Xaldin had been at Beast's Castle for a while now, and he'd realised that the girl, Belle, and that extravagant rose were the keys to the Beast's Heart.
He'd also realised that he was being tailed.
The castle was old, and every footstep, whether it was on floor or ceiling, made noise. The dust crackled, the air spun, and the muffled sound reached his ears like screeches.
He deemed this situation to not merit polite formality. "Xigbar, I know you're there."
The stifled curse and thump of feet landing on the dust-drenched carpet made him smile, and when he turned he was met by a one-eyed glare.
Xigbar was standing by a sleeping statue two behind, arms crossed, undeniably petulant. "Dude! No fair," the eyepatched Nobody's rough voice echoed too loudly off the high walls and ceiling. It was destroying Xaldin's carefully maintained calm.
"Xigbar," he said softly, as if contrast was the key to negation. "You're getting sloppy."
"As if!" A worn out catchphrase. "In fact, I wanted you to know I was here."
Xaldin resisted the eyeroll in favour of a smirk. "Of course."
"No, dude, I did! I already know what you're doing here, I just came to chat."
"Well, it's unecessary. I need to work."
"Whaaat? You don't talk to your old buddy?"
Xigbar's tone really was starting to repulse Xaldin. "Xigbar, please leave. I have a Heart to snare and it isn't as simple as some of your missions."
Xigbar laughed loudly. "You think recon's easy?"
Xaldin let his eyes flutter closed for a moment. It took him seconds to grasp at that inner core of control, and when his purple eyes opened to fix on Xigbar, he was able to remain calm. "Xigbar, what do you want?"
"I told you," the eyepatched man grinned, "just a chat."
"Well, I believe we've more than chatted, so I really must ask you to leave before the Beast or that snivelling girl come and see you. You'd be setting my work back by weeks."
And the Second finally seemed to become bored; he sighed and looked away. Xaldin had almost decided to leave when the eyepatched man's eyes widened, and he snapped his fingers in epiphany.
"Ooh! JUst one last thing, man!"
Xaldin paused, glancing silently at the sharpshooter.
Xigbar grinned. "Get a haircut."
Xaldin didn't even have to energy to unecessarily sigh as the other man disappeared into the portal he'd hidden behind his statue.
He need to work.