He sent a picture to Grey through WeChat.

When he saw that Grey hearted the picture, Lucien picked up a slice from the cheese pizza and slowly pulled it away from him as he took a bite.

The melty mozzarella stretched, his teeth biting into the soft cheese. He savoured the food until he finished at least half of the pizza.

"A bite of this and the world feels right again."

Lucien said warmly.

His once low mood lightened up a little.

He grabbed the glass of iced orange juice and downed it in a few quick gulps.

'Pwah' 

He wiped off the orange juice residue from his mouth and tossed the container away, the taste still lingering like a certain person in his mind.

He stared meaningfully at his phone's dark screen, the screen reflected his raw emotions, seemingly always hidden behind a mask.

It was the first time that anyone cared for him in such an honest way other than his family.

This time, he was really moved.

From his past, he knew that his trust in people was already at it's lowest, and he wasn't willing to regain it either. 

So when he accepted a friend request from some random person that cheated to beat him in a 1v1, he didn't expect that person to be an actual, real friend.

At first, he was skeptical on what his intentions were, but as they played more and more, that thought seemed to just drift away.

Lucien enjoyed the feeling of playing his favourite game with a like-minded person.

Although he was annoying sometimes, he knew that he could trust him.

Lucien believed that letting such a person enter his life, even just a little bit, would bring disaster.

But the countless nights of raiding bosses and cooking all sorts of dishes, from waffles to zombie steaks was incredibly liberating, and sort of freed the loneliness he didn't know he was even feeling.

Now, Lucien knew what to do. 

He picked up his phone and typed a few words to Grey.

[ Lucien ] : "Wanna play? I'm up for it now."

A few seconds passed, but Grey did not disappoint.

[ Grey ] : "Are you kidding? Of course."

Although separated by screens, the two laughed simultaneously, like their sense of humor was tied together.

Lucien logged into the game and spawned in the rooftop he was previously killing zombies in.

Grey requested a teleport invite, and Lucien accepted it.

<[ KillSwitch ] : "Hey, baby."

Feeling a bit shy, Lucien typed in the words that made him blush,

<{ [ BloodReign_666 ] } : "Do I have to?"

Grey let out a small chuckle at Lucien's lovely response, he typed,

<[ KillSwitch ] : "Of course, it's incredibly important that married couples show affection, otherwise it's destined to fall apart."

Feeling like his logic made sense, but also not really, made Lucien start to rebel against KillSwitch.

<{ [ BloodReign_666 ] } : "It's okay, we don't actually have to do it, since we're just doing it for the benefits, we don't have to act like a real married couple, don't we?"

Lucien hit "enter" and patted his chest, he spit out some cool and smart lines on the spot and was very proud.

Grey scoffed, this kid was really, well it's good that he consoled him first, giving sugar before spanking him was a good way to soften the blow.

<[ KillSwitch ] : "Oh really? Then does that mean we can stop the wedding now? It's not too late, I can still message the developers, then they can take back the rewards and give them to someone else."

"Take back?! No!!" Lucien's mouth gaped, his palms started to sweat, yet he didn't foresee this type of ending.

<{ [ BloodReign_666 ] } :"Just-- Just kidding! Haha! Baby, you're taking my words too seriously. Obviously it was just a joke."

Lucien's heart wanted to beat out of his chest, he just barely managed to save himself, and sighed a heavy sigh of relief. He cradled his hands that were shaking badly.

Grey smiled, getting the answer he wanted, he typed leisurely on the computer, letting BloodReign's previous disobedience pass.

<[ KillSwitch ] :"Good, for a second I thought you were being serious. Silly me."

Lucien choked on his water, he tried to type with his slightly shaky fingers,

<{ [ BloodReign_666 ] } : "That's right! Hehe... Let's not dilly dally now, i heard there's a new zombie king in the Cohort city, we should check that out...."

Huh, trying to escape? Grey's face started to darken, the beating isn't over just yet.

<[ KillSwitch ] : "Oh? But what if i actually did report you to the developer? Didn't you dual boost the weapon already? Since the scythe isn't even obtainable in-game then i suppose you will have to pay for it."

<[ KillSwitch ] : "Tough luck. Tch, tch,...."

Lucien wanted to cry, he thought he successfully avoided the problem but it just seemed to grow worse.

<{ [ BloodReign_666 ] } :"Um, Grey! There's really no need to think too far into that, i was just joking... Just joking..."

Grey's eye's targeted his name in BloodReign's text message, his piercing gaze was so intense it could almost drill a hole in the monitor.

It was no joke what he felt at this moment, the game that was just that seemed to turn real when Lucien typed his name in the chatbox.

Like they were regular old friends that knew each other in real life.

He couldn't hold onto this desire, and directly typed in the chatbox,

<[ KillSwitch ] : "I won't report you as long as we call each other by our real names."

Lucien felt threatened, but he really didn't have enough money to pay such a hefty fee for the boosted scythe.

<{ [ BloodReign_666 ] } : "Oh come on, don't be like that, you could've just asked me and there would be no problem."

<[ KillSwitch ] : "It's just, I want a guarantee, let's count it as even with your unfunny joke from earlier."

Lucien sighed, he wondered what type of person KillSwitch was off screen, he only knew his name and that's about it.

While fighting the zombie king in Cohort city, Lucien kept thinking about KillSwitch's reality, he thought of Grey as an old business man that still liked to play games.

Lucien shaked his head, they were in the middle of a fight right now, it's not right to be distracted, he needs to focus.

BloodReign respawned awkwardly at the rooftop and KillSwitch swiftly followed.

<[ KillSwitch ] : "What's wrong? What got you so distracted..."

Lucien felt ashamed, but curiousity claimed him, and he decided that being honest was the only way for his overthinking mind to finally calm down.

<{ [ BloodReign_666 ] } :"Umm, Grey, I was just curious, how old are you?"

Grey's eyes showed a slight glint, but quickly made a hurt expression.

He was suprised, and didn't expect such a question from him, but nonetheless replied honestly.

<[ KillSwitch ] :"Don't worry, I'm not as old as you think. I'm only 24 years old."

"Haaaaa....!???!!" Lucien couldn't believe his eyes, was he hallucinating? Did the lack of sleep finally get him? He tried opening and closing his eyes again and again but the bunch of text was still there.

<{ [ BloodReign_666 ] } : "It can't be..."

<[ KillSwitch ] : "What can't? Anything is possible, maybe your prejudice made you think i was some middle aged man?"

Exactly. Lucien thought, but saying it out loud would be shameful.

Quickly masking his face of surprise to a much cooler and indifferent one, his reply was like a 360 from his real thoughts.

<{ [ BloodReign_666 ] } : "No, i meant, it was exactly what i was thinking! Of course older folks aren't likely to play such violent games like EVE...."

Grey chuckled, and wanted to tease him even more,

<[ KillSwitch ] : "Oh? Now you're saying that the elderly can't play fps games? Look at the world around you, Lucien. Don't let your mind become so narrow and unbending. It's 20XX already, everyone can play games."

"Ugh!! Stop twisting my words!!" Lucien was irritated by KillSwitch's deliberate provocation, it was just like that time when he asked him to 1v1 him....

<{ [ BloodReign_666 ] } : "Alright i got it already! No need to type it over and over, have mercy for your keyboard, it'll wear down sooner than when a year passes."

Grey chuckled, feeling quite satisfied with Lucien's reaction to his teasing,

<[ KillSwitch ] : "You're even worried about my keyboard? How sweet. My wife is really the best."