Laughing under his breath, Phoenix moved a few steps closer, taking the strap of the sling and trying to figure out exactly how it was supposed to be arranged. "You're right - hold still," he answered quietly, finally figuring out the length of nylon webbing and lifting it over Miles' head. He moved behind his shoulder, trying to straighten the whole affair and finding that the strap had gotten a little twisted in the slider that allowed for length adjustment. "Dinner and a movie isn't exactly an option these days."

Standing this close would have been nice - comfortable, even - except for the knowledge that there were nurses right there. Phoenix wasn't used to having to hide what was important to him - on the contrary, he was used to declaring it a little bit louder than everyone else. But that wasn't a safe thing to do in the Institute. He didn't want to see his affections weaponized and turned back against him. Not again.

At the same time, they weren't really being closely watched, and the crowd was starting to thin. And occupied as he'd been in figuring out the slider, it wouldn't really look out of place is he leaned closer, just for a second-

The kiss was quick, silent and unannounced and in that little bare corner between hair and ear. It was the kind of kiss that, given on the cheek, would have been platonic in a large number of countries. But it was, and that was what mattered.

Phoenix grinned, standing back and letting go of the sling. "There you go. Can you get the rest?"