"If Kaiju were small enough to fit in my hair, I doubt we would have any issues dealing with them," Bard drawled, a chuckle lacing the words despite how much he was trying to sound put off, shaking his head at Thranduil's antics. It was rare that they had moments like these, moments that were so light hearted but he was starting to enjoy them more than he could admit out loud. Outside of his children, he didn't have anyone else and then his co-pilot had come along and wormed his way in.

Funny how those things work.

"I do what needs to be done to save lives, that's all, Thranduil. Sometimes the rules get in the way." He at least had the decency to look a little bit guilty as he said it but he would, without any hesitation, do it all over again if the situation arose. That was just how he was and Thranduil knew that better than any at this point. Bard always put others before himself and had joined up as a pilot more than ready to lay his life down if he had to. Hopefully it never came to that but if it did...

He glances up when the hand rests on his shoulder and the blonde's words hit something inside him and Bard doesn't hesitate more than a moment before he lifts a hand to rest it over his co-pilot's.

"It's in the job description to look out for your co-pilot. And I suppose I may see you as something of a friend, god knows how that happened," he teased gently, a soft look in his gaze.