When Gerome wraps his arms around him in turn, it's as if Inigo only leans into the embrace even more. It's just all of the worry and the fear he felt bad there underground being released all at once. After all, he did show some back there, but he most certainly withheld most of it once Gerome was actually dug out from the rocks. Gerome had needed someone to be there for him, after all, someone who wouldn't just uselessly freak out.

But that just means it had to come out eventually. And right now is the time for that eventually. Inigo's shoulders shake.

"I know.. I know, and I believed you.."

That much is true. If Gerome said he wouldn't leave him, Inigo knows he means it. But he also knows it's not that easy to believe that promise will instantly become reality. He's not that naive kid anymore.

"But.. it's like Lucina told me one time. Even if we don't want to leave by choice, there's no guarantees in war.."

And while their mission might not exactly have been war the way they have experienced back home, it's not like any of them ever really stopped being children of war.