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It's been a month now. It's been a month since Avery entered this strange world of minecraft on a laptop from a storage. It's been a month since he found out about d3lord3. It's been a month since someone took care of Avery for the first time in a long time. It's been a month since Avery found out about Derek. It's been a month since the story of the King ended. A month ago, Avery witnessed, so to speak, the death of a man he had known for less than a day and whom he hardly knew. It's been a month since Avery lost his closest friend on New Year's Eve. And it's been a month since Avery found out a couple of hours later that Derek had survived.
Avery almost burst into tears when he saw the messages in the discord from a familiar nickname. But he didn't cry. No. Not after he'd already shed all his tears over Derek's farewell message. No. Avery didn't believe it. But he hoped. Avery was hoping, so he answered the call.
With blurred eyes, he looked at the demonstration of the Minecraft screen with a familiar account and shouted at Derek to close this diabolical game, or even better, delete it, as he had done himself. Then, in a trembling and broken voice, he frantically questioned Derek about his condition, begged him to go to the hospital and the police, and sobbed to Derek's comforting whispers.
According to Derek, he didn't know how he survived. All he knew was that it was very, very painful, and then the pain was over. And then Derek realized that the King had disappeared from his head, as well as almost all knowledge about the universe. There are only those that his brain has managed to process, which is also quite a lot, but "Avery, this knowledge is only a grain compared to the universe, so I can easily withstand it, don't worry" — "You were going to die and now you say "don't worry"?!".
But Avery couldn't really argue about it that night, when relief was pouring out of his body in every way. A miracle happened. A New Year's miracle, no doubt. Fate seems to have taken pity on both of them, because Avery can't explain it any other way. He doesn't want to. All he wants is to make sure Derek is safe, and then get to know him properly.
And so it happened. Derek went to the hospital (and he forced Avery, even though Avery insisted that he wasn't hurt at all, unlike Derek), and after careful examinations, checks, and other things, both exhaled when it became clear that neither of them was in danger of imminent death or something.
And then it only remains to fulfill the second wish. Avery and Derek called each other every day for several hours, doing nothing but talking (yes, after what happened, Avery had a slight fear of all games, but not of all technology, which is commendable (Derek said it was commendable (in fact, he called it a bunch of much bolder words that are completely don't fit Avery's description, but Derek wouldn't lie))). But he didn't need anything more. Avery had enough of a normal conversation without background activity (not enough, he wanted to sit in the call longer; why do people need eat and sleep?).
And, as it turned out, Avery knew more about Derek. While he was experiencing the loss, it seemed that apart from the name, he did not know anything about this person. But it wasn't like that, no. Avery already knew from the recordings of the game that Derek was smart, savvy, determined, curious, incredibly kind and caring, but terribly lonely, because no one came to him, like Avery himself, on New Year's Eve. Derek makes small pauses before starting to speak, as if polishing and collecting thoughts on his tongue, as he writes a message in a chat: everything is perfectly staged, without errors and typos (in this case, reservations). Derek had a beautiful voice, although a little different than Avery had imagined, but his laugh was exactly what he expected. Short, slightly hoarse, but for some reason always such gentle laughs, coming in a continuous wave in case Avery said or did something particularly funny. Derek was a great listener to all the stories, constantly asking questions about little things that no one would normally pay attention to, and always showing interest, even though he knew all Avery's stories.
And then they met in person. Derek had old-fashioned taste in clothes, but somehow it suited him. He was taller than Avery. His smile was bright. It turned out that Derek is very tactile, but he will never show it unless you touch him first. Until then, he will hold himself straight, with his back straight and his arms at his sides. Derek's hands were always warm, his hair was fluffy, and his dark eyes were sparkling. His grip could be painfully tight, like when he pulled Avery off the road by the shoulder; it could be very light, but with a tangible presence when he was trying to convince Avery of something; and sometimes, when he led Avery to his favorite places, his fingers tapped lightly on someone else's wrist in excitement. Derek's embrace was secure, protective, safe. Derek breathed evenly, hugged Avery to him, drew figures on Avery's back with his hands, and pressed his chin to his head. When they happened to be hugging on the stairs, and Avery was taller, Derek put his ear to his chest. And when they were lying on the couch watching a movie and were on the same level, Derek always pressed cheek to cheek. Derek's lips were warm, dry, and a little cracked. Avery found out when Derek kissed him on the forehead before going to bed.
Then they had to separate, but Derek promised to move closer soon (maybe even to Avery). Until then, they called each other endlessly and chatted about whatever came to mind. Like now.
"And then I was offered the position of head of the club, can you imagine?" Avery says into the phone. "And I refused. Of course, I know that nothing would have worked out for me, because I have no leadership skills, no mind, no vision, but it was worth the try."
"You'd do great," Derek tells him.
"You don't know," Avery objects.
"Avery, I've been literally pumped with knowledge about the whole world, I know your past, future, and things that never happened to you. And I know you'd do a great job."
"Yeah, right, I forgot, I'm sorry," Avery awkwardly rubs the back of her head. Then it hits him, and he continues, almost in a whisper. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, Avery," Derek says firmly. "Don't underestimate yourself. It would be great if you tried. But there's nothing wrong with not trying it either."
"Thanks," Avery muttered.
His cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. It would seem that Avery should get used to it, because Derek constantly praised him and complimented him, but each time the embarrassment, on the contrary, only grew. Laughter chirped in his throat, but it didn't come out.
"Avery, classes will start soon. Stop talking to your boyfriend, or you won't have time to eat and you'll be late," a classmate barked as she walked past him.
Avery choked. His face was burning.
"That's, uh-"
"Don't pay attention," Derek says simply, with barely noticeable anger in his voice because of such an attitude, such "care", especially after knowing that Avery spent New Year's Eve alone, and just stayed in a daze for twelve hours without anyone's help. He seemed completely oblivious to the rest of the words.
"I wasn't going to," Avery says. "But classes will really start soon.
"Don't forget to eat," Derek reminds him.
"Yes, of course," and then, in a strange outburst, on one exhale, he said, "I love you, bye."
"I love you too, see you later.".
A beep signaled the end of the call. Avery sighed heavily.
"What are you, arghh!"
Not wanting to think much about it, he began еating his sandwich. And if Avery had a silly smile on his face for the rest of the break and the whole classes, then no one said anything.