Game

Grant swiveled his point of view to check the known hiding spots for this game map. “Checking all the spots.”

“I’ve cleared the level. Only one more place she can be.” He worked the controls, and his view panned. He bobbed up the stairs and around the corner. Squat and crawl under the window.

“Going for speed over stealth. Bob and weave and get the kill.” He followed through on his promise, his character dancing across the screen from his first-person perspective.

“She didn’t even try to take a shot. I’ve got her now.” His onscreen persona kicked open the door and tossed a flashbang that rebounded off the wall to explode in the room. He slid his view around the last corner and... nothing.

“Wha- where is she?” His screen turned red, showing he was killed. 

“No way!” The screen switched to a third-person perspective replaying his death. BunnyKiller002 stealthed up in a straight line behind him as his avatar zig-zagged across the open field. She almost caught up to him when he breached the door. Just as he pivoted inside, she lined up the stab and got the knife kill.

The announcer’s voice broke into the booth. “That’s it game over! We have our new world champion. Why don’t you all come on out for the post game!”

Grant took off his headset and walked to the door of the soundproof booth. An official quickly checked for cheating devices, then opened the door. The roar was deafening. Bunny had just stepped out.

She glanced up at him and smiled. “Good game. You really made me earn it.” She took several steps closing the distance between them.

He met her halfway. “God damn, a knife kill?”

She blushed. “I was afraid you’d hear me coming.” She offered her hand.

He’d never realized just how short she was. He had several inches on her, maybe even half a foot. And she was petite. But she was so curvy, there was no mistaking her for a little girl. No, she was built like a woman, a beautiful woman.

Grant took her hand, and the renewed roar from the crowd brought him back to the present. She squeezed twice as she shook. Her smile was ear to ear.

Grant’s eyes moved from her mouth to her eyes. They were a pale blue that contrasted with her black hair. She had her trademark bunny ear headband on. They lit up and flashed.

A bright light lit them up, and Grant turned to see a camera and photographers. The announcer was beside the camera operator. “Congratulations, BunnyKiller002, our new world champion!” She released his hand.

Grant panned his head back to look at Bunny. She’d gone pale. He remembered his first championship win and interview. Live events were always so much more intense than online.

The announcer stepped up with a microphone in her face. “Walk us through that last map!”

Bunny was looking a little green. Grant leaned over to whisper in her ear. She looked up at him with tears riming her eyes. She reached out and grabbed his neck tight, so he shifted to a hug.

As the audience lost their minds, he whispered to her. “Deep breath. Let the lights blind you and talk to the camera just like your webcam.” He relaxed his arms. She held the hug while she took a long breath. She trailed her hand down the back of his arm as she turned back to the camera. Her hand caught his, and she gripped it tight. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.

“This is my favorite map, so I was grateful about the luck of the draw.” She walked the announcer through her strategy and the gameplay of the last match. She’d studied his playstyle a lot deeper than he had. She had been stalking him throughout the game and helped him clear the map of other players from the opposite side.

Grant watched the audience’s perspective as the match replayed. She was just out of sight the whole time, but her moves through the map made it seem like she knew exactly where he was.

 
The announcer interviewed her. “Now your performance here looks like you’ve predicted his strategy.”

“Well, I’ve watched all his gameplay online. He’s a crack shot and knows all the hiding places on the map. I had to keep moving, but I felt like I know him well enough to guess his flow. I was nearby when the last player was eliminated. It was just a case of getting across the map without getting caught.”

Grant was caught dwelling on her following his play when he realized the announcer had asked him a question. Bunny squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry, could you rephrase the question?”

The announcer chuckled. “Sure. This has got to be a tough moment for you, losing your title. It’s nice to see you two being such good sports and supporting each other. How are you doing right now?”

Grant looked down at his hand in hers. “Oh.”

Bunny let go, and he looked up into her eyes; she looked uncertain. Finally, he turned back to the camera. “Well, I’m still in shock, really. I, ah... yeah, she knifed me. She really is a killer bunny. So, she really deserves this.”

Grant turned back to Bunny. Her eyes welled up with tears again. She said, “Thank you,” so quietly it wasn’t audible. She gave him a side hug, and he returned it.

“There you go folks our outgoing and incoming champions. Absolutely the best of sportsmanship on display here.”

After the interviews, sponsor acknowledgments and fan greetings, Grant returned to the game booth to collect his personal equipment. Although he was pleasantly surprised when he stepped out, he ran into Bunny doing the same.

She smiled and blushed. Grant’s pulse picked up. Encountering her without the crush of the crowd or cameras, he was caught self-conscious.

She crossed the gap. “Hey, ah, I wanted to, um, ask you something.”

He looked down into her beautiful icy blue eyes. The blush of her cheeks highlighted her pale skin. She really was lovely.

“Grant?”

“Oh, sure, I’m still in a daze. Sorry. You really worked me over.”

She looked down. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“Come on, you’re the killer bunny. You can’t be sorry.” She looked up at him. He smiled, and her face lit up. “There you go. You earned this one. What did you want to ask?”

“Oh. Well, you see, I was thinking, after I’m done with all the championship obligations... well, I was thinking about starting a team.”

“Oh, wow. Okay, you’re the champion, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting the best.”

“And I was wondering if you’d be willing to join. I know you prefer to work solo. But I really think we could be amazing together... on a team. And you don’t have to answer now, but will you think about it?” Bunny streamed, and Grant hadn’t been able to interject.

“There’s never been a team I’ve ever wanted to be on, and I’ve done so well solo, I didn’t think I’ve needed one. But you owned me today. Yeah, we should talk about your team. I’d like to see if I can be part of it.”

Bunny danced her feet back and forth. “Really?!?”

“Yeah, I think it would be amazing to work with you... play together.” Bunny grabbed Grant by the neck and squeezed.

He put his hands on her waist. He pulled her close, catching a hint of vanilla scent. He turned his face slightly towards his hair and inhaled. His heart started to race.

She moved her head and grazed her cheek across his chin. “Grant?”

He felt her lips brush his face as she spoke. “Yes?”

“I...”

A distant male voice called, “Bonnie, it’s time to go. We have new sponsors that want to take us to dinner.”

She groaned ever so softly. Grant’s heart skipped. “I have to go.”

“DM me later?”

“Yeah?” She opened her phone, launched Discord, and handed it to Grant. He searched for his screen name and sent a friend request.

He opened his own phone and accepted. He sent Bunny a message.

Hi! Your real name is Bonnie?

Yeah.

Bonnie locked her phone. “I have to go.”

Grant held his phone to his chest. “Okay. Let’s get together later. Start working out the details?”

“Yes! Sounds good. See you later.” Bonnie took a step back.

Grant nodded as he watched her back away. “Wait, Bonnie, your bag!”

Bonnie’s eyes bulged, and she darted to pick up her gaming kit.

Grant retrieved his.

She waved, and he waved back as she ran to her manager.