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Osiris paced the courtyard.
He'd been pacing the courtyard for nearly forty minutes.
Timur smirked to himself, watching the younger Warlock smugly as he unwittingly ground a groove into the pavers.
" Hey ."
Timur yelped, jumping as Colovance delivered a sharp zap of Arc energy straight to one buttock, singeing him.
"Are you going to take this seriously or not?" His student was glaring at him, eyes narrowed, his lips twisted into a sour sulk. Timur gasped, smiling apologetically as he rubbed the sting out of his backside with one hand.
"Sorry bud," he said, chagrined.
"Go spar with Osiris if you're uninterested," Colovance complained.
"It's not that, really," Timur promised, turning his back on his lover and squaring off with Colovance instead, his hands rising up to the ready. "He's just so funny when he's all wound up like that. I can't help watching!" Colovance chuffed out a soft snort of a laugh.
"You have a point, there," he agreed lowly. He tipped his head to glance past Timur's lean frame, one eyebrow up. "What's he all worked up about this time, anyway?" He asked, circling his master as they began to trade lazy blows while they continued to chat, the atmosphere between them comfortably mellow. Timur laughed brightly, managing to shrug around a parry.
"Not sure!"
"You have a guess, surely," Colovance said, kicking half-heartedly at Timur's ankles in a rather poor attempt at a leg-sweep.
Dancing clear, Timur made a mental note to pair him off with Felwinter again. His student was a superb shot, and had his Light well to heel, but his CQC was still bordering abysmal. Timur would teach everything he knew, but Felwinter could pick apart a Guardian’s entire combat technique on pure instinct. This made him ruthless in combat, yes, but also granted him the gift of being a remarkable instructor. His knack for not only understanding battle, but also communicating how it worked, had made Osiris into a talented warrior, and over time by chance, Timur as well. He passed what he could along, but some things simply needed to come from straight from the source.
"Oh, I do," Timur hummed, grinning fondly. "I’m guessing we may have a visitor quite soon."
He barked out a laugh and lunged back when Colovance managed to surprise him with another crackling zing of Arc, this time right across his wrists. It made his hands throb and go numb, and forced him to recoil reflexively instead of landing a blow. Not perfectly well-rounded, no, he reasoned, but the kid did just fine with what he had.
"Clever!" He giggled, delighted. His giggles cut off abruptly, and he jumped back even further when he was immediately pursued by a shimmering fireball, then a second, and a third, Colovance lobbing his Light in fast, fiery pursuit. He'd never catch him, but Timur thought it was nice to see him still trying so hard anyway.
Timur finally scampered entirely clear of Colovance's range, and his student fell still and straightened up, planting himself rather than wasting energy on what he knew was a futile pursuit.
"Damn you," he grumbled, smiling in defeat.
"Void, darling," Timur cooed. "A strong enough vortex could have pulled me right back to you." Colovance's nose wrinkled up in distaste.
"I'd rather not," he grumbled, raising a hand. His ghost dropped an auto rifle into his grip and he leveled it at Timur. "If I really needed you down I could shoot you instead," he declared. "I don't care for all that dark stuff." The gun vanished again. He didn't care for waving crude munitions at his mentor, either. He didn’t care for fighting.
Timur sighed softly, but shrugged away his dismay. Many times before, he'd emphasized the usefulness of a more well-rounded toolkit of Light proficiency, but in reality he didn't know many lightbearers who actually put that kind of dogma to practice, himself included, and so he didn't push too hard. Colovance was smart, and perfectly aware of his own strengths and weaknesses. If he shied away from one discipline, it was an easy bet he'd strengthened another skill to cleanly pull in the slack. He’d long since proven himself, after all.
"Fair, fair," he conceded. "Everyone's got their- A- ha !" The soft whine of thrusters passing high overhead drew his attention upward, and Timur grinned as a jumpship circled twice, then descended at a polite distance over the valley down to something closer to eye-level. "What did I tell you?" He hummed, stopping entirely to watch, hands on his hips. Colovance considered hitting him while he was distracted again, but instead came to stand at his side.
"Not one of ours with an announcing pass like that," he observed.
"Nuh," Timur grunted, shaking his head. "Definitely not."
Down slope a ways, Osiris had stopped pacing and instead stood planted, watching the boxy little ship approach with a hawkish stare.
As the pair watched the ship’s approach, Felwinter moseyed over to join Timur and his student. He didn't say a word, but there was a pleased sort of smugness radiating off of him in waves that made Timur start to titter softly.
"What now?" Colovance groaned, wary of his master's giddiness. "You're really in one hell of a mood, Lord Timur."
"Osiris has himself a boyfriend!" Timur giggled.
Colovance looked at Felwinter, baffled.
" Another boyfriend," Timur snorted, choking on his mirth.
"I am no one's boyfriend , you gremlin," Felwinter grumbled. Timur sputtered, making disastrously poor work of muffling his delighted cackles. He carried on for nearly a minute more before he finally started to catch his breath, shaking his head as he heaved for air.
"I suppose not," he agreed, at length. "Did he tell you he was expecting a visit, Fel?" Timur asked, still shaking with half-swallowed glee.
"He didn't need to," Felwinter snorted. "It's rather obvious, isn’t it?"
"Well yes. But did he say ?"
"He did not."
"Doesn't seem like the kind of guy to brag about a date," Colovance mused, watching the unfamiliar ship drop down low enough for an armored figure to drop out of transmat below it, not far from where Osiris was stomping up in greeting. "You know, he'll burn the entire mountainside if he catches you two gossiping about him."
"That'd be a spectacle!" Timur laughed, unconcerned.
"Light, that man is enormous!" Colovance gasped, still watching.
Saint-14 had landed heavily a meter or two ahead of Osiris' approach, arms spread wide in greeting.
"He is! But I'm sure Osiris can handle-"
" Timur ," Felwinter gave his lover a hard jab in the ribs, making Timur yelp and stagger. He grinned, unrepentant, back at Felwinter as Colovance caught his meaning and turned an utterly blazing shade of pink.
"Incorrigible," Felwinter lamented in just the kind of tone that suggested this might actually be a compliment.
Out at the edge of the courtyard, Saint stepped in and tried to hug Osiris in his customary greeting, but the still-prickly Sunsinger stepped smoothly back, dodging him.
"Were... you joking about the boyfriend thing?" Colovance murmured, baffled.
He'd spoken softly, his voice surely barely carrying past Felwinter and Timur's hearing, but Osiris turned and looked back at the trio abruptly as though he’d heard, his expression sharp.
"Oh, look! He finally remembered us," Timur laughed, waving. Osiris’ head canted back in a gesture of abject exasperation, but then he pulled himself laboriously back upright and was waving Saint along after him as he marched up to rejoin his little flock, the merrily smiling Titan close in tow.
"Osiris!" Timur cooed as the pair arrived within earshot. "If you'd told us you were expecting a visitor we could have cleaned up a little!" He flashed a playful grin at Saint, teasing. The Exo only smiled back and then bowed deeply, perhaps expecting a little razzing from Osiris’ lovers after his last visit.
"Lord Timur, Lord Felwinter," he greeted, then straightened, meeting Colovance's eyes. "You, my friend, I have not yet met, no? I am called Saint-14."
"Lord Colovance has been my student for a long time," Timur announced, his smile softening to warm pride. Colovance's ears turned pink, betraying his pleasure at being introduced by his newly christened title. "We were doing a little sparring when you flew over," Timur said, tipping his chin up.
"It is great pleasure, Lord Colovance," Saint said, bowing so deeply for Colovance that the young Warlock was rendered entirely flustered by his chivalry. He laughed softly, fumbling a woefully clumsy reply.
"Yes! Always more training! Thank you!" he gasped, fumbling for conversation. "Sparring isn't my strong suit. I’ll admit I’m relieved for the interruption!" Saint looked briefly contrite but then smiled as he unpacked the rest of what Colovance was saying.
"Ah but you're a clever tactician. And you're more than capable of holding your own,” Timur assured. “You would have toasted me if I hadn't run away, you know." He gave Colovance a warm whap on the shoulder, making him wince and flush slightly. "We can get Fel and Osiris to battle out a few demos for you again. You pick up a lot watching them… If we can keep them from getting too wound up!" He laughed at his own joke. Osiris grumbled.
Saint perked up with interest.
"Sparring?" He asked. He glanced first at Osiris, gauging his mood briefly, then turned a hopeful smile on Felwinter, who still stood by in silence like Timur's shadow, watching all the little interactions thoughtfully. Felwinter blinked, tilting his head curiously, eyes narrowing. Positioned strategically at the elbow of both Exos, Osiris' eyes widened a little as he caught onto Saint’s intentions just before he spoke.
"Would you indulge me, Lord Felwinter, in friendly match? Er, for Lord Colovance to observe as well. I admit I have been terribly curious about you," Saint continued, all smiles. Felwinter listened in silence, staring back at the Titan in frigid stoicism, and Saint withered just slightly. "To be clear," Saint threw another telling glance at Osiris, checking on him again, "I do not intend challenge, yes?" his smile wobbled then recovered. "Bring Osiris with you. I will battle you both toge-"
"No."
Saint stopped talking with a sharp click of his jaws.
"I hear you are formidable, but Osiris and I working in concert would humiliate even you," Felwinter murmured, the tiniest glimmer of playful mirth rippling through his flat voice. "One-on-one is acceptable."
Osiris’ eyebrows shot right up, but Timur grinned outright. Already wary of his master’s mood, Colovance caught the Stormtrancer’s devious expression first.
"Oh no."
"Oh yes," Timur chuckled, stepping away from his student. "Come on, gentlemen, let’s up the ante a little and put a wager on this."
"Timur, so help me-" Felwinter began, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"A sweet little smooch on the cheek from Osiris, maybe?" Timur finished, ignoring his lover's building threat.
Saint's jaw dropped in shock, but Osiris snorted.
"You bastard," he drawled, not a drop of heat in his voice. "Fine, I'll throw a kiss in the pot," Osiris said, rolling his eyes and smirking when Saint was unable to hide the way his biolights blushed from lavender to an almost maroon color. "Although frankly, I'd be ready to do quite a lot more for anyone who could actually beat Felwinter in a fair fight," Osiris added, his tone dropping saucily.
For a moment, nobody said anything as they all processed that , and even Felwinter's lights darkened. Saint looked fit to pass out.
Timur let out a low whistle.
"Damn! That mouth...! Alright, you heard it here, Fel. Osiris' chastity is on the line! You'd better-"
Osiris barked out a sharp laugh.
"No! No, no!" Saint blurted, finally recovering from his flustered shock. " None of that! A kiss, only! I f Osiris agrees ."
"I said I did," Osiris grumbled, crossing his arms in annoyance. "So get on with it."
The two Exos exchanged a look, and Felwinter nodded. With the glimmer of transmats, armor was donned, and Osiris, Timur, and a softly sputtering Colovance retreated back to a safe distance.
"No guns," Saint rumbled, squaring his stance and shaking his arms out as he readied himself. "Just our bodies, and our Light."
"You'll regret that," Felwinter purred, looking for all the world to be perfectly relaxed. "First death or surrender loses?"
"Deal."
Felwinter extended his hand to shake, and when Saint gripped his palm, the Warlock yanked .
Fully armored, Saint probably had him outweighed by at least half again, if not nearly double, but with a strong pull of his arm, twist of his back, and a long, elegant sweep of his leg, Felwinter had the Titan over his shoulder and laid out flat at his feet with a thunderous crash in the brutal blink of an eye.
For a moment Saint lay prone, looking terribly surprised. Then he let out a shriek of a laugh, clapping his hands together gleefully. Still laughing, he rolled to his feet and straight into a low shoulder lunge aimed right at Felwinter's knees, rushing the Warlock.
"Ha! Oh I like you, Lord Felwinter! You are good fun!" Saint crowed, delighted.
Felwinter danced back nimbly, drifting his way airborne to evade Saint's attack, veering safely to the side as Saint’s momentum carried him fully upright.
"Now now, no need for formalities," Felwitner rumbled, the faintest shimmer of Void making his form shift just before he vanished, reappearing right at Saint's shoulder. "We're to be friends, right?" He punctuated his words by driving his elbow into the side of Saint's helmet with an incredibly loud clang!
Saint's head didn't even move.
Instead, his fist snapped up, and he caught Felwinter by the arm, his palm engulfing the hissing Warlock's entire bicep in an unbreakable grip. Saint raised his hand, lifting Felwinter clean off his feet, but was immediately forced to let go when Felwinter slapped a whirling knot of sharply pulling Void Light right between them. It stung, biting hard, licking and tearing at Saint's armor and the air between them, and the Titan's amaranthine shield was quickly summoned before anything important got gnawed away while he lunged back to a safer distance. Felwinter shook his arm, piqued.
"Yes, good friends, I think!" Saint laughed, squaring his shoulders as Felwinter cautiously widened the gap between them as well, his spine straightening as he centered his stance back to the ready.
" Both use the Void?" Colovance gasped from where he stood back with Timur and Osiris. "Should we step back further?"
"There is no need," Osiris grunted, rolling his eyes. He was watching the pair of Exos test one another with a look of bright hunger, fascinated, and was irked by the interruption. “You know how mindful Felwinter is of his Light and Saint is no fool either."
A flick of Saint's wrist sent his Void-crafted shield whizzing right at Felwinter, but the Warlock planted his weight and held his ground, guarding his arm in dark-hued Light to block it, sending it ricocheting away in a wild arc upward to disappear into the high cloud cover overhead.
"Done with your warmup?" Felwinter growled, the pointed horns of his helm rising as he ducked down bullishly in as overt a challenge as anyone had ever seen from him. Timur began chuckling softly when he heard the faint sound of Osiris' breath catching audibly. Not that his own heart beat any slower at the sight. Subtle though Felwinter's expressions were, it was testament to Osiris' vetting that he allowed himself to become so frisky with a near-stranger. Timur quietly made a mental note to explain that nuance to the newest addition to their circle later. Although, considering it further, with how well Saint seemed to read Osiris, Timur couldn't help but wonder if he'd already figured Felwinter out on his own as well.
"I was about to ask same of you!" Saint crowed. With a swift jerk of his wrist, he pulled another lucent disk into his hand, lowered his shoulder, and charged.
Felwinter met him head on in a ferocious explosion of Void Light.
Pebbles kicked and jumped, skittering toward the two Exos, and the inexorable gravitational pull they’d crushed between them. Colovance sputtered, coughing briefly as for a moment, the air itself was stretched too-thin by the pull, and then the atmosphere screamed back into the massive breach Felwinter had torn through it with an earth-shaking boom. Timur placed an arm over his student’s shoulders, rubbing his back reassuringly, but Osiris, seemingly unbothered, or perhaps entirely mesmerized, possibly never even blinked.
Saint and Felwinter broke apart again briefly only to return to tussling like cats in a spat, colliding together with arms and legs in wicked, swift strikes: palms open, fists closed, weapons formed of the Light coming and going as quickly as they could be imagined and released again, all the while, the slowly dwindling rift in reality - no, two melded together! - picked and gnawed at their armor and bodies between them, wearing them down where the more direct physical attacks seemed to fail.
Felwinter ducked an upper cut, Saint leaping clear of his following leg-sweep, the Voidwalker caught in a follow-on throw but managing to tumble through into a soft landing only to have to slip into the space between realities almost immediately to avoid another thunderous rush from the Titan. Saint, despite his size, was astoundingly fast and easily giving Felwinter, for all his swiftness, a run for his money.
"Holding back?" Saint purred, clapping his fist into his palm and giving his neck a stretch when Felwinter managed to evade him yet again.
"I thought you were, so I was being polite," Felwinter countered, an audible smirk in his voice. Both Guardians lunged once again, but just as they clashed together, Osiris made a low, strange sound. Neither heard it over the din of shrieking Void, but Timur caught the movement in his peripheral and his head snapped around as their Journeyman began to sag where he stood, head tipping back. His resulting call was just loud enough to cut through the noise.
"Stop!"
Timur lunged, catching Osiris, now entirely limp, under the shoulders to prevent him from falling. His knees hadn't even fully touched the earth as he carefully eased down with his love cradled against his chest when both Saint and Felwinter arrived at either side, their battle entirely abandoned in the blink of an eye.
"Osiris?!" Saint's voice was shrill with alarm, and he reached for him, but Timur shook his head. Osiris was unresponsive.
"He's having one of his visions," Felwinter murmured, his helm vanishing as he kneeled close beside Timur and Osiris. "He is not with us." Sagira compiled over Timur's head, looking down at her Chosen, her optic dimming in sympathetic pain as Osiris heaved in a shrill, shuddering gasp.
"It's already a bad one," Timur lamented, holding a comforting hand out in welcome to the little Light. Sagira went straight to him, tucking in tight against his neck when he gently pulled her down to himself without a word.
"They’ve been getting worse," Felwinter added, folding himself in against them, holding his Treasured student as close as he could.
"Can't we help him?!" Saint gasped, reaching out for Osiris again but then once again pulling away without touching.
"He will need us," Felwinter sighed, "but try as we might, we can't interrupt the trances. Come what may, we have to let it run its course first."
Osiris' breath hitched in a muffled sob, and he murmured a clear, very broken, ' no ...!'
Saint yanked his own helmet off, tossing it aside with a clatter, and edged closer. Timur shifted, turning slightly with Osiris to let him in.
"You have an audience." Colovance, standing at his master's back, had the sense to keep an eye out, noting a number of others had gathered to watch Felwinter and Saint spar.
"Clear up for us?" Timur asked, looking back with a smile he didn't feel. "You don't need to be stuck here and have to sit and watch this anyway, huh?"
Colovance nodded, looking grateful as he turned on his heel and trotted off toward the gathering crowd. Timur's Ghost appeared a moment later, zipping away to join his student.
"Go help," Felwinter murmured, summoning Felspring. By the time she flitted off after Colovance, Osiris' breathing had turned frantic
"No... No no no no, please no...Stop!" Osiris tossed in Felwinter and Timur's arms, panting and gasping as he strained against some invisible threat, his eyelids drifting open and shut, revealing mirrored eyes that saw nothing of the world around him...but fixed on something utterly terrible nonetheless. "No.... NO!! "
Timur held Osiris’ head to his chest, trying to muffle his screams as they pitched into something feverish and unhinged, their junior thrashing in his grip.
"Not this again..." Felwinter moaned. His optics had dimmed to a sickly pale shade, but poor Saint's lights had somehow gone gray.
"Don't puke," Timur blurted, noticing and giving him a sick look of his own. His voice, thin with tension, was nearly lost beneath Osiris' tortured howls.
"Again?!" Saint gasped, looking at Felwinter and ignoring Timur's feeble quip.
"He's seeing that thing in the Bunker again, I'm certain of it," Felwinter murmured. He pressed his temple against Osiris' and had begun to murmur reassurances into his beloved's ear.
For a moment, Osiris gasped and went still and silent, and it seemed as though Felwinter’s words were reaching him. Then he sucked in a huge breath, and screamed .
" FELWINTERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! "
The anguished shriek echoed out over the valley and poor Saint just about leapt out of his armor but Felwinter and Timur, used to the screaming that accompanied these episodes by now, only hunkered down together as Osiris burst into ragged sobbing, choking and wheezing on his own tears, babbling words of negation in a steady, incoherent stream of nonsense.
Saint shifted, hesitant and looking terribly torn, but at last he surrendered to his need to try and somehow help and lunged forward, throwing himself into the knot surrounding Osiris.
"Shh... No, no more my Bird," he whispered, briefly brushing foreheads with Felwinter in his effort to get as close as he could. Felwinter didn't protest, simply adjusting slightly to make more room for him to wrap around their common love. "Come back, everyone is safe. You are safe, and the men you love, they are safe too. Come. You will see..."
Osiris' breathing slowed, and Saint sat back a little, looking hopeful. When Osiris lifted his head, however, his expression was slack and vacant.
"The Destroyer awaits," Osiris murmured, his voice low and strange. His eyes had slid open, but he gazed right through poor Saint, seeing something beyond all of them that no one else could. Felwinter and Timur exchanged a look. "Your Maker will not hear you."
"Osiris?" Saint asked again, looking more worried than ever. Osiris didn't even blink.
"He doesn't hear you, sweetheart," Timur said. Saint hissed out a low grinding sound of frustration, his head dropping, and Felwinter reached out, touching his shoulder.
"We understand," he said.
"I can only imagine, if this happens often," Saint moaned, tilting his head to rest his cheek over Osiris' crown, grayed eyes turned on Felwinter's own pale optics. "How do you-"
He cut off as Osiris abruptly sucked in a slow, shuddering breath, his shoulders stiffening under his hands as he returned to them.
"We're here," Felwinter whispered, caressing Osiris' back. Osiris' breath caught, and he held it for several seconds.
"Oh no..." His voice shook terribly, and Saint grimaced.
"Don't fight it, baby," Timur soothed, leaning in and kissing Osiris' temple. "Everyone's okay. Let the pain out."
Osiris' breath shook, hitched, then caught, and he sounded like he was about to relent to Timur’s advice, but then his head snapped up and he met Saint's eyes.
" Saint -" He stiffened, recoiling, fighting to haul his defenses back up without success, the distress building in his chest virtually tangible to the men surrounding him.
"Saint nearly ran Fel over getting here when you first collapsed," Timur pointed out quietly, caressing his face gently.
"Nonsense," Saint scoffed, his voice tight. "Do not joke like that in this time."
Osiris was watching him, his throat tight and his jaw trembling. He was teetering on the verge of horrified tears that needed to come out, but his eyes burned with a self-righteous, defensive rage as he braced for Saint's judgment. Saint stared back evenly, assessing. After a moment, he opened his arms in welcome, not touching, but unmistakably offering. "You have your loves who care very much already with you," he said softly. "But... I am here for you as well, if I can help," he said at last.
Osiris blinked, and with a sharp intake of breath, that already dubiously holding armor crumpled, and he fell apart.
The war of expressions that knotted across Saint's face as the young Warlock tipped forward into his arms sobbing was a tangled, ugly mess. Surprise, pain, and a queer kind of pleasure mixed with raw confusion. He glanced guiltily between Timur and Felwinter even as he gathered Osiris a little more snugly against his chest to cradle him as firmly in his arms as he dared, unsure of whether he truly had a place offering Osiris his comfort when better candidates sat to either side of him. Osiris had crawled completely clear of Felwinter in fact, and now the Warlock stood slowly. Saint winced, but the Iron Lord didn't look cross.
"Good," Felwinter said, nodding. "Let's get him inside, Saint." He held out a hand to Timur, hoisting him smoothly to his feet once Saint had pulled Osiris fully into his arms. Osiris seemed to barely notice as he stood with him.
"Er, perhaps I should-"
"No, stay with us please," Felwinter's voice was achingly soft, but commanding. "You are our guest. You will be welcomed, and Osiris needs you."
"Besides," Timur wheezed a feeble chuckle, "there's going to be no convincing him to let go of you now." Osiris had wound his arms tight around Saint's neck and was holding onto him like he might drown if his grip slipped even a little. Despite his ongoing sobs, Osiris had clearly heard Timur: his shoulders tightened, hitching up, but that he didn't react more than that to the gentle tease was all too revealing. Timur’s face tightened into a look of grief, his forced, hopeful smile falling away.
The plates around Saint's eyes pulled up in woe, and he looked to Felwinter.
"Then lead the way, Lord Felwinter," he sighed.
"I'll clear up with the rubberneckers," Timur breathed, pulling his hand free from Felwinter's.
"No, let me," Felwinter countered, nudging past his love with a gentle bump of Timur's shoulder. "You're too delicate. I don’t have the patience to tiptoe around the feelings of the busybodies today." Timur's already pallid face tinted gray.
"We'll wait back here, then," he croaked, sliding back to stand at Saint's elbow so he could lean in and kiss Osiris' temple. Felwinter nodded and strode away, quickly gaining momentum as he headed for the Temple doors.
Most by now could recognize the signs, even if they didn't understand what exactly was happening, when Osiris fell into one of his trances. Most knew what to expect from his lovers. Most knew to get the hell out of their way.
Felwinter was never friendly when Osiris was in distress, and even Timur's silvered tongue became sharp and he developed a nasty tendency to lash out and snap, the Stormtrancer often becoming the prickliest of the trio under duress. Osiris, once he recovered from a collapse, grew harsh and acerbic at best. No one liked to be caught in their path, and so the entry hall was already largely cleared out.
This time few particularly young trainees still hung back, however, haggling with Colovance, more curious than worried as the young Iron Lord worked to usher them out of the way.
Felwinter, not in the mood for squabbling about anything, swept in from behind the other Warlock, his shoulders straight as blades and his head low.
"Out," he growled, approaching fast. He didn't speak loudly, but there was a deadly iciness to his voice that brought the argument to an immediate halt.
Just beyond the still parted temple doors, Saint stood planted with Osiris in his arms, wide-eyed as he watched the Dark Horse of the Mountain transform from a friend into the unimaginably deadly thing of legend he'd been hearing whispers of his entire life.
The gaggle of New Lights hesitated, stunned to be addressed so coldly but still reluctant to leave if there was a show to be had. Someone craned his neck, peering past Felwinter toward the doors.
" NOW!" Felwinter barked, the unexpected shout drawn up from the depths of his core and making everyone, including Timur who still hovered at Saint's elbow, jump.
Colovance suddenly had a whole lot less resistance getting the stragglers cleared out... and seemed pretty eager to get out of the way himself.
Seeing the entrance hall empty save for the dancing flames of the urns, Saint tip-toed in after the other Exo.
Felwinter turned, and while he was visibly trying to shake the cloak of fury he'd donned to make a point, he struggled. Old armor was hard to move, sometimes.
"You must teach me how to do that," Saint quipped, hoping to crack the ice just a little, nonetheless. "You are talented man."
The pressure of Timur's hand on Saint's back was warming as he caught up.
"And you, Sir Saint," Timur forced a chuckle out, "are a man of privilege. Glimpsing more of Fel's secrets than I squeezed out of him in centuries."
Saint sputtered.
"You softened me up," Felwinter rasped, relaxing incrementally. "Fluster poor Saint later, he has enough on his hands for now." Saint's hold on Osiris tightened, making the Warlock's breath hitch softly. His breakdown had softened to near-silent weeping, but he was still a crumbled mess in the Titan's arms, and had yet to even lift his head. The two Exos' eyes met, and Felwinter gave a jerk of his head. "Come." Felwinter turned on his heel, boots clipping on stone as he turned down a hallway.
Saint followed, Timur flanking him.
"I can walk, Saint..."
Halfway down to the Study, Osiris had finally had enough coddling.
"I am sure you can," Saint argued, "but I do not wish to let go of you yet."
"Even if he did you'd just end back up with Fel or I," Timur pointed out, a wry, warm sort of threat in his tone that was all love and no venom. "Stretched out between us if I had any say. I don't really want to share and I'd bet my best toolkit he doesn't either."
Saint made a strange sound, muffled and half-lost under Osiris' much louder scoff.
"I am not injured, nor infirm," he insisted.
"No, but your distress, it hurts us very much," Saint said quietly. "Holding you is a comfort." He paused, hesitating when Felwinter glanced back at him. "...Especially when you begin to complain," Saint said, chuckling feebly. "I am thinking now, ‘Ah yes, Osiris is back, he is indeed fine’, no?" Timur snorted softly.
"Yep," he sighed, agreeing.
Osiris scowled.
"Put me down."
Saint compiled this time, but the moment Osiris' feet touched the floor, Felwinter spun around midstep and snatched his Treasured right up, startling an undignified squawk out of him.
"Felwinter!" Osiris' voice broke, revealing just how frayed he was, and while he certainly didn't fight the Exo, a look of alarm crossed his face as their eyes met. "...Was it really that bad?" he gasped as Felwinter pulled him particularly tight against his chest without a word.
"It was that bad, babe," Timur groaned. They'd arrived at the doors to Felwinter's Study, and he produced a key, opening up for everyone. "You don't remember?"
"I remember… The Bunker..." Osiris whispered. "And... It was different this time. Someone talking. I can't remember who, or what was said..." He frowned. "Felwinter... That's what it was like-"
"This was different," Felwinter rasped, his voice hissing badly with static. He went straight to the sofa with Osiris, and sat with him cradled in his lap, Timur and Saint each packing in tight to either side of him. Osiris shivered.
"I- I..." A flood of tears rushed up without warning, and his throat closed, the psychological aftermath of a memory that wouldn't quite take hold shaking him. "I said..."
"It doesn't matter," Felwinter said suddenly, his voice firm. "That bunker was a long time ago. There must have been something there, in that forest. Psionic remnants from something long passed that’s haunting you."
Osiris fell quiet, thinking... worrying . He chewed his lower lip until it split, seeping a few tiny drops of blood. Saint's brow shifted into a worried knit.
"I...don't think that was the same bunker," Osiris said quietly. "I've seen the same vision enough times now... I remember what the one we visited looked like inside... This one is different. It's bigger. The layout is different..."
"They all mash together once you've visited enough of them," Timur supplied, looking disturbed. "All of them the same, but not. The Warmind definitely had its architecture down to a formula."
Osiris didn't look impressed.
"I don't buy it," he said, stern though his voice shook. "Why are you evading this?" He looked sharply over at Saint. "I said something. What did I say?"
Saint looked like a deer caught in the headlights, unable to choose between fleeing or holding his ground. Osiris' lip curled.
"You screamed a lot," Saint blurted. "You called for Lord Felwinter." Not an untruth, but not the answer Osiris was looking for. Hot rage filled Osiris' eyes, and he looked ready to lash out when Felwinter intervened.
" The destroyer awaits. " Osiris' head swung around and he gave Felwinter a horrified look. "That's what you said."
Osiris' eyes turned down, and sitting as close as they all were to him, it was all too easy to see how his lip started to tremble again.
"What... does that mean...?"
"Nothing good," Timur said. "But don't dwell on it right now. We'll figure it out, but there's nothing we can do about it here." Osiris stiffened, hissing.
"The Darkness-"
"Is as inexorable as it always has been," Felwinter said. "We only strengthen it by thinking we could fight anything in the state we are in right now."
"Lord Felwinter is right, we must keep our hearts strong first," Saint agreed. He reached out, brushing his fingers delicately across Osiris' knuckles. Osiris' hand jerked briefly under the touch but then he stilled, rotating his wrist to reach back with just his fingertips. Felwinter ducked his head down, pressing his face against the back of Osiris' neck, venting softly when Timur kissed his temple before leaning up to nuzzle into Osiris' hair, and Saint dared to gather Osiris' fingertips a little more securely into his hand, holding them gently. His grip tightened when Osiris failed to protest, heaving a long, calming sigh instead.
"So..." Silence had fallen amongst them, settling into some sort of tenuous peace as Osiris' tears dried and his breathing evened slowly, but it was the Sunsinger himself who finally spoke into the lull, his voice still rough as broken glass, but stronger now at least. "Who won?"
Saint looked confused, and no one heard Felwinter's silent laugh though Osiris definitely felt the hard vent of air against the nape of his neck and the way his body shook against his back. Timur, however, let out a strained bark.
"No one won, you dolt, the match was canceled the moment you so much as wobbled!" He softened the playful jab with a wet, lingering smooch beneath one of Osiris' eyes, making him cringe and sputter.
"Pity," Osiris grumbled, pushing on Timur's chin in halfhearted protest.
"We were well matched," Felwinter commented, lifting his head to blink thoughtfully at Saint. “A solid victory might have proven difficult.”
"You were humoring me, admit it," Saint said warmly.
"Hmm, it didn't look like it from where we were standing," Timur mused.
"Because I wasn't," Felwinter insisted.
"Tiebreaker?" Timur suggested, a devious little smile creeping into his features and smoothing some of the crags of pain pinching at his eyes and mouth.
"Later. I am not letting go of Osiris and this Study, it is too beautiful for fight," Saint sniffed.
"No need," Felwinter hummed. He was smiling ever so slightly, though it didn't seem like Saint had picked the expression out. He leaned out over Osiris' shoulder, glancing at his beloved, meeting his eyes briefly, and Osiris, reading Felwinter flawlessly as ever, blushed faintly, nodding. "Sagira?" Felwinter purred, his smile brightening to something a little more obvious when Osiris' Ghost wiggled her way out of Timur's coat, blinking.
"That's where you've been-!" Osiris gasped, feigning betrayal.
"He needed me," Sagira said, far too quickly. Timur hiccuped a mystified laugh but nodded in agreement, happily backing her half-fib.
"Get a book for us?" Felwinter asked. "Doesn't matter what. A big one. A table." Sagira blinked at him, tipping her chassis curiously, but gave a nod and drifted away to one of the sturdier bookshelves, hunting down the heftiest tome she could find.
"What're you planning, Fel?"
"Tiebreaker," Felwinter said, looking over at Saint. "Arm-wrestle. We can stay here that way."
"You're not going to win an arm wrestling contest against a Titan!" Osiris scoffed.
"I might."
"It does seem somewhat unfair," Saint worried.
"He's beat up plenty of Titans," Timur reasoned, leaning back when Sagira floated back, tractoring along an utterly enormous manuscript about Golden-Age architectural engineering. Osiris reached up and heaved it out of the air and down onto his lap.
"If you crush my legs I'm killing you both," he said dryly. Saint hesitated but Felwinter rumbled out a low laugh, the pleasant sound soothing the last of the static out of his voice.
"Foreplay," he chuckled, and Saint's lights blushed brightly. Osiris twisted in Felwinter's lap, allowing his mentor to work one arm out from under his own grip so he could plant his elbow firmly on the book. "Saint."
Saint blinked at Felwinter's raised and open palm.
"You threw me last time," he rumbled, squinting. "I do not trust your hands."
"Nonsense, I am pinned beneath Osiris this time," Felwinter purred.
"Sounds like an invitation-" Timur started.
"Hush. Come, now, Saint," Felwinter encouraged, his smile obvious now and his voice just dripping with saucy playfulness. "We have a duty to Osiris." Saint snorted and planted his elbow on the other end of the book, putting his weight onto it slightly. "Fine. It is impolite to turn down host anyway. Count us down?" he asked, glancing at Osiris, who coughed out a ragged little laugh of his own, shaking his head in wonder.
"On one, then," Osiris said, turning a little further to offer Felwinter more room, trying to get out of Saint's way in the process without losing a secure hold on the makeshift book-table he was tasked with holding. "Three. Two." He hesitated, glancing between the two Exo. "... One!"
Saint and Felwinter's palms clapped together with an audible smack, and then both of them tensed immediately, strength pouring into their arms as they locked into combat of endurance.
Saint twisted in his seat, growling softly as he resisted the urge to stand, keeping himself firmly planted instead, and Osiris shivered as he felt Felwinter's entire body tighten beneath him, the other Warlock actually taking advantage of Osiris' weight to give him additional leverage. Truly, if Saint wanted to, he could pick Felwinter right up and throw him right from where he was seated on the couch, but this was not that type of test. From opposite Saint, Timur sat wide-eyed and grinning toothily, Sagira back at his shoulder as the pair watched with rapturous glee.
For the first couple of minutes, neither combatant moved while they silently worked on one another. A trial of endurance between Exos worked differently. It would become more of a challenge of patience, engineering, and strategy over sheer physical strength to decide a victor between these two men. At length, however, little movements began to develop between them as little stresses started to manifest. Felwinter's wrist jerked as he tried Saint's resolve, pushing hard against the steel bar of the Titan's arm.
Saint allowed his fist to budge, but only just, their joined palms wobbling only briefly. His foot, planted firmly on the elegant carpet beneath the sofa, shifted, his heel digging in and causing it to wrinkle up slightly as he worked subtly to better ground himself. Osiris' hair shifted as Felwinter vented a long puff of hot air in perfect silence. The more articulate plates of Saint's brow shifted, then knitted deeply when Felwinter gave his wrist another yank.
"Ah ah, Lord Felwinter, it will take more than a little nudge to challenge The Saint," Saint cooed, grinning.
"I can see that," Felwinter hummed, his grip on Saint tightening. His eyes had been locked on Saint's all this time, but he spared a glance sideways at Osiris, his smug little smile brightening into a clear grin when he saw his beloved staring back at them both with wide, awe-filled eyes. "But as I recall, you claim no challenge here," Felwinter said, his voice warm.
"Ah, yes! You have good memory!" Saint chuckled. "I have seen what you and Lord Timur share with Osiris, I would never dare challenge that. It is too precious."
Felwinter's eyes immediately brightened to a delighted vermilion. His arm shook briefly and then slammed down into Osiris' lap, making the younger Warlock jump with surprise.
"Felwinter!" Osiris's startled cry rose above even Saint's surprised yelp, nearly scolding his lover. At his shoulder, Timur burst into tittering, jubilant giggles. Felwinter only chuffed another nearly silent laugh, nodding slowly in acceptance of defeat.
"You got me," he said lowly, his smile just bright enough to be obvious for Saint, and terribly gentle by the gauge of those who knew him better.
Saint was looking at their still joined hands pinned down over Osiris' knees like he didn't recognize his own appendage.
"I... It would seem so."
"You let him win," Osiris accused.
"I wouldn't do that," Felwinter countered, his voice just a little too smooth to be entirely innocent, and Osiris' eyes narrowed. "You're the one who was certain I'd lose," he added keenly, making Osiris blush guiltily.
"Nevermind that!" Timur chuckled, giving Osiris' shoulder a firm poke.
"Yeah! It looked fair to me!" Sagira added. "So it's Felwinter's own fault if he made a bad choice on what kind of match he wanted."
"She's right," Felwinter rumbled, unbothered.
"Of course I am!" Sagira chirped. "Now pucker up, boss!"
"Sa-Sagira!" Saint stammered, aghast. "No need to be crass, little one!" Sagira laughed, tumbling merrily away from Timur to hover between Saint and her Chosen.
" That 's not crass! Crass is some of the things Osiris starts to demand when he's-!" She squealed, cutting off as Felwinter's hand swept up, the Exo delicately plucking his beloved's Ghost from the air and startling her enough to prevent her from finishing.
"Maybe save that for later," he suggested lowly.
" Thank you," Osiris groaned, rolling his eyes when Sagira wisely complied with Felwinter's suggestion, even after he released her. Osiris watched her drift back to the safety of Timur's collar, then turned his attention back on Saint who, finding himself suddenly pinned by the young Warlock's eyes, made a rough grinding noise like clearing his throat.
"I, uh-"
"Thank you, Saint," Osiris said softly. "You didn't need to be here through... that mess ..."
"No, I believe that I did," Saint replied, just as quietly. One of them -Timur or Felwinter- had a hand low on Osiris' back, a thumb rubbing slow, soothing circles. Osiris let out a sharp breath, mystified.
"And you are still here..."
"Yes?" Saint gasped, smiling somewhat crookedly. "Why would I leave, if I wanted to be here for you?" Osiris shook his head.
"I don't mean to say that, I am merely... impressed that that's what you wanted in the first place." Saint didn't smile, but his optics brightened tellingly, then widened as Osiris climbed carefully out of Felwinter's lap entirely, sliding over to sit astride Saint's knees, his arms draped over his shoulders. "And I am grateful."
"I would have it no other wa-" Saint cut off, freezing, his eyes wide as Osiris leaned in, pressing a slow, warming kiss against his forehead. At length, as Osiris lingered, his eyes drifted shut, and slowly, carefully, he leaned into the Warlock, his arms rising to drape loosely around Osiris' back, holding him. They could feel the others watching them, but the pair ignored it, Saint melting a little more each time as Osiris carried on peppering his face in more gentle kisses before simply collapsing against the Titan's broad chest and cuddling in. Saint accepted each kiss like a gift, a dazzling, fuchsia smile gracing his features well after Osiris had settled down and allowed him to press his own kiss to the Sunsinger's temple.
Neither stirred at all until some time later when Timur stood from his end of the Sofa, pulling Felwinter up with him. Osiris was half-dozing in Saint's arms, content, and even Saint had to crack an eye open to identify the disturbance.
Timur grinned and tipped his head toward the door. They'd find somewhere else to be. Saint smiled.
"You make good wagers, my friend," Saint rumbled, making Osiris snort.
"Yeah?" Timur grinned, tugging Felwinter in close against himself as he inched for the door. "Let's play again sometime, then," he purred, winking and giving a little finger wave as they turned away. "Have fun kids."
Saint wheezed softly, but Osiris only smiled.
“Suppose we might,” he sighed, blowing a kiss at their backs.