Xel looks miserable. "I was never alone when I belonged to her," he says in a small voice. "Never. When we're apart, you and me, I can't feel you. It's not that I want to hang around your neck--except, that... maybe a little bit I do... It's just, it's... it's very hard sometimes, Iago-san. This being human again. Sometimes. It's just... it wasn't possible to be desolate before, it wasn't possible, even when she was angry. Even after this long. Maybe especially after this long. And when we're apart, we're two, apart." His eyes are glued in shame to the table by now. "So no one else... no."
Xel nods as he sees Iago's lightbulb go on. What he says is, "I don't know him very well. I can see him, but usually I can't hear him. He talks to me sometimes, but," he snerks ruefully a little, "I don't think Cesare wants us to be able to communicate. He certainly won't help."
Xel reaches to brush his fingertips against Iago's hand, curls them lightly around his fingers while they're in proximity, not grabbing.