Unlikely Love

15

Xavier pov:

Waking up the second time was disorienting, but in the best way possible. I felt someone's hand gently running through my hair, and for a moment, I didn’t want to move, didn’t want to leave that comforting touch. It was so peaceful, so tender, that I found myself resisting the urge to fully wake up. I mumbled something incoherent, not even sure what I was saying, but it didn’t matter. All I knew was that I didn’t want to let go of the warmth or the feeling of safety that came with whoever was by my side. It was like being lulled back into a peaceful dream, and for once, I didn’t mind.

I heard two chuckles—one from the person in my arms and the other from someone else in the room. That second chuckle set off some alarm bells, as I wasn’t expecting anyone else to be in mine and Hels’s home. Slowly, I started to wake up, the grogginess fading enough for me to realize where I was and who I had been holding onto.

It was Hels. Of course it was. Embarrassment hit me like a ton of bricks, and without thinking, I pulled the blanket away from him and wrapped myself up in it like a protective shield. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks as I peeked over at the other person in the room. The second chuckle was way too familiar, and judging by how similar it was to Hels’s, it had to be Wels.

Of course, Wels would be here, probably finding all of this hilarious. I sighed inwardly, trying to gather myself, but it didn’t help that both brothers seemed far too amused by my reaction.

Normally, after a club night like that—especially with someone getting roofied—I’d be up and checking on them the moment I woke up. But something in the back of my mind reassured me that Grian was fine, probably being well taken care of by Scar and Mumbo, or Xisuma, knowing how protective everyone got when something like this happened.

Still, that didn’t stop the nagging feeling in my chest that I should get up and check anyway. But Hels, still lying beside me, gently tugged at the blanket I’d wrapped myself in, his golden eyes warm with amusement. “You’re thinking too much again,” he said, his voice soft. “Everyone’s fine. Just… relax.”

Wels, leaning casually in the doorway, nodded in agreement, a smirk playing on his lips. "Yeah, Bird Brain's alright. Probably clinging to Scar like a lost puppy by now. You, on the other hand," he pointed toward me, "need some new gear considering what happened last night. You ended up pulling one of those cables out of your breathing apparatus."

I blinked, processing his words, feeling the concern creeping back in. I hadn’t even noticed that detail from the night before, probably too distracted with everything that happened. Hels stirred beside me, a silent reminder that I was safe, but Wels's next words caught me off guard.

"You're technically under house arrest," Wels continued, his tone shifting slightly more serious, "so you can't even leave if you want to. And that's why I'm here—to let Xisuma know if you do leave."

I gave Wels my full attention—or at least tried to. "House arrest?" I muttered, feeling a mix of confusion and mild frustration.

"Yeah, to make sure you don’t push yourself before getting your gear fixed." Wels crossed his arms, a smug grin creeping onto his face. "Not that you'd get far without that apparatus working anyway."

Hels chuckled softly next to me, wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me back down. "Guess that means you're stuck with me for now," he teased, the warmth in his voice doing little to stop my annoyance.

I groaned, half in resignation, half in embarrassment. "Great... babysat by the world's most dramatic duo."

As soon as the words left my mouth, both Hels and Wels gasped in exaggerated offense. Before I could blink, I was suddenly pushed down onto the bed, their weight pinning me in place. "We are not dramatic," they said in perfect unison, looking at each other with synchronized indignation.