#something i really enjoy when thinking about xavier and chiyo's dynamic is the fact that he does tend to pick up on lil details and signs

[quietlyblooms]

stop - xavier holds chiyo back from walking back out into the fray. ( he just sees how exhausted she truly is from the first wave of wanderers. )

gentle action prompts | @covetcore holds chiyo back!

she hasn't been taking very good care of herself. late nights researching and staying out only to keep herself distracted, an unreliable appetite, a few missed doctor's appointments -- it's all adding up, but regardless, chiyo stands tall. she might not be able to convincingly say she's okay right now, but she's more stubborn than she is tired. or so she tells herself as the device upon her wrist flashes another warning.

" it's never an easy fight, huh? " jokes are a girl's best friend, easy to tell with a smile that almost reaches her eyes as she looks over at xavier. there is concern in his eyes despite her efforts to prevent it. chiyo chooses to ignore it. she doesn't know how to handle it.

but her partner doesn't allow her to walk away, grabbing her wrist to prevent her from moving towards the danger ahead, and chiyo lets out a heavy sigh as though she expected xavier to do this. he isn't like some of their coworkers who look at her with pity but don't know how to help her, don't know what to say. no, as mysterious as he was at the beginning, chiyo's come to learn that xavier notices a lot, and though he'll do her the courtesy of private conversations, he will not keep his concern all to himself.

" don't worry so much, " she softly says, meeting xavier's gaze with tired brown eyes. " i'll be fine. " and perhaps unfairly, she adds, " i have you, don't i? "