"Vandal, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." He gives a guilty little gulp, remembering one of their conversations before he'd left, about maybe dying and leaving her alone.

Drift, you should not talk to people when you're emo.

He'd bottle it, too, even as his facial plate heats under her kiss.

"This," he presses her against him, hoping it's not too hard, "was worth coming back to."