[kni blanches a little at the mention of the pokemon gate, remembering how disorienting that arrival experience was for him. he'd learned to be far more careful using that television after that incident.]

Maybe we can find something new to plant in the gardens while we're there.

[sure, vash could grow them flowers not already growing in the gardens, but kni liked the feeling of helping something grow himself.

he smiles.] Maybe I should stay over there for a while until I finally grow a few feet taller. [being the shortest person at the cottage blows, okay. even eve is taller than him!

that wobbly smile has kni leaning into vash, brushing their cheeks together.]

Not like at the beach, right? [irrational fears that feel real enough to make their connection stutter with that nervous energy.] I didn't [read: couldn't] finish the lunch you packed me today, so let's eat the rest on the way there.

[because food usually makes vash feel better, right?]