Leo refused to take his eyes off of his commanding officer, even for a moment. There was something about the topic at hand that gave him a sense of confidence among the unease, his desire to protect Nick overpowering his urge to shut down under the pressure. It was one thing for Nero to pop in during his rounds- he’d done it often, feigning amiability as he’d visit his officers city to city, gauging their loyalty to the organization, writing his reports.

Some of those officers disappeared too suddenly.

He’d seen it before, countless times- he was used to that. What Leo wasn’t used to, was Nero directly asking him about someone else- someone close to him, someone unrelated to his work. At best, Nero would ask about his sister, Madeline- how she was doing, if her eyesight had gotten better or worse. After all, it was Nero himself who had stepped in to help her in exchange for Leo’s work; it was expected for Nero to use a shared experience to fuel his small talk. Now here he was, sitting in Leo’s office, letting a name roll off his tongue that had no business being there.

Leo couldn’t help but sit as straight as his body would let him, his hands fisted atop his knees as he stared across the way to Nero, who had yet to drop his superficial smile. His brain searched for any innocent possibility as to why Nero would bring Nick up, but he fell completely flat- if he hadn’t learned what he had about his friend the day before, Leo may not have had such a strong gut reaction to the question.

How much did Nero know already?

“I suppose there’s really no kind way to put it, Rothstein.” Nero started, crossing one leg over the other, his fingers locking around his knee. “I’d beat around the bush, but I know you well enough- I know by your posture that you’re trying to seem bigger, like a cornered prey in the face of a predator. The eye contact is getting a little uncanny- you act like if you look away, I’ll kill you in a moment's notice. Relax, Commander.”

Leo inhaled sharply, but did as he was told, his shoulders slumping- just a tad- and his eyes averting for a brief moment. Maybe Meg was right- perhaps Leo was too easy to read. 

Nero nodded approvingly before continuing. “Morello, the redhead boy- you’ve known him for quite some time, haven’t you? Made yourself rather comfortable as his friend I’d imagine, given what I’ve been told.” 

What he’s been told? Leo bit the inside of his cheek as Lior flashed in his mind- it wasn’t so farfetched to say he’d been keeping a close eye on him by Nero’s request. “May I ask what relevance my choice of friendships has in my work, sir?” Leo felt himself tread the question carefully, as if his feet were tiptoeing a tightrope, so he was quick to add an addendum. “I only ask because these meetings are typically about just that- my work. Taking an interest in my personal life outside of my sister is new.”

Nero’s smile returned, his head cocking to the side just a bit- if he was trying to give Leo a reason to relax, it wasn’t working. “You were digging in the archives- you tell me. What relevance does Nick have to your work that you would neglect your usual duties to pursue information you couldn’t possibly begin to understand?” Nero let himself lean back against the couch cushions, his legs switching their positions, his arms now crossed. Leo wondered how he could have possibly known what he was looking for in those files. “I’m not sure what Nick has told you, but if you’re looking for information regarding the Morello family, you could simply come to me directly.” Nero’s eye was locked onto Leo, and the young officer couldn’t help but feel his breath hitch for a single moment. “The information in those archives will lead you nowhere, a rather risible waste of your time.”

Leo allowed himself a moment to gauge his next move- so Nero has a history with Nick’s family then? So much to the point that any files referencing their name are out of normal Nightingale’s reach- but that wasn’t the information that Leo was after, he’d been looking for any references to demi-signa, or unique cores. Telling Nero the truth would definitely tip him off, possibly steering the conversation to why Leo needed that information, effectively giving Nick away- but if he were to lie and ask about the Morello family…would that lead to any useful information? Would it make it better or worse?

“That would explain the gaps in the archives.” Leo sighed, crossing his arms and leaning back as well in an attempt to appear more relaxed- yet it was far from the truth. “Is there something I should know about the Morello family?”

Nero hesitated for a moment, his mind obviously working though the question presented to him. “So Nick hasn’t told you anything?”

“No.” 

“Have you spoken to his father, Jonathon?”

“Also no.” Leo replied. “I wouldn’t say he’s a fan- I don’t visit the Morello home.” Obviously Nero already knew of the family on a first name basis, there wasn’t a point in hiding that information if it was common knowledge. 

Nero sighed and looked away, putting a hand to his chin in thought. As Leo waited for a response, he wondered what exactly Nero had intended here- did he think Leo was conspiring with an enemy, was that why this watch was placed on him? Better yet, why would the Morello’s be considered an enemy to Nightingale? What could a seemingly innocent family of five possibly do to have Drahl Nero himself on edge?

“You must understand- I'm simply curious as to your sudden interest in these archives- the only given lead being your little friend…but, if that’s the case, then I suppose this conversation is moot now, isn’t it?” Nero said with a sigh, his eye closed and his brow turned up in despair. “You’ll have to forget I brought anything up- I do have a request, if you would.”

Leo perked up to attention, almost as if his body was conditioned to do so at this point. “Yes sir?”

Nero’s stare was one that sent chills down Leo’s spine, a single crimson eye peering unsparingly into Leo’s. “Keep yourself at arms length with the Morello’s. I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that they’re not exactly a family I’d welcome warmly. They’ve caused a considerable amount of trouble for my organization,and I intend to take action should they prove to continue their meddling. I’d hate for you…or Madeline, to get caught in the crossfire.”

That was a threat.

Leo pursed his lips as he continued to hold the gaze he and Nero shared. “Of course, sir.”

Nero’s cheeky smile quickly returned and he stood up, holding out his hand. Leo stood quickly and shook it- Nero’s grip was a little tight, and Leo felt himself look up to see him staring intently at him.

“If I have a reason to believe this relationship is a problem, I will not hesitate to take out the source of the problem.” With that as his final word, Nero released Leo’s hand and walked away, out the door, shutting it quietly behind him. Leo stared at the large, wooden door, tracing its design with his eyes for a brief moment before sighing and dropping into the couch, staring ahead of him.

Did he just threaten to kill Nick if he thought it was necessary?

Leo tilted his head back to groan, letting his arms rest on either side of his body. If he and Nick were going to continue pursuing this information, it would have to be done so with utmost secrecy…but Lior would be a problem.

Leo pulled his phone out to check for any messages or calls, seeing a text from his subordinate and friend, Jack, as well as a single text from Nick- he chose to open that one first. ‘Morn! I’m fine, by the way. There are a few perks to my situation.” Nick’s text read as bubbly and relaxed, and Leo smiled at his phone. ‘You got a minute to talk about our reschedule?’ Leo was just happy to see Nick was fairing well after the attack- he also had to admit that he was glad that Nick had texted him at all. He was feeling a little weary that night of having come off too strong in his declaration to the Dranduin man, and he was concerned he’d scared his date away.

Right, his date- their date.

Leo brought the phone above his face, texting Nick back. “I won't be able to call you right away. My dig into the archives was interrupted- things might be a little worse than we thought. I promise I’ll get into contact with you as soon as I can.” He shifted to open the text from Jack, his smile fading immediately as he read the words on the screen.

‘Lior disappeared at some point- when I texted him to ask where he’d gone, he only told me he was out doing some research for Nero. Sounds like code for ‘I’m gonna do some fuckshit.’’ Leo groaned even louder at the thought of Lior causing trouble, then furrowed his brows and sat up, pulling his texts with Nick back open.

“Jack’s informed me that Lior isn’t with them at the moment, I think my questions might have tipped him off to do his own investigating, but if you see him, don’t talk to him. I know Nero’s assigned him to watch me- he may be assigned to you as well.”

Once he’d hit send Leo let his occupied hand rest on his leg, the other coming up to hold his head and rest on his knee. 

–

Taking his frustrations out on some training dummies was actually a great idea- Kato was usually right about these things, and it really did highlight exactly why Nick was quick to go to him for advice on dealing with his emotions. The older brother considered himself, in recent years, above dealing with his emotions in any capacity, taking instead to distracting himself with anything he could set his mind to. If that was beating on some wooden dummies, so be it.

Unfortunately as a future diplomat, swinging a sword at his problems wasn't always going to be the best solution. Nick slammed the blade point-down into the ground, leaning on it to catch his breath. Scattered pieces of wooden dummies surrounded him and he internally groaned at the idea of picking it all up. Leaving the sword embedded in the ground he stood up straight, stretching his back and knee- pausing to hear footsteps behind him. 

His sister Ashley and her friend, Lana- friend, right, definitely-not-her-girlfriend Lana, stood in the sliding doorway of the patio watching him catch his breath.

"Geez, what'd they do to you?" Lana asked playfully, taking a few steps into the backyard and assessing the damage Nick had caused. "Didn't think they had it in ‘em."

Nick rolled his eyes- Lana was a treat to be around, and he always wondered why Ashley would be so embarrassed to call Lana her partner- she'd deny it, insisting they were just friends, but anyone with half a brain knew it was so much more than that. "They looked at me wrong and I took it personally." He pulled the sword from the ground and walked over to a nearby picnic table, resting it there. "You staying over tonight?" He motioned towards the bag on her shoulder and Lana instinctively glanced at it.

"Yep! Well, if your mom and dad say it's alright." She replied as she looked back towards Ashley, who leaned against the doorway with her arms crossed.

"Any idea where they are?" Ashley tilted her head to glance into the kitchen. "Are they out to dinner or something? Kinda early, isn’t it?"