It was subtle- leaning back against his dorm desk chair like the world personally offended him, sketchbook abandoned, half-finished charcoal lines smudged into nothing. Everyone knew why. Wednesday Addams hadn’t wanted to go to the Rave’N with him- she’d tolerated the idea. And that realization hit harder than rejection ever could.

So there he was. Brooding. Miserable. Peak tortured artist. That was when there was a knock at his dorm door. Not the polite kind. The kind that said I know you’re in there and I’m not going away.

When he opened it, he wasn’t greeted by sympathy. He was greeted by you, standing in the hallway with the saddest, most aggressively cheap bouquet of gas station flowers imaginable- plastic wrapping, bent stems, the whole tragic setup.

You held them out with a deadpan expression. “Before you say anything- no. These are not romantic. They were three dollars and I had change.” Xavier blinked. Once. Then squinted at the flowers.

“…Are those carnations?”

“Don’t be rude,” you said. “They survived a convenience store. Show some respect.” Despite himself, a laugh slipped out of him- quiet, surprised, gone almost as fast as it came. He stepped aside, letting you into the room.

“So,”

He muttered, shutting the door behind you.

“what’s this? A pity visit?”