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Sometimes, he still dreamed about her.
Memories dosed in salt, reflecting the dimming night sky as countless meteors danced overhead. He’d held her hand so tightly, willing for the warmth to return, desiring her lips to spill secrets, share teasing snarks, and then overflow with bubbling laughter.
But they wouldn’t say anything ever again. At least, not in this time. In this era she was gone. So, he closed his eyes, and left a kiss across her lips, cheeks and lashes. Drinking in her scent, he impressed her upon his memory.
Philosians live long. So too would she in his memories.
And when they met again, he swore they would never be apart.
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“It’s been a long time,” she said, her voice measured and calm. That once bubbly and fierce bite when she spoke was but a ghost in his memory.
Once those eyes looked at him with teasing light. Now, there was a somberness, glistening in the azure moonlight. The sky’s eerie glow cascaded through the treetops, weaving shadows that seemed to wrap themselves around her arms and legs.
Xavier sucked in a breath. A long time indeed.
“Yes, you look good.”
Is that, all he could say? That fierceness returned, her lip quivering as if the words wanted to slip off her tongue like an unsheathed blade.
He wanted her to lay into him, swing her weapon sure and true, and aim it towards his heart.
It was better than this silence.
His mind went to the small charm in his pocket. It was a souvenir he picked up on a whim, simply because it reminded him of that night. Of her. Of what he was fighting so hard to save.
“How long will you be gone, this time?”
His eyes widened, but as quickly as the emotion rose and fell, so too did his resolve waver.
I don’t know.
He wanted to say that.
Not long.
That’s what he desperately wanted to be true.
Run away with me. Let’s go to Uluru.
“Are you happy?” Xavier asked, a barely perceptible smile hide his true desires. Oh how he wanted to pull her close, draw out her every breath and intertwine their beings with only the moonlight as their witness. That selfish, selfish part of him longed to take her wrist and press her to his chest and kiss the corner of her lips as he lightly cherished every blink of her lashes and the warmth of her hand in his.
But Philos didn’t have long. She didn’t have long. Once again, this cursed planet would take her if he didn’t find the answer.
And so, he kept quiet as her next words carried across the wind.
“Maybe, I’ve met someone.”
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Why was it that he was always too late?
Ash and crumbling earth were all that remained on that once-flowering hill. The corpses of hundreds of his former subjects, fading, their blood still fresh on his hands as he held her close. It would all end soon. At least this time he would join her.
They’d met again under circumstances he’d never dare dream of. A reunion marred by time and lost memories. Still the fleeting moment, the warmth of her light, even the briefest chance to be at her side was enough to shadow all those years of isolation. Made it worth the wait.
Now he could fade away too, beside her.
But somehow, somewhere–
He couldn’t help but hope they’d meet again.
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“Wake up, sleepy head.”
A laugh warm and sweet like sunlight drifting through billowing curtains awoke him. It took a moment for Xavier’s eyes to adjust. Refracted light shifted until the blurred form of a girl sharpened, her light pink lips pressed into a smile. She pressed her index finger to his cheeks, eliciting a chuckle from his chest.
“You awake now?”
“Mhmm. Sorry. And I was the one who said we should only take a short nap today.”
Miss Hunter hung her arms around his neck, nestling herself in his embrace. Cheekily, she brushed her nose against his. “If you need a few more minutes, that’s ok. Our reservations aren’t until later anyway.”
The gesture made his breath catch. The dreams were still pressing upon his mind. Memories were strange like that. He tried not to think about those times.
It helped that he was almost too happy now. He’d found her again after countless journeys across time and space. Little had changed about her, in fact, she’d almost become more vivacious than she was before and more importantly, happy.
Xavier pulled her close, laying a light kiss on her lips. “Hmm, instead of sleep. I have a better idea.”
Miss Hunter reddened, immediately misinterpreting his words as something more intense than he intended. He chuckled, teasingly poking her cheek once, then twice. “Not that, maybe later. But first, I have something for you.”
Xavier reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box wrapped in the night sky. Her fingers made quick work of it, tearing into the paper to reveal a small star charm. Something flickered in her eyes then, a recognition, familiarity that he knew she couldn’t quite explain.
He wrapped his hand around hers, cradling the charm in their palms.
“I’ve always wanted to give something like this to you. Since you comment on my charm a lot. Now, we’re matching. Happy Birthday my starlight.”
Miss Hunter’s smile blossomed through faint tears. A quiet moment for the two of them, no longer burdened by the past or lies.
Finally, he was right on time.
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Case 01/ Redacted/ In another realm and another place, he is ever at her side
Hermit. An enigma wrapped up in lies he spun and told held him back. The distance between Xavier and Miss Enforcer was but a large stone sinking in a stream. If he just jumped over the hurdle that was being a predator, he’d reach her.
In the middle of a large hall two opposites waltzed, surrounded by predators hidden in plain sight among attendees to Philo’s celebration for the release of their latest product. He’d never planned to show his face at a function like this ever again. Yet, one assignment to Miss Enforcer was all it took for him to break that oath. He couldn’t let her dive into the den of chaos alone now, could he?
“You seem a bit distracted,” she said, her deep purple dress swaying as her hips slid past his palms in a spin. He pulled her close, their gazes locking with a fire that only burned brighter with every step.
The desire for her was all-consuming. Every thought, wish, and breath was just for her. Miss Enforcer didn’t know just how special she was. Didn’t know what she did to him. How her pulse alone almost sent the most calm and collected predator into a frenzy. It took all he had to not want to run away to a back room, and sink his teeth into her neck, make her his and only his.
Such dangerous thoughts. He smiled.
But he’d never do anything like that. Not unless she wished it. Especially since tonight was a special day. Maybe, the most important day of them all.
Xavier pressed her back to his chest. The warmth of his breath brushed past the shell of her ear as he whispered, “Maybe I’m just counting down the minutes until my special surprise for you arrives.”
Miss Enforcer flinched, her neck craning up to look at him with wide eyes. “A surprise?”
Lights flickered in the ballroom, allowing the moonlight to cascade across the floor, mixing their shadows into one silhouette. A loud bang drew their attention to a large window overhead. Countless fireworks filled the sky, in shapes of bunnies jumping over stars, flowers, and bright shimmering showers. A delight of colors filled her vision as the elusive Hermit intwined her hands with his.
“Just because we’re working doesn’t mean I can’t celebrate your birthday. Happy Birthday Miss Enforcer,” he said, his voice tinged with a subtle laugh.
A smile bloomed across her face, tickling her cheeks pink. It was then he knew he had her, even without marking her with the same fate as him. Truth be told, it was far better for her to remain in the light. It’s how he too, could remain there, happy, at her side.
Yet another night Hermit had to hold himself back. Still, it was a privilege he’d relish in forevermore.