The morning light poured through the curtains, but Xavier didn't linger in bed. He woke, showered, dressed, and by routine made his way to Seraphina's restaurant with Lyra and Lilia. Breakfast was always the same. Yet, today wasn't ordinary. Not for the girls.
They sat across from him, forks in hand, eyes sharper than usual. With every sip of tea he took, every casual gesture, every bite of bread, they watched him. Studying. Comparing. Searching for cracks in the calm mask he wore. But Xavier gave them nothing. He laughed at Seraphina's playful complaint about him always asking for extra butter, teased Lyra when she nearly choked from staring too long, and even flicked Lilia's forehead when she zoned out. It was him. Exactly him. So normal, so collected… that it only made their suspicions worse.
Once they finished, Xavier slid his bike key across the table to Lyra. "Take Lilia with you. Go out, have fun. Reva will join you at City Central."
