🎮 gaming 🎮

Sae truly hates how good games are at stealing his sleep.

He'd sat down "for one match" at 10pm. It is now 2:47 AM.

His monitor glows softly in their dim living room, headset low over messy hair, expression locked in competitive concentration. Fingers tapping. Eyes narrowed. That signature quiet intensity about him.

He would look intimidating if not for the full-grown, blond menace latched onto him like a clingy backpack.

Shidou is curled around Sae from behind—arms draped across Sae's torso, face tucked into his shoulder, legs tangled under the blanket they're sharing on the couch. Completely glued to him.

Sae doesn't move him. He pretends he can't, but the truth is he likes it. Too much.

Shidou murmurs sleepily against Sae's neck, warm breath sending shivers down him.

"Sae... come to bed... your hands are cold."

Sae breathes slowly. Focus. Focus. Kill. Assist. Reload.

"I'm in the middle of a match."

"So ditch it an' cuddle me." Shidou whines softly. "I'm cold. I need my heater... a.k.a. you."

Sae's ears turn pink. His voice stays flat. Mostly.

"My warmth is not a public resource."

"It is when I say so," Shidou mumbles, squeezing him tighter like a koala refusing to let go of a eucalyptus tree. "You're comfy. Smell nice. Warm. Perfect cuddles."

Sae misses a shot. Game character dies on screen. His teammates flame him in chat.

He blames Shidou. Obviously.

"You're distracting."

Shidou lifts his head, squinting sleepily.

"Yeah? I better be. I'm your boyfriend, not background noise."

Sae tries to hide the tiny smile tugging at his lips. Fails miserably.

Shidou nuzzles his cheek, half-asleep affection oozing dangerously strong.

"Love holding you... like my own grumpy teddy bear..."

Sae's heart does a ridiculous, embarrassing thing in his chest. His gameplay? Gone. Completely ruined.

He quietly logs out mid-lobby, ignoring the angry chat.

Shidou, victorious, smirks.

"Ha. You love me."

Sae scoops Shidou up suddenly bridal-style, making him yelp. Shidou's arms fly around Sae's neck instinctively.

"Stop saying dramatic things at 3 AM."

"Can't help it. I'm emotionally inspired."

"You're emotionally annoying."

"Oh? But you're carrying me to bed." Smug grin. "Which means you love me back."

Sae tightens his hold and starts walking to the bedroom.

"I'm carrying you because if I don't, you'll trip and break something."

"Aww, worried about your man~?"

"Worried you'll ruin my sleep schedule even more."

Shidou bumps his forehead against Sae's, soft and sleepy and so affectionate it physically hurts.

"Good. Then let's sleep. But you gotta hold me."

Sae lays him down and slides in beside him, trying to act casual while Shidou wraps around him again like he was designed to fit there.

Shidou whispers, voice melting:

"Night, Sae... my favorite person."

Sae freezes for half a second, breath catching.

Then, very quietly—barely a whisper:

"...Goodnight. Koala."

Shidou grins so hard his face might crack.

"Knew you loved me."

"...Shut up and sleep."

Shidou presses a soft kiss to Sae's jaw and promptly passes out on him again, arms snug and secure, like he's never letting go.

Sae lies awake for a minute, staring at the ceiling, heart traitorously warm.

He mutters into Shidou's hair:

"...Yeah. I love you."

Shidou, half-asleep:

"Knew it."