[Ain makes the most pitiful whining noise in the back of his throat, but nuzzles into Vash anyway. The forehead-to-temple bonk eventually becomes just both of them standing there, forehead-to-forehead, in the middle of a mountain forest. The sun is just barely beginning to come up, and frankly, this might be... romantic, if Ain sort of didn't want to just lay on the ground right now and become one with the earth.]

I won't get hurt. I have to protect you, so I can't let myself get harmed. [He makes the declaration like it's the easiest thing in the world. Of course he won't get hurt, because if he gets hurt who's going to protect Vash? No one. It has to be him. His anxiety won't let him function about this.] I don't...

[Mmrrrgh. He makes a frustrated groaning sound and huffs, letting his eyes fall closed as he tries to dissect his emotions. When he doesn't get exactly what he wants, he settles instead on:]

I don't like when people come after you. I don't like when you're away doing things and I don't know if you'll come back or not, and I don't like being on my own. So...

[Ain squeezes Vash's hand.]

...don't... don't go too far from me. I might burn the whole world down if something hurts you.