Chapter Text
You quickly swatted his hand away, reality crashing down. He looked at you, his brows furrowing in what you could only deem as hurt. The dull hue of his eyes, as gloomy as the clouds on rainy days, quickly grounded you in the situation at hand.
Redirecting your attention, you glanced out from the doorway.
The entire floor was dark. The only light visible, other than Xavier's warm glow, had been the moon's radiance, spilling light through the windows across the apartment.
With a finger to your lips, you hushed Xavier, who hadn’t even spared a glance in the direction of the noise. He didn’t smile; he didn’t frown. He just stared at you with cloudy eyes, his gaze switching from you to the otherwise crumpled note.
You dismissed the hurt look in his eyes and reached to unbuckle your firearm. There was no time to decipher those feelings of his anyway.
You moved him aside, tuning your ears for any sudden movement. Xavier followed your figure, his hand hovering around yours, before quickly tucking it away.
“Xavier.” You cautiously warned, turning around to lower the floating orb that illuminated your surroundings. It wouldn’t be wise for Xavier to use his evol in stealth situations.
As he followed your order, another thud rang out from the apartment. This time, you were sure you hadn't imagined it.
You gave each other a look, pulling your gun out while Xavier…well, was Xavier.
Xavier, like a baby bird learning to fly, had only been capable of so much. Just like his motor skills, the use of his evol was limited. Other than being a human flashlight and a warm refuge, you hadn't given it much thought. How much could he possibly be capable of?
You could always handle alone what you'd always had, though recently you haven't fallen into much trouble since he's been around.
Nonetheless, you didn't need his help, and since he never gets hurt even when going M.I.A, there shouldn't have been much to worry about. Like passing wind, Xavier was just Xavier. And you were fine with that.
Actually, when was the last time I actually needed to fire my gun? You thought.
Man, had you been losing your edge. No more are the days when you'd ration the bullets you could fire. No more are the days when you had to take roundabouts just to avoid crowds of Hordes. No more did you find yourself truly at risk at the hands of a Horde in the first place.
But had all that been a coincidence? Or did he have some correlation?
You spared him a glance. Xavier, in return, lit up—in a literal sense, offering you a gentle smile upon eye contact.
"Xavier! What did I say?" you panicked, shooing away the particles of light surrounding you both. Safe to say you'll be using your firearm today.
You wearily looked around, ultimately assessing that Xavier's slight mishap hadn't drawn any attention.
“Search the rooms. I’ll sweep from here to the entrance.” You whispered, receiving a grunt in response.
Moving on pure instinct, you crossed the living room floor, clearing the hallways with no issues.
Just as you were turning the corner, the sound of clanking pots and pans faintly rang out in the direction of the kitchen.
Clearly, they weren’t making any effort to conceal their presence. Total amateurs.
As you approached, you kept your posture low, slowly rising only when you ultimately assessed that your presence hadn't been noticed.
Peeking above the kitchen island, there you saw it. The back of a hunched-up figure, digging inside the floor cabinets.
Without a second thought, you made your move, sharply turning the corner. “Freeze! Don't move!”
Before you knew it, you loaded your weapon, a *click* sound echoing across the room as the tip of your gun was pointed directly at a slim silhouette, their face frozen in surprise.
It was a young girl, a hand still knee-deep in your pantry.
She didn’t look a year over the age of 10; frail and meek, with two braids falling onto her shoulders. Her cheekbones were prominent, as prominent as her sunken eyes and pale skin. You could almost mistake her for a corpse if not for the unmistakable fire in her eyes.
She stared you up and down. Unmistakable fury and distrust displayed throughout her body language.
She wasn't new to this, having strategically worn a sweater to bulk up on the things she took from the pantry.
You both stood there, neither one of you saying a word. Before realizing her gaze hadn't necessarily been on you, but on the barrel pointing directly at her head.
Quickly realizing that you had it pointed at a child, you hurried to store your handgun. Only to regret it when you redirected your focus, as she proceeded to make a run for it, diving behind the kitchen island.
“Wait! I won’t hurt you!” you exclaimed, trying to buckle in the measly firearm.
You ended up chasing her around the counter, trying to explain yourself while objects flew from all sides. Whatever she could muster to get her hands on, it was thrown.
Amid the chaos, a candle struck your forehead, causing you to momentarily lose balance when it shattered upon impact.
When you had composed yourself, it didn't take long for you to catch up to her, seeing as her figure was now splayed across the living room floor. Xavier had tripped her.
Holding her down with an amalgamation of light, he curiously analyzed her, similar to a puppy discovering something new. Which quickly faded away once he took one glance at your forehead, his gaze stern and unforgiving at the sight of her.
You caught up to them both, Xavier’s light intensifying, blinding her as she scrambled to find footing.
“Xavier.” You warned, his eyes full of worry when reluctantly untying the binding light that tied her down.
You slowly approached, trying your best to meet her eyes. “I’m not here to hurt you," you replied in a hushed tone.
But that didn't help her relax; far from it, she looked frantic. Not meeting your eyes once this entire time. She hadn't even tried to look like she was listening, only calculating her next move.
Your eyes furrowed, noticing her wandering gaze. Her eyes shot around, her pupils scanning the area before landing directly on your bag that lay carelessly on the ground.
Clever girl.
Before you could even react, she grabbed it, chucking a smoke bomb in your direction.
As it set off, heaps of smoke filled the room, your vision foggy as you could barely make out her fleeting silhouette.
Already at the door, she flung it open, a thunderous clap echoing from the sheer force of the momentum. She then threw herself out of the doorway, your bag still around her shoulders.
Coughing out what was left of the smoke, you ran after her, your vision red and blurry, covered in what you could only assume was the blood dripping from your forehead.
At the doorway, you slammed your shoulder onto the hallway wall, failing to control your speed.
It stung. A grainy feeling crept up your arm as you, for a moment, lost sensation in it. Just as you were about to regain your footing, an eerie cry rang out across the hallway.
"You have got to be kidding me."
From behind, the once shut doors flew open with a bang, Hordes pouring out from the nearby residents.
Your body was still stunned from the impact. Trying your best to flee with all your strength, your feet kept slipping on the crummy flooring. The mass, being unforgiving as usual, slowly followed the sound of the commotion.
Upfront was the girl who hadn’t made it far, having been stopped by a disfigured Horde who had grabbed her by the ankles. Thankfully enough, its lower half was missing, only scaring the girl, not so much as harming her.
In a split second, barely managing to pull yourself up, you cocked your gun, firing a bullet, missing her frame by a hair. Just like that, its upper half went limp.
Once its body no longer weighed her down, she met your gaze, an unreadable expression of pity and confusion on her face before setting off.
Just as you thought it was over, you were then quickly tackled by a Horde who had outran the slow-moving crowd. Its face, though mangled, with dark substances pooling out from where its skull and eyes should've been, still had parts of its jaws intact.
Using your forearms and legs to keep it at a distance, you barely managed to avoid its teeth. It had forced you into the ground, clawing at you as you desperately pushed it away.
In an attempt to reach for your trusted gun, you then suddenly realized it was missing from its sheath. Its gaping presence from your holster only added to your dread.
That darn buckle.
Looking around, trying your best to keep it away, you spotted a familiar shine. Your gun, hidden amongst the rubble.
It was just out of reach, a finger away. You extended your arms, stretching as far as you could. Your fingers fiddled with the handle only to push it further away. You were so close. If you had just a little more, you'd blast its jaw off.
But Fate, as unforgiving as usual, didn't care. And neither did the Horde.
It continued to viciously pull at your clothes. The fabric, which was made of Kevlar, took noticeable tears.
It was no use. It wouldn't be long now before the rest of them joined in. To think that your final moments had been in pure fear for your life. It made your heart feel heavy for those before you.
Your strength failing you, it finally climbed over you, helplessly holding you down by the shoulders.
Amidst your struggle, "Xavier!-" is all you could let out through choked coughs, tears filling your eyes as you could feel your last bit of strength give out.
Just as you braced for impact, its body suddenly went limp.
Upon opening your eyes, congealed liquid began gushing onto your clothes.
From the corner of your eye, a light blade.
It had barely missed your face. Off by centimetres, landing a clean cut on the corpse whose head now rolled to the ground.
In your moment of desperation, Xavier had rejoined you, his figure emerging from the smoke.
He appeared at the doorway just as you had pushed the body off.
"Xavier?.."
He gave you a reassuring look, shielding you from view of the oncoming crowd.
Go get her, he signalled with the jerk of his chin, his lightblade remanifesting itself at his side.
"Thank you." is all you managed to let out, wiping the tears that had blurred your vision.
All that was left to do was to find her and make it out alive.
Truth be told, you really just wanted your bag. She was, after all, a stranger. But the least you could do was make sure she left the building intact. At least then the blood of another wouldn't have been in your hands. Again.
You were just about to yell out to her, seeing her fleeting figure turn the corner, before a blinding flash of light filled your vision, followed by the sounds of bodies dropping echoing from behind.
Following the noise, your eyes were glued to what you saw.
A hand at his back, his lightblade vertical: A lonesome silhouette.
Xavier assumed formation, watching as another round of Hordes showed up.
☆*⁀‧₊˚
''Parry! Parry! Thrust!''
Commands echoed out through the training ground.
''Parry! Parry! Thrust!'' A voice rang out, throwing quick stabs with light and agile footwork.
“Urgh, this sucks!” You exclaimed, falling flat on your back.
It was late in the afternoon. The atmosphere was gloomy, rain pouring hard against the association windows.
Xavier had been helping you refine your skills for hours, even missing the airing time of Linkon Hunter's.
“Giving up so easily?” he asked, the mat shifting as he lay beside you.
"The hunter evaluation is in 2 weeks, and my blade technique is still sloppy.’’ You wailed, heaving and sighing as you could only count down the days until your doom. '' I ace at sharpshooting and hand-to-hand combat, yet I can't even keep a grip on the hilt?"
"How can I even call myself a hunter?” You whined, rolling on the ground in shame, before bumping into Xavier, whose arms locked you in place.
You both froze.
The air was thick, a slight breeze seeping in from the cracked-open window.
You held your breath, his own tickling your eyelashes.
Lying in silence, you averted your gaze, still feeling his eyes glued to yours. If only he didn't do that sometimes.
'' It's going to be cloudy tonight.'' Xavier pointed out, a finger brushing over your cheek before he turned to lie on his back.
"Gee, Xavier, that’s so motivating." You scoffed.
He frowned, turning back to meet your gaze with knitted brows, his eyes wide. ''..Even if clouds could hide the stars, it doesn't mean they’re gone,''
You gave him a dissatisfied look. "You and your proverbs." You brushed off, dusting off your pants to pick up your stuff.
His gaze lingered on you, letting out a quick sigh as your warmth left the mat.
As you left to store away your blades, his hand found yours, placing himself in front of you in an attempt to slow you down.
“Even when they're covered. Even when nobody cares to look for them, stars shine regardless.”
Your footsteps faltered, coming to a stop as the quiet air of the training grounds followed.
"What are you getting at?" you sighed, frustration evident in your tone.
He cupped your face gently, a thumb brushing over your cheek. “You're like that.”
Your gaze softened, your face seeming more like pity than awe.
Overhead, the sound of the once heavy rain turned into a light downpour.
“But Xavier. I’m not a star.” You frowned.
He pouted, pinching your cheeks. “I think you are one,” he added, closing the distance between the two of you.
“You're always working hard. Always carrying others' burdens even if nobody sees it. You still find the courage to wake up every day, relentlessly moving forward." He continued, swaying you around, momentarily pausing to cradle your face in his hands.
"You never stop burning."
"And that alone proves to me that you are one,” he sighed, planting a soft kiss on your forehead.
'' You know, the stars we see at night leave their light way long before us. That means a journey of thousands of light-years before finally reaching Earth's atmosphere," he stated, squeezing your hand in reassurance.
"What I'm saying is: It just takes time.”
His tone was certain, every word delicately placed.
''Keep sending your light. Someday, it'll find its way home." he smiled, pulling you into a bear hug, aggressively nuzzling his face into your hair.
''Who knows? Maybe a handsome bunny will be looking for that light, even on a cloudy day.’’
You playfully pushed him away, only to pull him back in.
Smiling, you planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
''Thanks, Partner.’’
˚‧₊⁀*☆
"Got you!’’ You wheezed, your heart hammering in your chest.
She stumbled over her feet, falling onto a pile of rubble. Her stance immediately defensive at the sound of your voice.
"You really cause quite the stir, don't you?’’
You had backed her into a corner, meeting her halfway into a dead-end hallway. It had already been a solid few minutes of chasing and dodging, while simultaneously trying to keep her alive from the Hordes on her trail.
Brushing off the debris from your clothes, you were a complete mess. Drenched in sweat, your clothes had torn in places that had worn down from the Hordes, and cuts marked your skin from where falling debris had nicked you.
Just as you were about to adjust your belt, she flinched. You froze.
You both stood there not moving an inch, the air settling into a thin and suffocating silence. Her eyes were glued to the firearm at your thigh, not daring to look away. With nowhere to run. No trail to leave. She was completely defenceless, with no choice other than to submit to the enemy.
Even after you had saved her numerous times, she remained vigilant. It was as if she expected you to turn on her at any given moment.
A mere child..
Truly, it was a shame that this was what had resulted from the apocalypse. A lost generation, always fearing what's to come. That would be a life no child deserves to be in.
You slowly removed your grip from the belt, your hands in the air.
"I’m not here to hurt you.’’ you began, crouching to her level. She didn't dare meet your eyes, thrusting your bag into view as she backed away.
You glanced at her figure. Bruises and scratches peeking through her ragged sleeves. Pants that were torn at the ankles. And an unmistakable hunger to stay alive.
The sight had been enough to stop you, a flicker of something unspeakable creeping up in your chest. Was it pity? If that were the case, she would've been dead a long time ago.
A chill ran through your spine as a mix of sorrow and something inexplicable filled your chest. For the first time in months, you wavered.
Maybe you had grown soft, maybe you were just at your wits' end and needed sleep, but something in you had changed.
Yeah. Yeah, it definitely had.
But nothing could have prepared you for the stupidest decision you'd attempt yet. Maybe we can blame the hunter's code engraved in your heart for that.
Softly lowering the bag with your hand, the other still in the air to show your intent, you spoke, a sympathetic smile on your face.
"I'm here for you.’’
⊹ ࣪ ˖ᯓ✶
Soon after, Xavier had rejoined you, injured, but still in one piece.
It was unbelievable that the untouchable Xavier had managed to get hurt.
The invincible man. Linkon's greatest protector.
Then again, you had to cut him some slack, seeing as he wasn't that in tune with his limbs.
What happened hours prior only felt like a fever dream; the mere sight of his stance, his lightblade as luminescent and imposing as ever. Had it been muscle memory? Whatever it was, you couldn't help but wonder: What else had he been capable of doing?
You glanced at his drowsy figure lying on your lap.
The wonders of muscle memory, you shrugged, dismissing the train of thought for later, as you continued to bandage his wounds.
After you bandaged your own, you all moved to the top floor in the section of the complex that was once under renovation.
At the time, it was a new addition, mostly to house the alarming surge of people seeking refuge away from the sick during the early fall. The place was dusty and almost finished, but there was still a portion that remained unhoused and not easily accessible.
Luckily for you, where nobody lived usually meant no Horde would stay. The only downside was that barely any amenities were set up.
It was already past midnight. You were tired, of course, but your eyes stayed open. The adrenaline having worn off, the once numbed pain now surged through your already worn-out body, keeping you awake.
Xavier was not far, his air unassuming as he practiced his writing skills on a piece of paper.
Meanwhile, you and the new roommate sat by the built-in fireplace, warming up despite the increasingly dying fire.
The place was silent, cicadas singing their eerie tune while the crackles of the burning wood filled the quiet surroundings.
You shifted your weight, your butt numb from sitting too long, a protein bar in your hands. You sat there awkwardly, trying to read the room. The girl, in return, sat quietly, her knees to her chest, as if not wanting to take up space.
She was so young; you could only imagine how old she was during the beginning of it all. The mere thought only sparked more curiosity. How did she survive this long? And was there anyone out there waiting for her? But for now, only one thing seemed to interest you more.
"What’s your name?’’ you asked, cutting through the thick atmosphere.
She froze, her eyes not daring to leave the warm light. You could tell she wasn’t expecting your sudden interest.
"That’s okay,’’ you said reassuringly, placing your protein bar in front of her. She looked up at you, a look of confusion written all over her face.
‘’I wouldn’t trust me either.’’ you sighed.
Whatever look she was giving you, it was much better than the death glares. Or had that also been confusion?
What an exhausting thing to think about, you thought, sighing into the void. Anything to you had become exhausting. You were never one to dwell on feelings, and thinking on feelings alone used too much unnecessary brain power.
Dusting off your pants, you ran a hand through your hair. ‘’I’ll set up a bed for you,’’ you announced, picking up a spare blanket.
"Amy.’’ A soft voice rang out.
So softly it would’ve slipped past your ears if you hadn't been quiet yourself.
You glanced over at Xavier, who was already looking at you. For a second, you thought he spoke out.
Your eyes widened, turning back to make sure you heard it right.
"My name is Amy,’’ she spoke out, clearing her throat as she looked away.
With that, you sat back down, leaning in. Her name might not have been an invitation, but it gave you enough hope and confidence to ask more.
"So what brought you to…well… to my apartment?’’.
Your tone was soft, trying not to pry, before feeling a tap on your shoulder.
Xavier appeared, bringing to your face what he managed to write.
"Store?’’ you announced, confused as to what Xavier had brought to your attention.
From the corner of your eye, the girl flinched. Clearly, she knew what that meant.
You took hold of the notepad Xavier had written on, taking note of the weird scribble next to the words.
"What is that?’’ you asked, pointing at it.
The scribble had you and Xavier playing some form of charades, his hands moving in exaggerated motions.
"Fall? Square? Explosion?!’’ you guessed, every guess being met with a firm shake of the head, or even more exaggerated gestures.
Growing frustrated, you picked up his pen off the ground, thrusting it onto him.
"Xavier, this is getting us nowhere.’’ you huffed.
"Boxes.’’ The girl answered suddenly, her tone sharp, no longer holding that softness to it. "The drawing is of boxes.’’
You glanced at a nodding Xavier, whose eyes shined as if relieved to be understood.
You glanced at the several lines, each line inconspicuously placed. Not a single line had been touching. I mean, he was no Picasso, but you’d be damned if you ever managed to get that right.
You sat there perplexed, Xavier's smile as cheeky as ever. Behind, the girl stood up, her eyes filled with disdain at the odd sight before her, before gluing them to the floor.
"I’m headed to sleep,’’ she announced, grabbing the blanket in your hands with noticeable force.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ᯓ✶
Maybe it was the lack of proper air circulation or maybe the moonlight shining in your eyes, but after tossing and turning through the night, you found yourself unable to sleep.
There was no point in sleeping. It had already been past midnight. The blanket was always too warm. The air was too stale, and your mind–which never ceased its thinking- was restless.
You opened your eyes; it was dark. Obviously.
Right beside you, you could faintly make out Xavier’s sleeping bag, a ray of moonlight perfectly illuminating his sharp features.
He was out cold; his lashes sealed his eyes shut, fluttering every once in a while when his sleep apnea would kick in.
Some things never change. You giggled, a hand extended to him.
Just then he jolted into consciousness, wiggling around in the stuffy sleeping bag before finally setting himself free.
With that, he effortlessly closed the distance between the two of you with a simple roll of his body. If it weren't for the fact you knew every single sleeping habit of his, any person would've thought he was awake.
"Xavier. Move your in my bubble," you grumbled, a hand trying to push him away, which only made him lean further in.
At the end, you grew frustrated, sitting up to scoot away. If he wouldn't, you would.
However, it was no use. As you sat up to grab your blanket, he had gotten hold of your wrist, pulling you down to him.
"Xavier!" you stumbled, falling into him as his arms wrapped around you.
A low grumble escaped his throat, his eyes fluttering open. He looked at you through half-lidded, dull eyes that shined with a feint blueish tint under the moon's light.
'' Xavier..'' you whispered, your hand reaching to brush his bangs.
Before you could say more, he proceeded to roll you both onto his sleeping bag, right before he decided to go limp, passing out cold.
The weight of his shoulders pinned you down as his arms slithered underneath your shoulder blades. His head was also conveniently between your...
You huffed, clearly helpless. "Just my luck." You were sprawled flat like a pancake as this oversized rabbit had intruded on your space.
“Xavier.” You coaxed, trying to push him away, only to be met with the sounds of his even breathing.
“Xavier!” you repeated, tapping him this time, with no luck.
You decided to lie there, observing him.
He was here. At least, part of him was.
A finger tracing circles over his sleeping features, you decided to push back the hair on his forehead. There you could see the dent in his hairline where the more serious injuries he'd sustained had been; the dried blood that was thick and congealed visible through thick bandages, which only momentarily kept the blood from pouring.
But the bleeding won't stop, and his injury won't heal. You know it won't.
His injury would just decay, further and further until he would resemble one of them. Disfigured or Faceless, this was his fate. Well, at least that was your original hypothesis.
"I should've kept you in the Slepen Pod," you whispered regretfully, your hold around him tightening with every breath. ''I should've left you there...and moved on.''
But you couldn't. And when you thought about it more, you felt-
Feeling perturbed in his sleep, he turned. His hold was no longer as tight, keeping an arm around you with ample wiggle room.
His forearms were in clear view, your face and neck nestled in the crook of his elbow; you couldn't help but notice the faint marks that peeked over his rolled-up sleeves.
You sighed, uncovering them.
Scars.
But not just any scars. Scars from the bite mark.
It was bumpy, some parts of his skin dipping more than the others where the teeth had sunk in. You traced its outline, your finger brushing against every single vein that visibly stemmed from it.
"Oh, Xavier..." you sighed. " How am I supposed to kill you?'' Before he turns, that is. And surely by the time that happens, you'd have stopped wavering by then.
Xavier fidgeted, nuzzling his head further into your clothes, rubbing his forehead into you.
Huh?
Tracing over the bite marks that determined your fates, you suddenly turned to push back his hair, his head injury still fresh despite it being a few hours.
Glancing at the very different injuries, you couldn't help but realize that Xavier's bite had scarring over it. That meant visible tissue covering what should've been decay by now.
You glanced back at the bloody bandages on his scalp; yes, it still looked fresh, but the blood hadn't stopped, had it not?
It wouldn't be unusual for Hordes to be able to create new cells. Right? Their state is, after all, stemming from a virus.
Was this a mutation? Was this the effects of the pathogens keeping Hordes alive and animated?
''Did the sleeping pod do this?..Or is it...'' you thought out loud before pausing, your fantasies mixing in with your hypotheses.
Not wanting to dwell on it further, you pushed his arm off, concluding that you were in no place to diagnose anything. After all, you were no scientist.
You wiggled out of his clutches, stretching your back as you sat upright, glancing around the room.
In front of you lay a discarded blanket, the covers messy as a spot lay empty.
Nearby, the balcony door was cracked open, a slight chilly breeze flowing in.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ᯓ✶
You softly knocked on the balcony doorframe. "Hey,” you announced, momentarily pausing before making your way to her.
She glanced at you before quickly returning her gaze to the moon.
“Lovely night, isn't it?” You asked, leaning on the ledge.
She stayed quiet; you did the same, both of you opting for the comforts of silence rather than small talk.
The singing of the crickets and summer cicadas announced the night.
The air was cold, and the sky was starry, unobstructed by the lack of light pollution, nor covered by any clouds.
You were just about to turn yourself in before she spoke.
“The boxes.” She murmured, your ears peeking at her sudden response. “The one the thing drew? I knocked over some boxes at the grocery store.”
You looked at her, confused, only to be met with her exasperated sigh.
I mean, you weren't the brightest, but c'mon, not everyone can piece together these inconspicuous dots.
"I followed you into the grocery store."
Ah. That made sense.
“He saw me. I-I tripped and...And" She shuddered, reliving the memory. "I really thought he was going to eat me,” she said helplessly.
“But then he approached you." She looked up at you, her face contorted as if she was disgusted yet still intrigued. "And you were so...calm about it. "
You leaned in, urging her to continue speaking, your knuckles whitening over the railing.
"I didn't mean to come this far. I just wanted to take what I could get. And then I'd be useful."
You looked at her, confused. "Useful? Useful to who?"
She looked at you, as if caught, before quickly turning away. “Just- forget it. I’ll head off tomorrow. And then I'll be out of your way.” She spat.
Attempting to leave, she tried pushing past you, ultimately falling flat on her butt as a blanket smacked her square in the face.
Not long after, you met the same fate, a hoodie tossed your direction.
The culprit to this? Xavier, who had awoken from his slumber, not even taking a moment to smooth his bedhead, just to bring you both covers.
You glanced at the girl, her face unreadable. It wasn't much, but the simple act was enough to alleviate the tension.
Xavier helped her up, the girl offering a tiny thanks, still keeping her distance as she rushed back in.
“Thanks, Xavier,” you hummed, giving him a pat on his shoulder before he quickly stopped you.
He held your wrist, holding a sticky note to your face.
You smiled, flattening the hairs sticking up on his head.
“I thought the same thing''