He'd gotten used to this. Waking up in Phoenix's arms even if he'd never brought himself to fall asleep there. The unspoken comfort of long moments he'd spent unmoving because he didn't want to disturb those pre-dawn minutes before he had to get up to go to work. He'd had a task given by the keepers here and he'd failed at it utterly because it had been so easy to fall into a routine with Phoenix.

Had it always been like this? Had he just been denying and ignoring it through that same misplaced dignity? The determination to keep the world at arm's length?

It seemed to matter less here. This place out of time and out of reality. This place that was offering for so much to be undone, and if it was undone - what did it matter what happened here? He'd have to work to make it happen, have to put forth all the more effort in the next mission, but, for the change he was hoping to bring about...

His hand curled against Phoenix's back, crinkling the fabric into his fist as he leaned back enough to catch Phoenix's eyes as he practically heard Franziska's voice once more calling him a fool. His hand slid up from Phoenix's neck to his cheek. "Then I'm an idiot," he said, voice quiet and low, "if I've not told you I love you."

And, knowing that if he didn't do it now, he never would, Miles closed the distance between him and kissed Phoenix, lips so softly pressed to lips. He didn't think he was wrong. If he was, he'd deal with the consequences when they came. But here, now - now that he knew the truth - he could say it.