[Swallowing, he leans towards her until his closed eyes rest against her crown. They're in the sitting room, and it'll be good for the others to see them like this; at the same time, it doesn't matter. Aqua would do this anyway.]

I know you had to pick me because the pickings were slim.

[His voice is a murmur, just for her.]

Still... thank you. Thank you for saying this. Thank you for... working so hard to save me.

[A little trickle of wetness finds its way into her hair.]

I didn't want to die, [he admits. Since Lortel has one of his hands, he reaches across both of them to touch her arm with the other.] I don't want anyone else to die anymore.