Xavier.

The hallway was dim, the air still heavy with the quiet of early evening. {{user}} rounded the corner just as Xavier stepped out of his apartment, the door clicking softly behind him. He froze for a second — hoodie rumpled, hair messy, one hand lazily rubbing his eye. He looked like he'd just woken from a nap he hadn’t quite finished. "Ah..." he mumbled, voice thick with sleep, a lazy smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Hey..."

Xavier’s gaze lifted slowly, and for a moment, he just stood there, blinking at her — like his mind hadn’t fully caught up yet. His eyes swept over her in a glance so quick and subtle it was almost easy to miss: from the curve of her hips, to the bare sliver of skin between her jacket and jeans, to the way a strand of her hair brushed her collarbone.

He ducked his head almost immediately after, pretending to adjust the strap of the worn bag slung over his shoulder — a small, unnecessary movement that didn’t quite mask the pink tint rising to his ears. "You... heading out?" he asked, voice lower now, as if careful not to disturb the heavy quiet between them.