The Stars in Your Eyes

Endless Possibilities

The next morning, I woke up to the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. As I stretched and got out of bed, I could hear Xavier moving around in the kitchen, the comforting sounds of breakfast being prepared. The smell of coffee wafted through the air, drawing me out of my room.

"Morning," Xavier greeted me with a warm smile as I entered the kitchen. He was flipping pancakes, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to the tension of the previous night.

"Morning," I replied, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "You're up early."

"Figured I'd get a head start on breakfast," he said, gesturing to the table where he'd already set out plates and utensils. "We've got a long day ahead."

I nodded, grabbing a mug and pouring myself some coffee. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

As we sat down to eat, the atmosphere felt surprisingly domestic, like we were just two people sharing a quiet morning together. The mission had brought us closer, and acting like a couple was becoming second nature. Every touch, every glance, felt more natural and less like a performance.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I asked, taking a bite of my pancake.

Xavier took a sip of his coffee, his eyes thoughtful. "We need to keep monitoring the villa and see if any new players show up. The association's still running the data we collected last night, so we might get more intel soon."

I nodded, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and comfort. "And the neighbors are expecting us at the potluck this weekend. We should probably start thinking about what to bring."

Xavier chuckled, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Right. Wouldn't want to disappoint our new friends."

As we continued eating, our conversation flowed easily, the unspoken bond between us growing stronger with each passing day. There was a familiarity to our interactions now, a closeness that went beyond the confines of our undercover roles.

After breakfast, we got to work, each of us falling into our respective routines. Xavier set up in the guest room, keeping a close watch on the villa, while I headed out for my cover job. The day passed quietly, the hours slipping by as we both focused on our tasks.

By the time I returned home in the late afternoon, Xavier was in the living room, going over some surveillance footage. He looked up as I walked in, his expression softening.

"Hey," he said, standing up. "How was your day?"

"It was fine," I replied, setting down my bag. "Any updates?"

"Nothing major," he said, walking over to me. "But we should probably go over the footage together, see if we missed anything."

"Alright," I agreed, following him to the couch.

As we sat down, our shoulders brushed, the contact sending a small, unexpected jolt through me. I glanced at Xavier, noticing the brief flicker of something in his eyes before he turned his attention back to the screen.

The longer we worked side by side, the more I became aware of the unspoken tension between us. It was a subtle thing, a growing awareness of each other that seemed to permeate every interaction.

After a while, we took a break, heading to the kitchen to make dinner. The familiar routine of cooking together brought a sense of normalcy, but there was also a palpable undercurrent of something more.

"You know," Xavier said, his voice thoughtful as he chopped vegetables. "This whole pretending to be a couple thing... it's starting to feel pretty natural."

I glanced at him, a small smile playing on my lips. "Yeah, it is. Sometimes, I forget we're just playing a role."

Xavier met my gaze, his eyes holding mine for a moment longer than necessary. "Me too," he admitted quietly.