A smile grows on Potemkin's face too, from hearing him, from seeing his smile, from being able to feel Ky underneath his hand. The care Ky shows him washes away whatever lingering anxiety Potemkin was holding on to, that he would have barred from sight from Ky because it is Potemkin who is the one doing the same for Ky. Potemkin feels the weight of Ky's body gently push into his palm for better pets, and in return Potemkin shows more affections. He smooths his fingers against Ky's mantle, and threads through what he can reach of Ky's hair.

"That's all that matters to me too. I know who you really are," Potemkin says, softly but with a deep confidence.