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The world didn’t feel real when Hax stepped out of his Ranked machine.
This had to be a bad dream. It had to be a bad dream.
He couldn’t have gone out in the first round. He just couldn’t.
He was a two-time playoffs champion, a four-time finalist, and had seven podiums.
And yet none of that mattered in this match. He lost. And with such.. a crushing score, too.
It simply couldn’t be true. Any of it. He couldn’t lose like that.
He just couldn’t.
Right..?
A quiet knock on the door pulled him out of his stupor, and only when he tried to force his voice to work so he could answer whoever had come to him and tell them to get lost and leave him alone did he realize that he was.. crying. His throat tightened with sobs, refusing to let out a single word, while salty trails streamed down his cheeks.
He let out a choked laugh.
He got eliminated in the first round after winning back to back.
Wasn’t that ironic?
Had anyone else ever fallen so low after flying so high?
— Hax, - a soft voice called out, and Hax immediately broke down sobbing out loud, collapsing into the embrace of familiar warm arms.
He had already forgotten that someone had knocked on the door.
But he was glad it wasn’t anyone else.
Gripping the fabric of Rowl’s turtleneck tightly in his fists, Hax buried his face into the curve of the older runner’s neck, still shaking with sobs.
Rowl said nothing. He simply stood there beside him, calmly supporting Hax. His presence was a steady anchor, and Hax himself could decide when he had regained enough strength to let go.
Hax was grateful for that. He didn’t want to hear anything. He already knew everything anyone could possibly tell him, and he didn’t need any words.
He knew he’d been unlucky. He knew he’d made stupid mistakes. He knew he’d failed.
He knew he’d lost.
— I didn’t want it to end like this, - Hax whispered through tears that only worsened when he felt Rowl quietly exhale and gently place a hand on his head, soothingly running his fingers through light strands of hair. - I’m glad Silverr made it through, but I didn’t want my playoffs to end like this. I.. - his voice trembled, - I don’t even know if I want to keep playing anymore. And... if these really are my last playoffs.. I..
— Hax, - Rowl began softly. - You know what I’m going to say, but I’ll say it anyway. You’ve accomplished far more than most top players ever will, and one loss won’t change that. You’re still the only player who managed to win twice in a row. You’re still the only player with seven podiums. And even if you really are going to end your journey with Ranked, I’ll always support you.
— I know, I know, - Hax’s eyes started filling with tears again. - It’s.. it’s okay. I had my chance.. I just.. I wish I could’ve at least gone for a reverse sweep.. I did so well through the whole seed, I thought I could.. I wanted one more good run.. last one, - he sniffled again. - I can accept losing, but I didn’t want to get knocked out.. this quickly.
— I understand, - Rowl sighed heavily, feeling the sleeve of his turtleneck start to soak with tears. Hax hung onto him as if there was no strength left in his limbs.
— Thank you for being here, - Hax whispered. Rowl smiled faintly.
— I’ll always be here for you, - he whispered back, as if afraid that louder words might shatter the promise he intended to keep..
***
When Mongey returned to their apartment, he was greeted only by dead silence. The big screen in their living room was still on, showing the countdown timer for the next game, but even it was muted.
Mongey frowned. Of course, he hadn’t expected anyone to greet him - Hax was probably trying to cope with his loss, and Rowl had to prepare for his own match. Mongey knew that if he had lost, they would’ve been there with him - but he had won, he didn’t need that. They could focus on their own things.
But where was Hax?
He got his answer instantly in the form of a quiet yawn coming from their couch.
— Hey, Hax, - he smiled softly, walking over to the couch and sitting down beside Hax’s legs, finally realizing that the pile of blankets he hadn’t even paid attention to was actually Hax under the covers.
— Mongey? - Hax blinked a few times. A relieved smile appeared on his face when Mongey nodded, and Hax immediately jumped up and pulled him into a hug. - Did you win?!
— Yeah, I won, - Mongey laughed quietly, hugging him back.
Hax squealed enthusiastically - and Mongey had to admit, he was handling his loss better than expected.
Did sleep really help him that much? Was that tech? Should Mongey start taking notes?
— How does it feel? - Hax asked with genuine curiosity - or maybe he was just that good at masking his own emotions.
Mongey had never been good with other people’s emotions. Hax and Rowl always handled that while he simply stayed nearby.
— Satisfying, - Mongey shrugged. - But if I get to choose, I’m not picking Blazemind again. Screw that.
Hax giggled, reaching for the remote and turning the stream audio back on just as the commentators appeared on screen.
— Think Rowl will win?
— He has to, - Mongey scoffed. - I’m not gonna be the only one of us making it through.
After thinking for a few seconds, Mongey got up from the couch to move closer to Hax, and the snowman’s next decision was to press himself into his side, before lifting his head and grinning widely.
***
Rowl quietly opened the door to their apartment, just as quietly slipping off his shoes. The loss stung unpleasantly, but.. it’s not like he could’ve expected anything else. He was already glad he hadn’t lost without taking a game, and.. that was all he had expected from these playoffs.
He was used to it by now.
He’d had his chance before, back when he was still one of the best, but now.. maybe he really should’ve listened to Hax and retired too. If Nahhann had qualified instead of him, things could’ve been a lot more interesting.
Who knows, maybe his time had been over for a while already?
— These playoffs aren’t canon anyway! - was the first thing Rowl heard as soon as he opened the living room door. The hinges creaked slightly, but that was enough for Hax and Mongey to lift their heads and look at him.
A soft smile shamelessly slipped onto Rowl’s face as his gaze dropped to his boys comfortably settled on the couch, Hax’s head resting on Mongey’s shoulder while Hax’s blue blanket covered both of them.
— Hey, Rowl, - Mongey greeted him with a nod. Hax immediately scooted aside to free the middle spot for Rowl.
— Hey, - Rowl answered quietly, stepping closer, only to be instantly grabbed by two pairs of clingy hands that didn’t even let him sit down on his own.
— I think we should sue Oliver, - Hax declared, hugging Rowl tightly. Rowl snorted.
— Not seedchecking is just horrible, - Mongey nodded along. Hax opened his mouth to respond - probably to agree, Rowl assumed - but the commentators appeared on screen, and their voices knocked Hax out of his train of thought. Hax shook his head.
— Anyway, whatever, - he huffed. - I don’t acknowledge these playoffs. They’re not real.
Rowl snorted quietly. Honestly, if Hax wanted to think that way, Rowl was all for it. And he was also all for another round of hugs. They all needed it.