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Even his stern grey eyes that were usually deep and cold seemed light and alive. It was something that might not be obvious to others but Nora could tell. From the way he looked at her when he first met her to now. It made all the difference. 

"Pretty." It slipped out of her mouth before she could help herself. She was staring at his eyes. 

A mocking frown etched itself onto his face. 

"First, that's my line. Second, I'm not pretty."

Someone as rough and rugged as him would never want to be called pretty. It might be toxic masculinity but nonetheless it was prevalent in the generation.

"There was no other word for them." She fought back. 

It wasn't easy for him to compliment someone consciously. Of course if he was in a lustful haze, he would say the first thing that came to his head but in a calm headed setting, he wasn't one to shower someone with love. 

However, looking at her now, he knew he had to chang