( Why is Ginger so sweet... rubs his cheek with his thumb a little, fond... )

... I won't.

( It's rough not being able to say "sorry for scaring you," especially when Ginger looks at him like that, but having to shelve it lets him think of a different way to express what he means. )

... I wouldn't, anyway. ( Hurt himself, he means. It's either eternally wallow, or: ) Especially not while I have someone to protect. And you're not going anywhere...

( He begins to say that last line confidently, but then he starts to feel maybe it's too forceful, so he corrects: )

... I mean - as long as you want to be. So...