Aѕнe'ѕ Oneѕнσт Booк ♡

⇨ Cheater, Cheater ✧ R&R Cσηηє¢тιση

"Goddamnit, dude! How the fuck are you doing that?!" The younger male scoffed with disbelief as he desperately tried to catch up, to no avail, of course. The said query made the other player hold back and swallow his plaguing laughter, before he answered nonchalantly.

"How do I do what?"

"That boost move! That's so fucked up, man!" Ray answered with aggravation lacing his words, and lastly set his controller down on the table ahead of him with annoyance as he saw there was no way he was going to catch up with his enemy; Ryan was already near the end after a few seconds following his finishing action. "I'm so done," The Puerto Rican groaned as he brought his hands to his face and pulled downwards to attempt to wake himself up.

Hearing this moan of subdue, Ryan frowned a little but quickly erased the impending facial expression and assumed keeping up the innocent and complacent act, to make sure of himself that the other Gents didn't become suspicious of the slight soft spot he had for the youngest Lad he played against. "Aww, c'mon," He cooed softly and glanced at the controller that sat on the desk in front of Ray with wryness in his gaze. "We have one more round; try to win that one,"

"It wouldn't make a difference, so why bother? You're going to win, even if I do somehow conquer the last level, so whatever."

The defeat in Ray's voice made the winning male frown again, but this time he didn't bother to remove the positive parabola from his lips.

"Geoff," Ryan quickly called, making the requested male hum with question before words were uttered in response.

"Yeah, what's up buddy?"

"How about we make the last track all or nothing? If I win, I win, but if Ray wins the last round, he wins the belt," This made Ray blink with shock and turn to face Ryan with a questioning stare.

"Oh, really? Well, I guess so; more suspense for the viewers!" Geoff exclaimed and grinned; his hand bringing the microphone he had up closer to his mouth. "Don't fuck this up, Ryan." He said in a low, venturing voice, before he went back to his usual tone of voice; giddy. "Let's goooo!"

Quickly, the final game was started, but it wasn't like the other rounds where Ryan's character would speed off instantly. No, instead, the odds were in Ray's favour. He wasn't sure what had happened to his rival's advantage, but he didn't put much thought into it. He stabbed the gas button with his thumb and sure enough, he was leading in no time; his vibe being much more exuberant now that he was winning for once.

He might've considered it at the time, but Ryan was purposely letting him advance.

'Can't let my lovely be sad, defeated and annoyed with me,'

Though, to make sure it wasn't too blatant, Ryan was supplying an admirably close call to Ray's character but wasn't completely passing the opposing avatar.

After a couple of minutes, the run was over. Ray, as Ryan hoped, had won. After the Puerto Rican's character crossed the finish line in a bail out, the room suddenly erupted in loud shouts and cheers; the shouts being mostly rants belonging to the other Gents and the cheers being screams that were yelled by the other Lads. Ray immediately stood up from his chair and threw his arms in the air when he heard he'd won; he hadn't really been paying attention for he was anticipating Ryan to pull the win right from under him somehow. "'Eyyyyy!" He screamed with excitement, "I won!"

Ryan, during this period of happiness and joy, was merely sitting in his chair; a small smile gracing his lips as he felt truly jubilant for letting Ray win. For letting his crush win. Even though he was being scolded by Geoff and Jack with disappointment on their breaths, he didn't care. "Great job, Ray; congratulations on winning, dude." Ryan wished merrily prior to standing up from his chair as well so that he and Ray could be filmed for the ending segment of the Versus episode, where Ray would hold up the belt above his head and grin at the camera being pointed towards them. As they were on camera, Ryan couldn't stop himself from watching the Puero Rican while keeping his lips upturned with the furtive smile he continued to wear.

'I'm happy for you... Ray.'

It was after another couple minutes of filming when everyone was finally dismissed to do what they wanted, whereas Geoff and Jack went somewhere outside of the office, and Gavin and Michael went to go talk to Kerry about something, leaving Ryan and Ray to stand alone in the same room. Ray went over to his desk to set his winner's belt at the foot of his center computer screen while Ryan merely stood motionless and resumed watching the younger male warily. Something was rather different today; there was just a little aspect about the situation that seemed a little- off. Whether it be that Ray had been looking dapper today with Ryan's version of the 'Achieve' shirt Achievement Hunter sold or that the Gent's emotions were a tad bit more bubbly than usual, it seemed like today was- the day?

Ryan's heart leaped into his throat as he looked around and raked a hand through his hair after he'd removed the sunglasses that he rested on top of his head. Was it really the time to tell Ray about his feelings? He knew it was slightly- corrupted, that he liked Ray, but he couldn't really help it. He'd liked the idea of idea of people shipping of him and Ray together, and he didn't really realize that he had been striving to make the R & R Connection a thing until he had caught himself in the act of admiring Ray mentally during a Minecraft Let's Play. Ever since that time, Ryan had been conscious of his love for Ray. It was weird, yeah, but it was weirdly right.

"Ray?" A hopeful Ryan called out softly as he glanced at the Puerto Rican he called out to.

"Yeah, dude?"

"Mm, I'm sorry for cheating,"

"...!" Ray made a squeakish noise, "I knew it!" The darker male claimed, prior to turning and looking at the older Gent who was gazing at him with a worried and even melancholy glint in his eye, which caused the Lad in the room blink as his intensity of righteousness died down with curiosity looming over him. "Whoa, what's wrong, Ryan?" He inquired as he blinked at him.

"Nothing; perfectly fine over here."

"You don't look like you're 'fine over there.'"

"Are you mad at me?" Ryan probed with a diverted gaze.

"Wha-? I mean, nah; I can't really be mad. Besides, you let me win, after all."

"Yeah..."

"Why'd you do that, anyways?"

"Because- I didn't want you to be mad at me."

"Why were you worried about that? I'm pretty sure winning is more important than my emotions,"

"No, it's not; your feelings are what matter most, I mean, since I like you and-" Ryan's coaxing absentmindedly died out, when he'd realized what he'd just said. A burgandy shade tinted the older male's cheek bones, and it was immediate when his eyes watched the floor with sudden and extreme interest. 'I didn't mean to say that... Oh no...'

"...What- what was that, Ryan?"