[ Aventurine finds it in him to give him a bit of cheek, and Nico simply smiles. When one lives forever, one has nothing but time to give. A shame they haven't the luxury of much here, but a few moments he can certainly spare.

When his beloved finally muddles through his thoughts enough to give voice to them, it's as if so many things suddenly slot into place. Aventurine has survived, only to become a slave. Won his freedom, paid for it in blood, only to land himself in a job that he would rather die than face. Some might call it luck, certainly, but it is a curse too, isn't it?

Nico turns to face him again, his free hand finding Aventurine's once more. ]

I am not an easy man to cage, amour. But more than that, you are not alone anymore. I refuse to let you go because you think I could be hurt, and let you go back to a life of such pain.

If you want to fight your fate, then you have my sword, my heart, whatever you might need.