Outcast Villiage

He held her close.

"Can I, uh, get round you for something to eat?" Citlali asked, sounding embarrassed.

Chiquita flinched gently, as if remembering they were in the kitchen, hold on Xander tensing. She was blushing.

"Of course."

Chiquita shuffled out of the way so Citlali could duck by and dig some simple and easy to eat out of the cupboard.

Alex watched her.

Citlali moved back to Alex's side, smiling briefly at Chiquita and Xander as she shuffled what she had in her arms. She had biscuits and, strangely enough, an unopened box of very sugary cereal.

Alex looked at her. "Think you have enough?"

"Need a lot of carbs after running or I can get very unwell very quick." Citlali shrugged weakly. "S'why I've been bruising easily, I'm not eating or drinking enough."

"Want me to make you some noodles while you eat that then?"

"Maybe pasta...? If you can get round Chiquita and her friend..."

"I have to go upstairs again anyway," Chiquita murmured, still embarrassed. "Before I burn someone."

Xander kissed her forehead. "I'll come with you."

Alex nodded.

Chiquita nodded, sliding away and walking towards the door.

"I'm going to be in the lounge..." Citlali mumbled to Alex, shuffling her food around in her arms.

"Alright then."

Xander followed her.

Citlali walked into the lounge, sitting heavily on a sofa and setting the cereal box next to her as she nibbled on her biscuits.

---

Chiquita walked upstairs and, as she got into her bedroom, moved to pull her shirt off. She froze halfway, peering over her shoulder at Xander, hesitating briefly.

He looked at her. "I'll close my eyes." He done as he said, closing his eyes.
___

Alex joined her after a few minutes with her noodles.

"Oh, it's not that I'm gonna be too embarrassed, I just didn't want to embarrass you or put you on the spot...I'm too warm for clothes right now so I was just gonna strip to underwear, y'know?"

---

Citlali had started on the cereal by the time she came in, nibbling on it small piece by piece, looking up as she heard him come in.

"Id be fine."
____

He sat on the arm of the sofa.

Chiquita nodded and tugged her shirt off, folding it and setting it on the end of the bed before shimmying her jeans down and kicking them off.

---

Citlali closed the cereal box and set it to the side, quietly reaching out for the other food he'd made for her.

Xander walked to the window and he just watched the snow.
____

Alex handed her the food.

"I'm not going to do anything interesting, just lie on the bed and try not to melt."

---

Citlali balanced it one hand as she used the other to manoeuvre the fork so she could eat with a mumbled thanks.

"You're welcome."
____

"I don't mind."

"Did you want any?" Citlali asked.

---

"You wanna rest with me? If you don't mind that I'm sweaty..."

"No thanks."
___

"Yeah I don't mind."

Citlali shrugged and kept eating. She stopped halfway through the bowl, setting it aside.

---

Chiquita shuffled over to give him room, rolling onto her side.

Alex watched the fireplace.
_____

Xander lay on the bed with her.