Xisuma's POV

When I wake up, I'm feeling unusually positive. I don't know why, but it kind of feels nice. Then I remember the promise I made to myself last night and my stomach drops like a heavy rock.

I had been with Scar, helping him finish a build, when he asked me why I was wearing my helmet. He said we were the only pair here, and that it was ok to take it off, seeing as he's already seen my face.

I got uncomfortable, and quickly made an excuse to go, leaving my friend by himself. I can only imagine how bad he felt, and so to combat my immense fear of... well... myself, I've decided to go a whole day without wearing my helmet.

Looking up at my reflection in a mirror, I begin to have second thoughts about this. My hair's all messy, and my tail won't stop flicking nervously, the purple spikes sticking up the way they do when I'm worried.

I look over at my helmet, which is still on my bed, and seriously consider backing out of this. Instead, I turn back to face my reflection, and take a deep breath.

"Do it for Scar" I tell myself, before leaving my base.

Unfortunately, I ran out of concrete for the 3rd time this week, and the first thing I had planned for today was to buy more. This meant going to the busiest place on the server, and on a Saturday too, when most Hermits take a weekend break and hang out at the Shopping District.

Team Z.I.T are hanging out in front of Whole Lotta Terracotta, Zedaph and Tango having a competition to see who can drink their milkshake fastest without getting a brain freeze while Impulse times them.

I try to keep my head down and get past quickly, my heart racing and pounding in my tightening chest. Tango looks up, seeming very confused for a second, before he squints and realises it's me.

Eyes widening in shock, he chokes, pink milkshake squirting out his nose in a rather gross manner. Impulse and Zed both look up too, the latter choking on his chocolate milkshake in a similar matter.

"W-was that Xisuma?!" I hear Impulse gasp behind me

"I think so? Did he have little horns in his hair?" Zed wonders

"There is only one possible explanation for this" Tango tells them

"We're dreaming" The three conclude in unison, going back to their drinks

I quicken my pace to get away, unfortunately running into Iskall and Mumbo. Neither notice me, Iskall merely bouncing a slime ball off the wall. For a moment, I think I might be able to get past them.

Iskall then turns and sees me, and is so alarmed they misfire the slime into Mumbo's face. Mumbo then looks up too, and is very much surprised.

"X-Xisuma?!"

"Hi" I mumble, continuing to walk. This was going worse then expected... there's so many people here!

Things suddenly get so much worse when I see The Convex sitting directly in front of the concrete shop, counting their profits. Of all the people on the server, Scar was the only one I was hoping NOT to run into right now, knowing how badly I'll make a fool of myself.

"E-excuse me" I mumble, only catching their attention.

Scar looks very surprised, before smiling. Cub, on the other hand, appears to have inhaled his cake, and chokes on it briefly, before looking back at me with wide eyes. Scar sharply elbows him.

"It's rude to stare Cubby!" He scolds his partner, as if Cub was only a child. I quickly open the door, entering the shop and slamming it shut behind me.

I hear a bit of talking, then rockets as someone, or possibly both of them, leave. I want to kick myself. This was such a mistake! Why the heck did I expect not to see anyone! Now they're probably all talking about me and my face and-

I stop when I hear the door open.

"Still like you better without the helmet" Scar tells me with a smile.

I sigh with relief, glad it's only him.

"I hate it so much." I admit. "I'm only doing this because you asked me to... and I kinda feel like 6 years is too long to try and hide from the Hermits like this."

"So you just... did it?"

"I guess, yeah."

"We'll then I'm proud of you." He admits, hugging me.

"Thanks Sca-"

SLAM!

The door bursts open, twenty something Hermits tumbling through. I jump away from Scar, not sure whether to be more alarmed about the Hermits' sudden arrival, or the fact that they're all staring at us.

Grian's jaw is practically hitting the floor, his eyes darting between the two of us.

"NO WAY"

Biffa's bursting into fits of laughter, and the rest just look shocked.

"You two- Xisuma doesn't... what?!" Python gasps

"Wow... X looks cool" Wels admits

"ARE YOU LOT SERIOUS?!" Stress shrieks "YOU DON'T JUST BURST INTO A SHOP AND INTERRUPT A BUDDING RELATIONSHIP! AND STOP STARING AT X, HE'S NOT A MUSEUM DISPLAY!"

"Budding Relationship?" Cub repeats without hesitation, Tango, Doc, Biffa, TFC, Grian, Cleo and Iskall breaking down into snickers.

"I'm totally telling the rest of the NHO about this!" Doc laughs.

"Stop it!" I snap, sounding harsher than I meant to. "I know you think this is funny, but it really isn't. I'm not into any of you that way, or anyone at all, and I'd rather if you didn't try to suggest that I am."

The Hermits all go quiet for a moment, before Cleo speaks up.

"Am I misinterpreting this, or did X just come out as Aro-Ace?"

"If it means I don't feel attraction to people, then sure." I sigh, burying my face in my hands. "I guess that sums it up."

Scar looks guilty, and he gently taps my shoulder to get my attention.

"Um... I'm sorry if I made you feel like I wanted to be anything more than friends." He admits. "I just wanted to help you feel better, I didn't mean for it to come across that wa-"

"Oh, goodness no!" I quickly interrupt. "I only ever saw and thought of you as a friend Scar, if I felt like there was anything else there I would have asked you about it."

"Ok then, glad that's cleared up." He sighs, sounding genuinely relieved.

"So... now can we just talk about how amazing X's face looks?" Tango asks, making me go red with embarrassment as everyone turns their attention to that again.

"I know, right?" Scar replies. "His eyes are so cool!"

I glance up at him, surprised by the positive remark. He simply smiles at me, as if to tell me 'it's ok'.

"Your scar is so cool!" Wels admits, staring at the 'X' between my eyes.

"Is that why you're called Xisuma?" Stress asks.

"I... have no idea." I admit, laughing a little as the Hermits crowd me. 

"Why did you want to hide your face from us?"

TFC's voice cuts through the chaos of everyone else's, and the room goes quiet. Some Hermits look a little hurt at the idea that I might not have trusted them, and I sigh.

"I was... scared." I admit. "I was only 19 when I was left in charge of this place, and it was terrifying. I wasn't sure how to handle the responsibility, so I decided to hide behind my helmet and pretend I was ok."

My friends' faces are filled with sympathy and guilt, especially Joe's.

"X... you didn't need to pretend you weren't scared. We could have helped you, or we could..."

He cuts himself off, just sighing.

"Just come here you idiot."

Despite being quite a bit shorter than me, Joe's still a brilliant hugger. I smile, letting him (and everyone else) embrace me and for once allowing myself to be looked after.

"Now Xisuma, promise me that you'll come to us whenever you're not ok." He insists.

"But-"

"PROMISE!"

"...Fine, I promise."