The Next Day
Hera groggily opened her eyes, her chest tight and her breathing shallow. "Ugh…" she murmured, trying to shift her body, but everything felt heavy and sluggish.
"You're awake?" A hoarse, magnetic voice brushed her ear from just above her head. Her eyes snapped open, and she turned her head sharply—only to find a half-naked Xavier lying beside her, his eyes still closed, his body warm and relaxed. He instinctively pulled her into his embrace, pressing her against his chest.
"Strawberry, let's sleep a little longer, okay?" he murmured, nuzzling into the crook of her neck with a soft sigh of contentment.
Hera, however, sat frozen, her mind flatlining for a moment before the gears finally started turning again.
"When did you get here?" she asked quietly, turning her face toward him. Her gaze softened when she saw the dark circles under his eyes and the dryness in his usually radiant skin. It was clear—Xavier hadn't slept at all last night.
