Paul almost smiles at that, even now. The tension of it unrealized plays around his mouth, brings a different fractured light to his eyes. He's not alone. Kaworu is here, feeling it with him, and it's terrible - but they're not alone, either of them.

"That's why we'll get her back," he says, mustering up reassurance through the haze of this awful day, "She's ours. She knows that."

Whatever she says, whatever she tells herself. She knows that.

"And you're mine." He comes a fraction closer, their toes almost touching. "So I'll take care of you."