Zye twirls the ring around one of his fingers as he makes the trek back up to his apartment. There’s no one in the stairwell at this hour and for that he’s grateful. Rather, there’s one person that’s up and moving around. It’s hard to miss Xerxes standing beside his door with his small frame huddled up inside a jacket.

How he stands it in this weather he’ll never know.

“I didn’t keep you waiting did I?”

Xerxes’s head lifts and immediately there’s a smile before he diverts his gaze. Five years ago Zye would have never thought the kid would show him any emotion. Now he can’t seem to escape the kid. Of course, he knows by the end of this school year that Xerxes should be going off into the world. He’ll be gone as quickly as he came.

Shaking his head, Xerxes mumbles a soft ‘no’ while Zye opens the door. He catches the sight of the bag slung over Xerxes’s shoulder when he lets him in. Zye curses his memory, luck, and everything in between.

The cool air hits him like a ton of bricks as he locks the door up behind them. “I know I said I’d help you study, but I don’t know how much help I’ll be today.”

Xerxes’s mood dampens considerably at that. “It’s…okay. I don’t mind.”

He stops partway to the couch only for Zye to drop a hand onto his head, ruffling his hair. “Hey, that doesn’t mean leave. I’ll order us something to eat. You can stay here till Aisa gets back, okay?”

“Okay.”

The teen moves straight for the couch. He leaves his bag on the floor and slips the jacket off his arms. In an instant, he’s right at home without batting an eye. Not that Zye minds. It helps to have someone in the apartment with him from time to time. It helps keep the memories pushed away and the emotions at bay.

Zye collapses onto the couch next to him. He flicks his phone out and begins to swipe a finger across the screen the second it appears. “So, how’s school?”

Xerxes leans in a little closer, peering around Zye’s shoulder to see what they might have to eat tonight. “Fine…I guess. There are these guys. I’ve missed the bus a few times because of them.”

“Huh…” Zye hands Xerxes the phone, their usual tell for the boy to choose where they order from. “They’re still picking on you because they saw me pick you up last month?”

“I…don’t know…maybe?”

“If you just bad mouth me they’d leave you alone, ya know? Everyone loves to put down a Chroma.”

Xerxes’s head snaps up with an upset expression on his countenance. “I-I can’t do that.” He realizes how his voice raised the second it happens. Dropping his head back down, he flicks his finger over the screen a few times. “Especially not to you.”

“Pff, I get it. You’re a good kid so try not to let them get to you.” Zye wraps an arm around Xerxes’s shoulders. He taps at a drop-down menu and starts selecting a few dishes for them. “I could always show you some self-defense moves. Teach those assholes a lesson.”

“B-But…Zye…!”

Zye laughs at the pale look on Xerxes’s face. “I’m kidding. Well, sort of. You really could do with some tricks in case they try something.”

“Would you really teach me?” he asks while selecting what he wants.

With the order complete, Zye pulls away and begins to tap away to get it sent to them. “If you want, sure.”

“I don’t think I’d be very good at it.”

“You never know. They do always say to watch out for the quiet ones, they’ve got more potential.”

He slides the phone, now off, onto the table with a heavy sigh. Settling back against the cushions is far more inviting than anticipated. He can almost fall asleep right here. Purple-blue eyes watch as Xerxes fumbles for the remote to get them something to play in the background.

Looking at Xerxes has him remembering too many things long since passed. At the cusp of thirty, there’s no way he wants to look back. But that doesn’t mean he’d ever let those jerks get away with bothering Xerxes. He tries to put a mental note to talk to Aisa about it. How she’s letting it happen is beyond him.

“Zye? Zye, are you okay?”

A hand waves in front of his face and snaps him out of his thoughts.

“Ah, sorry. New strain of medicine, gotta get used to it.” The smirk on his face is the only thing he can manage. Anything to keep Xerxes from worrying his little head off. “Why don’t you grab a couple of drinks out of the fridge for us. Callua brought some over earlier.”

The mention of her has Xerxes lighting up. “I haven’t seen her in a while.” He bounds off for the kitchen. “Is she okay?”

“Yeah, just busy. As usual.”

Xerxes grabs them both a separate bottle. As he turns to head back he notices the way Zye curls up onto the couch. Against the arm of it, he props himself up and tucks his legs underneath him. If Xerxes has learned anything, it’s to watch.

“Did they say when it’d get here? The food?”

Zye gives a hum as he watches the screen flash to the next news segment. “Hmm…yeah. Paid and everything. You’re welcome to take home the leftovers, too. Callua will have my head if she knew I was eating this junk again.”

Xerxes lets out a small laugh as he settles back down on the couch. He glances over at Zye then places the drinks on the table. He knows it won’t be long. By the time that there’s a knock on the door, Zye is out cold.

So, Xerxes does as normal. He retrieves the order and puts Zye’s part of it in the fridge. Once he’s managed that he snags a blanket from Zye’s room and covers Zye with it. Xerxes knows nothing will wake him up at this rate and if he does he might not feel well.

The boy stays through eating his dinner, cleaning up after it, and until his phone gives an aggressive trill of beeps. It means his sister is looking for him and he can’t dare keep her waiting. Not when his excuse isn’t school-related.

Just before he leaves, Xerxes tucks the blanket around Zye and makes sure he’s at least somewhat comfortable. It’s all he can manage since there’s no way he can carry him. He places a hand on top of Zye’s head, much like what Zye does to him. It’s just for a moment, one so fleeting it can be missed.

With that, he’s gone and locking up behind himself.