Babushka ✔, Valkyrae

17. he gazed

17. he gazed

It took James a second and Rae's clearing of throat for him to realize that he was still holding her. He gulped, letting go of her arms and Rae ran her hand through her long hair as she adjusted her sweater and James kept his gaze on her.

'Hi,' He broke the ice and Rae looked up at him, 'how are you?'

Rae nodded, she couldn't help but be angry at him, yet she knew she couldn't let her anger take the best of her. He was also tall which was an added disappointment because Rae hated how he could easily tower her. James stood in his formals, a baige tucked shirt over khaki pants and sleeves rolled down. His black hair were again neatly done and his face a lot brighter.

He looked like he was happy to be here.

Or she was extremely bad at reading faces.

Rae nodded, 'I am perfectly fine, thank you.' She said, finding it so suffocating to be this formal. 'How are you?'

'I'll be fine now.' He said and Rae instantly looked at him and saw a small smile on his always grim face?

Was she seeing things?

Was James actually kinda smiling?

'What you're upto?' He asked, his gaze constantly fixed on her and Rae knew was under observation.

If only she was tall to tower him.

'I was just taking a stroll.' She shrugged, placing her hands in her baggy pants. 'Just around the hotel.'

She hoped he'd bid goodbye and go off to his laptop or something and she'll be at peace but James wasn't good at reading faces either. 'Mind if I join you?'

Yes. Please don't.

But she shrugged, curiosity taking the best of her as she agreed strolling around with her. He extended his arms towards the entrance and out to the lawn while Rae walked out, James just behind her.

While they walked out in silence, awkward and uncomfortable silence, Rae couldn't help but remember what Sykkuno told her about James.

'You don't have to, Syk. I just told you what Alex narrated to me. I don't wanna intrude.'

'Um, Alex is right though.' Sykkuno's soft voice was heard over the call. 'J and I were inseparable back in high school. I mean we were- are twins and we loved each other's company a lot more than anyone else's. J was of course more outspoken amongst us both, always laughing, always cheerful. And he never let me be overshadowed by his presence, but I always did feel that. I don't know why, I felt belittled with him. And then after high school, I voiced out that I wanted to pursue gaming and further on it and J flipped out.

'I tried talking to him but he was just too angry with me about my decision. And then I'm not sure what happened but my family was super supportive about me. And that made him all the more distant from us. He then moved out for college while I started managing gaming and community college and ever then, we've been separated. I guess.

'I thought he'd be okay with my steady career in streaming now, but I don't think so he'll ever consider this worthwhile. And after trying to help him understand my point, I think I'm just done. I don't think he'll ever understand and that's why he passed the comment the first day. It was my bad that I was unmuted.

'I am sorry Rae. I shouldn't have let J get to you or the others.'

'Sykkuno, whatever you're doing is not unimportant. Streaming and gamers do a hard job and it is as dicey and difficult than a normal desk job and sometimes even more hard. You're not what your twin thinks about you. Okay. You're so much more.'

'I...I guess... I guess yea.' Sykkuno said, 'All these years trying to get J on my side hasn't been easy. I just hope someday he gets it.'

'Even if he doesn't, I do.' Rae said, feeling angry and sympathy at the same time. 'We all do.'

Rae clenched her jaw as they made way out in the lawn. James had not just belittled Sykkuno's work, he had also been a major cause for his insecurities and lack of self confidence. It showed how James didn't care a single dime about Sykkuno and his passion and instead ventured out leaving him alone. And Rae knew it must've stung to have an inseparable twin act this way.

And now even though all she wanted to do was lash out at James who was admiring the flower garden, she kept still.

'This place looks great.' James said breaking the silence as they walked around in the chilly breeze of the winter evening. 'Although I did say that the beach would make it more humid than ever.'

'I see, you always have a higher opinion about everything.' Rae said, hugging herself because the wind was chillier than she expected.

James looked down at her again, 'I am sorry?'

'I think this place is fantastic.' Rae said, eyeing him intently, more like challenging to oppose her statement.

James nodded, 'If you say so.' They walked past the lawn and came towards the other side where there was a small gazebo where underneath were different kind of playthings such as few pool tables, a table tennis board, and a small setting if anyone preferred indoor games.

'So, you often take break from work?' Rae asked, as they stood in front of the gazebo. The wind playing with Rae's long hair as they kept falling over her face, the scent of her shampoo hitting the air around them. While Rae was trying to step back from his strong cologne.

'No actually.' James said, his hands folded, 'My work doesn't permit me a lot of leaves. It requires all my attention.' He said, looking down at her again and Rae felt infuriated again.

What did he mean by his work? Like the other's like her didn't work hard or like we all kept going out on vacations?

'Alex must be a very good friend then.' Rae replied, taking her eyes off the man who was irritating her and on the pool table where she watched few people play.

'Yes. Alex is a good friend.' He said, turning his gaze where her eyes were stationed. 'Um, do you want to play a game of pool?' He asked, questioning her attention.

She snapped out of it and met his eyes, 'Uh, I want to. But I don't think you love playthings.' She said, a humorless chuckle followed suit. 'And also, I don't really know much offline games.'

'Actually, we could play.' James said, tilting his head as he looked at her and Rae debated whether or not he was teasing her or genuinely wanted to play. 'It's been a while for me too. And I can teach you.'

Say no, Rae and leave.

'Sure. Let's.'

As much as Rae wanted to not get involved with Sykkuno's twin, she couldn't refrain.

Not with his intense gaze constantly on her.

_

A/N

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Happy Valentines!

Video: Sykkuno holding Rae's earrings while she fights him!