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After sacrificing Djin, Rudy had not been himself really. He was frequently lashing out or emotionally distant and refused to listen to Zain. The Neuro Agent had not forced him to interact at all, but he still sadly waited for him by the dinner table. Unfortunate that Rudy never came by. Rudy was just struggling. He said that to himself whenever Rudy acted out. He was a little boy who just needed his dead father. Zain considered himself foolish for even expecting a new result. Stir-fried rice with chicken bits? No bite. Seafood like how Djin would like it? Not that either. Cookies? Cookies and Cream?
This time, despite the patient and understanding character he had built up, he had dragged the angry Rudy out to a park. Rudy was completely distant during this gathering; hood up and hands in his hoodie’s pocket as he walked. Zain could only leave him be. Zain refused to make the edgy teenager more uncomfortable than he already is. It is not like he could offer him an ice cream and make Rudy’s suffering go away. “Why are we out here?” The small Inviso finally asked in the most coldest tone Zain ever heard, watching the kid turn his head to face his back and forward. What could he possibly say to him? Honestly, not much.
“I know you have been taking Djin’s.. death-..” He murmured quietly, but Rudy already got the hint and he interrupted him with a scoff. So, Zain was discouraged from continuing his sentence and all he could do was stare at the ground for now. God, how much he hated being so disconnected from his son. Just then, small commotion caught his attention and his focus redirected to that. He glanced over at all the flavours for a minute or two. An ice cream stand selling, well, ice cream. Surely, Rudy would like that and snap out of his horrible mood?
But, as his focus was completely on the list, he saw Rudy run ahead and he snapped his head to the boy hugging a stranger. Rudy started to let out the most hardest cries he had ever heard — it broke his heart. However, his voice got caught in his throat when he saw who Rudy was hugging. Oh my god. He looked so much like him — Black leather jacket, grey shirt, black pants. While his hair was not slicked back like how he would do; he still looked too much like him. No wonder Rudy cried in his arms. Zain sighed, forcing himself to walk over to the crying child and the man having to endure this situation.
The stranger gently caressed the little Rudy’s head, and only looked in concern, “I’m sor-” Zain began, but he was interrupted by the stranger who gave him a smile. The way he could soothe the little Inviso down quickly was the same method Djin used to do whenever Rudy could not sleep at night. It horrified him immensely, yet he did a good job hiding it. As the little boy fell asleep, Zain slowly took him back and picked him up.
The man just watched Rudy’s slumber slowly deepen and finally he guessed, “Did he lose his father recently?” Before Zain could tell the half-truth, the guy quietly laughed and then continued. “He did call me papa and talked about missing me so... I figured..” He explained. Even his thought process was similar to Djin too — no one could match his pattern-recognition. Why did the only guy who knew how to connect dots like this was the man who looked too much like Djin? A softer look overtook his earlier positive expression, “I’m sorry for your loss..”
Zain only murmured, “Thank you..”