[ it's not often nico gets on his knees for anyone, at least not in the way kavinsky is thinking. he's the type to stride forward on the battlefield, push others out of the way and let his fear aura talk for him. he's faced down the lord of time without flinching, faced the curses of the arai, walked the flesh of tartarus itself. he may have been broken then, especially when he met the goddess of misery, but he never once bowed before them.

the reason he kneels before kavinsky now is for a different reason. maybe it's because he knows misery, has seen her face, that he knows misery in others. like now, even as kavinsky keeps his face a mask of impassiveness. he can tell kavinsky is working through this, and even if he gets a snarky remark, it'll be worth it to see that kavinsky is trying.

but he doesn't get snark, he doesn't get sass. he gets a small admission and that prompts the corners of his lips to quirk a little. he slides a hand up to cup kavinsky's cheek, well aware that this kind of touch might either set him off or be exactly what he needs. ]

I don't want you to pretend. Pretending just makes it worse. I speak from experience. It'll just continue to fester inside. Instead, tell me what you need.