frotag | THRONÉ

You won't.

[ he pulls back a bit, just enough to be able to look at her head on. ]

Promise?

[she doesn't meet his gaze at first, hesitating, but. she looks up, finally.]

... Promise.

[ he places his hand on her shoulder, mouth wide and smile bright—perhaps the brightest she's ever seen. ]

There. Now it's official. If we go home—no, when we go home, I'll be right there with you. Maybe not in person, yeah, but as long as you mean that and honor that promise... I'll still be right by your side every step of the way.

[wehhhhh ichiban

there's a pause where she has to kind of just catch herself so she doesn't get all teary.]

... Thank you, Ichiban. [she says finally, exhaling shakily.] I think I could do... anything, with a presence as warm as yours on my side.

Yeah? That's the kind of thing I like to hear.

Though, you know, if I ever get to be too much for you to handle, you're totally allowed to say something. I can't promise it'll do much, but hey, I'm puttin' it out there!