₊˚⊹ ♡ stardust between us
~ flufftober day 1: anniversary (totally not posting this on day 2)
pairing: xavier x reader
The patter of the rain outside on the windows was soothing, and the atmosphere inside was even more comforting. The lamp in the corner of the living room was flicked on, bathing the space in warm yellow light.
Xavier sits across from you cross-legged, the sleeves of his signature white hoodie rolled up to his elbows and a half-finished puzzle on the coffee table in front of him. His brows furrow in concentration, and you can't help but smile, standing in the kitchen doorway.
"Of all the things you could have picked for us to do on our anniversary," you start, laughing to yourself, "you picked a thousand piece puzzle."
He doesn't look up, but you can see the faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It's calming."
"It's frustrating."
"Same thing. Well, sometimes."
You laugh, padding over to sit next to him, two cups of tea in your hands. You pass one to him and he presses a kiss to your cheek in appreciation.
"You know," you say, bumping his shoulder with your own playfully, "most couples go out. Champagne, fancy food, dressing up, all of that stuff."
Xavier pauses at your words, looking up and meeting your gaze. "Do you want that?"
You tilt your head, pretending to think. "Maybe next year. This is nice."
He looks at you for a moment longer, fondness in his expression before he goes back to the puzzle, picking up a piece and sliding it into place. You lean your head on his shoulder, letting out a content sigh. He smells faintly of citrus and your shampoo, and something uniquely him. Something that over the past year has brought you so much comfort.
"I didn't think we'd get here." You murmur, watching as he continues to fiddle with puzzle pieces. "A whole year."
His movements stop at your words, and his voice was soft when he speaks. "Me neither."
The confession hangs heavy in the air for a few moments, both of you thinking back to when you had first met. You didn't push him to say more though, and neither did he, both of you knowing that if the other person needed to speak, they would.
Xavier broke the silence first, reaching out and taking your hand, threading your fingers through his. "It's not that I didn't want to," he adds, resting his head atop yours. "I just… didn’t know if I could. Be like this, with someone."
You give his hand a squeeze, looking up at him. "But you are."
"And you stayed." He says, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I always will."
There was a long moment of silence. It wasn't awkward, just full. It was full of everything he couldn't say but wanted you to know. Xavier didn't really do grand declarations, but his presence tonight, sitting barefoot in your living room, doing a puzzle in the middle of a storm, said more than a hundred love letters ever could.
As if he remembers something, Xavier sits up, reaching into the pocket of his sweatpants and pulling out a small black box.
"Here, for you." He says, and you take the box, a bit confused. Inside, nestled in black fabric, is a silver necklace with a soft yellow star charm. You stare at it for a long moment, gently touching it as if you were afraid it might break.
"Xavier... you didn't have to get me anything." You say.
"I wanted you to have something that reminded you of today. Of us." He takes the necklace out of the box carefully, reaching around you to gently put it on you. He then pulls you into his arms, burying his face into your neck and pressing a soft kiss against your skin.
"Happy anniversary." He murmurs.
You close your eyes and smile, hugging him tightly. "Happy anniversary, Xavier."
