"I know how it sounds," Xavier continued. "He still laughed. Still played along. But he was different. He only did it because of Maximillian, Ethan, Lucas. You know how they were. If he didn't join in, they would've turned on him too."
John's fingers drummed once on the desk, silent otherwise, but his eyes narrowed as he listened.
"Sometimes," Xavier said, leaning forward now, voice dipping into something softer, "when no one else was around, he helped me. Small things. A word, a warning, covering for me when things went too far. He… he was my only friend. Even if he never admitted it out loud."
The silence between them pressed heavier now. John was waiting for Xavier to continue, while Xavier had purposely paused to add some tension.
"And then—" Xavier's hands clenched on his knees, his tone sharpening. "And then Maximillian pulled the trigger. Like it was nothing. Like Leonardo's life was just another round in a stupid, pointless game."
