[His body shakes out a laugh when she talks, like he's trying to reconcile the sheer amount of emotional bullshit running through him right now, but she can probably tell from the feel of it that he can't stop the tears flowing onto her shoulder. She still wants him around. She still... fucking cares. Through all of his bullshit, all of his avoidance, every unpleasant piece of him, and she doesn't only want to stay, she's determined to do it.

It's been so, so long since he's had this kind of love where he knows it's real.

He hangs onto her like a lifeline, just pulling back enough so he can wipe his face with a free hand.]

Yeah, well, no take-backs, alright? That's a verbal contract right there. Signed for life and maybe after, seeing as we're so damn bad at dying.

[It's not funny. None of this is funny. He just can't... say it right, not in a way he thinks that'll mean anything. She's gotta know it's him.]

I didn't want to lose you to... to me, and my stupid. Everything. I didn't want to push you out, I just don't really remember how to do this, uh, trust thing. To know people aren't gonna give up on me, and I know that sounds fuckin' stupid after hundreds of years of everything, but. It was always you. I'm not... I'm not me when you're not here.

[He grips her a little harder, still feeling the aftershocks of anger.]

She won't take you again. If you're still out there, back home, I'm gonna find you. I promise.