"Thank you," Saint-14 said, and in the same casual breath, added, "I love you."

The Consensus office was quiet but for the gentle hum of the terminals displaying Guardian feeds. Saint sat at his desk, where Osiris had just handed him a datapad with the day's list of tactical reports. That was all. It was something he had done so many times in the course of their work that he could not number them. Now his partner was moving through the data idly, seemingly unaware of Osiris as he stood there staring.

"… Excuse me?" Osiris said, as if he had simply misheard. Then he softened. "Saint…"

He had never heard those words from Saint before, had not known until this moment the Exo's precise feelings. Not in those terms. The Titan looked up at him with an inscrutable expression before smiling coyly.

"Ah, did I surprise you?" Saint asked. "I only say what I am feeling in the moment. But it is true, Osiris. What I am feeling now."

"I…" Osiris said, lost for words. There was a long silence, the moment stretching taut to breaking before Saint spoke again.

"The great Osiris himself," Saint said, chuckling, his voice full of wonder. "Speechless!"

Osiris looked at him. Despite his tone, there was a hint of uncertainty in Saint's eyes. But then the Exo's expression softened, and he reached for Osiris's hand. The Warlock took it.

"Say it only when you are ready," Saint said. "When you feel it too. Not a moment before."

He squeezed Osiris's hand once before letting it go and turning back to the reports.

Osiris looked at his partner. He had done something so small that he hadn't given it a second thought. But there had been so many other gestures and feelings that had come together in this moment. Little favors and kindnesses that he had performed for him, also without a second thought.

Perhaps that was his love.