"... he's not the first person, and he's not going to be the last. You shouldn't let it bother you so much... I don't." Not entirely true, really. She was used to hearing people say things like that about her, but that was the first time someone actually stood up for her to the degree he did.

It made her oddly ... happy to see him jump to her defense for her. That punch, that look of anger on his face.. if he weren't so disciplined, she somehow suspected he might have lunged at that man, especially if he kept talking. "... even so.." she bit her lower lip, ".. it made me happy, that you stood up for me."

Not just that he did, but that it was -him- to do it.