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((Tʜᴇ ʙᴜsʏ sᴛʀᴇᴇᴛs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Iᴠᴏʀʏ Cɪᴛʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴄᴏɴsᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ ʙᴜᴢᴢɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴏʙʟᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄɪᴛɪᴢᴇɴs, ʙᴜᴛ ʙᴇᴡᴀʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴘᴏᴄᴋᴇᴛs. Iᴛ ɪs ᴀ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs ᴄɪᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ))

This was truly desperation at it's finest. Jocelyn didn't know what was going on in the palace, but everywhere she looked, there seemed to be no scandal lurking in the corners. Either that, or people were getting much better at hiding their secrets. Regardless, Whitaker was getting impatient and if she didn't come up with something soon, there would be hell to pay.
She had never left the castle to follow a lead, but Councilman Flochart was always a good source and he had been looking particularly suspicious as he had headed to the west gate. Before she knew it, Jocelyn had been tailing him. She had spent most of her time praying he was cheating on his wife in some sort of affair and the other half kicking herself for wanting something so horrible.

Hunter had decided he needed some air after getting into a particularly nasty fight with his mother. He took to his one remaining horse then he left the palace in a hurry. Before he even realized what he was doing he was on the streets of the city and quite frankly he barely knew where he was. He dismounted his horse with a sigh then just proceeded to walk the animal through the streets as he looked about for a sign that he could use to determine his location. Instead, he saw her again. He had been so successful at avoiding her until now and it irritated him to see her after all this time. He didn't go toward her, however. He kept as much distance as he could without drawing attention to himself.

Jocelyn frowned, glancing back when she heard hoof beats echoing off the buildings of the narrow street. This was an area of the city that rarely had horses in it, most of the people here not being able to afford them or simply not needing them. In what must have been a sign of acute paranoia, the Councilman glanced back as well, wanting to make sure he wasn't being followed. Jocelyn and Flochart both saw that the horse was not mounted and whoever was leading it was not visible through the crowd. But when Jocelyn returned her gaze forward, she and Flochart locked eyes.
Cursing silent, Jocelyn did her best to make it seem like her gaze was only in passing and she was really only going in the same direction as him so she could look at a flower stand. Unfortunately, the Councilman recognized her and out of the corner of her eyes, she could see him approaching.

The street was crowded but somehow his eyes kept going right back to Jocelyn, the most frustrating woman he had ever met. She seemed to be following someone, which didn't surprise him, though who it was he could not tell. He tried to look away from her but his gaze seemed to want to land in the same spot no matter what. At least, until she looked back in his direction and he ducked further behind the crowd. He didn't need her recognizing him. He didn't have any desire to speak to her, he was just curious as to who she was following, or so he told himself. But, now she had paused and he was getting closer. He couldn't turn back with the horse and the crowd.

Jocelyn was keeping herself busy inspecting a bouquet of tulips hoping Flochart would keep on walking, only being forced to ignore him, when he finally sidled up beside her.
"Lady Whitaker, what brings you out to this part of town? The streets of the city aren't suitable for young women, especially young women alone," the Flochart said in a tone that Jocelyn knew far too well. It was the innocent way politicians spoke when they knew something was up and they knew that you knew something was up but were waiting for you to confess.
"Oh, Councilman Flochart, I didn't expect to see you here! I'm just getting some flowers for my room, aren't these a lovely color?" Jocelyn lied through her teeth, playing her own innocence card.
Flochart smiled, but his words were venomous. "Don't try to fool me girl. I know I saw you a few blocks back and I saw you watching me just now. What game do you think you're playing?"

Hunter pulled his horse to a halt when he saw Councilman Flochart approaching her. The answered his question on whom she had been following, but it also meant that she had been found out. Flochart wasn't a pleasant man, but he was one of the smarter councilmen and there was no doubt he knew exactly what was going on. This was concerning because Flochart wasn't a gentle man and he would be sure to teach Jocelyn a lesson, whether it was physical or just involved running straight to her 'uncle'. In any case, this was not a good situation, so Hunter stood by, watching closely and ready to step in.

Jocelyn could only blink up at him and deny, deny, deny. "Sir, I'm not trying to fool you, I'm afraid--"
"As you should be," Flochart interrupted, not allowing her to finish her sentence. "I know just how much blackmail goes around with politics, and it has doubled in the past five years. When was it that you joined us, Lady Whitaker? Because I have my suspicions and you can bet I won't let some insignificant little girl stick her nose in my career," the Councilman growled, stepping closer to Jocelyn menacingly, forcing her to take a step back.
She was gaping like a fish out of water. This had never happened to her before. Her heart raced and her mind was working twice as fast. "Councilman Flochart, I don't know what you mean, I was only just getting flowers..." She trailed off when it seemed that was not the answer he wanted to hear.

Hunter couldn't stand back any longer. He had told her he wouldn't interfere but he lost all capability to keep that promise when he saw Flochart step closer to her. He could hear the man's growling voice even from where he stood and he just couldn't stand to hear it anymore. He swooped in and wrapped his arm around Jocelyn's waist.
"Oh darling," he said, "You got here before me. I was hoping to surprise you, but now that you're here, which ones do you like the best?" He motioned toward the flowers then acted as if he had just caught sight of Flochart. "Oh, hello Councilman Flochart. Are you here buying flowers as well? I'm sure your wife would love some."

Jocelyn nearly leaped out of her skin when she felt an arm snake around her waist, as high strung as she already was. As much as she hated to admit it, relief rushed through her when she realized that it was Hunter at her side, his voice soothing her even though his words were false. She slowly turned her gaze from the Councilman to Hunter, looking up at him as if she were truly glad to see him. "I'm having a hard time deciding. The lilacs smell wonderful, but I really do love the red of the tulips," she told him, like it was a bigger dilemma than the fact that Flochart looked like he had been about to ring her neck.
The Councilman only blinked at them, finding it hard to believe that the girl had actually been telling the truth. He had been following her, she knew he had, but here was the queen's brother treating her like this was a lover's rendezvous and not some spy escapade. Narrowing his gaze slightly in irritation that he could have been wrong, he replied slowly, "Yes, I was considering buying Lilith some roses, but it seems this stand is all out."

"Ah, well there is another stand just a street over. I passed it on my way. They did have roses but I know that Jocelyn prefers the other breeds of flowers over a rose any day," Hunter said, a nice big smile on his face. "Well, good luck Councilman Flochart. Have a nice day and I hope to see you back at the palace. Give Lilith my best when you bring her her roses."
He turned his back to the man now, turning Jocelyn with him. "So, the scent or the color, that is the question," he said, as if still continuing the same conversation before. He reached for a few of the posies. "Ah, what about these? We can get the nice red ones." He brought one up to her nose so that she could smell it.

Jocelyn smiled sweetly as if she were overjoyed to have a man who knew her oh so well then waved a farewell to the Councilman before Hunter turned her, like their confrontation was already free from her mind. "Hmm," Jocelyn hummed thoughtfully, inhaling the scent of the flower, not daring to risk that Flochart was still watching. "They're perfect. And I know just where to put them," she said happily, turning her head to gaze up at him, but really only so she could peek at Flochart through her peripheral vision. The man had turned away, pulling at his hair a little in frustration as he headed back on his original route.
Jocelyn's shoulders sagged ever so slightly in relief, but also in disappointment that she had just lost the lead.

When Jocelyn's shoulders sagged in relief he let go of her and stepped back. He cleared his throat lightly. "Sorry for stepping in. Have a good day," he said before turning to walk back to his horse, who was thankfully in the same place he had been left.
Hunter didn't want to stand around and let her berate him for stepping into a situation she had under control, or whatever else she might say. He had done what he thought he needed to do and now he would be on his way before she got a chance to say a work, or at least he hoped.

Jocelyn's smile faded, replaced by a small frown as Hunter walked away. "Thank you," she mumbled, though she inwardly kicked herself. She needed to stop doing that. Thanking him only strengthened his idea that she needed rescuing, which would lead him to interfering and being kind, which led to her getting confused and letting her guard down, which was then followed by the return of his sharp tongue and infuriating dialect.
But she really had liked the flowers he had picked out. Sighing, she ended up paying for them with the few coins she carried around, then looked back. Flochart was nowhere to be found and Jocelyn had no idea where to look. She had waste a good hour and a half following him and it had gotten her nowhere. Frustration and just a hint of foreboding welled up inside her, making her want to bash the flowers she had just bought against, the wall, but instead she only rubbed her eyes in exhaustion with her forefinger and thumb.

Hunter heard her mumbled thank you and it only made him grit his teeth. Why? He had no idea. He took his horse into his hands once more then started to lead him back in the direction he had come, except he didn't know where that was. He sighed softly and glanced back over at Jocelyn. He hated it but he would have to ask her for directions.
He sighed and walked slowly in her direction, noticing her eye rubbing. Somehow, it was both sad and oddly...cute? He shook his head and approached her cautiously. "I have no idea where I am," he admitted to her quickly, "Can you give me some direction? And, do you have a ride back to the palace?"

Jocelyn looked up when she heard him approach, her frown deepening in confusion. She had thought his plan to keep away from her might work, aside from the occasional saving the day. At his swift admission, Jocelyn felt a twinge of satisfaction that she wasn't the only one who needed help here.
"I walked," she answered his second question first before nodding her head in the direction behind him. "Just head east. The closer you get, eventually all the roads will start heading to one of the gates," Jocelyn informed him.

"Thank you," Hunter replied to her, not feeling the twinge of pain that he thought he might feel. He then swallowed and bit at his lower lip for a moment before asking his next question. "Would you like a ride back, or do you plan on spending more time in the city? I'll be leaving in another hour or so but I will give you a ride back if you want." He figured she would decline the offer, but it was only right that he ask her. He had made the walk once before and it wasn't pleasant once the sun started to set, so he would at least try to save her from that.

Jocelyn looked at him for a long moment, hesitating. She didn't want to go back to the palace. The Baron was there, waiting for information, and she had none other than the fact that Flochart was acting sketchy and was on to them. But she knew she couldn't stay here. The longer she stayed, the less she would want to leave and she would end up wandering the streets, allowing her feet to carry her to places she had no business being anymore.
Finally, she gave the uncommitted reply, "If I stay here much longer, it will just lead to trouble so I'm not planning on spending anymore time here than I need to. If you aren't planning on leaving yet, you don't need to go out of your way to give me a ride. You've already done me one favor today, I think we should just leave it at that, don't you?"

Hunter sighed softly, swallowing back all the words he really wanted to give her in reply. "It's your decision to make. I'm just going to go down the street and get some dried beef for my dog and then I'm leaving. If you would like a ride I'm offering and it's up to you to accept. Lets not even call it a favor, just a ride. We're going to the same place and it seems silly that I should just ride past you and let you walk, but that's just my lowly opinion. Your decision."
He turned to walk toward the shop he had in mind, now that he knew where he was. "You can even follow me along to the store if you like. They have amazing scones there and I'd be happy to buy you one. I'm not in the mood for arguing with you, I'm just offering."

Jocelyn couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his words. He would be happy to by her something? And he would let her follow him around when he was so determined to stay away from her? This didn't seem quite like him trying to rescue her from anything, so could it be possible he was actually trying to be nice? No, not at all, Jocelyn decided, but she did begin to consider his offer. The time it would take for her to walk back to the castle would be long enough for the city to suck her back in. But if she decided to accept his ride, she would be sticking close to his side. Sure, being with Hunter wasn't exactly an ideal place to be, but it would force her to go where he went, not where she wanted to go, it would keep her in check.
"I suppose if you won't be long, a ride wouldn't be a bad idea," she consented carefully, trying not to sound too eager.

"Alright then," Hunter said simply before he started walk, bringing the horse along behind him. The shop really wasn't far and he tied the horse up once they got there, this time making sure to use a knot that only he would know how to undo in less than an hour.
He glanced at Jocelyn. "If you see something you want, just let me know," he told her before disappearing into the shop. He got the few things he had come there for and put them into a cloth bag he brought out from his pocket. It was nothing fancy. Dried meat, a few scones, and a new razor for his face.

Jocelyn followed close behind, staring at the back of Hunter's head instead of letting her eyes wander like she knew she wanted to. She set herself to the task of counting the hairs on the back of his neck and almost missed what he said to her, nodding once with out a word. She eventually understood what he had said, but knew she wouldn't ask him for anything.
Jocelyn stepped inside after him, but didn't move in much further than she needed to. Instead of looking around, she carefully adjusted the delicate tissue paper wrapped around the stems of the flowers that she had bought from the vendor.

((Last post, night!))

((Night!))

Hunter picked up one last thing then walked to the counter and paid. Surprisingly, he actually had a pleasant conversation with the man behind the counter, though Hunter just told him not to ask when he started to inquire about Jocelyn. That done, he walked back over to the girl and handed her the small porcelain vase he had just bought.
"If I had known you actually liked the flowers, I would have gotten them for you," he told her, "But at least put them in this. We can get them a little water so that they don't die on the way back to the palace." He cleared his throat then walked out of the shop without another word.

Jocelyn's brow furrowed as she looked at the pale vase in her hand. "I said they were perfect, didn't I?" she said lightly, though honestly she didn't want him always feeling he needed to buy things for her. It would help deter him from trying to come to her aide all the time.
Carefully sliding the stems of the posies into the mouth of the vase before following him out of the shop. She stuck close to Hunter again, staring straight ahead as if she had blinders on so she wouldn't stray.

"I thought you were acting," Hunter replied back to her with a shrug. He walked over to his horse. "Well anyway, I'm done now. Are you ready to head back or is there somewhere else you would like to stop?" He ran his hand down his horse's mane then he put his bought items into the saddlebag.
He looked back at her, hoping for an answer. She seemed to just be staring straight ahead though, unlike when they had come here a few weeks before.

Jocelyn had been so focused on not letting herself take in anything around her, she almost missed Hunter's question completely. "We should head back," she informed him, not sure how much longer she could keep this blinders thing going. Besides, if she even wanted a chance to avoid punishment tonight, Jocelyn would have to spend as much time as she could scouring the palace for secrets. She would have to check the libraries, the hidden alcoves, the locked studies, the council chambers...

Hunter nodded before swinging himself up onto the horse. He then offered his hand down to her, though he was sure she could figure out how to get on on her own. It didn't matter, he was going to offer even if he had a more than likely chance of getting rejected and his effort thrown in his face.
"We'll get back quick," he promised her, "And then part ways, as usual. Though, I'm sure we'll be thrown together again soon enough."

Distracted as she was making a list in her head, Jocelyn didn't see Hunter's hand as a way to help her up. Instead she just handed him the vase and flowers to hold while she grasped the back of the saddle and the curve of his foot to help lift herself up behind him. Taking the flowers back, she kept her left arm wrapped around him so she wouldn't go flying off when the horse got moving.
"Maybe the universe is trying to playing a trick on us," she mumbled absentmindedly, not even remembering that she didn't believe in fate or some all powerful force that controlled their lives and actions.

"I wish it would think of a better trick," Hunter replied softly before he took the reigns and carefully got the horse going. Since the girl was holding flowers and could only half hold onto him, it meant that he had to go a little slower just to make sure the girl didn't fall off. He went in the direction she had told him, but it was hard to get around the crowds at first. It took probably half an hour to make it past all the people and into an area where they could just make the horse move with no fear of trampling someone.
He tried not to focus on her hand around his waist. It was a light pressure, but it was nice. He had a feeling it would have been better if both her arms were wrapped around him, squeezing, but he would never ask for that.

Jocelyn tightened her hold on the vase, not wanting it to slip out of her fingers as the horse set its slow pace down the streets. But the longer it took to get through the crowds, the slower they seemed to be moving and she felt each passing minute like it was an eternity. As much as Jocelyn wanted to just keep her gaze pinned to the back of Hunter's neck, Jocelyn couldn't stay focused for that long, especially with the hectic display of life that surrounded them.
Sighing, Jocelyn closed her eyes, resting her forehead against his shoulder as she tried to tune out the laughter of children playing in the streets, the sound of vendors harking their wares, and the idle chatter of the city dwellers as they went about their day. She used to live for this and now an ache was slowly settling in her chest. For a moment, Jocelyn was almost tempted to reach around Hunter and snap the reins, anything to make this trip go any faster.

Hunter felt her forehead press against his back and it made the breath catch in his throat just a little bit. He knew it wasn't a planned gesture, but it surprised him that she was even capable of something so gentle. For a moment he wished that she was someone else, someone that was actually making the gesture out of some kind of care or want. This girl was likely doing it just because she was tired, or bored, or trying to escape out of their current situation.
He picked up the speed now that he could, more to stop focusing on the feeling of her and than to get going. He kept at a slow enough pace that she wouldn't be jostled right off the horse, but they were moving much fast than before. This was good. He needed to get off the horse and away from her before he started thinking again.

She felt Hunter go tense in front of her, and she figured it was because her closeness was making him uncomfortable, but she couldn't bring herself to life her head to watch people go about their free, happy lives. When the horse pick up the pace below them, Jocelyn found that she could breathe a little easier knowing that the speed could no longer be called leisurely. It would still take a while to get back to the castle, but at least now it would take less time to get there than it would if she was walking.
Jocelyn adjusted her grip on the vase so it was now resting in front of Hunter, both of her arms around him to keep the flowers steady through the horse's more hurried movements. She opened her eyes, deciding to watch the ground as they moved swiftly over the cobblestones to help pass the time.

When Hunter felt her other arm wrap around him as well he picked up pace even more. They were now at a nice gallop. He couldn't keep a slow pace at all, or else he would start to feel comfortable, and he couldn't allow that. This was not something he could grow used to, under any circumstances. It was bound to be that they stopped running into each other eventually. They hated each other, in any case.
He could see dirt roads leading up toward the palace now and it caused some relief in him. They still had a ways to go, but at least they were making visible progress.

Once they had made their way out of the areas that Jocelyn could have easily called home years ago, she was able to push back the painful longing that had built up inside her, lifting her head from Hunter's shoulder and able to take in their surroundings with disdain or at least disinterest as they entered the part of town full of higher classed merchants and civilians who were able to afford much nicer homes by pushing the king's taxes on their customers. With her mind cleared, Jocelyn's attention was now diverted to the man in front of her who she might as well been embracing. Shaking her head slightly, she decided to think of it as holding onto a very firm, very warm, very alive pillow... yeah, that didn't work at all. Jocelyn forced herself to focus on the more useful task of listing everywhere she had to go when they reached the castle, which was now thankfully at least insight, instead of the man in her arms.

Hunter sighed softly and tried to focus on the road before him, but he was tired and he was feeling oddly confused. The fight with his mother was ringing on one side of his head and the feeling of the arms around him was ringing on the other.
Her lifting her head from his shoulder helped a bit, but not as much as he would have hoped. In fact, after a few moments he was sort of wishing she would put it back. He had a new understanding for knights and how they always seemed to want to ride around with ladies on their horses. He had always assumed it was be awkward and uncomfortable, but it wasn't, at least not to him.

Jocelyn's gaze flicked to Hunter when the sigh left him and she tried to study her face the best she could from her vantage point. "What?" she asked, unable to come up with a way to ask him more politely what was on his mind. He was clearly thinking of something that was plaguing him, which typically wasn't like him. Hunter was always seemed highly aware of everything around him, never stuck in his head, at least when a book wasn't involved. Jocelyn couldn't be sure why she wanted to know in the first place. She told herself it was so she wouldn't have to deal with her own unpleasant thoughts, because then the only other option was because she was genuinely curious as to what Hunter was thinking about.

Hunter shook his head a bit. "Nothing," he replied to her, "Don't worry about it. Just in my head today." His reply was quiet and without much of a fight in it, compared to his usual anyway.
He paused for some time, then decided he had to keep talking. This was too awkward. "So, did you find out anything interesting on Flochart? I'm guessing he was going to see a lady friend or something. He's that sort of man. He's had about three ladies on the side already, I think. It's too bad because Lilith is a wonderful woman. Sorry I stepped in, by the way. I just saw this and got nervous I suppose."

Jocelyn narrowed her gaze suspiciously. This wasn't like him at all. "I can see that," she said quietly, and was about to dig into him before he started asking her questions. Her own interrogation would have to wait. She knew it wasn't "nothing". As empty as Jocelyn liked to believe his head was, Hunter talked far too much to be lost in a mind full of nothing.
"Well if even you know about Flochart's indiscretions, that means it isn't anything interesting, no offense. I was hoping to find something more concrete to use, but he saw me and now I can't use any of it because he's on to me and if that information gets leaked, he'll know just who did it. I almost want to do it just so Lilith has a reason to finally leave the smug, disloyal bastard," Jocelyn said, gritting her teeth in frustration. "But... you don't have to apologize. I'll admit, if you didn't help me, things could have gotten bad. I know how much of an inconvenience I can be for you so thanks, I guess." So much for discouraging his hero complex.

((I'll reply in a bit. Have to run an errand))

((Sounds good!))

"You're not an inconvenience," Hunter replied before he had a chance to think about it, and from there it was just one trip after the next. "I mean, I don't mind. It's nice to actually have a purpose for five seconds and I know it's not your fault directly that you're having to follow after him in the first place." He gritted his teeth together a bit. He needed to stop talking. Nope, he couldn't. "And this two person horse thing isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Sometimes you're not that frustrating, maybe because I'm not forcing you to be." Did he just admit that he had been wrong this whole time? He really needed to stop. Now. "Well, I guess, good lucky finding some other dirt. I would offer to let you find something on me, but I don't think anyone would care."

Jocelyn was surprised that he didn't think she was an inconvenience, given the fact that almost every time he parted, he reminded her that she thought she was incredibly insufferable and essentially the biggest pain in the neck. But then Hunter kept going and going, and all she could do was stare at him, blindsided by what seemed to be one confession after another. It was probably a good thing that his back was to her so she wouldn't have to be embarrassed by the fact that if he looked, he would probably be able to see the back of her throat and, even more shamefully, the faint blush that peeked out under the edges of her mask.
"Alright, just give me a moment," Jocelyn told him. "I need to think of something because there is no possible way that you could ever leave me speechless."

Hunter rolled his eyes, but a very soft smile came to his lips. He couldn't remember a time when a smile had felt so real. He was constantly smirking, but he rarely smiled unless he was forcing it for appearance. It made his cheeks tingle and he wasn't sure if that was something he liked or not. He hoped not to have to find out.
"I don't think you've ever been speechless in your life. You talk more than most woman would dare, or at least you have since the moment we first ran into each other. I think your tongue is incapable of keeping still and your words know no bounds. Or maybe that's just around me," he teased.

Jocelyn tried to appear offended, but couldn't seem to pull it off since he was right, she did seem to talk quite a bit around him. "Well, of course I talk a lot around you. Someone has to correct you," she replied as if that answer was obvious. Jocelyn wasn't sure how they had gotten back to this again, this banter instead of bicker. It seemed to creep up at the oddest of moments, and usually when she was doing her best to keep him out of her head because she was trying to hate him.
Finally, though, she decided on something to say in response to his earlier uncontrolled rant. "I wouldn't look for anything on you even if you were the most powerful person in city. I get information from most of the politicians there because like the Councilman, they're shady and despicable, which makes it easy for me to steal their secrets without my conscience taking a blow. But shockingly enough, you're a decent person, and that's not my style."

Hunter was more than a little surprised by her response to his earlier comment. He hadn't realized she thought him in such high esteem. The comments she had made so far had put him in the same category as every nobleman. Now he was the one rendered speechless.
He was quiet for some time and then he cleared his throat. "How do you know?" he asked her, "How do you know that I'm not like all the others? How do you know I'm not married and trying to have you on the side? I'm twice as bitter as any of these other nobleman. I kicked a lady while trying to kick some man I hardly know. I wouldn't consider myself a decent person and I don't think really anyone else would either. So, why have you decided that I am when I have been nothing but rude to you?"

((Last comment for the night!))

"For starters, if you were anything like the others, I would have probably spied on you by now at least once and would probably know you better than you knew yourself. So technically you could be married, but it would have to be arranged since you claim to only love your dog and let's face it, you would have to be far more charming in order for any woman to look past your self proclaimed bitterness, which I suppose you have a reason to be, again, not like the other nobleman that roam about the palace.
"And technically you kicked a peasant when you were really only to hurt the man who was keeping her from eating. In my opinion, any man who starves another human being is just asking to be beaten. Not to mention the fact that you couldn't eat for days after it happened, showing that while you might not have cared for the person you kicked, you are able to empathize for someone in pain and who needed your help.
"You may not think you're a decent person, but that just suggests lower self esteem, which really kind of deflates the size of your ego enough for your head to fit through a doorway," Jocelyn concluded, a little taken a back by how much she had actually been thinking about Hunter.

((Night!))

Hunter's eyebrows had come together underneath his mask as he listened to her speech. He had had no idea that she had been paying so much attention. She probably knew more about him than he knew about himself, because despite popular belief he didn't just sit around and think about himself all the time.
He was once again rendered entirely speechless. He had no idea what to say to her. Did he tell her how much he knew about her and admit that he too had been thinking of her? Did he thank her? She was full of surprises, this girl, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it. It was sort of exciting to be around her, but she was confusing. Their whole relationship was confusing and it had been since the first second.
"Wow," he finally breathed, "I um, I had no idea you were so perceptive. I didn't know you were even paying attention to anything that had to do with me, other than hating me no matter what. I'm actually kind of flattered that you don't hate me as much as I thought? Is that weird? Yes, it is. I kind of want to thank you, but that's weird too. You know, you missed the fact that you make me incredibly awkward..."

When Hunter remained silent for several long moments, Jocelyn knew now that she had said too much and he was right, her tongue knew no bounds when it came to him. Dammit, she should have just kept her mouth shut to begin with. They could have just kept the ride silent and leave it at that. Now she had gone and made it completely strained and awkward.
A smile crept over Jocelyn's lips when he finally spoke. Of course she was perceptive, that was her job, but she didn't point that out to him. She hadn't really known how much she had been paying attention to him as well, but Jocelyn figured it was just an occupational hazard. Besides, she couldn't possibly hate the only person who had ever stepped between her and the Baron when he was supposed to hate her, too.
Hunter's self answering questions only caused her smile to grow. "Don't worry, you usually hide your awkwardness pretty well," she told him, remembering his lengthy farewell after he had helped her with his foot, finishing it was, "Yeah ok."

"Oh don't lie to me," Hunter laughed when she told him how well he hid it. He had been awkward since the moment he met her. It had presented itself as irritation at first, but now it was definitely just plain awkwardness.
"So, are we finally calling a truce? No more arguing over absolutely nothing just because. Don't get me wrong, the arguments have been lovely, but I'm not sure that that's what I want every time I run into you. And lets not pretend it won't happen again at some point," Hunter was smiling now, actually smiling. It wasn't wide, but it was absolutely there.

"Would a truce even work for us, though? We're both way too opinionated to hold back much," Jocelyn said thoughtfully. They had tried being friendly before, but that had just ended in a mess, both of them having lost their appetites in the aftermath. "Oh, I've never pretended that we'll somehow never see each other after we part ways. You are very consistent in sticking your nose into my business that really makes me wonder how you aren't a spy for someone," she continued, absentmindedly leaning forward to rest her chin on his shoulder. "I'll admit though, while the fighting has been fun, I also wouldn't mind being, dare I say it, at least half ways civil with you every once and a while."