[Gilgamesh just shakes his head; for once, he can't remember either. And for a being of ordinarily impeccable memory, that was quite a red flag indeed.]

We may never be whole again. I have accepted that; I have embraced that.

[Not that it lessened the pain of having something precious given to you then take away. Gilgamesh was reluctant for any form of contact right now, but even so, he reaches for Koltira's wrist and grasps in a faint reassuring gesture. Whereas Koltira is cold, Gilgamesh is always warm. Even when he doesn't particularly feel like it.]

I wish I had better words for you. But I can tell you this: I will stand by you. When the others deride you, when the others doubt you, as they will inevitably do once more, it will be my hand on your shoulder. It will be my voice in your ear, telling you, stand strong. For you are so strong already.

[That isn't idle flattery, either. It was no easy feat, matching Gilgamesh in combat. At first, his frenzied attacks had made him mad, and he'd likened him to a beast, but then he realized: this is a worthy opponent, who faces me now. And any Servant could respect that. So Gilgamesh respects Koltira, in his own way.

He cares for him, in his own way, not as a friend, but as...]

You are my comrade. And I shall fight with you, from this day forward.