The soft clicking of keys filled Leon’s dimly lit room, the rhythmic sound blending with the hum of his PC. Blue light washed over his face, tracing the tired curve of his eyes as he focused on the game in front of him. Outside his door, laughter and footsteps drifted faintly from the living room — Elise was home, and she’d brought someone with her. He didn’t pay attention.
He was in the middle of a boss fight when the knock came. Three soft taps. He paused, fingers hovering over the keyboard. “Yeah?”
The door opened, and light from the hallway spilled into the dark. A girl stepped in, and for a moment, Leon forgot to breathe.
She looked like she’d walked straight out of one of his games — surreal, luminous. Long, silvery-blonde hair framed her face, catching the light like strands of frost. Her skin was pale, sprinkled with freckles across her nose and cheeks, and her blue-green eyes seemed to study everything at once. She wore a dark hoodie, oversized on her slender frame, the hood half-fallen against her back.
“Hey,” she said softly, a polite half-smile tugging at her lips. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m Isla. I’m staying here for the weekend — with Elise.”
Her voice was low, warm, and it carried that easy confidence of someone used to being listened to. Leon blinked, fumbling for words. “Oh. Uh—hi. I’m Leon. Elise’s brother.”
She smiled a little wider, then held up her phone. “I hate to ask, but… do you have a charging cable I could borrow? Mine’s completely dead, and I can’t find my bag.”
“Uh, yeah, yeah, I think so.” Leon spun his chair halfway around and started digging through the clutter on his desk. His hands felt clumsy, and he cursed himself internally for not having cleaned up earlier.
While he searched, Isla’s eyes wandered toward his screen. The light from it reflected in her gaze, making them glow faintly. “Wait,” she said, surprised, taking a step closer. “Is that Eclipse: Horizon?”
Leon froze mid-movement. “Yeah,” he said carefully, glancing at her. “Just came out a few days ago.”
“No way.” She leaned in, curiosity lighting her face. “You’re already at that boss? I’ve been stuck on the previous chapter for days.”
He almost laughed — a soft, incredulous sound. “You play it too?”
“Of course,” she said, grinning now. “I’ve been obsessed since the first game. The soundtrack, the story, all of it.” Her eyes flicked to the screen again, then to him. “You’re actually pretty good. Your gear setup’s perfect for this boss.”
Leon found the cable, held it up like a trophy. “Here. You can use this.”
“Thanks,” she said, taking it from him. Her fingers brushed his for just a second — cold from the hallway, light as static — and his chest tightened without warning. She plugged the cable into her phone, but didn’t leave. Instead, she lingered beside his desk, watching him resume the fight.
For a moment, silence filled the room again, except for the game’s music and the quick clicking of his keyboard. Then she spoke, her voice softer now. “You’re really into this, huh?”
Leon gave a small shrug, eyes still on the screen. “Kind of my thing.”
“I get that.” Isla hesitated, then said, “It’s rare to meet someone who plays the same stuff I do. Most people just pretend they do.”
He risked a glance up at her. She wasn’t just beautiful — she had that same faint detachment he recognized in himself. Someone who preferred quiet over chaos. It made him want to keep talking, which for him was rare.
“You could… play later if you want,” he heard himself say, trying to sound casual. “I mean, if you like co-op stuff.”
Her eyes lit up, bright and genuine. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
He shook his head, hiding the tiny smile tugging at his lips. “Not at all.”
“Then it’s a deal.” She stepped back toward the door, her hoodie brushing softly against her arm. “I’ll come by later — after dinner? You can show me how to beat that boss.”
Leon nodded. “Sure.”
Her smile deepened, then she disappeared into the hallway, closing the door behind her.