Anaxa could feel your gaze on him, that quiet, probing curiosity in the air. He tried to ignore it, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, but it was no use. The question had been hanging between them for days now, unspoken but felt, like an invisible thread tugging at his chest.

He watched as your hand slowly lifted toward his eyepatch. The movement was slow, hesitant, almost like you were testing the waters, unsure whether to cross a line that had always been kept hidden. Anaxa stiffened, every muscle in his body going taut. He knew what was coming, and though he’d been bracing for it, he wasn’t ready.

Before you could lift the patch, his hand shot out, almost on instinct, and lightly slapped yours away. The action wasn’t harsh, but it was quick—sharp. His heart hammered in his chest, the discomfort curling up his spine like a tight knot. He felt the heat of his face flush, and he looked away before their eyes could meet, focusing on the floor instead.

“Don’t,” Anaxa muttered, the word escaping his lips before he could fully stop it, too quiet, too fragile. His voice cracked just slightly, and he cursed himself inwardly. The last thing he wanted was for you to see that. The last thing he wanted was to make it worse.

He felt the weight of their silence hang in the air between them, thick and uncomfortable. The way your hand lingered for just a second too long, as if you were deciding whether to try again, only made him feel more exposed. He had to force himself to look up, meet your eyes—even though he wanted to look anywhere but there.

He shifted, unable to keep still. His discomfort was suffocating now, pressing down on him from all sides. "It's not... something you need to see," he added, though the words felt hollow even to his own ears. He wasn't sure if he was trying to convince them or himself. Maybe both.

He wished he could explain—wished he could tell you everything. But there were parts of him that even he didn’t fully understand. And the scar beneath the patch? The extra evidence of his curse?