which could mean nothing

"You think they've noticed?"

"Noticed what? That we're not tearing at each other's throats, despite being, nominally, from opposite sides of their war?" Shulk glanced toward the supply tent, where A continued supervisory duties of the kids, as it were. "You've spied on enough consuls' colonies. Any warmth those children get there comes from the bathhouse. I'd be more worried if they hadn't noticed. Like A said, the first thing you find out about the Liberators is how we all support each other."

Somehow harnessing the power of both eyes to do it, Rex gave Shulk a bit of a sideways squint. "I don't think that's exactly what A said. But fair enough." He sighed, cracking his neck. "I suppose it's silly of me t' worry."

"Not silly so much as self-aggrandizing." Shulk's thought process was clear, though his gaze remained on Rex's mastoids. "They've so much to take in. A couple of oldsters like us should be far from their first priority."

Ah, the perennial argument. "We're really not that old, Shulk."

"We really are. But in spirit, no...well, maybe in spirit too. I know what you mean, anyway."

"Yeah? You don't look half bad for a chap of two hundred and fifty, you know."

"Try two hundred and forty-five."

"Sure, I'll try..."

Rex's chest straps gave the appearance that they were buckled just as tight as possible without bursting over his sizable pecs, but in fact it was usually Shulk who loosened the adjustable pieces so that his hand (the left, conveniently, such that they could angle together for Rex's right eye to keep peripheral watch around the hangar wall) slipped underneath, around the rib cage, to the furrow of Rex's back. The prosthetic, meanwhile, favored the tailbone, or a little lower, which was again convenient; Shulk admired every part of Rex's body, but he didn't see how anyone could be keen about touching that area with their bare hand.

With Shulk securely held to him, Rex had the simple task of grazing Shulk's jaw with his knuckles, over and over and softer and softer until there was barely any contact at all, and Shulk's entire face lengthened as he gasped, eyes lidded. Rex grinned, stifling a victorious sound. He kissed Shulk's open mouth, fingers tight in his hair almost enough to yank. Any mention of "Ah, Rex...!" was soon swallowed. Just inspecting the perimeter...

A had, of course, noticed how insistent Shulk and Rex had been, jointly, on the newcomers getting and taking the chance to explore the plaza with a little "stroll" about. Seeing the shops was all well and good, but having to meet so many people without a private place to rest and convalesce, first...perhaps a little lacking in compassion.

Maybe they were just, truly, emphasizing the ever-presence of freedom in the lives of soldiers freed from the Flame Clocks. Panacea might have wanted the chance to lead such an all-important tour. Perhaps they needed to regroup themselves.

"Those guys really are always together, huh," said Glimmer. The flat affect of Mythra's raised eyebrows was not so faint a recollection as to be completely forgotten by A in all but contour, but it jolted a little nonetheless.

"There is a true spirit of unity about the Liberators," A agreed. "When the two leaders are in lockstep, it sets a good example for the rest of us. They are always there for each other. Do you not feel confident, Glimmer?"

Glimmer pursed her lips. "If you say so."