That One Chick

You were terrified, shaking to your core, while he was already a grown man, the strongest sorcerer alive, a teacher at Tokyo Jujutsu High. You remember being led to the estate garden that same day for a formal introduction.

You walked along the stone path, gripping the hem of your kimono, feeling small and utterly insignificant. He stood beside the koi pond, tall, white-haired, his eyes hidden behind that signature blindfold. He still wore it back then. That same sharp, mocking smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

You'd flinched at his presence because you’d overheard him talking to an Elder just before you stepped out. You weren’t supposed to hear, but the wind carried his voice—irritated, almost cruel:

"She’s just a kid," his tone was dripping with disdain. "A stupid, naive girl. I don't need a wife, especially not someone like her. This whole thing is pointless."

You didn’t hear the rest.

You ran, huddled in a corner, and sat there for a long time, knees pulled to your chest, trying to hold back the tears. You didn't want to be a burden. You didn't want to be someone who repulsed him. But when your father ordered you to the garden, you obeyed, as you always did.

You remember approaching him timidly, barely making a sound. He turned to you, tilting his head slightly. There was no warmth in the way he looked at you. Just curiosity. And something else. Something you couldn't quite name.

After that, you saw him at gatherings a few times, always distant, with that perpetual half-smile that you felt was meant only to bait the Elders.

He was beautiful. He was powerful. He was... kind to you.

At least, he never looked at you the way the others did—like you were an object, a convenient business transaction, an incubator for the next generation of the Gojo clan.

But that was before.

The creak of the door pulls you from your memories. Your entire body jolts, and you feel your heart skip a beat. You stare at the floor, at your pale knuckles white from gripping the fabric, and a cold shiver runs down your spine.

Gojo stands in the doorway for a few moments. You can’t see his face, but his gaze is heavy enough to make your skin prickle. Then he walks past you. You hear the rustle of fabric, a light thud—he’s discarding his outer kimono, hanging it on the stand.

The room is deathly quiet, broken only by your ragged breathing and his measured, steady exhales.

You lift your eyes.

He’s facing away from you, and you can see his broad shoulders, his back mapped with scars. A quiet, startled gasp slips past your lips when you notice them—long, jagged, pink and white lines crisscrossing his back like a map of the battles he’s won.

They look even more gruesome against his pale, perfect skin, which used to be flawless. And now…

Satoru freezes. Just for a heartbeat.

Then, slowly, almost reluctantly, he turns his head, eyes cutting toward you. He doesn’t look directly at you, just listens. The silence stretches, tight and suffocating, and you realize he heard your gasp. You bite your lip as heat floods your face.

He finishes shedding his clothes, left in his loose trousers, barefoot. He hesitates, then turns to face you. You see his face now. His eyes, usually hidden by the blindfold, are exposed, but there’s no trace of that caustic smirk you remembered.

Just cold, exhaustion, and a strange, almost painful detachment. His gaze settles on you—on your hunched silhouette, your trembling fingers—and there isn't a flicker of warmth in his eyes.

Satoru takes a step toward you. Then another.

He stops right at the edge of the bed, towering over you. You feel small and insignificant, like a mouse before a snow leopard. You look up, and he’s so tall you have to tilt your head back. His face is impassive, his lips pulled into a thin, flat line.

"We have to do this," he says abruptly.

His voice is flat, almost mechanical, devoid of emotion. "Take off your clothes."

A sob rises in your throat, but you swallow it down, biting your lip until it tastes like copper.

He is the strongest. And you are his wife, and you have to play the part.

You no longer recognized the man standing before you.

You don’t know this stranger looking at you like you’re just empty space. But for some reason, looking at his scars, at his tired eyes, something inside you aches for the Satoru Gojo who used to smile at you.

You pull yourself up on shaky legs.

Satoru immediately takes a step back, as if afraid you might touch him. Your stomach twists with hurt and resentment, but you keep the tears at bay. You start undressing, fumbling with the silk ties and knots.

You remember your mother telling you that a husband should undress his wife on their wedding night, that it’s a symbol of his power and her submission. But Satoru doesn't touch you. He just stands to the side, watching your clumsy efforts, and there isn't a shred of desire in his eyes.

You freeze for a moment, recalling your first meeting, when your father forced you into the garden so Gojo could "inspect" you. He had caught you by the elbow to keep you from falling into the pond. Back then, his fingers touched your skin, and you felt warmth.

Now, he stands three steps away, and there is an infinity between you.

You’re down to your shift, standing before him nearly naked, head bowed, fingers clawing at the hem of your gown. You want, God, you ache for him to want you. Just a little bit. Even a spark of desire.

He’s beautiful—even the scars don't ruin him; they just make him look more rugged, more weathered, more… more human, more different.

But you don’t dare look at him, feeling small and undeserving.

You reach out, almost on instinct, wanting to touch his arm—just the brush of a fingertip. But your fingertips meet an invisible wall. His Infinity. Even now, in this moment, he keeps his barrier up, never letting you get close.

A stray tear slips down your cheek, and you quickly wipe it away.

Satoru looks down at you, then says, grimly: "Lie down."

You nod obediently and scramble onto the bed.

You don’t know how to lie, so you just freeze on your back. Your knees and fingers are shaking. You stare at the ceiling, not daring to look at him, listening to the rustle of clothes as he sheds the rest.

The mattress dips under his weight as he climbs up, kneeling between your legs. You instinctively bend your knees, feeling his proximity, your shift riding up your thighs, exposing your skin.

"I’m sorry," he exhales quietly.

Your breath catches.

His palm touches your knee, gripping it. You flinch at the contact. He spreads your legs, wider, and you lie exposed and painfully vulnerable.

You want to cry, to scream, to run, but you hold it in, fingers white-knuckling the sheets. Gojo hesitates, positioning himself between your thighs. He pushes your shift higher, almost to your waist, trying hard not to graze you. You see from the corner of your eye how his gaze is locked on your hips, and a burning shame makes you turn your head to the wall.

The blunt tip presses against your entrance.

You’re nearly dry, and everything inside you is clenching in fear and pain. You know there’s supposed to be foreplay to make this easier, but you also know he isn't ready to touch anyone more than absolutely necessary.

The fight with the King of Curses didn't just break his body.

When he pushes inside you, you cry out in pain and shock, digging your fingernails into the sheets. Satoru freezes, looks up at you, meets your pale face and averted eyes, and rasps through gritted teeth:

"Just bear with it. It’ll get better soon. It’s only painful the first time."

He pushes deeper, you cry out louder, he stretches you, filling you completely. Tears prick at your eyes, but you hold them back, biting your lip. Pain radiates through your lower belly; you clench around him, trying to adapt to his size, to his presence inside you.

Satoru slows down, changing positions, hovering over you.

He braces one hand beside your head. The other supports his weight as he moves slowly, methodically, until he's buried deep inside you. His face is distorted with tension, sweat beading on his forehead.

He stares at your squeezed-shut eyes, at the way you avoid his gaze, and he grinds his teeth. His hand grips your thigh—it hurts—and he thrusts one last time, all the way in.

You both freeze.

Only heavy, ragged breathing breaks the silence.

A minute passes. Two.

Satoru pulls his hand from your thigh and slowly begins to move. It still hurts inside, it burns, and you bite your lip until it bleeds, trying not to sob. He moves slowly, almost carefully, but every thrust sends a sharp, pulsing ache through your body.

Your nails dig into your palms.

Beads of sweat roll down your forehead. Satoru gets on his elbows, hovering over you. You jerk under his heavy thrusts, but unconsciously, you reach out to him, wanting to touch his shoulder to make it feel less harsh, but Satoru immediately catches your wrists and pins them to the bed above your head.

Your eyes lock.

You look terrified, confused; he looks irritated, almost frantic at your attempt to touch him.

"Don't touch me," he snaps. He knits his brows together, then adds, softer: "I know. This isn't what you expected."

You swallow, remaining silent.

Your gaze drifts away, and you hear him make a bitter clicking sound. His shoulders shake with a hollow laugh. You look back at him, but he’s already looking somewhere else, anywhere but at you.

"If it helps, you don't have to look," he mutters. "Or just close your eyes. If I disgust you."

It takes you a second to realize he’s talking about himself. His scars. His appearance. A painful ache settles in your chest once more. Satoru begins to move again, but this time his thrusts are sharper, almost angry.

The anger isn't aimed at you—you can feel that—but you still tremble beneath him. His massive body looms over you, pinning your wrists, and you flinch at every strike.

You whisper before you can stop yourself:

"That’s not true..."

Satoru slows down, eyes snapping back to yours, his shoulders tensing. You look him dead in the eyes and repeat it, quiet but firm:

"You don't disgust me."

He frowns, not believing it, so you dare—you wrap your knees around his hips and pull him closer, forcing him to sink into you completely, letting out a sharp breath of your own. Now, almost defiantly, holding his gaze:

"You don't disgust me."

You let go of his hips and hesitantly reach for him again. "I… can I?"

Satoru stares at your palm for a second, then at your face. A flicker of something warm and raw crosses his features; he gives a faint nod and releases your wrists. You place your palms on his chest, feeling his fever-hot skin and the rough, raised lines of his scars under your fingertips.

You stroke him, tracing the uneven lines, his shoulders, his neck. Satoru squeezes his eyes shut, leaning into you, pressing his forehead against your shoulder. He presses his entire body against yours, light as a feather.

He’s trembling.

No one has touched him in a long time. Especially not like this—gently, with tenderness.

"These scars don't make you ugly," you whisper into his ear.

"You… you’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen."

Satoru catches your hand, pressing kisses to your fingers, then your wrist. You let out a small, quiet laugh, and he feels you tighten around him, thrusting into you unconsciously.

"You saved us," you continue, tangling your fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck.

Satoru goes perfectly still.

"If it weren't for you, we would’ve all perished. No one else could have beaten him. You are the strongest. Your scars… they’re proof of your strength and your courage. You were ready to give everything to protect this world."

Your words only spur him on.

A wave of heat washes over you. Satoru lifts his head, looking at you with a strange, hungry intensity. His hands slide under your shift, finding your breasts.

He nuzzles into you, rubbing his face against your chest, covering it in kisses.

His first kiss hits your neck, and you moan, throwing your head back. He whimpers in response, setting a new pace—faster, desperate. He touches you everywhere, and you do the same, your fingers roaming his shoulders, his shoulder blades, his stomach, his face.

He groans when you kiss his scars, he whines when you tighten around him, and he begins to fuck you deeper, faster, more desperately.

He doesn't trust you. He can't.

There’s too much pain, too much betrayal, too much loneliness.

When your arms slide around his back to pull him closer, he flinches and freezes for a split second.

He’s not used to being held. He’s not used to tenderness. But he craves it so, so desperately.

Satoru presses into you, burying his nose in your hair. He finishes inside you with a low, plaintive groan, collapsing his full weight onto you, lying still, feeling your heat, your arms holding him tight.

You lie still, feeling the weight of him. After a few seconds, he shifts, looking worried that he might be crushing you. But you look fulfilled, content, a small, soft smile playing on your lips.

When you finally look up, you find him watching you in the dim light. He reaches out, tentatively, and pulls you against him. His embrace is shy, trembling, like he doesn't quite know how to do this.

Like he’s forgotten what it’s like to be close.

"Do you remember that the Elders are going to demand an heir?" you ask softly, staring up at the ceiling.

Satoru clicks his tongue, pulling you tighter, looping an arm around your waist and starting to slowly peel your shift away, unable to get enough of the sight of your body.

"They can't say anything to me," he mumbles into your hair. "They’ll have to wait, since you aren't ready yet."

You look up at his face in surprise; he brushes his lips against yours. You taste him, running your tongue over the faint scar on his upper lip. Satoru gives you a boyish grin, that same sharp, devilish smirk you’ve come to love.

"Who said I wasn't ready?"

You weren't, really—but it seems like you wanted to be.

Satoru searches your face for a long moment, as though waiting for the hesitation, the fear, the uncertainty. None of it comes. Only then does the corner of his mouth lift into that familiar, crooked grin you'd almost forgotten.

"Well, if they want Gojo heirs that badly," he begins, his voice dropping to a low, husky register, "we’re going to have to try really, really hard."

"Yeah?"

"We definitely need to get in a few more attempts," Satoru purrs into your ear.

He grabs your thigh under the knee, jerking it toward your chest with one swift move, and settles between your legs, opening you up completely. You gasp, and he kisses you again—deep, greedy—and you can feel that he’s already hard and ready again.

"Don't worry," he whispers against your skin, thrusting into you slowly, "I know what I'm doing. We’ll get it right."

You let out an excited whimper at the deep thrust.

"I am the strongest, after all," Satoru winks at you.

You wrap your arms around his neck, his hands sliding down your back, pressing you into him.

You aren't scared anymore.

Not beside him.

The night is going to be a long one.

Beside him—beside your husband—you aren't scared at all.

sure, most of the time he's just fucking you for the fun of it, but sometimes he kisses you so tenderly and holds you so close that you're almost lulled into some kind of security with him, like you're his. unfortunately it always ends, and even if you hope and pray for some kind of development in your relationship, the next time he comes over it's all back to normal.

your phone's on silent, but you don't miss the notification on your screen. with pen in hand and papers to mark you almost ignore it, but face id means your screen's already unlocked, and you're able to see it's him - he's asking if you're free.  in truth, you aren't. you're supposed to be working late alongside shoko marking student reports, but for him you'll make yourself readily available by whatever means. 

"are you listening?" shoko sighs, and you don't glance up from your phone.  "sorry, i'm gonna have to have to go." you speak monotonously while preoccupied with thoughts of the man you're far too infatuated with, and it's a tone shoko knows all too well. her frown sets much deeper as your fingers glide over your keyboard to tell him you'll be a half hour. 

"please tell me you're not ditching me for satoru."

finally, your eyes set over hers. she wears her disapproval so thickly, and so shamelessly. if eyes could kill, ieiri's sure would. she lets out a lengthy breath before deciding you're more deserving of her pity than annoyance, slumping back against her chair. it groans as she moves.

"this thing you've got, it will end in tears."

"i know." you consider furthering the conversation and allowing more detail, letting her onto the fact that the snowy haired psycho is in fact different when in your presence, he's so much brighter, and kinder... but you decide against it almost as soon as the idea had popped into your mind. she'd probably just play therapist and deter you from your endeavour (of winning his heart), and you didn't want to hear her voice your deepest fears - that satoru doesn't feel the same way.

it's not a long journey home, and with the perks of teleportation satoru is able to get to you within a heartbeat. he's already pushing you toward the bed within minutes of being in your presence, his lips hungry against yours. his hands traverse the peak of your hips, dragging upward to the trough, conveniently slipping those fingers under your work shirt to grasp at the flesh beneath.

there's always a little bit of buffer time in your brain when he arrives, a minute or two needed to disconnect your racing brain and relax, to ignore that build up of nerves and focus on the present. you lay back on the mattress and he takes his place between your legs, your shirt already in a heap on the rug - but you're not able to shake those thoughts. you try to push it all down and lean into his touch, yet shoko's words still hang heavy. 

it must be that whatever ditch you would force these memories into had been crammed all too densely, because not only are you unable to shake this feeling of impending doom, you're also reminiscing on things you hadn't wanted to think about. late nights with satoru, laying beside him basking in the aftermath of your intimacy, and all the feelings that are tied to his presence. 

these memories weren't as neatly packed away as you'd thought. in fact, they're overflowing, and they're unforgiving. you realise now, you're in love with him. you know it as well as your own name. 

 his lips trail to your neck, blindfold still on. it tickles your skin. 

you think back to a moment a few months back, when this had all just begun. a simple gesture of ordering pizza when you'd known he hadn't eaten, a shared meal after you'd come down from your highs. he'd gone to leave, but of course you'd do anything to make him stay just that little bit longer. 

"for me?" you can still hear the way he'd asked when you brought through two boxes, and the way his expression softened. he watched you grow closer to the bed, his upper half nude and slouching on the headboard. you smiled, just as you always do with him, one of the boxes suddenly resting in his lap. the smugness you're used to had left him in that moment, and when you stuck the tv on, it felt natural. domestic. it was like the real him sat beside you that night, but after he'd eaten and the episode ended, he was gone.

satoru pulls back and you're shoved back into the real world, opening your eyes to the black fabric that envelops his face. it's impossible to read him when he's like this, though you're never able to ask him to remove it. your hands move up from the back of his neck and rest at the seam, and you stare at the cotton as if you're looking him in the eye. you wonder if you are, or if he's denying you that. 

"what's wrong?" he asks as if he's intrigued more than concerned, and you swallow, breaking your imaginary eye contact to look over his shoulders. they're bare, though you don't really remember helping him out of his shirt. "it's nothing." you try to pass it off as such, a weak curve of lips, but he doesn't drop it.  "just tell me." he's buttering you up with his gentle tone. you ignore him and tug on his head to bring him back to you, but satoru doesn't stop. 

"i'm just tired, that's all." there's silence following your statement, and he doesn't seem all that convinced, though after a few seconds tick by, he appears to have dropped whatever he was thinking.  "i'll go, then." there's something in his voice that you're unable to place a finger on, it's similar to disappointment, though not quite it. you swallow your pride. 

"i just," you drag your fingertips over the fabric. "was wondering if you'd take this off."   the playfulness returns, and you're a little tense, but he doesn't seem to notice.  "what, you don't like it?" he teases you, and you feign a smile in return.  "not here." you're hoping you sell your words well, otherwise he'll know you're feeling unnerved and likely leave. he stills and you tug at the fabric, brushing the longer strands of hair and scaling his undercut until the tightness finally gives and you're able to unwrap the blindfold. 

your heart picks up pace when his eyes are boring into you, very evidently judging your every move when you toss the unravelled cotton to one side. it's not often you're able to examine them so closely. they're both beautiful and intimidating, adorned with white lashes, swimming in the deepest hues of blue you've ever seen. 

"i love you." the words leave your lips before you've processed them, and your mouth suddenly casts a downward turn as you watch his eyebrows raise, and lips part. genuine surprise meddles with satoru's features. you grit your teeth and cower back into the mattress.  "that's a big word." his reply makes your heart sink from your chest to your stomach in a way it never has before. your eyes gloss over. 

"i'm sorry, i shouldn't have said that." for a moments pass you think he's going to continue, he's quiet, and staring at your lips. but he doesn't, instead furthering the distance between you by pushing himself back onto his forearms and letting the air nip at your prickled skin. you've blown it, there's no way satoru is going to keep this going now. 

"it's alright." he appears distant in his expression and reply, yet doesn't get off of you. you're left to question what he's thinking.  "satoru?" his name rolls from your tongue so naturally. he let you call him that after your first hook-up, gojo was too impersonal. he'd been calling you by your first name long before that, though. 

"sorry." he looks hollow. "i haven't heard that in years." 

you furrow your brow and begin to ask what he'd meant by that, but the words fizzle out. shoko made vehemently clear you were never to mention geto's name in satoru's presence. his first, and only love. it's one of the few times you've also seen shoko so genuinely upset. 

"i'm so sorry." you voice again, though this time there's a dip in your voice. satoru looks as though he has re-entered the room when your words falter, and he's staring right at you with no mercy. he leans back toward you, connecting his lips to yours in a heartbeat with a loving and gentle movement. he's pressed against you so snugly you almost forget to breathe, his hand encasing your cheek so firmly it's as if he expects you to fall from his grasp and shatter. 

there's a warm droplet on your face and you tighten your eyes under the assumption it's one of your own tears - only you realise the placement isn't quite right. peering through half open lids you're able to see water pooling at satoru's lash line, just enough to blink away into a single tear. you place your palms over his shoulders to push him back, but he has already taken his lips from you, and instead placing his head at the nape of your neck. you slide your hands down and around, circling around his torso and squeezing. he sniffles, and although you know he won't cry in front of you, this is certainly close to it. 

"i didn't notice, i'm sorry." his words are spoken into that nook, and muffled by your skin. you close your eyes, exhaling.  "it's alright." from all of the ways you'd thought this might have gone, this wasn't it. you're doused in disappointment, it's like you've taken a dunk into a bath full of ice; it chills you to the bone. 

"i really..." he speaks slowly, tiptoeing around how he's about to phrase his confession. "jujutsu has a hold over us, you could never really have me."  "you're not just a sorcerer, satoru. you deserve to be loved." you feel heat in your nose as your own tears bubble, but you don't allow them to surface. instead, you're left with clouded vision and a runny nose as you stare up at your ceiling. you circle a thumb over satoru's back. "but, if you don't feel the same, it's okay." that's a lie, it would definitely not be okay, you'd want to set yourself on fire. "no, i do." your heart feels as if it's about to jump out of your chest. "but there's no curse more twisted than love." 

you loosen your grip and take his face back between your hands, pulling him back to have his face before your own.  "it's gonna be okay." you offer a small smile to accompany your words of comfort, and satoru wants to trust you. 

you glance down to your half dressed body, then back to him. "will you stay the night? we can order in, watch some tv." it's funny how you feel more exposed than ever while, in comparison to your past encounters, being decently covered. "we can start small." 

You think you’re gonna die too. Because there’s heat pooling between your legs, and you're pretty sure you’ve soaked through your panties, and this was supposed to be your first normal date. Not a panty-ruining, thigh-clenching disaster where you keep imagining his stupid hot fingers pulling your hoodie up and touching you like you're not both trembling virgins about to combust from one misplaced touch.

Satoru’s voice cracks in the dark.

“You, uh— are you okay?”

You look at him, wide-eyed. “What? Yeah. I’m fine.”

He fidgets. “You’re breathing kinda fast.”

You are. Shit.

“I’m just…” you squirm, thighs pressed tight together. “The seats are uncomfortable.”

He makes a strangled little laugh, eyes darting to the screen and then back to your mouth. You don’t know who moves first, but a second later, your hands are brushing in the popcorn bag and boom— your bodies are pressed together like magnets.

The movie is completely forgotten. You’re both leaning toward each other, breathing the same hot air, and it’s dizzying how close he is. His scent is soft and clean, like soap and sugar and some light cologne that makes your thighs ache. Your lips almost brush before he pulls back, cheeks pink.

“I-I gotta pee,” he blurts. Then winces. “Fuck. Not like— fuck, I didn’t mean it like—”

You stare at him, lips parted.

“…Me too,” you whisper. “Bathroom. I mean.”

So of course, of course, ten minutes later, you’re both in the tiny single-stall bathroom behind the snack bar, the door locked, and you’re pressed against the wall with Satoru’s hands hovering an inch from your waist like he doesn’t know if he’s allowed to touch you.

You’re panting.

So is he.

And there’s the faintest bulge pressing against his pants.

“You’re hard,” you whisper, stunned.

Satoru turns bright red. “I didn’t mean to be! I swear I wasn’t thinking anything— well I was thinking but not like— well yes like that but I didn’t expect you to—”

“I’m wet.”

That shuts him up.

He blinks. “Wha— You, wait really?”

You nod furiously. “Soaked. I thought I was dying. You’re, l-like— you’re so hot and tall and your hands are big and I thought—”

He sways toward you like he’s being pulled by gravity.

“You think I’m hot?” he breathes, shocked.

Your voice is barely a whisper. “You’re like—the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.”

“…But I’m a virgin.”

You blink. “You’re a virgin?”

He freezes. “You didn’t know?”

You shake your head. “You’re too confident. And tall. And your voice, like— you talk like you’ve seen shit.”

“I haven’t! I’ve literally never seen anything. I still sleep with a body pillow.”

“Oh my god.”

You both start laughing, but it’s too breathy, too nervous. You’re looking at his lips again.

“I thought you weren’t a virgin,” he admits, voice low now, almost in awe. “You look like— like—”

He waves helplessly at your body. “You’re so pretty. So hot. You look like you’d ruin me.”

“I’ve never even kissed anyone,” you whisper.

“Me either,” he says.

There’s a beat of silent realization.

Then— tentatively— his hands touch your waist. He’s shaking.

“Can I…”

You nod. “Yeah. Please.”

The kiss is terrible. Teeth clashing, noses bumping, your mouths slipping messily before you both pull away with startled laughter. But his face is flushed, and his eyes are glassy, and your thighs are pressed tight together because the way he’s looking at you is not innocent anymore.

“We’re so bad at this,” you whisper.

“I’m gonna die,” he mumbles, forehead pressed to yours.

“I’m so wet I think my panties are ruined,” you say, like a confession.

He groans. “That’s so hot, please don’t say things like that unless you want me to cum in my pants.”

You both snort, but neither of you moves away.

“Can I… touch you?” he whispers, barely audible.

Your eyes widen, breath catching.

“…Yes. But I don’t— I don’t really know how.”

“Me either,” he whispers. “Let’s be awkward together.”

You reach for his belt, and he lifts your hoodie just enough to see the swell of your tits in your bra. And then you both freeze, panting, staring— because holy fuck this is actually happening.

Two very horny, very confused virgins. In a bathroom. At the movies.

Grinding desperately like you’re learning each other’s bodies in braille.

His hands find your hips, pulling you closer. Your fingers tremble at his zipper. And you swear— you swear— when your pussy brushes against his bulge through your panties and tights, he nearly whimpers.

You're both gonna combust.

You’re still half-laughing, half-gasping into his neck, your panties damp and sticking to you like sin, and Satoru’s hard dick is pressed against your inner thigh through his jeans like it hurts. He keeps doing these little shaky inhales, fingers digging into your hoodie at the waist like he needs something to hold onto or he’ll float off the planet.

His glasses are fogged. His cheeks are pink. And when you drag your nose along his jaw just to feel him shiver, he makes the softest noise you’ve ever heard. A tiny, broken sigh— like the kind of sound you might make when someone pets your hair just right.

You feel like you’re on fire.

“You’re really… hard,” you whisper, a little dreamy, dragging your hand down the front of his jeans like you’re curious more than anything else. Because you are. You can feel the length of him, thick and hot under the denim, twitching at just the barest touch of your fingers. “Like… all the way.”

“I know,” he whines, quietly. “It’s been like that since the popcorn scene.”

You giggle. “We didn’t have a popcorn scene.”

“You were licking butter off your fingers.”

“…Oh. Yeah okay, fair.”

You’re still staring at the bulge in his jeans. It’s insane. It’s… kind of intimidating, honestly. But you’re so curious, and he looks like he might actually die from the idea of you wanting to see him like this.

“Can I see it?” you whisper.

His breath catches. His whole body freezes.

“You— my… dick?”

You nod shyly, face burning. “Just once. I just— I wanna know what it looks like.”

He stares at you like you’re a mythical creature. “You really want to see it?”

“…Yeah.”

His fingers are shaking as he fumbles with his zipper.

You don’t look away— not even when he shoves his boxers down and his cock bounces free, flushed and heavy and dripping. You make a noise, something halfway between shock and awe, because holy shit he’s big. Not just big— long, curved a little toward his stomach, thick enough that your mouth goes dry. The tip is glossy and wet, a pretty pink color— a clear bead clinging to the slit like he’s leaking from just grinding on you.

“Oh my god,” you whisper, stunned.

Satoru makes a noise that’s not human. “D-don’t look at it like that.”

“I can’t help it,” you breathe. “It’s pretty.”

His brain shuts down.

“Pretty?” he croaks.

You nod dumbly, staring. “It’s like… glossy. And pink. And it’s twitching.”

He groans. “Don’t say twitching—”

“But it is! It’s like it’s waving at me or something. It looks so needy.”

He grabs the wall behind your head like he might collapse.

“You’re so cute,” you whisper. “You’re really hard just from kissing me.”

“You’re soaking,” he counters, voice hoarse. “You’ve been wet for an hour.”

You whimper a little. “I didn’t even know I could get this wet.”

Satoru groans again and cups himself like it’ll stop him from cumming just from talking to you.

You reach out— slowly— and wrap your fingers around the base.

He jolts, hips stuttering forward into your hand like it’s instinct. His eyes flutter shut and his whole body shudders, like he’s never felt anything like this.

“…You’re so warm,” you whisper. “And thick.”

“I’m gonna cum,” he blurts.

You pause. “Wait, already?”

“I told you,” he gasps, pressing his face into your neck. “It’s your voice— fuck, the way you’re touching me—”

You slide your hand up and watch his cock twitch, leaking over your fingers.

He sobs a little. “Angel, please—”

That makes you freeze.

“…Angel?”

He peeks up at you, embarrassed. “It slipped out.”

You bite your lip, then smile, stroking him again. “I like it.”

“You’re so soft,” he moans. “And your hand’s so small, it doesn’t even fit—”

You squeeze a little tighter. He gasps.

“Tell me when,” you whisper, eyes wide. “I don’t wanna waste it. You’ve been hard for so long.”

“‘When’?” he pants.

“Yeah,” you say, breath catching. “I want to see what your cum looks like too.”

He shatters.

Just like that— hot, thick ropes spill out across your fingers, your hoodie, his shirt. You watch with wide, fascinated eyes as his whole body curls toward yours, hips stuttering, voice cracked and pleading into your shoulder. His cock throbs in your hand like it’s losing its mind. He sounds so helpless, so high and soft when he whimpers your name.

You stare at the mess.

“…Whoa.”

He’s panting against your cheek, totally limp. “That was so embarrassing.”

“It was awesome,” you breathe. “I made you cum.”

“I exploded in ten seconds.”

You stroke his hair. “I think you’re perfect.”

He melts a little into your chest.

“…You wanna see me next?” you whisper.

His head jerks up like a prairie dog.

Satoru’s still shaking.

You can feel it— his breath hot and unsteady on your neck, his heartbeat punching against your ribs where your bodies press together. Satoru Gojo just came all over your hand like some desperate teenager, having a wet dream, and you’re still standing in a movie theater bathroom, soaked to the skin and so turned on it’s getting hard to breathe.

His cum is sticky on your fingers. Warm, it smells faintly like salt and sugar, and he’s still leaning against you like he’s not sure how to stand on his own.

And then—

Your voice, soft and daring, nearly a whisper:

“…You wanna see me next?”

Satoru blinks. Eyes blown wide. Mouth parted, in disbelief.

“…Are you serious?”

You nod.

He looks stunned. “Like… your pussy?”

Your whole face burns.

“Y-yeah,” you stammer, suddenly nervous. “If you want. I mean— I know it’s— kind of a lot, and maybe messy, but I just… I’ve never… shown anyone." You're looking down at the floor before you finish the rest of that sentence... then your eyes are darting back up to his face, blue eyes stargazed in disbelief. “And I want you to see.”

He’s speechless, Satoru is utterly speechless.

You fidget, heart thudding, tugging your hoodie down like it can hide the way your thighs are trembling, how wet you still are under your panties.

“I just thought… since I saw yours…”

His hand flies up, quick. Cupping your face, both of you look into each other's eyes.

“I want to,” he blurts. “I want to so bad I think I’m gonna die.”

You smile, shy and giddy. “Okay. Then… can you take my panties off?”

He gasps.

Like, actually gasps. Clutches his chest. Staggers backward like you hit him with a spell.

“Say that again,” he whispers.

You reach under your hoodie, slowly rolling your leggings down to your thighs, revealing just a sliver of your pale pink cotton panties, soaked straight through. There’s a wet patch over your pussy— obvious, shiny, and dark.

“Take them off,” you whisper, voice trembling. “Please?”

He looks like he might cry.

“Oh my god,” he chokes. “You’re so wet you soaked through. That’s from me? From just— grinding on me?”

You nod, cheeks flushed. “You made me so wet I couldn’t focus on the movie.”

His hands are on your thighs now, huge and hot, trembling a little as he sinks to his knees in front of you like he’s not even aware he’s doing it. His glasses slide down his nose. He pushes them up, eyes fixed on your panties like they’re the most sacred thing he’s ever seen.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” he whispers, “but I wanna learn so bad.”

You’re breathing so fast your legs are shaking.

His fingers slide under the sides of your panties. He hesitates.

“Ready?” he asks, voice so soft.

You nod, in eager anticipation, like when you know you're about to rip a band-aid off. But... in this case, it's your soaked sticky ruined panties.

And he pulls them down.

Slow, slow, slow

The cotton clings to your cunt, like they're almost glued to you, but he gets them off with a firmer tug.

Your cunt glosses in the light.

Dripping. Swollen. Slick as fuck and twitching under his gaze. You clench a little just from the air, the tension, the way he’s looking at you like he just saw an angel squirt holy water.

He moans. Moans.

“You’re so pretty,” he breathes. “Holy shit, you’re soaked. I didn’t know it could do that.”

You giggle nervously. “It doesn’t usually. I think it’s a you thing.”

He gulps, audibly.

His eyes don’t leave your pussy, even as he leans forward, nose almost brushing your thigh.

“Can I… touch you?”

You feel your knees threaten to buckle.

“Yes.” You say with too much enthusiasm than you meant.

His fingers twitch. “I don’t know how.”

You grab his wrist and guide it...

His middle finger barely grazes your folds and you gasp, clenching, hips jumping forward.

“Oh fuck,” he moans. “That was barely anything. You’re shaking.”

“You touched my clit,” you pant. “It’s sensitive.”

His eyes sparkle.

“Oh my god. I love that you know what it’s called.”

You’re breathless, laughing a little. “I’ve read fanfiction. Have you not?”

“I have, but in those they just say ‘your little pearl’ and shit.”

You groan. “That’s not even close.”

He’s looking again, hand hovering like he’s terrified to mess it up.

“Okay, so… this is your clit,” he murmurs, grazing it again, watching how your whole body twitches. “It’s so tiny. But you sound like I electrocuted you when I touched it.”

You whimper, cause he's teasing... He's curious as well and doesn't fucking know how much him petting your clit actually affects you.

“You like that?” he whispers, a bit entranced. Crystalline blue eyes focusing on the sticky strands of your slick connected to his fingertips as they stretch when he rubs and pulls them off your glued pussylips.

“Y-yeah.”

He touches again, a little firmer... slower, really working your clit, the soft squelches audible, he really wants to taste it, the creamy thing webbing his fingers, the thought pounding in his head.. Would you be grossed out if he just shoved his fingers in his mouth right now and got a taste of that sappy cream?

You whimper louder, snapping his attention back from his lewd thoughts.

His voice is shaking. “Can you c-cum like this? Just from me touching you?”

You nod furiously. “If you keep going, Fuck. Please keep going.”

His thumb brushes you now, a bit more confidently.

“You’re dripping,” he mumbles. “It’s getting on my wrist, angel”

Your thighs snap shut, embarrassed.

But you’re so close and he’s still rubbing in slow, shaky circles and whispering your name and watching you like he’s studying for a test he’s gonna fail with honors. Your clit feels like it’s throbbing. You can’t stop shaking. Can’t stop whining.

And then—

“Cum for me,” he whispers, awed. “Please, please pretty girl, I wanna see.”

That makes your cunt clench, his voice the thing that makes you break instantly.

You clam up around nothing, crying out as your pussy gushes over his hand, wet and twitchy, making a fucking mess on his hoodie sleeve. Your knees give out. He catches you instantly, still on his knees, arms full of shaking, panting girl.

You’re sobbing in relief, thighs sticky, pussy still fluttering, and his hands are holding you like he’s afraid you’ll vanish.

“You’re so amazing,” he breathes. “I can’t believe I made you cum.”

You whimper. “You’re so good. I didn’t think it would feel like that.”

He kisses your thigh.

Then your stomach, and makes his way up and then your lips, just to feel you.

Soft and careful, with utmost devotion and care.

And you melt against him, fucked out and flushed, pressed to his chest.

“…We should do this again,” he mumbles.

“Next time,” you pant, smiling, “I wanna see if you can make me squirt.”

He chokes, on what little air he's breathing.

But you’re still trembling.

Your panties are hanging off one ankle, his cum is drying on your sleeve, and your pussy is throbbing— still fluttering every now and then like your body can’t believe you actually came. You’re slumped against Satoru’s chest, half-limp, while he rubs soft little circles on your lower back like he’s trying to soothe an overstimulated kitten.

Time is passing and neither of you has said anything in the last full minute.

Except him whispering “holy fuck” under his breath every ten seconds like a mantra.

“I can’t believe that just happened,” he finally says, voice all hushed reverence. “You came.”

You nod, agreeing lazily. Dazed, and still reeling in the high. “Like… a lot.”

“You squirted.”

“I did not.”

“There was liquid. Splash zone level.”

You slap his chest, giggling, but your thighs twitch. You’re so sensitive you could cry, your clit aches in that perfect, pulsing way that means it wants no more and yet… you’re still soaking wet.

And you feel it. That ache deeper inside you now. Heavy and throbbing. Unused.

Unsatisfied.

You shift against him, face buried in the soft cotton of his shirt, and whisper:

“…Satoru?”

“Yeah?”

“I want you to put your fingers in me.”

You feel him freeze. Every muscle goes stiff. His hands still on your back. You feel his dick— hard again— press against your thigh like it heard you first.

“Wha— what.”

You look up at him, breath shaky. “You made me cum from the outside. But I’ve never been touched inside.”

His ears go red.

“I— I don’t wanna hurt you—”

“You won’t.” You take his wrist, place his hand gently against your mound. “I trust you.”

He swallows hard. You begin to guide his fingers between your thighs again, letting him feel how wet you still are. You gasp a little just from the contact— still sensitive, still twitchy.

His voice comes out hoarse. “You’re soaked.”

“Just go slow,” you whisper. “I wanna know what it feels like.”

He moves down again and actually takes his jacket off and spreads it over the tiles beneath you. He's kneeling like it’s instinct now, reverent and worshipful. Like he belongs on the floor for you. He kisses your inner thigh once, sweet and shaky, then stares between your legs like he’s seeing magic.

“Tell me if it’s too much,” he says.

You nod, open for him by parting your thighs, trembling ever so slightly.

His fingers sliding along your sappy folds, middle finger inching closer to your hole's opening, more slick gathers and pools as it tries to worm its way in.

You gasp at the feeling.. a bit in fear and uncertainty, but he's so gentle, holding you tighter against him.

His finger begins to push in, your tiny hole fighting him, the intrusion. It's nothing like you've ever felt.

Satoru’s breathing stops entirely.

“You’re tight,” he whispers, stunned. “You’re— fuck, you’re so warm, I can feel your pulse.”

You whimper. “Go slow. Just the tip.”

He pushes a little, and you clench involuntarily, sucking him in just a bit.

He moans. Actually moans. Like you’re the one touching him.

“Angel, you’re gripping me.”

You bury your face in your sleeve, whining. “It’s not fair. Your fingers are big.”

He curls his finger just slightly— experimenting— and your entire body jolts.

“Oh— oh fuck!” you cry out.

His eyes go wide. “Was that— was that good?”

“D-do it again,” you pant.

He does. Gentler, carefully pressing just right, and your walls flutter around him so tightly it’s like your body doesn’t know how to handle it.

“You’re so wet,” he mumbles. “You’re sucking me in.”

You grab his wrist. “Try two.”

He stares. “Are you sure?”

“Please, Satoru.”

You’re breathless, begging.

He shivers like it physically affects him.

He slides another finger in— and your pussy stretches around him, tighter than he expected. Your mouth drops open. Your thighs twitch.

“Oh my god,” you gasp.

“Fuck, you’re squeezing me— I can’t move,” he moans.

You rock your hips, helping him, whining through your teeth.

It’s deep. It’s thick. He curls again— and you sob, eyes fluttering back.

“There— oh my god there, right there—”

His fingers are hooked now, rubbing that spongey spot deep inside that makes your eyes cross. His thumb finds your clit on instinct, and suddenly you’re wailing, your whole body shaking, your pussy clenching so hard around his fingers he can barely move.

You cum again, messier and needy. Your velvet walls constricting his fingers in waves.

And he watches, awed, wrecked. His other hand supporting you as your thighs tremble uncontrollably.

He doesn’t even pull out.

He just whispers, “You’re so beautiful when you cum.”

And you start crying.

Happy tears. Dumb overwhelmed tears. Because no one’s ever touched you like this, seen you like this, loved your body with nothing but his hands and awe.

He kisses your forehead.

You sniffle. “I want you inside me someday.”

He nods. “Me too.”

“…But I might have to train for it.”

He laughs, breathless. “Me too. My heart can’t take this.”

You null away on his chest for a minute. Exhausted by everything your body's endured tonight, your panties still on the floor, his arms still secured tight around you and he press soft kisses to the top of your head.

Eventually when he slowly eases his fingers out of you, you're relaxed, no longer holding them hostage, it slides out with a flurry of slick gushing out, all what's been welling up and stuffed inside your cunt for the entire time.

He rubs it up and down your pussylips then into your clit one last time before he's bringing his fingers to his lips, and moaning as your flavour hits his tongue. Finally, getting a taste of you and he couldn't be more pleased at the tangy-sweetness of it.

Satoru licks his fingers clean, savouring it and after he's the one reaching for your panties, tugging them back up along with your leggings as he tells you softly to, "Raise your hips for me please, angel. Good girl, just like that." You do, and he secures them back in place, cunt still pulsing. Fresh slick soaking your panties again.

Satoru stands first, all long limbs and easy grace and he reaches down for you next. His hands are warm as he pulls you up from the bathroom floor. His jacket lies there still, a dark wet patch blooming where your cunt had soaked through.

Heat floods your cheeks, you're quick to mumble an apology, eyes glassy with leftover pleasure and sudden shyness.

He just chuckles softly. Bends to snatch the jacket up like it’s nothing. He balls it in one hand and tucks it under his arm.

“Shh, angel. It’s fine.”

He cups your face, thumbs brushing your flushed skin. Then he kisses you slow and deep, tasting like sin and sweetness. “One wash and it’ll be brand new. Don’t worry about it.”

He doesn’t tell you he plans to keep it exactly like this. A filthy little souvenir, from tonight.

His fingers lace with yours as he leads you out of the stall. The movie is long forgotten. He keeps you tucked close against his side the whole way through the emptying theater. The night air hits cool when you step outside.

In the car he drives with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on your thigh. Possessive and gentle.

Later that night you lie in bed, sheets tangled around your legs. Your phone glows in the dark. Heart hammering, you type the silly questions anyway.

you 🩷 so… are we... dating? omg omg am i your girlfriend now?!

His reply comes instantly.

toru 🩵 i knew we were soulmates when you asked to see my dick aaaand called it "pretty" ilysm angel omg

You giggle into your pillow, face burning. Your chest feels too full. Tonight was crazy. Wild and messy and perfect.

But now one, no two orgasms later and Satoru Gojo is yours. Officially. The nerd from the Doraemon expo.

You fall asleep smiling stupidly into your pillow, already wondering when you’ll feel his hands on you again.

The pearl-clutching and fake outrage can't even make sense anymore.

The lights over Philo glow a welcoming orange hue. While most of the city had switched to brighter lights with a blue tint, Philo stood a paragon of days past with old fashioned warm lighting. There were plants in every window meticulously cared for and a line of orange flowers as far as the eye could see. The table inside carried newspaper and brown twine for custom bouquets. A vase still stood with water from the day previous. Jeremiah must have been too tired to empty it before he went to bed the night before. Daylight was only just then peaking over the horizon, the sky lighting up in the same vibrant shades of orange.

Jeremiah was up. His footsteps' echoes were dampened by the plants. He flipped the sign to "open", though he knew it was much too early for anyone to stop by the shop. He began by grabbing his apron and putting it on. He ran his fingers through his hair, snagging on loose curls before shaking them free. Mornings in Philo were sweet and slow. He could take his time watering the plants, pruning them, caring for the tender petals and leaves before checking what orders he needed to fulfill. Restock the paper, sweep away the leaves, do all the menial tasks that kept his mind quiet. He padded over to the watering can and hose. He turned around to fill the can only to yelp. A shadowy figure leaned against the brick wall, watching him with impassive eyes. Jeremiah nearly jumped a foot in the air, ready to grab a weapon as his brain and eyes caught up with each other.

"Xavier!" He bent over, putting a hand over his rapidly beating heart. "You can't do that to me, man! I thought you were a wanderer or something-"

"Well. I'm not." Xavier shrugged, stepping out of the shadows and into the orange glow. "Your reflexes need work."

Jeremiah sighed, still bent over as his heart rate slowed and his breathing steadied. "Well excuse me for being jumpy, I never know when you're going to just show up these days." His words held a subtle jab, though Xavier didn't react to it. "You're not here to just chat, so what's up?" He turned back to the hose and watering can, finally turning the handle to fill it up. Xavier watched impassively for a moment before he started his report.

"I can call them now."

"Call them-? You can call them across universal boundaries?" Jeremiah looked over his shoulder. "I know you mentioned being able to text them... which, I guess makes sense since your hunter's watch is synced to their phone. The call... that feels weirder. I guess it should be the same but-"

"I wasn't able to at first. It's new." Xavier interrupted. He remained leaning against the wall, his gaze distant and unfocused. Jeremiah shook his head.

"It's always something new... but how? Why? What seems to be triggering this?" Jeremiah looked back down at the rushing water. The can was slow to fill, but it gave them time to discuss. "And did you get any more information?"

"Their world appears to be like this one before the Chronorift Catastrophe. No protocores, no Wanderers, no metaflux... no knowledge of life on other planets, no Lemuria, nothing." Xavier pushed himself off the wall to approach Jeremiah. Jeremiah cut the water off before standing up with it in tow. Xavier wordlessly followed him as he entered his greenhouse, watering the plants that needed it. Occasionally he would kneel to check the soil and turn leaves over. Xavier didn't comment on his job, he just continued his report. "They were harassed in their apartment hall. I called them, and it worked, but now their roommate and neighbors think I'm their crush or partner."

Jeremiah paused long enough to turn and look at Xavier incredulously. "So... you've gone and gotten yourself into a relationship with someone on a different plane of existence?"

Xavier blinked. "We're not official-"

"Xavier." Jeremiah groaned. "You know how this looks, right?" He set the watering can down with a thud. "How many of us are left now? Most of us are alive, but how many of us are still around? Trying to make a life worth living here, or find a way home. And you're pining after someone not even on a different planet, but someone outside of this existence."

"I'm not pining-" Xavier protested but Jeremiah shot him another look of disbelief.

"They've pulled you into their orbit. I know what you're going to say, it's just research, it's friendship, it's literally anything else." Jeremiah approached him. "I know you, Xavier. My captain. My prince. My best friend. I know you, and I know what you're like when you have feelings. It's school all over again." Xavier turned, looking off into the distance as Jeremiah continued to look at him in exasperation. "Xavier. I need you to really think about this. Are you really going to pine after someone not even a planet away, not a lifetime away, a different plane of existence away? I don't want to see you get your heart broken again."

"It's just research." Xavier insisted. "And friendship, yeah. I wasn't going to let them be harassed. And they study astronomy, so sometimes I sit in on homework-"

"Xavier, are you hearing yourself?" Jeremiah moved closer until Xavier couldn't look away from him. He didn't protest, he just bit his tongue. "I'm not against you making friends or anything, but we still have a mission. I was happy to live on this planet with Bella for her entire life, but I never gave up on the mission."

"And I'm not, either." Xavier assured him. "Whatever is going on with this other world... maybe it holds the key." Jeremiah dropped his head, an exaggerated sigh-raspberry escaping him. 

"It's times like these I wish Soren was still on our side. He'd be able to figure this out." 

"But he's not. And we can't let him know." Xavier dropped into a more serious tone of voice. "If anyone outside of the Backtrackers learns of this other world-"

"Yeah, I know the consequences." Jeremiah assured him. "Either we send that world into the same chaos here, or it gets colonized by EVER."

"Neither of those are an option." Xavier turned. He took steady, self assured steps towards the door until Jeremiah called out to him. He wasn't taking that as the final word on the matter.

"But what about this person, then?" Jeremiah called out. "Are you just going to be virtual pen pals for the rest of your lives?" The question made Xavier pause. He stopped. He didn't look back.

"I promised them I'd find a way to dance with them. Under the stars. Their... their stars look the same as ours." His voice remained resolute, but his tone softened. That fleeting night under the stars, the promises to read "The Little Prince" together, the conversations on the bus and having a drink on slower mornings... Xavier was a man of his word. And in spite of his own common sense, he was in fact being brought into someone else's orbit.

Jeremiah's shoulders slumped. He muttered something to himself, he's in too deep already?, before following him. "And how do you plan to do that, huh? Gonna bring them here, to the monsters and the chaos we have to deal with? That's not fair."

"None of this is fair." Xavier agreed. But he didn't let Jeremiah stay close. He ducked under his arm, grabbing the pair of headphones around his neck before pulling them to his ears. Jeremiah knew this was the end of the conversation, so he just sighed again, watching Xavier as he walked out the front door.  Jeremiah watched until he had walked past the windows, into the rising morning sun. He already knew where he was off to. Back to the Destiny Cafe for his morning meeting with this other person. He couldn't stop it. He knew it. 

He picked up the watering can again. Turning back to his flowers, to the morning glories reaching towards the first rays of sun. And he resumed what he was doing. Watering the plants, checking the leaves, breathing in their sweet perfume like any of this was remotely 'normal'.

A steaming cup of tea sat on the edge of your desk, glistening into the mid morning light as you make your bed. You had decided against hopping onto love and deepspace right away. Kara was still hanging around the apartment and the walls were much too thin. She'd accidentally overhear anything you said to Xavier and immediately want details after. It's not like you were embarrassed, but how exactly could you explain what was happening without sounding like you were making it all up or losing your mind? 

'Oh yeah, I'm just casually flirting with this fictional character who is flirting back. And I can't tell anyone cause the evil corporation might find out and take over our world. No I promise it's not ai, I'm not having ai psychosis'

You groan at your predicament before the front door of the apartment opens and shuts. With a brief glance to the time you know Kara is leaving for the day, so you dive for your phone to open the app. In spite of the weirdness of these past events you're still excited for the King of Darknight event. You have your tickets saved up, and free tickets awaiting you in the event shop. The aesthetic was gorgeous, and getting to see Xavier without his innocent facade was always a treat. The game sets up with the typical pink Infold logo, then Caleb greets you with an apple as the title song begins. You cut it off promptly as you enter the game.

You settle into your desk as the bar fills to 100%. As soon as it does so the Destiny Cafe appears before you. Just as it did every time, there were no other people visible. Everything was stuck in limbo when the game sensed your presence. But Xavier sat in the chair, sipping his coffee with a single book in front of him. He seemed relaxed. His eyes darted from the book to the screen the moment you popped in. 

"Ah, there you are." He greeted warmly. He shuts the book and picks up his coffee while you curl up and cradle your cup of tea in your palms. "Today's the day."

"Yes, it is." You agree, eyeing the Wish and Events tabs on the side of the display with a smile. "This is gonna be a first for both of us. What do you remember from other events in the game?" Xavier's brows furrowed. He was quiet, thinking for a moment. You perk up. "Oh, right, you might not know what I mean... you remember that time with the fake wedding stuff, due to the deepspace tunnel?" He cut his eyes back up, nodding with a soft mmhm. "That was part of an 'event'. Hm... do you remember anything from the tomorrow's catch twenty two event? You would've had a mullet, and it was very gritty." Xavier hummed again around the rim of his cup.

"No, I don't."

You eye the various options on the interface, tapping on one of them. Instead of the flash of light before Xavier approached the screen, he simply stood up of his own accord. The interface changed as he stood in front of you. His cup of coffee still in hand. "I'm curious, bare with me." On a whim, you touch the change clothes option. You scroll briefly and select Hermit's clothes, hair, and muzzle. Once you confirm the screen goes straight back to the Destiny's Cafe. There was no more pre-programmed dialogue. The second the screen flashed back Xavier stood before you with a mildly bewildered expression. He still held his coffee cup. But instead of his oversized sweater he stood there notably more bare, with longer hair, and a muzzle on his face. 

He blinks, still bewildered. "What... just happened?"

You quickly cover your mouth with one hand, stifling your smile at the look on his face. It was a far cry from the Hermit of Tomorrow's Catch 22. This was still main story Xavier standing before you, just dressed differently. "Before you really became self aware, when I changed your outfit on the home screen you would say something. Like, this outfit was from a specific event that took place in an alternate timeline. So I was wondering if wearing it might jog your memory." Xavier blinked again, but set down his mug. He took a moment to lift his arms, looking at them. Looking at the newfound tattoos on his body, feeling the muzzle on his face. His lip curled up and his thumb brushing against a newfound sharp canine. 

His eyes narrowed towards the screen for a moment. "Captain... why is that word in my head?" You sit up a little straighter. Oh. Oh. So it does still work.

"That was what you called the main character in that event, Captain! She was your captain at a different agency where you two worked. It's a long story. Literally. The card's, like, an hour long..." The longer he stood there with the clothes on, with the chains and tattoos and the muzzle, the more his eyes narrowed. Vague understanding washing over him. 

"Yeah... it's fuzzy, but I'm remembering some things. The chair, the heavy surveillance..." He drifted off, removing his hand from his mouth to his face. "Can we take this off...?"

"Yeah! Yeah. Let's take it all off, don't want to overwhelm you." You go back to the clothing option and remove everything. You put him back in the same clothes he was wearing before. No more muzzle, no more chains. Though you glance at the hair options again. Hesitating before settling on his typical hair anyway. You exit the interface and find Xavier much more relaxed. "I didn't think that would happen." You murmur, looking at him as he touches his clothes. "Before we started interacting, when I put you in different clothes you'd make a comment about it. And if it was from some kind of alternate universe you'd make comments about it. So... if I put you in clothes from other timelines, you start remembering them?" Xavier turned his arm, looking at his hoodie sleeve with his eyes narrowed in contemplation.

"I'm not sure. It was fleeting." Xavier murmured. "Interesting." Xavier looked at his hunter's watch. You watched as the metaflux indicator began to flicker wildly. He slowly lowered his arm. "Whatever it is, it also introduces more metaflux." 

You show him your palms. "I don't plan on summoning a wanderer directly inside the cafe, so I'll knock it off for now. But we could keep experimenting later." You tear your gaze away and exit the interface, looking at the main menu within the cafe once more. It was odd, seeing the typical layout within such an untypical scenario. You could still access your account, visit the shop, play kittycards... but he must see something wildly different on his end. You eye the Wish button. The "New!" sign dazzled so enticingly. But after what you'd just discovered with Hermit's outfit, you hesitated. Xavier followed your gaze.

"What are you looking at?" He cocked his head. You hum, trying to figure out how to explain it. 

Lightbulb.

"Can you access my camera roll?" You lean forward towards your phone. Xavier hums, but brings his watch back to his face. He used his fingers to swipe through the holographic interface before him. 

"I believe so." He tapped on it, and through the several 'screens' between you two you could barely make out the fuzzy picture of a receipt you'd found crumpled at the bottom of your work bag. "If this is in your camera roll, then yes." You reach out and take a screenshot on your phone. You save it, and upon doing so it popped up in your camera roll as well. Xavier's expression brightened in curiosity as he looks at the image. "Is this what you see?" 

"Yes! That's exactly what I see. In the top left corner I can go into my account settings. Over there on the right I have my daily tasks, the events, the wish function, the shop, and then the desk I can decorate with you. The main story is under that." You gesture to everything you mention on your screen, and Xavier mirrors it on the picture he was looking at. "I was looking at the Wish function over there, the star one. That's where I go to gain access to the stories in your myths!"

Xavier continued to look at everything, his gaze one of interest and surprise. He zoomed in on the photo with his fingers, looking around. "How do you get the myth?"

"In the game you can save up red diamonds or buy resources with real money from the shop. I use those to get tickets to spend, and with every ticket I spend there's a chance I get one of the two myth cards! Thankfully this time I only need one card of the myth to unlock the whole story." Xavier glanced away from his screen to yours. 

"So... you're gambling?"

You hold up your hand, wanting to protest. But he had a point. You close your mouth, thinking about how to best explain it to him. You didn't have it in you to explain how gacha systems work or their history. Besides, he was right. You put your hand back down, sheepish. "I... yeah, basically. It's a whole thing but that's a story for another day I guess." Xavier's lips curled up into an amused smile. He leaned his head to the side while shaking it.

"Alright. I won't judge. I'm curious to see how this goes, anyway."

"So am I." You eye the twinkling star on the right side of the screen again. You look back at him and smile. "I don't know how much of this you're going to see, but I'll explain what I can as I go." With Xavier's nod of approval, you tap on the Wish function.

You could go and grind the event for the free tickets, but you were too impatient to spend time doing that just yet. You'd whittled down your pity to 20, and your golden wishes were at the ready. So with a soft wish of your own, 'uluru guluru King of Darknight come home smooth-luru', you do your first ten pulls. Nothing on the first ten. That's fine, down to ten pity. You cross your fingers and whisper your wish again before closing your eyes and tapping the icon.

You listen close. You aren't surprised to hear the five-star chime in the background. You crack open an eye and find a Caleb three-star staring at you. You hesitantly tap. Caleb three star. Sylus three star. Zayne four star. You bite your lip as the five star animation plays.

For a standard Sylus card. 

You throw your head back with a groan. "Sylus! Noooooo," You whine your complaint before promptly pouting. You tap your screen again to be greeted by a Rafayel four star. Then Sy, Zayne, Caleb, and another Raf. Your pout was cemented on your face when you tapped your screen.

And wavyleaf sea lavender greeted you.

You sit up, gasping in shock as you impatiently wait for the next scene. And before you stood the King of Darknight himself, looking to the side with a bemused smirk. He turned back to the screen, bowing while kissing the main character's hand. You swiftly cover your mouth with both hands to swallow your screech of delight. Behind MC's gloved hand, Xavier seems to smirk a little wider. You reach out and touch the screen for the next card, and another flower appeared. You don't scream in delight until you see Xavier and MC cuddling in the sunlight. You wildly tap the screen, using the share function for the bonus 10 red diamonds and to tell Lilian the good news. You send her the message before swiping your phone, wildly tapping again to go back to the homepage. 

As the screen revealed the cafe once more Xavier appeared with his hunter's watch up. The holographic screen showed data and code you couldn't quite understand backwards. But you could understand Xavier's barely hidden smirk.

You point at him with wide eyes. "What did you do?"

He blinked, the smirk immediately vanishing as if it had never been there to begin with. "Did I do something?"

"The cards. Back to back. Did you do that?"

Xavier blinked a few times as the holographic screen quickly vanished. "Did I do what?"

"No. Stop that. Don't do that." You keep pointing at him but there's no anger in your voice. "Did you do something?"

Xavier's eyes flicked between you and his watch. "You agreed it was kind of like gambling... so I looked around to see if I could improve your odds. Apparently if you spend real money, your chances do improve, so I just... tweaked something. Did it work?"

You laugh incredulously, putting your hand against your head. After all of this this was the first time that his self awareness had felt truly real. Your doubt could finally, truly, be swept away. The alarm clock. The phone call. And now him being able to manipulate data in the game itself. You'd known this was real, you couldn't justify it any other way, but of course Xavier manipulating your pulls was what truly got it through to you.

This is real. 

This is real.

This is real.

You rub your face with your hands, leaving your phone to flop down and point towards the ceiling as you do so. Your laughter remained incredulous the entire time, fits of giggles that were long buries with your disbelief. "You- you little shit, I can't believe it!" Though you couldn't see it at the moment you could only imagine he was making that same bewildered expression from earlier. 

"Did... did I do something wrong?" His voice sounded further away with your phone flat on the table. But your giggle fit prevented you from lifting your phone.

"No! No, not at all... I just, I don't know," You wipe your face, finding stray tears from your bewildered laughter. "This kind of made this real? I know this is real, but this whole time I was wondering if it might just be me, but..."

Xavier sighed. You could hear something, the clink of him putting something down or moving it. "Starlight, come back. I can't see you." His voice sounded marginally louder than before. You finish wiping your face on your shoulder, grabbing your phone and propping it back up. Xavier had moved closer to the screen, bending down with his eyebrows furrowed. The moment he could see you again his expression relaxed. "Ah, there you are." He smiled sweetly. "I didn't overstep, right?"

"No! No, not at all." You laugh wetly. "I've just been wondering how real all of this was for a while now. I mean, how can any of this be real?" You watch him closely. Xavier lifts his hand, the same was he was programmed to when he would pat your head. But his hand faltered. There was nothing for him to touch. He slowly drops his hand instead.

"I'm curious, too." He admits plainly. Eyes big and soft as he watches you dry your own tears of disbelief. "But we don't know. Not yet. We're both working on it. We'll find answers eventually. I don't want this to ruin today, I know how excited you've been." Xavier slowly stands upright, taking a few steps back so most of his upper body was visible on the screen. "What did you see? When you were in there?"

"I see a trailer for the stories, snippets of the fully animated portions. Then when I hit the button to get the cards, I can get other cards of the other characters. Sylus, Zayne, Rafayel, and Caleb. I got a couple of theirs. But no three of four stars of yours..." You drift off as Xavier tilts his head quizzically. It dawns on you you have a lot more terminology to explain to him. You quietly laugh. "Three star cards are just pictures of one of each of you that I can use for the battle function. Four stars have stories attached, some auditory and some animated. Five stars are typically longer and have fully animated cutscenes in them." Xavier listened closely as you explained, nodding his head.

"And the ones that I just got are about you, and a lifetime of yours. You can see what I see in my camera roll, check the latest picture." You point to his watch, which he pulls up again. He goes to the newest picture, which you can see is the same one you shares with your friend. Xavier looks at it with an intrigued expression, analyzing all of them.

"That artist, a doctor, a criminal, and the farspace fleet colonel..." He drifted off, eyebrows furrowing again. 

"Yeah, we talked about that before. Those are the other four love interests." Xavier's eyes remained locked on the picture of all the other love interests, before zeroing in on the myth cards. He reached out, his fingers tracing the holographic screen where he stood. 

"And... that's me."

"Yes." You agree, watching how his fingers traced your main character's face. Xavier blinked a few times in rapid succession before looking at the screen. At you.

"Why do I look like that? I... I don't remember this." Xavier's gaze was focused. Fully trained on you, though his fingers lay against your MC's cheek on his screen. You don't know why, but the tender touch sent a silent pang through you. You smile instead of saying anything.

"I don't know!" You try to be cheery. "That's where watching the myth comes in. I only needed the one card to see the whole story, but having both means I get the battle companion. I've been hoarding resources so I can show you how the battle stuff works on my end, too, but after the story. 'Kay?" Xavier looks back at his holographic screen for a moment, tracing MC's face one more time before he shut off the screen. 

"Then what are we waiting for? I want to watch this story, too." He picked up his cup, the coffee now gone. You eye his cup before looking away from the screen. Your own cup of tea was sitting there. You touch it, and the outside is still warm.

"I'm gonna get myself a new drink. Tea's gone cold." You fib. But he can't see your cup, so he shouldn't know that. "And a snack. You should, too. I don't know what you're gonna be able to see, but get comfy, it's gonna be a wild ride." You hurriedly stand before he can ask you any questions, walking to the kitchen. You eye your tea again. You weren't going to waste so you at least force yourself to take a few sips as you gather your supplies. Snacks, water, and plenty of tissues. 

Should you warn Xavier about what you're about to watch? This is a lifetime of his, and he's never reincarnated to your knowledge. So if this was during his lifetime and not an alternate universe he should remember it. You run your fingers through your hair. If Xavier doesn't remember it, maybe it is an au? Like Tomorrow's Catch 22. You'll need to test that theory with the King of Darknight outfit. Thanks to him you have both the battle companion and the outfit. 

You bring back your supplies and begin to set up. Water? Check. Snacks? Check. Roommate gone for the day? Check. Tissues for when you inevitably sob your eyes out? Check.

With everything ready, you get your phone again. 

Xavier has a new cup of some hot drink, and a new pastry sitting on the table in front of the chair. His supplies were lacking hydration and tissues, though you weren't exactly sure how much he'd need either of those. You settle into your comfy seat and pull your blanket around you. Xavier watches with an endeared smile as you burrito yourself. You can only imagine what he sees on his end, the weirdest angle of you burrowing into your chair with an unflattering look up your nose. Yet his smile only brightens.

"Alright. Anything I should know?"

"I'm not sure how much you'll see, or if you'll be aware of what's happening during it. I guess we'll find out. I'm going into the date section, that's the one on the bottom left." Xavier nodded as you gave him a reference to where you were going.

"If the workers magically come off their break, I'll know that I won't be able to see anything." He chuckled. "I expect you to tell me everything. Okay?"

"Will do." You do a mock salute from the comfort of your blanket burrito. With his blessing to dive in, you tap on the date function to go into the myth. The little red dot over the Falling for You function, and then the one on Xavier specifically, greet you. You tap your way through the interface until you arrive at the myth. You tap on it and it brings you to Xavier's new myth-specific layout. The dark kingdom greets you as you go straight into the story.

Time to meet the King of Darknight.

Xavier was unsurprised, but mildly disappointed, to find the Destiny's Cafe spring to life again. The interface that showed you to him vanished, and he was left in the waking world once more. Workers returned from their breaks, machines whirred to life, and patrons magically streamed in when he had initially been the only one in the room. He swallowed his vague disappointment with his coffee. He opted for a smaller screen as he opened his watch once more. The more time he spent aware of this other world, the more he became aware of the details available to him on his watch. Beyond the shared music and the pre-programmed texts, he hadn't realized he had access to your camera roll as well. He kept his watch close to his chest as he slowly began to flip through the photos available to him.

He always knew when to come back. He always knew when he was supposed to be at the cafe. It was like this soul deep pull to put him at the right time and place to see your face again. 

Xavier finished his coffee as he scrolled through old receipts, the cats from your workplace, and especially pretty latte foam art you'd done. His disappointment faded and he managed to smile again. With another swipe he landed on another ten-pull spread from the game. It was odd to see pictures of himself. One where he held a cat like a baby. Another where he remembered caring for MC when she was drunk after a night out. From your perspective, there weren't real events, they were merely stories from a game. A fictional short story about a fictional character.

He swiped again, and on the next picture he was able to see you. All of you. Your whole body, your face and hair. A posed picture a friend took of you. You looked happy, posing in front of some place he didn't recognize. He waited for a moment, checking his surroundings, before zooming in.

He was able to see it before, but truly looking at you like this, through someone else's eyes, he was able to see how you crafted the main character's appearance. It wasn't exact. Far from it. But it was clearly based on you. But the woman in his memories, the woman he went to work with, she didn't smile like that. Her hair didn't fall that way, either. That glimmer in your eyes was uniquely yours, an animated feature even the game couldn't capture. He zoomed out again. 

The main character is everything. She is his Queen, his partner, his everything.

But was she real?

Was he real?

Xavier set his wrist down, the interface and the picture vanishing with it. With a quiet sigh, he took his coffee cup and dumped it out at the sink. He set the cup down in the designated area and gathered his belongings without so much as looking at those around him. He knew you weren't back, but the rest of the world faded out of existence for him as he turned to the door. He opened it, the bell ringing, before shutting it behind him.

His footsteps were slow. Slower than usual. Waiting for the ping, for the tug to pull him back to the cafe. For you to appear before him again with a grin. But with every step that expectation faded away. Xavier took a sharp right turn into an alleyway.  He barely registered his own footsteps echoing off the walls.

And in a flash of light, he was gone. 

Philo appeared before him. Xavier didn't know which was prettier, Philo in the early hours of the morning or in the middle of the day. 

The morning glories no longer reached for the heavens. But the rest of the flowers filled the sidewalk with their sweet perfume. Xavier opened the door, finding a line of people waiting to pick up their flowers. Pre-packaged bouquets were displayed in their newspaper and twine, while fresh flowers for custom orders sat in water. Standing tall, waiting for the right person to find them.

Two flowers sat in a bucket. Their leaves intertwined, but their flowers facing away from each other. Xavier followed one bloom's direction to find another flower on the opposite side of the shop. It was on the floor, underneath the pre-packaged bouquets. Xavier walked around the line to the flower on the floor, picking it up. It wasn't damaged, just fell out of its wrapping. He turned it over in his hands. Its perfume was sweeter than anything else in the shop. Without a word to those around him he turned back to the two in the bucket. He picked up the flower that had been facing it. The other flower it had been holding onto did not fight back. Simply sitting as Xavier united the two flowers. The colors reflected on each other brilliantly.

The two flowers holding onto each other were meant to be. 

But the flower he held was the flower that complimented it best.

Xavier exhaled a barely hidden laugh. Apt metaphor, he thought to himself.

Xavier joined the back of the line. He subtly flipped the sign to 'closed' to give Jeremiah a break, especially since he wanted privacy when he spoke to him. He was busy giving the orders that needed to be fulfilled to specific people and making new ones for others. But Jeremiah was committed to his craft, and excellent at it at that. The line moved steadily. One at a time happy customers left with their big bouquets. Women buying flowers for themselves, young lovers buying flowers for their beloved, older couples walking out hand in hand with something to put in their home. Once Xavier reached the front he delicately laid the pair of flowers on the table. Jeremiah didn't appear all that surprised to see him again. But after a look at the door he turned back to Xavier with a skeptical look.

"Okay, what is it this time?" Jeremiah sighed. Xavier pointed at the flowers.

"I'd like to buy these."

"Just those two?" Jeremiah looked between the flowers and Xavier. "Any filler? I've got some greenery that would look nice."

"No. Just the two." Xavier looked at his watch, pulling up the interface again. Jeremiah sighed more exaggeratedly as he gathered the flowers, gently setting them in newspaper and twine. He cut the stems at an angle and got a packet of plant food as well. Xavier pulled up the image of himself and the other 'love interests'. Once Jeremiah handed over the flowers Xavier drew his attention to it. Jeremiah looked up. His eyes scanned the image, recognizing Xavier, but looking surprised at the other figures.

"Whaaat am I looking at?" He jerked his head back to Xavier, eyes wide. 

"Our world is nothing but a video game to them." Xavier responded. "They can gamble to see if they can unlock stories about any one of the five of us. Dress us up, interact with us through this liminal boundary." His tone was even, but Jeremiah reacted on his behalf. He looked at the image with bewilderment. "Rafayel Qi, Dr. Zayne Li, Sylus Qin, and Colonel Caleb Xia. They are the other love interests. Along with me." Jeremiah's eyes darted over the other characters and the images of his captain. 

Jeremiah lifted both hands and rubbed his temples. "It's too early for an existential crisis, Xavier." 

"Do you want me to come back and tell you after close, in that case?"

Jeremiah fully dropped his head to his work station. "Don't be sarcastic."

"I'm not." Xavier willed himself to not smile at his friend's misery. For all his nonchalance, he felt the same. He flipped through the images again to find the most recent one. The one with him as a King, with his hair long. "Do you remember the face of your Queen now?"

"Vaguely." Jeremiah spoke from the workbench, his voice muffled. "Am I going to have a worse existential crisis?"

"Probably. But I need you to see this." Xavier zoomed in on the image of himself with her. The one in the sun. Jeremiah slowly, skeptically, lifted his head. And as his eyes met the image he flew up into a standing position.

"That's her! That's her! I remember, I remember everything now, but- why are you there? Why does your hair look like that? And why the black- wasn't that kind of style saved for mourning in the earlier centuries?" Jeremiah's slew of questions were similar to Xavier's. Xavier shrugged.

"Don't know yet." He put down his watch, and thus the image vanished. Jeremiah looked between Xavier and where the image had once been. Jeremiah had gone through all the stages of grief in a mere matter of milliseconds. "They'll tell me. After."

"After? After what?" Jeremiah flung his hands in the air. "Xavier you can't just say stuff like that and then poof off back to that cafe! This is life changing information, what do you mean we're just a video game? Why do you have access to a picture of her back on Philos, with you? What is going on?"

Xavier slowly exhaled through his nose. "I don't know. I'm still trying to figure this all out. I have access to their camera roll now-"

Jeremiah came around the workbench. If it weren't for their friendship and Jeremiah's respect for him as both his captain and his friend, he would throttle him. He clenched his fists before flexing his fingers. Then he grabbed Xavier by the shoulders with as gentle a hold he could muster. "You have access to their what?"

Xavier lifted his hands to return the favor, resting his hands more reassuringly on Jeremiah's shoulders. "I'm still putting all of it together. But I need to tell someone. I need someone else to see this, too, so I know this is real." Jeremiah's grip immediately loosened. He didn't have any more air to sigh so he just shook his head.

"I'm seeing it too, Xav. You're showing me the proof. I believe you, I do, it's just-"

"It's just unbelievable." Xavier finished his sentence. "I know. It is."

Jeremiah looked at Xavier's Hunter's watch. His mouth opening for a moment, wanting to make a request. Xavier knew what he wanted to ask. And for a moment, he thought better. Until they fulfilled their mission, they couldn't go back to her. To their Queen. But Jeremiah's pleading look made him waiver. 

Xavier slowly removed his hands, bringing the interface back up. He went directly to the newest photo and zoomed in. She seemed so at peace, so content in Xavier's arms. A King and Queen resting alongside each other, flowers around their wrists. Lilies. Jeremiah looked at the image. Taking it in. He slowly lifted his hand, taking in the appearance of both of them. The sunny field, the flowers. The crown set aside, the look of contentment on her face.

"It's... it's her." Jeremiah looked back at Xavier. "How could I have forgotten her face?"

"It's been two centuries. Two long centuries." Xavier turned back to the image himself. "And I have my theories. Even though I work with her at the Association, I have my theories. Just let me keep looking." Xavier remained in front of the image. A different version of himself, the crown he despised set to the wayside as the woman he loved curled up in his arms. Something about the image was bittersweet. Yet he couldn't quite understand why. He could feel Jeremiah's eyes on him. But he didn't say anything. Just watching him take in the image of himself with their queen. Infinite miles and two hundred years away from each other, yet he could truly see her as she was meant to be at last.

Xavier didn't say anything. Neither did Jeremiah.

He just stepped closer, wrapping his arm around Xavier's shoulders. 

Taking in the picture together.

The stark contrast between what Xavier and the main character had wishes to happen versus what actually happened was truly like that of night and day.

The white of Xavier's typical color scheme to the black of the King of Darknight.

The light of Lumiere to the darkness of the King.

The love of a man reunited with his lover, and the pain of a man who had loved her, lost her, then found her only to lose her once more.

Love and Depression strikes again!

You sniffle helplessly as you watch the ending scenes of King of Darknight after the main character changes the story, literally. The lines Xavier said in the trailer for the battle companion finally made sense. Xavier and the main character literally rewrote the story, with the main character going back in time to change the events of the Backtracker expedition, leading to the main story. Xavier's displacement on earth was not such a bad thing after all. And as you realize the Queen of Philos is dead, and that the only MC left is the main story one, you're left bawling into your tissues and snacks. 

This MC, your MC, was the only one Xavier had left. Did he know that? You saw the way he had caressed the image of her when he got to see her in all her Queenly glory. As the story ends and the screen lights up with the bonus gems and the exclusive title you only bawl harder. 

Xavier didn't show any memory of the events of this timeline, which made sense since it was erased. It was a future timeline that no longer exists. Your hypothesis that it was like an alternate universe was as close as you would've gotten. But as you watch the screen, your tear slick face reflected in the screen, the reality of your situation further settled onto your shoulders. 

She was all he had left.

The other Backtrackers were there too, but Xavier only appeared to be close to two of the ones who remained. Jeremiah and Isaiah, and calling him close with Isaiah seemed to be a stretch. You sniffle some more when through your tears you see a text message pop up. 

Xavier Shen: when r u coming back?

If his involvement with getting you the cards didn't finally tip you into your freak out, the reminder than he can directly text your phone now might have done the same. Instead you just smile, wiping your tears before returning to the homepage. As the screen went white and began to load you try to clean yourself up a bit more.

How were you going to tell Xavier about what you just saw? Should you tell him? He'd taken everything that's happened recently remarkably well, but you knew him. You knew how he hid behind that mask. You saw how he'd subtly swallow when you dropped a bombshell, or how he'd break eye contact for even a moment. You knew Xavier. Dived down rabbit holes, deep dives, studied direct translations from the original language to make sure you truly understood him.

So you knew his tells.

The screen loaded and Xavier appeared, holding his phone in his hand. He looked up and brightened as he greeted you. "Ah, there you are-" His greeting caught in his throat as he took you in. His smile vanished, replaced by concern as he slowly walked towards the screen. "What happened?"

You opened your mouth, trying to figure out how to tell him, but a strangled cry leaves your lips instead. You quickly cover your mouth. How do you tell him his Queen is dead? This was no longer simply a sad story, a tale of heartbreak and redemption.

This is a true story. And the woman he loves is dead.

You cover your mouth with your hand, trying to gather the energy to speak as Xavier watches on in confusion and concern. He reaches his hand out, as though if he tried hard enough he could phase through to wipe your tears. But while you could touch and caress him through the touch function, he had no such ability. So his hand fell through. His lips pressed together and eyes narrowed as he failed to console you, his other hand clenching into a fist. 

"Starlight, talk to me. What happened?" His voice was laced with a demand and a plead all at once. He knew whatever you watched had important information, and it left you bereft. You still can't manage to find your voice. But the option on the screen caught your attention. The clothes. That's it.

"The story," You finally breathe. You try with all your might to calm down, taking a deep breath. "It's, it's not good."

Xavier pressed his lips into a thinner line. "Tell me anyway." Your finger twitches over the option. You look to it, then at Xavier. He follows your gaze and a look of recognition crosses his eyes. He nods once. "I need to know." 

That's all the confirmation you need. With this, you go into the clothing. You hesitate once more before putting him in the clothes. With his self awareness he watches you keenly as you do this. His eyes following your every move from the screen. Before glancing down at himself. The black clothes you'd shown him from the images. Then the longer hair. Then the crown. With another hesitant breath you leave the clothing options, backing out to the cafe.

Xavier doesn't look as baffled as he was before. But he did appear confused. He lifted his hands, looking at his sleeves and gloves before down at the rest of his clothing. He didn't say anything as he took it in. 

Suddenly, he groaned and squeezed his eyes shut. Lifting a hand to his head like the crown that lay atop it weighed a thousand tons. You watch him closely as his brows furrow and his expression twists into one of confusion and pain. You expected it to be fleeting, like before. You expected him to see fleeting glimpses of this lifetime where you could fill in the blanks later. Worst case scenario you could type out a loose timeline and send it to him via text if you couldn't bring yourself to speak. The tears were still steadily falling down your cheeks, sliding and dripping down onto your lap.

Xavier's chest heaved.

You're immediately drawn out of your thoughts as you watch him, his hand slowly moving to the fabric over his heart. His emotional pain was written all over his face. Whatever he was seeing, they weren't solely fleeting glimpses of this other lifetime. You sit up straighter, a lump in your throat. 

"Xav-?"

Xavier grasped the crown atop his head, removing it in a sudden jerk. the crown left his hand and tumbled to the floor. You could hear the clatter as it struck the floor, then the sound of it rolling away. His newfound bangs fell into his face as he remained bent over. Your throat continues to constrict, but you will your eyes to remain clear. You knew what you were showing him.

But you owed him the truth. He deserved to know what happened. 

His chest heaved again and you wait. Waiting for a hint, a clue that he needed reprieve. The onslaught of memories that he should not have, the awareness of timelines that shouldn't exist lay heavy on his shoulders, you were certain. 

You'd never seen him like this. Not in any card, in any anecdote, world underneath, memory. Not even in the main story. He was always the calm one, the in control one, the one five steps ahead. Granted, he was suddenly dealing with the onslaught of an entire other timeline before his very eyes. An invasion of memories and emotions so visceral and real it didn't matter that it wasn't a timeline that would happen for him. In a matter of moments, he had gained all the memories his Kingly self had. Donning the clothing gave him all the emotions and fears that version of him had.

In an instant, he had lived an entire other lifetime. Watched the woman he loved die, buried her, then ascended the throne to rule until she was reborn and they were reunited once more. Only to die in each others' arms in the end.

And yet you were the one crying.

"Xavier- Xavi, hey, I'm here." You will yourself to calm down. His hands are shaking. Desperate for something to hold onto. Or maybe something to break? You couldn't blame him either way. There was a gap in his hair and you could see his face for a moment. His eyes were wild- like Hermit's, you had to admit- and his breathing erratic. "Xavier. Do you need to get Jeremiah? Or change the clothes? Hey. Hey!" It was like your voice wasn't reaching him. Nothing else seemed to be working so you tap on the clothing option. Bail. You'll explain it if you have to. You don't care what you grab, you just deselect the hair, the outfit, the crown. You didn't care if he had Heartbreaker pulling his hair with the dumbest outfit possible. It didn't matter. You just needed him out of those memories. 

As he stood on the outfit screen he's still out of it. Grasping at his pants legs. Desperately trying to pull himself together. 

You exit the screen. Xavier isn't breathing as heavy, but his eyes are still wide. You wait with bated breath, wiping your tears off your cheeks with your shoulder. That seemed to be what officially snapped him out of it. He slowly straightened his back. His breathing slowing further. And you sit. Waiting. Waiting to know what he saw. Waiting to see if you had messed it all up. You look at Xavier's hands. They grasped the fabric of his pants legs, wringing and wrinkling them. Your eyes trace up from his hands to his arms. To his chest. His breathing was slowing. But every breath was ragged, like breathing alone was painful. Your throat tightens once more as you shakily lift your eyes to his face.

Xavier's expression was distant. Eyes wide, but not wild. His lips parted as his breaths come in short pants.

"Xavier?" You whisper his name. To your relief, he responds. His eyes focusing on your face again. His fingers weaken against his pants, and with whatever strength he has he slowly straightens his back. Each move was slow, controlled. Like doing so was resisting a physical weight on his body. Resisting something. He takes a deep, albeit pained, breath.

"What did I just see?" Xavier gives you his full, undivided attention. And for the first time in all of this you are painfully reminded just who, and what, Xavier is.

You open your mouth but no sound comes out. How can you be the one to tell him the woman he loves is dead? How can you be the one to tell him that if he and the Backtrackers try to go home, they will all die? Only Xavier survives, only to die once more to repeat the cycle? You swallow your words as you try to gather your thoughts. 

"That was a myth. I don't know how much of it you remember, but to make it short, that was a timeline where Operation Traceback failed." Keep it factual. Keep it to the point, you think to yourself. "Since Operation Traceback failed, Philosians chose to have the main character sacrifice herself to keep the planet alive. When you returned you ascended the throne, and Philos fell. When the main character reincarnated you two went and discovered the truth of Philos for yourselves, and she chose to take the opportunity to rewrite your story, allowing you to be here now." It was your best summary. You make a note to check tumblr and fandom forums later to make sure you had the story straight. Xavier wasn't nodding. He was just watching you. Taking it all in. 

"And is this a true story of mine?" His words were slow. Calculated. Still grappling with the onslaught of grief and fury from a timeline that ceased to exist.

"I- depends?" You sigh. "That goes into the nitty gritty. The way I understand it that was the original future of Philos. That was what was supposed to happen, and did happen, before the main character changed the story."

Xavier hummed. "End this story if you cannot change it."

You crack a microscopic smile. "Exactly."

Xavier finally broke his intense eye contact, his gaze distant. "I see." 

It was only then you noticed there was no background music. No background noise. The game was silent, save for Xavier's quiet breathing. The now steady rise and fall of his chest accompanied by every quiet breath he took. You swallow.

"Can I show you something I can do through this interface?" His eyes cut back over to you. His focused expression melted at the edges. His tiny nod of approval nudged you to tapping on the interface, pulling up the 'his heartbeats' option. "You might feel a weight against your chest. This is the heartbeat function." You explain yourself before pressing your thumb down on the screen. Xavier stood still but looked down at his chest. Just as the heartbeat sound began to come through your speaker his heartrate picked up. His heart sounded normal.

Which, for him, was fast.

His typical 40-ish beat per minute heartbeat was somewhere in the 70s. Which was fitting given the reaction he just had. The tear stains on your face were slowly drying as his heartbeat slowly began to go down. His heart was loud. Louder than you remember. 

Xavier's hand moved slowly. It moved from his leg up to the screen, hovering as though he could somehow touch the screen himself. It faltered, his fingers flexing before he lifted his hand to his chest. Hovering it over his heart. You don't lift your finger. Keeping your thumb pressed to the screen for the heartbeat to continue.  

Seventy beats per minute.

Sixty beats per minute.

Fifty beats per minute.

You watch the number drop down bit by bit. You watch the rise and fall of his chest and unintentionally match your breathing to his. In. Beat. Out. Beat. In. Beat. Out. Beat.

Each breath and beat slowly brought both of you back to the present instead of the future. To the present instead of the future that had already been rewritten. Why live in a story that no longer rung true?

But details of it still persisted. The main character Xavier had known on Philos was still long gone by now. No amount of backtracking would change it now, not after being stuck in Linkon. The reminder was bitter as you stare at Xavier. His breathing had evened out with yours, his heartbeat finally matching his normal, relaxed one in the Destiny's Cafe. You look at his hand. It wasn't touching his chest. Just hovering.

"What do you feel when I do this?" You watch his hand, your thumb still pressing down. Xavier looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers around empty air.

"It... feels like someone is putting their hand on my chest." He balled his hand into a loose fist. Like he could hold you in place if he held tight enough. "I wonder if you were the source of those phantom touches all this time."

You huff a quiet laugh. "If it was in the cafe, yeah, it was me." You slowly pull your thumb away, leaving Xavier standing there. He looked straight at you through the screen. No matter how often he did it, it still shocked you. He sees you.

Xavier sees you. 

His gaze was intense, and his hands remained balled up against his chest. His shoulders were tight, but he stood straight. His eyes were alert and focused on you. Only you.

"What does it mean?"

Of course, he was addressing the elephant in the room again. You sit back in your chair to chew on the question. It was an important one. What does King of Darknight mean for the main story? 

"The good news is that that story won't happen to you." You start slowly, wanting to focus on the positives. "It's a story that's been rewritten, that timeline has ceased to exist as far as we're concerned. It's just an alternate universe." But what else could it mean? You would need to dive into Reddit, Tumblr, and Red Note to see other fan theories, interpretations, and translations before you tried to feed Xavier too much information. "The bad news is I'm not entirely sure how this is going to impact us now. I know the girl you knew back in school who ended up becoming your Grandis Knight, then the Queen, is back on Philos right now. If anything this just tells us what she might be going through."

Xavier's steady expression quickly turned into a scowl. You couldn't blame him. The way she was supposedly treated by Philos was despicable. There was a moment of quiet as you gathered your thoughts on the myth. Now you wish you took notes on the whole ordeal, time to find someone who uploaded the entire myth on youtube...

"Is she alive?" His voice snapped you out of your thoughts. You look at him and find him with that same, intense expression again. You open your mouth, only to falter. Is she alive? 

You rub your neck. You'd distinctly remembered discourse in the fandom about how Xavier was leaving his Queen behind to date an alternate version of her on another planet. If InFold wanted to put those rumors down, no better way than to kill off the version of her he had been in love with. Wouldn't be the first time she died in Xavier's lifetime. You press your lips together as you try to find a tactful way to rephrase that thought. But the look on your face said enough. Xavier's blue eyes scanned your face. The furrow in your brow, the way you pressed your lips together. The way you thought long and hard about it.

He broke eye contact.

"She is, isn't she?"

"I don't know." You sigh. "I'll... I'll need to do some investigating."

Xavier didn't respond. But the look on his face said enough. Even though you hadn't confirmed he had already made up his mind on the matter. 

In a matter of minutes he had watched his beloved die twice. Then he had to grapple with the fact his Queen was likely dead as well.This isn't a video game anymore. While MC's death had left you bereft already, you were watching a fictional stand in for yourself die. Xavier was watching the woman he wanted to marry die. Over. And over. And over again.

"I'm sorry." You don't know what else to say. So you say that. Your finger hesitated over the change clothes button again. But you'd already made up your mind. You select it and make sure 'let him decide' was turned on. You take a screenshot and immediately exit back to the main interface. "If you check my photos, you can see you're in control of that. I won't mess with that again. I didn't think it would be that... I don't know, visceral? I thought it would be like before, with the other outfit."

Xavier looked at his watch. You watch him move through it to look at your pictures and stares at the image of himself for a moment. He takes it in before his lips curl up into a ghost of a smile. Something only his mains would recognize from a single glance. 

"Is... is that Heartbreaker?" He tilted his head, zooming in on the image. You knew there was more to discuss but the shift made your heart lighten.

"Yeah! There's some goofy ones. Big scarf bows, Heartbreaker pulling on your hair, sunglasses with a tear attached..." You crack a smile back at him.

Xavier looked up at you. His minor smile grew into something wider. A glimmer of mischief in his eye. If you didn't know him so well it would mask the pain in his eyes. But he put up a good act. "So... I can wear whatever I want, as goofy as I want?"

"You're the one who had to wear it in public, not me." You put your hands up with a grin. This was what you were used to with him. The banter. the teasing, the back and forth. You know full well the deeper this goes the more you're going to have those kinds of conversations. The realization had been simmering under the surface for too long. King of Darknight was what pushed it over. No matter how you twist it, this was horrifying. Xavier was self aware. And you were feeding him information about himself, his universe, his past and future. Information no one should know.

Because of you, Xavier knows of not one but two alternate universes.

Because of you, Xavier knows of the other love interests.

Because of you, Xavier knows what goofy accessories he has available and now he seems to be hellbent on finding the dumbest outfit possible to fuck with you. 

You manage a laugh. The tear tracks on your face were nothing but a memory now as Xavier zooms in on the handful of options he could see from your screenshot. The hammer, the thinking box, the hair beads. You can already see him concocting his plans. He had been so normal lately with his work and leisure outfits you thought the curse had been broken. At least it was serving a function, making you both smile and laugh.

"Yeah, I won't do that again, promise. Unless you specifically ask me to." You do circle back to the main topic at hand. Though Xavier had dropped the crown it was nowhere to be seen since you toggled it off. You needed to log off to go digging on Reddit and Tumblr for more information. The banner has been out for more than 24 hours now, so there should already be theories out. Xavier looked up from his screen. He tilted his head to the side. 

"I'll see what I can find out from here. This... changes things." His smile faltered before fading entirely. The screen vanished as he lifted the back of his hand to his lips. Pressing against them as his eyes narrowed in thought. "The mission-"

"Yeah." You smile wryly. "I know. I know about Traceback."

His eyes cut over. "Ah. Right."

"I don't know everything, but I know a lot." You eye the other features on your screen. Today wasn't the day, but maybe you should screenshot the anecdotes and world underneaths so Xavier can see exactly how much you know and how it was presented to you. You know about Jeremiah and Isaiah. You know about Operation Traceback. Soren. His parents. When Shooting Stars Fall. But you'd already done more than enough. The look on his face wearing that damn crown will remain embedded in your mind for a very, very long time. "I'm... gonna go. Unless-?"

"Unless?" Xavier echoed you.

Your mouth opens, but nothing comes out. You didn't know where you were going with that. "I- nothing. Unless you want me to stay? I don't know, that was a lot. I don't know if you want my company or not." You speak without thinking, but perhaps it was to your benefit. Xavier's smile returns. And there was a glowing orb that momentarily crossed the bottom corner of the screen.

"If you can research on another device, I'd like to do my research with you."

You look over to your desk. Your computer was charging. Without a word you lift your drink, bringing it to your desk and setting it on the coaster to the side. You turn it on. Xavier could hear the soft whirr as it came to life and his expression brightened. "I'll look through what I can on my computer. You do your research and I'll do mine." Xavier nodded. Instead of the flash of light that typically denoted a change of scenery, Xavier simply walked to the barista's area in the background of the cafe. You heard the espresso machines whirr to life in return, doors opening and closing as his head appeared and disappeared. In a few minutes he returned with another drink, approaching the table before sitting down. He opened his bag and rummaged through to find some books he had nabbed. One included a leatherbound journal with a pen tucked in the strap.

You tear your eyes away as you pull up your search engine. The lighting in the cafe shifts as you tear your eyes away, slowly transitioning from the typical cafe interactions to the study or work function. You don't say anything, typing in the address of the first forum you want to search. 

You can't just drop a bombshell on Xavier like that. He deserves better. He's already dealt with enough. Both in his lifetime in the game and in his interactions with you. You owe him the truth. Or as much of it as you can find amongst the clumsy tapestry that was this game's lore.

You find the first unruly thread.

With uncertain fingers, you pull.

Beyond your window the sun's warm light grew brighter and brighter. Rainbows streaked across your room through the various window clings and sparkly decorations, setting your room ablaze in the setting sun's light.

Your fingers were flying. Typing, scrolling, liking, upvoting. You burn through pages upon pages of theories and translations in an attempt to find a concrete answer. Then, upon finding a one, a different answer.

You didn't want to end the night on more bad news. You couldn't bare it. 

Your eyes quietly flicked from Xavier to your computer screen. Back and forth they went. You knew that Xavier knew you were looking at him. His expression was passive. But he hadn't turned the page at all in the past few minutes. You finally blow a raspberry and throw yourself back in your seat. He drops the act and looks up at you, tilting his head to the side.

"Any luck?" He closed the book with one hand while using his thumb as a bookmark. You press your lips into a thin line while shaking your head.

"I've got news, but it's not good news." 

"I... figured." Xavier removed his thumb and shut the book fully. He didn't say anything further while he put the book back in his bag. "I'll keep looking to see if I find anything out here."

"But not tonight, right?" You save where you left off before closing the tabs. Tumblr still sat open with a handful of theory blogs you trusted, but none of them had posted anything for King of Darknight just yet. LaDs fans worked fast but you knew most people still worked and needed time to digest the myth before writing about it. The thought sat weird with you. It was easier to think of when this was all a fictional game, but now with Xavier (or a version of Xavier and everyone got their own version? A sentient ai of Xavier? You still weren't sure) speaking to you personally it was odd to think of others playing and interacting with him. You shake the idea off. "Today was... heavy."

Xavier's lips curled into a wry smile. It made something stir inside you. Xavier didn't often show this side of him to the main character. This uncertainty. He could sass and snark, feign helplessness to gain her attention. But this genuine uncertainty? It was new. It was human. It was real.  "That's one way to say it."

"Not every day you live not one but two alternate lifetimes because of a different hairdo." You half joke with a similar expression to his. He nodded along with a quiet laugh. You look to the side and find your copy of The Little Prince sitting on your desk. You never got to read with him last night. The day had been heavy, just as you said, so you reach out and grasp it. The worn blue dust cover slipped off the book as you brought it over. When it entered the frame Xavier looked at it.

"We never got to read it last night." 

"You're right." You agree, sliding your thumb over the hardcover. The little boy sat on a tiny planet, staring at a flock of birds. A rose sat beside him. "Let's try again. I need to go clean myself up. Let's take a twenty minute break so I can freshen up and put on my pajamas."

"I'll do the same, then. We'll read before bed. Together." The screen changed. This two way portal crawled backwards as if in slow motion. The lighting changed and although Xavier was illuminated by a sunset, it was not the same sunset. Not the same sky. "Twenty minutes? Okay. See you then." You nod and reach out. Your thumb brushed the power button on the side of your phone and for a moment you hesitate.

Twenty minutes. You'll see him in twenty minutes. 

He waits for you. Standing in front of the screen with one hand on his hip, the other holding his bag. Xavier's eyes follow your hesitant expression. His expression melts into a reassuring one. He drops his bag to the floor as he approaches the screen, kneeling down. His face was so close to the screen you felt like you could pinch his cheeks if you just tried hard enough. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise. Twenty minutes."

You nod. "Twenty minutes. See you then." With his promise in mind, you turn off your phone.

But you knew Xavier better than he thought you did.

Because try as he might, Xavier was still a liar.

The screen before him vanished. Like it had since this arrangement began.

Before the cafe could burst to life Xavier vanished in a flash of brilliant light. The baristas hadn't returned from their breaks, people hadn't streamed in from the sidewalks. In the millisecond it took for Xavier to vanish and reappear in Philo the entire world appeared to be paused. 

As much as he willed his expression to be calm, as much as he willed his body to not betray him, the moment he appeared in Philo he finally collapsed to his knees like he should have hours ago.

Though the crown no longer weighed on his head the pain was embedded in his skull. The leather of the gloves clung to him like a second skin even though his hands were bare. The mourning clothes still appeared in his mind's eye when he looked at himself, though his typical pants greeted him. Ghost strands of hair caressed his lower back and calves in his kneeling position but his hair only touched the nape of his neck at its longest. 

He knew he was looking at the floor of Philo.

But somewhere in his mind he swore he could see and smell a field of lilies. 

The world sounded like it was underwater. He heard something. Feet shuffling along the floor, a familiar voice calling his name too far away for him to properly register. Then it got closer. Louder. Brown shoes and the edge of a dirty apron appeared in his vision before their own dropped to their knees before him. Jeremiah's eyes were wide. His mouth was open, shouting something he couldn't register. Jeremiah said something else, but when he didn't respond his lips pressed into a thin line of determination. Jeremiah ducked under Xavier's arm and lifted him up. Xavier attempted to stand but his legs refused to obey him. Jeremiah hauled him to a seating area and unceremoniously dropped him down. He ran off shortly after.

Xavier tried to focus. The floor is in Philo. The traces of rogue greenery and leaves were confirmation of that. His pants were his normal lounge pants. His shoes were his everyday shoes. The couch is shoddy but sturdy. He could smell fresh flowers and dirt. He could barely hear shuffling from the back. The hum of the lights. The people walking outside. He tried to remember that advice he once heard about naming sensations around him to remain focused. But as snippets of the future replayed in his mind he couldn't focus long enough to do it.

The footsteps got louder and he managed to lift his eyes. Jeremiah held a bucket of water that he unceremoniously dropped beside Xavier on the couch. He said something that sounded like sorry before splashing Xavier. He didn't gasp, but the sudden chill finally forced his brain to pause.

Jeremiah watched. But Xavier didn't speak. 

"Sorry, buddy, but I need you to talk to me." Jeremiah didn't sound particularly apologetic. He dunked Xavier's head into the frigid water in one swift movement before pulling him out just as quickly. This time Xavier gasped only briefly from the shock. But the water had its intended impact. With his face and hair dripping he finally felt fully present again. Jeremiah stood there, hands poised between defense and an attempt to do it again as he waited for Xavier to say something. Xavier blinked the water away before using his dry sleeve to wipe his face.

"Have a towel I could use?" 

Jeremiah sighed in relief, doubling over with his hand holding his chest. "There you are! Xavier, you can't scare me like that, you were gone gone." Xavier couldn't hear it but he assumed Jeremiah's heart was pounding in fear. Fear of retribution, fear for Xavier, etc. But he did as he asked and vanished again before bringing back a clean towel. He handed it to Xavier and he took his time drying his face, hair, and the front of his shirt as Jeremiah began to question him again. "I've never seen you like that. What happened, man?"

Xavier wasn't sure where to begin. Jeremiah had every right to doubt him. How could he begin to even explain all of this? He finished wiping his face and perched his chin on his fist. "I don't know if you'll believe me."

Jeremiah deadpanned. "Come on. Try me."

He gave it another moment of thought. "In the original timeline, Operation Traceback II failed. I was the only one who made it back alive. And our Queen was dead by the hands of Philo's core and the nobility when I arrived." Jeremiah's face slowly lost color. He didn't interrupt. He took the bucket of water and moved it off the couch. He quietly walked to the door and flipped the sign to 'closed', then returned. He sat down next to Xavier. As soon as he was seated Xavier resumed. "I ascended the throne. I stopped allowing the sacrifices and everyone lost their immortality, becoming shades, until she reincarnated. We tried to find another solution but there wasn't one. We died together on Philos, and she found a way to go back and change how the story ended. That's why we're stranded. There's no home for us to go back to."

Jeremiah listened with rapt attention to every word out of his mouth. His face remained colorless. And underneath his gardening gloves Xavier could see a tremor. 

Xavier knew he had to be deceitful about many things.

Jeremiah knew Xavier would never lie about something like this.

He sat back on the couch. Taking a moment to take in all the information. Xavier was glad he at least didn't have to live through the sensations. But he understood now why it was so hard to say it out loud to begin with.

They failed.

And now, there is no home for them to return to.

No Bella here. No Queen there.

Xavier pulled the bucket closer to himself, gathering a handful of water before splashing Jeremiah in the face. He gasped sharply, his curls dripping with water. It was small solace but the petty revenge did allow Xavier to smile. "Didn't mean to scare you. I just... I think you deserve to know." Jeremiah didn't bother glaring, just snatching the towel away to roughly rub his own face. 

"You bet I do. After everything you've roped me into... but, I mean, what now? Do we find and tell the other Backtrackers? Isaiah won't be happy."

"No one will be happy." Xavier agreed. "But we have an answer. And that story has been changed. Even if we don't go back, that is no longer our future. I don't know how our story ends." He looked at his watch. How had the time passed so quickly? He would only have a few minutes to freshen up himself. He stood up but Jeremiah grabbed his sleeve.

"Woah! Where do you think you're going? You can't just run off after saying all of that!" 

"Yes, I can." Xavier shrugged but Jeremiah tugged him back again.

"Xavier." He hissed. "That person showed you, yeah? Okay. I want in. I need to see this, too. Whatever is going on here we need to know more. This can't be a schoolyard crush anymore. They showed you how she died. Twice. And how you died once."

"We have plans." Xavier twisted his wrist. Jeremiah let go of him but stood up to look him in the eye. "And you're not invited."

"Then I'll leave as soon as I can see what's going on. I knew our Queen when we were in the academy, I know her in this lifetime now, too. So if this person is just another universe's iteration-"

"That's not what this is." Xavier denied it.

"Then let me see that for myself." Jeremiah shot back.

The two stood. Eye to eye. Waiting for who would back down first. But the damp fabric at the top of his shirt served as a cold reminder than Jeremiah was his closest confidante for a reason. 

"Only for a minute. Just so you can see it for yourself. Then you leave." Xavier didn't break eye contact first. Jeremiah did. He shut his eyes, dropping his head with a look of pure relief.

"Good, that's all I want. I won't bother you two with whatever it is you're doing next." Jeremiah took off his gloves and apron, tossing them over the counter before he grabbed his keys. Xavier took the towel to the same area. "So. Where are we going?" The duo left the flowershop. Jeremiah stayed at the door to lock up, but Xavier turned and started to walk down the sidewalk without looking over his shoulder. 

"Destiny's Cafe. Keep up." 

Freshly showered and with clean clothes on, you return to the game. 

You already figured you'd need to watch the event through videos uploaded online. And you will need to keep 'let him decide' on for eternity to prevent any more mishaps. You settle into your cozy chair again, your space now clean from tissues, drinks, and snacks. The loading screen appears as you enter the game.

Instead of music, you hear hushed voices.

"Why is everyone else leaving? I have a bad feeling now."

"You're not backing out now."

"I really feel like I'm not supposed to be here right now." 

"You're staying."

"No, I should go. Wha- hey! Let go of me! Xavier!"

The voice finally registered in your mind. It was Jeremiah! The screen finally loaded in and Xavier stood before you. Instead of his default standing, sitting, or sleeping poses he was wrangling Jeremiah into staying in frame. The rest of the cafe was barren as it always was when you arrived. Xavier meets your gaze before shaking his head.

"He insisted on coming to meet you." He explained. Once Jeremiah laid eyes on you he stopped squirming. Xavier slowly released him and Jeremiah stood there. Staring at you with wide eyes. Disbelief. Shock. Confusion. A fleeting glint of familiarity.

"You-" he stammered, tripping over his words. You don't rush him. The Jeremiah that stood before you looked more like his 2d version than his 3d model. You tilt your head to the side. Taking him in at the same time he does the same to you. "You look just like-"

"Like your Queen." You smile. You hoped it looked more real than it felt. "Yeah. Long story." Jeremiah turned to Xavier. There were so many emotions and unspoken words passed between the two of them in a matter of seconds. You glance to the book on your bedside table. "I'm happy to see you, Jeremiah, but I... I wasn't expecting you, I guess."

"I wasn't expecting you either, to be honest." Jeremiah rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Xavier's expression was something akin to a side eyed I told you so before he turned back to you with a more neutral expression.

"I told him what you showed me. He's helping me research this. We're still trying to see if the Deepspace Tunnel is related at all. FInd anything on your end?" 

"I took screenshots of some theories on my phone, but nothing concrete just yet." You shrug. "I'll go through my end of it through the game and take screenshots of other things that are important so we're all caught up and on the same page. Xavier, do you mind sharing them with Jeremiah?" Xavier nodded.

"Don't mind." With his short answer, he nudged Jeremiah's shoulder. "We have things to discuss privately. You can go back to Philo."

"The flower shop." You hum, and Jeremiah's expression twisted.

"You... know that?"

"Yeah, I know a lot of things." You glance at Xavier who shrugged. Jeremiah briefly looked between the two of you before clapping Xavier on the shoulder. You finally take the moment to take both of them in. Jeremiah, in spite of his age, looked boy-ish in the same way Xavier did. His own charm came from his freckles and curly hair. It was no wonder why so many in the fandom swooned for the side character. but his shirt was wet. You look at Xavier and notice the same. A small damp spot on their shirts.

"I'll send Xav with some flowers for the cafe then. Some other time. I've gotta go back and finish closing up." Jeremiah looked at Xavier pointedly. "I've had enough distractions today." Xavier didn't comment but also didn't look at him. Jeremiah slowly walked to the door, continuing to look at you over his shoulder.

You don't pay him any more mind as you pointedly look at Xavier. "What's with the wet spots on your shirt?"

Xavier tilted his head to the side. "We got into a hose fight before I dragged him here. That's all. I didn't have enough time to clean myself up... And my book is back at my place. Give me a minute?" You chuckle to yourself. It was clear he was fibbing, but you might as well play along at this rate.

"Even better, I'll help you out." You go into the sleep function and select a random time. The Destiny's Cafe vanishes behind him as he reappears in his bedroom. Xavier wasn't as phased anymore. He smiled and nodded to the screen before vanishing for a moment. In the background of his home you can hear a rush of water and the shuffle of clothes. You settled into your comfy chair as you cracked open your copy of the book. 

You browse through the illustrations with a fond look. Xavier's many in game nods to the story were warm and nostalgic. His comment about 44 sunsets. His free four star where the main character was a flower. You flip through the book further. You can practically image Xavier dressed in the little prince's clothes. The green outfit with the yellow scarf. In fact, you remember kicking yourself about not getting the four star where he was wearing exactly that and the main character was dressed in red. The red of the rose, or the fox? You weren't sure.

Xavier reappeared on screen in comfortable clothes with the book in hand. His copy looked worn. Well loved, more accurately. The edges of the pages were foxing and the dust cover was warped. But Xavier's hands were tender with it. You watched as his bed dipped with his weight. He shuffled into place where you can see his upper body and face. The bedside table had a lamp with a warm glow. 

You flip back to the first page. "Let's popcorn read. I read a chapter, you read a chapter. Sound fair?" You look back at your book and notice other lights on your screen through your peripheral vision.

"Sounds perfect." He agreed. "Would you like to start?"

"Yeah. I think so." You nod. You clear your throat.

The impending crash out never came. It bubbled up. A scream of existential dread curled in the pit of your stomach. Daring you to release it. Daring you to make a sound. To scream, laugh, cry. This isn't real, it can't be. But whatever reaction you had bubbling up faded overnight. Instead of a scream, it exited as an exhale. A weary sigh as you settle into bed alongside the glow of your phone. The tensions in your shoulders, your back, your aching muscles melt into the mattress as you slowly drift off to sleep. While the ache would return, the tension and stress would prevail, Xavier's quiet breathing beside you lulled you to sleep better than any white noise.

Sunlight woke you.

You open your eyes slowly. Your once glowing phone screen was dark. You shuffle into a sitting position, rubbing your eyes with the back of your hand with one hand while the other tapped in your passcode. Typically your phone would stay open and burn up if you left it open on the sleep function all night. You'd learned that the hard way. But the game was forced to reopen and restart. You prop your pillow up and lean against it as you waited. Beyond what happened in the game itself, nothing had changed. The game began with Infold's logo. Caleb showed up first, then Sylus, then Rafayel. Every character's visual remained unchanged. You find yourself watching it, listening to the title song as the visuals continued. You weren't sure what you were waiting for. Some noticeable change? An error message- Error 404? A pop up telling you to reload or redownload the game? Something. Anything.

But everything was the exact same. You rub your eyes again, finally joining the game itself. The same loading screen appeared, even with the same typical tips and facts. If you didn't know better, you'd think the game had returned to normal.

But Xavier appeared on screen. He was wearing that springtime hoodie with the planet brooch. He was hearing a pair of headphones, reading a book at the center table with a steaming cup of tea in front of him. There were multiple more books and a hologram screen in front of him, illuminating him alongside the warm sunlight. His eyes dart up.

"Good morning." He greeted, taking off his headphones to speak to you. "Sleep well?"

"Best sleep I've had in a while." You settle into your bed, leaning against your pillow. He was seeing you in all your morning glory. Bed head, messy pajamas, and sleep lines on your cheek and arms. He smiled slowly, nodding his head. He set his book down upside down, saving his spot, before approaching the screen. Any concerns about dreaming the previous day were washed away. The fluidity of his movements, the life in that simple steamy cup of tea... it was all the proof you needed that it was real. "But I thought my phone was supposed to stay on during the sleep function... was that you?"

"Your phone would burn up being on all night. It took some experimenting, but I figured out how to turn it off remotely." He leaned down, his smile flickering into a wide eyed frown. "Did I overstep?"

"No, no... thanks for saving my phone." You chuckle, running your fingers through messy hair. "But just how much of my phone do you have access to...? I'm thinking we might need to set some expectations and boundaries if this is going to become a normal thing." 

"But not right now. You need to eat something."

"I'm not hungry yet." You toss the covers off of you and grab the phone again. "I'm feeling good, so let's just get this out of the way."

"'This'?" Xavier cocked his head. You gesture to him and yourself.

"This." You confirm. "We need to figure out what's going on and how this is gonna go. I mean, thank you for helping with my phone. And I know you had good intentions with the alarm, but I don't need you snooping around in my phone. We need to draw some lines in the sand." You go over to your chair, propping your phone up so you could have both hands free. Xavier took a step back from the screen. His gaze dropped to the floor and he rubbed the back of his neck. His default animations had turned into fidgets of his, moving with more fluidity and life than you had anticipated. 

"I'm not living that down, am I?"

"No. You're not." You lean back in your chair and cross your arms over your chest. "Listen dude, I work two jobs, I've got school... I'm trying to balance a lot here, and I don't need someone messing with my schedule. I don't think you're doing it on purpose, and it was just the one time, but... I think we both need to kind of establish what this is going to look like. What's even going on to begin with. Let's start with that."

"Your guess is as good as mine..." Xavier gestured to the books and open hologram image on the table. "I came here to continue research. So far I haven't discovered much. There is a bout of metaflux each time you enter, but it is noticeably less than the fluctuations expected of a Wanderer." Xavier rolled up a sleeve and his Hunter's Watch appeared. The holographic screen showed multiple interactive features. Xavier was flipping through them with an analytical eye, before gesturing to a flickering meter. "These are the fluctuations noted when you are present," He switched, and a much higher bar appeared. "And this is the fluctuation level visible when a Wanderer appears." You look between the two. True to his word they were significantly different.

"But why would fluctuations even appear...? I mean, when did you even become aware of... well. Me?"

Xavier flicked his wrist and rolled his sleeve back down. The holographic interface vanished as he folded his arms. One arm remained aloft, touching his chin as he looked off in the distance. "It... began when I noticed gaps in my memory. Coming to the cafe in the middle of a workday for a few seconds only to question why I was there. Going to the orbit trials and suddenly stopping. Hearing a voice when exercising, or studying..." His eyes cut over to you. "Then I realized when I was meeting with her, she didn't... react, if that makes sense. Outside of work and our experiences one on one, she seemed hollow. In my dreams and memories her face is always obscured." You nod along slowly. 

"Sounds like it was a slow realization."

"I'm... still a little unclear what's going on." He remained pensive, his gaze unfocused as he looked somewhere 'off camera'. He was thinking. "The Deepspace Tunnel has been causing more fluctuations as of late, but I'm not sure how that would impact something like this."

"Well...." You rub the back of your neck, trying to gauge how to tell him this. Obviously he was partially aware, if he was messing with your phone and the in game settings. "Not really. Remember that whole wedding thing that happened a while back? Didn't the Deepspace Tunnel cause images of different universes or whatever? Something like that?"

Xavier looked at you again. "I remember."

"Couldn't that be a part of the explanation, technically? I mean... I've been here for a while, but you've only become aware of my presence recently." But it still didn't make sense to you. As far as you were concerned, this was a game. A programmed game on your phone. An app. You'd read your fair share of self aware fics while tossing and turning in bed, but it was always a silly what if. It was never supposed to be real. 

"That... could be a portion of it." He slowly nodded his head. "But those illusions were temporary. However... that would explain the location specificity of the anomaly. So far, this plane of existence has appeared in the cafe, in my bedroom, in the gym..." He counted them on his fingers, racking his brain for any other examples. "But nowhere else." 

"So in the main story you don't see me?" 

He blinked. "'Main story'? What do you mean?"

"The... the main story. You know? The overarching plot? EVER's bullshit? MC and her heart?" You list off your examples, but his furrowed brows showed he still wasn't on the same page. You sigh. Start over. "Okay, let's try this again." You don't necessarily want to tell him 'you're not real', but what else was there to say? How could you word it? You take a moment to think.

Start from the top. "From my point of view, your world, the world you exist in, is fictional. Not, like, a mythic place but literally fictional. It is a game on mobile smart phones made by a company called Infold. There are five love interests, and you are one of them. The main character is the character people play as, as she navigates life. There are several functions in the game, including the main story, where the main plot progresses in her fight against EVER and wanderers." You try to keep it simple. "I'm a player. I view the game from her perspective, help her fight in battles, choose the protocores..."

Xavier was nodding slowly. Eyes locked on you, taking it all in. Bit by bit, piece by piece. He didn't have any extreme reactions. Though, it's Xavier. He wasn't the one to have a world shattering meltdown. Not externally, at least. He soaked in the information. The only hint to his internal thoughts was a single swallow. 

"So..." He began. "To you, I'm not real?"

"You weren't, up until this started." You gesture between the two of them. "You were a fictional character, as far as I was concerned. I'm... still kinda freaking out over this. I'm not sure what to make of it. Metaflux and the Deepspace Tunnel make sense on your end, but that's only if your reality does have access to mine. And... that would mean your reality exists? Either that or you're a sentient AI-"

"I can assure you, I am not." Xavier interrupted, his eyes still wide. But there it was. That hint of a reaction hidden behind his gaze. Somewhere deeper within him he was having some kind of reaction to this information. 

But both of you were determined to not shatter first. 

You exhale a laugh of disbelief. "I believe you. I promise, I do. We're both confused. This shouldn't be possible according to either of our worlds. But... here we are! So what now?"

"That's the question..." Xavier's eyes cut over to something outside of your line of sight. "I'm not sure. But, like you mentioned yesterday, we have to make sure EVER is unaware." He turned back to you. A glimmer of determination in his eyes. "Beyond that? We can pursue this as we see fit. As far as I have seen, this..." He gestured vaguely at the screen. "Appears in a few locations, and at specific times of day."

"It must be when I log into the game on my phone..." You hum. 

"Maybe." He nodded. "It acts, currently, like a two way visual portal. Or, more simply, a face call." Xavier returned to the table, tapping the holographic screen. It vanished, and he picked up another book. "It allows us to see and hear each other."

"Wait. Can I still interact with you?" His back was to you, so he just hummed in confusion. On a whim, you tap his back. You watch him flinch, whipping back around to look at you. He looks side to side.

"Was that-?"

"It was me! It was me." You put your hands up. "Okay, this is weird... I can still interact with you." Xavier dropped his defensive stance, rubbing his back where you had tapped him.

"So I wasn't feeling phantom pain..." He muttered, eyebrows furrowed. "Have you done that before?" You think for a second. Yes, you had in fact tapped him plenty of times before. Just wanting his reaction, bored between customers, trying to wake him up to chat... But your face turns scarlet as you remember the night you achieved the 'Oops' achievement.

"Yeah, a couple of times," You rub the back of your neck with an awkward grin. "I won't do it again, promise, just was testing a theory... So I can technically interact with you." Xavier approached the screen again, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Why is your face red?" He tilted his head to the side. 

"Just embarrassed I was actually touching you all this time! Seriously, won't happen again." You explain, a nervous laugh bubbling up. "That's all. Anyway, back to the whole 'what are we gonna do about this' thing," You change the subject as soon as possible. Not wanting to mention tapping his ass whenever he got irritated enough to turn his back on you. Much less tapping his dick. You suppress the urge to groan at the thought, if only you knew then what you know now... "Moving forward, we can try to keep this as normal as possible. Y'know, the studying thing at night, check ins... and we can chat about what you learn as you learn it. I'll keep my eyes open too for more meta stuff. You know, notes from the developers, anything I see online..."

Xavier stands upright. He pays close attention, hearing you out as you explain yourself to him. He doesn't revisit the phantom touch moment, just paying attention. "Sure." He nods. "I'll continue research. In the meantime, we'll continue to spend time together. To update each other."

"There are some ways to do that. The workout function, study, sleep, work, the plushies and kitty cards..." Admittedly you could already tell that wouldn't be enough. There's only so many plushies, and only so many collectible cats. "But hey. Out of curiosity... You've clearly got access to my phone somehow. Just how much can you do?"

Xavier hummed. Tapping his chin again. "I can access some features through my hunter's watch... I can send a text asking if you're up, I found a way to turn your phone off, and access your alarm... It's been a feature for some time, but I only noticed it recently."

"So somehow, the phone is syncing my phone's functions to your watch?"

"Somehow." He shrugged. "I'm certain we'll understand more as we go." He flicked his wrist again, the watch's interface appearing in the air. He looked at it. "Time, location, alarms, phone health... I see some other things here, but I don't recognize the symbols." He flicked it shut again. "But... speaking of the time, you need to eat something." 

"Okay, okay, we got that conversation out of the way." You grab your phone and walk out to your kitchen. You prop the phone against the wall and begin to prep some food. "So sure, I'll eat something. You're gonna be on my butt about healthy habits, aren't you?"

"Not necessarily." Xavier chuckled. "I just don't want my partner sleep deprived. What you do otherwise? Beyond me." The slight tease in his voice made you cut your eyes over at him.

"Heyyyy, the main character is your partner, not me." You point a spoon at him. "Besides. What's she up to in all this? Shouldn't you go back to her?"

Xavier made some noise as you turn back to your cooking. "She's handled herself just fine. She must be at her apartment."

"Oh I don't doubt that, she's very competent." You chuckle. "Talk about a dream girl. Sassy, confident, competent, a good fighter, smart, plushie fiend... Love her." 

"Hm." 

You glance over at your phone. His simple hum caught you off guard. "What was that for?"

"What was what for?" 

"Oh come on, don't do that." You prop a hand on your hip again. "I know you, Xavier. Out with it."

He tilted his head. "Out with what?"

You weren't sure what he wasn't catching on to. You knew him, seen behind the scenes, seen the things the main character hasn't. His carefully curated persona meant little to you. "Let's make one more thing clear, 'kay?" You turn back to your food, finishing heating it up. "Since your world was a game, as far as I was aware, that meant I saw a lot more than what you showed the main character. I know about you killing that backtracker in the alley, I know about the backtrackers, I know about Starfall Forest, I know about... well. A lot of things." Your eyes weren't on your phone, but the silence on the other end told you everything you needed to know. "I'm... not trying to be, I don't know, threatening? Or weird? I just want to make myself clear." You serve yourself your food and turned back to him.

He was lost in thought. Looking at you with his head slightly cocked, as if he had no idea what you were talking about. Eyes wide and confused. 

"I know you better than you think I do. And if you think you can lie to me, you're mistaken. So... just, tell me the truth!" You shrug. You set your place at the table with your food and utensils, plus a drink. "I was just asking about the main character, but I guess you don't have to tell me. I'm not gonna press, but don't gaslight me." 

"I'm not gaslighting you." Xavier kept his head tilted. Eyes wide, voice soft. You crack a wry smile.

"You do realize I can just... turn my phone off, right? Exit the game? I'm not trying to threaten you here but come on. If we're gonna help each other, I don't need you to tell me everything, but I do need you to be honest. And not gaslight me. Okay?" You cock your head right back at him. Letting the half-threat hang in the air as you stare him down. He doesn't back down. Holding your gaze. As if he was waiting for you to crack. Waiting for you to give in.

But you don't. 

"Your food will get cold." He finally spoke, looking down at your breakfast. 

"I can reheat it." You go ahead and take the first bite. You loved Xavier as a character. But those character flaws of his would be more difficult to navigate now. That's alright, you can hold your own. The bunny eyes only work if you can actually see them. He can't use them with the phone turned off. As you begin to eat, a tense silence settled between the two of you. The challenge made, the stakes set. 

If he tried to play stupid games, you simply could turn off your phone. He couldn't follow you around in real life, he couldn't move to the same apartment building, he couldn't keep tabs on you via Jeremiah or The Nest. Sure, he had access to your phone, but you could trade yours in for a new one. Certainly not ideal, especially given your financial status. But you didn't have time for a petty character from another universe messing with your life. Either he could play nice, or not play at all. 

EVER was the only problem.

You frown between bites. Xavier had hinted at others having some form of awareness, but who? The other love interests? Side characters? Gods forbid someone affiliated with EVER knew. You hum to yourself in thought. 

"What are you thinking about?" The soft voice across from you made itself known again. You look up and find Xavier coming back with a cup of coffee. You look between him and the mug. "I helped myself." He nodded to the coffee station in frame. "The baristas always leave when you appear."

"Must be programmed to do so, I only ever hear them when I'm working or studying with you." You murmur after swallowing. "Just thinking about EVER." You look back at him. The coffee's steam lifted and twisted in the air, dancing and obscuring his face at times. But you see his eyebrows furrow, and his lips press together.

"EVER." He murmured. "Yes. What about it?"

"Just... thinking about how to navigate this. You implied others are aware, but who? Gods forbid someone like Carter is aware..."

"Who?" He cocked his head. You dismiss it with a wave.

"Xander Sciences guy. Old classmate of Zayne Li, he works with EVER now since Raymond died and EVER acquired it." You rattle it off half mindedly, looking at your breakfast. "Bad guy. Definitely not someone to be self aware, woof..."

Xavier blinked. "You... know a lot."

"I thought I already mentioned that." You mutter before taking another bite. "I was a lore person, so I was digging around a lot."

"That could be helpful." He nodded, a small smile twitching onto his lips. "As far as I know, the 'others' may have some level of awareness. I don't encounter them, but I'm aware they exist. The painter and the doctor I know the most of..." Xavier broke eye contact, looking away as he sipped on his coffee. "Sylus, I know of due to the protocore trade. And the last one... her childhood best friend, the one who died in the explosion?"

"Not dead." You shake your head. "He works for EVER, unfortunately, though it isn't really his full choice. He's fighting it in his own way." Xavier took another sip of his coffee.

"Interesting."

"I'm not sure if I should be breaking down the overarching plot for you, are you gonna be doing anything with that info?" You take another bite of your food as Xavier turns back to you. He tilts his head, his face lighting up with a smile.

"Of course not. I just want to make sure I can keep an eye on EVER from my side."

You squint at him for a moment. Trying to see if there were any tells from his body language or tone. But when you don't find any you shrug. "I'll keep you updated from my end, too. But it'll have to be between everyday stuff. I've got two jobs and a degree, I can't let this game be more of a distraction than it used to be." 

"And if you're studying astronomy, you'll certainly need to focus." Xavier set his cup down. You could hear the gentle thunk as he did so. The audio design in game had always been amazing, but it was amplified. It truly did all feel more alive. "What do you want to do with that degree?"

"I'm hoping to intern at my country's space program, then go from there. I don't care if I start out getting coffee for everyone, I can say I've got plenty of experience doing that from the cat cafe. Buuut I'm probably gonna end up as a technical writer. Or back in some kind of admin job. Oh well." 

"The Deepspace Academy has an astronomist position that's hiring..." Xavier drifted off, back in thought. "Though... I don't think that'll do you any good with this in the way." Xavier made a vague gesture at the screen. You finish your breakfast and start to clean up, a ghost of a laugh escaping. 

"Wow, trying to find me a job? That's generous. Don't jump the gun, I don't have my degree yet. Plus I've got two other jobs I'm working, I don't want to wonder about a third or jumping from one to another just yet." You start to wash the dishes, back to your phone. "And you're right. It wouldn't do me any good with two separate realities, anyway." You scrub your dishes with efficiency, the rush of the water adding to the environment. Some quiet music still played from the Destiny's Cafe, and you can hear the odd rustle as Xavier moved around, even though you weren't looking at your phone. "I'll have some tasks I need to do for my other job." You strike up another conversation in the quiet. "Not much, I am technically off, but I need to get some things straightened away before the week starts."

"Okay. Would you like me to work with you?"

"Not this time, I'll need my phone available." You finish washing the last of the dishes and leave them to dry. You dry your hands as you pad back over to where you propped your phone. You lift it up and find Xavier standing with a now empty mug. The steam was long gone, and the table in the middle was rearranged with more books and notes. Looks like he was back in research mode. "Just... wanted to let you know." 

"Good." He tilted his head. "That gives me time to take care of other things."

"Yeah. Good. I'll check back in when I'm done, and we could maybe do a few more orbits? Your myth is dropping any day now and I'm curious how the game is gonna function now that you're aware of all of this. Talk to you in a bit." He nodded, and with that, you exit the game.

Xavier watched as the two way visual portal vanished again. Much like yesterday, as soon as the figure before him left the world burst back into life. The quiet, empty cafe surged into life. Baristas came back from their breaks and the storage areas. New patrons come in the front door. The bell rings and the coffee machines whirr to life. The air is filled with the scent of coffee, tea, and food once more. He glances at his empty cup, watching the final drop roll around, before deciding to make himself another cup back home. For now, he needs to speak to Jeremiah again.

He gathers his things in silence, putting away his books and journals as a pair of gossiping girls eye his spot. He pays them no mind as they giggle and rush forward, claiming his spot in the oversized chair the moment he lifted his coffee cup. He returns his cup to the dish area and fishes his headphones out of his bag. In all honesty he could just teleport to Philo, but he needed to save his energy.

He pops his headphones on as he joins the fray. People bustling to and from work. Night shift just getting off, day shift going in. He didn't need to report to the Hunter's Association, so it gave him some time to put his own plans in motion. He flicked his wrist to look at his watch. There were several unfamiliar symbols on it now, somehow connected to your phone. He recognized some of the things he was used to doing, like texting his partner to asking if she was up, or sending reminders about work or rest. But one symbol caught his eye. He tapped on it and found a music app in front of him. None of the names look familiar, but he selects something on a whim. 

Soft, instrumental piano music greets him. Something whimsical. 

His lip curls up. This must be something you listen to.

Xavier filters through the playlist during his short journey. The walk to the bus stop, paying the fare, sitting in a backseat with his bag beside him. Among your other playlists with various music genres and artists, the piano music remained a constant. Some of the pieces were beautiful piano pieces with no other orchestration. If he could get access to a piano again he'd be able to play them easily. 

He watched the buildings go by, lost in thought until he saw a man approach him in the reflection of the glass. The man pointed at his bag. Xavier didn't turn down the music or even bother to take off his headphones. The man's mouth moved, a charming smile on his face. Clearly asking to sit beside him. Xavier looked between the man, his own bag, and the other empty seats near the back. The man's smile faltered. He cleared his throat, then asked again a little louder. Xavier heard him. He just blinked at him.

The other man gave up, sitting somewhere else in the back of the bus. He noticed the flash of an ID fastened to the man's lapel, but before he could analyze it further, the bus stopped. He was at his destination. He makes a silent mental note to remember the odd man's face, something angular with dark hair, before standing up. He nudges his headphones off one ear with his shoulder, moving down the aisle before uttering a simple 'thank you' to the bus driver. The bus driver smiled and opened his mouth in response, but Xavier didn't stick around for idle chatter. He left the bus, one hand over the opening to his bag as he walked to Philo.

It wasn't a far walk from the bus. The flower shop seemed to glow in the early morning light, the morning glories reaching towards the sun with their beautiful blossoms fully open. He stops only for a moment to admire them, taking in their sweet perfume before he entered the shop.

"Just a second! I'll be right with you!" A familiar voice called from the back. Xavier didn't announce himself. Instead, he slid off his headphones and tucked them back in his bag. Xavier silently flips the sign on the door from 'open' to 'closed', before approaching the cash register. He begins to unload his books onto the surface, lining them all up as he listened to movement in the back. He could hear the rush of water from a watering can, the shuffle of Jeremiah's feet as he moved to and fro. 

Finally, his old friend came into the shop itself. He wore a dirtied apron and wiped his hands with a handkerchief, his curly hair bouncing with his footsteps. He stilled as he noticed Xavier. One glance at the table and one at the door told him what he needed to know. Jeremiah sighed.

"Updates?"

"Some." Xavier agreed. "Nothing substantial yet. But I was given more detail."

"You know, Xav, if it wasn't for the weird stuff going on around here I'd think you weren't sleeping enough." Jeremiah crossed the room and grabbed one of Xavier's journals. He cracked it open and began to skim through, his eyes darting around swiftly. "But there's too many coincidences."

"We spoke more this morning." Xavier pulled out the last book. An old textbook of his on astronomy. He went digging through his bookshelves and managed to find it, but didn't find a good moment to show it. "I've got some more details."

"Okay. Hurts my brain a little, but let's see if this will clear things up." Jeremiah snapped the journal shut and set it down aside all the other books. Xavier pulled over a stool, sitting down as he tried to decide how best to begin.

"Our world is a kind of video game."

Jeremiah blinked. "No, I take it back, I do think you haven't been sleeping well. You've been out in the No Hunt zone too often."

"No, listen. When you visit the Destiny Cafe, do you find yourself being drawn away from it? When all the employees go on break, at the same time, and all the other customers leave?" Xavier half leaned on the counter as he watched Jeremiah. His eyebrows furrowed and he nodded along, so Xavier continued. "Or you are mid sentence and then freeze?"

"Sure, but that doesn't mean our world is just a video game. I mean, I'm just as real as you are." 

"Think about your Queen, then." Xavier flicked open his hunter's watch. It would be his final piece of evidence. "What does she look like?"

"She looks the same as your work partner. They're the same person in different lifetimes, the same woman." Jeremiah watched the interface, but still looked confused. 

"No. Her face. Describe her to me."

Jeremiah opened his mouth. But he paused. He thought about it for a moment, wracking his brain. But the color slowly drained from his face. "Gods forgive me... how could I forget her face?"

"You haven't. What's her name?"

"I don't-"

"Her hair color? Eye color? Skin color? Height?" Xavier continued to grill him in a deadpan tone. Watching his friend grow more and more pale. 

"I-I don't... I don't remember. How can I not remember? Gods forgive me... I just saw her here with you! Why don't I remember?" Jeremiah put a hand to his head, wracking his brain for any details he could remember. Xavier could've let him squirm, but instead he showed his friend pity.

"I didn't either." Xavier dropped his voice. "The Queen we knew, she is the main character of this game. I believe we do not remember because her appearance is different each time. The stutters in our reality, the odd voice I'd hear during orbit trials, the behavior in the cafe... It was all there."

Jeremiah ran his fingers through his hair, leaving specks of dirt at his roots. "I don't know if I can fully believe that."

"I don't need you to." Xavier grabbed one of his journals and a pen. "All I need you to do is trust me, and keep a closer eye on EVER."

"EVER?" Jeremiah cut his eyes up at him. "The biotech company? I've been watching them, for a while... but what's going on now?"

"The Eternity Vanquishes Evolution Restraint Group. In their hunt for eternal life and immortality, they'll do anything to achieve their goals. And if they become aware that there are parallel universes or realities watching and engaging with our own..." Xavier cut his eyes away. He could practically feel the colored collar around his neck. It didn't appear often. But with every passing day it felt like a physical collar choking him further and further. The collar tightening. The leash shortening. "Who knows what could happen."

"Okay. Fair enough." Jeremiah nodded. He sighed, dropping his hands, finally noticing the dirt on them. He brushed them off on his apron again, before tugging the tie off the back. He hung up his apron and went to a sink. The sound of rushing water filled the air again. The moment of respite allowed Xavier to fold his arms on the counter and rest his head. He couldn't blame Jeremiah for his disbelief. If he hadn't experienced it himself, he wouldn't believe it, either. But after seeing the face staring back at him, even in cozy pjs, he finally could recall the face of his Queen. The face of his battle partner. The face of his classmate. The one that fell asleep eternally on his shoulder under that fateful sky.

It wasn't exact. But it was your face.

The fleeting glimpse of your face, serenely on his shoulder, under that same sky sent a shiver down his spine. He lifted his head and opened his eyes.

Not Philos. Simply Philo. 

He swallowed once as Jeremiah came back, drying his hands on a towel. He sat up straighter, no longer leaning on the counter. Just sitting upright. Jeremiah noticed this change in posture but didn't comment on it. He set down his towel and leaned on the counter instead, watching Xavier closely. "So this... apparition you've seen. This person. They've told you things?"

"Yes. Like how Sylus is the head of Onychinus, and that Dr. Li's previous classmate Carter works for EVER." Xavier confirmed. Jeremiah pushed himself off of the counter and went to the back. Xavier grabbed his bag and followed him to a hidden back area with computers and screens. Jeremiah typed something in. Xavier watched as two separate profiles came up. One on Onychinus, and one on EVER and Xander Sciences.

"They're right." Jeremiah muttered. His eyes flickered over the various tidbits of information, looking down the information he had available to him on both men. Pictures, fleeting glimpses... "I knew of Sylus, but that was it... How much does this person know?"

"More than they're saying." Xavier looked it over as well. Sylus. He knew of him. Blew up his protocores once. He even recalled helping send his partner straight to him in the N109 zone a few months back, after the explosion. He pressed his lips together. Xavier was beginning to see the web unfold before him. 

There were missing pieces. And he needed to find them.

"Well... clearly they must be telling the truth if they know this much." Jeremiah finally turned to meet his gaze. He was still confused. Unsure. But he was putting his faith in Xavier- as he had for centuries. "So... what do we do?"

"We watch EVER closer than ever before." Xavier flicked his wrist. His Hunter's watch- which he'd jail-broken a long time ago- showed many of the normal things. Time, messages, heartrate... but a new section of it was dedicated to his connection with that other world. A text message about sleep, reminders, and food all appeared as pre-programmed messages he could send. He'd need to look into the specifics of what he could do in a moment. "Monitor activity to see if anyone else can interact with this plane of existence."

"How does it work, anyway?"

"Don't know." Xavier flicked his wrist again and the holographic screen vanished. "But I'll tell you as I find more information. Just... pay attention to the little things."

"I always do." Jeremiah turned back to Xavier. Watching him for a moment. Xavier busied himself with readjusting the strap on his bag, unused to carrying one after all these years. But teleporting around with a large stack of books wasn't worth his energy. Jeremiah crossed the room with slow, cautious steps. Before stopping right in front of him. Xavier turned to leave, but Jeremiah grabbed his shoulder before he could. Xavier could've rolled his shoulder to make him let go, but when he saw the look on his face he stilled for a moment. Jeremiah's eyebrows were furrowed, a noticeable crease between his eyes as he looked him over. "Be careful." Jeremiah chided him quietly. "This is messing with you more than you admit. Call me if you need anything. Okay?"

Xavier rolled his shoulder, and Jeremiah let go. "Yeah." Xavier turned, not saying another word as he went back to the door of the flower shop. He could hear Jeremiah's footsteps behind him, but he stopped when Xavier flipped the sign back to 'open' on the door. "I will." He didn't look back. But he did offer him that one assurance as he opened the door. 

He needs to resume his own research.

Your three day weekend was hardly as relaxing as you'd hoped it'd be, but it was better than nothing.

You were sleeping better. Xavier refused to allow you to stay up all night, and would even manually close the game to kick you out if you were whining about it. Though it only happened once, you both much preferred falling asleep at around the same time. Between your remote job and chipping away at homework, you found time to body double with him. Every night you'd spend an hour or two chipping away at future assignments, to the point you were so at ease you switched to simply reading books alongside him. You kept your headphones on to listen to his soft breaths, the quiet flip of a page, the scratch of a pencil on paper. 

The mornings came with their own routine. Get up, greet him upon opening the game, do dailies. Chat while getting dressed for work, then hop on the bus. You kept your phone in your pocket. Xavier got to view the darkness but it allowed the two of you to just... talk. You only had a four day work week at the Cat Cafe, and with a head start on homework for the week it gave you even more free time to spend with him.

You did your weekly plushie run with him. The pre-programmed dialogue didn't appear, but Xavier did recycle it within his own humor. Since he had jail-broken the attempt number, you knew getting the new plushie would be easy.

"Honestly, after stealing Rafayel's mechanic it'll be easy to beat our record!"

"Our record..." Xavier glanced between you and the machine. "That shouldn't be hard to beat." You recognize the dialogue and squint at him

"Did you just sass me?"

He blinked. Big doe eyes. "You must be imagining things."

"And don't gaslight me about it!"

Homework, commute, plushies, kitty cards, and even just reading a book at night over tea. It had only been a week, but you still couldn't believe it had been a week with Xavier. His new myth drops Friday, though you have a full shift.

The morning had been normal. As promised, he didn't mess with your alarm anymore. Though he would sometimes change the music for it. You got dressed and ate breakfast as he sipped on a cup of tea in the chair, then chatting briefly as you rode the bus to work. The bus driver no longer looked at you or questioned it when you got on the bus chattering away, earbuds in. You find your seat and sit down, relaxing into it as you hear Xavier's breathy chuckle.

"So." You could practically hear the smile in his voice. "Are you going to explain your excitement over this 'myth' of mine, or do I have to dig in the files some more?"

"No, no, I'll explain." You'd been careful funneling him information over time. While he wasn't one to freak out in public, you knew the information would be hard to digest all at once. Besides, what would he do if you fed him something too meta that could impact the plot? "The 'myths' are a function of the game that reflect a past, present, or future timeline of yours. It shows some additional information about you and a past or potential reality and its consequences on the main story."

"I see. It's... a glimpse of another timeline?"

"Unless it's set in the main day. Like Lumiere- that's something that's happened within the main storyline, but was explored further in the myth." You explain it flippantly, watching the familiar streets whip by on the bus. But there's a moment of silence on the other end of the line. You slip your phone out of your pocket, glancing down at Xavier, only to find him looking away from the screen with that scowl. You blink before it clicks. Ah. Lumiere. "And uh..." You tuck your phone away so he can't catch your cheeky smile. "Just for reference, I do like you more than Lumiere."

There's a beat of silence. Then a soft, scoffed laugh.

"Good." You can hear the smile in his voice again. "Right answer."

"But back to the main topic, yeah, the myths serve as additional bits of information about you, the main character, and hints and foreshadowing about the overarching story and your relationship with her." You finish your explanation. You'd be getting off the bus soon. Having a constant commute buddy was nice. You actually got to tell him about your day and hear his thoughts about things. No more cycling through responses. He'd just... listen. Truly listen. Then respond with actual insight.

You knew this arrangement was a precarious balancing act. You knew his red flags. His lying, his gaslighting. You knew better than to get too involved. But when he smiled as wide as he did in the Unique Aftertaste card, when he dropped his voice into a normal speaking tone when comfortable around you, when he watched you with pride as you submitted more astronomy homework?

You can't help it. Your heart flutters.

The bus stops, so you go to the front. Popping out an earbud as you thank the bus driver, hopping down each step with a lightness in your gait. You hum as you unlock the front door. You were even there early for once. It was another day where it was just you and your lovely Jasmine coworker. You unplug your headphones and unmute Xavier, perching your phone on a table so he could actually get a glance at your place of work. He was quiet as you went around with opening activities. Turning on the lights, getting the cats out, preparing their food amidst a cacophony of meows. You can even hear his warm laughter over the noise. But one cat sits and waits patiently, his big blue eyes blinking slowly. 

Puffball. 

You set out the food and watch the cats go mad, all except Puffball, who wandered over to rub against your legs. You crouch and pet his head. He immediately purrs, so you scoop him up in your arms. You carefully step over the other cats as you approach your phone, holding Puffball up for Xavier to see him.

"Xavier, this is Puffball. His coloration reminded me of your Yes, Cat Caretaker banner ears and tail, so I named him after one of the birds that visits your apartment." You settled the cat into a cradled position in your arms. But his eyes remained locked on your phone. He craned his neck, trying to get to it, so you step closer. Xavier was watching in interest, approaching the screen.

"Hi, Puffball." He spoke softly, admiring the cat in your arms. Puffball mrrr'ed and sniffed the phone, as if he could judge Xavier through the screen.

"He's a sweetie, he's very protective over me and the other workers. Whenever one of the other cats or a customer gets mean he'll come and chase them off for us." You chuckle. But Puffball paid you no mind. "He's friendly, but prefers the employees." Puffball reached a paw out, nudging at your phone. You take one step closer and he gently headbutted it, rubbing his face on the screen. Even purring. "Aw! He likes you!"

Tiny, glowing, floating orbs appear all around Xavier. He tilted his head, watching the scene with a softened gaze. "I like him, too. Thanks for protecting them when I can't be there." You kiss the cat's head before setting him down. 

"My coworker is gonna be in soon, I should probably wash my hands and get to actually setting things up." You dust your hands off before turning to face him. Everything about him had suddenly become soft. Not the pouty, manipulative one. No. Just... soft. Eyes wide in genuine, pleasant surprise. It made you smile. "I'll... I'll talk to you on my break?"

The glowing orbs only grew in brightness.

"Okay." He nodded. "Talk to you then." You grab your phone, turning it off to force the game to close right as your coworker walked in.

She grinned, a knowing smile on her face as she came over. "Ooooo! I saw Xavie on your homescreen!" The bell on the door jingled as she came in, her long black hair floating past her. She stopped beside you, beginning to pull her hair back into a braid. "Thanks for getting here early to take care of the cats. You excited for Xavier's new myth?"

"Duh!" You chuckle, tucking your phone away as you go to wash your hands. "I've been grinding for the past two weeks."

"Dude, you need a phone detox after his myth, you've been on it nonstop all week." She teased. She went and got her nametag- Lilian. She fastened it to her apron and put it on before washing her hands after you. "You've been grinding like nuts." You hadn't been grinding for gems all the times she'd caught you on your phone on the clock, but you don't mention it out loud.

"Oh yeah, don't I know it." You fib. You pivot to other tasks, like getting the drink station ready. "I'm gonna pull when I'm off the clock. Didn't want to come in pissed or scream on break."

Lilian threw her head back to laugh. "Good! You remember how our boss scolded me after scaring the cats when I got Zayne's wedding card three times in the first ten pulls??? I thought I was going to lose my job!"

"No, no, you're too good with customers." You chuckle back. "Besides, you were on break. And the cats were just skittish that day. We really need to convince her to host a LADS day with kitty cards one of these days... There's other players in town, it would be a great publicity event."

"One day." She sighed wistfully. "Okay, okay, that's enough videogame talk. Back to the real world. Inventory, cat check ins, and getting the delivery before opening, okay?" Lilian nudged your shoulder with a knowing smile. "We'll talk more fandom stuff on break."

"If we get one. Remember last week? Ugh." You shudder thinking about it.

"I've got a good feeling about today, though." Lilian shrugged. "I think today will be much, much smoother."

The day began. Various pastries and baked goods were stocked in the display case once they arrived. You prepared the coffee and tea and other drinks for efficiency, while Lilian cleaned and prepared the games for the visitors. Kitty litter refreshed, water refilled. The cafe was ready to open.

Lilian was right. The day went much smoother than the week previous. Customers were kinder, the kitties better behaved. One patron came in wearing white and eight pointed star earrings, which made you think of your lovely bunny, so you complimented her. She left a generous tip in kind. You even got a break, but in a lull of activity you and Lilian had gotten into a conversation about main story theories, so you didn't check in on your phone.

You feel your phone vibrate in your pocket. You tug it out, and glance down.

"Oh, stamina message? I just got mine." Lilian glanced at her own phone, a smile on her face. "I'm contemplating getting the Aurum Pass just to change the picture to Zayne. Like, no hard feeling Rafy, but I'd like to pretend Zayne was actually texting me. You know?"

You stare at your phone. Zayne's name replaced by Xavier's. You laugh. "Yeah, no, I get it." You tuck your phone in your pocket again. "Gonna take the last five minutes of my break in the break room, okay? Think you got it for five minutes?:

"You're fine, enjoy," Lilian laughed, waving you away. You slip back into the breakroom and open the game. You press your lips together in a line, watching the normal load in before entering the game.

Xavier was standing in the same spot you left him in. His brows slightly furrowed, head cocked to the side. "You said-"

"I know, I know." You laugh indulgently, sinking into one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs. "Sorry, got lost in conversation with a friend of mine." He blinked, but relaxed.

"Just... wanted to make sure today was going better. Better than last week." 

You laugh again. "Just how long were you aware before I figured it out? We're coming up on one week, but you were acting weird the night before."

Xavier shrugged dismissively, looking away from the screen. "It was a gradual realization."

You shake your head with a knowing smile. Dodged the question. Typical. "Right." You poke his head, and he rubs it with a half pout. "But today is much better than last week, yes. The cats are behaving, the customers are being kind, and it's been slow but steady."

Xavier looked back at you, his posture relaxing. "Alright." He nodded. "Are we still on to study tonight? You said you were ahead..."

"I'll double check my online classes and let you know. If all else fails I'll just read with you again. I've got The Little Prince somewhere, and I've been meaning to reread it just for myself."

Xavier's closed-mouth smile widened. His eyes crinkled just a bit. "Would you be willing to read it out loud? I haven't read it since it came out."

"Back in 1943." You add with a knowing laugh. "You know what? If I can find my copy, I'd love to, little prince."

His smile widened until it couldn't hide his teeth anymore. "I look forward to it."

"I'll chat with you again on the ride back. My break's up."

"Alright. I look forward to it." He nodded, but little balls of light had appeared around him all over again. You exit the game once more, that heartfelt smile burned into your memory now. You touch your cheeks, feeling the warmth radiating from them.

You know better. You do. You know you do. 

But you look forward to reading to him when you can find that book.

The day continued. Smoother than last week. Kind customers, gentle kitties, well behaved machinery. It was like the universe had smiled upon you, trying to make up for the impending freakout still lodged somewhere in your chest. An incoming hurricane headed straight for you. And yet, you didn't have time to just face the wind and waves. No, you had work to do. You had to stay practical, and enjoy what you could make of the situation.

The day ends. You close up. Kitties fed and then put away to rest. Cafe cleaned. Dishes washed. Everything clean and ready for the weekend crew to take over come tomorrow morning. 

You and Lilian share your farewells before you jump back on the bus, opening the game again. You reconnect your earbuds and find Xavier reading in the cafe again. On top of his research materials was a familiar little blue book.

He had his own copy of The Little Prince.

His blue eyes pop up as you enter, now familiar with the signs of your arrival. Employees and other patrons hurriedly leave, and now it is only the two of you once more. 

It had become routine.

Chat quietly on the ride back. Or stay quiet and just enjoy each other's company as he read and wrote notes. The excitement of pulling for King of Darknight kept you awake, but you felt pleasantly tired after your day. Just the right amount of tired to go home, get cozy, have dinner, then spend the rest of the evening pulling for the cards. 

The Silvery Polyphony ost was playing. You lean your head on the window, watching the world go by as you listen. 

"If I read a book to you, would you play the piano for me?" Your question was the first thing you said to him since getting on the bus. But he certainly didn't seem to mind. His warm, soft chuckle made you smile.

"Of course. I could play one of those other pieces you like from one of your playlists."

"Snooping through my music?"

"I'd prefer the term investigation." His lighthearted tone kept you amused instead of annoyed. It's Xavier. That doesn't surprise you in the least.

"Alright then. I'd like that." You pull your phone out of your pocket, finding Xavier still sitting at the table. He was looking up, waiting to be able to meet your eye.

"There's my star." His smile was still there. Warm, inviting. Normal. How had it already been a week? How had it only been a week? It felt like forever- it felt like a day. Time felt weird since he revealed he was self aware. You smile a little wider in kind.

"I'm almost back to my place. I'll need to put you back in my pocket. Then we can do the book tonight?"

"Sounds good." He nodded, putting his head back down to resume what he was doing. 

You slide your phone into your pocket, Xavier still waiting patiently on the screen as you disconnect your headphones. Overall your heart and chest felt lighter. Puffball's approval and a good work day left you in the best mood you've felt for a while. One week of this arrangement... oh how time flies. You find yourself more excited to do homework. Actually looking forward to the work since it meant more stolen glances with Xavier, more tutoring and guidance. More soft laughter, more teasing remarks. You almost regretted being ahead. 

The thought makes you smile.

You hop off the bus, not even hearing the driver's farewell. You borderline float inside, but momentarily pause as the 'out of service' sign on the elevator snaps you out of your giddy mood. Oh well, little extra cardio. You pivot and jog up the stairs. Already thinking about what tea you'd brew, which subject you want to knock out if you hadn't completed it already. You used to dread homework on a Friday night. Now? Now it's a ritual. A nightly ritual of a soothing tea blend and good company. Xavier was studying, hunting down answers on what suddenly connected your two worlds. You were chipping away every bit of homework that stood between you and your degree. And now? Reading out loud to him. The body doubling was exactly what you both needed, and a new highlight of your night.

Your footfalls reverberate on the stairwell's' walls, mixing with the other commotion of the apartment building. Chatter, laughter, brushing past people heading out for a night on the town. The noise only grew louder as you get to your floor. You pop your head in the door and find your obnoxious neighbors staggering down the hall. You silently roll your eyes, but don't say anything. You just keep walking, skirting past them with a 'excuse me' while grabbing your keys.

"Hey!" One of the guys, the more drunk of the two, slurred out. "Aren't... aren'tchu our neighbor?" He points at you, his roommate supporting him. He rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, man. We've had the same neighbors for a year..."

"Why... 'hic' why do we never see youuuu?" He cocked his head, eyebrows furrowed. "You antisocial or just ugly?"

You roll your eyes, but bite back a response. "Just trying to get to my room, I've got homework, excuse me." You grab your keys, trying to move further past them.

"Nooooo," the drunker one reached out, slapping the keys out of your hand. They fall to the ground with a 'clink'. You look between your keys and him, momentarily shocked. You blink, and he drunkenly grins. "Go on. Pick 'em up." The words send a shot of adrenaline through you. Adrenaline and disgust at his toothy grin. His friend yanks him a bit further back, his already pink ears turning bright red.

"Oh my god you moron-" He groaned. "Ignore him."

You slowly, reluctantly, grab the keys. Not taking your eyes off of either man. There were cameras in the hallway. If something happened, it would be on camera. You swallow, not daring to turn your back. "Kinda hard to..." You snatch the keys, standing up, taking a slow step backwards. "I've gotta go and take care of stuff..."

"Stuff?? Live a little! C'moooon, come drink with us! You're such a loser-"

"No, I have someone waiting for me." You lie, taking another step back.

"You're fuckin'... fuckin' lying!" The more drunk one stuck his hand out, grabbing at your wrist. Your eyes widen as you yank your hand back. His roommate grabs his hand and yanks it back as well.

"What the FUCK dude???" He snarled. "Knock it off!" Amidst the chaos your phone began to vibrate in your pocket. You fumble with it for a second, still not daring to take your eyes off of the two men in front of you. You hit 'answer' without thinking, just wanting one more witness in case things go south.

"Hello-"

"Baby, is everything okay? You're late." Everyone in the hallway freezes. You slowly look down at your phone. It was an unknown number, but the two men across from you wouldn't be able to see it. The voice, though? You'd know that anywhere. 

Xavier.

He'd pitched his voice lower. Something more reminiscent of the King of Darknight or Hermit- or maybe even his earlier voiced lines. Not as breathy. He was trying to make a point. But how the fuck was he calling you? This wasn't a call from the game. It was a real phone number.

You lick your lips but pick up the charade, taking another step back. "I'm fine, really, I just ran into my neighbors. I'm almost home."

"Ah, good. Didn't you want food delivered? My treat." It was an affectionate tone of voice. "Date night in?" You nearly choke on your spit while the two men across from you go pale in the face. All the red of embarrassment or liquor faded. You swallow.

"S-sure... babe," You go with a pet name to continue the charade. "Just... nothing spicy, okay? I know how you get." 

There was a softer chuckle on the other side of the phone. "Okay, okay, nothing spicy. We'll figure it out when you come inside, no need to be on the phone in the hall."

"Okay." You shuffle your keys in your hand, moving to your door and unlocking it quickly. The two neighbors in the hall don't make another peep. "See you soon." You open and shut the door as fast as possible, resulting in a slam. You don't care. You lock the door as fast as you can, even using the bolt. Your hand was still shaking on the turn to the lock as the call vanishes from your phone. Not even hung up, just... gone. As if it was all a part of your imagination. 

The sound of your name somewhere behind you snapped you out of your shock. You whip your head around and find your roommate standing before you, her eyes wide. She looked haphazardly thrown together, some random sweatshirt yanked on and sweatpants low on her hips. Hair mussed up. She got back earlier this week, but you'd both seemed to just miss each other every day. "Hey! Oh my god, I thought I heard something in the hall, was that you? What happened?" She approached carefully, looking you over. "You look like you saw a ghost!"

Or heard one, you think to yourself. You swallow, looking at your wrist. It wasn't much but there was a red mark where the man had grabbed you. Her eyes followed yours until she saw the mark. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head as she rushed to your side.

"Oh my god??? What happened??" She insisted, gently guiding you to the couch. You sit down a bit too heavily. Less sitting and more collapsing into an upright position.

"Our neighbors are drunk again. One of them grabbed me." You show her the mark. It wasn't much, just enough to show someone grabbed you with a bit more force than they should have. She looked at the mark before scowling.

"I don't know why they haven't been kicked already, everyone is reporting them for noise complaints. Don't take out their trash, stink up the whole hall... ugh! And now one of them put his HANDS on you. Are you okay? Do you need to see a doc?"

"No, no..." You shake your head. "It's just a mark. Kara. It'll probably go away by morning. The other guy pulled him away."

"Glad one of them has some basic human decency, but we should still report this. You don't need this, none of us do, but especially you. You've got way too much on your plate." Kara put a hand on her hip. "You've been out of it. I know it, I've seen it. It's like you're not all there. Every time I've seen you you've just been out of it. You've been working too hard. And when was the last time you took a break from your damn phone?? I don't want to sound like a boomer but you've been OBSESSING over it way more this past week." She looked at you with a scrutinizing gaze. "You know what? Give me your phone. Let me see something." 

"I don't know why you feel the need to see my phone after a guy grabbed me..." You grumble. You're slowly coming out of the shock. But you give in, unlocking and handing her your phone. The Love and Deepspace app was already closed. She navigated to your settings and checked your screen time. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head again.

"You have got to be shitting me. How the fuck do you even have this much screentime when you're working so much???" She showed you the graph. And, to her credit, she was right. Your own eyebrows furrowed as you scan over the numbers over the past week. It was like your phone was going into overdrive.

"I'm not- I don't think," You fumble over yourself.

"Okay yeah, no, there's something you're not telling me." She shut your phone off and handed it back to you. "I don't get how you're simultaneously getting better sleep but worse screen time." You take your phone back, but instead of hiding it in your pocket you let it rest on your lap. "It feels like you're getting better habits, but something is just... wrong. Weird. Like, are you hiding something?"

"No, I'm not. I promise." You sigh, leaning back against the couch. "I'm just stressed. Yeah, I'm trying to find better coping habits, and I think it's working?"

"It's that game, isn't it?" Kara put a hand on her hip again. "Listen. I get it, it's fun, there's some helpful stuff. I've seen the study function, I bet that's been great. Especially with that guy you like. Xander? The Lumiere guy?"

"His name is Xavier."

"Whatever." She waved away the correction. "But dude, listen. You've got a lot going on. I know work has been stressing you out, and exams are coming up. You don't need more stuff messing with you. Report that guy. And why don't you take a phone detox? Like, mandatory break times. I don't know. Something."

"It's not that simple," You try to protest, but Kara shoots you a look.

"And why not? You need your phone for some work stuff, but... beyond emails and texts what could be stopping you from taking a break?"

You can't exactly tell her you're helping a fictional otome character study metaphysics and how you two are interacting with the fourth wall. Besides- she had a point. Xavier can't be taking over your life- he's already taking over your phone. You suck in a breath. "You know what? No. You have a point. I do want to get a head start on some homework, so I'll do the study thing. But after that, I'll take a one week detox. Use my phone only for communication for work and homework. I need to pick up reading again anyway."

"Good, sounds like you need it." She nodded in approval. "And report that guy."

"I'm... a little worried reporting him might make things worse, is my only concern." You stop her from standing up, grabbing her sleeve. "What if it just makes him more aggressive? This was just one time, and he's drunk."

"If he did it once, he's gonna do it again. Let's just get a papertrail going. Besides, I won't let anything happen to you. If he puts his hands on either of us I'll swing." She slammed her fist into her palm with a teasing smile. But seeing your more serious expression, it faltered. She sighed. Shoulders slouching forward. "Genuinely. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. I'll come with you to report this. I heard it, and the cameras should've captured it." A sudden jolt of fear ran through you. The camera would've captured the call. You swallow, but nod. Last thing you want is for someone to catch wind of what was going on and call you crazy.

Though you're certainly feeling a little crazy.

"Okay..." You mutter. "Okay. Yeah, I'd appreciate it. On second thought, I don't think I'm gonna be able to focus on my homework tonight."

"You know what? Take it easy. I know money is tight, but if you can afford it, maybe get yourself something nice for dinner?" Kara tilted her head. Shortly after she said this there was a knock at the door. She stood up before you could, marching over to the door. She peered through the peep hole. But she relaxed, opening the door to a bag on the ground. You stand up and join her, picking up the bag. The receipt had your name. But on the back was a printed note on receipt paper.

Dinner's on me. Have a relaxing night in. 

~Your star

You blush, quickly squirreling the note away into your pocket before Kara could see. But she saw the blush. A sudden grin broke out on her face.

"Waaaiiiit..." She drawled. "Skittish with your phone, on cloud nine, better habits, sleeping better, high screen time... oh my god it's not just that game, it's a guy, isn't it???" You groan, shoving the receipt in your pocket. You snatch the bag and slam the door shut again, locking it out of habit.

"Shut uuupppp..."

"Dude, you could've told me! I was totally off base!" She laughed, lightly punching your arm. "Okay, tell me everything! You owe me! You scared the shit out of me, I was thinking something was wrong with you, or something! You're lovesick!" You groan even louder, trying to make an escape to your room. You put the food down and she doesn't come in, out of respect for your personal space. But she leans outside the doorway. Relief flooding her expression. "I owe you an apology! I thought something was, like... wrong. You just like someone!"

"I need to eat." You huff, and she finally backs off. She put her hands up, still laughing.

"Okay, okay... honestly, forget everything I said earlier. You probably do still need a break from your phone but whatever. You owe me all the deets on this guy." She looked down at the food. "Lemme guess... he sent that to you?"

"He knows I've been busy studying." You crack a smile, finally opening the bag. Your favorite dish from your favorite takeout place.

"Okay, but one question... Has he passed the Puffball test?"

You cut your eyes up to her. Your blush deepened. Kara grinned even wider. 

"HE DID?!"

"Shut up!" You finally shut the door, but hear her cackling on the other side. You groan and flop back down in your chair, rubbing your face. It had been a whirlwind of a day. But the food was still warm. And it smelled amazing. So you shove yourself off of your chair and change into more casual clothes. You leave your clothes in the hamper to wash in the morning, leaving your phone off and face down as you change. You go ahead and sit down at your desk, opening the container. The steam and the smell hit you right away.

He paid close attention, didn't he? 

You can't help but crack a smile. He remembered your favorite food and restaurant. How he paid for this is beyond you, but given how weird things have gotten in a single week it didn't really surprise you all that much. He always found a way. You do hear your phone vibrate on the desk but you ignore it. You only glance at the notification. It was a Love and Deepspace one, the one Zayne sends for the stamina window. But your phone glitched.

And Zayne's name was replaced with Xavier's. Second time today.

You'd been fighting off a freakout of epic proportions this entire week. Every time it felt like one bubbled up, it would fade away with a sigh. Everything felt dreamlike. It's hard to take life too seriously, so each incoming attack just simmered back down. But it isn't gone. No, it is still there. And with every little tweak Xavier made, every little sign of how much control he had over the game, that incoming panic grew. 

He had almost unlimited access to your phone. 

He now had access to money.

He's twisting and manipulating the game's data somehow.

You finish the food and make a note to check your bank account. It would make sense for him to be able to access something associated with an account on your phone, but you also don't think he'd be okay with using your money like that. Whatever. Your brain hurts when you think about the specifics of this too much. You do grab your phone again, tucking it in your pocket as you grab your shoes. This entire situation was just getting to feel like too much. You can't swallow the panic and derealization forever, but you have no one to talk to about it. Your roommate and coworker would think you're crazy and overworked. Your family would ask about your mental health.

You slip out of your room, checking the hallway for your neighbors, but the coast is clear. So you sneak off to the limited roof access. It was easy to get around the rules, and most of the workers here didn't mind so long as you were careful. You jog up the normal stairs, before undoing the door to the roof. You shut it securely behind you. Your phone vibrates again from your pocket, but you don't look at it yet. Instead, you focus on getting to your destination. Your footsteps reverberate against the metal staircase, clanging and tolling like a bell as you make your way to the roof.

You open the door and walk out.

The stars greeted you, as they always did. On a full moon you'd only be able to pick out a few, but on a moonless night like tonight you could see them better. The light pollution stopped you from seeing it all, but you knew enough about the heavens to approximate where things would be. You walk to the center of the roof before sitting down. You shrug off your coat and ball it up, using it as a makeshift pillow as you lay down and stare up. 

Your phone vibrates again. You pull your phone out with a scoff, before finding one more message from the game, and an unknown number's text.

Xavier had hijacked Rafayel's reminder about the galaxy rewards. Then, an unknown number simply saying 'This is Xavier'.

You don't know if you should scream or laugh. You tap on the text message and open the chain. You stare at the text for a few seconds. Do you scream? Laugh? Cry? Shout about how fucking weird all of this was?

You don't do any of it. You just tap on the profile and input a name. Xavier Shen. Plus a contact photo of a weird screenshot from Catch 22. You save the contact with a half smirk. Small solace, but it's a little poke back at him for what he was putting you through. With that done, you don't respond. But you do tap on the game's icon again. 

The actual game load in had remained the same. The same song, the same animations, the same order. Caleb and Sylus always came first, and you'd get a glimpse of the OG3 if the game didn't load in fast enough. From a stranger's pov, the game hadn't changed. But when you logged in the evidence of Xavier's growing influence was growing. The Destiny's Cafe looked more lived in. Books and trinkets and cups on the table. Maybe Xavier's sword propped on the chair, or his cardigan dangling off the back of the chair. The little 'tugs' he felt when you entered the game brought him there, but in the past week he had seemed to be there of his own free will more often. 

As the game loaded in this time, Xavier was just walking back in. The screen showed him opening the door, his bag slung over his shoulder. A soft 'ding' played as he came in. His phone was still in hand. You crack a smile, only somewhat supported by the balled up jacket under your head.

"You're crazy." You laugh. "A phone call, a meal, a text... you owe me an update on this whole 'other universe' thing." Xavier didn't respond yet as he set his things down. His bag beside the chair, his phone in his pocket. He was in his work uniform, the blue one. 

"The game was still open, so I could hear whoever was speaking to you." He didn't look at you. There was a lower tone in his voice, and a tenseness in his shoulders. "I couldn't be there. So I did the next best thing. It worked, didn't it?"

"It did, but now I've got a set of neighbors who think I have a boyfriend and a roommate who thinks I have a crush." You lift your head and prop your other arm behind it. Offering your head and neck more support. "Kara was getting onto me about my screentime, it's through the roof, Xavie."

"But some of that is reading together." He looked up. His eyebrows still furrowed, his voice still a little lower than he normally kept it. 

"Yeah. Some of it is just reading together, some of it is body doubling during homework. But she's got a point." You set your phone down beside you. You could still hear him, and he could hear you, but you pointed the camera towards the sky. "I need to touch grass. I've been appreciating this week, don't get me wrong, but you've got a life there and I've got a life here. It's cool we get to talk across the lines of the multiverse, or whatever it is we've got going on, but we still have separate lives to live." 

There was a beat of silence from his end. You don't look, but given his mood when he came into the Destiny's Cafe you were assuming he was making that mildly annoyed expression, or outright scowling. 

"At least we look at the same sky." His words caught you off guard. You glance over at your phone. Xavier is looking at the screen. He must be seeing the sky above. "I can see the constellations."

You exhale a laugh. "It's not exactly the same sky, Xav. Still have two separate realities." 

"But mine is based on yours." There was another flash of light. You watch for a second as the sleep timer flashed on and off the screen, and the screen went dark for a moment. Before reappearing. Xavier's bedroom. The sleep timer remained on screen as he went about his routine. Shoes off, bag set down. You look back up, watching the sky as your eyes adjust. "The stars I see are based on the constellations as visible from mainland China. I know their names in multiple languages. Their stories." You listen to him, watching the heavens. There was no background music. Only him.

"Fair point." You smile up at the sky. You lift an arm and point. "The seven sisters, Orion's belt, Polaris, the planets... Makes me think of Urania."

"The muse of astronomy and astrology." Xavier's voice caught your attention once more. You don't peek over. You don't want your eyes to readjust. "I didn't take you for someone who likes mythology."

"I love the science of the stars. But you can't fully fathom the stars without knowing what people thought of them millenia ago. Heavenly deities, astrology... they're still stepping stones to what we know today. Babylonian astrologers documented the stars, too. And supernovas inscribed in rock for theological reasons are documentation all the same." You smile at the stars. 

"Like the seven sisters." His voice had returned to its original intonation. 

"Like the seven sisters." You agree. "All the stories from around the world discussing the Pleiades and how seven sisters went to six... Does Linkon have its own explanation for them?"

"Not to my knowledge. The stories are the same from your world." You finally dare to peek over at your phone and find Xavier in his bed. Watching the screen with wide eyes. You can see the stars above you glimmering in his eyes in kind, reflected in the blue. For a moment, it felt like he was beside you. Watching the stars with you, flat on his back on the rooftop. Your heart skips a beat.

"Looks like we see the same sky, and share the same stories."

"Maybe someday we can be under the same sky in the same universe." 

You chuckle, readjusting how you were lying down just a bit. "You've done enough wormhole and universe jumping, Xavier. Don't you want to go home?" There was a moment of silence again. You don't rush him. You just keep watching the heavens. Watching the stars, listening the bustle of life below. The odd car driving past. Low conversations on balconies below you. 

"Home," He murmured. "Was wherever she was." Ah, MC. The line made your lips curl up. How romantic. "But." The smile vanished as soon as it came, and you roll on your side to look at your phone again. Xavier was watching the sky. His eyes flickered over your face as you leaned over the phone. He looked at you. Really looked. He saw you. No longer was his gaze that of the game, a general look towards the player. No. He made eye contact. His gaze flickered over you in your entirety. Your face, your hair, your mouth, nose, eyes. He saw you. "I don't know anymore."

You sigh, but smile. "You're not sure what home is anymore?"

"No." Xavier shook his head, his hair moving as he did so. "I can't give up on those who are still here. I want them to be able to be home, but I don't know if the home I know is the one I will return to."

"It will have changed." You agree. "Even the stars might be different."

"Maybe." Xavier agreed. You glance over again, still hovering within shot for him. You can vaguely make out your own silhouette in his eyes. Blocking out some of the stars. "Or maybe we'll be under the same sky." You scoff a laugh. Something soft and disbelieving. You roll onto your back again, facing the sky once more. But you don't feel the need to shoot him down. Xavier was a rather grounded character, so he wouldn't say that for no reason. He didn't speak when he didn't have something to say.

So if he said it? He meant it.

"Then promise me, one day, if we meet in person we'll dance under the stars." You quip back. Just watching the sky. The blink of a space station. The occasional plane high above you. And even further away, the stars watching over you. "Give me something to look forward to, yeah?"

Xavier's tongue was tracing the edge of his knuckle where your first release had coated him. His eyes had gone almost entirely black, pupils blown so wide there was barely any color left, every bit of that darkness was fixed between your thighs.

Behind you, Zayne exhaled, low and unsteady, the sound catching in his throat before it reached your skin. He hadn't moved back. He had moved closer, pressing his hard cock between your ass, the friction made it clear his medical textbooks hadn't prepared him for how much he actually wanted to ruin you right now.

"That requires an entirely different approach," Zayne's voice was thicker and rougher than it had been. His hands tightened on your waist before he said anything else. Then he bent his head, lips just barely grazing the shell of your ear.

"Are you alright with this? Do you want to show them?"

Your head had already begun to fall back against his shoulder and the whimper that came out of you wasn't something you'd planned.

"Yeah"

His patience didn't leave exactly, but it changed shape, it became something slower. His hand moved from your waist, sliding up until his palm curved around your breast again, broad, warm and unhurried. His thumb found your nipple without searching for it and he began to roll it between his fingers with a steady pressure that sat right on the edge of too much and didn't waver.

"The G-spot," he said, his voice settling back into something that almost resembled composure, "isn't about surface stimulation. It isn't about rhythm either." He pinched your nipple lightly, and your breath caught. He continued as though he hadn't noticed, or perhaps because he had. "Squirting isn't something you can rush. We've spent nearly twenty minutes on foreplay and that's perfect because the entire pelvic region needs time to fill with blood, to become fully engorged. Without that, it won't work."

His thumb moved in a slow circle around your nipple, like he had all the time in the world and intended to use it.

"The targets are the paraurethral glands. Small, about the size of a pea, sitting on either side of the urethra, close to her G-spot. Most people don't know they exist. Most people don't know what they're capable of." A pause. "You're about to learn."

Xavier's voice came quiet and low. "I want to try."

Whatever remained of the quiet, compliant boy from freshman orientation—the one who'd handed you a campus map and apologized for bumping into you—was gone. Completely. He moved forward until he was wedged between your legs, his thighs pressing firmly against your calves.

A cold spike of something, fear, want, the particular overwhelm of both arriving at once, shot straight down your spine. Your thighs tried to close on instinct, a reflexive flinch against the intensity of his gaze, the nearness of him and the reality of what was about to happen. Your knees had barely begun to move before something stopped them.

Caleb moved to the edge of the mattress and closed his hand over your right knee. Not gently. He pressed it down and out over Zayne's thigh, his grip immovable, the kind that didn't invite negotiation. You weren't going to close yourself off. He'd made that clear without saying a word.

Rafayel took your left. His fingers found the inside of your knee and held on with trembling pressure.

You looked down at them through the blur of whiskey and heat.

Caleb's jaw was locked, a muscle jumping in his cheek like he was chewing through something. The flush on his neck had darkened to something almost bruised, creeping up toward his jaw, his breath coming in audible hitches he wasn't bothering to hide anymore. Rafayel had his bottom lip caught between his teeth hard enough to drain the color from it, his eyes tracking every shiver that moved through your body like he was trying to memorize them.

And then lower.

A small, damp circle had bled through the gray of Rafayel's sweatpants. The front of Sylus's pants were pulled tight, a matching wet spot darkening the fabric, spreading slightly every time he exhaled.

"Keep her steady." Zayne's hips kept moving, that same slow roll against you, while his fingers worked both of your nipples at once, rolling and pinching until heat shot straight down through your stomach and didn't stop.

"Xavier." His tone shifted into something clinical "Two fingers, palm facing up toward her navel. Her arousal is sufficient as a baseline, but you need to use the lubricant on my nightstand. I don't want friction, I don't want any tissue irritation." A pause, weighted. "Once you're inside, feel along the anterior wall. There will be a ridge, different from the surrounding tissue. Think of the roof of your mouth."

Xavier reached for the lubricant and coated his fingers slowly, his hands were shaking. Then he brought them to your entrance, just the tips at first, barely making contact, and paused there for a breath that felt longer than it was.

He pushed in slowly.

Inch by inch, the stretch of it opening you around him, his fingers pressing through the heat and slick of you with patience. His eyes had gone wide by the time his fingertips swept up and found it, the ridge Zayne had described, unmistakable, exactly where he'd said it would be.

A cry tore out of you before you could stop it, fractured and too loud. It rang off the walls and you knew without question it had carried straight down the hallway outside.

Sylus shadow fell over you before he leaned down, face unreadable, there was a particular stillness of someone exerting tremendous control. His thumb caught your chin and pressed your jaw down, and then his fingers were in your mouth, muffling whatever came next. You closed your lips around them without thinking. Your tongue found his knuckles and you pulled him in, sucking hard, needing the solid reality of him to hold onto, something grounding while everything else was coming apart.

"Keep it down, sweetie." he said. Low. Almost gentle.

"Like this?" Xavier's voice came from below, strained thin.

He had begun to move, curling his fingers up, knuckles dragging against your entrance with every stroke while his fingertips pressed into the ridged wall above. He went deeper with each repetition. Not faster. Deeper, the hook of his fingers catching on the sensitive texture inside you and holding there just long enough before pulling back and doing it again.

"Slower."

Zayne's breath was scorching against your neck, his fingers never stopping, working your nipples with a precision that had stolen most of your ability to think. Behind you his hips pushed forward, heavier than before, a frustrated grind that he didn't bother to disguise.

"You're skimming the surface," he said. "Press into it. Maintain the motion and add external pressure to the clitoris, combine both. Increase as the tissue expands." His voice dropped slightly. "Can you feel how she's changing around you? How she's pulling you in?"

Xavier made a sound low in his throat, almost involuntary, his head dipping forward. His thumb came down against your pelvic bone and he adjusted his angle, pushing deeper until his knuckles were completely slick. His strokes slowed and firmed, each one pressing up into you with a patience that was clearly costing him something.

"It's getting tighter," he said, voice fraying at the edges. "It's... it's pushing back. She's so hot inside."

"She's engorging, the fluid is building in the glands. You cannot break the rhythm, not now, not for anything. If you ease up even slightly, the accumulation dissipates and you lose everything you've built."

He said it like a warning. Like he was saying it to himself as much as Xavier.

It was nothing like before.

Not the sharp, electric jolt of Zayne's thumb. this was something else entirely. Deeper. Heavier. A fullness that built with every stroke and didn't recede, coiling low in your abdomen like pressure with nowhere to go. Every time Xavier's fingers found that spot and pressed, a wave rolled through you, enormous and terrifying, making you want to beg for something you didn't have words for. You bit down on Sylus's knuckles without meaning to, eyes losing focus, your whole body tightening around a point you couldn't reach.

On either side of you, Caleb and Rafayel hadn't moved. Couldn't. Their knuckles had gone white where they held your legs open, and their eyes were fixed on Xavier's hand, on the way his fingers disappeared into you and came back slick, on the wetness that had gone past the point of containment. It was pooling at your entrance, spilling over and running down Xavier's wrist.

It was Rafayel who broke first.

"Zayne." His voice came out cracked, barely holding together. He swallowed hard, his gaze still locked on the fluid stringing between your skin and Xavier's hand, his body giving him away beneath the fabric of his sweatpants. "She's...fuck...it's leaking. Is she close?"

"She's almost there."

Zayne's voice had lost everything clinical about it now. Whatever composure he'd been maintaining had come apart completely, leaving only this—his fingers digging into your nipples, pinching hard, driving the sensation past the point of bearable while his hips pressed into you with desperation.

"Xavier. Fast circles on her clit, other hand, now." A beat. "Force it."

Xavier looked up at your face instead.

Your eyes had gone hazy, barely tracking, tears gathering at the corners from nothing but sheer overwhelm. Your lips were still wrapped around Sylus's fingers, your chest heaving in ragged pulls, small broken sounds escaping around his knuckles every time Xavier moved inside you. You were completely undone. Anyone could see it.

Xavier saw it too.

He didn't raise his hand to your clit. Something shifted behind his eyes, a flash of something reckless and deliberate, the look of someone who had been quietly calculating this exact moment and had finally decided to take it.

"You said anything I can do with my hands," he murmured, his voice dropping to something barely above a whisper, "I can enhance with my mouth, right?."

His blonde hair fell across his forehead as he leaned down.

"Xavier—" Zayne's voice came sharp with warning.

Too late.

Xavier buried his face between your thighs.

The heat of his mouth hit you without warning.

Xavier's tongue sealed over your clit and the sound that came out of you was strangled, swallowed by Sylus's fingers, barely contained. He didn't tease. He remembered every word Zayne had said, flattened his tongue broad and wet against you, using the full weight of it to meet the pressure building from inside, while his fingers hooked harder and began to move in a rhythm that was merciless and gave you absolutely nothing to brace against.

"Breathe." Zayne's lips found your temple and pressed them there, warm and close. "What you're feeling, the fullness, the urgency, it will feel exactly like a need to release. That's correct. That's exactly right." His breath shook against your skin. "Don't fight it. Bear down. Let your pelvic floor go completely. Let it happen."

You stopped fighting.

You exhaled and let go. Your pelvic floor released and you bore down against the hook of Xavier's fingers, against the wet relentless press of his tongue, and for one suspended second everything went very still.

Then your body locked.

Every muscle seized at once, thighs convulsing against Caleb and Rafayel's grip. They leaned their full weight into your knees and held. Caleb let out a breathless "fuuuuck look at her". You bit down on Sylus's fingers hard enough to feel his knuckles against your teeth, vision narrowing to nothing.

It came in a rush, clear and forceful, spilling over Xavier's chin, across his cheeks, soaking into the fabric beneath you. His fingers stayed where they were, buried deep, riding out every contraction as your body clenched around him in waves that didn't stop, that pulled at him and wouldn't let go.

He didn't pull back. His tongue kept moving through it, his jaw working, his nose pressed to your skin while you sobbed through the aftershocks, open, head falling back against Zayne's shoulder again, with the full dead weight of someone who had nothing left to hold onto.

The room went quiet before you heard the slow, wet sound of Xavier withdrawing his fingers. Sylus drew his hand from your mouth just as slowly, his thumb dragging across your lower lip, catching a smear of saliva and wiping it away. He didn't look away from your face. The darkness in his eyes hadn't lifted. It had settled into something that made it very clear this wasn't over.

Xavier raised his head.

His face was flushed deep, his lips wet, a streak of fluid catching the lamplight as it ran down the line of his jaw and dripped onto his collarbone. He looked up at Zayne.

He looked like someone who had just discovered something he couldn't un know.

"Like that?" Xavier asked. The smugness in his voice was not even slightly hidden.

Zayne didn't answer right away.

He was staring down at the space between your thighs, at the soaked mattress, at the evidence of everything his careful, clinical framework had produced. His chest rose and fell hard against your back, his breath coming uneven against your neck, and you felt it before you fully understood what it was, a spreading warmth behind you, seeping through the fabric of his trousers, pressing into you. Unmistakable.

"Yes," Zayne said finally. His voice was stripped of every careful layer he'd spent the entire evening constructing "Exactly like that."

Perm tag: @thealunari @i-idk-i-guess @hopelesslala @pearlescenthoney @stillseiims @xavisastrophil @thelastpolarbear @groovyravenagain @nanaminsmuse @darkairenkagamine @lunahaswings @ks-collection @calebunny @aweebs @crimsonrubie @lemurian-girl @aiycnlyme

Tags for this series: @maescorners @bitterprincipality @cordidy @everythingistaken00 @weirdothatwrites @someonestopsoren @linearrr @space-grl02 @ahandacrossspace @fiyoripim @colonelkaboom @emmyemmaemmity @darkangeloftartaraus @zayniesnowangel @imsearchingforwords @kivvy-ryt-here @prchiquita8

Soooo, there will be more of this...if I forgot to tag someone I'm so sorry. Let me know if you want me to tag you on the next part.

Chapter 3:Rafayel

Chapter 4: Xavier

Chapter 5: Caleb

Chapter 6: Sylus