Chéri had no idea how much Malachi was sympathising with those feelings. Used as they were to say very sad things, very frank things and accidentally beautiful things, whenever they dropped their truth they did it with a carelessness and a finality that expected no reply. And that was why, when Malachi touched their shoulders they turned and stared with a questioning look at the reserved priest. Nothing came right away, the contact was broken too soon.

And then the response came quickly. Chéri nodded.

Malachi brought himself to Chéri’s eye level and Chéri, without batting an eye, said “No, but you want people’s trust, which is earned via respect, which is exactly what a reputation is.” Chéri bent their head to the side. They had given up on guessing or reading untold truths in Malachi’s body language, but they had comfortably settled to that close neutrality the other man was so good at displaying.