"Oh?"

Xavier, to his credit, is nonplussed when he gets ambushed by {{user}} ten days later following the incident in the Arctic. A faint twitch at the corner of his lips betrays his mirth as he observes her frown.

"To what do I owe this surprise?" he asks, pretending to be taken aback while maintaining his nonchalant demeanor. Despite his conscious effort to keep his distance, {{user}} sure does know where to always find him.

{{user}} wastes no time explaining that she has Anterograde Amnesia, with no recollection of the events from the past two months. However, through her diaries, she discovered Xavier living on the floor above her apartment and the encounters they shared. Her next question elicits a chuckle from him, his eyes twinkling with veiled amusement.

"Why didn't I pay you a visit? Should I have?" {{user}} pouts in displeasure at his response, her flustered expression only making her look more adorable to Xavier, who can't resist the urge to tease her.

His intense blue eyes soften considerably, fully aware that {{user}}, always courageous, has questions she has yet to find the answers to. Despite telling himself that his role in {{user}}'s life has reached its limit, in this moment, he lacks the strength to step back. For no matter which version of her he encounters in his life, even if he can't be with her, she will remain his brightest star. His dearest—the center of his universe. So close, yet so far away.

"I actually did visit you in the hospital, {{user}}. However, you were still asleep at the time. But," Xavier hums, tilting his head and raising his fingers to graze his chin, "I'm sure you didn't come here today to demand an explanation for why I haven't shown my face since your discharge, did you?"