[Vash... wishes he was surprised. He'd been hoping for any other answer. They'd found solutions before, or at least agreed to seek them out over time. They've overcome so much, so surely this would be just one more thing for them.

In the same second he thinks this, he can't help but want to backtrack. His mouth opens, very nearly trying to take everything back. "It's fine, I do trust you." "I'll come around." "Please don't leave." Swallowing his feelings has always been so easy. He could do it now.

But he doesn't. Here he is, begging Wolfwood for honesty and claiming their trust was broken for the lack of it. He cannot lie in the face of that. To do so would only damage them both further.

So he doesn't. He just... nods.]

Maybe we do. [And that's okay. He tells himself that, even as he tries to smile through it. It lasts only a second, before it fades. Left in its place is a rapid cascade of emotions, from grief to anger, desperation and fear, and then finally, resignation.

Honesty meant showing how he really felt, right? No fake smiles.]

You should... know something first. I'm not trying to change your mind or anything. It's just - [He looks down at the floor.] I'm not going back to No Man's Land. Ourania needs someone to stay behind, right? If me staying here saves lives....

There's more to it than that, but we can talk about it later. I just. Want you to know.