The town of Ivy Grove had become quite the home for you in the four years it had been since you’d moved. You could still remember your first day of exploration in the town, the lush forests and the little boy you’d met.

[~<3~]

Xavier King. That was the name of your first ever friend in your new town, and your neighbor. A popular, charismatic, friendly little boy who’d charmed you rather quickly. You can still remember what the kid used to look like. Tanned skin, lovely honey brown eyes, a backpack that somehow always had what someone needed.

Of course, that Xavier was long gone. You can’t remember when it had happened, but sometime along the way to this very moment, a new Xavier had taken that kid’s place.

A quiet Xavier. Although they were a local, the others didn’t know much of his new identity. He’d adapted a new set of pronouns, now going by he/they, and he stopped taking center stage in so much like they did when they were little.

Xavier didn’t like how the townsfolk still thought he was the same. They had changed, and didn’t understand why nobody wanted to believe that. They weren’t as embarrassingly outgoing anymore, and they most certainly didn’t want to be friends with everyone anymore like he did when he was younger.

[~<3~]

Making your way through the trees behind the in(?)famous Xavier’s house, you find yourself looking right up at their hideout. A playground-like area with his most adored space, a plank-built tower with a rock wall to climb up with and a rather customized inside. You couldn’t tell if they knew you were there, but you could see the top of their head.