[Aqua doesn't realize until they're away from the other Super High School-Level captives how much the tension of having an audience was helping him keep his act together. Safely behind Ai's closed door, alone with her, the roiling tumult of emotion once more rises, pushing against the cracks in his facade. He settles his gaze on her instead, letting the sight of her and the solidity of her hand in his drive everything else out of mind.]
Sixteen.
[The same age she was when she gave birth to him. The same age she was when they first met. He swallows.]
Ruby, too. Of course. [Obviously. They're twins. What he means, though, is:] She's okay.
[Even if they're being watched here, too, there's no point hiding the fact of Ruby's existence. If this Mastermind knew enough to grab both Ai and Aqua, she's already well aware of the remaining member of their little family. Better to let Ai know that her daughter been alive and well these long years they've endured without her.]
Are you...
[It's even stupider to ask if she's okay. He's not okay. She died, she clearly remembers dying, and now she's in this situation, too. So how could she be all right?
He drops his gaze, squeezes his eyes shut, and shakes his head.]
no subject
Sixteen.
[The same age she was when she gave birth to him. The same age she was when they first met. He swallows.]
Ruby, too. Of course. [Obviously. They're twins. What he means, though, is:] She's okay.
[Even if they're being watched here, too, there's no point hiding the fact of Ruby's existence. If this Mastermind knew enough to grab both Ai and Aqua, she's already well aware of the remaining member of their little family. Better to let Ai know that her daughter been alive and well these long years they've endured without her.]
Are you...
[It's even stupider to ask if she's okay. He's not okay. She died, she clearly remembers dying, and now she's in this situation, too. So how could she be all right?
He drops his gaze, squeezes his eyes shut, and shakes his head.]
Do you need anything? ...Water?