“Did I upset you?” he asked, his eyes locked with Vantheos’s, searching for a sign, anything that might suggest something was wrong. There was an anxious edge to his voice, a vulnerability he didn’t often show, but it was there now, hanging in the air between them.

Vantheos met Saiphee’s gaze, his eyes steady and calm, but there was something in the way he looked at Saiphee that felt different—softer, more attentive than usual. “No, what made you say that?” he replied, his voice as reassuring as it always was, though his tone seemed to carry a quiet curiosity. He tilted his head slightly, considering Saiphee’s words, before his mind shifted to something else. “Now that I remember, you were calling out to me before the Acknowledgment, but Quartz interrupted you. What were you about to say?”

Saiphee’s cheeks flushed slightly, his fingers fidgeting nervously as he avoided Vantheos’s steady gaze. He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with the question, though there was a quiet honesty in his voice as he finally spoke.

“Oh, um…” Saiphee hesitated, the words coming out slower than he intended. “I was just wondering if I did something wrong… you know, something that made you act so serious around me lately. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable or anything.” His eyes darted down to his hands, embarrassed by the confession. The way he fidgeted betrayed the depth of his feelings—feelings he wasn’t entirely ready to face, even if he wasn’t entirely sure what they were yet.

Vantheos’s expression softened, a gentle chuckle escaping him as he processed what Saiphee had said. “Ah, was I really being that serious?” he asked, a teasing note in his voice. “I didn’t even notice. I’m sorry about that.”

Without another word, Vantheos shifted closer, sitting beside Saiphee with an easy motion. The sudden movement caused Saiphee to jump in surprise, but Vantheos’s warm presence beside him immediately put him at ease.

“I’m not angry with you,” Vantheos reassured him, his voice low and comforting. His arm draped casually over Saiphee’s shoulder, the gesture warm and natural. There was an unspoken understanding in the action, one that felt both familiar and comforting. “I was just... hyper-focused. Things have been a bit intense lately, you know?” He gave Saiphee a soft smile, the kind that seemed to melt any lingering tension between them.

For a moment, Saiphee sat still, his breath catching slightly at the closeness. Vantheos’s presence, his touch, the way he spoke with such ease—it all made Saiphee feel something he hadn’t fully realized before. It was more than just reassurance. It felt like something deeper, something unspoken between them, but neither of them was ready to voice it. Yet, there was a quiet comfort in being near each other, an unacknowledged bond that seemed to grow stronger with each passing second, leaving Saiphee with a fluttering feeling in his chest that he couldn’t quite place.

“I suppose that’s just how you are when you're focused on work,” Saiphee chuckled softly, his eyes meeting Vantheos’s once more. The proximity between them made the air feel lighter, as their heads were just a little too close, a small detail that made the moment feel unexpectedly intimate.

Vantheos let out a laugh, the sound warm and a little more relaxed than usual. “Hahaha! I’m not usually like this, really,” he replied, his tone lighter than before. He shifted slightly, his gaze still steady on Saiphee, but there was something different now—a subtle shift, as if he were letting down a wall. "I guess... I'm a bit nervous too," Vantheos admitted, his voice softer, almost hesitant as he opened up.

Saiphee blinked in surprise, the admission catching him off guard. Vantheos, the one who was always composed, always steady, was admitting to being nervous? It made Saiphee pause, his heart giving a small flutter as he processed what Vantheos had just said. There was something undeniably vulnerable in the way he spoke now, a side of him Saiphee hadn’t seen before, and it made him feel closer to Vantheos in a way he hadn’t expected.

“Well, it’s not easy, is it?” Saiphee said, a soft smile tugging at his lips. He looked into Vantheos’s eyes, searching for the truth in them. “I guess we all get nervous sometimes…” The words felt more meaningful than he intended, a quiet acknowledgment of the vulnerability they both shared. 

“It’s just you and me. We can handle this,” Vantheos said with quiet confidence, his voice reassuring. Without thinking, he leaned in and nuzzled Saiphee’s cheek, the gesture gentle and affectionate. But as soon as the realization of what he had done hit him, he immediately pulled back, his eyes wide with sudden embarrassment.

Saiphee, caught off guard by the unexpected closeness, felt his face flush a deep shade of red. The warmth spread across his cheeks as he turned away slightly, unable to hide the surprise and the feelings that rushed in with it.

“I’m sorry... heh,” Vantheos stammered, his usual composure slipping for a moment. “It’s just a habit of mine, I guess...” His words felt somewhat forced, the usual ease in his voice replaced by a hint of awkwardness. But there was something in the way he said it, a subtle hesitation that made Saiphee wonder if it truly was just a habit. Deep down, Vantheos knew it was more than that—something about Saiphee, something about their connection, made him want to be closer, to seek comfort in ways he hadn’t before.

“I-It’s fine,” Saiphee murmured quickly, his voice softer than usual, the flush on his face still evident. He glanced up at Vantheos, trying to steady his breath and his thoughts, but the closeness between them made it hard to concentrate. There was something about Vantheos, something in the way he made Saiphee feel seen, understood, that had him caught in a whirlwind of emotions. The touch had been so simple, yet so meaningful, and Saiphee wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Vantheos, sensing Saiphee’s unease, offered a small, almost sheepish smile, but there was a warmth in his eyes—one that seemed to convey more than just an apology. Something unspoken passed between them, a quiet understanding that neither of them could quite define, but both of them felt.