarcasm to his gestures. There would not be a finger lifted for Her Highness, as he kicked aside a bag of garbage and cleaned up what he could to make it tolerable. His home was a sanctuary and rarely visited, as the evidence showed with dishes piled in a sink and clothes strewn about in his bedroom. When one worked as a thief and understood the perils of the operation, one didn't have time to worry about making their home life livable.
Caleb placed the sphere on a coffee table and sat down on couch. His body sank into the furniture, but he still felt sore and tense. He treated her as though she weren't present, then realized she might be hungry or thirsty. "Help yourself to my food or drink, Princess." He waved his hand toward the fridge and put his feet up on on the coffee table. The sphere slept, but it puzzled him that it was no longer activated, even in the presence of the princess.
"We will make the official contract here. I do not like to do my dealings in public." Caleb remarked. He pondered her sensitivity and considered treating her with a coldness to test her strength. Then again, that action in itself would take more energy out of him, then he was willing to muster. "Make yourself at home." He commented and smiled at those words.