"Annnnd," Leon drawled, "Think of all the gossip we could take part in, and for missions of course it would be helpful." He offered with a smirk.

"Only if you guys are comfortable" Nikkishyly responded, fidgeting with something under his glove, and Leo noticed.

"Hey, what's that, Nikki ?" He swiftly changed the topic, recognising when nikki got more uncomfortable, but was too polite to point it out.

"What-What's what? It's, uh, nothing!" I exclaimed far too quickly, quickly laying his hands on top of each other. The guys all frowned in worry.

"Hey," Leo began softly in what nikki had termed his Dad Voice TM, "I promise it's okay, remember that we're safe, yeah?" He made sure his body language was totally relaxed and welcoming, face open.

"Well..." nikki seemed unsure, and looked away to the side, biting at my bottom lip, and that definitely caused the alarm bells to start ringing loudly at the back of his mind.

"C'mon, nikki you know I can never get mad at you?" Worried as fuck? sure, Angry on her behalf? Often, Terrified for her safety? Always.

That seemed to shake nikki enough and he met Leo's warm and open eyes, his own glassy and wide with anxiety. Oh-kay, even more worried. It took all he had to not immediately begin checking her over.

"You promise you won't be mad?"

Leo sat up with a worried face, shoulders straightening. With all his resolve he stared into Nikki eyes, pouring every ounce of love and promise into his gaze as he could.

"You aren't injured are you? I won't be angry but you for certain will be grounded!"

"No," nikki quickly clarified, "I'm not injured, but well, there's something that I meant to come clean to you about, and I honestly don't know how you'll react."

Leo tilted his head to the side. nikki had totally lost him at this point, he had absolutely no idea where this is going. In his worry, a low croon escaped his vocal cords without him fully aware of it.

Nikki sat up straighter at the sound, and after a few seconds, a small sound of his own responded - a chirp.