She was...was...dear god. If the Commander found out he'd spoken to her, let alone accepted cookies from her, he'd kill Byron. Byron had been aware that Commander Hawk had a young daughter. Everyone knew about the Commander's pride and joy...but Byron never thought he'd meet her. And if such a thought had crossed his mind he wouldn't have thought she'd treat him with anything but the scorn and ridicule her father had shown Byron since he was old enough to lift a gun.<br/><br/>Not that Byron's panic showed on his face. Then again nothing ever did. Maybe if he could show some sort of emotion then the Commander, and just about everyone else would not treat him so coldly. If he was not so awkward, his thought process not so strange, they wouldn't see the need to beat and berate him.<br/><br/>Though he had Octavian. Octavian didn't seem to mind the neutrality of his expression and dullness of his tone. Instead speaking to him when the other should have ran at the sight of the gun he carried. Caring for his injures when before people had only sought to inflict them. Letting Byron touch him and run his fingers over those branching horns of his. Octavian didn't mind but he was different than anyone Byron met.<br/><br/>He swallowed and glanced around, not able to believe the words that slipped from his mouth, "They're not scary, different, but not monsters,"<br/><br/>Such a small statement but if anyone overheard him it'd be the last he'd get to make. Thankfully no one seemed to be paying much attention to their exchange. Of course it could be because the market had begun to thin out. The sun beginning it's decent and setting the sky ablaze. He should be getting to his post but he couldn't leave the little girl unattended. Commander Hawk's daughter or not it could be dangerous for children alone after dark. Walking her home was not an option but...surely her caretaker had to be about someplace.<br/><br/>"Your nanny, are they nearby? If so you should return to them," his tone still sounded stiff but the barest thread of concern wove it's way into his words softening them a bit, "and thank you for the cookies and kind words,"<br/><br/>Neither he got often and while the Commander liked to accuse him of many things he did have manners.