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Claude has been busy the past few months doing offline projects and had no time to stream as regularly as he would like. His mind was spiraling as he thought of how Leo could pick anyone else to be his valorant duo, even pro players at this point but he chose Claude as main duo. He tried to be as happy as he could while he watched Leo interact with DupStep seeing how naturally they got along and played off each other well, even after almost playing for one day straight.
Leo could duo collab with whoever he likes but Claude knew that he would not be duo’ing with anyone besides Leo. Claude made it known publicly as he mentioned on today’s live that he will refuse if it’s not with Leo.
Claude pushed away from his desk as he ended stream and got up to wash his hands to reset his mind. His feelings were getting harder to disguise as he now lived close to his duo. Not only are they gaming duos, they also spent a lot of time texting and socializing with the other livers that now live in Japan.
Claude is supposed to meet Leo in a couple of hours for dinner with Seible, Wilson, and Uki and karaoke with other livers afterwards but was emotionally drained with the thought of putting up a front so Leo wouldn’t be burdened with discovering Claude’s feelings towards him.
“Wassup,” drawled Claude as he arrived at the hot pot location and everyone greeted him.
Claude scanned the table for his seat, noticing there was a free spot next to Leo or one across the table next to Seible. Of course, he chose the one next to Seible.
“Claude-nyan, you love me!,” Seible exclaimed jokingly as he went in to give Claude a hug.
“Shut up!” remarked Claude chuckling but nonetheless gave Seible a hug back. Leo was watching from the other side of the table but got distracted as Uki arrived shortly after.
They all joked around as they ate dinner but Seible was one of the loudest with his contagious laughter and touchy nature. Leo was eyeing him as Seible sat criss crossed and leaned into Claude as his shoulder shook from laughter as he successfully ragebaited Wilson for the millionth time that night. Claude caught him by his shoulder and waist as he almost lost balance and fell forward.
“Careful Seible, you almost fell,” Claude nonchalantly mentioned to Seible as he sat him up right.
“Sorry-sorry, Wilson’s j-just too funny! I promise I’ll be careful!” Seible struggled as he was between trying to stop his laughter and talking.
Leo was so focused on the situation that he barely felt the tap on his shoulder.
“Can you be more obvious?" Uki whispers as he grabs more food.
“Wha-what are you talking about?” Leo’s head tilted at the question Uki asked.
“Stop staring at Claude. And don’t try to deny it, you’ve been staring at him the whole time.” Uki states as he chews on his noodles.
“I really don’t know what you are talking about.” Leo states, even more confused.
“Leo, you like Claude,” Uki bluntly states.
Leo blinks slowly, processing what Uki just said, “Well yeah, but don’t we all?”
Uki stares blankly back at Leo and sighs, “Yes, we do. But not like how you feel, right? You like him.”
“What makes you think that?” Leo questions.
“You really haven’t thought about it - About how you act around each other?” Uki slowly nudges his chin towards Claude.
Leo turns and looks at Claude for a long second, “no, not really”
Uki shrugs and lets Leo stew in his thoughts. He was happy to lend an ear to Claude as he rants about Leo but knew that Claude is too selfless to let his feelings get in the way of potentially ruining the blooming duo. Uki was an excellent observer so he really wasn’t worried about how Leo would react, he knew Leo was an empath and understood how to get his emotions across, but more importantly he saw the way Leo looked at Claude during the other get togethers they’ve had.
Leo was lost in thought after what Uki said that he didn’t register that they made it to the karaoke lounge or that Wilson and Seible were singing their hearts out to Diamond City Lights. Claude was busy juggling between selecting the next song and hyping up the other boys.
Every time he glanced at Claude, memories popped up reminding him of instances that now looking back on it seemed rather lovingly.
- How Claude drops everything that he’s doing the minute Leo needs something
- How Claude is down to do anything Leo suggests, even if he’s skeptical.
- How the hair stylist noticed how much of a change he’s had since the last time he came for a hair cut and Leo just pointed at Claude with a smile on his face proudly stating, it’s all thanks to that guy.
- How Leo is just talking and Claude hums his responses to let him know that he’s still listening
- How Claude’s character stops moving when Leo calls for him and waits for him to continue trying to figure out what Leo needs, sometimes able to read Leo’s mind and doing it without needing to mention it.
- How Claude used Leo’s 3D advertisement as his Valorant map cover, even though Leo has never seen Claude promote his own content or even tweet out that he’s live.
- How, even though they’ve had a bad game and Claude knew Leo was upset, he was still there waiting for him to cool off and was willing to talk it out after forfeiting a game. There’s cultural difference but Claude was willing to put up with the games as long as Leo was right beside him.
Leo realized at that moment that his feelings were deeper than he thought. He turned towards Uki and nudged him. Uki glanced over the lip of this drink, “hmm?”
Leo’s face was hard to read but Uki understood right away that Leo finally recognised his feelings. “Hey guys, Leo and I are going to bring back some ice cream at the 7/11 down the street, we’ll be back so save my song!” Uki said as he pulled Leo towards the door.
Leo glanced back and noticed Claude staring at him and slowly at the connecting hands of Leo and Uki. Leo shyly smiled and said, “We’ll be back, wait for me.”
Claude looked back up as he heard Leo’s voice, “okay, I’ll always be here waiting”
As soon as Leo and Uki left, Claude slumped down in his chair and rubbed his face. He didn’t mean to say that, even though it was true, he didn’t want Leo to know just how long he was willing to wait.
“You finally realized?” Uki started, as they were sitting down at the 7/11 stools facing the outside.
“I- I think I like Claude,” Leo said quietly.
“Well yeah, but don’t we all?” Uki replied, repeating what Leo said just a few hours earlier.
Leo picked up on that and smacked Uki softly on the shoulder. “You know what I mean - I like Claude! What do I do now Uki?” Leo said a little stressed.
“First, calm down bitch. Second, what do you want to do?”
“I don’t know, I just figured out I like him. I don’t even know if he likes me back,” Leo said as his legs shook anxiously.
“Well- you know better than anyone else - You’re his duo. What do you think?” Uki asked as he leaned his chin on his hand facing Leo.
“He’s been dodging some of our meet ups and he sat next to Seible tonight. He never does that! He always sits next to me!” Leo said thinking about the past couple of weeks.
“Uh-huh and?” Uki hums encouragingly.
“Claude should be next to me.” Leo stated firmly.
“And why is that?” Uki questioned.
“Well he- he’s my one and only duo” Leo simply replied.
“You’re just his duo, he can still sit next to anyone he wants,” Uki countered
“But-”
“Leo, I know you’re his duo and I’m 99.99% sure that you’re his favorite person to be around but you need to be 99.99% sure that you are committed to him as he is to you,” Uki said.
“I am! I always am!”
“Okay, well I think you answered yourself.” Uki stated as a matter of fact.
“What?” Leo questioned.
“You said you liked Claude, you want to be around him, he should always sit next to you, and that he’s your one and only duo. What does that mean?” Uki summarized Leo’s rant.
It finally clicked in Leo’s mind. “I like Claude more than a friend and I want to be together with him.”
“Hm-mmh” Uki hums.
“I need to talk to Claude.” Leo said determinately as he stood.
“Oh! Right now? How’d you make up your mind so fast?” Uki stood up a little shocked with how quick Leo was in making up his mind. It took so long for Claude to wrap his mind about it and was still on the fence on how acting upon it would affect his relationship status with Leo.
“Yes right now. Like you said before, it's because he’s my duo - I trust him.” Leo answered confidently.
“Hold your horses Romeo. We still need to get ice cream for the others” Uki smiled as he pulled Leo along to the ice cream aisle.
As soon as they got back to the karaoke room, Leo beelined it to the seat next to Claude.
Claude was just finishing the song as Leo handed him his ice cream. “Here, your favorite.” Leo said, smiling with his imaginary tail wagging behind him.
“Thanks man,” Claude smiled, taking it from Leo. “What happened?”
Leo’s smile slightly disappeared when Claude said “man”. Leo knows that’s how Claude is but with this new found feeling, it made him a little sad. “Oh, nothing. We were just talking since it was busier than usual.” Leo came up with an excuse while looking at Uki for confirmation, who nodded along.
As soon as Claude finished his ice cream, Leo asked him if Claude could come help fix his audio interface.
“Right now?” Claude questioned, finding it a little odd to ask during a get together and pretty late at night.
“Yep! Right now!” Leo said enthusiastically.
“O-Oh, okay, sure I guess.” Claude nodded slowly. Even if he was confused on why they were doing it right now and not tomorrow, he would follow Leo as long as he asked.
“Claude and I are going to dip. He’s gonna help me with some audio issues I’ve been having” Leo said, gathering their belongings. Claude followed closely behind after saying bye but grabbed it from Leo and held the door open waiting for Leo to make his goodbye rounds.
As the door closed they could hear Seible in the distance giggling drunkenly, “hey Claude-nyan! You still need to help fix my setup too!”
“Seible, you have Freodore and Shu to help you!” Uki said, hushing Seible’s dramatics.
They made it to Leo’s home and Claude entered the code in as he always does. Leo looked on fondly. He just noticed that Claude was the only one besides his family that knows his password.
Leo sighed, realizing he should’ve noticed a long time ago.
Claude glanced over as he put down their belongings and took off his coat and shoes. “You okay?”
“Huh?” Leo said not realizing he sighed out loud. “Oh, yeah! Um Claude, can we talk?”
Claude paused as he walked to Leo’s desk to start fixing his audio interface. “Uh oh. Am I in trouble?” Claude chuckled nervously.
On the inside he was freaking out - I knew I should’ve been more distant, he probably already knows and is trying to let me down gently, that’s my Leo. Claude shakes his head after that last thought hit too close to home. Not my Leo. Never my Leo. Only one of his duos.
Leo giggled, “What? No, why would you think that”
“Something bad happens after someone starts a conversation with - can we talk?” Claude shrugged, commenting.
Leo’s face was surprised and realized how that must have sounded. Leo started giggling harder. “No! Nothing bad will happen - hopefully.”
Claude sat down in Leo’s desk chair and swiveled it facing Leo. “What’s that supposed to mean? You’re making me a little nervous” Claude said, rubbing his neck awkwardly.
Leo walked towards Claude and stood between his legs. “I didn’t call you over here to fix my audio interface.” Leo started.
“Claude, I like you” Leo sputtered out, shocking Claude.
“You - you what?” Claude stuttered.
“I know you heard me.” Leo muttered fidgeting with his hoodie’s aglets.
Claude, still shocked but wondering what brought this topic on, grabbed Leo’s hands. “Why?”
“Huh?” Leo stood shuffling his weight between his legs.
“I mean, what led you to this?” Claude looked up directly at Leo’s eyes.
“Umm,” Leo started, ducking his head slightly away from Claude’s vision, “well I’ve been noticing that you’ve been pulling away from me and tonight you sat next to Seible.” Leo ended with a mutter.
One of Claude’s hands raised and slowly tilted Leo’s chin back so Leo was staring directly at Claude, who didn’t pull away from him. “Mh-hmm” Claude hummed.
So Leo continued, “You never dodge my hangouts and you always sit next to me,” with a slight whiny tone.
Claude stifled a smile and stated, “You were duo’ing with DupStep and your Kouhai, plus you got to sit next to Uki this time.”
Leo, thinking back, realized that all the times Claude rejected him were the days of collabing with the others on valorant. Leo turned pink thinking about it.
“You played over 15 hours of valorant straight the day you asked me to hang out. You needed the rest and didn’t you say you wanted to spend more time with Uki?” Claude said with an endearing tone.
Leo stuttered out, “y-yeah. I did.”
"So what made you realize?” Claude asked softly, rubbing his warm hands against Leo’s cool hands.
“Um, well. Uki- He said something and that triggered something in my head and it unraveled from there” Leo said shyly trying to pull his hands away, now realizing that he misunderstood Claude’s dodges.
“Where are you going? You started this conversation,” Claude giggled huskily. “And, what was your conclusion?”
“That you are my one and only duo” Leo stated shyly but confidently.
“My one and only duo.” Claude echoed, pulling Leo onto his lap for a hug.
Leo sighed happily, sinking into Claude’s warm body. “Can we move to my bed, you can fix the audio interface in the morning”
“Mh-hmm. I thought you didn’t need my help” Claude said jokingly but picked Leo up and put him down gently onto his bed.
Leo snuggled up to Claude as soon as he positioned himself. “I was going to ask for your help tomorrow.” Leo giggled.
“I guess I need to thank Uki.” Claude murmured.
“Hmm?”
“He knew that I liked you,” Leo felt Claude’s reply, like a purring cat with the way it rumbled through his chest.
Leo lifted his chin to rest on Claude’s chest, “Since when?”
Claude glanced down to meet Leo’s eyes, “From the very beginning.”