Ah. Well, that clears that up. Ned laughs softly, a bit embarrassed, pushes his hair out of his eyes and goes back to digging, at least until Wallie says what he does about them touching. He has a very good point; his aliveness situation is complicated, and Ned doesn't like or trust complicated.

"I'm not sure, either." He meets Wallie's eyes, promising gravely, "I'll make sure neither of us find out." The onus of preventing contact should be on him, since he's the one with the freaky powers. It's possible that nothing would happen. But it's also possible that a single touch from him would kill Wallie, instantly and irrevocably. It's a forceful, extremely unpleasant reminder of just how dangerous he is.

"You don't have to worry. I'm good at making sure that kind of thing doesn't happen. Uh, normally." Laura had been an exception, an extraordinary circumstance. He doesn't intend to make another mistake like that again.