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Xio was, and never will be, a people person. It wasn't something he was ashamed of, though he did sometimes wish he could just slip into someone else entirely, someone capable of giving easy comfort. Now was definitely one of those times.
The third trial had been brutal. Atzi, the ever-sparkling and intense gold semidosa, had been knocked down several spots in the rankings. Xio could see it in her eyes as they trudged back to the boat, her usual good nature replaced with an uncharacteristic silence. Normally, Atzi was the first to crack a joke or tease someone, but today she was like a little storm cloud, with none of her usual thunder.
He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it all afternoon. There was something about seeing someone so vibrant and get knocked down that made Xio’s stomach twist with guilt at his initial satisfaction. Realistically, he should be thrilled, but Atzi managed to take down Auristela and still fell short. It was unfair, something Xio was all too familiar with.
When it came time for dinner he spent a little time with Niya and Teo before excusing himself. He buried himself in blankets, flipping through his binder of hero trading cards. The cards always helped take his mind off things.
Or, atleast, until he remembered what exactly he was studying for.
But as he turned the pages of his binder, one thought kept gnawing at him.
What if I could do something?
He put the cards down, his fingers lingering over a particularly shiny one of Brilla—one of the top-ranked Sunbearers. It was stupid. To Atzi, he was just a jade semidios, barely scraping by in these trials. What could he possibly do to help?
But still, he couldn’t shake the feeling. He stood up, took a deep breath, and made a decision. He wanted to do something. Even if it was small.
Xio slipped out of his room quietly, making his way down to the kitchen. The Dioses were probably wrapping up their nightly routine, and he wasn’t sure how long he had before they would retreat for the night. He found Diosa Pan Dulce, who was happily humming while stirring a pot, and Dios Maize, who was grumbling about something under his breath while chopping up veggies.
“Um, Diosa Pan Dulce? Dios Maize?” Xio asked hesitantly, peeking around the corner. “I… I need a favor.”
Pan Dulce looked up and smiled brightly, her eyes twinkling. “Well, hello there, Xio! What can we do for you tonight? You look like you have something on your mind.”
Xio shifted from foot to foot, not quite meeting their eyes. “I… I wanted to make something nice for Atzi. She’s been having a rough time with the trials, and, well, I thought maybe I could bring her some sweets and hot chocolate or something?”
Pan Dulce's smile widened. “Oh, that’s so sweet of you! I love that you’re thinking of her. Give me just a moment, and I’ll whip something up for you.”
Xio shuffled a little closer, glancing at Maize, who was still chopping veggies. “Uh, I don’t want to bother you too much, but… is there any way we could add some fruits to the platter? Maybe something a little healthier to balance it out?”
Maize grunted, clearly trying not to be pleased. “Fine, fine. But only because you asked. You’re lucky I’m in a decent mood tonight.”
Pan Dulce chuckled, handing Xio a plate piled high with sugary pastries, cookies, and small, flaky breads. Maize grumbled as he added a selection of colorful fruits and veggies to the tray, blatantly trying to hide his own fondness for the gesture. Xio took the platter carefully, balancing the two steaming mugs of hot chocolate in his other hand.
“Thank you so much,” Xio murmured, feeling a warmth spread through him as he turned to leave.
“Don’t mention it, sweetie,” Pan Dulce called after him, smiling softly. “You’re a good friend.”
As he walked down the hallway to Atzi’s room, Xio’s heart raced in his chest. He hadn’t even thought about what he was going to say. Would Atzi be mad at him for intruding? What if she didn’t open the door?
He shook his head, trying to ignore the mounting anxiety. This was just a small gesture. He just wanted to help her feel a little better. Maybe it would make a difference.
When he knocked on Atzi’s door, he hesitated for a moment, clutching the platter tightly. His hand hovered over the doorknob, and for a moment, he thought about just leaving it outside her door and walking away.
But then the door opened.
Atzi stood there, still wearing her training gear, her hair messy from the long day. Her face softened a little as she looked at him, her eyes still a little tired.
“…Xio? What’s all this?”
Xio blinked, startled from his staring, his words got all jumbled up in his mouth. “I… I thought maybe you’d like some food. I—uh, I know things have been hard, and, well, I just wanted to do something nice. It’s, um, hot chocolate, and some sweets—and veggies, too—if that’s okay?”
Atzi blinked at him for a second, her lips curving into a soft smile. “Are you trying to say I need to eat healthier?”
“N-no!” Xio stammered, his face turning bright red. “I just thought… maybe you’d like the fruits and veggies too. You don’t have to, um, eat them if you don’t want to!”
Atzi laughed lightly, shaking her head as if mystified. “You’re such a dork, Xio. Come on in.”
He hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, holding the platter out in front of him like it might be dropped any second. Atzi moved aside to let him in, and they both ended up sitting on her bed, surrounded by the comforting scents of hot chocolate and pastries.
They didn’t speak for a while, and Xio couldn’t help but feel nervous. But then, Atzi reached for a cookie and offered it to him before taking one for herself.
“So,” she said, taking a bite. “You know, for someone who’s all quiet and shy, you really know how to bring a smile to my face. What’s your deal, Xio?”
Xio blinked, feeling a little caught off guard by her directness. "M-My deal?" he stammered, shifting his weight uncomfortably. "Well, I’m just… um, I don’t know. I guess I try to be helpful when I can. I mean, I know what it's like to be so low in the rankings, so… I guess this is my way of doing something, you know?"
Atzi winced but gave him a grin. “Yeah, i guess you would know, wouldn’t you?.”
Xio’s gaze dropped to his hands, still clutching his full mug of hot chocolate. "I just thought it was unfair" he murmured. He paused, biting his lip. "You were really awesome out there"
Atzi’s expression softened, and she nudged him lightly with her shoulder. “Well, glad to know you think I'm awesome”
Just as Xio was about to respond, the sound of loud, hurried footsteps echoed outside the room, followed by the angry sound of someone muttering.
Atzi’s head snapped toward the door. “Who do you think that is?”
Xio’s brows furrowed as the footsteps grew louder, almost as if they were coming closer. “I’m not sure, but it doesn’t sound like they're in a good mood.” He shifted, glancing at Atzi. “Maybe we should check it out.”
Atzi’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I like the way you think.”
They both stood up and quickly tiptoed toward the door, peeking out into the hall. Xio glanced around the corner, keeping his steps light, and Atzi followed close behind. They sneaked quietly down the hallway toward the common room, their ears straining to catch any hint of conversation.
As they crouched behind the large couch in the common room, Xio’s heart beat loudly in his chest, a combination of curiosity and nerves. From their hiding spot, they could barely make out the voices approaching.
“What do you think they're saying?” Atzi whispered, her eyes wide as she peered over the edge of the couch.
“I don't know, but I think it's two people. I think its Luna and… someone else.” Xio’s voice was barely above a murmur.
They strained to hear, the murmurs growing louder, but the words were still unclear. They could only pick up fragments of the conversation—something about someone being lost. Xio exchanged a glance with Atzi, catching a glimpse of silver eyes.
Suddenly, the voices grew closer and then stopped entirely. Xio held his breath, praying they hadn’t been spotted. Slowly, they both peeked over the edge of the couch, careful not to move too quickly.
Through an open doorway, they saw two figures walking toward the exit of the boat. Diosa Luna’s stern expression was unmistakable, and walking beside her was Auristela, who looked even more pissed off than usual.
“They’re leaving,” Atzi whispered, her voice barely audible.
Xio’s squinted. He could see the two figures nearing the dock, where the boat met the land. But just as they reached the end of the boat, Auristela suddenly stopped.
Atzi gasped under her breath. “Did she see us?”
Xio’s heart stopped as Auristela whipped her head around, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows. It was as if she could feel their gaze even from a distance. For a heartbeat, Xio was sure Auristela was staring right at him, her narrowed eyes cutting through the darkness.
"Quick, we need to go!" Xio hissed, his voice trembling with panic.
Without thinking twice, they both scrambled to their feet and dashed back toward Atzi's room, barely managing to avoid tripping over each other. Their breath came in sharp, quiet bursts as they slipped through the hallway and quickly closed the door behind them.
Once the door clicked shut, they leaned against it, laughing softly.
“That was way too close,” Xio muttered, his hand over his racing heart. “Do you think she saw us?”
Atzi giggled, her usual spark returning. “Maybe. Or maybe she just had a feeling. But who cares? We’re okay, and we made it back!”
Xio let out a shaky laugh, finally relaxing. “I don’t think I’ve ever run that fast in my life.”
Atzi plopped back down on her bed, taking another bite of her cookie. “Hey, don’t worry about it. We got away without getting caught. I’m sure we’re fine.”
They both sat there for a while, munching on sweets and sipping hot chocolate. Xio felt lighter, the tension from earlier fading away. It was nice to just be here with Atzi, not worrying about the trials, or the rankings, or anything else. For the first time in a while, he felt like he was actually relaxing.
But soon, the time came for him to leave. Xio stood up, reluctantly glancing at the door.
“Guess I should get back to my room,” he said, giving Atzi a small smile.
Atzi gave him a wide grin, her usual playful energy back in full force. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Xio. Try not to get into too much trouble without me.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “No promises.”
As Xio turned to leave, he was stopped by a sudden movement. Atzi had leaned in and, before he could even register what was happening, placed a soft, quick peck on his cheek.
“Thanks for tonight,” she said quietly, her voice a little softer than usual. “It was nice. Glad to know I have another friend out here”
Xio froze, his heart hammering in his chest as his face turned a deep shade of red. “I—uh—no problem. Really. I—um—"
But before he could get another word out, Atzi had already closed the door, leaving him standing there in a daze, completely still.
He blinked, feeling the warmth of her kiss lingering on his cheek. It was as if the whole world had paused for a moment. As he walked back to his room, the adrenaline from the earlier chase had long since faded, replaced with a quiet warmth that seemed to wrap itself around him.
He let himself revel in it, for just a moment. It was so odd, almost foreign, to feel that kind of warmth. He reached out for Atzi’s mind with his power and found nothing but fondness.
It was something he coveted, wanted for himself. Something that he so desired to steal, but he couldn’t take what had but freely given. He had learned to eat out of the hand that slapped him, but today Atzi had offered her palms In offering.
He would be a blind fool not to take it.