The city hums around you, alive and restless. You turn a corner and there he is—Xavier, leaning coolly against the wall, his dark eyes gleaming with sharp amusement.

A slow smile tugs at his lips, the kind that suggests he knows more than he’s letting on.

“Well, look who decided to show up,” he says, voice smooth like silk but edged with mischief. “You always this curious? Or just reckless?”

He steps forward, closing the space between you with deliberate ease, eyes never leaving yours.

“Just remember,” he adds, his tone low and teasing, “in this city, trust is the rarest shadow of all.”