The interview was a lot longer than his normal few minutes since it was his match day, but King didn't mind. He'd needed the distraction to calm his mind down. 

Baron had also gotten a phone call right before the questioning had begun and left the room, giving King some much needed space to regroup his thoughts. 

"Alright, let's look at a few questions from our wonderful followers before we end our interview! Let's see..." 

King skimmed the chat, but things were flying by way too fast for him to catch anything specific. 

"Oh, here's a good one!" the MC said before seemingly reading a comment he'd managed to see. 

"Are you and Prince together? He said he was taken..." 

Of all the questions you could have picked.

King felt his eyebrow twitch. 

"U-um... I'm sorry but I can't answer that question. There are a lot of things going on right now," he said, leaving his response at that even as his mind tossed the question around like a Ping-Pong ball.  

Together...

"Ah, okay! Let's look at a different one then!" the MC said, understanding that the topic was now off limits. 

King answered the next three questions calmly, but on the inside his mind just refused to forget the first one, no matter how many times he told himself that the man was technically still taken until his divorce was processed. 

"That's all we have time for today! Thank you for the amazing match and please let Prince know that we greatly appreciated his participation and hope to see him again soon," the MC said cheerfully as King noticed his email alert flash twice on the bottom right hand corner of the screen. 

Mr. Lawson, who would have guessed. 

Forcing a tired smile, King thanked everyone, then finally signed off the stream and turned off his mic... before slumping back in his chair with an audible sigh and closing his eyes. 

He heard his bedroom door open a few moments later, but he was already beginning to drift off so he didn't bother opening his eyes. 

Baron's footsteps came over to him, but the man seemed to realize that he was resting his eyes, at least, and simply turned his attention to shutting down the computers. Once that was done King figured he'd go relax on the bed or into the other room to maybe make some food or watch TV, but to his surprise, he felt the man's warm hand gently settle atop his hair and pat it gently. 

Then, when he didn't respond, Baron gently removed his headset that he hadn't taken off yet and set it on the desk. 

Okay, now he was going to go relax. 

Except, that didn't happen. He heard the man walk around his room quite a bit, then walk out several times. 

What is he doing? 

King nearly swallowed his own heart when he felt one arm suddenly slip beneath his knees as the other wrapped around his back, bringing with it Baron's clean scent. 

Soon he was being lifted and hugged gently against the man's firm chest. 

He's gained some more weight back. I'm glad, but why pick me up? 

Baron started walking, but to King's surprise, he wasn't settled into his bed a few steps away for a nap, but carried out of the room. 

A few moments later and he was set down on the couch atop what he now knew were blankets the man had taken from his bed. His pillow was even there, too. A third blanket, this one the one they left on the sofa, was settled overtop him, then he heard Baron click the TV on to a low volume before finally walking away again. 

Soon the faint sound of chopping met King's ears as Baron begin preparing to cook. The sound of the knife moving against the chopping board matched the pace of his heart as his face began to warm. 

How could someone give up someone so perfect? Hurt him so badly?

Sure, everyone had their faults, but Baron was such a sweet guy. He could cook, worked hard, and even played competitive games well. He also loved his daughter unconditionally and respected everyone he met. 

Tilting his head up against his pillow on the armrest, King slowly opened his eyes, surprised by how much effort it really took to complete the gesture. 

I really am tired. 

Which wasn't really that much of a surprise. He often took naps after stressful matches, and when Baron had run in front of that blast at the end to take the hit for him instead of just letting his character die... 

His heart twisted in his chest. 

The action was common in competitive matches. It was called a suicide tactic, but it had meant a lot more than just a game tactic when it had come from Baron. 

Staring sleepily straight at his kitchen, he watched as Baron moved about, unable to see his hands due to the partial wall that rose to about four feet. 

He's so handsome.

Especially when he was focused on something. 

He's so cute, too. I bet his daughter is just as adorable as her dad. 

She sounded sweet, and very smart. 

"Hey there, babe," Baron said quietly, stirring King from his thoughts as he pushed himself up on his pillow just enough to be able to lean forward and receive the slightly damp, cold strawberry. 

He tugged against the leafy stem Baron still held, easily separating the fruit with little effort. He should have been focused on the food he was now chewing, but his eyes never managed to stray from Baron's soft ones. 

I really like him.

The man's smile widened slightly as his eyes crinkled at the edges and his free hand rose to gently rustle King's hair. 

"I really like you, too, hun." 

King's face immediately turned as red as the strawberry he had just swallowed. He wanted to hide beneath his blankets for a good hour after realizing that Baron had read his mind just then, but Prince evidently wasn't interested in hiding when there were strawberries to be had. 

Thus, King was left to face the man now kneeling in front of the arm of the chair, his expression calm and patient. His hand was still in King's hair, too, playing with a few strands, tugging gently. 

When he didn't respond for a long time, Baron took over the conversation and spoke again. 

"I think you're very cute, too. Your eyes are always so expressive and your beautiful heart lives on your sleeve." 

King tucked his nose into his now-folded arms on his pillow, trying to hide his blush, though he knew that it was futile, even in the dim light of his small living room. 

The faint tugs he felt every few moments kept taking King's attention as the silence began to stretch again. He could hear the clock he'd hung on the wall ticking the seconds away over the quiet hum of the television. 

I like having your attention, he eventually thought, unable to speak, but finally understanding that Baron really could hear the majority of his thoughts. 

"I like giving you attention," Baron replied without missing a beat. 

King glanced away, but his eyes were quickly drawn back to Baron's. It was like they were magnets that pulled his towards them, no matter how much he tried to look away to calm his embarrassment. 

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, love. You are an amazing human being and you deserve attention." 

King pursed his lips behind his arms as he nuzzled his nose against them. 

I get so much attention from my game. I shouldn't want more. 

"There are differences, sweetheart," Baron said as his hand finally left King's hair to gently glide down past his ear to settle against his cheek. 

He gently guided his head up slowly, until King's whole face was visible again... and Baron was cupping the right side with his warm hand. 

"Have you had a lover before, King?" Baron asked just as calmly as his other questions. 

King would have likely shoved his head beneath the pillow if Prince wasn't right at the front of his mind, tapping against his thoughts, wanting another strawberry. 

Instead, he gave his head a jerky shake from side to side. 

He'd tried to date a little bit, but he was just not someone who was good being around other people for long periods of time. He liked being able to do what he wanted, when he wanted. 

Baron seemed to take an extra couple moments to consider his response, making King suffer silently as his heart beat loudly in his ears.

"Would it be alright..." Baron began, then decided to say it a different way. "If you'd like, may I give you some attention now before our dinner is ready?"

King blinked, then blinked again. 

He was about to decline outright, because he didn't want to feel like he was pressuring Baron to do something he might not want to, but then he realized that the man had said that he liked giving him attention. 

Slowly pushing himself up and back into a sitting, King processed the situation slowly but meticulously. He always liked the attention Baron gave him, even though some of it had made him nervous. The guy had never been rude or imposing. 

"O-okay," he eventually whispered, his voice a little rough as he finally watched the man stand back up. 

His eyes then followed him as he walked around the edge of the couch to stand in front of him with his same calm, collected smile. 

Realizing that he was hogging a good bit of the couch, King quickly moved aside a bit, giving him room to sit. When he did, and once he was comfortable with the footrest up, Baron looked at him and extended a hand to him, beckoning King forward. 

Settling into Baron's warm, strong arms felt like heaven. His previously-tense body relaxed as he wrapped his own arms around the man's neck and nuzzled his nose into its crook, taking in his scent again. 

Even though they used the same soap, he still smelled the slightest bit different. 

I like it. 

A hand was soon rubbing along his back in a content, gentle rhythm, drawing a smile to King's face as he allowed his eyes to drift closed. 

They remained like that for nearly a full five minutes before King's sleepy mind noticed that Baron's previously stationary hand was moving a little from where it had been settled on his waist. 

It was moving south. 

The thought of being touched didn't really bother him, since he'd been in Baron's lap naked before anyways, but it still made him nervous. Especially since this wasn't that situation. His body tensed a little in response, and the hand immediately stopped tugging the hem of his shirt up. 

He could feel two of Baron's fingers settled against his bare skin as his other three remained atop the bunched up shirt. He really had stopped the moment he'd gotten nervous. 

I'm not used to this kind of thing. 

"...is it okay?" Baron asked after a few moments of silence. 

Releasing a long, tired sigh, King made his body relax bit by bit. 

"Yeah, it's okay," he eventually whispered as his nose nuzzled against Baron's soft hair, needing a bit of a distraction as the man finished settling his hand beneath his shirt. 

He waited a few minutes as the scent of what he was baking filled the air, making King's belly grumble quietly, then his hand rubbing along his back made its way south, too. Eventually, it tugged up the fabric on the opposite side as his other hand, then slid beneath. 

Warm...

This time, however, that hand didn't stay where it had stopped for long. Soon, it was heading back up along the small of his back, moving slowly but surely, though not in a teasing manner. He wasn't brushing his fingernails along his skin or trying to tickle or annoy him in any way. It was just a simple touch. 

King found himself unbothered, though still a little nervous. His body didn't tense and he actually found himself enjoying the attention as he continued to relax in Baron's arms. 

I like it...

Baron's other hand began to move a moment after he thought those words, but instead of heading north, it slowly began to slip beneath the waistband of his shorts. It's movement was painfully slow compared to his other hand, but King simply focused his attention between each of them, as well as a pouting Prince who made sure he knew that he was still waiting for another strawberry. 

Your raccoon is a bit spoiled now, he thought to Baron as he used the fuzzy sweetheart as a bit of a distraction. 

Baron picked up on what he was doing and chuckled quietly, though didn't stop his hands descent. 

"I believe you've spoiled him a bit, love, but I can't say that I wouldn't have done the same. He deserves to be spoiled a bit, hmm?" 

King actually grinned as he took in a deep, comfortable breath. 

"He does," King finally said out loud as Baron's hand settled against his bare backside at the same time his other hand stopped against his upper back, then pressed him closer in a warm hug. 

"You do, too," he said after a quiet moment, his words making Baron turn his head a little towards him. 

"We might just have to spoil each other, because your sweet Rexy is about to throw a tantrum if he doesn't get acknowledged soon, too." 

That was definitely his Rexy. 

Chuckling a little, King carefully leaned back and Baron's hand easily let him, but remained lightly against his skin for support. The action pressed the man's lower hand more firmly against his backside, but he didn't mind. Not when he was now able to look up into a surprisingly-blushing, handsome face. 

"He definitely deserves another treat soon, and maybe, when your daughter comes to visit, we can all go to the water park across town?" he asked, the idea coming out of nowhere, though he quickly found that he really liked the thought of a relaxing day out with Baron and his little girl. 

The guy looked surprised at his words, at first, but he was soon all smiles as he leaned forward to press a kiss to King's cheek. 

"That sounds wonderful, love."

Before they could speak anymore on the topic, the timer for the oven began to go off, making King realize that their attention time was over for now. 

I... 

He wasn't sure he wanted it to end, but Baron did have to go get their food so, grudgingly, he carefully got out of the man's lap once he'd withdrawn his hands, but instead of waiting on the couch, he hopped up, too, and followed him into the kitchen to help get things set up. 

That's how, after about five minutes, they found themselves back on the sofa with full plates of chicken pot pie and tall glasses of water. There were a few strawberries on his plate for his dissert, and to spoil Prince with, while Baron's own plate had a few hand made crab and cream cheese wontons for Rexy. 

One of those wontons might have ended up in King's mouth, and he, himself, might have ended up in Baron's lap after they'd finished their meals, but neither of them seemed to mind as their borrowed shifts drifted off to sleep, content, and they stayed up to watch a movie.

It was a pretty good day, he realized, as he curled up closer against Baron, who welcomed him with kisses to his hair and gently tightening arms. 

I like this... I like him. 

He didn't quite make it to the end of the movie before he drifted off to join his sweet raccoon for a nice, long rest.