Jade stares at him, the endless blue of his eyes glittering in the sunlight. He's quiet for so long that Noel starts shifting uncomfortably, wondering if he said something wrong. Then he glances away, and the tip of the ear Noel can see is undeniably flushed.
"I haven't—" Jade clenches his fists on the tile. "I haven't been a very good esper," he says, voice low, like he's confessing a great sin. "I haven't been taking care of my guide very well."
Noel starts. "What? No, you're—you're doing fine—"
Jaw tensing, Jade drags a hand down his face, and when he lowers it, he meets Noel's gaze again. "I've been a dick to you the past week."
Noel opens his mouth to say Jade is always a dick, but the truly heartsick expression on Jade's face makes him stop.
"I didn't…I didn't know that our first time, in Solis—I didn't know you were a virgin."
Surprise wipes Noel's mind. Whatever he thought Jade was going to say, that wasn't it. "Ah—"
