Unlikely Love

10

Xavier pov

Waking up in space has become a familiar routine, but this time was different. I was nestled in an unusual warmth, wrapped snugly in my wings around someone. The faint but enticing smell of food drifted through the air, making everything feel even more disorienting.

As I slowly roused from slumber, my head felt like it was pounding inside a vice, each beat sending a sharp throb through my skull. My vision was a hazy blur, like I was peering through fogged glass. My thoughts were muddled, struggling to piece together the fragments of what had happened.

I tried to remember if I had managed to bring the right people onto the server. My stomach churned, adding to the disorientation, and I instinctively pulled my wings closer, trying to distance myself from the warm body beside me.

Just then, a sudden pressure at my lips interrupted my attempt to gather my bearings. A bottle was being pushed insistently into my mouth. My sluggish reflexes fought to shove it away, but the person holding it seemed determined, ignoring my weak protests. The liquid inside was strange and bitter, and despite my resistance, I swallowed a few sips.

Gradually, the haze in my vision began to lift, though it remained cloudy and unfocused. I rubbed my eyes, struggling to clear the fog, and glanced around. My helmet was still on, and everything seemed to be in place.

Amidst the blurred shapes, I saw flashes of purple light and green armor. The colors swirled together, making it difficult to distinguish anything clearly. I forced myself to drink more of the vile liquid, grimacing as its awful taste lingered on my tongue, hoping it would help shake off the persistent dizziness.

It took several minutes of sitting there, my head still throbbing and my vision clearing slowly, before I could start to piece together what had happened. My surroundings were still confusing, but I made out the outlines of the space around me.

As I scanned the area, I was met with a pair of violet eyes, unmistakably my brother's. Xisuma's gaze was focused and concerned, but the sight was not exactly comforting. I was tempted to leave, to escape the awkwardness of the encounter, but my gaze drifted to the person beside me.

To my left, I saw someone who clearly didn’t deserve to be left alone in space. They were just as lost and out of place as I felt, seemingly content despite the bizarre circumstances. I reached over and took their gloved hand, a gesture of reassurance and connection in the midst of the disorientation.

In a hoarse murmur, my voice barely above a whisper due to dehydration, I asked, "What are you and Hels doing here?"

My brother Xisuma, seated cross-legged across from me, looked up with an expression that was a mix of worry and relief. His eyes were filled with concern, and it was evident he had been waiting anxiously for me to wake up.

Before he could answer my question, he shoved a bowl of soup into my hands. His anxiousness was palpable, and I could sense his urgency. I stared at the soup, still dazed and overwhelmed, before glancing back at him. I didn’t immediately take the bowl, my hand resting limply on the edge as I awaited his explanation.

Xisuma let out a long, weary sigh and finally set the soup aside. “I’m sorry. I’m incredibly sorry. After everything changed, I didn’t know how to...”

His voice faltered, and it was clear that apologizing was difficult for him. The raw emotion in his tone was evident. I didn’t know how to respond. I had my own conflicting thoughts about what had happened, and despite knowing what he might expect from me, I was uncertain about how I felt or what I should say.

“You banned me without a second thought. I thought you knew me better than that—better than to try to destroy your server.” My choice to say “your server” instead of “our server” clearly hurt him, but I was beyond caring at the moment.