Xion blinked almost as if caught in some spell. Once. Twice.
It was as if Darius's words were foreign sounds that needed translation.
Lover?? Who? Who was the one wooing and whom exactly?
His cheeks ignited in a fierce, spreading red that climbed to the tips of his ears.
The confession hit him square in the chest, off-beat and off-guard, like a musician playing the wrong note in a symphony. It was too loud to ignore.
"I-I... what?!" he sputtered.
Darius didn't laugh, though the corners of his mouth did twitch in silent amusement. He very gently held Xion's fingers into his own.
The bandage had become crooked from how violently Xion was abusing the poor duvet.
Then he stilled, only gazing at Xion like a patient predator, giving him all the time in the world to process.
It didn't help.
Xion fumbled with the words, nearly swallowing his tongue as he struggled for anything — anything — to reply with. "Y-you can't just — say things like that!! Out of nowhere!!"
