[ boothill leans in to kiss her again—longer, more deeply, with a sharp breath in. he's still flesh and blood, somehow. he can still feel her beating heart against his flesh. they're both back to the way they were made, and he doesn't know what moment this will all end again. he kisses her one more time. ]

Let's hope you don't. I ain't ever gonna stop carin' about you as long as I'm alive.

[ another quiet joke with absolute sincerity behind it. the salt in the air permeates their skin, the scent of it caught in karlach's hair, on her clothes. their bundle of limbs beneath their blanket is a small safe haven from the cruelty of their homes, where they came from, who took them away. he could live here for good. ]

I care about you the same way you do for me. I love you too.