Well, I already got a taste of how he kicks. I think I can handle him...

[ Despite the cockiness of those words, the tone's just fond as he finally releases Al, holding him by the shoulders just a bit longer. Just long enough to reach up and tease his hair, ruffling it as he likes to do before finally letting go and... subtly brushing the back of a hand over his eyes before looking around. ]

I was heading down this way. Everywhere else so far led to a dead end.