[ His condition, however simple it might seem to follow, still nearly makes her voice her protest against it, going as far as looking back up at him and parting her lips to try and say the words. If she were to walk down the same path of that alternate future, she could only imagine the pain he would be put through for his dedication to staying by her side.

But she also knew it wasn't her place to stop him, if he chose to fulfil that vow. And by now, she knew his his absence had contributed to her departure in the end, as well as what had kept her heart from being free of doubts about the plan they had undertaken. ]

Idiot... [ Yet there she was, with an affectionate insult ready as she reached up with one hand to brush away his hair. Having him here with her, in this moment, was all the reminder she needed that she couldn't turn him away if she still wanted to avert that future. ]

You know this means you're not allowed to go anywhere, right? [ Unspoken in her light tease was what had happened to him in that future, that had kept him from being the pillar he was now. ] I hate to be a burden, so it's my duty to make sure you don't and remind you.