People do things you don't expect.

[It's Bradley and Nero, outside of a castle. They seem to be right below a balcony, so other people can't really view them.

It cuts in right in the middle of a conversation. "But there is one thing I want to ask you," Bradley's looking at Nero with his usual confident smile.

".....What?" Nero looks uncomfortable.

"Where were you on the night I was captured? If you had been there, I never would've been caught." It's just a friendly question, curious of anything.

"..........." Nero looks like he wants to leave this conversation immediately. Right now.

"I'm not here to blame you or anything. But I always wanted to know what happened to you. Spit it out, Nero." He's not even accusatory.

"......I......" Nero's gaze shifts away, he's clearly on edge.

"Ahaha! Hey, what's wrong? Don't look so serious! It's not like I got caught because of you. I just wanna hear the truth." Warm, friendly. Bradley's usual tone when he talks to people he likes.

"..........." Nero cannot summon a single word.

"Nero.......?" Bradley's voice wavers. His expression falls, he's certain Nero was the reason.]

It'd be a lot fuckin' easier to make sure of that with my magic.

[A sigh.]

Still got my rifle, at least.