(A/N Reminder of outfit.)

The two continued on for a while in silence, not really knowing what to say after all that. But then she noticed he was occasionally holding his left arm in slight pain.

“Hey tough guy, did you get hurt in that fight?” she asked.

“I’ll be fine. And since when did you start caring for someone who’s trying to f*cking kill you?” he wondered.

“Call me crazy, but I don’t like seeing anyone hurt, even ones who try to kill me,” Jamie answered then suggested, “Could you let me look at it?”

“Something tells me if I say ‘no’, you’ll never let it go,” Striker smirked before sitting down.

“You’d be right,” she did the same as she sat beside him.

She took her jacket off then looked his arm over before diagnosing it as a dislocated shoulder. She was a little flustered when she had to take his shirt off slightly to see it. She quickly relocated it, making him grunt in pain.

“Sorry. Should’ve given you a heads up,” she apologized.

And with that, she healed it when he sighed.

“Listen Jamie, you know I don’t deserve this and you don’t deserve what I’ve been hired to do, so the least I can do is tell you more of who I was hired by,” he said.

Jamie was taken back since she didn’t expect this from Striker.

She smiled softly and responded, “As much as I would love to know, it’s your decision to tell me. I’m not gonna force you to tell me.”

“I am technically at your mercy with me being injured,” Striker said, making her lightly giggle, then he continued, “But I’ll still tell you.”

“Good to know,” Jamie replied.

“I was hired by Stella, who seems to have it out for you. I’m not sure what you did to her, but all I’m usually concerned about is the pay most of the time. But she did fail to tell me you’re an angel, making it more difficult, so you could understand why I was not in the best mood when we had our second encounter,” Striker told her.

Jamie nodded with a sad smile.

“You don’t seem surprised,” he mentioned.

“I’m not. The others and I suspected it was Stella who hired you. She never liked me because of how close I am with Stolas and Via,” she told him.

“How close are we talking?” Striker wondered.

“Like family,” Jamie said.

“You don’t see the problem with that?” he asked.

“No because Stolas and Via aren’t the ones who see imps as shitty beings. Stella is,” she answered.

He nodded, understanding it a little. It was silent for a moment before she finished. Then she spoke again.

“Look, Striker. I heard of everything you’ve done: trying to kill Stolas twice, threatening Via, kidnapping Blitzø and one of his friends (that one being because of Moxxie’s father), and yet I see someone different in front of me right now. Don’t get me wrong; I’m protective of the ones I care about, imp, Goetia, or any demon I’ve bonded with, but you’ve become a part of that too,” Jamie explained then added, “Just please don’t go after Stolas, Via, and the others or anyone they care about.”

“Well, since it’s you asking that, I’ll listen,” Striker stated.

“Seriously?” she asked in surprise.

“Consider it a final request I honor before our temporary truce is over,” he smirked, letting his finger drag along her jawline.

She shivered with a smile, even though inside, she felt a little hurt that he didn’t care enough to let the deal he has with Stella go.

“Fine. But don’t think that me caring about you will stop me from protecting myself,” she remarked.

“Good to know,” he said before suggesting, “We should make camp here.”

She agreed and he headed out to get wood while she stayed there.

In truth, he did care for her and didn’t want to kill her; he just didn’t want to look weak or out of character. He pushed those feelings aside and went to get firewood.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N Well, that happened.