Chapter 68: Compensation

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Compensation

Nero folded forward with a low groan.

Sebastian’s satisfaction lasted approximately one second.

Then instinct overrode common sense.

"Nero?"

The phone slipped from Sebastian’s lap onto the cushion as he turned toward him, amusement disappearing while Nero remained bent slightly at the waist, one large hand pressed over his abdomen and his white-blond hair falling forward enough to hide most of his expression.

Sebastian frowned.

He had not hit him hard.

Not remotely.

The strike had carried enough weight to make a point, certainly, but Sebastian knew what Nero was capable of absorbing without consequence. He had watched recordings of the man dealing with infected beasts using approximately the amount of effort an ordinary person might devote to catching an annoying fly, and those creatures could tear through armored vehicles when frustrated.

Sebastian’s fist should have ranked somewhere beneath an inconvenient breeze.

Still—

Nero had only recently slept for three days after exhausting himself keeping Sebastian alive.

Roberta had found actual strain in his blood work.

Sebastian’s irritation evaporated.

"Did I actually hurt you?"

Nero made another quiet sound.

That did not help.

Sebastian shifted closer on the sofa, one knee turning toward him while his hand moved instinctively to Nero’s shoulder.

"Nero."

"I’m fine."

The answer came slightly strained.

Sebastian’s brows pulled together.

That was exactly the tone people used while very much not being fine. He knew that because he used it all the time.

"Move your hand."

Nero did not.

Sebastian’s concern sharpened.

"I said move it."

The crown prince slowly lifted his head.

His face looked almost normal.

Sebastian searched it anyway, gaze moving over the slight tension around his mouth before dropping toward the hand still covering his abdomen.

"You were sedated for three days," Sebastian muttered, more to himself than Nero. "Roberta said your body was strained, and I hit you without even thinking about—"

Nero’s eyes changed. A flicker of delight appeared behind all that supposed suffering.

Sebastian stopped.

Silence settled between them.

Nero lowered his gaze quickly to hide the grin on his face.

Sebastian stared at him.

"You bastard."

Nero managed another pained exhale.

It would have been convincing if Sebastian had not just caught the unmistakable beginning of that grin.

"You are pretending."

"I would never exploit your concern."

"You are doing exactly that."

"I am wounded."

"You kill infected beasts with less effort than I use opening stubborn jars."

"That comparison seems exaggerated."

"I have seen you do it."

"They were relatively small beasts."

Sebastian’s expression flattened.

Nero finally looked up.

The performance cracked.

Not completely, because apparently Nero had discovered something far too valuable to abandon immediately, but enough that his mouth twitched while Sebastian sat beside him trying to decide whether strangling a recovering enigma qualified as medically irresponsible.

"You looked worried," Nero said.

Sebastian stared.

There was no shame in his voice. If anything, Nero sounded pleased.

"I was worried."

The smile widened.

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.

"You enjoyed that."

"Immensely."

"Nero."

"I have waited years to see you panic over me."

"I did not panic."

"You dropped your phone."

"That proves nothing." ℴ

"You touched my shoulder."

"I was checking whether I had accidentally damaged something."

"You said my name twice."

Sebastian slowly removed his hand from Nero’s shoulder.

Nero immediately caught it.

"No."

"No?"

"I like it there."

Sebastian looked at their hands.

Then back at him.

"You are shameless."

"I have never represented myself otherwise."

That, annoyingly, was true.

Nero shifted closer until their thighs pressed together, all signs of abdominal devastation apparently forgotten now that he had secured Sebastian’s attention.

Sebastian glanced pointedly at his stomach.

"Miraculous recovery."

"I am resilient."

"You are a liar."

"I dramatized."

Sebastian let out a disbelieving laugh and tried to retrieve his hand.

Nero kept it.

"You owe me compensation."

"For what?"

Nero looked genuinely surprised by the question.

"For striking me."

"You deserved it."

"That has no bearing on damages."

"There were no damages."

"My dignity."

Sebastian looked around the empty library.

"Who witnessed it?"

"I did."

"That is unfortunate."

Nero’s eyes narrowed.

Sebastian smiled.

The entire interaction should have irritated him more than it did, but seeing Nero this obnoxiously alive, recovered enough to manipulate sympathy out of one harmless punch, made something warm settle beneath the annoyance.

Nero saw that and decided to weaponize it.

"Wear a robe at our wedding and I will forgive you," Nero said, kissing Sebastian’s knuckles.

Sebastian stared at him.

The late light caught along the silver rings on Nero’s fingers while he held Sebastian’s hand against his chest with entirely too much satisfaction for a man who had been supposedly injured less than a minute ago.

"You are enjoying this far too much."

Nero’s grin widened.

"You care."

Sebastian sighed.

"Yes."

That answer stopped him.

For once, Nero did not immediately turn it into another joke.

Sebastian looked at their joined hands and continued before the silence became ridiculous.

"I care about your well-being. I care whether you are exhausted, whether you are hurt, whether you are doing something stupid enough to make Roberta sedate you for three days."

Nero’s expression softened.

Sebastian looked back at him.

"And before you become unbearable about it, no, that does not mean I will tolerate you pretending to be injured just to prove a point."

"It was a very valuable point."

"You are lucky I like you."

"Love me."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes.

Nero looked delighted.

"Careful."

"You just admitted concern for my physical condition."

"That is not the same sentence."

"It is adjacent."

"You really do turn everything into negotiations."

"I have strengths."

Sebastian shook his head, but he did not pull his hand away this time.

Nero noticed that too.

His thumb moved slowly across Sebastian’s knuckles.

"So," Nero said, voice suspiciously mild, "the robe."

Sebastian’s expression flattened.

"There it is."

"One robe."

"No."

"Silver with purple lining."

Sebastian hesitated.

Nero’s eyes sharpened immediately.

Sebastian regretted everything.

"You are impossible."

"And cared for."

The satisfaction in Nero’s voice was unbearable.

Sebastian leaned closer and pressed two fingers against the center of his forehead.

"You are going to weaponize this forever, aren’t you?"

Nero kissed his palm.

"Absolutely."