[As if committing him to memory, like a final farewell standing over a corpse at a wake, Kit studied Vincent before abruptly turning away.]

For your sake, I hope that you succeed.

[In his mind, it was better to consider every angle and to be as prepared as possible for every outcome. Refusal to adhere to that simple rule of survival, failure to acknowledge even one likelihood, only to be proven wrong when the impossible forced its way to fruition...Kit never wanted to be in that position. How maddening it would be to realize you were so blind, to know you had deliberately chosen ignorance over enlightenment. And to only have yourself to blame...]

I would be disappointed if you faded away into a dream before I could keep my promise.

[The remaining stretch of hallway seemed much shorter now, perhaps because the door to the sleeping quarters was within his sights. The promise of an end had that effect on the mind, warping perception and convincing someone they had run out of time when, in reality, the only thing that feeling signified was ill time-management and perhaps...some reluctance to part ways.

Not enough to hold him back, but enough to inspire a glance over his shoulder at the other boy to confirm if he was still in tow. Or even still there at all.]