[He's not so dense not to notice Vergil struggling with this. It's another one of those things he can tell his father says from a place of profound experience. His own experience, as he admits. It's so clearly uncomfortable for him to tread into these topics, and Nero deeply appreciates the effort he takes to do so anyway. The only reason he's not looking at him making serious eye contact to show he's listening is that he knows it'll probably make Vergil uncomfortable.

But once again, Mr. Precision has absolutely cut to the heart of the issue. It's a diagnosis he wouldn't have been willing to hear half an hour ago, but an undeniably true one. It wasn't strength that made him keep getting up today. It was fear. Fear of disappointing Vergil, fear of proving himself inadequate, fear that giving up meant failing meant a permanent diminishing of himself.]

I know you're right. [Painfully right. He'd rather have pushed himself unconscious today than thrown in the towel, and being made to do so set him off hard.

And yeah, he is young, he is inexperienced with his powers, he IS at a disadvantage as far as sheer genetics go (a thing he will never admit out loud and never wants to hear, even though he's sure they both know it's a factor.) But...]

And I know it'll take time, but- it's hard to be patient. When I'm not strong enough, people die. They have died, because I wasn't strong enough. I can get over wounded pride, but if something happened to you guys, or Kyrie...

[That's not really something he can solve. Vergil can't solve it either. So all Nero can do is give him a brief shrug and a shake of his head.]

I don't know how I learn to handle those stakes. I have to anyway.