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Nate stopped writing for a moment to look at him.

“If we’re doing this,” Leo said, “I’ll fight you. Do you understand that? I don’t think I can help it. When you start breaking that wall down, I will try to stop you. I’ll scream and I’ll beg and I’ll mean every word while I’m saying it.” Leo’s gaze on Nate intensified. “Don’t stop.”

The words stuck in Nate’s throat.

“Don’t stop,” Leo repeated. “No matter what I say or do. Do you understand?”

Nate understood. He just didn’t like it.

He looked at the list, which made the job look easy. It was an easy job. Except for the part of it that Leo was describing.

“You’re asking me to stand in a room with you while you scream and keep swinging,” he said.

“Yes.”

“I don’t know if I can do that.”

“You can. You’re the most stubborn man I’ve ever met. You’re almost as stubborn as me, and that’s honestly impressive.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.” Leo leaned over the table, close enough to touch if Nate had any of the tea running through his veins. “If you stop when I scream, then this thing in me will never stop screaming and that wall will still be standing when you’re as old as the men in the diner.”

He was right. Nate hated it, but he was right.

“Fine,” Nate made himself say. “But I’m not doing this without giving you a safe word.”

“A safe word?” Leo seemed taken aback by this. “What for?”

“Something you can say that makes me stop.”

“I just told you you’re not supposed to listen to what I say!”

Nate shook his head. “That doesn’t work for me. You say this instinct you have is old and that it takes control. So we’ll pick something that lets me know it’s really you who’s talking. Something this old thing in you wouldn’t know about.” Nate thought for a second. “Bartholomew.”

Leo stared at him. “You want my word of last resort,” he said, “to be the seal.”

“It’s perfect. You’ve only met him recently. And nobody says Bartholomew by accident.”

“Nobody says Bartholomew at all. I have some dignity left.”

“That’s what makes it safe. If you say it, I’ll know it’s really you, and I’ll put the hammer down.”

Leo opened his mouth. Closed it. Glared.

“Fine,” he said. “Bartholomew. I won’t say it.”

“Okay. As long as you don’t, I keep going.”

“Good.” Leo pushed off the table. “Is that all?”

“One more thing. I want a pinch before we start.” Nate nodded at the cupboard where the tin sat. “I’m about to spend the whole day not listening to you. Before that happens, I want five minutes where I can hold on to you.” He shrugged like it was nothing, and fooled neither of them. “Take it up with the treasurer.”

Leo looked at him for a long moment.

“The treasurer approves the expense.”

Nate got up from the table and started brewing his tea.