Chapter Text
How it begun, five years ago…
“Okay Counter-Strike, treat me nicely!”
“Instead of talking to yourself, why don’t you tweet about it? Talk to a slightly more interested wall?”
“Why don’t you just go somewhere else, Michael? It’s my first time playing; let me VIBE.”
“Literally go where? Mom is napping and you don’t get the entire room to yourself!
Ava grimaces. Ok that is her bad, she forgot it’s her mom’s off day, and in a one bedroom apartment there isn’t much to work with. Her mom is asleep in the living room, the only other area to hangout that isn’t the connected kitchen, and Ava is an asshole. Maybe twitter isn’t that bad of an idea.
Ava @avliSilva
November 22, 2018
“trying this out for the first time 😬” *Attached Image* of CS:GO*
Ava’s lost track of time, so into every game she plays, queueing again and again until-
“Okay, you’ve been playing for like 9 hours straight. I’m going to bed and I can’t sleep with your clacking.”
God. Whatever.
..
GUILD Roxi @roxicsgo
November 28, 2018
“Hey guys! 1 more person needed for the new 5 Silvers VS 1 Pro content video for Guild! Reply to this tweet for a chance to fill the spot. Needed by tomorrow!”
Ava’s jaw drops at the notification.
“Oh shit! Perfect boredom cure AND the chance to play with Roxi??”
Ava @avliSilva
Replying to @roxicsgo
“This looks like fun! I would love to join! My goal would be even seeing you before I’m 6 feet under 🫦 ”
Ava throws her phone across the floor she’s currently sat on, for reasons she can’t figure out. She has a $300 gaming chair two feet away. The lip bite emoji was definitely too much, she’s regretting it and should definitely delete the tweet and her account- *buzz*
EastJett @eastjett420
Replying to @avliSilva
“lmao this random dog trying to flirt with a pro? She dont know u lil bro”
“Who the fuck? What is an East Jett? Like the…airline???” Ava takes a deep breath. This random person is not worth her time, or her (nonexistent) imagine on her new account.
nobody @defnotava
November 28, 2018
“Damn let me shoot my shot loser :(“
..
nobody @defnotava
November 29, 2018
“HAHAH I got in the video!! We film on the first! Cant wait to see that loser talk now…wait fuck I have to interact with Roxi-”
Ava falls backwards, fully reclining in her chair. “I’m fucked.”
..
“Avaaaa what are you doing over there??”
“Sorry!! I’ll be quiet.”
Ava stops squealing and pulls out her phone to her newly favourite app.
nobody @defnotava
December 1, 2018
“Holy shit I just met Roxi and I swear there were some moments where we actually flirted. I am so terribly down bad i can't even sleep”
A deep sigh erupts from Michael’s side of the room, and Ava finally puts her phone away and forces her eyes shut.
..
GUILD @GuildEsports
December 2, 2018
“5 Silvers VS 1 Pro Video Drops At Midnight!”
..
Ava walks into the apartment and there is so much tension in the air it could be cut with a knife. It’s fully silent; Michael and her mom sitting opposite each other at the kitchen table with some papers between them.
“Ava. I’m glad you are home…come sit please.”
Fuck. Did she do something?
“...did I do something?”
“No, dear. It’s just, the lease renewal is coming up in March and rent is being raised to $1400.”
Ava’s jaw goes slack.
“What?? From 1,000?? That’s…that’s criminal. What the fuck…”
“It’s…we can’t afford it. We have few options, move -to where I have no idea- or we sell some expensive items that we own.”
Both Michael and her Mom turn to Ava. She stares back for a few moments until it hits her.
“You want to sell my setup.”
Michael swallows, and her mom looks away. Ava feels sick.
“Okay, I can see what I can get-”
“Didn’t you say you could make money from it? From playing?”
“Michael, I’m silver three. Professionals make money playing, like Roxi.”
“I don’t know what that means, or who Roxi is. We’ve got three months before it’s an issue, so just… become a professional or something, make us some money.
“Freeloaders always expect the most.”
Michael rolls his eyes and their mom laughs. Ava knows 14 year-old Michael obviously can’t work, but it's’ the little things to distract from the shitty hand they’re meant to deal with. Who knows, maybe they’ll end up winning.
..
Ava @avliSilva
December 10, 2018
“Damn the comments on that video from last week are so wholesome. Almost every comment says I was a great addition to the video…maybe i should stream 👀 ”
Ava inhales deeply. “Well, time to figure out how to stream.”
..
Ava @avliSilva
December 19, 2018
“Live on twitch right now!”
Ava feels another very quick buzz through her phone; another reply. Maybe it’s Rox-
Eastjett420
Replying to @avliSilva
“Live to who? Lmfaooooooooooo”
Ava throws her phone across the room and turns on her stream.
..
“So, Michael, as it turns out, streaming makes money.”
“Really?? Are you rich enough to get us even TWO bedrooms??”
“Okay, calm down. Streaming to actual people makes money. Noone watches me-”
Ava recoils at Michael’s look of disappointment, throwing her hands in front of her.
“Yet. Noone watches me yet. Soon, I’ll be like shroud, I promise.”
Michael blinks once, twice. “Who the fuck is shroud?”
..
“Ava you are squealing in bed AGAIN literally what is going on??”
“SORRY!”
nobody @defnotava
January 24, 2019
“Going on a date tomorrow with the person I've crushed on for months. 2019 is going well so far.”
“Ava, go to sleep!!!”
..
GUILD Roxi @roxicsgo
February 14, 2019
“Celebrating Valentine’s Day with an absolute beauty ❤️ ” *photo of Ava*
Replying to @roxicsgo:
Rosie @roximygoat : “Holy fuck what?????”
Joe @shootyenjoyer420 : “The gays never lose”
L @tavarious23 : “Wait ive seen her somewhere? She streams right?”
Raven @reyesR5 : “Omg wait thats avliS the cs streamer????”
Maf @Kenimaf82 : “WTF guys hold on she's the one that was in the 5 silvers vs pro video!!! GUYS!!!”
Roxi Incorrect Tweets @roxiwrong : “Omg omg omg did they meet in the Guild video and fall in love???”
just a girl @roxiforever : “#Roxava? #Avoxi? Help me out here guys”
Ava slowly lowers her phone, committing to uninstalling twitter until 2029.
..
“Roxi, this is crazy.”
Ava is going to cry.
“I won’t accept a no, my love. Guild pays me stupid and I’ve fallen a bit in love with you even though it’s only been a month so I think I can be stupid back. And you and your family deserve a break. Please let me.”
Ava is crying. Half a month's rent. No paying back. What the fuck.
“I love you so much.”
..
“Business is booming, baby! Flowers are blooming! Welcome to March! 50 viewers my love!”
Ava smiles ear to ear, admiring her stupidly cute girlfriend.
..
With shaking hands, Ava dials.
“Roxi-”
“-Happy birthday, love!! Okay, sorry, continue.”
“I- thank you. I hit gold a few minutes ago and did not even realize the date. I also hit 100 viewers!”
“Welcome to the 18 club, love. Also, congrats!! You’re cracked, love. Should we celebrate? Go out to dinner?”
“I mean, it’s 4/20…edibles and CS?”
“Of course.”
..
“I got a new job. One of the clients I clean for, at the Church, offered it to me. I make more than double.”
Ava watches Michael light up, and everyone seems to breathe a little easier.
“Now I make more than what you make on that streaming, honey.”
Oh. Right. She still hasn’t told them about Roxi paying half their rent. They still think she has actually begun to make money streaming…
“Yeah, haha.”
Ava pulls out her phone to order Roxi some flowers.
..
Ava @avliSilva
July 25, 2019
“Happy 6 Months Gorgeous ❤️ ” *photo of Roxi*
GUILD Roxi @roxicsgo
Replying to @avliSilva
“6 perfect months with you, my love <3”
Butterflies. Butterflies everywhere.
nobody @defnotava
July 25, 2019
“Omg why would she say that she knows i fold when she calls me that ughhhhhhh i gotta go make out with her”
..
“Move in together? At 18?”
Ava is stunned. Because what?
“Your mom’s moved in together after 4 months together, Ava.”
“Lesbians work fast!”
“WE are lesbians??? And we have been together for NINE months???”
Ok, Ava realizes that she has a point. And four to a house has gotten quite old. And also, shit, this is real.
“Okay, I’ll move in with you.”
..
Ava @avliSilva
December 16, 2019
“Live on Twitch now!”
Hours later, Ava wipes away her tears silently thanking herself for moving out before Michael and her moms had to see her cry like this.
EastJett @eastjett420
December 16, 2019
“Lmao she got shit talked so hard she ended stream. Maybe your joke about switching to Fortnite should become a reality. How are you dating a pro and still so shit???”
Ava @avliSilva
December 16, 2019
“:(“
..
just a girl @Avoxiforever
March 9, 2020
“Anyone else worried about where avliS disappeared to? She hasn’t streamed in like 3 months (don’t even mention what happened on her last stream, everyone knows, u dont need to bring it up) and she doesn’t even play with Roxi anymore. Did they break up?”
Replying to @Avoxiforever:
J @ILYavliS: “Yeah i was wondering where she went too? Been MIA for months”
stream Future Nostalgia @regelcystwts: “She hasnt been on a Roxi stream in a while, but i swear i saw her walk in the background of one of her streams last week”
Rosie @roximygoat: “No yeah Roxi was talking to someone during her stream too pretty sure it was Ava”
some rando @whyareyouhere16: “Do we think her chat made her like actually quit cs?”
..
GUILD Roxi @roxicsgo
April 25, 2020
“Missed the year mark so here’s a treat for 15 months with the loml” *photo of Ava*
Replying to @roxicsgo:
J @ILYavliS: “Omg an Ava sign of life”
Roni @avliSgoat: “Oh she looks so good. Social media breaks are so real”
Baguette with an F @cutthatalwaysbleeds: “Ava come back we miss you”
just a girl @Avoxiforever - “So cute together (thank god they didnt breakup i think i wouldve died)
Shaii @sapphicgamer19: “Do you guys still play cs together 🥺 ”
..
“Good morning, Ava. How are you doing? It has been a while since you have visited.”
“I know Mom. Sorry, I have just been taking a break and going outside lots. Even deleted twitter a few months ago. I am doing good though…I feel good.”
“That is nice to hear. Why don’t we catch up, say, a triple date with Suzanne, Michael, JC, you, and Roxi? I am craving a night of bowling.”
…What?
“Who’s JC????????”
..
nobody @defnotava
June 1, 2020
“Taking that break from cs felt so good but wtf am i doing now. Maybe i should actually try fortnite…idk man i dont like 3rd person shooters…fuck”
“Should I give cs another try? A year of grinding and all I got was deranking to Silver 4… man. Fuck it, let’s go bother Roxi and stop talking to ourself, Ava.”
Ava sits down on the couch beside Roxi, who immediately pauses her show to turn and face her.
“Hi.”
“Hi, baby.”
Roxi blushes, though a bit confused about why Ava looks so serious.
“What’s up?”
“How did you do it?” Ava breaks eye contact.
“Do…?”
“Get so good, so fast. Go pro.”
Roxi smiles, and when Ava looks back, she sees more love and understanding than she thinks she deserves.
“I started playing at 13. Every evening after getting home from school if I wasn’t grounded for not even saying hi to my family before getting back to it. I played an unhealthy amount, barely ate, almost flunked out of school. And I was terrible at the game.”
Ava laughs, but then she sees that Roxi isn’t joking.
“It took me years, Aves. I joined Guild when I was almost 17. It’s a marathon. It has to be everything, the most important thing to you. You won’t exist to the outside world for months at a time probably, but you work hard enough and suddenly you’re there. You’re beating the ones you adore and you’re on that stage with a trophy in sight. You just have to decide, now, how much it’s worth.
..
VALORANT @VALORANT
June 2, 2020
“Our brand new competitive FPS beta is here! Select professional FPS players and other randomly selected individuals have received beta codes to play! Official release June 30, 2020.”
Ava stares at the tweet on her phone, sent to her by Michael because somehow he just knows when stuff like this comes out. She just stares.
GUILD Roxi @roxicsgo
June 2, 2020
“I see all your questions / demands about playing the new VALORANT shooter.. Yes I did get a code but I’m waiting to try it out with Ava. Watch someone else play, sorry loves <3”
Replying to @roxicsgo:
MILR Fetta @maniloveroxi: “Romance isnt dead”
just a girl@ Avoxiforever: “couple GOALS omg”
Valorant was made for me @eastjett420: “Bro just play”
“You got a code?”
“Are you shocked? I didn’t fall off that bad did I…”
Ava smiles. God, she’s so cute.
“No. I love you. Thank you for waiting for me.”
“Always.”
..
Ava @avliSilva
June 30, 2020
“Roxi and I having a date night trying out VALORANT for the first time :). Also im back 👀 ”
..
Roxi @roxicsgo
August 10, 2020
“I’ve decided to make the decision to switch to competitive VALORANT for the near future. Thank you to everyone in CS:GO who supported me, and to my amazing teammates for building me up into the player I am today. Hopefully it translates to VALORANT :). Of course, thank you to my stunning girlfriend who always supports me no matter what. I’m always the most proud of you, my love ❤️ ”
GUILD @GuildEsports
August 10, 2020
“Today we bid farewell to Roxi, an original member and an iconic staple to Guild Esports. We wish her nothing but the best on her new endeavors ❤️ .”
“Roxi left Guild? Why?”
“VALORANT is fun dude I told you. Use your lawn mowing money and get a PC!”
“Console clears”
“I’m hanging up, Michael.”
..
Roxi @roxival
October 16, 2020
*contract signing gif*
Ava @avliSilva
October 16, 2020
“So fucking proud.”
..
100 Thieves @100TEsports
October 30, 2020
“The Official 100 Thieves VALORANT Roster is Here. Introducing:
Alexis
Boaster
f0rsakeN
roxi
zekken”
Replying to @100TEsports:
Delusional 100T Fan @100Ws: “Holy shit we’re winning it all”
MILR Fetta @maniloveroxi: “Wait this team is cracked”
Rosie @roximygoat: “Common roxi W”
Delusional SEN Fan @Sen4life: “Cool but sen clears”
100T roxi @roxival
October 30, 2020
“Officially joined 100 Thieves. Can’t wait to get to work.”
Ava @avliSilva
October 30, 2020
“Aaaaaaaaaaaa im so proud Roxi is so cool and hot and amazing aaaaaaaaaaa”
just a girl @Avoxiforever
Replying to @avliSilva
“Real.”
..
Roxi is just staring. The same spot as before, and Ava stares back.
“What’s it worth, Ava?”
“Everything. I want to be right there with you someday.”
“And you will be, love.”
..
just a girl @Avoxiforever
January 25, 2021
“Been almost a year since I made one of these tweets but…anyone else concerned about no 2 year anniversary post?”
Replying to @Avoxiforever:
Roni @avliSgoat: “They missed last year’s, prob same thing”
just a girl @Avoxiforever: “I mean they barely post about each other but I haven’t seen them interact since Roxi got signed”
Zeke @backbreakah99: “Maybe Ava got super jealous”
Roxi Incorrect Tweets @roxiwrong: “Can we not spread useless rumors they dont owe us a twitter post and theyre probably fine. Leave them alone”
..
just a girl @Avoxiforever
April 30, 2021
“Officially mega worried but it’s not my place to dig and pry. Wishing them the best. Privacy is always welcome in the world of esports.”
Replying to @Avoxiforever:
EastJett @eastjett420: “Roxi prob figured out that Ava is a weirdo and dogshit at every game she touches. Didnt want to catch the disease and lose her roster spot. Understandable really :).”
J @ILYavliS: “Eastjett eat shit respectfully”
Hello, Goodbye @washedpuffer5154: “#AvoxiForever :(“
..
“Ava, want to go see a movie this weekend?”
“Sorry Mikes, got plans.”
“Tell Roxi I say hi.”
“...Bye, Michael.”
..
100T roxi @roxival
September 22, 2021
“2nd place in Masters Greece. GG to FNATIC they played insane. See you guys next year. Thank you for the support.”
Replying to @roxival:
Rosie @roximygoat: “Nt roxi u went crazy! Next year is yours!”
I <3 Leo @Leofan777: “FNATIC clears unfortunately. Leo and mimi my goats”
Ryan @wearefncunofficial: “Better duelist won lmao nt tho”
MILR Fetta @maniloveroxi: “Roxi doesnt even play duelist eat rocks”
just a girl @Avoxiforever: “No ‘thank you Ava for the support’…it aint lookin good folks.”
..
avliS @avliSilva
September 23, 2021
“Watching Masters Greece just made me want to become a pro even more. Gotta get out of Diamond first *sigh* It’s okay we’re all in this together.”
EastJett @Eastjett420
September 23, 2021
“A certain “future pro” has been hardstuck for months, like ? Maybe consider a career in baseball?”
..
“You’re getting up there fast I've heard…but how do you…have money?”
“Mom, I’ve been cashiering for 7 months. They don’t pay me pennies.”
“You never told me you got a job, Ava.” Ava pales. She’s had a job since March, but she forgot to tell her. She also forgot to tell her about-
“Just remember you are always welcome back home, honey. Come visit soon.”
“I will, Mom. Love you.”
..
Ava knows she should visit her family. They barely know what has happened this last year. So, so much. But all she can do is play. And play more. It’s everything.
..
avliS @avliSilva
April 5, 2022
“I’m getting better at this shit and I will keep grinding, I swear it. One day you will see me on that stage. Immortal, baby!! (ignore that Hills carried me this game. Whoever they are, they're good af).”
Ava sends the tweet and uninstalls twitter. She crosses the hall into the bathroom and looks in the mirror.
“I’ll get it done. I will. It’s all I want. And I will.”