Cygnus

" 'Xcuse me." My chair was nudged slightly to the side, a brush of fabric against my arm alerted me to the presence of a person moving behind me. 

I turned my head to see Pyxis take his seat next to me at the dinner table. His face was slightly flushed- for what reason, I didn't know. He seemed like he had gotten here in a hurry, though. 

Pyxis. As much as we had tried to avoid each other, somehow, someway, our red strings of fate got entangled yet again.  

I pushed the food on my plate around in silence, appetite lost. Ophiuchus looked over at me in concern, so I forced a bite of mac and cheese into my mouth. The creamy substance soured in my mouth instantly, and I found myself wanting to spit it out immediately. 

Everyone was in a bad mood. The secrets behind our mall trip had just been revealed, and even those who had "passed" the test were silent. 

"Ophiuchus, can I go get my jacket? The air is a bit chilly where I am." I asked Ophiuchus breezily. He nodded, and I left. 

I walked down the hall and went straight to my room, flopping down on the bed with a heavy sigh. Even after all these years, I still couldn't get over him. My first friend. My first crush. My first kiss. 

Pyxis was my first of many. 

My first tears shed over a boy. My first heartbreak.

And even after so long, I still couldn't twist my heart away from him.

Goddamn you Pyxis, you stupid buffoon. 

Five Years Ago

"Cygnus, this will be your new home now, okay? Take a good look around."

The clueless eleven year-old me nodded, following behind the tall, strict women who led me through the sterile white halls. 

My first glimpse of Astrolia Hospital. It wasn't a pleasant one, needless to say. My parents had died in a fire three days ago. Tomorrow would be the night of my twelfth birthday.  

"I'm going to go in there to discuss some things with the adults. You stay right here, now." The lady, spoke, jarring me out of my thoughts. The door shut behind her, leaving me alone. 

The hallway suddenly felt very cold and quiet. 

As if my inner prayers had been acknowledged, a group of kids my age suddenly rounded the corner and walked down the hall towards me, a blond young man leading them cheerfully. They laughed at something he said- I was too far away to make out the exact words- but it was a black haired boy at the end of the line who had looked up. His eyes met mine, and like a moth to flame, he broke away from his group and walked towards me. 

"What's a pretty girl like you doing out here all alone?" He asked, when his group had turned away and out of sight. I frowned, giving him a quick once-over before replying. 

"Hello." 

The boy blinked awkwardly, all the words he was going to say dying on his lips in an instant. 

"Why, hello." He started again, his smirk fading to half-smile that was threatening to leave his face. 

"I'm Cygnus." I pressed on. This is how others talked, right? An exchange of formalities was the beginning of every conversation. 

"Pyxis. Pleasure to meet you." His lips curled upwards once more, as if to say, sure, I'll play along. A mischievous glint flashed across his bottle green eyes. 

I nodded, and turned away, signalling the conversation was over. I didn't wish to say anything more- I didn't know if i could say anything more. 

"Wait!" He yelped. I looked back with him again, and for a moment, he looked panicked. 

"What are you doing all alone out here?" He asked hurriedly, as if I might vanish in an instant. 

"My parents died three days ago. I'm living here now, at least, that's what I've been told." I replied calmly. 

Pyxis paused, obviously taken back. Was it something I said? I was just stating facts, right?

"Oh- I... I'm sorry." He said, soft and apologetically. 

"What for?" I asked in the same neutral tone. 

"C-can I give you a hug?" He blurted. 

"Wha-?"

I was cut off when Pyxis suddenly engulfed me in his arms, pulling me forwards. I staggered, and would've fallen over if not for his firm grip around my shoulders. 

For a moment, it felt nice. Then I got mad at myself for thinking that it felt nice. 

Stupid, stupid, he's just a stranger! What are you doing?

I pushed him away with a gasp, and it must've caught him off guard because he stumbled a few steps back. 

"Never been given a hug before?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Aquila hugs me once a year on my birthday." I replied, confused. Was that not what people normally got? 

Pyxis looked genuinely confused now. "Do your parents not...?" He trailed off, unsure of what to say. 

I wasn't sure what he was trying to say either, so I just kept my mouth shut. 

"Are your parents not... affectionate?"

"My parents are often out on business trips. They don't like germs at all." I offered up the reply I could the question. I really had no idea what he wanted to know, either. 

Pyxis opened his mouth once more to say something, but at that moment the door behind me opened and out walked my guardian for the day and a sandy haired man. Pyxis immediately took a few steps back and took a sudden interest in the flowers at the entrance. 

"Cygnus, follow this lady, she'll show you where your room is, okay?" The tall lady said, before giving a nod to the other and walking away. 

I turned to the man, but his attention was focused on dark haired boy staring at the flowers. 

"Pyxis, what are you doing out here? Where's your group?"

Pyxis turned to him with a sheepish grin. "I was just showing her around, sir. Warming her up to the place."

The man gave him a skeptical glance, but I shrugged and he conceded with a sigh. 

"Well, welcome to Astrolia Hospitals, Cygnus. I'm Orion, the main director of this place. I suppose you've familiarized with Pyxis already?"

"Yes, sir." I answered.

"Hmmm, Pyxis, how many are in your group?" Orion asked suddenly.

"Nine."

"Alright, Cygnus, I'll put you in Pyxis' group. Can you take us there?" Orion said, nodding.

"Cool!" Pyxis exclaimed, before flashing me a grin and wink when Orion's back was turned. 

I sighed, and followed the two down the halls. 

Present

A knock at the door jolted me out of nap. I must've fallen asleep when I landed on the bed. 

"Cygnus?" A worried voice called at my door. I rubbed my eyes, and yawned. 

"Door's open." 

In walked in the boy who occupied all my thoughts for the past fifteen minutes. 

"Pyxis." I said sternly. 

He either didn't hear me, or chose not to. 

"Cygnus, are you okay? You left dinner so suddenly, everyone's worried." He said. A stray tuft of raven hair fell into his eyes, and he brushed it aside with a finger. 

"I'm fine, Pyxis." I said, voice harder this time. 

"Okay, okay, I just wanted to check in. No need to be so mean." Pyxis scowled. 

I ran my hands through my hair with an exasperated sigh. 

"So you're just going to completely ignore all of the past five years? Alright then." I replied coldly, turning away. 

"Cygnus, please. I'm sorry. I was young." Pyxis pleaded softly.

"I was too. You broke my heart."

"Let me fix it. We're together again- you can't just think that's a stroke of mere luck, can you? The fates are telling us to do something." He pressed.

"Pyxis, did you know, I never had a single friend my entire childhood? My parents were germaphobes. I was given private tutors- I never had a single day of school. When I wanted to play, I played with my dolls. When I wanted to talk, I talked with the paintings on my walls." I said harshly. 

Pyxis suddenly looked very small, very fragile in front of me. 

"I was only thirteen-" He started. 

"When I first arrived at Astrolia Hospital, I was ecstatic. I would finally meet others my age. I'd finally get people to talk to, to play with. I finally wouldn't be alone anymore." I pressed on. 

Pain and pity flickered across Pyxis' features. 

"When I first met a boy, he was better than I ever imagined. Sure, he was a bit prying, a bit of an oddball, but nevertheless, he was perfection in my eyes." 

"Cygnus, stop." He pleaded. 

I squeezed my eyes shut, afraid of the hot tears that threatened to spill out. A pair of warm, soft hands enveloped mine and it took all my willpower to wrench them away. 

"I can't do this anymore, Pyxis. One heartbreak was enough from you. So please, leave me alone."

His breath hitched, a long, pregnant pause hung in the air, before he finally decided to get up and walk out of the room, shutting the door softly behind him. 

Some time passed- I really didn't know how long- and Cancer walked into the room. She saw my teary state and her eyebrows furrowed in concern. 

"Wanna talk about it?" She asked softly. 

I just shook my head in response. 

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Depression is real but League of Legends counteracts it.