Oneshots

Trauma (Xylo edition) - OoO

Could probably make one of these for every OoO character... Just don't really watch that many POV's

Xylo's pov-
I've been a warrior for a long time now. And one thing I've learned, is that there is no stopping. You can't break down until it's over. But another thing you learn as a warrior, is that things aren't always as they seem. And sometimes, you can't stop the break down. I know Inpu is waiting for me on the other side of the door, sitting with Bryan. But I can't help it. I drop to my knees next to Cal, looking down at his open eyes. No injuries, no obvious signs. Just... Dead. I reach out, and close his eyes. He deserves better. He was new here, never meant to be forced into this world. I pick him up, and walk over and sit him on the bed carefully. I pause, and reach out to take his necklace off. I tug it over my head, and close my eyes tightly. Can't break down. I don't have the time. We need to fix this. I need to bring him back. "Xylo." Inpu calls. I exhale lowly. "I'm so sorry Cal." I whisper, before pulling myself together. We need to save Magnus. Save everyone.

Ricarro nearly makes me break down again, but I don't let it. I need to be strong. For Inpu. For Magnus. For everyone. Then an evil entity with my friends face stabbed me many more times. So that's fun. Fuck everything hurts. Emotionally and physically. Plus I grew wings, so I suppose that's nice. Silver linings? Is that a silver lining? I don't even know. Inpu punches Magnus, and the two fall on separate ends of the room. I collapse myself, reaching up to clutch at the necklace to try and steady myself. Doing this for him. For them. I hiss lightly and push myself up from the ground. Some new scars for the book. Just what I wanted. I shake my head and walk over. "Magnus?" I question, crouching down to help them up. They gasp. "Inpy!" They rush off quickly. I wince, and keep my distance from the siblings. I sit down against one of the shrubs, tugging some bandages out of my pocket. Yes I carry bandages. You'd think I'd know better by now. "Xylo." Inpu calls. I look at him quickly. "What's with the necklace?" Magnus whispers, but I don't address it. "You okay?" He questions. I clear my throat and make sure I pull myself together. Can't give in yet. I walk over to join them, setting upon trying to fix things.

I fly away from Nad and them, heading right for the Egyptian area. I need to know he's okay. Plus I might actually fit in the Egyptian area... I let the Adrenaline carry me, finding his room quickly and knocking on his door. It's opened by Cal, who's still dressed in his formal attire. "Hey Xylo, what's up?" He questions, yawning slightly as he rubs his eye. I reach out quickly to tug him out the door. "Thank the gods." I breathe, wrapping him up in my arms. He pauses. "Hey." He offers lightly, wrapping his arms around me. He's careful to avoid the wings. "Wanna talk about it?" He questions. I close my eyes tightly, fighting back tears as I hide my face in his shirt. "Remember... When we were in Niflheim and... You said you saw other timelines?" I whisper. He nods. "I got a glimpse... Of a world so much worse than ours. And it was my fault." I whisper. He hums softly. "I can smell blood." He points out. I nod. "Common." He beckons. I blink, and pull away from him slightly. He takes my hand and tugs me outside and into the area around the pyramid. "It's the only way to get privacy around here, since you probably won't fit in my room with your wings." He explains. We settle in the gardens Kayla built. Or had someone build. "Off with the armor." He instructs. I blink. "What?" I question. He hums softly. "I want to check your wounds, Xylo. I'm a med student, you can trust me." He grins brightly. I blink. "I didn't know that about you." I mutter. He shrugs. "Didn't exactly advertise it. Been too busy with all the demi god stuff." He points out, reaching out to help me tug the armor off. "You're still in formal wear." I point out. He grins lightly. "Oh I don't mind it." He assures. I nod, helping tug the armor off. He pauses, running his hand down the chain of the necklace before continuing on without question. "The wings gonna be permanent now?" He questions. I wince. "I don't actually know? I kinda summoned them in a rush." I grumble. He chuckles. "They look good on you, just seem a bit in the way." He points out. I nod. "How was your night?" I prompt softly. Cal hums lightly, unwrapping my hastily done bandages. "Well, considering I was the bartender all night, not all that bad. I didn't get stabbed, so that'll do." He confirms. I smile lightly. "Sorry I didn't come say hi. Was trying to keep an eye on Magnus." I explain. He nods. "I didn't take it personally. You were pretty clear on the whole, hating the ball thing." He points out. I nod. "Never again." I deadpan. He laughs.

Cal sits next to me, having bandaged the wounds properly. "You wanna talk about it?" He questions. I lean on him. "You died." I state. He pauses. "Been there." He confirms. I nod. "Magnus stabbed me. Many times. On two separate occasions." I confirm. He pats my head lightly. "Inpu lost an arm." I state, holding his other hand in mine so I can feel his pulse. Even as I rest my head over his chest. "Everyone died. Ricarro..." I choke slightly on my words. He shushes me softly. "I got you, Xylo. We're okay. We're all okay." He assures. I wrap my wings around us, shielding us from the rest of the world. I'm so tired. "I think I'm crashing." I whisper. He nods. "You've probably been hyped up on adrenaline for a while. Just get some sleep, I'll be here when you wake up." He assures. I hum softly. "I can't lose anyone else, Cal." I insist, half a confession. "I know, Xylo. Trust me." He assures. I nod, sinking into the darkness quickly over taking me.

I wake up exactly where I fell asleep, wrapped up in Cal's arms. "Morning." He whispers. I look up, taking in the blue sky. Before I turn back to him. "You're still here." I whisper. He smiles lightly. "Said I would be. These are also still here." He pokes my wing. I wince. "Suppose Lee gets her cabin back until I can fix this." I grumble. He chuckles. "Well, you can always use the couches in the Egyptian area." He offers. I nod, and sit up slightly. He shifts to adjust willingly. "Right." I mutter, pulling away from him so I can reach for the necklace. He catches my hands tightly. "Keep it." He assures. I blink. "Cal you never take this necklace off." I point out. He hums lightly. "Yeah. But I'm sure you'll keep it safe for me." He smiles lightly. I wince, and reach up to tuck it into my shirt properly. "So uh... You bartend?" I question. He laughs. "I'm full of surprises." He points out. I chuckle. "Where'd you find the time to bartend and be a med student?" I question. Cal smirks. "You never went to college, did you?" He questions. I shake my head. "Nope, been in the mythological world most of my life." I assure. He nods. "Trust me, Xylo. Being over worked and barely sleeping is the standard college experience." He confirms. I pause. "And I thought my childhood was fucked up." I deadpan. He gives me a look. "I thought my dad was Apollo. So I taught myself archery, ignored all aspects of my magic that wasn't fire magic, and spent years fighting for my life against monsters without any help cause I thought my dad was ignoring me." I explain. Cal pauses. "Xylo, I'm here by appointing myself as your resident therapist." He demands. I frown. "Can you do that?" I question. He shrugs. "Anyone else happen to have any sort of psychological experience and can know about the mythological world?" He deadpans. I frown. "I've been doing just fine until now." I remind. He lifts my arm, showing off the tattoos and scars on full display without my armor. "This, isn't doing fine. Xylo, you're not just supposed to be surviving. You're supposed to be living." He insists. I blink, looking up at him. Which, is pretty normal for me at this point. I'm not sure why everyone makes fun of the eye liner. It makes his eyes stand out, a nice contrast against the bright hues. Wait what are we talking about again? "I'm a survivor, Cal." I whisper. He nods. "But you can be even more." He assures. I hum lowly. "Cal, I am way too fucking exhausted right now for you to be emotionally reading me this harshly." I deadpan. He laughs, swaying into me. I smile brightly. His laugh is just as bright as the rest of him...

When I return to the real world, unfortunately needing to break the bubble of the moment between Cal and I, I move quick to check on everyone else. And even with it hidden away, Momiji only takes a day to notice the new addition to my wardrobe. She eyes it closely, gives me a suspicious look, and doesn't ask. I don't offer the information. Let me be an idiot in peace, alright?

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So... Xylo pov. How we feeling about that? Kinda wanna write more genuine Xylo/Cal moments.

1662 words