Side Story (2) - Chapter 2
Raxian slipped his phone back into his pocket and pulled the hood of his jacket tighter against the wind, feeling the chill seeping into his skin. He still wanted to climb, to reach Diamond I, maybe even beyond. But for the first time in a long while, he wondered if his goals had changed—if maybe, just maybe, what he really wanted was to find a way to keep Sable in his life, not as a rival, but as something more.
And as the winter wind whispered through the empty streets, Raxian made a quiet promise to himself: he would find out what that meant, even if it took him all winter to figure it out.
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He turned a corner, aimlessly making his way through the city's quieter streets, when he spotted a figure sitting alone on a bench near the entrance of the park. He nearly dismissed it, but something about the silhouette caught his eye—the way the person leaned forward slightly, hood pulled low over their face.
It took a second for him to recognize her.
Sable.
She sat there, bundled up in a long jacket, her breath misting in the air. Raxian hesitated, his footsteps slowing as he took her in—this version of her that seemed so out of place against the backdrop of falling snow. She hadn't noticed him yet, her gaze distant as if she were a million miles away.
He debated walking away, leaving her to whatever thoughts she was lost in. But before he could decide, she glanced up, her eyes locking onto his. She blinked, clearly surprised, but quickly masked it with her usual calm.
"Well, if it isn't Raxian," she called out, her voice carrying over the stillness of the park. "Didn't think you'd be out here freezing your ass off."
Raxian smirked, slipping his hands back into his pockets as he walked over to her. "Didn't think I'd run into you either. What, taking a break from trashing me in-game?"
Sable rolled her eyes but shifted slightly, making space for him on the bench. "Maybe I just got bored of kicking your ass," she replied, but there was a softness to her tone that made him pause.
He sat down beside her, leaving a small gap between them, the snow crunching underfoot as he shifted his weight. The silence settled over them, but it wasn't uncomfortable—just different. Raxian stole a glance at her, noticing the way a few stray strands of her hair caught the light, falling over her face.
She adjusted her hood, pulling it tighter around her. "I just needed some air," she said, as if she needed to explain herself. "Gets stuffy being cooped up all the time."
He nodded, looking out at the park's empty paths, the trees bare and outlined against the sky. "Yeah, I get that," he murmured. "Feels like everything's different these days."
Sable turned to him, a hint of curiosity in her gaze. "Different how?"
Raxian shrugged, trying to put the swirling thoughts into words. "I don't know... I guess I thought I'd have it all figured out by now. I'd reach the top, and everything would just... click, you know?"
She was quiet for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, I get that," she admitted softly. "But things don't always go the way we expect."
He studied her face, seeing something there he hadn't noticed before—something that mirrored his own uncertainty. It was strange, how much he could relate to her when they weren't hurling insults or competing in-game.
He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "If I'd known we'd end up having some deep philosophical talk in the middle of a snowstorm, I might've brought hot chocolate or something."
She actually smiled at that, the corner of her mouth quirking up. "That's a pretty cheesy line, Raxian."
He shrugged again, not bothering to hide the grin on his face. "Yeah, well, I've got my moments."
They sat there in the cold, the city around them almost eerily quiet, but for the first time in a while, Raxian didn't feel the need to fill the silence. He glanced over at her, wondering what was going on in her head—if she ever thought about the things he did, about how much had changed between them.
Finally, he decided to take a chance. "You know," he began, his voice quieter than before, "I miss having you on my side sometimes. Not just in matches, I mean. Just... in general."
Sable turned to him, her expression softening as she met his gaze. For a moment, he thought he saw something vulnerable in her eyes, but then she tilted her head, studying him with that familiar, unreadable look. "You're not alone, Raxian," she said, the words careful, like she was testing them out. "You just need to let people be there for you."
He swallowed, the weight of her words settling in. "Yeah, maybe you're right," he admitted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "But... it's not always that easy, you know?"
She nodded slowly, her breath forming a small cloud in the cold air. "Yeah. I know."
And in that moment, with the snow falling softly around them and the city lights flickering in the distance, Raxian realized that maybe, just maybe, he was starting to understand what he really wanted. Not the fame, not the rank—but the chance to be with someone who made him feel like he didn't have to face everything alone.
And maybe, he thought as he glanced at Sable beside him, he'd find a way to tell her that. Even if it took him all winter to figure out how.