Chapter 34: Relaxation

Now he just needed to test these estimations in the game without blowing himself up.

Joshua chuckled while pinching the bridge of his nose. He had spent the entire day buried in calculations and formulas, pushing his brain to the limit. If he kept going, he was bound to start seeing mathematical equations in his dreams. He needed a break.

Slipping on a hoodie and some sweatpants, he stepped outside, hoping to find somewhere cheap to pig out. His stomach had been growling for hours, but his mind had been too occupied with numbers to notice.

Lost in thought, he absentmindedly wandered the streets, his feet carrying him in a random direction. By the time he snapped out of it, he realized he'd been walking for nearly an hour. Jesus, was he really that out of it? He quickly glanced around and spotted a small restaurant. Good enough.

Pushing open the door, he scanned the place for a seat. That's when he spotted a familiar figure sitting at a corner table, hunched over his phone, a massive plate of food in front of him.

Joshua smirked. "What the fuck you doing in this part of town, fat fuck?"

Vaughn flinched so hard he nearly knocked over his glass of water. His phone slipped from his hands, barely caught before it hit the table. He turned, scowling. "Holy shit, dude! Can you NOT announce my presence like you're calling out a wanted fugitive?"

Joshua slid into the seat across from him. "If the shoe fits, man. What are you even doing here? Thought you'd be in some fancy steakhouse, inhaling a week's worth of calories in one sitting."

Vaughn adjusted his glasses and leaned back. "Not all of us want to deal with overpriced bullshit all the time. This place is good, cheap, and—" He gestured at Joshua. "—usually free of scrawny nerds harassing me while I eat."

Joshua ignored him and snatched the menu from the table. "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, you're treating me to dinner."

Vaughn blinked. "Excuse me?"

Joshua smirked. "You heard me. You owe me."

Vaughn scoffed. "Owe you for what?"

Joshua leaned back in his chair. "For existing in the same universe as me. Also, for that one time I—uhh…" He paused. "Look, just roll with it, man."

Vaughn sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine, whatever. But you're drinking with me after."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you drink?"

Vaughn snorted. "Since I became a doctor. You think dealing with life-and-death shit every day is easy? I drink to relax, nerd."

Joshua narrowed his eyes. "I feel like there's something wrong with a doctor saying that."

Vaughn shrugged. "Cry about it. Now order your damn food, so I can regret this decision in peace."

Joshua grinned. "Just so we're clear—I'm ordering enough food to make your wallet cry."

Vaughn groaned. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't embarrass me in public. Again."

Joshua smirked. "No promises, fat fuck."

Joshua flipped through the menu, his eyes scanning the options before nodding in approval. He grinned and raised his hand to the waiter.

"Yeah, I'll have the full roasted chicken, two orders of ribs, a seafood platter, a family-sized plate of pasta, and… throw in a large bowl of beef stew with extra rice."

Vaughn nearly choked on his water. "How the fuck are we gonna finish all that?!"

Joshua blinked at him. "Whoa, dude. That's just mine. You order your own food."

Vaughn's jaw dropped. "What the fuck. How the fuck can you eat so much? Where does the food even go?" He gestured at Joshua's broad chest and thick arms. "How the fuck do you stay in shape like that?! I eat a single cup of rice a day, and I can't get rid of this fat!"

Joshua smirked and leaned back in his chair. "I don't know, you tell me. You're the doctor who did the tests on me."

Vaughn crossed his arms. "…Is it because of the game?"

Joshua snapped his fingers. "Bingo. I just woke up like this after evolving in the game."

Vaughn stared at him, half-impressed, half-annoyed. "So, you're telling me I should quit my job and start grinding in a virtual world?"

Joshua laughed. "I mean, if you can handle getting your ass kicked in a medieval fantasy setting, sure. But I don't think you'd last. Ohhh right, you already quit HAHAHA"

Before Vaughn could retort, the waiter arrived, carefully balancing a massive tray laden with steaming dishes.

The roasted chicken was golden brown, its skin crisp and glistening with juices, with a fragrant mix of herbs and butter wafting through the air.

The ribs were slathered in thick, glossy barbecue sauce, the meat so tender it practically slid off the bone at the slightest touch.

The seafood platter was an impressive spread of grilled shrimp, buttered scallops, and crispy calamari, arranged neatly around a bowl of rich garlic butter sauce.

The family-sized pasta was a masterpiece of creamy, cheese-smothered carbonara, with thick slices of smoked bacon and freshly cracked black pepper on top.

The beef stew was a deep, rich brown, filled with chunks of tender beef, potatoes, and carrots, the broth thick and savory, served with a separate tray of freshly steamed rice.

The sight alone made Joshua's stomach growl. He cracked his knuckles, ready to dig in.

Vaughn, meanwhile, was still staring at the feast. "Holy shit. This is some banquet-level nonsense."

He waved at the waiter. "Bring us some beer. I'm gonna need a drink just to process this."

The waiter nodded and returned moments later with two tall glasses of ice-cold beer, condensation dripping down the sides. Vaughn grabbed his, sighing as he took a sip. "Alright, if we die from overeating tonight, I'm haunting your ass."

Joshua raised his glass. "Deal. Now shut up and eat."

After a couple of rounds, Joshua leaned back, feeling the familiar warmth of alcohol settle in his gut. Or at least, he thought he did. He blinked, rolling his shoulders.

Nothing.

No buzz. No dizziness. Not even a hint of tipsiness.

He furrowed his brows and grabbed his glass, chugging the rest of his beer in one go. Still nothing.

Joshua sighed and turned to Vaughn, who was swaying slightly, his cheeks flushed red.

He chuckled. "Still a lightweight."

Vaughn groggily lifted his head. "Fuck you, I had twice as much as you did."

Joshua smirked and called the waiter for the bill. As the total flashed on the tablet, he casually slipped a hand into Vaughn's pocket, fished out his wallet, and pulled out his card.

With a quick swipe, the transaction was complete.

He handed the wallet back to Vaughn's limp form and patted his shoulder. "Thanks, pal."

Vaughn let out a barely coherent grunt before slumping forward, forehead nearly hitting the table.

Joshua sighed, shaking his head. He reached over and gave Vaughn a solid slap across the face. "C'mon, let's go."

Vaughn groaned, rubbing his cheek. "How the fuck am I supposed to drive? I'm sozzled."

Joshua stood up and stretched. "Let me take you home. Still living in the mansion?"

Vaughn nodded, his head bobbing sluggishly.

Joshua scoffed, easily slinging Vaughn's arm over his shoulder and dragging him outside. He stuffed him into the passenger seat, adjusted the seatbelt, and slid into the driver's seat.

A few minutes later, they pulled up in front of Vaughn's massive house. Joshua got out, yanked Vaughn from the car, and hoisted him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Vaughn muttered something unintelligible as Joshua approached the door. Without missing a beat, he pressed Vaughn's face against the facial recognition lock.

Beep. Access granted.

The door clicked open, and Joshua stepped inside, carrying Vaughn straight to the living room. With a heavy thud, he dropped him onto the sofa and tossed his car keys onto his chest.

Joshua rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, and glanced at the time.

"Hmm… about 40 kilometers away. Let's see how fast I can get home."

With that, he stepped outside, took a deep breath, and took off—disappearing into the night at a speed no normal human could match.