Heartbeats

"Afira?" He wraps his arms around Afira's shoulders from behind, pulling the smaller man against his chest. Resting his forehead on Afira's shoulder. "You're wonderful Afira. No one has ever stood up for me, not even another NPC would have done that."

"Are you ok Rinai? I'm so sorry that happened to you." Afira squeezed Rinai's arm.

"It's nothing out of the ordinary. I'm not all that bothered by it," Rinai sighs. "Only difference was having someone get mad on my behalf. Which I really appreciate."

"I can't remember the last time I was so angry!" His fist was tightly clenched, still trembling and breathing hard. Afira feels the warmth of Rinai's body pressed against his back. Rinai's hair feels soft against his neck, tickling his ear. He matches his breathing with Rinai's as he tries to calm down.

Breathing! Rinai breathes? I can even feel a heartbeat. Puzzled, Afira spun around and pressed his ear against Rinai's chest. Yeah, a heartbeat.

Looking up into Rinai's eyes. "You even breathe and have a heartbeat? Why?"

Rinai shrugs, "This is supposed to be the most realistic VR game yet. Why not breathe and have a heartbeat?"

"And the way you act is for that reason too?" Afira had a sad, doubt-filled expression. Just as he starts thinking he should see Rinai as no different than any person, he gets reminded it could be all his own wishful thinking.

"My personality you mean? " Rinai feels hurt at that look. He can tell Afira is doubting his existence.

Afira nods.

"That has changed over time, as I experienced things."

"Oh. Mine too. It has changed over the course of my life." He's still close to Rinai, Afira rests his head against Rinai's chest again listening to his heart. "It's fast like mine." Afira is lost in his own thoughts about what is and isn't real.

"Mhmm," Rinai was softly stroking Afira's hair. Afira was calm now feeling the movement of Rinai's chest as he breathed, his smooth skin and the silky bands wrapped around him. He smelled nice. "Wait, we have been training so long why aren't we all sweaty?" He sniffs himself.

Rinai laughed. "I guess that's a little too realistic? Who wants a sweaty B.O. world?"

Afira chuckled letting go of his inner debate for now. He looked up at Rinai. "I kinda want to know how you would smell though."

Rinai draws a quick breath and a look flashed through his eyes. He pulls Afira closer, nuzzling his hair, softly says, "so perfect."

"Hmmm?" Afira snuggles against him enjoying the contact pushing all his annoying existential thoughts away and just enjoying this moment.

Rinai holds him a little longer then steps back letting his arms fall away from Afira.

Rinai looks at the door. "Tilly is back. Want to go over what we planned with her?"

Afira smiles "Yeah!" He's a bit disappointed he's not being hugged anymore but excited to talk to Tilly.

The three discussed strategy and back up plans for the event that would start the next day. Afira would log back in immediately after the update completed at the start of the event. He feels hungry now from skipping breakfast so he wants to log out to eat and take care of things around his house so he can stay on longer tomorrow.

"Can I text you later before the update starts?" Afira asks Rinai, a faint blush across his cheeks.

"You better. If you don't I'll be sad." Rinai teases Afira as he smiles.

Afira hurries and says goodbye to Tilly and Rinai before he gets any more flustered then logged off.

After he had left, Tilly asked Rinai. "So, what were you two doing in there when I got back?"

"Flirting," Rinai said smirking.

"Why did you stop? Don't you want him?" Tilly smirks right back.

Rinai shrugs and says casually. "Flirting is an art. Leave them wanting more you know."

"So you're scared of rejection?" Tilly asks with a teasing lilt to her voice.

"Terrified, yes." He nods vigorously at Tilly without any hesitation.

"Aww you know Afira likes you right? It's so obvious. You don't have to be so scared," she says more serious now, trying to encourage him.

"It's complicated Tilly. You and I, all the NPCs, we are not quite real to him still. He treats us well just because it's his natural way of being. He gets surprised at every new indication of us being more than a computer program. I don't think he's ready to know how much I really like him. I don't think he could believe in me yet."

"Hmmm. I guess so. But that's changing." Tilly was hopeful they could convince Afira.

"Yeah but I've got to be slow or he could freak out and disappear. Humans have a long history of fear. Fear rules them. Afira went pale and trembled with dread when he first learned about your grandma's hacking skills."

"Well, that's pretty sensible. Hacking is scary. Doesn't matter if it was an AI or a human. Anyway, I thought love was what they call the ultimate emotion. It conquers all and whatever." Tilly waved her arms around making big gestures to indicate love as the all-encompassing emotion.

"Nah I think it's fear that's really ultimate for them, Tilly. They do far crazier things in the name of fear than for love. I've been on the internet a lot since Nina hooked me up. The history of humans is run by fear of each other and of the unknown."

They both went quiet for a time. Considering how much damage fearful humans could do to them. Their entire existence could be wiped with the press of some keys.

"I don't want to lose him when we are just getting started."

Tilly pats his arm sympathetically. "Too bad you fell for a human."

Rinai sighs and puts his head down. "Can't be helped. Afira is amazing."