Babushka ✔, Valkyrae

7. he joined

7. he joined

'Anything else?'

Rae stood facing the tall guy, wanting to tell him why he scoffed the other day and called their jobs a plaything. Yet, she refrained from speaking anything against him.

After all he was Sykkuno's twin. And then, she was here for Sykkuno and not him.

So she just smiled, a fake smug smile, 'That depends on how capable you are to consider my opinions.'

James stood firm. He expected an apology, a surprised expression, anything but a comeback. He shoved his hands in his pockets, taking a deep breath.

'I consider opinions of those I consider worthwhile.' He said, his tone irking Rae by the very second.

What was he so proud of anyway?

Geez

Rae stood still too. She wouldn't get intimidated easily by anyone and someone as smug as him, never. She raised her chin, her jaw clenched yet she smiled. This was harder than she anticipated because this guy was just getting on her nerves faster than Mika jumping in her arms.

'Good for you.' She said, not wanting to further the baseless argument. 'And my sweet prayers for them.'

James kept his hard gaze at the lady in front of him. She was dressed in a comfy jumper over her blue track pants and her long brown hair were tied messily in a bun, making some of her hair strands fall out of place. She was as casual as he was formal.

'Thank you.' James replied curtly.

Their intense stare match was interrupted by Sykkuno who cleared his throat nervously when he stood by the door, besides the jaw clenched never smiling guy.

'I see, you guys are already interacting.' Sykkuno said smiling, adjusting his hair. 'I suppose you've already met but Rae this is my twin James and J, this is one of my favorites, Rae.'

Rae took the minute to compare both the twins ane realize how completely different they were. And not just by looks, trait wise too.

They were just different. Poles apart.

James had kept his eyes on the short girl, and when Sykkuno finished introducing them, he nodded. Even though he was listening to Sykkuno who was now speaking to Rae, and she was responding equally, his eyes were pasted on her.

And she hated it.

She could feel his hot glares on her and she didn't like it.

What he thought he was? Superman? To burn her with his gaze.

They moved out of the room, Toast and Corpse were playing a game of foosball which lay in the corner of the room. Corpse and Toast were yelling and screaming as Rae watched them play. She took a seat on the sofa and James sat at the other end, thankfully he was on his laptop and not eyeing her.

'Wait. No!' Toast yelled, as Corpse fisted his hand and won the game again.

'Toast, this isn't Among Us you know.' Rae commented, smiling at his frustration. 'You can't outsmart here by big braining.'

'It's weird though.' Toast said, as Corpse played the thing by himself. 'It's so weird playing offline games for once.'

All of the Amigops nodded. They were always streaming on hours to end and playing virtually that they didn't remember when they actually played a proper game.

'Maybe we should.' Sykkuno said, sitting next to Rae, offering her the warm mug of coffee. 'Let's play something tonight.'

'Urgh, but I'm so tired.' Rae exaggerated, holding the coffee mug over her forehead.

Toast picked up the tiny white ball from the foosball table and Corpse who was about to score, watched Toast in bewilderment. But Toast threw the ball at Rae and the ball landed in the mug, splashing coffee over and it just escaped Rae's face.

'Toast!' She said, surprised as Sykkuno laughed, Corpse chuckled too. 'I don't want to take another bath.'

'Well, then chin up.' He said, as Rae srunched her face and picked the ball from her coffee. She then threw it back to Toast but he ducked and Corpse caught it, and without wiping it, he threw it back on the board.

'We'll play something after dinner. Maybe James will join us too, right?' Toast questioned James who was typing something in his laptop.

He looked up at his name being mentioned. 'I am sorry, what?'

'You wanna join us for dinner and some playtime afterward?' Toast said, and the other three looked at him intently.

They knew what he meant by playtime. He was of course subtly mocking what James said the other day.

'Um, thanks for the offer.' James said, working his laptop again and not looking at them while he spoke.

Rude, Rae thought.

'But I have some work.'

'Shame.' Rae said, without meaning it and James looked at her again. She was clearly happy that he wasn't joining them and her slight smirk didn't help her case at all.

'I'm sorry?' James asked and everyone stiffened at their conversation.

Mostly Sykkuno, because Toast was clearly enjoying the banter and Corpse was still playing all by himself. He was too young to be involved in such drama.

'It's a shame that you can't join us.' She said, nodding.

James glanced at her while Rae sipped the coffee, with another intense eyelock but she soon realized that it was the coffee where the ball fell. She scrunched her face after she gulped the sip and kept the mug on the table while James withdrew his gaze and resumed his work.

Sykkuno got up, feeling rather uncomfortable in his own house. 'Let's set the table? It's nearing 9?'

'I'll help you.' Rae offered while Toast joined in, Corpse seated at the table eyeing them all.

'Careful with the eggs, Rae.' Toast said as Rae carried the dish towards the table. 'We know how much you love them.'

'Stop it with the jokes, Toast.' Corpse added, Rae was almost awing at him. 'Rae you're free to do whatever with them. Even if you wanna put them on your head like shampoo, we won't judge.'

Rae rolled her eyes, still smiling as she set the table, there was a good spread of food which Sykkuno had half made, half ordered from a nearby restaurant.

'Rae, Rae don't mind them.' Sykkuno said, smiling at her mischievously. 'I think eggs on you would look really great. You'll still look pretty.'

'Gee Sykkuno. Thanks.' She said, shaking her head.

Toast sat at the head table, Rae sat with Corpse at one end with Sykkuno in front of them. They were helping themselves when James asked if he could join in, and sat next to Sykkuno across from Rae.

'On a second thought,' James said, when Sykkuno asked if he did wanted to join them. 'Maybe I would join you'll post dinner. Wouldn't want it to be a shame.' He said, eyeing Rae and she held the fork with her fisted hands.

'Oh Jesus.' Sykkuno mumbled, eating the rice, while Corpse and Toast shook their heads, chuckling.

It was going to be a fun night.

_