Assassinate Wonderwind [Book 1 Completed!]

Assassin: “I found a Lumar One headset :P Should have minimal latency issues, and it’s small enough to move with luggage. Are you feeling better today?”

Well, he’s up early, Veyra thought, just now gaining access to her phone when Mitch showed up at nine in the morning to pick it up from the couch. As usual, Aiden was nonchalantly spending money on items that people all around the world dreamed of. The Lumar One was arguably the best headset sold on the market, good enough to be an alternative to actual game pods. It was also just as expensive at over ten thousand dollars.

Her assistant was in high spirits while he prepared her slop smoothie. “The extra hour of sleep actually helped a lot. Thanks for that.”

“Meh,” Veyra said. “It’s whatever. You’re the one who had to watch me until midnight. And I’m not short of money anymore.”

Mitch smiled at that. “Glad I could help. Any plans for today? Are you meeting with your… friend? Boyfriend?”

I’m just now thinking of how to respond to him… she thought. “Boyfriend. For now at least. If I’m not feeling sick again, I’ll invite him.”

“For now?” Mitch asked. “What does that mean?”

She moved her hand uncomfortably. “Eh, just joking. He’s my boyfriend. For as long as he doesn’t get sick of me.”

He observed her from the side of her eye. “You turned him down yesterday, right? Or did I misunderstand?”

“What?” she asked. “Turned him down? How?”

“He said he could help if you’re sick.”

“I thought you didn’t understand English!”

He rubbed the back of his head with an awkward laugh. “I understand a tiny bit. My enunciation is awful, though.”

She glared at him for a bit. “How did I turn him down, though? I saved him from having to watch me puke all night. It’s already embarrassing when you’re out here. I can’t just give my boyfriend a full time job babysitting me.”

Mitch put the slop into her blender, and the motors drowned out any chance of talking. It was insane how loud that little thing was.

With the smoothie done, he brought the tumbler to her and said, “Guys are simple creatures, you know. Most of us like taking care of people.”

“I don’t think I agree,” Veyra said. “It’s your job to take care of me. You’re being paid. Nobody wants to do your job.”

“Big disagree,” Mitch said. “I wouldn’t be working here if I didn’t enjoy it. The pay isn’t even that good. I can’t speak for everyone, but I really do love my job.”

“I highly doubt you enjoy waiting to clean vomit after listening to me dying for an hour,” Veyra said.

He wore an amused smile. “You’re very good at arguing, Veyra.”

She shrugged. “You might like the days when I’m normal and manageable, like today, but nobody in the world will be happy watching me perform like I did yesterday.”

“I guess that part is correct,” Mitch said thoughtfully. For once, he looked like he was coming up with an actual answer. “Cleaning vomit is not the part of my job I love. Those types of things are not fun for anyone. Not you or me. The thing that’s really satisfying is to see my customers happy, just like with any other job.”

Veyra batted an eye.

“We assistants, we’re definitely not altruists,” Mitch continued. “I could say my motives are selfish. I help you because helping you makes me feel appreciated. I can help you with things you can’t do yourself, and you appreciate that, right?”

“Well… Sure?”

“If you appreciate me being here, that makes me feel useful.” He rubbed the back of his head again and began looking around the house, as if to see if something needed cleaning. “Maybe that makes sense. I don’t know. In my opinion, there are only two things a man needs to be happy. We need to feel useful and appreciated.”

“Hm,” Veyra said. “But how many guys do you believe think the same way?”

“I think it’s the majority of men,” Mitch said. “The overwhelming majority.”

“Certainly not my first boyfriend,” Veyra said.

His smile fell a little. He knelt down to pick up a fallen piece of paper poking out from under the couch.

“My point is,” Veyra said, “that I'd rather make you clean after me over my boyfriend. He’s too busy for this stuff. We’re both technically trying to be professional gamers.”

“I’ve heard,” Mitch said. “I’m very proud of you, and honored to be your assistant. I do think your boyfriend looked like he wanted to help you out. I think he looked sad when you turned him down.”

He was sad that we couldn’t cuddle and sleep in the same bed, maybe.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Well, to his credit, she was also sad about that.

She saw Mitch’s point, but Aiden certainly hadn’t missed out on much.

“Whatever, your shift is over, is it not?” Veyra asked. “Thanks for tolerating my complaints and arguments, as always.”

He laughed. “I do like arguing with you. Is there anything else? Should I leave you on the couch?”

“The chair, please. I’ll need to let Aiden in.”

He smiled and lifted her to her wheelchair. They wished their goodbyes, and Veyra picked up her phone to figure out how to respond to Aiden. She wasn’t sick today. They’d obviously be meeting. The apartment was clean enough. Not that there was anything to show.

She sent him the message.

***

Veyra: “Nice! I’m feeling decent enough. Feel free to come over. Just don’t expect anything amazing lol. It’s really just an apartment.”

Yes! I thought, rushing to log off of VR.

Buying a new headset or pod was always nice, but the setup could take time as the headset calibrated to its user. I’d been busy with that all morning, but I still needed to download Art Of Steel. I’d need to borrow Veyra’s internet for that. Wonderwind came pre-installed as a promotion deal. No complaints there.

I put on the new black shirt I’d bought from the mall and examined myself in the hotel mirror. Thailand was a bit too hot for hoodies right now. I looked slightly less scruffy after shaving and taking care of my hair for once. In fact, I thought I looked quite decent. The print on the shirt was a bit questionable, but maybe Veyra would like it.

I checked out of the hotel and called for a cab. Veyra’s apartment was within walking distance, but I didn’t really want to walk around in an unfamiliar city with a ten thousand dollar VR headset tucked in with luggage. I let her know I’d be coming.

Her apartment was indeed just an apartment. A newer construction and in a decently safe area, but nothing about it indicated that Wonderwind’s best mage player would live in a place like this. I took a deep breath outside, and clicked the buzzer to apartment 35, which she said was hers. Hopefully I had the correct place.

The door to the complex opened within a few seconds, as if she was waiting right on the button. I took the elevator to the third floor, where I searched for her apartment. The only indication was the number 35 on the door.

Nervously, after one more deep breath, I rang the doorbell.

The door unlocked, and Veyra pushed it open.

Immediately, her eyes found the print on my shirt. She wheezed a chuckle. “Aiden, what in the world is that?”

“I thought I’d get in touch with local fashion real quick.” I grinned and slid inside, onto the “welcome” doormat.

“A potato shirt?” She laughed.

“Cute, isn’t it?” I said. The print was essentially just a potato with a cute face, kind of like the emojis Veyra liked to send.

“Sure, let’s go with that,” Veyra said. She turned her chair around, rolling to the living room. I took off my shoes before following her.

“It’s a bit empty so that I can move around,” she said. “This is about all. Like I said, nothing impressive.”

I stood at the entrance, admiring her space. Simple and clean. She had a couch and a television with nice black carpets that matched the laminate floor. Her game pod blocked most of the window, though we weren’t missing much from the view of construction on the street next over.

Furniture was all arranged for accessibility with plenty of space in between, and same with the apartment itself. The bathroom had a sliding door, and the floor was perfectly flat with no doorframes getting in the way. Her carpet was just about the only thing causing bumps for a wheelchair.

On the walls, she had a cube shelf with a few figures and figurines, as well as paintings. My eyes drew to a painting of a capybara sitting in a muffin wrapper. Of course, our trophy from Worlds was here as well, neatly placed on her shelf amongst the figurines.

“Oh, those are from my anime phase like five years ago,” Veyra said at the figurines. “Or rather, I was into that stuff as a kid, but I was too poor to buy figures, so I grabbed those when I finally had money from Wonderwind.”

“That’s awesome,” I said. “This is much nicer and tidier than my attic, that’s for sure.”

“I mean, it’s not like I clean anything myself,” Veyra said. “And I spend most of my time in VR.”

“What are the cushions for? Outside the pod.”

“Uhh.” She smiled awkwardly. “Are you telling me you don’t climb out of your game pod by falling onto cushions?”

“Wait,” I said with a laugh. “That’s how you get out of your game pod?”

“How else?” she blurted out. “Go ahead and try. One arm only, no leg movement. See if you can get out any other way than just pulling yourself flat on your face. Although, usually it’s just my assistant lifting me out of there.”

“I see.” I kept examining the area. There weren't really any nooks that were uncared for. Not that I would have minded; my attic was a complete goblin’s nest. I was just impressed.

“Something wrong?” Veyra asked, seeing me grin like an idiot.

“No, I’m just happy to be here,” I said. “Is your mom doing well, by the way?”

Her smile fell a little. “Recovering. I’ve visited almost every day, but she doesn’t really recognize me yet. She’s beginning to track things with her eyes, and she’s responding to simple sounds. That’s a good sign according to the doctors.” She shifted uncomfortably. “She already survived a less than fifty percent chance operation. She’s strong enough to regain her senses as well.”

“You’d both deserve it,” I said. “You’ve worked so hard for her.”

“My mom worked much harder to keep me fed and entertained,” Veyra said. “But anyway, enough about that. My game pod should let me in right now. I’m not feeling that bad. How about some Wonderwind? I’ll show you what I’ve been practicing.”

“Hell yeah, let’s go,” I said. I glanced at the cushions under her pod again and a new question came. “How do you usually get into your pod?”

“I don’t,” she said curtly. “My morning assistant usually lifts me there. Then I stay in the pod until my evening assistant comes. If I’m really desperate, I can pull myself in, but that’s risky. My body doesn’t really like it. I used to sleep in the pod often as well, but now I tend to have a schedule.”

“So now that I’m here,” I said, “I get to lift you in the pod?”

“Yeah. I guess so. And this time, I’ll teach you how to correctly lift a person from a wheelchair. You’re not just supposed to grab me and slam me onto the wheelchair. The comments on the forums berated you for that, by the way.”

I laughed awkwardly. “Sorry, sorry. Please show me.”

“First, lock the wheels so the chair doesn’t escape,” Veyra said. “Always check that. In Worlds, the chair wasn’t locked. I almost slipped when you placed me down. And to actually lift me, the easiest way is to wrap your arms around me with mine over your back. And use your legs, not your back.”

“So like giving you a hug?”

“Yeah, sure, like giving me a hug.”

That I could do without being asked. I knelt down to pick her up.

“And in the pod, make me sit at the bottom first,” Veyra said. “Careful with my head. I don’t care if I hurt myself, but if the receptors break against my head, you’re buying me a new pod.”

I carefully placed her sitting down in the pod.

“Now, you’ll gradually slide me up until my legs slide in their slots.”

“Got it,” I said, doing as asked, but not before giving her a quick peck on the cheek. “I’m so glad to be here. Really. Thanks for inviting me.”

She looked away, face a little red. “Shut up and log in, Aiden. The couch is yours.”