As they walk away from the selenia field with their returned comrade, Jade calls for a halt.
"Since no one else seems inclined to ask, what is your name?" he inquires with seeming nonchalance.
Both Natalia and Tear make to answer for him, but are stopped by Guy and Anise respectively, who both recognize that look on Jade's face. That intently and earnestly serious look that Jade only wore in the direst of situations.
Their companion just smiles at them, his eyes asking teasingly if this is really necessary. His face, entire demeanor, say that he is just so happy to be alive, back. Couldn't this wait?
"Please, answer the question." And now even Tear and Natalia can hear the strain through Jade's clipped and professional voice.
"Sure, whatever makes you happy," he lilts in amusement. He begins a mock-bow of introduction, eyes still teasing, "My name is... is..." He pauses, a confused expression spreading across his face.
He suddenly clutches his head, and what a familiarly discomforting gesture that is, eyes full of terror before being scrunched tightly shut. "I- I..." he manages to choke out before abruptly falling to his knees and curling in on himself sobbing.
Jade reaches out a hand, almost as if he wanted to comfort the boy, but that can't be right. He doesn't do comfort. But it wasn't supposed to go like this, Jade thought. The boy was supposed to either lie to save them heartache or tell the truth and shatter the happy reunion. Jade had wanted it over and done with before their hopes got built up any higher.
It doesn't matter what he intended because he is blocked by Guy anyway, who is now kneeling before the sobbing boy, while the rest look on dumbfounded.
"I think you've done enough." Guy says coldly, when it becomes apparent that Jade is trying to make another attempt to get at the boy, still unsure of his own intentions.
The boy looks up brokenly, scared and sad, as Guy comforts him until he finally manages to force out a thought, choppy and uneven and quiet and babbling though it be.
"I... don't know. I don't know what my name is. Which my name is mine..." he whimpers softly, then looks like he can't take any more and buries his face in Guy's shoulder as Guy rubs his back.
Natalia quietly starts to cry, while Tear fights back a sob of her own.
Jade just watches the scene before him blankly while Anise moves to comfort him.
