Unlikely Love

22

Xisuma pov:

I hadn’t expected to wake up like this, surrounded by warmth, limbs tangled with mine in a giant cuddle pile. And I mean everyone was here—nearly all the Hermits, plus Xavier and Hels, though those two stayed off to the side for some reason. It was disorienting. I had fallen asleep in my room, yet somehow, I had ended up back in the living room in this sprawling mass of bodies.

I blinked, trying to get my bearings. The light from the window had dimmed, casting soft shadows across the room. Had I slept through the entire day? My mind was still foggy, and when I tried to sit up, I realized that multiple arms were wrapped around my waist, pinning me down. I wasn’t sure how to move without waking everyone up. At least two different sets of arms were locked around me, their positions making it difficult to figure out who was who.

I could definitely tell Keralis was one of them. He was nestled against my back, his arms wrapped around me with such care, his face pressed gently between my shoulder blades. His familiar presence was comforting. The other person, whose arms were wrapped higher around my stomach, was a bit of a mystery. I shifted slightly, trying to get a better look, but it was impossible to see much without disturbing the entire pile.

The room was quiet, the only sounds the soft breaths of those still asleep around me. I didn’t mind being here, surrounded by everyone, but I couldn’t shake the odd sensation of waking up in a completely different place than where I’d started. I let out a quiet sigh, trying to relax into the moment, figuring I’d just have to wait until someone else stirred before I could move.

I could however check the world chat to see what people had said throughout the day and that's what I did I scrolled through the world chat, half-amused, half-curious, seeing how everyone had been talking throughout the day. It felt odd reading their messages as I lay here, trapped in a pile of limbs, but it was comforting too, knowing they cared even when I wasn’t around.

Keralis: Shishwammy really didn’t get any sleep last night, so please don’t try and break the server or stress him out. Wels got in his head, and he decided to bury himself in work.

Wels: Okay, that makes it sound really bad, like I did something! No, I have to explain—he’s so blind. He doesn’t see that people flirt with him all the time, especially you, Papa K.

Keralis: He’s always been like that, though... He’s got such a pretty face, but he’s always buried in work and under that mask. It’s almost a shame he barely sees the sun or gives himself enough time to take a break.

Cleo: Is it bad that I kind of think we should all make sure he rests, like, in a huge cuddle pile? I don’t know, he just always seems so stressed. And with what I just read… maybe he’d feel better if we were all close to him?

Grian: I mean, that would be good. I haven’t really been over to X’s place in a while. Does he still have that bee costume or the axolotl one?

Keralis: I’m pretty sure he still has those suits, but he’s not wearing either right now. Hell, I can’t even get him to change into pajamas. He’s literally sleeping in his armor. I had to coax him out of his helmet and breathing apparatus just to actually see his face properly and notice how exhausted he looked. My poor Shishwammy. I might need help with somehow getting him out of his armor... I mean, he looks peaceful, but I can't imagine sleeping in the armor is comfortable.

Cleo: Sleeping in armor sounds like a nightmare! Can’t believe he’d put himself through that. We should definitely help him out.

Grian: Yeah! Maybe we can make it a group effort. A surprise intervention! I can grab the bee suit while someone distracts him.

Keralis: Perfect! That way, he won’t suspect a thing. He needs to know it’s okay to take a break and let us take care of him for once.

Etho: So we just need a way to get him to the living room without him realizing what we’re up to. Maybe we could lure him with food?