It's been so long since Ash could look anyone in the eyes. He wouldn't be able to tell the last time he could do so. Time smelted into itself when all reasons to care vanished. He could only tell difference between day and night and sometimes even that got tricky when dark gray clouds of polution spreaded through the sky. For Ash it was always game night. Completing fictional tasks became the only drop of cheer left in his existence. Unfortunately for him cartridges don't last forever. He felt force stronger than anything he has ever encountered to find a friend. Or better said make one, since there was no one else left behind. After a wander in cruel dead world he finally had a reason to smile.
There was a new friend right in front of him hanging from a beam. Ash's mind blossomed with excitement, a feeling he almost forgot in the enless amount of time. He reached his nubby arms to the torso of his newfound companion to get him on the ground. And with the lack of dexterity in Ash's hands, friend collapsed right on him. This tortured loner happened to be embraced by arms of cold rotting matter without any signs of life. Yet his mind sparkled comfort he couldn't sense for so long.
„I'm…. Happy to meet you to man!" Ash startled by surprise. „I didn't expect you to hug me in the first place."
Ash melted as he felt soothed. He did not move or say anything for a while.
„Well… Do you want to do anything else? It's not like I mind I just thought you might want to."
He paused for solid few of seconds. „Do you like video games?"
Ash accepted friend's silence as nervous curiosity.
„I can show you my collection. Just sit there for a sec." Ash possitioned his doll like buddy in front of his static projecting television. „Unfortunatelly my favourite broke couple of days ago but there's still a lot to pick from." Ash scrabbled in a box with several visibly used disks until he dug one. „I recommend this one. It's a pretty cool platform jumper."
Ash inserted the cartrige into small box next to the monitor and returned quickly to his pal. He sat close enough to him to be touching him with his side. Before first level loaded Ash attempted to look his friend in the eyes. He noticed a some flies crawling on his face.
„Oh so you like flies too?" Asked Ash in curious tone.
Friend did not respond. That caused Ash have mixed feelings. He was ashamed he tried to look him in the eyes. The ammount of sudden intimacy lowkey terrified him. But after the goose bumps a conforting sensation came accompanied by Ash's cheeks turning muddy red.
The screen finally showed begining of first level which woke up Ash from emotional trance. He did his best to impress with his gaming skills. Sometimes he would get lost in his own thoughts. Images of him and his companion holdind and cuddling each other popped in his mind. Everytime he would get lost in his own thoughts he would make mistakes while playing. Each time he would make excuses about anything from glitches in the game to buttons on his remote getting old. He did anything to hide his affection. Not only from friend but also from himself. After being so long distanced from everything abrupt feeling of his calibre frightened him.
Then he got an idea. Why feel when you can drown your feelings in what he called „juice". He standed up to grab a few of bottles from next room briing them to friend. He sat again and took a sip.
„You can have some too if you want to." Babbled Ash nervously hoping that friend is having a good time. He was afraid that friend noticed his nuttiness and somewhere in his thoughts he may berating Ash, thinking of him being weak and unlikeable. The fear grew stronger, Ash couldn't cope with it anymore, grabbed a bottle and drank a half of it in a row.
A new level loaded on the screen. Ash got caught off guard by it.
„That's the hardest level in the whole game and I don't have any more lives left." He startled.
He started with focus, doing very well but unfortunately for him that didn't last long. More and more thoughts of him and friend getting close attacked him while he did his best to beat the game. He was getting close to the end. He could see finish line right in front of him. But then Ash got lost once again. He imagined his mate embracing him, giving Ash a sweet loving kiss on his forehead. When Ash returned back to reality the there was „Game over, pres x to restart" shining on the screen.
Ash was strongly embarassed. „This one was my fault… I didn't pay attention..." He admited with transparent honestly.
He stared on the controller for a while reasoning if he should restart or do something else. Would it be boring for friend to watch this all over again? Is he actually having fun? And most importantly what is he thinking of Ash? He had to notice something, why doesn't he say a word about it? Then Ash got breaking idea. What if he's not brave enough to say it. Well he didn't say anything this whole evening so he's probably very shy and move like this requires courage.
Ash standed in front of his companion, slowly leaning on him. He looked in into his mostly closed eyes, waiting if he says anything. After not seeing any sign of fighting back he continued until their bodies were touching. Then the fatal moment came. Ash gave him a kiss. A long passionate one. After their lips separated he made eye contact once again before unleashing his lust.
The next day Ash woke up next to friend's body. His head hurt, everything was spinning. Memories of last night dropped on him. He was confused. Was that revolt of love or did his friend only felt like having fun? He wanted to hold his hand, being hugged, kissed, loved and comforted. But is it what the other side wants as well? What actually happened? The more Ash thought about it the more anxiety it cause to him. He wasn't sure if he's even capable of saying it. He spiraled deeper and deeper into troubling sensations making him feel unwell. But then an idea blinked. He rushed around the room to grab a bunch of stuff. He sat down to spread those objects releaving it's some crumbled papers, old pens and what seemed to be a jar of ink.
He began to write: „Dear best friend, last night was amazing! ..."
