“You’re pretty good at this. Has our captain actually played games before?” I asked between throwing my punch and dodging his.
“I spent more hours on this than I care to admit.” He swung out his leg, and I felt the wind of his kick in reality. The asshole was actually doing some of the moves. If he hit me, I would make him regret it!
“And yet I’ve never seen you on the scoreboard,” I replied.
“Youthinkyou haven’t.”
“Oh yeah, what’s your screen name?”
“Like I would tell you that.”
“Because it’s low on the scoreboard, isn’t it?” I flinched when he landed a good punch that brought my toon down to half health.
“I suggest you focus on the match rather than tease me.”
“I can do both. Iamthe viz champion.” I swung my elbow up, hitting his character in the chin. The sirens blared, warning Roys that his character was weakening.
His toon managed two good hits that had my sirens going off. Gritting my teeth, I went in for the final blow; otherwise, he’d take my position, and I couldn’t allow that. I lost my troublemaker status to Zavier. He wouldn’t take my remaining title!
After another hit, I defended my honor. Roys’ character evaporated into dust from that last combo. My loyal friends cheered for my victory. Arana booed louder than everyone else. Laughing, Roys took off the headset, as did I. He settled a hand on my back. I thought the idiot would kiss me. The thought was so clear in his eyes. The desire bloomed fervently within me. I nearly threw all caution to the wind and took what I wanted, urged by curiosity to see how he would react, if I could get him red and flustered in front of the troops.
Roys backed off. “You’d give a straier a run for their money.”
He sounded sincere, like all the times he said I could do more weren’t for show, that he might have seen something in me I didn’t.
“Ugh, don’t say that. It’ll all go to his head,” Arana whined.
I ignored her while Roys handed the headset to Lilea.
“But now I need a drink after that embarrassment,” he said.
“Your loss was inevitable.” I tossed the headset into Iylene’s awaiting arms. They joined up with Lilea for another round.
Maddy and a few of the survey team sat in the communal area. She watched Lilea and Iylene’s game next. When she caught me staring, her eyes narrowed in warning. Sitting by her wasn’t an option. Attempting to chat was even less likely, so I followed Roys into the kitchens where he grabbed a cold beer and offered me one.
“You really do drink. I thought you were fucking with me the other night,” I said.
“I partake on occasion.” He popped off the top and chugged half of it. I was far too transfixed in watching his adam’s apple for it to be healthy. “I know all of you think I’m the most boring man alive.”
“Know. Not think.”
“I can have a good time every now and again; it’s you lot,” he gestured out of the kitchen, then singled in on me, “that prevent me from doing anything other than fret and rip out my hair. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m bald by the end of this tour.”
“I think you could pull the look off.”
“That sounded like a compliment.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
He hummed and took another drink, leaning against the counter. I mirrored him, leaving a space between us, regardless of his warmth beckoning me. I wasn’t sure when he started pulling me closer without having to do a damn thing.
“Don’t I at least get an upgrade frommost boring man aliveafter my earlier display?” he asked.
“No, because wanting to play games is the bare minimum. You’ve only disproven my group’s theory.”
He scratched his arm. “Which is?”
“That you’re an android struggling with its human programming.”
