Talk Nerdy to Me

Chapter 30: My Pace

Summary:

Ra finally decides exactly what she wants...

Chapter Text

The rest of their stay at the hotel passed quickly, with the boys' packed schedule keeping them busier than ever. Ra hardly saw Chris during the day because she was following along with IN and the other younger members. At night, they worked in an easy camaraderie. He played different tracks over his computer speaker, now having to listen for anything that needed re-doing before they took their vacation time. There were a bare handful of things that needed finished.

Once the tracks went to post-production, JYPE would finish up with all of the editing of the filming they'd finished out in Paris. They would have two weeks of vacation. Then they would start all over with gearing up for comeback, a frenzy of activities and practices and promotions that would leave them exhausted all over again.

Ra hadn't ever seen one before. Chris felt like he should warn her. Every time they were together, though, they were both working.

By the time they were getting ready for bed, it was taking everything in Ra to ask for what she wanted, which was just a simple cuddle. He didn't want to burden her with another worry, so kept quiet for now.

The first morning of their vacation was a Monday. Their first week would be together would be in an onsen, a JYPE owned property outside of Kyoto. They would need to take the bullet train out, which had Ra both nervous and excited.

Since that first day, she had asked only to cuddle with him in sleep. Now, however, she was dancing about the room, an uncoordinated disaster of a human, packing her things haphazardly. Mostly by throwing them and hoping they landed in the suitcase.

"I never thought I'd ever get to ride the bullet train," she said.

She was wearing her Celine joggers today with a t-shirt Changbin had bought her at the boutiques here in Tokyo, black like the joggers with an Alohan Vulpix posed cutely on the front. None of the boys had forgotten her favorite Pokemon. They were willing to embrace the fact that she just loved to wear nerdy t-shirts over fashion. Except Felix, who was still hopeful he could get her to wear nicer things occasionally.

"If you're not careful, you're going to miss your bag and lose something," he said, gently taking her arm and smiling down at her. The smile did what words could not, and she settled. "We will have plenty of time on the train."

Ra nodded happily, then stilled lost in thought. She wanted more. Her wide green eyes were watching him, unfocused. After a minute, she shook her head as though trying to clear her thoughts. "Can I um... have a hug, please?"

He acquiesced, letting her fall into his chest, his slim waist easily encased in her arms. Her hair had grown out a bit in the intervening time, a little under hair an inch of brown hair under the pale blue. Gigi would redo her roots in a heartbeat if the woman asked, but Ra was still learning "how to human," as she put it.

"I'm looking forward to being in the onsen," Ra said into his shoulder. "And away from security and cameras. I don't mind it much anymore but..."

"Getting to relax is a good thing," he agreed. "Although you and I will probably still work a bit. Innie says he has his new um... shorts."

Ra giggled. "You guys are so bashful. I thought I was the strange one here!"

"You are, goofball. But that's okay. We're all goofballs."

"You're the biggest one of the bunch," Ra said drawing back to look up at him.

She hesitated, seeming to think for a minute, and then carefully kissed him on the cheek. Ra blushed and covered her face in his black hoodie again. "Sorry..."