He stayed tensed up in Wash's arms, letting him hug him, but unable to reciprocate, unable to open up and really accept the comfort. He just rocked in place slightly, with Wash's arm around him, knuckles pressed against his eyelods, grateful that someone was trying to be kind but too lost in his own distress to really do or say anything about it.

But then Kid Quantum pulls him up and tells him it's not his fault and thanks him.

It isn't until she say "Thank you for surviving," though, that he finally, really breaks down. The tears change from a slow, tense trickle into the kind of great, gasping sobs that can only come from someone that's never seen someone else die before.

It's the one-two combo that really set it off: Wash and then her.

He buries his face in her shoulder because he hates the idea of anyone else seeing him cry.