Babushka ✔, Valkyrae

50. she hiccuped

A/N; FLUFF ALERT.

Idk what that means but yea...

50. she hiccuped

It was strange how although Rae was miserably crying, she felt a thousand times better in James's arms. She sniffed, not really caring how they probably were under the gaze of a couple of bystanders, and she didn't care if anyone did recognize her.

All she wanted was for her dog to be okay and for James to stay.

James kept his head on her soft hair, and wrapped his arms around her. She fit perfectly, her small form completely hidden in his sturdy figure, her face laying sideways on his chest, and her sniffing were the only thing he could hear in the hallway.

There weren't many people around, just a few with their pets, some staring at the couple, some minding their own pets.

But James didn't care, he never did. His one hand drew small circles on her back, and one still holding her closer to him. Rae's sobs were still loud, still tearing him apart, piece by piece.

'You know, I hated video games right from the start.' James said, speaking softly as Rae still held him firmly, afraid to let go. He loved how soft her hair was, entangling his fingers with her free locks. 'I hated them. The very thought of playing in the arcade used to piss me off.'

He could feel her breathing slowly losing it's faster pace. Yet, her sniffing was consistent, and he shut his eyes, and continued to narrate his tale.

'We had a little arcade down my neighborhood. Thomas always loved playing there, since mid school and I tagged along because what else was I supposed to do.' He kept comforting her with the drawing of circles on her back, his other hand still softly entangled with her hair. She smelled like vanilla beans and a new fresh day, and he never knew how much he needed this until now. 'So one day, post school, T and I went to the arcade and the boys had a little competition with the games there. And I thought to myself, wow, people are having fun, so maybe games could be fun too you know.' He could feel her easing a bit, knowing that she could hear him.

'So like an idiot, I sat on one, Ms Pac-Man, I think, and tried, I swear, I tried but not only did I lose...' James chuckled, sighing as he remembered the day. 'I was the least scorer and a little girl of 5 beat my score too, and in 2 minutes that too.'

James felt Rae lessening her grip on him, her sniffing almost gone and she was breathing softly now.

'And everyone from school started name-calling me. Literally calling me Miss Pac-Man for the entire year of my seventh grade.' Rae wiped her running nose with her sleeve again, a small chuckle from her causing James's heartbeats to ease. 'And ever since, I swore, I will never play such games.'

Rae let go of her hold and just rested her head on his chest. James's soft hold and completely off topic discussion worked efficiently. Not just his words, his soft heartbeats were soothing her anxieties too.

'You're bluffing.' She hiccuped, sniffing softly. 'No one loses in Ms Pac-Man.'

'Not unless it's me, Rae. I sucked at video games.' He smiled, as she smiled softly.

'I'm sorry kids were mean to you.' She said, voicing in their peaceful silence. 'But, can you blame them?' She teased, as James softly laughed, his body was warming up to hers and she liked it.

'Yea. But that's why I dislike video games.'

She broke the hug finally, and he let go of his hands from around her as she faced him, wiping her teary face with her long sleeves.