["I see"? What kind of answer was that?! He held his breath when Dio's glare sharpened and now, all he leaves him with, is no condemnation or absolution, but a frustratingly vague "I see"?! He can't bear all the scrutiny and, still thoroughly exhausted, patience spent, manages to filter almost none of his anger:]

Are you satisfied now, Wolf, or do you still doubt me?

I didn't think— that was my mistake— that someone could identify you by a nickname that was made up on the spot.

But I never once lied to you.

[But even the anger breaks quickly, into weak, half-hearted grumbling:]

... do you believe me now? ... it's fine if you don't, I guess, it's not like either one of us has reason to perfectly trust in the other. You could go talk to your pets if that's what you want. [Again, no filter.]

It's smarter not to, we just met. Just don't accuse me of doing something I haven't, okay? [He runs a hand through his hair, clutching at the strands a bit nervously, before letting go, and sighing a bit.]

... so, am I free to go now or do you want to continue to stand there, fangs poised above my neck?

[Proverbially speaking, of course, not that Dio couldn't do so literally...

But he was, if nothing else, good at sounding confident, even if everything else about his manner betrayed him. Or maybe he hoped vainly that if he brought such a scenario up in a derisive way, as if it were ludicrous, it was less likely to actually happen.

Maybe things would've been better if he had him for a snack that night after all.]