Craig discovers Red is a streamer

Craig’s life has become a mess since finding the Merge Necklace. His girlfriend, Lily, was gifted an Amazonian physique but got kidnapped by a mind-controller. His high school bully became a muscular futanari named Red and is now trying to help him find Lily. He’s trying to figure out where they stand after she fucked his brains out while he was merged with the pizza delivery girl.

Craig

Craig’s hand hung in space, reaching out toward Lily’s door. Once he knocked, Red would answer.

Red.

Craig’s stomach buzzed with butterflies at the thought of her. He could hear her talking to someone on the other side of the door, her voice animated.

Sounds like she’s having fun. Is she on the phone with someone? Why wouldn’t she be, idiot? You think she only talks to you?

His hand lowered back to his side. His traitorous mind kept replaying memories of being Cyra. He had been able to ignore how great it felt to be pounded now that he was back in his own body, but Red’s blowjob kept running through his mind. Her throat, relaxing to welcome him inside. Her face, luxuriating in a coating of his cum.

Lily never gave me a blow job.

Craig frowned. Lily. The reason he was here in the first place. His girlfriend.

Is she? Technically, I broke up with her.

Craig’s frown deepened. His previous giddiness was replaced with guilt. Guilt for losing her, for being too weak. Guilt for making happy memories with Red while Lily was still missing and having who-knows-what done to her.

Maybe Cyra and Red can have fun. But not me. Not until Lily is safe.

His mind made up, his hand rose to rap timidly on the door. Red’s voice inside paused for a moment, then said a few more indecipherable sentences before she made her way to the door. When the door opened, Craig was treated to a side of Red he had never seen before.

She was wearing cat-ear headphones and, from the looks of it, was streaming. Her hoodie was unzipped to show off rippling abs, and her sports bra and shorts hinted at her former life as an athlete. Craig couldn’t remember seeing Red in makeup since the night of their disastrously failed threesome. Messy pigtails gave off youthful vibes, but the look was tempered by fingerless riding gloves. Overall, she straddled “edgy” and “cute” in a way Craig wouldn’t have believed without seeing it.

Red leaned over near Craig’s ear and covered the microphone attached to her headphones. When she spoke under her breath, the hairs stood up on his neck.

“Oh, hey dude, I didn’t know you were coming over.”

She smelled nice, something floral. Over her shoulder, Craig could see Red’s new setup, a ring light in front of Lily’s laptop. A gentle punch on the shoulder reminded him that Red was still waiting for his reply.

“It’s been a few days and …”

I needed to see your face again.

“… there were a few things I wanted to go over.”

“Yeah, of course. Is it urgent? Did something happen?”

“Oh, no. No,” Craig was starting to feel like he was interrupting. “You’re busy. It can wait.”

“Fuck that,” Red admonished. “I’m just in the middle of a stream. Just hang back, and I’ll wrap things up in a few minutes.”

Red flashed a smile before scurrying back to her gaming chair. Craig stood, stunned in the doorway. That smile. Hank’s smile. In another life, Craig had only seen that directed at others. Hank’s teammates and sexual conquests. Now, Red was sharing it with him, and it made his heart flutter in his chest.

“The fuck you going on about, chat? I swear, I can’t leave you mouth-breathers alone for a minute.”

Red picked up her controller and scanned the feed. She settled back into her gaming chair, her knees splaying wide. Craig could tell she was flexing her abs so they popped on camera, their hard ridges contrasting the soft swell of cleavage peeking out from her sports bra.

“The door? That was nobody, don’t worry about it.”

So I’m nobody. Yeah, that’s about right.

Red continued her half of the conversation while Craig leaned against the far wall.

“No, he’s a guy. Definitely a guy. A nice one too, unlike all you inconsiderate fuckers.”

Red made eye contact with Craig and gave him a wink. She tried in vain to start playing her game again, but was soon distracted by ever more rapidly scrolling text.

“Yeah, he’s still here. We have something to work on after stream.

“Wait, my b-boyfriend?”

Red’s voice shot up an octave as she stuttered. Her wide eyes glanced at Craig for a moment before suddenly looking away, her cheeks coloring.

“No way! I’m just… we’re… whatever. I don’t have to explain myself to you. He’s not my boyfriend.

“Just a fantasy,” she scoffed ruefully under her breath.

Craig’s shoulders slumped.

Shit. They can’t even see me, and I’m embarrassing her. Imagine someone who looks like me being her boyfriend. A fantasy.

“No, no, don’t clip that!” Red was making wild gestures at the camera now, her face continuing down the spectrum from pink to crimson.

“Fine! Time for all you motherfuckers to nut up or shut up,” Red growled into her mic. “If I get fif-a hundred new subs, he’ll do a face reveal. Until then, anyone who talks about him in chat gets kicked.”

With that, she went back to playing her game. From what Craig could gather, she was playing a basketball match against one of her followers. A constant stream of vulgar trash talk flowed from her soft lips.

“C’mon, son, bringing that weak shit.

“Bullshit! That shot was wide open. I could hit that ten out of ten irl!”

As the game went on, however, Red started to get more distracted by chat. She was starting to sweat and kept glancing away from her game.

“Shout out to Agus-tin for… wow, ten gifted subs. That-that’s so generous of you.

“What? Raid incoming from StormSea? Damn. Um… welcome, raiders. We’re just hooping and trash talking.”

A panicked look flashed across her face, and she shot Craig another furtive glance.

“No, don’t tell them about that. That’s not…fine. Game’s almost over anyway, then stream’s going down. I got shit to do.”

With that, she locked in, and after only a few more minutes, she casually flipped her controller onto the desk and flexed her biceps in victory.

“Chalk up one more win for RedHotBaller. Alright, thanks to everyone for watching, and…”

Red froze, her eyes locked onto the screen. She swallowed before turning to Craig.

“I did it,” she whispered. “I got a hundred.”

Emotions flashed across Red’s face as pride warred with embarrassment. Her mouth opened a few times before settling into a determined line.

“Look, I’m really sorry, but I’m going to have to go back on my promise. He’s not a prop or a publicity stunt. He doesn’t deserve that.”

A warm feeling spread across Craig’s chest.

It’s obvious that getting those subs means a lot to her. It’s… nice to know she’s thinking about me. I just wish she didn’t feel like she needs to protect me. It’s time to man up.

Craig stood and tried to keep his voice steady.

“It’s fine. I’ll do it.”

Red gave him a grateful smile.

It’s sad that the most heroic thing I’ve ever done is show my face in public, but I guess I have to start somewhere.

Craig walked in front of the desk and greeted the webcam.

“Um, hey ‘chat.’” Craig started, waving awkwardly. His eyes were drawn to the chat box, which exploded with activity.

chat: It’s HIM

chat: lfg

chat: FACE REVEAL FACE REVEAL FACE REVEAL

chat: damn

chat: not boyfriend is a lot more believable now

chat: Face unreveal next?

chat: npc vibes

chat: Irl beta male

chat: bro, blink twice if you need help

“Hey, that’s enough!” Red interjected. She turned to him and said, “We’re just working on this… thing together.”

chat: a baby?

chat: only if he bottoms

chat: mpreg-ass twink, no cap

chat: bro spent years anti-mewing

chat: his face card’s a Uno reverse

“I-what does that even…” Red was clearly getting flustered with chat spiralling out of control.

They must think this is some kind of joke. If I were Cyra, they’d be drooling all over their keyboards. Chad would at least be in her league. I’d be better off as anyone besides factory model me.

chat: Bros a PUSSY fr

Craig was hit by a flashback that almost knocked him off his feet. Pussy. He couldn’t remember the number of times Hank had called him that. Instantly, he was transported back to being a helpless high schooler, too weak to do anything but take the ****. His breath caught in his throat, and Red’s head whipped toward him at the sound. One look at his hurt expression and she exploded in anger.

“Shut the FUCK up!” Red screamed, maxing out the microphone. “Mods! Nuke ‘em. I’m not gonna put up with any more shit-talking about him. He’s kind and brave and everything you loser fucks could ever dream of being. Look, we’re not together because he already has an amazing girl. I could only wish to bag a guy like him. So if I hear one more diss, I swear to fucking god I will shut this stream down. Try me.”

User has been banned

Red glowered at the screen, shoulders tense. The air was thick with expectation, waiting for the next line.

chat: serve, queen

chat: MODS!

chat: I ship them

chat: It’s the only way to be sure

chat: SHE MAD AS HELL

chat: respect

chat: absolute cinema

chat: HE MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS

Red let out a held breath and allowed herself a relieved grin.

“That’s better, you’re out of the doghouse. I’m still done for the night, but catch me again tomorrow. Thanks, raiders, but don’t expect this kind of show, like, ever again.”

With that, she shut down the stream and whipped around to Craig.

“I’m so sorry! I never thought they’d actually hit the goal. And then you were so nice to actually help me. But when that one person called you a… you know. I-I remember how I-“

Red was rapidly working herself up. The red flush that had already covered her face was spreading down her neck, and her hands were balled into fists.

“It’s okay, Red. I’m used to it. It’s not a big deal.”

“Dude! Respectfully, you’re full of shit.”

Craig was taken aback.

“What people say about you matters,” Red declared. “Because you matter. When you got called that, I remember… well, if you’re used to it, that’s my fault.”

Craig rubbed his neck awkwardly, trying unsuccessfully to keep the heat from rising in his cheeks.

“So you don’t think I’m a pussy anymore?”

“I…” Red faltered. “I should never have called you that. I just wanted to hurt you, and I knew you were sensitive about not feeling manly enough. I’m sorry. I saw the way you could listen to girls, and I wanted… that.

“I swear,” Red went on, “if I was more like you, I’d be a lot happier now. I’d probably still have some friends.”

Who would have imagined we’d end up being friends now, from where we started?

“Sure, I could listen to girls, but if I had some of your bravado, maybe I could have asked out one of them,” Craig replied.

Red took off her headphones and set them down carefully on the desk. Her voice sounded resigned.

“I guess we’re always going to want someo-something we can’t have.”

“Well, if we’re talking about trying to be more like each other…” Craig pulled the Merge Necklace out from under his shirt.

Red’s eyes widened, drawn to the faintly glowing green gem. She unconsciously licked her lips before snapping out of it and looking at Craig expectantly.

“Red. Will you merge with me?”