Not even the promise of something better on the horizon can deter how he feels. The next day finds him tumbling back into the cold, calloused hands of reality. Even though work isn’t his destination, retrieving his new medicine is. By the time he gets back to his apartment he already wants to go back to bed.

Opening the door, he’s not the least bit surprised to find Callua lounging on the couch. The second he’s inside and locked the door is when she jumps up off it. “Finally! I thought you were going to be out forever.”

“I’ve only been gone half an hour? How long have you been here?”

“Hm? Just a few minutes.”

Zye rolls his eyes. “You know, I’m starting to regret giving you that spare.”

She grins wide and plops back down. The cushion sags beneath her as she crosses her legs while pointing to the paper bags on the coffee table. “You didn’t answer my messages so I figured you were still out of it and could use some dinner.”

“You’re not wrong. Let me grab us some drinks. Any preference?”

“Nope!” She hums to herself, thinking. “I ordered extra, figured Xerxes would be over since he knows you’re free.”

The reminder of Xerxes and Aisa has a knot already forming in the pit of his stomach. To say he’s not over it would be an understatement. How does one just let go after that type of confrontation? Regardless of how either party feels about the matter, he’s upset and he doesn’t want to make the situation worse.

Zye snags a couple of glasses from a cabinet and the bottle of juice from the fridge. Ambling back to the couch, he huffs at her. “Don’t count on it. Probably won’t see him around for a while.”

“Aisa really can’t handle getting close to you, hm?”

“Can you blame her? I could drop dead tomorrow. Who wants to put stock in someone like that?”

Callua can’t help it. She slaps Zye on the shoulder. “Would you quit that? That’s normal. Disease or not, people die every day. And it’s not like you’re contagious. Maybe you two just need a heart to heart?”

“Cal, no. I’d be fine not talking to her again. The last few times all she does is yell at me.” The end of his sentence ends in a mumble while he pours their drinks. Tugging containers from the bags, he glances at her from the corner of his eye. “You better not do anything either.”

“What? Me? I’m innocent and you know it.” She gives him a wink and a cunning little smile. “Annnnd, I may have already told Xerxes to swing over when he can.”

“You—I can’t…Haaa…She’s actually going to kill me.”

Zye stands back up. Moving back into the kitchen to grab plates and utensils is the only way to keep himself from freaking out. Aisa would never agree to let Xerxes come over after that…right?

He’s barely back to the couch when a knock comes from the door. Shooting Callua a glare, he hands her what he carries on his way there. It’s the last thing he wants to open. He even expects Aisa to be the one standing there to make matters worse.

But no, it’s just Xerxes with a sheepish smile on his face. He worries the hem of his t-shirt between his fingers. “Is it…okay?”

Any other time he’d fall back on how he usually handles situations like this. It’s far easier to push away than to keep getting attached. Is it truly foolish to let this continue? Should he send Xerxes away and cut this off right now?

“Yeah. As long as you want to.”

It’s painfully obvious that he knows something happened. Aisa probably rode him about not coming over again. It surprises Zye that Xerxes is going against her wishes. The fact that he is almost has Zye shutting the door and telling him never to come over again. Yet, it’s those hopeful eyes that he can’t seem to say no to.

Instead, he gestures over to the couch. “Food is hot and ready.”

Callua is practically bubbling. She pats the cushion and eagerly begins to spread the containers out. Xerxes hurries over to sit beside her. “What did you get?”

She giggles and gives a sweep of her arm, “Everything.”

Zye rolls his eyes as he makes his way back to them. Taking a seat on the floor, he grabs for the nearest paper box to shovel out some rice onto a plate. “Don’t be so dramatic.”

“Says the guy that’ll eat his weight in this salt-soaked nightmare of a meal.”

“I like what I like.”

“You should like an orange sometime.”

He sticks his tongue out at her then takes a bite of whatever’s in the next bowl. It doesn’t even matter what it is, he loves the spices that hit his tongue. It helps burn away the thoughts and replaces them with the need for more food.

Xerxes is too busy gazing over at Callua. “How’s work? I haven’t seen you in so long.”

“It’s alright. Just been keeping me busy. The guy I work with is driving me crazy though.” She stabs a fork into a dumpling. “Just because he runs himself ragged doesn’t mean I want to.”

Zye swallows and lets out a chuckle. “Ever thought maybe you’re just lazy.”

“I’ll take my food and leave.”

“No, no it’s okay. No one that lazy would ever buy me dinner.” He stops mid-bite and stands. “Shit. Forgot you need a drink.”

Callua bumps her arm against Xerxes’s and they both laugh. The easy-going atmosphere blossoms like a flower in spring. But like all flowers, it wilts quickly once the warmth and sun die down. The food is nearly gone when Xerxes grabs for his phone, suddenly looking downtrodden.

Not wanting to bring trouble their way, Xerxes smiles and stands. He gives a wave and steps around Zye. The man looks up at him with a quirked eyebrow. “You’re leaving?”

“I…um…I have homework to do. Thanks for inviting me and it was nice to see you again, Cal.”

“You too, squirt. Be good.”

Xerxes can barely meet her eyes before he’s trying to slip out of the apartment. He just needs to get back before Aisa gets home and none will be the wiser. Except, Zye is following right after him. Zye catches the door as it shuts and calls out to him.

“Hey, Xerxes?”

There’s a bubble of anxiety that’s beginning to form in the pit of his stomach. He stops and turns enough to where he can make a sliver of eye contact. Not that Zye is fairing much better. He wants to do the right thing, whatever that happens to be.

“It’s okay if you can’t or don’t want to come by. Family is important. If it makes it easier on her then—”

“No.” Xerxes turns and locks eyes with Zye. He doesn’t do it very often. It has him trembling ever-so-slightly. There’s a raw need to get out what he thinks otherwise he never will. Fear of losing one just to have the other. “You’re my family, too.”

“I…Thanks. If you need anything, call me.”

Xerxes nods and bounds away, not wanting to stick around. The light flush to his cheeks when he declared that— it has Zye wanting to melt into the ground. No one has ever gone that far to say those words. Not even Shae, that was always just unspoken between them.

Perhaps that’s why when he returns to Callua he finds the urge to tell her the same. He sits down on the other end of the couch and she takes advantage of it. She flops over with her head landing in his lap. Smiling at him, she reaches up and pokes at his chin.

“Feel better?”

“Maybe. Helps to have a friend like you.”

“Oh shush, flattery gets you nowhere. Except with me. Tell me how great I am!” She giggles when he shakes his head, ignoring her. “So? How’s it going?”

Zye sinks back against the cushion. His eyes close while he lets her grab for his hand, tracing her fingers along the lines on his palm. She’s mentioned palm reading once. Not that he believes it’d do him any good.

“It’s a go. I can move in with Shae and have my old job. I got enough saved up just in case something happens or pay is slow.”

“Good, I’m really glad you can get away from Soren and Daichi.” Callua sits up, hesitates, and then stands. She gives him a weak smile before leaning forward to kiss his cheek. “Don’t stay up late, okay? Sleep soon and let me know if I can help with any of that.”

“Yeah…thanks. Be safe.”

Callua grins as she saunters to the door, long hair swishing back and forth behind her. “Hah! You know anyone that dares should be scared of me instead.”

“I know but still.”

A final nod and Callua is slipping into the hall. Down the stairs and out the building, she practically sprints down them. It has her skidding to a stop, barely able to hold herself up without running into the tall man just outside the door. A hand settles on her elbow to steady her. She pats his arm in return. “How kind of you to pick a lady up.”

“I don’t have time to wait for you to meet at the rendezvous point.” His silver eyes sweep away from her as he turns, breaking the contact completely. Boots slap through the puddles, sending up small sprays of water. “So hurry up, you can come back and play another day.”

Callua huffs, “You’re such a stick in the mud. Lighten up a bit, Jace. I think we can handle it with plenty of time to spare.”