It's something Paul can almost hear in Kaworu's ruffled peevishness, or his cat-paw teasing, instead of this soft, consoling hush, echoing with what he once told Kaworu when he was the one watching over him.

He means to brush Kaworu's hand away as he steadies his breath. He ends up with his fingers half-tangled with the angel's instead, and it's unbearable to pull away from their living warmth.

"So am I," he says, and he means that with every fervent, despairing, miserable part of his too-human self.