Grown-ups aren't like that at all, in X's experience, but -- but he knows it's not like that everywhere. Not everyone's a reader, and if you couldn't understand where a child was coming from, then... he can understand it. It's hard, trying to connect with someone when you don't know them. He still fights with his little brother all the time, and, trepidation aside, he's looking forward to when they're old enough to read each other.

... Except that's already happened, hasn't it? He just doesn't remember.

"Of course not," he answers. Why would he hold it against anyone? He doesn't even know those adults' names, and this one saved him. "I like you," he says with a smile. "You listened to me."

And that last question, far from confusing X, excites him. He inhales sharply and his eyes widen. "No," he answers quickly. "I don't think so, but you feel -- do you know who I am?"