Relius looked rather busy. It was terrible timing in short. The long form would be that Hazama was going to have to put in far more effort than he would have liked to. There had to be some sort of shortcut for dealing with the colonel. He'd tried a little of everything, but the man was damn good at stone-walling him whenever he was busy. No amount of sassing or teasing seemed to change that. Hazama would hang around close, read over his shoulder and even make himself comfortable openly on Relius' furniture in the lab but it did nothing. He had one idea left though. And considering how deeply the colonel was ignoring him this was going to have to be it. Time to break out his bigger weapons.

Hazama lingered aside Relius' big chair for a moment; leaning over his shoulder a bit and seeming to snoop on what he was doing. It wasn't like it was all entirely a mystery to him. He got most of it. But it was not the time to get distracted in what was actually going on. No, instead Hazama inched in a little lower every so often until his face was nearly level with Relius'. He could tell the colonel was getting annoyed, but ignoring him. Usually that did work.

Not this time.

He stayed too long focused on the screens before the puppeteer. They could only remain in this state so long sure, but Hazama knew better. The old man would win out over time—he always did. So he had to step things up one more notch.

When Relius appeared to have accepted his fate Hazama quickly slipped under one arm and helped himself to Relius' lap; sitting aside him with his legs hung over the arm of the chair. Hazama returned to appearing fixed on the screen.

There was a very long, very quiet moment.

Relius cracked finally with an uncomfortable clearing of his throat. "You're..."

As he trailed off Hazama finally looked his way and smiled pleasantly. "Yes, colonel? What can I do for you?" He had to rub it in while he had the chance.

"You'll need to move your head a little. You're in the way," he answered stern.

Hazama stared him down. He was serious about that too. Hazama groaned loudly and let himself hang dramatically over the side of the chair; his hands grazing the floor now. One hand reached up to keep his hat on his head at least.

"Is there nothing I can do to shake you, Relius?" he asked as the blood started to rush to his head.

"If throwing yourself over me is supposed to 'shake' me then I'm beginning to think you've run out of ideas," he answered casually; continuing to work over Hazama like he wasn't even there.

Clearly this was not enough to get his way. "I haven't even begun," Hazama muttered and started to rise. Before he got too far up Relius' hand pressed down on his chest.

"Let me get through this last bit. Be still until then."

Hazama immediately barked at him. "You're joking right? I'm not staying like this. Move."

Relius' hand moved from Hazama's chest to his face—effectively shutting him up for a few seconds. The other hand was still typing away at the keys through it all. It was both impressive and terribly frustrating.

Hazama let himself hang there for a few seconds before frustration won out. He caught a hold of Relius' glove with his teeth and with a creative tug, he yanked it off. Relius didn't even budge. He let the glove and his hat drop to the floor. He pulled himself up and shoved Relius' arm away.

There was a certain sort of determination in each move as Hazama latched an arm around the colonel's neck and just as smoothly the other hand held off the colonel's other. He would not be pushing him away again. The typing finally slowed a little.

"Have you caused enough trouble?" Relius asked in a lower voice.

"Not nearly enough. But I am letting you work, aren't I? I'm hardly a bother," the captain insisted pleasantly.

There came a defeated sigh. It was rare, but even after it Hazama could tell Relius was almost grinning. He was the one trying too hard surely.