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Max pushed his glasses up, squinting to read the chat as he waited for the game to load. “Hello everyone, it’s Pegasus! I’m going to answer some questions while this game loads, so send them in!
“Dannyten asks if I have… oh he asks if I have a girlfriend. Well, Dannyten, no I don’t, and not a boyfriend either. But I thought you guys were asking about games?? Oh here Annlovesgaming asks what my favorite character in Red Riding Gear is, well Ann…”
After a few hours he stopped the stream, stretching as his computer shut down.
“I heard them asking about a girlfriend,” Kim leaned against the desk, surprising Max.
“Hey Kim, I thought you were going to work today?”
Kim nodded, taking a sip from a water bottle. “We have off this week. I noticed you didn’t mention your little crush?” He teased, brushing his hand over Max’s head.
Max felt his ears grow hot, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He grumbled.
Kim chuckled, “Roommates notice everything, Max. Anyway, I don’t know why you haven’t asked him out yet, he would say yes.”
“You think?” Max said quietly, looking inquisitively at Kim.
“Totally man, you just need to tell him what you feel.”
“This is coming from the guy who took two years to get with Ondine.”
“That was different, I didn’t even know she liked me. Besides, when it was you, and I actually realized I liked you, I basically told you right away.”
“Yeah, I guess. But I’ve never even asked anyone out, this is pretty much the first time I’ve wanted to.”
Kim cocked his head, “You’ve never crushed on anyone before.”
“I mean, I sort of have, but I didn’t want to date them. It was different.”
Kim nodded, resting his hand on Max’s shoulder. “You’ll work it out buddy. Just think, at least you aren’t Marinette with Adrien—or Adrien for that matter. I don’t think those two will ever get together.”
Max chuckled, “Good point. Thanks, Kim. I have to go take a shower, but I’ll think on that.”
Max couldn’t help but notice the increasing amount of questions about his sexuality and love life. He’d gotten them before, but he had to search through them just to get to the game related comments. “And this one from Charmander8787 asks how I got started with streaming,” he told the tale, but couldn’t ignore the itch he felt at the questions regarding his recent statement. Normally they didn’t bother him so much, but he hadn’t stopped thinking about what Kim said.
He hadn’t really intended to tell anyone about his crush, but he couldn’t help feeling like he wanted to do what Kim suggested, and ask him out. He’d thought about it before, but he’d mostly assumed he’d treat it like the rest of his romantic feelings, which is to say he was going to ignore it until it went away.
“Hey guys, I want you to meet my temporary player two—Minotaurox! Ladybug was very busy, so I thought I’d invite another friend over. I know normally King Monkey fills in, but he was also busy, so you guys will get to meet someone new.” Max shifted in his seat, stealing glances at Ivan sitting next to him. Ivan had made a mask based on a bull for a costume a few years ago, and was wearing it again now. Ivan didn’t notice Max staring, and he was waving nervously at the camera.
Max had the thought that he was almost disappointed he couldn’t see his friend’s face as they streamed together, but, like Marinette, Ivan had no intention of being possibly recognized by one of Max’s fans.
The two played games together for a few hours before Max stopped the stream at the usual time. “You did good!” Said Max once the computer had shut down.
“Really? I was so worried I wasn’t doing a good job.”..
Max smiled, “You did great, you fell into it so quickly.” Without thinking, he laid a hand on Ivan’s thigh.
Ivan smiled back, and Max could notice his face turning pink. “Thanks,” he muttered, gently grabbing Max’s hand. “That means a lot to me.”
Max felt butterflies flutter in his stomach, Kim’s words turning over in his head. “Ivan, do you want to go out? With me, I mean. On a date.”
Ivan’s eyes widened, and his pink face turned a bright shade of red. “Yeah, I’d love to.” He said, his voice barely a whisper.
Max smiled and gave Ivan’s hand a quick squeeze, suddenly looking away, trying to handle the intensity of his excitement. “Why don’t we go out on Friday? I’ll take you out to dinner.”
“Okay, I-I’ll see you then. I should go, text me the time, when you can, bye!” Ivan gave Max’s cheek a peck and rushed out, barely remembering to grab his bag as he rushed out. Max could guess he was as nervous as Max was about it.
“I did it.” He texted to Kim.
“I heard from Ivan a second ago. Nice job, nerd.”