Page 27 of Our Final Game

“Fuck, I think there’s a safety map somewhere around here.” I scan the area quickly and head off to the right. I think that’s where the map I’m thinking of is. We built in little areas where there are no monsters in case players get lost, at least they can rest and have their character sleep outside the towns for the night. Only the maps are harder to find as they’re hidden.

But obviously, I think I remember where it is.

I carry Rohan in my arms as we get closer to the safe zone. Fireflies dance around us, giving off a purple glow. A big tree is up ahead, signaling to me that this is the spot. The tree somewhat resembles a willow; its purple-pink leaves hang low off its branches. I make my way underneath the brush and place Rohan’s body down. Pulling off my cloak, I cover his sleeping form with it. He sighs and shivers a little.

He’s still cold, and he can’t sleep like this throughout the night.

I need to build a fire, or his HP might start to drop.

There are a few other trees not too far away, so I head over to them, summoning my swords before hacking the smaller ones. I collect the wood loot and bring it closer to Rohan’s body. I place the logs down before using a low-level fire magic to set them aflame. Hopefully this stays lit all night. I can see his body relax as the heat wafts over to him.

A sigh of relief passes between my lips. “What am I going to do with you?” I stare at him sleeping so peacefully. His eyes shift beneath his lids. He must be dreaming about something.

I sit by the fire for a while and check our quest log to see if anything else has come up, seeing as the first quest came in the middle of the night. Speaking of that, this is all still too strange, and nothing is making sense. The quest we’re completing doesn’t seem like it’ll tell us anything about why or how we got trapped in here. If anything, it seems like any other low-level quest from a townsfolk NPC. And Leon. I’m not a part of the design team, but I’ve been testing the game long enough to become familiar with most of our NPCs.

Maybe he was just added during an update.

Fuck if I know at this point.

The flame crackles and blazes in front of me as I feel my eyes drooping lower. I should probably try to sleep for a little. There’s nothing else to do anyway, so I lie down next to Rohan and face him. I do need to keep an eye on him for a little while longer, though. I’ll try to stay awake as long as I can in case something changes. I blink slowly, watching his breath pass between his lips. His lashes are so long they kiss his cheeks. He really is breathtaking. But fuck, he’s so stubborn and ridiculous. Risking his life, and for what? I wish I could understand him, but I don’t.

Rohan shifts in his sleep, moving his body closer to mine, and I freeze. I don’t want him getting any of his stupid ideas, so I try to move away a little, but he just leans in even more, closing the distance between us until he’s flush against me.

Fuck.

He snuggles his face into my chest, and my throat runs completely dry. He’s so close I can smell the water still on his skin and in his hair. I should probably push him away, but I don’t. He seems so satisfied and relaxed. And after almost drowning, he should at least have that. Who knows? Maybe he’s having a nice dream about a guy he likes.

His perfect version of Zero, probably.

Before he knew it was me.

He’s really refusing to acknowledge the fact that we’re the same person. Not that I have a problem with that. I’m glad we never got personal, but Rohan seems a bit more upset by our little coincidence. I can’t see why, though, he should have no problem getting guys. No need for him to be hung up on some internet crush. Especially seeing as he’s much sweeter with men he actually likes, so his mouth shouldn’t be a problem.

Or did he really like me that much?

I chuckle at the thought.

Chapter 13

Rohan

My body feels a bit heavy as I blink slowly, my eyes still adjusting to the darkness around me, us. I can hear a flame, low and burning somewhere near my back. On instinct, I press my face into whatever it is I’m cuddled against. Cuddled. Against. My eyes fly open. I tilt my head slightly to stare up at Tyson, who’s still asleep, his arm wrapped around my waist and his cloak covering both of us, mostly me; the black fur lining across the collar feels warm against my cheek.

Holy shit.

I drowned.

I drowned in the fucking river, and Tyson saved me.

Tyson. Saved me.

I’m so fucking stupid. I feel embarrassed, and maybe he only saved me because if I die, he might die. But still, I’m thankful. What a shitty way to go that would’ve been. All because I didn’t want to admit I couldn’t swim. I didn’t want Tyson helping me. But I think dying is way worse. And the look on Tyson’s face. I feel bad for scaring him like that.

I should have just let him carry me across. Besides, being up against his body isn’t so bad. I wonder if we fell asleep like this or if I snuggled closer myself. I tend to do that in my sleep. I always need to be cuddled against something. Usually my body pillow, but I can’t say this isn’t better.

I just wish it wasn’t Tyson.

“Thanks for saving me,” I whisper, my eyes flicking to his gamer tag and slowly to his lips. I think I remember the feeling of them on mine when he was giving me CPR. My cheeks burn just thinking about how soft they were and the metal rings against my mouth.