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KIRA

I lean forward in my gaming chair, fingers tightening around my controller as Ghost’s character model creeps around the corner on my screen. The familiar rush of adrenaline courses through my veins—this is what I live for.

“Got movement behind you,”Rogue’sdeep voice comes through my headset. His West Coast accent still catches me off guard sometimes, even after gaming together for two years.

“Thanks for the heads up.” I spin Ghost around, catching the enemy player trying to sneak up behind me. Two quick bursts from my rifle, and they drop. “That’s what you get for thinking you can sneak up onMistressOfMischief.”

Rogue’slow chuckle fills my ears. “Nice shot. Your aim’s getting better.”

“Getting better? I’ve always been this good.” I stick my tongue out even though he can’t see me. “You’re just mad because I’m about to break your kill streak record.”

“In your dreams.”

The match timer counts down as we clear the map together, our characters moving in sync.Rogueand I met in a random lobby, but his skill caught my attention. Now, we’re an unstoppable team.

“So, how’s the convention prep going?” he asks between firefights.

“Just finished my Aloy costume, actually.” I grab a handful of chips from the bowl next to my keyboard. “The armor pieces were a pain to make, but worth it. Even got the bow looking perfect.”

“Horizon Zero Dawn? Nice choice.”

“Yeah, figured I’d do something different than my usual League costumes. Plus, she’s badass.” I wipe my fingers on my sweatpants. “You should come to GamerCon, you know. It would be cool to finally meet my gaming partner in person.”

“Not really my scene.” His voice takes on an edge I can’t quite read.

“Come on, it’ll be fun! There are tournaments, panels, merch...” I lean back in my chair. “Plus, you can see my cosplay in person instead of just the progress pics I keep sending.”

“Those pics have been... interesting.” My cheeks heat at the tone of his voice.

“Well, there are still tickets available if you change your mind. You already have the Ghost costume you sent me photos of.”

The sound of gunfire interrupts as another player rushes our position. I take them down with a clean headshot.

“I’ll think about it,”Roguesays after a moment. “When is it again?”

“In two weeks. Friday through Sunday at the convention center downtown.” I bounce in my seat. “Please say you’ll come? I need someone to watch my back while I navigate the vendor hall in full armor.”

His laugh sends a shiver down my spine. “Always looking out for you. Let me check my schedule.”

My phone buzzes on the desk,Jenna’ssmiling face lighting up the screen.

“Sorry, Rogue. I have to take this.” I switch to my phone. “Hey, Jen!”

“Girl, where are you? We were supposed to meet for coffee like twenty minutes ago!”

I glance at the time and curse. “Shit, sorry! Got caught up in a match withRogue.”

“Of course you did.”Jenna’seye roll is practically audible. “You better not be late for the costume fitting tomorrow. I’m not letting you walk around GamerCon with unfinished armor.”

“I’ll be there.” I start gathering my things. “Hey,Roguemight actually come this year!”

“Mhmm. Just like he was ‘thinking about it’ last year.”

“He seemed more interested this year.”

“Kira, sweetie, he’s been stringing you along about meeting up for how long now?”

“It’s not like that.” I pull on my shoes while balancing the phone. “We’re just gaming friends.”

“Right. Gaming friends who flirt constantly and send each other cosplay pics.”

“I gotta go,Rogue,” I speak into my headset. “Thanks for the matches!”

“Later,Mischief.” His voice still has that edge to it.

I disconnect and grab my bag. “He’s different from what you think, Jen. You should hear how he talks about game mechanics and strategy. The guy’s brilliant.”

“I’m sure he is. But two years of ‘maybe next time’ is a pattern.”Jennasighs. “Just be careful, okay? I’ll see you at the café in ten?”

“Make it fifteen.”

“Fine. But you’re buying my coffee to make up for being late!”

I laugh and hang up, butJenna’swords stick with me as I head for my car. Maybe she has a point aboutRoguealways finding excuses not to meet, but it feels different this time.

The late afternoon sun filters through Crimson Coffee’s windows, casting golden rectangles across the worn wooden floors. I weave between tables filled with students hunched over laptops and young professionals tapping on phones, the familiar scent of espresso and pastries wrapping around me like a hug.

Jenna’slaptop is open at our usual corner table, fingers flying across the keyboard. Her blonde hair is piled in a messy bun, held together with what looks like two pencils.

“Before you start,” I drop into the chair across from her, “I brought peace offerings.” I slide a chocolate croissant across the table, seeing her face light up despite her attempt to maintain a stern expression.

“You’re lucky I love you.” She breaks off a piece, flaky crumbs scattering across her keyboard. “Help me with this boss fight? My players are getting too cocky and need a reality check.”

I peek at her notes, squinting at her chaotic handwriting. A barista passes by, and I flag her for my usual caramel latte.

“What level are they?”

“Eight. And they just steamrolled through my carefully planned dungeon like it was nothing.” She gestures at her screen, where a complex dungeon map is filled with crossed-out traps and encounters.

“Throw a Beholder at them.” I pick at the croissant, stealing a piece for myself. “That’ll teach them to respect your authority as DM.”

“Evil. I love it.”Jennatypes furiously, her grin almost predatory. The afternoon crowd swells around us, the café filling with after-work customers seeking caffeine fixes. A group of teenagers at the next table erupts in laughter, momentarily drowning out the indie folk music playing overhead.

My latte arrives, and the barista sets it down. I take a sip, the sweet caramel cutting through the bitter espresso.

“So,”Jennasays, closing her laptop with a decisive click. “Roguesituation. Updates?”

I play it cool, but can’t help the warmth creeping up my neck. “It’s not a ‘situation.’ We game together.”

“Uh-huh.” She leans forward, resting her chin on her hand. “And I spent three hours picking my Discord profile pic because I’m ‘just really into photography.’”

“That’s different! You need to maintain your image as a serious Dungeon Master.”

“Right, because the cat ears filter really screams ‘fear my power.’” She flicks a croissant crumb at me.

I dodge it, laughing. Outside, the street lights flicker on as dusk settles over the city. The café’s ambient lighting shifts in response, warm bulbs casting everything in a cozy glow.

“ But seriously,”Jennasays, her voice dropping as she stirs her coffee. “You’re being careful, right?”

I trace the rim of my mug as the caramel swirl dissolves into the foam. “I know, I know. Strange men on the internet, stranger danger. But we’ve been gaming together for two years, Jen. He’s not some random creep.”

A customer drops a mug at the counter, the crash momentarily silencing the café before conversations resume, slightly louder than before.

“Just promise you’ll let me meet him if he shows up at the con?”Jennareaches across the table, squeezing my hand. “My spidey senses are usually right about people.”

“Deal.” I squeeze back. “Though your spidey senses also told you that guy at last year’s convention was cosplaying Naruto when he was clearly Bleach.”

“That was ONE time!” she protests, throwing her hands up.

“Are you forgetting when you mistook a Pikachu for a Raichu?” I remind her.

Jenna’s face turns red. “That was in middle school! And they look practically identical.” She grabs her phone, presumably to do a Google image search.

“One has a long tail and is three times bigger!” I laugh, pulling my own phone out. “Look, I’ll show you.”

We huddle over our phones, shoulders bumping as we compare Pokémon images, bickering good-naturedly. The café has emptied somewhat, the after-work rush dissipating as evening settles in. Outside, streetlights cast pools of yellow on the darkening sidewalk.

“Anyway,”Jennasays, setting her phone down with a definitive tap. “Back to your mystery man.”

I fiddle with my coffee cup, running my finger through a drop of condensation on the table. “He’s sent me some photos.”

“Of him in that skull mask? That doesn’t count.” She breaks off another piece of croissant, popping it into her mouth.

“The Ghost mask is iconic! And he rocks it.” I pull up my phone, scrolling to the latest pic he sentin full tactical gear, the stark white mask a sharp contrast against the dark background. “See? Tell me that’s not hot.”

Jennastudies the image, her lips pursed. The café’s overhead lights reflect in her glasses as she leans closer to my screen.

“All I see is a guy who won’t show his face.” She leans back, crossing her arms. “What if he’s catfishing you?”

“He’s not.” The conviction in my voice surprises even me. A server passes by, collecting empty cups from nearby tables. The café is winding down, and only a few patrons remain.

“You should hear how he talks,” I continue, lowering my voice. “Last week, we talked for hours about everything from game design philosophy to our favorite cereal. He’s different.”

“Different enough to finally show up at GamerCon?”Jennaraises an eyebrow, her skepticism palpable in the dim café light.

I bite my lip, remembering the edge in his voice when we discussed it. “Maybe. He seemed more open to it this time.”

“And you’re not curious what he looks like under that mask?”

“Of course I am!” The words burst out before I can stop them. “I mean... yeah, I’ve thought about it. A lot.”

My mind wanders to late-night gaming sessions, imagining the face behind that voice that sends shivers down my spine. The café around us fades away as I picture possibilities—is he clean-shaven or scruffy? Are his eyes as intense as they seem through the mask’s eyeholes?

“Earth toKira!”Jennawaves her hand in front of my face, the movement sending ripples through her coffee. “You’re doing that dreamy thing again.”

“I am not!” But the heat in my cheeks betrays me. Outside, rain begins to patter against the windows, droplets racing down the glass and blurring the streetlights.

“Maybe it’s just because he plays Ghost so well,” I mumble into my coffee. “You know how I feel about that character.”

“Oh, I know.”Jenna’seyebrows shoot up. “I’ve seen your TikTok likes.”

“Hey!” I nearly spilled my drink, the ceramic mug clattering against the saucer. “Those are private!”

“Not when you’re logged into my phone, and thirst trap videos keep popping up on my feed. ‘GhostDaddy’? Really?” She laughs, the sound mingling with the increasing drumbeat of rain outside.

I sink lower in my chair, face burning. The coffee shop’s closing music starts playing, a gentle hint to remaining customers.

“His cosplay is really accurate...” I mutter, tracing a coffee stain on the table.

“And the way he fills out that tactical gear has nothing to do with it?”Jennasmirks, gathering her things as the baristas begin wiping down counters.

“Shut up.” But she’s right. My FYP is filled with muscular guys in Ghost masks doing those slow-motion combat rolls, their shirts riding up just enough to...

I clear my throat, draining the last of my now-cold latte. “Rogue’svoice kind of sounds like him, you know? That deep, gravelly thing they do.”

“The one that makes you forget how to talk mid-match?”Jennazips up her laptop bag.

“I do not—” But I think about last night’s game, how my fingers fumbled on the controller when he growled “good girl”after I pulled off a difficult shot. “Okay, fine. Maybe I have a type.”

“A type called ‘dangerous men in masks?’” She stands, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

We go to the door, nodding goodbye to the tired-looking baristas. Outside, the rain has intensified, drumming against the awning above us.

“It’s not just that.” I pull my jacket tighter against the sudden chill. “WhenRoguetalks about gaming, strategy, and positioning, it’s like he becomes Ghost. All commanding and confident. And his laugh...” I shiver, remembering how it vibrates through my headset late at night.

“Girl, you’ve got it bad.”Jennashakes her head, pulling up her hood against the rain. “For both the character and your mystery man.”

“Is it weird that I can’t tell them apart sometimes?” The confession slips out, nearly lost in the sound of rain hitting the pavement. “Like, when we’re gaming, and he’s giving orders in that voice... It’s like my TikTok fantasies come to life.”

Jennapauses under the shelter of the awning, raindrops creating a curtain around us. Her expression softens.

“Just be careful,” she says, squeezing my arm. “The sexier and more amazing someone seems online, the more you have to verify they’re real.”

“I know he’s real.” I pull my phone out again, scrolling through our Discord chat as rain splashes onto the screen. “Look at these conversations. The way he analyzes game mechanics and his specific callouts during matches. You can’t fake that kind of knowledge.”

“I’m not saying he’s not a gamer.”Jennalooks at me with genuine concern, raindrops glistening in her hair. “But skilled players can still be different in person. Promise me you won’t meet him alone if he shows up at the con?”

“Fine.” I tuck my phone away. “You can be my chaperone. Though I’m pretty sure I can handle myself.”

“Against a guy who’s probably built like a tank, based on those mask pics? Let me be your backup, okay? Like in your games.” She pulls me into a quick hug before darting into the rain toward her car.

I stand alone under the awning for a moment. The rain washes the streets clean, reflections of neon signs and traffic lights rippling in puddles.Jenna’sright—of course, she’s right. Two years of excuses and dodged meet-ups don’t lie.

That edge inRogue’svoice when I mentioned GamerCon... I’ve heard it before. Every time I bring up a meeting in person, he gets distant, almost cold. The warmth that usually fills his words disappears, replaced by clipped responses and a sudden urgency to log off.

I step out into the rain, letting it soak through my hair and run down my face. The cold drops feel clarifying somehow, washing away the fantasy I’ve built around a man I’ve never met.

The thing is, I get it. Meeting someone in real life whom you met online is scary. What if we don’t click in person? What if the chemistry that makes us such great gaming partners doesn’t translate to real life?

But there’s something else in the way he avoids it. Something that makes my stomach twist when I think about it too hard. Like he’s protecting himself—or maybe protecting me.

From what, though?

I reach my car and slide inside, sitting in darkness as rain drums on the roof. My phone lights up with a notification—Discord.Rogue.

“Checked my schedule. Might be able to make GamerCon after all. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

My heart skips despite everythingJennajust said. Despite my own doubts. Despite two years of disappointment.

Because maybe, just maybe, this time will be different.