The gaming house was quieter than usual after the stream that made Aarav a trending sensation. Most of the team had retreated to their rooms, but Aarav lingered in the lounge, scrolling through endless notifications on his phone. Memes, fan edits, hashtags—his name was everywhere.
"Enjoying the fame?" a voice teased.
Aarav looked up. Rhea stood by the doorway, arms crossed, a faint smirk on her lips. She wore a simple hoodie now, her usual fierce aura softened by the late hour.
"Not really," Aarav admitted, locking his phone. "It's… overwhelming."
Rhea walked over and sat across from him. "Get used to it. This is what comes with the territory."
Aarav chuckled nervously. "I didn't sign up for being a meme."
"You signed up for being a player," Rhea said, her tone firm but not harsh. "The rest is just noise."
Aarav studied her for a moment. "You handle it so easily."
Rhea laughed softly—a sound Aarav hadn't heard before. "Easily? You think I don't see the comments? The rumors? The pressure?" She shook her head. "I just learned to ignore what doesn't matter."
"What does matter?" Aarav asked quietly.
Rhea's eyes met his, sharp yet vulnerable. "Winning. The team. The game. Everything else is background music."
Aarav nodded slowly. "Makes sense."
For a moment, silence stretched between them—comfortable, not awkward. Then Rhea smirked. "You know, you surprised me today."
"How?" Aarav asked, genuinely curious.
"That flank," Rhea said, leaning back. "Bold. Risky. Not what I expected from Mr. Rotation Guru."
Aarav smiled faintly. "Guess I'm full of surprises."
"Guess so," Rhea said, her tone softer now. "Keep that fire. We'll need it."
Over the next few days, the tension between Aarav and Rhea shifted. Their late-night strategy sessions became routine—hours spent dissecting plays, trading ideas, and laughing at absurd mistakes. Rhea's sharp edges softened when they were alone, revealing glimpses of the person behind the captain's mask.
One night, as they pored over a replay, Rhea nudged him playfully. "You know, fans are shipping us hard."
Aarav nearly choked on his coffee. "What?!"
Rhea grinned. "Don't act surprised. You've seen the comments."
"I… ignore them," Aarav muttered, cheeks burning.
"Good," Rhea said, smirk lingering. "Focus on the game. Not the noise."
But as she turned back to the screen, Aarav couldn't help noticing the warmth in her smile—and the way his heart skipped a beat.