The Scientist

Cuddles

Zedaph pov

I'll be honest, I didn't expect much to happen during their conversation either. Xavier was so far gone into his own world, I wasn't sure if anything Keralis said would get through to him. But then, something changed. His antennas, previously pressed low and barely noticeable, popped up-though it didn't seem like he was really listening to Keralis.

Xavier leaned against the bars, staring at his injured hand, almost like he was in a daze. His gaze was fixated on the cut, his mind likely somewhere far away, detached from the present moment. It was as if he couldn't fully grasp that he was no longer in danger, no longer fighting.

Keralis, ever patient, kept up the conversation. "You know, darling, I think a bit of sunshine would do wonders for you. Maybe once you're feeling better, we can take a walk outside, get some fresh air. What do you think?"

There was no immediate response from Xavier. His antennas twitched slightly, but he still didn't seem to be focusing on anything around him. Even so, Keralis didn't seem deterred. He kept talking, his voice soothing and gentle, creating a steady rhythm in the background as he continued cleaning up.

I could see Tango shift slightly next to me, his tail tightening briefly before relaxing again. "Do you think he's really hearing any of this?" Tango whispered, his voice low.

"I don't know," I replied, equally unsure. But something was shifting in Xavier, subtle as it was. His body language wasn't as rigid as before, and though he was distant, he wasn't outwardly hostile anymore. There was a fragility there now, like he was teetering on the edge of something that could either break him further or start to heal him.

Keralis, ever observant, seemed to pick up on this as well. He moved with the same calmness, never pushing too hard, as if he understood that whatever battle Xavier was fighting internally couldn't be rushed. It needed time.

"And you're going to be just fine, sweet face," Keralis continued, his tone gentle as he set down the cloth he'd been using to tidy up. "We'll help you through this, okay? You're not alone."

Xavier's antennas twitched again, but his posture remained unchanged as two sets of footsteps entered the room. He didn't react, still lost in his thoughts or perhaps too drained to respond. Keralis, ever the calm presence, turned to acknowledge the new arrivals. "Good to see you too. He's not responding to anything. Do you guys think you can get him to eat?" he asked.

That's when I caught a glimpse of black and white-Wels and Hels, the knight brothers. But it wasn't just Wels as expected. Hels, who wasn't even supposed to be there, had somehow found his way in. He wasn't meant to know about this part of the plan. Then again, considering Hels was the one who threw Xavier into the cell in the first place, it was no surprise he had forced his way in now.

Wels was carrying a tray, loaded with a variety of foods-clearly an attempt to tempt Xavier into eating something. Like the other subjects in this villa, Xavier likely had his preferences, his routines, the things he was comfortable with. Wels was trying to cover all bases.

But Hels, Hels was the real wild card here. His presence was thick with emotion, and you could see it in the way he stood, barely keeping himself from rushing to Xavier's side. His eyes flicked nervously from Keralis to his brother, then back to Xavier, as if debating his next move.

"Do you think he'll listen to us?" Wels asked, his tone cautious, glancing between the others. His protective instincts toward Hels were clear, but he also wanted to help Xavier.

Keralis gave a small shrug, not breaking his usual calm. "He's more likely to respond to someone familiar. But right now, it's a delicate balance. You'll have to approach carefully."