[Ian has to grin at that, even as he unwraps one of his arms from around Souji to wipe the remnants of tears from his face. Is that how he would have looked when Ian used his name for the first time on their battlefield? Even though it's just because of the discrepancy in their timelines, Ian's glad he's able to see it now.
For once there's no teasing. Despite feeling better, Ian's mood is still sombre and his overall vibe lower than usual. That smile's definitely picked him up a bit, though.
He'll just wait for Souji to find his voice, and as soon as he's done wiping his cheeks and eyes his arm will be returning to rest around his highly regarded partner. These explanations will be easier to get through with support, after all.]