Work Text:
"Welcome back to my channel! Today I will be playing more Call Of Duty and I will try not to die, again." Sebastian's voice is light and cheery as he starts his stream, loading up the game for his followers to watch him play.
He's been streaming for the past few months, slowly and steadily gaining views because of his cheerful and sometimes funny commentary as he plays. Mostly people love him because he's known for dying almost every single time. He really wishes that wasn't what he was known for, but what could you do? Shooting games weren't his forte, but he gained a lot of views for playing them.
"Again?! Are you kidding me?!" He curses as he's snipped yet again from another player hidden on the rooftop. He reads the comments as he loads up another game.
Why don't you try goat simulator?
Again? Really???
Iceman would have spotted that sniper a mile off.
Sebastian scoffs lightly at that last comment. "Yeah, I know he would have, I don't need the reminder thanks!"
Iceman was a fellow streamer who also played COD. He was known for being an amazing sniper and someone who terrorised other players because he was just that good at picking the players off. He was a legend within the fandom and everyone admired him.
Everyone except Sebastian.
"Anyway, lets go again." Sebastian loads up another game, his eyes on his comments as a new one appears.
Iceman: If you were me you'd have noticed the sniper. Hope that helps. 👍
Sebastian rolls his eyes. "Amazing observation from Iceman there. Well done, how have I never thought of that before?" His voice drips sarcasm, sending the chat into a frenzy.
Yes, sometimes Iceman appeared in his chat to rile him up. It always sent the fans crazy when it happened. Sebastian has to admit he loves it when it happens. There was something about Iceman that drew him in. Sometimes he had even watched a few of his streams and he had to admit, Iceman was a thrill to watch and also kinda hot. Yeah, that was something he tried not to think too hard about.
"Anyway, new game lets go." Sebastian picks up his controller and starts again.
He dies in 5 minutes. A new record.
Kimi loads up his stream, settling into his chair as his game begins to load. As usual he says nothing as the stream begins, not even greeting the people watching from around the world. He's known for his silent gameplay and his deadly accuracy. He keeps an eye on his chat as he plays, but he rarely ever responds to comments.
It's all part of his mystique. The "Iceman"." The cool, calm, and collected gamer.
He does love his job, being able to play games for a living and have fun is not something he takes for granted. He does appreciate his followers and he enjoys the community it brings.
He loves winding up a certain gamer even more.
Sebastian was one of the most hopeless COD players he had ever seen, but something about him was really fun and endearing. He lost every time he played the game, but he never ever quit. In fact, he seemed to find it fun when it happened. Kimi liked that about him, the fun Sebastian had was really what gaming was all about.
Sometimes it was fun to actually snipe him down though.
Just so that Sebastian would end up in his comments with one singular emoji:
>:(
It made Kimi privately smile every time it happened.
Like he said, gaming was about having fun.
Strangely, they've never collaborated. Kimi isn't even sure if that was a good idea, he didn't want to spend an entire game reviving Sebastian. He had a reputation to uphold.
Still, the idea of gaming with him did cross his mind.
They only ever really interacted in the comments and while that was fun for Kimi, he did actually want to get to know the other man more. There was something about his sunny smiles and the way his eyes lit up as he played. He also loved how Sebastian would rise to his comments. It was fun, easy.
But that would likely never happen.
Sebastian sits at his computer, smiling as he starts another stream. "Okay guys! This stream is for a good cause! Today we are doing a charity stream for the local dog shelter! All of my failure has come to this!"
He loads up the COD game, silently reading the comments as he waits for the game to start.
Iceman: I'll donate 100k if you do not fail this time.
Sebastian blinks, reading the comment again. "Are you serious, Iceman?"
Another comment appears: Yes.
Sebastian cannot breathe, his comments are going nuts and suddenly more donations start to stream in.
"Okay guys, Iceman has challenged me. Lets do it for the dogs!"
Usually Sebastian plays casually, not really caring about focusing and winning, but this time he was.
His first game goes better than it usually does. He survives for half an hour this time, which for him was a new record.
He does another run, this time lasting over an hour. He has never wanted to win a bet so much before.
In the end he gets so close to winning, but he gets sniped out by someone. For once in his life, Sebastian rage quits. He throws the controller and puts his head in his hands, groaning softly. "For fucks sake! I almost won! I almost did it! Iceman? Sorry, I lost."
Then he hears a donation ping, then the comments going nuts.
Sebastian looks up, his jaw dropping when he sees the 100k join his total. "wh-what?"
Iceman leaves a comment: You made me proud, well done. You still get the 100k.
"I- I have- what?" Sebastian stares at the total donations. It was more than he had ever expected. "Thank you, Iceman."
Iceman: 👍
He has to smile at the simple emoji. He feels like he's on cloud 9. How had this even happened?
Then he gets a DM notification and his heart stops in his chest. He doesn't say anything to the stream as he opens it, but a small secret smile appears as he types back a message.
This had been the best stream he had ever done.
Kimi sits at the computer, reading the comments that were coming in after Sebastian's stream. He felt good, really good. He had helped Sebastian and had now figured out a way to talk to him.
He looks down at the reply to his DM Sebastian had made and he smiles to himself, his fingers tapping over the screen as he replies.
His followers don't see him doing this. They don't need to know about it. It's between him and Sebastian.
Three months later
"Hello guys! Welcome back to my channel! Today I'm going to try to play Fear and Hunger Termnia. Lets see how far I can get this time!"Sebastian grins as he loads up the game, reading the comments as it loads.
Iceman: You've got to not die first, you know?
"You know I'm getting better at this game, don't you Iceman? I can do it." Sebastian answers as he reads out his comment. He cannot help smiling a little as he begins the game.
10 minutes later he's dead.
"Well, lets go again. I can do it!" Sebastian announces as he begins a new game.
This one goes better. He lasts 25 minutes.
Sighing softly, he lets his head fall back against the headrest of his chair. "I'm actually missing COD right now."
The door to his gaming room opens and Sebastian turns his head, giving a soft smile to the man standing in the doorway in full view of his cameras.
It's Kimi, holding up a bag of takeout. "I picked up some food on the way home, when will you be finished? It can't be much longer right?" His smile is teasing.
"Ha ha, I'll see how far I get, but I have to say the food is a tempting offer." Sebastian answers, ignoring how his chat blows up as the fans realise that Kimi had somehow moved into his apartment.
Kimi walks into the room, looking at the screen for a moment, before pressing a tender kiss to the top of Sebastian's head. "Chat, do not let him stay on this game for more than a hour. Otherwise I will drag him out of his chair."
"Kimi, you cannot do that!" Sebastian pouts, glaring at the older man as he laughs and ruffles his hair.
"Yes I can, you need to eat. The game can wait." Kimi looks at the stats on the screen. "Damn Seb, 13% body and 20% mind? God you're worse at this than COD."
"Shut up." Sebastian mumbles, gently pushing Kimi away. "It's not a forgiving game, you know that!"
"Sure." Kimi smirks. "I've gotten to the end on my run, where are you?"
"Still at the train." Sebastian mumbles.
"Exactly." Kimi gives a triumphant grin. "Better answer your chat before they explode."
Sebastian rolls his eyes, turning back to his chat. "Yeah, yeah, go away now."
Kimi gives a little wave at the camera, before he leaves the room.
The chat was indeed exploding and Sebastian feels his cheeks heat up as he reads the messages on the screen.
"Yeah, so uh, me and Kimi are together? When did it happen? Uh, we got talking after the donations stream. That's all you're getting, okay? It's our story, not yours. No Kimi will not talk that much on his stream, it's not his thing. No we won't collab. Unlike me, Kimi is actually good at gaming! Now lets get back to the matter at hand, namely this game!"
Sebastian goes back to his game, refusing to look at the comments as he continues what he is doing.
He dies exactly 5 minutes later.
The internet explodes as the news of the two prominent streamers dating goes viral. It's all anyone will talk about. It even makes the news.
Lando, sat streaming in his room, reads the comments on his screen as he plays COD. "Chat are we still talking about Seb and Kimi? Those two had enough sexual energy to power the sun. Are we that surprised or did you guys not read the vibes?"
He rolls his eyes, watching the comments roll in. It wasn't his fault if the internet had been blind to the blatant flirting those two had done.
He continues to game, ignoring his chat as he gets into it.
He gets sniped towards the end, jolting him up in his chair. "Huh?!"
He looks at the winning player, his blood running cold as he sees the username.
Iceman.
Meanwhile, Kimi smirks as he watches Lando's reaction to getting sniped. He leans back in his chair, feeling smug.
Serves him right for talking about himself and Sebastian.
He ends his stream, turning off his computer and giving a little stretch as he heads into the living room. Sebastian is curled up on the sofa, reading a book. He looks up when he sees Kimi and smiles gently.
"Bed time?" Kimi offers as Sebastian nods and closes his book.
"How was your game?" Sebastian asks as he gets up and takes Kimi's hand.
"Good, showed a few players how it's done." Kimi smirks as he leads his boyfriend upstairs.
"Still an asshole I see?" Sebastian says, but it's clear he's teasing.
"Eh you like it." Kimi answers, his smile warm when he looks at him.
Sebastian smiles softly, pressing a kiss to his hand. "I do."
Kimi swears he has never felt happier. He leads Sebastian to the bedroom and closes the door. His heart feels light and happy.
It was better than any victory royale.