In the small corridor, a short horizontal shelf covered in shoes nested below a series of hooks, containing jackets and umbrellas. Stretched out in front of you was a short hallway with two openings, one leading to the kitchen and the other a set of stairs. Very little decorations littered the walls. The only noticeable piece of furniture from your view was a miniature table topped with several dead flowers in a waterless vase. It was just how you remembered.
As you stepped forth, an uneasy feeling settled in your stomach. You had been to Feitan's apartment several times in the past but for the first time you felt anxious. You quickly shrugged the feeling away.
"I'm home," Feitan's monotone voice was greeted by the aroma of dumplings. The raven haired teen turned to face you. He kneeled, taking off his shoes. You followed his lead. "Looks like Phinks made dinner," he stated. His eyes squinted in a smirk, "He can be very feminine at times."
"What was that you brat?" Phinks roared. A tall, muscular blond assembled in the hallway. His usual jumpsuit was accompanied by an apron. You and Feitan gave a chuckle. "Get out of those wet clothes," he ordered throwing hand towels at you and Feitan, "and hurry back before the food is cold."
You returned to the kitchen clad in an over sized shirt and shorts. Feitan was already seated across from Phinks. The pair, enveloped in their discussion, gave little interest to your return. With every step, the familiar scent of a teenage boy filled your nostrils. You clenched the baggy shorts. You found it nauseating and stupid yet couldn't quite understand why wearing the clothes of your closest friend sent tremors all throughout your stomach. You took the empty spot next to Feitan as you piled your plate high. Food would calm you down.
"Feeling lonely without Boss?" Feitan picked over his plate as the question seemed to provoke the blond. You chewed silently, following their conversation.
Boss? Maybe the troupe really is a gang.
"Well, I'm tired of waiting!" Phinks retorted, slamming his fists down on the table, "How are we supposed to get Gold now?"
Gold?
Feitan shrugged, "Once he's back."
Phinks gritted his teeth. He was a rather impatient fellow. "Some of the other Spiders want to get in a match tonight," he proclaimed, "So hurry up and eat."
That's right the Phantom Troupe call themselves Spiders.
"Wait match?" the words were muffled from the dumplings stuffed into your mouth. Feitan and Phinks turned their attention to you.
"League," Phinks glared, tapping his knee.
"League?"
"League of Legends," Feitan clarified. You nearly choked as you toppled over in laughter.
"LEAGUE OF LEGENDS?! And here I thought the Phantom Troupe was a gang!" You rolled on the carpeted floor. An irritated Phinks silently ate his meal. A grin flashed over Feitan's lips. Your laughing fits were always the cutest.
…
Demonic RL Hand: GG!
Blinkey08: Fei! Where did all that come from?
Aut0_Pilot: Oi, Blinkey we agreed to not use our real names in game. But Pain you really carried today.
Ripper Cyclotron: He's probably feeling confident since his girlfriend is here.
Blinkey08: EH! GIRLFRIEND?
Demonic RL Hand: Pain, really?
Ripper Cyclotron: Why else wouldn't he want us to Skype call?
Aut0_Pilot: True! It is quite rare for us to use in game chat
xPainPackerx: Ripper you talk too much. She isn't my girlfriend. Yet.
Ripper Cyclotron: Well don't do anything crazy tonight. I want to sleep without hearing any weird noises.
Blinkey08: !
Aut0_Pilot: oh dear.
xPainPackerx: Shut up and start the next match. I'm getting on Skype now.
You creaked open the door to Feitan's room, throwing your overnight bag carelessly onto the floor. Although spacious, Feitan kept his room very simple. The white walls, void of decorations, were in contrast with the dark furniture that occupied most of the room. His bed, covered in dark blankets, rested on the wall across from his desktop computer.
Settling on the bed, you opened your bag of snacks and started up your laptop. You slouched onto the heap of pillows, occasionally stealing a few glances as the teenager focused intently on his game. Skull decorated headphones adorned his head and the skull bandana still covered his mouth. What was up with this kid and skulls? You opened your browser to tumblr. Ogling Feitan for so long was becoming creepy.
Upon the conclusion of your instrumental playlist, endless clicking filled the room. A few mutters from Feitan to his fellow Spiders caused you to chuckle. It was astounding how the infamous Phantom Troupe was just a League of Legends guild.
"Piece of crap."
Your ears perked up, noticing the change in dialect. With keen eyes, you peered over at the raven haired teen. His gaze was completely devoted to the match. His right hand clutched the mouse with his index finger clicking away, while his left hand was poised over the keys Q, W, E, and R. You found yourself blushing as the male mumbled more words in this foreign tongue. It was still true that Feitan spoke broken Japanese when irritated. A dorky grin wiped across your lips. Feitan's accent was rather cute and this frustrated Feitan was even cuter.
"I'm going to shower," Feitan breathed, throwing off his head phones and heading towards the door. His voice, although soft carried a piqued tone.
"Feitan," your eyes followed his leaving figure, "Can you say something in Chinese?" Feitan paused in the doorway. He glanced back, staring blankly into your [e/c] eyes.
"No," he exhaled. It appeared the male was still tense from his previous match.
"Oh come on Feitan! Don't be such a grouch," you let out a laugh, reaching for Feitan's arm. The boy offered an indifferent stare, although he allowed his body to be swept away by your motion. You poked his side, trying to get his apathetic expression to change, "Just a few words. Please Fei?"
The male's gaze shifted from the door to the [h/c] haired female resting on his bed. A faint smirk curled at the corner of his lips. He carried a particular fondness for this nickname, especially when it was uttered by you.
The seconds of Feitan's half lidded stare felt like eternity. You fidgeted under the gaze of his dark grey eyes as a wave of self consciousness overcame you. Your eyes shifted to the empty computer chair.
"Well?" You breathed. The teenage boy slipped his hands into his jacket pockets as he flashed a sly grin.
"[f/n]."
You hesitated before looking up, "What?"
"Shǎ nǚhái. Wǒài nǐ."
You didn't understand Feitan's native tongue but oddly enough the pronunciation made your heart swell. You gulped down the intense pounding of your heart and cocked an eyebrow.
"That sounded like an insult," you hissed.
With a snicker, Feitan scurried down the hallway, "Maybe."
A pink hue tinted your cheeks. Perhaps things were changing. Just a little.