Fallen (Lingorm)

Chapter 10

Lingling couldn't help but grin, though she quickly wiped it off her face when Orm wasn't looking. There she was, holding a ridiculous number of shopping bags like some overworked assistant, but instead of complaining about her aching arms or the sheer boredom of following Orm from store to store, she was... content. 

Seeing Orm this relaxed, all smiles and bouncy, was a rare sight. Usually, she was so guarded, always carrying herself with this cool, composed demeanor, but right now, she was more like a kid hyped on too much sugar, and it was adorable.

They walked side by side in comfortable silence for a bit, Ling watching as Orm bounced along the sidewalk, still practically glowing from her shopping spree. Ling never liked shopping. She hated it, in fact. But for some reason, holding these stupid bags didn't seem as bad when Orm was smiling like that.

"Look at you," Ling finally spoke up, her voice teasing. "You're like a completely different person when you're not all serious and bossy."

Orm shot her a playful glare. "I'm not always serious, Lingling. I know how to have fun."

"Yeah?" Ling raised a brow, shifting one of the bags in her arms. "Because the way you bossed me around in the third shop over that pair of shoes was super fun."

Orm smirked, her eyes gleaming. "You needed the exercise."

Ling let out a sarcastic laugh. "Sure. Remind me next time you need a personal trainer."

They walked a little further before they stumbled across an arcade.

 Ling had barely noticed it, but Orm's eyes lit up the second she saw it. Without warning, she grabbed Ling's hand, dragging her toward the bright neon entrance.

"Oh no," Ling muttered under her breath, but she couldn't hide the tiny smile creeping up on her lips. "We're really doing this?"

"Come on!" Orm grinned, bouncing on the balls of her feet like an excited kid. "I haven't been to an arcade in forever."

Ling shook her head but let herself be pulled along. "You're such a child."