When Byte develops a soft spot for you, it’s easy to notice when you know what he does and what he’s about.
If you share him your playlist. And when you go out, you swear the Chronovista’s ambient music is the tune to some of the more calmer songs in your playlist.
Whenever you go online shopping, you always find a discount code. And the product is exactly what you ordered.
When someone goes out of their way to harass you online, next time you check on them, their account is either deleted or gone.
If he has nothing to do, Byte likes to watch you through your webcam on the off-chance that you forgot to close your computer. Call it creepy. He doesn’t care.
If you ask him what he thinks of your relationship with each other, he’d shrug and smoothly change the subject.
You probably picked up on his habit of barely eating for most days and you try your best to get him to get something to eat. But it mostly ends in failure.
He gives you a copy of Elysium to help you with your everyday life. Just in case he gets too into the realm codes and forgets to do anything else. Like talking to you.
There are times he'd go for days with no messages to you. He tells you it's nothing to worry about. But you can't help but to ask Elysium to check in on him every time.
He asks you one day if you're ever afraid of getting caught talking to him. Warns you about how horrible living in the Darkweb is. But you tell him it's fine because you're good at hiding your tracks due to Byte insisting he teaches you how to be more aware online. Deep inside, you wouldn't mind getting caught. You hope he'd find you in the end.
You knock on the warehouse door that you’ve come to love. A few moments pass before it opens slightly. “It’s just me.” You speak up. The door fully opened and there stood Byte, “I know. You have a… specific rhythm to your knocks.” He shrugs. “You… need anything?” His eyes avoid yours. You shake your head. “No… I was just.. wondering if I can crash at your place tonight?” You smile tiredly. Byte’s eyes raised in surprise but he quickly returned to his neutral expression. “Uh.. sure.” He looks back behind him for a moment before stepping aside, letting you in. You nod, “Thanks. I mean it.”
Byte shrugs again as he closes the door. There was a question on the tip of his tongue but he shakes his head and lets it go. Much to his dismay, you noticed. “My place…is uh, loud. Louder than usual tonight.” You explain yourself. “Oh.” Was Byte’s simple reply before he walked back to his computer. You walked over to his runned down couch and sat down. “Where’s Aero?” You look around his place. “Uh, I… don’t know. Out.” His hands were busy with his electronics.
The sound of keyboard clickings and the clicks of his mouse fills the quietness of the moment. You lay your head down on the couch, bringing your feet up to the arm rest. “It’s almost Christmas.” You blurt out. The clicking stops for a second before Byte speaks, “What?”
You looked towards him and were surprised to see him looking back at you. “You know… ‘s just… going to be my first Christmas down here.” You mumble. Byte’s eyes leave yours again. “Oh. Right…” If you squint your eyes, you can see the cartoony sweat on his screen. “Um… What do you usually do…? On Christmas, I mean. Back in your realm.”
You think about it. Recalling all those moments before you were thrown down here. “I looked around the city. Vendors start selling cute holiday things. People playing in the snow-.. I miss the snow. I miss the feeling.” You trailed off. Byte was quiet. You look at the ceiling of the warehouse to reminisce.
“I miss the faint music playing in the streets. Those overplayed Christmas songs that’s everywhere.” You lastly add on with a laugh. You hear Byte hum as you close your eyes. You feel yourself drifting in and out of consciousness but you shake yourself awake when you hear Byte curse. You were about to ask him if he’s alright before you hear the sound of music playing from his computer.
He stood up from his chair, grabbing the top of his computer screen. “El! STOP!” He whispered. You hear his fan running faster inside his head. He’s flustered.
You grinned confused. “What’re you doing?” You sat up on the couch. “NOTHING!” He yelled. But the song becomes louder and you laugh as you realize Jingle Bell is playing. Byte huffed, crossed his arms, and sat back down on his chair, embarrassed. You look at him with a smile as you sing along to the tune as you remembered.
Byte has his face buried in the computer screen, the hood of his jacket pulled over his head. You sigh as you relax on the couch. If you close your eyes you can imagine your life back then. Back before you got thrown down here and you smile. “Thanks, Byte.”
The clicking stopped again and you hear his fans slowing down. It might’ve been a minute or two before you heard him shuffle slightly and raised up the volume of the songs playing. He grumbles, “Yeah you better thank me. These songs fucking sucks.” He replies, but you hear no real venom behind his words.
For the first time in a while, you feel relaxed down in the DarkWeb.
