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Quiet knocking on the door was heard clearly in the silence of the apartment. Rowl sighed, getting up and opening the door. Mongey was standing in the doorway, his big eyes were filled with sadness. There wasn't even a second before he sobbed, falling in Rowl's hands.
— I'm sorry, - he whispered. - I plummed.
— It's okay, - Rowl patted his head.
— I wanna cry, - Mongey admitted, clutching Rowl's shirt like he would've died if he didn't do it. Rowl sighed, hugging the younger boy tightly. He knew the feeling.
— You played good, - he reassured him. - But I guess your sleep deprivation caught up to bite you. Still, I think that your lines were almost perfect, he was just doing something nobody would've done in playoffs normally, and then he somehow was getting rewarded for it! With a fucking looting!
— He had a looting sword..? What?
— Yeah, on the last seed he got looting from the humble ruined portal. So.. even if you didn't die in the bastion, you would've still lost anyway. But I think that the fishing rod was aura, - he slightly smiled, hearing Mongey's quiet laughter. - You gave me at least five heart attacks by the way, holy shit.
— I'm just that good, I guess, - his voice was a bit muffled, but still very audible.
— Are you going to watch Hax with me now?
— Yea, why not? Only Hax's fumbling is better that mine, - he smirked.
— Let's hope at least Hax will win his one? Surely, right?
— Oh, one more thing! - Mongey raised his head, looking a bit better than a few seconds ago. - I used iron sword! Are you proud of me?
— Yes. I am proud of you, - Rowl smiled, his voice filled with amusement. - Hax was proud too. So, are we going?
— Yeah, - Mongey slightly nodded and pulled away from the hug.
— Do you want anything? - Rowl asked, when they settled comfortably on their couch, pointing at Hax's sweets.
— Not really. Well, except for Hackingnoises to take the first place in the whole tourney.
— That's what I'm talking about, - Rowl smiled, unmuting. - Hey, Drip. I'm back.
— Welcome back!
— I'm also here!
— Hello, Mongey, - Drip chuckled. - Are you alright?
— Yeah. I mean, I blame that random number generator for picking Crimson as my opponent, - he shrugged nonchalantly, making Rowl chuckle. - I'll pull a Hax and blame for my loss everything except for myself, I don't give a fuck.
— That's fair, - agreed Drip.
— Shush, both of you! The match has already started! - Rowl effectively shut both of them up.
***
In the midst of their enthusiastic conversation about Hax's match, Rowl felt Mongey lay his head on his shoulder. He glanced over at the younger boy and saw that he was sleeping peacefully, his eyes closed, his chest moving slowly and steadily in tact with his breathing.
— Drip, can you wait a second? I'll be back in a moment, I just need to get Mongey to bed, he fell asleep on me, - lowering his voice, Rowl spoke. Without even waiting for an answer, he took off his headphones. With a little fiddling, he managed to save his shoulder from a role of a pillow, and then he carefully lifted Mongey, carrying him into his room, logically assuming that sleeping in a sitting position on the couch was not the most comfortable.
As Mongey was already squirming under the covers, Rowl turned back, just in time to see the beginning of the seed.
— Oh, it's a village seed? All right, - he said, putting on his headphones.
***
The apartment door nearly flew off when Hax kicked it. The wide smile on his face was indestructible.
— Did you see that?! - he exclaimed. - I owned this guy!
— Yes, I saw it. Crazy work. Absolutely insane. You were gaining time on absolutely every split. You’re not human, - Rowl smiled proudly. - Now win the playoffs, for me and Mongey.
— I’ll do everything I can, - Hax declared confidently.
— Good k-pop strategy, by the way, - Rowl chuckled, turning off the monitor.
Hax burst out laughing, the loud sound was filling the room.
— What was the most memorable moment for ya? - the snowman asked.
— Hmmm... Your death from the anchor gave me a heart attack, my hands are still shaking, - Rowl admitted. - I thought you lost. And your dragon kill in the last round... You won by a hair breach. That’s crazy.
Hax laughed again.
— I'm aura farming, - he shrugged.
— I think you've got enough, you just took it all from Feinberg, - Rowl snorted. - If only you could get the egg too...
— I tried! We were just too close on the first seed, and on the second one I wanted to bait with the anchor... well, the rest of it was worse. But I'll do it, I promise!
— If you do it in the grand finale, that will be plus infinite aura, like...
— I'm afraid I won't make it to the finals, though. My exams still exist, I have to study.
— You can do anything when you lock in, honestly, - Rowl patted him on the shoulder. - What are you planning for tomorrow?
— Didn't you want to continue 100hcnr?
— It doesn't take all day, - Rowl shrugged. - Plus I can easily postpone it.
— Hmmm... Then I want to throw a party! Invite like.. Pulsar, Drip, Beef.
— I expected you to want a bigger one, with like.. everybody who are not a part of HBG.
— I'll get a bigger after winning the finals, - Hax winked. - Maybe Fein will even stop hating on me and some of HBG will show up? I would like to meet at least Doog though. But for now, it'll be just for us
— You'll have your party, - Rowl nodded. - But now it's time to sleep, especially for the person with the "sleep schedule of your grandfather".
— Who said that?!
— Couriway.
— This guy... - Hax sighed, still smiling. - At first he doesn't know who I am, and now this...
— He was also glazing Feinberg after every seed and barely said anything about you.
— He's just one of those Feinberg simps, - Hax rolled his eyes. - Happens.
— Just admit you're jealous, - Rowl huffed, letting Hax hug him. The snowman, who seemed to be very satisfied with his position, chuckled.
— I am not jealous at all, what do you mean?
— Whatever you say, man, whatever you say, - Rowl laughed, easily standing up and at the same time lifting Hax, who was hanging on him like a koala. - Dude, what are you doing?
— I'm tired, you have to carry me, - Hax said, dramatically sticking out his tongue. Rowl sighed. He created a spoiled monster. - Please? That's a winner's order, - he looked at Rowl with the best puppy eyes he could make. Rowl sighed again.
— Fine, - he gave up, earning happy noises from an absolute menace and a threat to society, who was still hanging on him. Sighing, he wrapped his hands around Hax in order not to drop him on the way to the room. - Just so you know, this is the last time I'm doing this, - he threatened. Hax chirped something inaudible in response, smiling. He knew that it wasn't even close to being the last time, but okay. He'll let Rowl think he believed him. For now.