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Sitting at your computer, your knee was bouncing. Vibrations running through your desk as you feel your anxiety grow and grow. Leg speeding up along with your heart rate. Inside, your mind was reeling. Everything was building too much too quickly. A pop up appeared on your screen, Mac trying to indicate that you needed to stop doom scrolling. You didn’t have your Dateviators on, so they couldn’t speak to you directly.
Looking at your desk, you grabbed the glasses. Finger tracing around the frame gently, the action making Skylar shiver.
You knew that the objects could feel your touch, but it never fully registered for you. Even with Mac gushing about your double clicking, or Betty informing you about how fluffing your pillows feels, it was hard to put two-and-two together for you.
Shrugging your shoulders, you placed the glasses on your face.
A warm hand settled on your bouncing leg. Dasha gave you a concerned look as she pat your knee.
“Please, rest your knee.” She let out a sigh of relief since you stopped.
“Oh shit. Sorry, Dasha.” You curled down sheepishly.
She gave you a big pat on the shoulder.
“No hard feelings.”
When she left, you laid your head on the desk. Turning to the side, you spotted your D20. With your finger you twirled it around over your desk. Sighing, you let it clatter to a stop.
“Want to talk about it?” A voice by your side asked.
Still laying on the desk, you turned your head in the direction of the sound. There stood the personified form of your D20. A concerned furrow in his brow at the state you were in.
“I don’t know what there is to talk about.” You mumbled against the desk.
Truly, you didn’t. There wasn’t a thing or issue you could point directly to that was making you feel this way. You were in this state of limbo, not sure of what exactly you were feeling. Eventually the overthinking had your mind spiraling. What if, what if, what if? Playing on repeat over and over in your head.
What could you tell him? Life? The state of the world? Work, or lack thereof? Too many things, yet nothing specific.
“You look like you’re thinking about a lot.” Chance placed a warm hand on your shoulder tenderly.
He gave you a soft smile, one you managed to return.
“I am. Trying to figure out what is going on with…” you waved around yourself, “this.”
“Maybe we could break things down a bit? Help you figure out ‘this’?” Chance offered.
“How?” You croaked out.
“Think broad. What’s a big concept that you think is affecting you negatively?” Chance took a seat beside you, elbows on his knees with his head perched on his hands. Ready to listen attentively.
Letting out a long sigh through your nose, you sat up from your desk.
“Life.”
“Okay, now we can be a bit more specific. Tell me an aspect of your life that is bothering you right now.” Chance motioned for you to continue.
“My relationships.”
“What kind of relationships?” He asked.
“All of them, really. Family, friends…” you eye Chance, “lovers.”
Chance blushed slightly, but pressed on.
“Let’s start with friends first.” He said.
Good, the safer option.
“I guess I feel like I’m coming off as too much? Especially the objects I’ve become close friends with. Like, am I pushing them too much? I have to use them, you know? So is it a problem that I keep engaging with them all the time?” It felt odd telling one of those said objects about this, but he seemed to know what he was doing. Plus, he was clearly listening and registering what you said.
“Have any of the objects told you this?” He asked.
“Well, no. But, sometimes I feel like their body language indicates they don’t want me there. I dunno, maybe I’m reading too much into it.” You dropped your head with a sad sigh.
Chance reached for your face, warm hand cupping your chin and raising it up.
“If it helps, I love spending time with you. Even just having you close by is nice.” He gave you a soft smile.
“Really?”
“Of course!” Chance said your name adoringly. “When I say I think you’re perfect, I mean it.” The confession shot butterflies to your stomach.
“But…”
“And I know the others feel the same as I do. You might have those glasses, but we also have the autonomy to interact with you or not. Guess what?” He asked with a grin.
“What?”
“We choose to be with you. Not because we have to, but because we want to.”
At Chance’s words, you felt tears prick at your eyes. Blinking, you let them fall. With a loving swipe of his thumb, he wiped them off your cheeks for you.
Deciding it best not to keep pressing you, Chance decided to switch gears.
“I want to do something with you, if you don’t mind.” He stood up, offering you his hand.
Gingerly, you accepted it. Pulling you up, he wrapped his arms around you in a warm hug. Head placed in the crook of your neck as he held you tight. Relaxing in his hold, you wrapped your arms around him. The two of you stood like that for a moment. Almost feeling as if you were melding together.
Pulling away, Chance gave you a soft smile. Leaning in, he placed a kiss to your forehead, then your nose, then your lips. The tender action makes you let out an amused huff.
“Let’s go to your bedroom.” He said pulling your arm gently.
“Bedroom?” Your face flushed.
Pausing wide eyed, Chance’s face also turned red.
“Not like that…” he shook the embarrassment off, “I’ve got something else I wanna do.”
“Oookaaayy.” You said in a singsong voice.
He brought you upstairs to your room, hopping on the bed. Shuffling in the covers, he made himself comfortable. Opening his arms, he invited you in.
Taking the invite, you joined him. Snuggling against his chest, you let out a content sigh. Gosh, he was so warm and soft. Such a pleasant feeling man.
“Close your eyes for me.” He asked softly.
You did as he asked, shutting your eyes.
“Now listen.” He pulled you as close to his chest as you could.
Through his sweater you could hear the steady sound of his heartbeat. As you lay there listening, you felt yourself relaxing more and more. Almost as if the sound of his heart was putting you in a trance.
“How are you feeling?” You felt him caress your head gently, nails lightly scratching your scalp.
Letting out a pleased hum, you snuggled further into his chest.
“Really good.” You mumbled against him, a content smile on your face.
“Now, keeping your eyes closed, I want you to focus on your breathing. Follow mine.” He said.
Nodding, you focused on the way his chest moved. Slowly you breathed in and out, eventually breathing in tandem. This meditative exercise was pushing the annoying buzz out of your mind. Replacing it with thoughts on the feelings surrounding you. The sound of Chance’s heart, the feel of his hand’s gentle caress, the movement of your chests breathing together.
You reached for Chance’s hand, intertwining your fingers together.
“Thank you for this.” You said quietly.
“You can come to me anytime. “ He lifted your hand to his lips, giving it a tender kiss.
With that, you found yourself drifting in his arms. Heartbeat following you into a blissful sleep.
~.~
Chance didn’t know how much more he could take. Weeks and weeks of planning this new campaign, and his people pleasing habits have bit him in the ass. While the rest of the party was fine, great, even, there was one that was causing all sorts of problems. Lux asked to join. Despite his reservations, Chance felt like he couldn’t say “no.”
“Noooo, I would never let my luxurious cloak get soaked in the mud! I'm staying at the tavern. The peasants can bask in my glory!” Lux exclaimed.
At the head of the table, you saw Chance clenching his fist. He wasn’t one for railroading, but everyone else had decided to go on a special quest because there was an active thunderstorm. He felt it was time for desperate measures. Lux always pressed to have their way, and this time it was causing the party to squabble.
“What if we just left them at the tavern?” Jerry asked, running a frustrated hand through his unruly locks.
Chance let out a frustrated sigh.
“No! I’m not letting you guys split the party.” His abrasiveness took the party aback. Realizing this, Chance let out another sigh. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he continued. “Sorry, let’s take five and we can come back to this.”
Chance walked into the hall to cool down. You followed him, worry written on your face.
“Hey.” You said softly, reaching for his hand.
“Hey.” His voice was monotone, but he took your hand.
“Are you doing alright?”
“Not particularly.” He mumbled. Clenching his eyes shut, he let out yet another exasperated sigh. “It’s just that Lux can be such a handful, and they’re clearly affecting how you guys are playing.” His jaw tightened. “I really don’t want to blow up, but it’s getting really hard.”
“Here.” You pulled out Chance’s D20.
He raised a questioning brow, then blushed when you kissed the 20 side.
“You can actually kiss me, you know?”
“I know, I’m not done though.” You took his die, slipping it under your shirt and holding him over your heart.
Chance’s eyes softened as he listened to your heartbeat. He relaxed into feeling your body’s warmth.
“How’s that?” You asked.
Chance reached for your face, thumb lovingly rubbing your cheek as he leaned in. Softly, he pressed his lips to yours. Appreciating the sound of your heart and the feeling of your warmth.
“Better.”
“Good.” You gave him a sweet smile, pecking his lips again. “Now, let’s get back to playing. I think I have an idea on how to get Lux on the rest of the party’s side.”
You pulled Chance back into the office, the rest of the party was sitting at the table.
“Alright. You told me you have a plan?” Chance asked pointedly when you sat down.
“Mhmm!” You nodded.
“Care to share?” Jerry asked, a look of desperation in his eyes.
“Alright, Lux,” you turned to them, “with the ingredients I have I should be able to create a waterproofing potion. Which would keep your cloak clean.”
“I don’t know… I’m kinda having fun here!” Lux said sassily.
“What if I told you that the Thunderbird’s feathers could make you even flashier than you already are?” You crossed your fingers behind your back, hoping you could convince them.
Lux paused, hand on their chin in thought.
“I’m listening…”
“You’d be able to gain some storm magic, and the feathers have a rare kind of beauty to them. Plus, you would have bragging rights for getting near one. Meaning you have more of a chance to impress people.” You gave them a smile.
“Alright, you’ve convinced me.”
Around the table you heard a collective sigh of relief. Chance mouthed a “thank you”, to which you shot back a wink.
The rest of the session went a bit smoother. Your team worked to locate the Thunderbird and battle it. Finding it was easy, fighting it was another story. It wasn’t because it was a hard beast to beat.
“What do you mean I can’t go again? I cast two spells last round?” Lux pouted.
“Lux, you used a spell that needed a bonus action last round. You can only cast one of those again.” Chance pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Ugh, this is ridiculous!” Lux huffed.
Chance held back a groan, tightening his jaw. Seeing this reaction, you grabbed his die. Holding it against your heart, you watched Chance soften. He looked at you with a soft smile, giving you a nod of acknowledgement.
Every so often you would press Chance’s die to your heart. Helping him calm down from whatever antic was making him frustrated. The session ended well enough, you had brought down the Thunderbird and collected your winnings.
When everyone had left to their respective homes, you were left alone with Chance. You helped clean up the table in a comfortable silence. As you picked up various G&G items, you could feel Chance glance at you every so often.
“Like what you see?” You teased.
“I do.” Pausing his organizing, Chance walked up to you. “Thank you, by the way.”
“For what?” You cocked your head to the side.
“For your help. Finding a way to work with Lux and taking care of my die.” He planted a light kiss to your cheek.
“It was nothing. You’ve done far more for me. I actually wouldn’t have learned to do that without you.” You gave him a soft smile.
“It’s not nothing to me.”
You shrugged your shoulders.
“Seriously.” He pulled you into him, wrapping you in a tight hug. “Gosh, I wish you knew how perfect you are.”
Butterflies fluttered in your stomach at his words. How was he such a charmer?
“Chance…” You trailed, pulling away to look at him. Biting your lip, you felt nervous. “I love you.”
His eyes widened, filled with pure adoration. Abruptly, he pulled you into a tight hug. Slightly lifting you off the ground with a chuckle.
“I love you!” He pressed a deep kiss to your lips. “I’ve been waiting forever to say that.” He let out a sigh of relief.
“You have?” You didn’t realize.
“Of course.” He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve been in love with you before you even got those.” He poked at the bridge of your glasses.
The confession had your heart stuttering. Before…
“It’s kind of impossible to not love you.” He rubbed his hand down his face, unable to drop his smile. “It feels so good to tell you that.”
“I. Love. You.” He said pressing a kiss to your forehead, nose, then lips.
“I love you too, you big goof.” You nuzzled your nose against his.
When you finished up in the office, you brought Chance to bed with you. You could tell he wanted to spend more time with you, and, well, you wanted to spend more time with him. Curled up against you he whispered sweet nothings in your ear, peppered with “I love yous”. It was as if he couldn’t stop saying it. Making up for what felt like lost time.
“As excited as I am to be realized, I think I’ll miss being able to be so close to your heart.” Chance admitted, his head laying on your chest.
“Chance, we can still do this.” You said softly as you ran your fingers through his hair.
“I guess, but I’ll be significantly less portable.”
Rolling your eyes, you pecked his forehead.
“Doesn’t mean you can’t come and cuddle with me when you want.” You said.
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, you’re so perfect.” He sat himself up, planting a kiss on your lips.
“If anything I’m more concerned you’ll forget about me.” You admitted.
“I could never, I love you.”