VBL

In the dim lit living room of Takeshi and Omar’s shared apartment sits several different plants on top of shelves, coffee tables and even the entertainment center. Takeshi is cuddled up next to Omar, with his head laying on Omar’s chest. Hearing Omar’s heartbeat always calmed Takeshi down. Omar is looking at an episode of GLOW on his smart tv, while Takeshi is scrolling through the VBL app. Eventually he sees the stream of Javier King vs. Maximillion Sky king and stops in his tracks, even lifting his head from Omar.

“What’s wrong?” Omar asks.

“Sky king.” Takeshi says.

“Hm okay. Who or what is that?” Omar questions.

“I’m sorry. He won the Tekken championship at EVO 2 years ago.” Takeshi informs.

“Okay, so who did he lose to last year?” Omar asks.

“No one. After he won the championship, he went radio silent.” Takeshi says.

“Okay, creepy.” Omar responds.

“It was, I mean is. Anyway no one ever saw him in person again. Rumors of him streaming at random parts of the day begin kicking around. He became something of a ghost in the FGC. Why is he playing VBL against Javier?” Takeshi ponders.

“Who knows. Maybe he’s trying his hand at VBL. Hey, is it weird that I think she wolf is cute?” Omar changes the topic.

“That says more about what type of people you’re into. Maybe, I should go in the yard and put some hair and dirt on myself.” Takeshi teases.

“Maybe you should.”

“We can start having a Teen Wolf night. We can even role play.”

“You’re not going to let me live this down, are you?” Omar asks.

“Not at all.” Takeshi smiles and kisses his lover’s cheek.

“Better that then VBL again.” Omar states.

“Okay shots fired. I don’t bring up VBL that much, do I?”

“Oh, every day. But it’s okay.” Omar says while laughing. Although Takeshi can tell it isn’t all laughs and sets his phone down.

“Well, I’m here now. Cuddling with my boyfriend and his werewolf fetish.” Takeshi continues to tease.

“And here I am, with my boyfriend who’s obsessed with a fighting game.” Omar says while grabbing Takeshi and squeezing him close to him.

Both men take part in a lighthearted chuckle, laughing at each other. Takeshi embraces his partner again.

“I think the she wolf is kind of cute too.” Takeshi declares.

**

Back within the VBL HQ, inside training room 3, the intense battle of “kings” continues. Both players are standing amongst the rubble in the sewer. Max sprints to Javier. Grabbing his right foot and throwing him into the sewage wall. Max then immediately jumps over to Javier and winds up another punch. Javier is barely able to move his head out of the way before Max’s fist smashes into the wall.

On the surface, the ground begins to shake until Javier goes flying through the concrete with Max hot on his tail. Grabbing Javier while he’s still flying and placing him in a perfect position for a primary lotus. Spinning around until he finally slams Javier’s head into the concrete. This time most of the NPC’s react to the impact on the map. Javier angles his body to make it possible to kick Max off him. Max jumps back, which also allows Javier to get back to his feet.

“Was that the- “Javier says before getting interrupted.

“To elaborate on my earlier point. Over the course of this fight, I’ve delt you damage that would normally kill you.” Max explains.

“Yeah, no shit.” Javier boasts.

“Then why aren’t more people going for kill shots? Lethal blows? The most extravagant fighting styles imaginable! I mean honestly! The military would love to get their claws on technology like this. The training scenarios would be outrageous!” Maximillion yells.

“Military training application, lethal blows and kill shots? You’re starting to sound more like a disturbed child, and you know what type.” Javier insults.

“Insults? I see. I’ve gotten under your skin. Very well, then I’ll just come out with it. Rip off the band-aid. Your lack of creativity will be what holds you back.” Maximillion states while imitating the motion of combing his hair back.

This causes Javier to stop in his tracks. Even Javier can clearly see when someone is making a good point. Up until now, he’s relied solely on his martial arts experience. Which while can be devastating in real life, can hinder his mindset in VBL. To speak frankly, he was subconsciously keeping his imagination within the barriers of real life. Maximillion glances at Javier’s face and relishes the fact that he’s right.

“Tell you what. We can duke it out until I win this match. Or we can make things a little interesting.” Max proposes.

“What do you have in mind?” Javier asks.

Maximillion begins to slowly walk up to Javier. Javier can’t help but flinch and put his guard up. Although Max continues to walk towards his opponent, unfazed. Until he’s standing right in front of the teen.

A beat.

Maximillion extends his left hand out.

“Now grab my hand with your left hand.” Max directs.

“Umm okay.” Javier follows. Grabbing the other teen’s hand.

“This is called the one-handed death match. Get it?” Max asks.

“Oh, yes. I see where you are going with this… ready?” Javier says while smiling.

“3,2,1” Max directs.

“Titan hammer!” Javier and Max screamed their attack at the same time.

Both teens unleash a devastating titan hammer at point blank range, and directly in the face. The impact was so explosive that the concrete beneath them once again cracked, and the NPCs all began to scatter. Both teens strengthen their grip. Using each other’s borrowed strength, they’re able to keep from being blown away.

From Javier’s P.O.V he can see that his health is low, but he still has his wall ability. For a millisecond, his mind is flooded with one possibility after another.

Javier inner thoughts: Fuck it!

Instead Javier chooses to throw it all away. Directing a hard punch to Max’s face.

Max doesn’t even budge from the attack, opting to counterattack. Hard punches are sent back and forth. One right hook matched with another. But there was one key difference. Maximillion had more health, due to him placing all of his stat boosts into attack and dealing more damage overall.

“Titan hammer!” Javier yells.

For the first time in this match Maximillion is caught off guard. So much that he can’t help but smile at the revelation at his next move.

“Titan hammer!” Max yells.

Despite throwing his attack first, both special attacks hit at the same time. Dust and rubble are picked up and flung around the map. At the point of impact, Javier’s avatar is the first to explode, leaving Maximillion amongst the dust. Smiling.

“That’s more like it.” Max states.

**

Outside of training room 3, Max and Javier are walking back towards the lobby where a fraction of the crowd is still there but now, they’re watching another match on the lobby monitors. Already on to the next thing. In the far corner of the lobby undenounced to Maximillion and Javier, Ren (Nora’s classmate) is standing amongst the crowd, looking at a match on the monitor. Although these three teenagers wouldn’t finally meet until much later.

“So, I have to confirm something.” Javier states to Max.

“Yeah? What’s up?” Maximillion responds.

“You knew I was sitting behind you, didn’t you?”

“I did. I saw an opportunity to assess my own level with a new game, and I took it.”

“So, you were testing me?”

“Yes, but I was testing myself more. I wanted to see the current average level of this game.” Max explains.

“Average?!”

“Yeah, but don’t take that as a diss. Instead see it as an obstacle to overcome.”

“… Be more creative.” Javier restates Max’s previous statement.

Maximillion smiles and leaves it at that.

“One more question.” Javier asks.

“I’m not taking in mentees right now. Just enjoy the free trial.” Max pronounces.

“Not even close. I wanted to know why the pompadour?” Javier asks.

“Easy. It’s modeled after my favorite anime character. A true man’s man.” Max answers.

“Sweet JP?” Javier asks.

“Kuwabara.” Maximillion clarifies.

Maxmillion pulls his comb out, flicks it open, and tends to his hair.

“I can’t believe I let some otaku beat me.” Javier says.