Ash hadn't expected her to take his hand. The sensation caught him off guard. He'd spent over a decade as a Phantom, so the only time he ever had any contact with anyone in that time was in the midst of combat. His smile didn't waver, but his heat beat a little faster. The sensation of genuine kindness in a simple gesture was new to him after so long. His smile endured, but his face reddened only slightly.

"Not at all. Many people who fight turn away from it. War is a very brutal thing to endure. Tell me about your world, Nel."

As Spinarak was recalled, they walked towards the Cabin together.