A few weeks after the fall of Overbyte, Nexara had settled into peace — or as close to peace as a city full of snack-fueled gamers could get.

  Inside CutiePie’s apartment, screens flickered in the dark, casting a soft glow as he lounged on a beanbag chair, controller in hand, eyes sharp with focus. Dorkitty sat cross-legged on the couch behind him, fingers flying over her controller.

  “Boom! Another victory!” Dorkitty crowed, grinning triumphantly.

  “Pure luck,” CutiePie grumbled, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Now prepare to face serious mode.”

  Their avatars zipped across the screen, hurling pixel grenades and cookie bombs, dodging and weaving through chaotic maps. Around them in real life, empty snack wrappers and soda cans formed a miniature mountain.

  Suddenly, CutiePie paused. His nose twitched.

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  “…Wait. Do I smell cookies?”

  Dorkitty gave him an innocent smile — way too innocent. “Oh, do you?”

  He twisted around just in time to see her dart across the room, clutching a giant, soft-baked chocolate chip cookie like a weapon.

  “Oh no. Oh no.”

  “Oh YES,” she laughed, sprinting toward him.

  What followed was less a battle and more a ridiculous chase around the apartment — CutiePie leaping over chairs, Dorkitty weaving between them, both laughing as she tried to “tag” him with cookie crumbs. The snack shelves rattled dangerously as they barreled past, and one poor beanbag chair became an accidental barricade.

  Finally, CutiePie collapsed onto the couch, throwing his arms up in surrender. “Truce! Truce! I bow to the Cat-Eared Queen of Cookies!”

  Dorkitty flopped down beside him, catching her breath, crumbs clinging to her fingertips. “You’re so dramatic.”

  He reached over, gently flicking one of her cat ears. “And you’re dangerous.”

  They sank into the couch, the glow of the city blinking outside the window, controllers forgotten on the floor. For a while, they just sat in a quiet, happy tangle, the world safely saved — and full of cookies.

  “Hey, Dorkitty?” CutiePie murmured softly.

  “Yeah?”

  “Best co-op partner ever.”

  She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. “Back at you, dork hero.”