[ Gen ignores that gentle prickle of unease he can feel coming from Eustace, because he doesn't want to think about it right now. Doesn't want to think about the fact that Eustace can probably also feel every emotion that he's trying so hard to squelch -- a little pang of heartache and resentment and envy when that smaller Eustace mumbles about his healthy, functional family, followed by a sharper jolt of self-disgust for thinking like that.

The self-loathing just boils hotter when he hears 'you're pretty nice,' so bitter the taste lingers on the tongue, before Gen swallows it back. His free hand clenches to a fist so tight his leather glove creaks. ]

I'm not. [ It comes out a little curt before Gen forces himself to exhale slowly. His voice is quiet once more when he continues. ] ... I'm just normal. There's plenty of people nicer than me out there.

[ The kid stops, so he does too. And while he doesn't know exactly what's brought that child version of Eustace to a halt, it doesn't feel right to just leave things off on an utter lie ('I'm just normal,' as if) like that. Before he can be interrupted, Gen speaks again; though he's not kind enough to bend down and save mini-Eustace the trouble of craning his neck up, he does keep his gaze steady on the kid. ]

I just happened to be here this time. But even if it was someone else, you would've been fine. There's plenty of people out there that'll help you.

[ 'Even if your family is gone,' is the unspoken implication. Because he knows that's probably the truth. Eustace had said before that there was nothing left for him back in his home. He gets it now. ]