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XB never starts by saying hello. He always takes a moment to just watch.
It’s usually easiest to perch on the nearest available tree or wall to wherever Keralis is working, and stand there as long as he likes. Landing quietly is second nature at this point. Barring that, he’ll creep out from the nearest landing point to find him, half-hiding around the corners. Even deep underground, Keralis always has some kind of shulker collection sitting out as a landmark, and XB can slot himself in there with ease.
And he’ll just watch Keralis. Watch him build, watch him sort through shulkers, watch him scurry about the breadth of his base. Unlike a lot of the Hermits, Keralis doesn’t talk to himself too much, so it’s a wordless scene punctuated only by the work and the occasional half-tuned whistling. If Keralis moves, XB will follow to a point–or even lead, if he can predict where he’s going. Happens more often than he even thinks about; their patterns are rooted deep, and they know how each other think.
Finally, when enough time has passed, or if the moment is just too good, XB will show himself unavoidably clear. Not that he’s usually been hiding particularly well, but Keralis never spots him first. Always on XB’s terms.
He thinks Keralis should have better awareness by now, considering how often this happens. Those big, bright eyes should be used to checking at the corners for a friendly face, or turning up when there’s a rustle in the tree nearby. Especially at the beginning of the season like this; there’s still chances for builds to not be properly lit up, and a second of warning can be the difference between a standing wall and a creeper hole. It might be the new centurion helmet, muffling and warping the sounds around him, but Keralis has always been like this, so it’s probably just Keralis.
Sure, XB could save time by announcing himself; not that he’s ever in a rush to get away from Keralis. And sure, there’s a chance Keralis has learned it’s him, in theory. He could have developed some Sixbth Sense for when he’s being watched and learned to tune it out. He could be humoring XB.
But XB knows better. Knows Keralis never has a clue.
He knows because when he finally drops down too close to be avoided, or punches Keralis on the shoulder, or clears his throat, Keralis turns around. XB sees those big, beautiful eyes staring at him, reflecting his own face back at him. And there’s always a moment of shock too real to be faked. The genuine surprise fills them top to bottom, processing who has just appeared in front of him.
And after the shock, there’s always a moment of joy. Recognition that sweeps in on a wave of simple happiness. Reflection of the amusement XB is always feeling, shifting to the beat of connection. Keralis sees XB, and no matter what mood he’s in, it instantly gets better, and all of it shows in his eyes, before he even manages to say his name in that sweet voice of his. Everything’s said without a single word.
XB won’t trade that moment of love for all the time in the world.