He retreated from the ring to those waiting around it. Darian shook his head at him without speaking while Eden smiled. Xander didn't leave, though, not yet. He crossed his arms and watched those in the ring.
Dusty grudgingly faced off against Sofi once more. The Oracle wasn't intimidated by Xander; she wasn't about to let him disrupt her day, a thought he heard when they were touching. The two began sparring slowly. Xander watched, reading their movements before they occurred.
"How's life?" Eden asked, joining Xander.
"Too interesting."
"You know, I'm enjoying it here."
"Why?" Xander glanced at the Original Human, who seemed genuinely pleased. For some reason, the idea Eden was content after so short a time irritated him.
Right uppercut, he said to Sofi.
"Nice shot, Sofi!" Darian called a moment later. "Almost got him."
"These Guardians are remarkable. I recall those I met before the Schism. I don't remember them being as dedicated or genuine or approachable," Eden said. "There was always a divide before the Schism."
"Or maybe those Guardians knew you wanted to wipe out their world," Xander pointed out. "Your second attempt was almost as successful as your first."
"Possibly. I suppose that didn't help things at all." Eden grinned, appearing even younger than Xander remembered.
Fake left, right to the kidney, Xander instructed the Oracle in the ring.
A second later, Sofi gave a cry of victory. She yanked off the gloves and headgear.
"One hit, I'm out," she said to Dusty. "Those are the rules."
"Sofi," he objected. "You need to learn."
"I told you, I don't need to. I'm an Oracle. I can make it so the fight never happens," she returned. Not giving him a chance to argue, she ducked through the ropes and leapt to the floor. "We're done, Xander." She breezed past him towards the entrance.
Realization crossed Dusty's face. "Fucking Oracles," he said.
His part of their deal fulfilled, Xander turned to Eden.
"I'll be staying," Eden said. The sparkle in her gaze made Xander wary.
"Why?"
"I like it here, and I've got nowhere else to go. Besides" Eden winked "Sofi and I have a bet about you."
Two fucking Oracles. Both of them had an interest in Xander's life, one out of spite and the other out of a sense of shared history.
"You know where to find me," Xander said and stepped away. Before any of them were able to remind him to call next time before he dropped in, he was gone.
Back to his condo, where the cat waited for him at the top of the stairs overlooking the front door. Not that he used the front door, but it's where Cat was always perched when he returned.