Connecting Threads.

"You're hiding."

(Yeah, I don't know about this one!)
(This close to deleting this, don't ask me why!)

Two weeks had passed since the group of four had last gathered as a cohesive unit, with Xavier noticeably absent from their social circle. He had repeatedly cited his busy schedule as the reason for his lack of participation, and while it was true that his workload had increased, it wasn't the sole reason for his withdrawal.

Xavier had become a wild card, unpredictable and detached from the group's dynamics. His coping mechanism for stress had always been to seek solace in fleeting encounters with his stand-ins, a habit that had become increasingly frequent. The group couldn't help but notice the change in him, how he had retreated into a shell of his former self. They cared deeply about Xavier's well-being, but he seemed oblivious to their concerns, lost in a world of his own creation.

As the days turned into weeks, the group's gatherings began to feel like a shadow of their former selves, lacking the vibrant energy that Xavier's presence once brought. His absence had created a void, a sense of incompleteness that hung in the air like an unspoken question.

Chastising himself for not visiting sooner, Aaron made the hour-long drive to Xavier's company, only to be met with a less-than-warm welcome. "Are you deliberately avoiding the group?" Aaron asked, his tone laced with concern.

Xavier's response was dismissive, his eyes fixed on the laptop screen as he clicked away with a sense of detachment. "No, I've just been busy."

Aaron's frustration boiled over, his words dripping with exasperation. "If you say you've been busy one more time, so help me God, I'll make sure your demise looks like an accident."

Xavier's retort was laced with sarcasm, his voice devoid of humor. "Oh, I'm shaking in my boots." The irony was lost on Aaron, who could sense the underlying tension in Xavier's tone, a clear indication that something was amiss.

Xavier's defenses were up, his tone firm but laced with a hint of guilt. "I'm not lying, Aaron. I've genuinely been busy."

Aaron's eyes sparkled with amusement as he sauntered over to the couch, his movements fluid and graceful. "Oh, I'm sure you have been – busy getting tangled in one of your stand-ins, that is." He nodded towards Xavier's collar, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Fix your collar, by the way. Your little secret is showing."

Xavier's face flushed as he hastily adjusted his collar, trying to conceal the telltale hickey. "Chelsea doesn't listen, I swear," he muttered, his voice stern but lacking conviction.

Aaron settled into the couch, crossing one leg over the other with an air of elegance. "And I'm sure the Pope is an atheist. What I want to know is what you're doing, Xavier. You're not exactly the poster child for monogamy, but this is getting ridiculous."

Xavier shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the room. "What are you even doing here, Aaron? I thought you were busy-"

Aaron cut him off, "have you just discovered the word busy? oh wait, that's right, that's the only word you know, isn't it?" The sarcasm was palpable, but Xavier just chuckled, his eyes glinting with knowing.

Xavier's facade began to crumble under Aaron's piercing gaze. "If I'm being honest, I'd say you're hiding something from me," Aaron said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You seem like a guy with a lot of secrets, Xavier."

Xavier's instinctive response was a lie, but it came out shaky. "I-I don't have any secrets." The stutter betrayed him, and Aaron's knowing smirk hinted that he'd caught the slip.