The boy gave a start, static clouded eyes looking up quickly with some obvious surprise and panic as his small daze was interrupted. The signal he gave off, spiking slightly with his uncertain emotions, leaving the air with an oddly thick quality. He wasn’t used to being approached anymore, nor was he used to the gentle pressure of a hand on his shoulder. The last time he’d been in contact with anyone else… It had been Six’s hand wrapped around his for those brief few seconds before she let go.

And Illyana couldn’t possibly be here, right? That had to be his imagination, or something… Something making him see her and the familiar city of Aterat instead of the walls of the room where he’d been sitting for so very long now. He blinked, breath coming quick as he tried to figure out what the trick was. What was making him see someone who was undoubtedly one of the most important people he’d ever met again after months of being alone. “I-Illyana…?” He rasped out, anxiety bleeding into his tone. “You’re not really here, are you…? This isn’t real.” He mumbled with a particular tone of resignation and sureness.

If he thought it was really his friend, it was just going to get yanked away from him by whatever had made the illusion in the first place. Whatever had warped the room around him.