Assumption nodded. He didn't feel paternal towards the eggs he'd help make. So it only made sense she saw Vanitas as her papa. "Is he a nice papa?"

Walter listened to Vanitas and Flood's exchange. It was obvious they had a connection. He remembered their first meeting, how Flood had intercepted his attempts to leave and then defended Vanitas after Robbie attacked him. It wasn't surprising really. What was surprising were the words Vanitas directed to him. An apology.

Nobody who had hurt him had apologised for it before. It was such an alien concept. He'd had people say they were sorry about what had happened to him during his life before Johto, but it hadn't meant much because they either couldn't have done anything (before from other worlds to him) or it was far too little, far too late for it to mean anything relevant.

Assumption could feel Walter's mind stuttering. He took a few steps back, reaching to hold Walter's hand. It helped bring him back to the present but there was still a pause before Walter found words. "...thank you."