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Major looked up from his email as Ravi came into the kitchen. "All settled in?"

"All but the most important bit. Are we ready to tackle the beast?"

"Oh, yeah. Let's get to it."

They went into the living room, where Ravi's massive TV leaned against the wall, ready to be mounted and hooked up. Between Ravi's various electronics and his own, it was pretty much the gaming setup of Major's dreams. He'd been skeptical when Liv first suggested that he invite her boss to move in, but the additional equipment was a total bonus, the work hours matched up pretty well, and Major even liked the guy. Plus, Ravi's friendship with Liv had been good for her. She wasn't her old self yet by any means, and she still acted weird on a regular basis, but she was starting to come back from that emotionless fog she'd lived in for so long, and even taking steps to improve her relationship with Major. Not as much as he'd hoped she would, but anything was better than nothing. Occasionally he wondered if that weird night when she'd showed up and sat in his lap and said she was going crazy not being close to him was really how she felt, but she was so careful the rest of the time to avoid anything that might even skirt the edge of romantic that he had to assume she must have been drunk at the time or he'd be the one going crazy.

Major thought about the scene with Corinne this morning uncomfortably. Of all the mornings for Liv to pick to show up and be friendly! But Liv had to have known that he'd move on eventually, if only as a way to force himself to get over her. And he couldn't believe it was a coincidence that her suggestion that he let Ravi move in came right on top of her finding Corinne there wearing Major's shirt and drinking out of Liv's favorite morning coffee cup ... just the way Liv should have been.

Or was it? Was this a subtle signal that Liv had moved on as well, and he and Corinne and she and Ravi could double couple it up on the reg? Major glanced over at Ravi, sizing him up, as they lifted the TV. Sure, he was tall. And smart. And good-looking. And had a killer accent. But surely Liv couldn't—

"Ravi."

"Right. Just a bit to the left there. That's got it."

"Huh? Oh, to the left. Yeah." Major caught on in time to help Ravi maneuver the TV onto the mounting brackets. "So, you and Liv … Just friends?" Yeah, the segue wasn't quite as smooth or as subtle as he had hoped.

Ravi tested the TV to make sure it was secure, then gingerly let go, holding his breath until he was sure it was securely mounted. Only then did he look at his new roommate. "Major, I think this will go a lot better if we put a moratorium on the Liv talk. I have no intention of carrying messages. Or tales, if that's what you're worried about."

He hadn't actually thought of that, but it was nice to have it off the table. "Well, that's a relief, I guess. But … you and Liv aren't … together … Right?"

"What, me and Liv? No! No. Nothing like that at all."

Major peered at him suspiciously. "That was fast."

"It's also true. Look, Major, I like Liv. She's been through a lot, and she's trying to deal as best she can, and I want to help her through it as much as she'll let me. But that's all there is to it. And all there's going to be."

"Good," Major said, pushing aside the stab of jealousy he felt that Liv was actually willing to let Ravi help her when she would never even talk to Major about … anything. "I'm glad she has someone she can trust."

"She trusts you, Major. She's just afraid," Ravi said softly. "It's ... complicated. Give her time."

"I have been."

"Give her more."

They looked at each other, a spark of hope lighting in Major's heart at Ravi's words. It was enough. For now. "What do you say we fire this thing up and give it a spin?"

"Prepare to have your world rocked."

"Ready and willing."

They finished attaching the cables, took their seats on the couch, picked up their controllers, and the epic bromance was on.