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"Leaving already?"
Osiris turned around. He must've forgotten to tell Saint of his request.
"I.. I will not be gone long." Saint's small frown kept Osiris talking. "I promise. We will have dinner together, yes?"
Saint nodded. "I will hold you to it."
"You could hold me against more than my word." Osiris grinned as he reached over to give Saint a quick kiss.
Saint ignored his suggestion. "Where are you flying to now, my bird?"
"Neptune." Osiris held his hand out instinctively. "Sagira, pull up their..."
He trailed off, dropping his hand. "...I forget I have to do things manually now," he said, forcing a small laugh. The pain would go away eventually. He would get over it.
Osiris waved his thoughts off. "Regardless. Nimbus. They messaged me the other day, requesting my presence. It did not seem urgent, from what they had said. But Nimbus did leave the message vague..."
Saint patted his shoulder. "As long as you are safe. I will see you tonight? In one piece?"
"Of course."
Osiris stifled a grin when he landed at the Strider's Gate. The familiar jingle of Neomuna News would forever live in his head.
"Hey, old bird, how's it going?" An overly-energetic voice rang behind him. Nimbus swooped in on their board next to the Warlock. Osiris ignored the fact that they nearly tripped from momentum.
"It has been well." Osiris strained his head to meet Nimbus's eyes. He had thought it was just an exaggeration when his data claimed the Cloud Striders were extremely tall. Both Rohan and Nimbus towered over even Caiatl. Naturally, Osiris just barely reached their upper thigh.
Nimbus motioned for Osiris to follow them into the Hall of Heroes. "That's always pretty nice!" They slowed their pace to let Osiris catch up. "How's the old man been treating ya?"
Osiris wanted to roll his eyes. Pleasantries and small talk were never a skill he had; they were unnecessary. Words were a tool and a weapon, not some idle time-filler.
"Saint has been the same as always," he replied. "He has expressed his gratitude to you and Rohan for your generosity and assistance when the Young Wolf and I first landed here."
Nimbus grinned. "Any time, old guy."
They reached the Pouka Pond, where a handful of Neomuni and Guardians alike huddled around watching the poukas swim.
"Is this what you called me for?" Osiris could not hide the tone in his voice. "My station is directly across from here."
The Cloud Strider shook their head. "No, I actually... uh... just, wait here, yeah?" They flew off before Osiris could react.
He chuckled to himself as he curled up in the chair at his corner. Osiris remembered the first few years Risen, his impulsivity and childish actions. Well, not as childish as a younger Guardian may have been, but he did act different. More reckless. In the moment.
"There you are!"
Nimbus floated over, crossing their legs underneath them as they slid to a halt.
Osiris looked up from the new reports the Guardians had dropped off for him. "So?"
"Oh- yeah, right, I haven't explained why I asked you to come here!" Nimbus grinned sheepishly. "Well- after having that conversation after finding Rohan's gun from the Black Garden, I started thinking..."
The Warlock silently closed the book in his hands. "...Go on."
"I remember you being able to relate, since you lost your Ghost-"
"Sagira?"
"That's the name," Nimbus snapped their fingers, pointing at Osiris. "Anyways. I remembered a conversation I had earlier with Rohan. He mentioned one of the poukas following you around a lot."
Osiris did not respond. Of course he remembers this. He had tried the same thing, calling for Sagira, only to find a little fish in his hand instead of his Ghost. He was unsure if he were grateful or upset that Rohan was in the room at that moment.
Nimbus shifted in their seat a bit awkwardly. "So, I thought, 'Hey, Osiris, he's probably still upset, y'know, about Sagira.' And I thought- maybe... maybe you'd like a friend."
They whistled and held their palm out. A little pouka swam over from the pond. Osiris recognized it; the fins were greenish-purple with gold flecks dotting its body. It made a little beep as it bumped its head gently into Nimbus's shoulder.
"...Is it safe for a pouka to exit Neptune's orbit?" Osiris resorted to asking questions first. Instead of breaking down over Sagira again.
Nimbus just shrugged. "I think so. I haven't done it personally, but I'm pretty sure someone took one as a pet a while ago."
The pouka swam over to Osiris. The lights on its face breathed softly as it stared at him. It then did another small, happy beep as it headbutt Osiris's helmet. It swam around curiously, as if it recognized him from earlier that week.
Nimbus continued talking. "Poukas are pretty commonly used to help out Neomuni," they said, "especially now after the Shadow Legion attacked. Even though they're mainly AI, they're pretty damn good therapy pets. And, well, I've got a little buddy that's been a big comfort to me, at least." Nimbus shrugged. "I thought maybe you'd find one helpful, too."
Osiris was quiet. He feared he would lose control of whatever facade he held onto. Too many emotions threatened to spill. His heart ached for his little Light again, knowing it was a void to never truly be filled. But, he was grateful for the friend the pouka seemed to already be.
He did not expect Nimbus to actually like him enough to think about him like that. Osiris was cold and the opposite of whatever Nimbus tried to be. He had led their mentor to his death. But, still, Nimbus saw the good Osiris had. His desire to defend both humanity and Neomuni as equals; his drive for knowledge about the Vex and Strand both to learn and defend. Nimbus valued that in him. Something Osiris rarely saw.
"...Thank you, Nimbus." Osiris hoped his gratitude was expressed enough. He really did mean it. It would be no Ghost. No Sagira. But it was a friend. Of course, he had Saint and Ikora and Geppetto, but none of them could really fill that same role.
Nimbus's face lit up. "Yeah! I- I just thought-"
"Nimbus." Osiris interrupted them. "You do not have to explain your motives. I believe you. I trust you are being kind. I am grateful regardless."
They nodded hesitantly.
Osiris looked back at the pouka swimming in the air above them. "I will stay for a little longer, in case some Guardians need my assistance. But I must return home soon. I gave Saint my word."
"Well, I'll make sure you get back on time!" Nimbus smiled. "I wouldn't want to make him sad. Saint really seems to love you, y'know." They glanced at Osiris. "I overheard him accidentally when you were arguing with him and the Lightbearer."
"I'm more surprised more people didn't hear me," Osiris admitted. It was never his proudest moments, his outbursts of rage. But they were bound to happen, and Osiris saw them merely as a part of life. "But... yes. He does. Saint is more patient, more loyal of a man than I ever could imagine being. He deserves infinitely better, yet waits each night for me to return home... He does not deserve a man like me."
Osiris stared off, thinking about Saint again. "He loves the pigeons and birds in the City," he said after a moment. "Saint will adore the poukas. I must bring him one day to meet them all."
Nimbus agreed. "You definitely should, I think he'd enjoy it here!"
"As long as I am safe, he is happy wherever."
Osiris would not have it any other way.