[ those little swells of happiness and bashfulness and disbelief roll over him like a tide. he answers each of them with his own, even in the wake of his stormy feelings. there's a small surge of it when that familiar tail finds its way around him again, easing him closer.

she is right, though. she did make the impossible happen—not alone and not without some sacrifice, but it happened. they can't discount the impossible while they're here. he's never considered the possibility of it until now.

it would mean giving up life as a galaxy ranger. even with boothill as a human, there are chances to rid the cosmos of oswaldo schneider. but there would be no more hopping on freighters, no more protecting the innocents on other planets, no bulletproof body to shield him from those who would hunt him down.

but he's not the only galaxy ranger out there. there will always be people to protect, endlessly, forever, but sharing a life with someone—karlach, hopefully—would only come once.

she'll feel his indecision in the midst of his affection for her. he presses his forehead to hers and closes his eyes. ]

You sweet thing. You ain't doin' a thing on your own no more.

[ he squeezes her hand. ]

I've got a lot to think on. But if we gotta go lookin' for it, we're doin' it together. You got that?