For Better Or Worse, We Meet Again

Xavi could've walked through this forest path with his eyes closed by now, so many times he had went through it lately. The forest was a peaceful place, full of small corners and spots where one lonely soul could easily sit, think and cry. Xavi had done all three and more among these trees, and aside from that one chance meeting with Jude no one had seen him. Xavi was relieved about that, he didn't want Vexi to hear about him spending time alone crying. She was going through enough.

Xavi was heading towards one of his favourite spots, a small pond in the middle of the woods. It had clear water and big koi fish that Xavi usually fed with bread. Even now he had some bread with him for the fish, and for him. He smiled slightly when he remembered how the koi would basically eat the bread right off his hands.
As Xavi arrived on the pond he sat on the shore and dipped his finger on the water. Immediately the koi emerged and opened and closed their mouths at Xavi. Xavi chuckled and started throwing small pieces of bread to the koi. They ate them like this was their last meal.
Suddenly Xavi heard movement from the woods and turned to look. He set the bread down next to him and called out.
"Um, is someone there?"

As soon as Xavi called out he could see someone at the edge of the small clearing. And was almost immediately struck by a very strange feeling of anger that came out of nowhere. For a moment Xavi felt angry at himself, Vexi, his classmates, teachers, anyone he could think of to be responsible for his current situation and suffering. And he was so very scared of that anger and hugged himself tightly, falling back on the ground where he had been sitting. Xavi took deep breaths, trying to push the anger away.

Xavi looked up and at the most probable source of this anger. And Xavi was shocked when he saw it was someone he knew, and Morgan at that. And Morgan saw Xavi as well and on his face Xavi saw shock as well. The boy seemed to slip on a power bracelet, similar to the one Xavi had. At that moment the anger inside Xavi lessened significantly and he took some deep breaths. He was able to dismiss the anger now, as it was mere anxiousness now. Xavi stood back up and looked at Morgan surprised and slightly unsure when he talked. The kois were splashing in the bond, trying to reach the bread on the shore.

Xavi didn't really know what to say at first, he was still hugging himself. Experiencing such anger was a first for Xavi, and he did not like it. But he observed Morgan and saw he had not meant to harm Xavi. That aura was most likely outside his control, like Xavi's own. Xavi exhaled a bit and adopted a small shy smile on his face.
"I'll be okay, you just took me by surprise."
Xavi stopped hugging himself but didn't really know what to do with his hands so he just tugged them into his pockets. Xavi observed Morgan with concern.
"Are you alright?"

Xavi frowned slightly from concern when he heard Morgan's tone. Xavi presumed Morgan was indeed not okay, and he stepped a little closer, ignoring the slight nervousness gnawing at him. His body still remembered what had happened mere moments ago.
"Would you want me to believe it?"
Xavi answered with a small sad smile. But Morgan revealed, at least small part of, why he was so agitated. Family problems. Xavi felt a small sting in his chest and nodded.
"I see. I can relate. I will listen if you want to share. It's the least I can do."
Xavi smiled gently, although it still had little bit of sadness mixed in. Sadness and empathy.

Xavi could see Morgan struggle, and he felt sorrowful for him. Xavi wanted to help, but he could only help if Morgan let him, if even then. So for now Xavi went and picked up the bread he had left on the shore. The kois were still splashing around, wanting more food. Xavi turned and gestured towards the pond and the spot he had been sitting on, a large flat rock that was warmed by the sun.
"If you'd like you can sit with me. This is where I come to...think, and breathe. It's calming."
Xavi smiled slightly and threw a small piece of bread to the kois, that dove at it all at once and splashed Xavi a bit.

Morgan seemed to gain a better grip of his raging emotions, and in turn asked Xavi the same question he had asked of Morgan. Xavi was about to assure him that he was fine, but stopped himself and instead glanced at his feet a bit before taking a breath and looking Morgan in the eyes.
"I'm not used to being angry, it surprised me and...scared me slightly. But I'm okay now, I don't blame you. Rather, I understand how it feels to have an aura you cannot control."
Xavi lifted the arm with his power bracelet on it.
"Although I believe the effects are nearly opposites."

"Well, you don't have to, at least now."
Xavi smiled a little gently and as Morgan sat next to him Xavi scooted over to give him and his wings some space and kept absently tossing bread for the kois while listening to Morgan's words. When Morgan talked about his family, about his mother and curse, Xavi wanted to set a hand on his shoulder or otherwise offer physical contact. But he hesitated, Xavi didn't know how Morgan would react to it. So he just kept listening, and felt a prick in his own chest when Vexi sprang to his mind. How she, in a way, was the reason for his suffering on multiple occasions.
But Xavi forgave. He always did.

Xavi didn't really know about Morgan's situation, so he didn't feel comfortable giving him advice or even an opinion. On top of that Xavi had only ever met his father once, and his mother had left as soon as Vexi and Xavi could walk. He had never had "parents", only Vexi.
But Morgan goal, a family, was a good one.
"I wish you get to have a good family. But I also wish you start that family for yourself. You deserve to be happy without your mother casting a shadow over that happiness."

Xavi managed a small smile at Morgan's comment and threw a bigger piece of bread to the kois. They ripped it in small pieces and ate it up fast.
"And I have company."
Xavi said, gesturing to the giant fishes swimming around in front of them.
"Though I'm glad you're keeping me company too."

So Morgan's mother was a war goddess. Xavi nodded slightly as he explained about his aura, Morgan really did not seem that angry of a person. But Xavi knew how good people could be at covering their true selves, after all his sister was very good at that and he was an actor. But Morgan had been nice to him, someone Xavi considered a friend. So even if the aura had scared him earlier Xavi did not feel any differently about Morgan.

Xavi, instinctively, flinched a bit when Morgan asked about his aura. Xavi turned his head to look at the power bracelet on his wrist and he fidgeted with it, looking sad.
"It...well, makes people lust for me. They want to...I think you understand even if I don't say. The strength of my aura depends on how far away I'm from my twin sister. She is probably in town now, so...if I took this bracelet off now it would be dangerous."
Xavi didn't know why he spoke about it so much. Maybe he felt the need to vent. But as he spoke he felt more and more miserable. It only showed in his slumping shoulders and eyes, that were even more sorrowful than before.