Feeling Credo pause for a moment, Nero sleepily blinked up at him, watching as Credo looked forwards once again, seemingly unwilling to jostle Nero more than necessary. Nero shifted himself in the other’s hold, tucking his face between Credo’s neck and shoulder, feeling comfortably warm.

Nero tensed and grumbled as he sleepily registered that he was being lifted from his seat. He wasn’t completely unconscious just yet, but attempting to wiggle out of Credo’s arms felt like wading through molasses, limbs slow and heavy with exhaustion.

The casual display of confidence and authority from Credo seemed to light a fire in Nero, both in an indignant irritation and a slow warmth that he hoped wasn’t showing itself in a steady flush rising on his cheeks. Leaning forward ever closer to Credo’s face, Nero spoke one word in response. “So?”

Nero followed Credo’s movements with his eyes, a shiver of anticipation running down his spine as soon as Credo’s eyes left his. The sound of the door closing felt almost deafening in the silent room. His brain scrambled for a witty response, refusing to back down now. “I’d like to see you try.”

Nero stifled the sharp intake of breath he took at Credo's statement, face briefly displaying his shock before he quickly schooled it back into defiance. "Well then, I wish you luck.... I certainly won't be making it easy for you."

Stubbornly maintaining eye contact as he watched Credo stand, Nero snorted a bit as if lightly mocking Credo’s words “And what are you going to do to make sure I behave, hm?”

Nero meets Credo’s eyes, his usual resistance to authority showing through in his next words “You called me in here on such short notice Credo. Did you want me to drop all my plans and come running like a puppy?”

Nero watched Credo's face twitch ever so slightly in irritation and held himself back from releasing a huff of amusement at the expression. He walked closer to the other, perching himself lightly on the edge of the older man's desk. "I had shit to do, y'know?"

Nero shuffled into the room, stretching as he relaxed into the familiar environment "Sorry about that.... you know how it is."