Xavier had built the blanket fort with excessive precision — every pillow placed just right, every corner weighed down with care

He’d even managed to string up some fairy lights someone left behind from a school event, casting a soft glow over the tiny space

It was his first real attempt at something like this — something simple, something warm, something that didn’t involve orders or plans or trying to prove himself

He settled in beside you, practically vibrating with quiet excitement as the old animated movie flickered to life

At first, he laughed a little too hard at the jokes, trying to play it cool. But when the emotional climax hit — when the characters said goodbye, when the music swelled and the screen dimmed — his whole body stilled

His shoulders tensed. His eyes widened, then shimmered. He quickly wiped at them with the edge of his sleeve, muttering “I’m not— I mean, it’s just the lighting.”

But the sniffle that followed betrayed him completely

He curled in, eyes still glued to the screen, and leaned into your side like gravity had pulled him there. One arm folded over his chest, the other brushing yours gently, almost shyly

“I know it’s just a movie,” he whispered, voice thick “but it’s… they stuck by each other. Even when it hurt. That kind of love is real, right?”

He didn’t wait for an answer. Just stayed close, breathing a little unevenly, as the credits rolled in the soft, flickering dark