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To be completely fair, Matt hadn’t expected Near to even be able to hold the controller correctly. But he supposes he should have guessed that Near would have pretty good hand-eye coordination, considering all those elaborate card towers he likes to build.
Near keeps asking about the controls, though. And Matt doesn’t know why, because Near obviously remembers what each button does. But it’s like he’s trying to commit every little click of the controller to memory.
“You don’t have to have to press the button that fast…” Matt trails off awkwardly after watching Near run straight into a wall.
Near stares at the ‘Game Over’ screen for a moment and then looks at Matt. “You’re supposed to have a quick reaction time.”
Matt frowns. “That doesn’t mean that you should spam the button.”
Near blinks and looks down at the controller in his hand. He hands it to Matt. “You play, I’ll watch.”
Matt sighs and takes the controller, pressing ‘Restart Level’. He hones in on the screen and leans forward slightly. Near scoots closer to him and watches raptly as Matt presses button after button.
Near and Matt watch the screen together as a brightly colored ‘Perfect!’ pops up and Matt’s stats are shown. Near hums in consideration and twirls a finger into his hair. “Interesting.”
Matt smiles and glances at Near, vaguely wondering if the other boy is impressed before setting the controller on the coffee table. “That’s how you do it like a pro, Near.”
Near bites his lip and nods slowly. “You consider yourself a professional?”
“Well…” Matt trails off, feigning modesty as he glances away and chuckles. “Some would say that, yeah.”
Near blinks and stares at him for a long moment. Matt falters slightly in the silence, pursing his lips. “But I asked what you think.”
Matt nods and then leans closer to Near, putting his arm around the back of the couch. “I mean… I’d say I’m a casual player. I just happen to be good at what I do.”
Near smiles slightly, a small, genuine little quirk of his lips. It even makes Near’s eyes narrow slightly, wrinkles forming at the outer corner of his eyes. “You’re definitely better than me, at least.”
Matt wets his lips awkwardly and nods. “Yeah, but you’re new, you know. You just have to get comfortable with the controls and stuff.”
Near shrugs. “I’m just not very good, I think.”
"What?" Matt asks incredulously, chuckling slightly. "You aren't bad , you're just inexperienced." He shrugs.
Near turns to look at him again, staring for a long moment before he smirks slightly. "That's what she said."
Matt blinks in surprise, then laughs loudly, curling forward and clutching his stomach. "Holy shit. Okay, that was good —gotta admit."
Near nods, a small smile remaining on his lips as he watches Matt appreciate his joke.
Matt grins. "You've been hanging out with me too much recently."
"No such thing,” Near says back quietly.
Matt laughs awkwardly, his cheeks warming. "I'm rubbing off on you."
A moment of silence. "That's what she said," Near repeats.
Matt just shakes his head and leans closer to Near. "Hell yeah, it is."
Near leans back, shifting the back cushions of the couch and causing Matt’s arm to slide onto his shoulders. Matt tenses, but if Near notices, he doesn’t say anything. Usually, he hates when people touch him without asking, yet he seems to relax against Matt’s arm.
“We should watch something instead.”
Matt looks at him —more like stares— and nods slowly, glancing at the TV. “You bored of video games?”
Near’s cheeks flush slightly and he adjusts the ways he’s sitting. “Not really. But I’m getting tired.”
“Right…” Matt says, reaching for the remote. He switches the TV input and changes the channel to some shitty cable show.
After a long moment, Near leans his head on Matt’s shoulder. “I did have fun.”
Matt takes a deep breath, trying not to jostle Near too much. “Sick… Me too.”
After a bout of awkward silence, Near pipes up again. “I’m glad,” he says quietly. Matt can hear the small smile in his voice and he feels himself start to smile as well.