He laughs weakly. "And all of Tirion shall cry out in unison, but which one!"

"It was dark and you lost track," suggests Kib.

He laughs. He looks at Kib like Kib is the best person in the world.

And then he frowns again.

"I got myself together on that front after we lost you. Partially because it felt unfair to Findekáno to not have anyone left, partially because I wasn't scared anymore it was a hallucination, I wanted to know it was. And now here I am, scared again - because if I take this hook and it's all just the absurdly convoluted end to this convoluted scenario, and I let myself believe I could get married, and then he's Thauron..."

"I don't suppose you can do something obvious like phrase whatever thing you say to - oathify the marriage - with a name instead of 'this here person'. Or - if it's expectation controlled - expect it not to work in cases of mistaken identity; if it's not expectation controlled it'll only work heterosexually anyway?"

"Can't hurt, but my guess is that it's 'if you expect this to result in marriage it will', it'd be odd if you could derive new information about the state of the world from expecting carefully enough."

"I'm not sure that principle holds if the expectation itself causes things, but it's tenuous, yeah."

"Might try it anyway. In a month or so, so I can enjoy having you around and lucid first."

"Anything in particular you want to do with my lucidity?"

" - I am in fact still pretty bad at sex, there is a list of triggers and it's very long - I am not even sure if it counts as a bright side that you can top if you want -"

"...that was not actually a come-on unless this is, in fact, what you want to do with my lucidity."

"Governor's out for the obvious reasons. I didn't actually have anything in mind. Just - watching you react, watching you talk, watching you think - I do want to kiss you, if you'd like that."

"I'd like that."

It's half a lie on both ends, but it doesn't feel like one. He holds Kib in his arms and Kib is thinking and the Enemy's dead and neither party melts into a monster.

And kisses are such wonderful things. I love you.

I love you.

Kib plops his head on Maitimo's shoulder.

"I kinda want to go back to the island. With the fluffy grass."

"I'd like that too. We can ask Cam to take us, when he shows up with your notebooks and my library."

"I wonder how the terraforming held up, it's been so long."

"If it's all ruined I'll have to make you a new one! Or a continent! Or a whole planet!"

...Kib giggles. "I love you."

"I will build you a universe full of beautiful places. We will visit them in between saving worlds. Just - just stay awake for it."

"I'm awake," murmurs Kib.

Then they can kiss until interrupted by interdimensional visitors!

Cam turns up and is directed their way and knocks ever so politely.

"Come in!"