#xavier l&ds

"You know they have these things called phones?"

"Foh-N-z, you say?" Seiya played with the word in his mouth like sour candy, "Is that some sort of new human word?"

He lit up with glee when she couldn't hide her smile, "Oh I've got some new human words if you're so curious."

"Want to exchange them over a cup of coffee?"

Practice ended with an excercised breath and return to first form before Heaven sheathed her sword on her wide hips. She swiped his moon mug and gulped down the remnants from the same spot as his.

"Lead the way," she curtseyed, "your Majesty."

The tall, young man laughed so abruptly his fringe, ash blond under the bright light, tickled his thick lashes. He led the way to another set of heavy sliding door into the training room lounge with stylish black furniture and sleek, modern appliances in multiple brown hues. The aroma of fresh, hot coffee stimulated Heaven's senses and when she sat Seiya's cup in the sink she was presented with another with the speed of a magician pulling a rabbit from his hat. She gratefully accepted the hot mug and Seiya waited for the stars dotted around it to change color from the temperature because it filled her eyes with the prettiest, childish delight.

Heaven took a tentative sip. It was overwhelmingly sweet and tasted like the chocolate syrup hadn't been stirred all the way through.

It was perfect.

"Did you make this?"

Seiya shy scratched the back of his head, "The machine did most of the work."

"But the human went the extra mile." The pink coloring Seiya's ears provided all the answer she needed. She bumped their hips together, "Thanks. It tastes great."

She followed him to a comfy two seater and sat carefully on the beige leather. Coffee stains were starting to come out of their paychecks as if it were the Hunters fault and not the blaring alarm system or the overtime.

"Is this why you were late? You were following up on the mystery of the perfect cup'a?"

"Yeah. I was in Uruba sifting through painted coffee beans. I was trying to look for protocores I accidentally sorted so many that I was asked to judge the Annual Coffee Bean contest."

"Were you a good judge?"

"Too good. They rewarded me with a bunch of regular, modified protocores."

"Ooo Simone'll love that."

"You mean your new sparring partner?"

She blew bubbles in her coffee and almost looked like she had no further comments, but Seiya knew better.

"Knee-YEW Par-toe-nah? Yeah sorry, don't know that one. I haven't had much time to review my Old Philosophian."

This was their most familiar dance. On the one hand the huntress knew she couldn't micromanage every move her team made yet, on the other hand, they all kept tabs on each other for a reason. Anything could happen. She had trusted their team leader as much as the rest of them did and where was he now?

If anything happened to anyone else, to Seiya especially…

He placed one purple glove on her ankle and coaxed it loose from underneath her bottom to rest in his lap for a massage. She felt herself come back down to earth.

"…What is it?"

"I'm trying to be nice."

"Stop trying. You are nice."

In that case, Heaven reiterated, "I'm trying not to probe."

"Stop that too." Seiya admonished, "I can tell when you want to ask me something for real."

Despite everything they had been through, from each Wanderer they'd taken down to late night spar to overnight study session to movie night sleepover—asking Seiya to divulge any information about his connection to the Aether Cores felt like walking a tightrope. Her questions backed him into an invisible corner with reckless abandon and made Heaven constantly feel like she was working backwards.

Seiya noticed, of course, because he always did. It hurt. The curiosity that used to shine in her eyes when it came to him would dim during work related topics. He could see the wheels turn in her mind when she tried to spin a story in a way that wouldn't challenge him, and wished she would stop holding back. He knew the fault was his own—his constant diversion tactics would tire anyone out and before, he was just a neighbor, a friend, a partner, a crush… nothing to burden.

How he wished she would burden him.

"Ask. For real." He pleaded.

Heaven stared into his big blue eyes like she was cloud watching, her gaze slow and deliberately tracing his tired, red rimmed lines.

"Fine," She handed him the remaining coffee in her mug. He placed his lips on the same spot she had.

"You wouldn't happen to know more about Aether Cores than the Association, would you?"

"You think I'm that capable?"

"I think you can access things I can't."

He licked the syrup from his lips, "…I don't know how many Aether Cores are left, or their capabilities. I do know that fully awakened power from the cosmos would be catastrophic."

"I'm only doing this because I have to."

"I have something I have to do no matter what as well."

Heaven rested her hand in her chin thoughtfully. Seiya smiled apologetically and put the empty mug down. He slid imperceptibly closer to smooth the furrowing space between her brows.

"I know you're unsatisfied. But, some things you have to see to believe."

Their watches beep simultaneously, breaking the mood. A message from their Team Lead.

"Andrew!"

Andrew put his finger to his lips cheekily, "I've confirmed our B-Protocurve Wanderer is related to an Aether Core. Synchronizing the details to you data log…"

"Did you tell Simone you're back yet?"

"I told her first. Why, are you taking her out on assignment?"

"Nooo don't worry, my partner is back. It's your turn to get yelled at when we get back."

"It's always my turn. Out."

"Out."

Heaven breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness. One more day and I was going to go look for him myself."

Seiya stood and offered his hand to her, "Is that what the new weapon was for?"

"Maybe," Heaven accepted his strong tug, letting the motion tip her into his broad chest, "or maybe I was going to hunt you down with it."

"Such a big upgrade for such an easy task."

"You think hunting you down is easy?