Ralph didn't come back 'til morning. The train pulled up with its single passenger, the bell clanging cheerfully, but he didn't get out. The wrecker had let his head fall backwards so his face was to the night sky. His knuckles were bruised and bloody. His eyes, which were closed, were rimmed with red. "What am I gonna tell them?" he moaned, tears slipping down his cheeks.
The poor guy stayed like that for a few minutes until he mentally slapped himself and got up. "C'mon, Wreck-It!" he growled. "Whatcha cryin' for, you big baby? The pity party is over!" He started off for the protagonist's house. "You don't know what's going to happen," the villain continued, "and Vanellope needs you to be strong. Scarin' yerself will only scare her more." He walked up the steps and took a deep, calming breath. "You can be strong," he muttered.
Raising a fist, he knocked gently on the door, wincing as his knuckles stung. Shouting could be heard and a strange, broken "tup, tup, tup," of little boots approaching. The door was flung open and a tiny green rocket knocked the giant to the ground. Vanellope was now sobbing into his chest and clutching his shirt like her life depended on it. Ralph lay there in stunned silence; unable to do anything more than put a hand on her for comfort.
"Vanellope! Wai-" Felix came to a screeching halt at the doorstep, Tammy right behind him. "Sugar Brat, you better get ba-" her husband jumped up to cut her off. "It's alright, Milady. Ralph's back." She looked down, saw that it was true, and sat on the top step with a scowl. "Where have you been, Junkpile?" she hissed. The Bad Guy sat up slowly, gently rocking side to side to quiet his friend. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I needed to clear my head and lost track of time. How long has she been like this?" The little man came up so he could quietly say, "All night. She insisted on waiting for you and hasn't slept a wink." Ralph gave him a doleful look. "What?!" He looked down at the girl, now sleeping in his arms. "Aw, Kid…" he whispered. "I'm so sorry."
They all sat there in silence, until Felix plucked up the courage to ask, "So… Where did you go yesterday? Vanellope said you got a letter from Dr. Mario." Ralph stopped rocking, his face red as his shirt. "Yeah, I-I did. There's somethin' I need to tell ya, guys…" He sucked in a breath with a hiss when Vanellope's hand brushed against one of his abrasions. This brought Felix's attention to his foe's injuries. "Jiminy jaminy, Ralph!" he yelped, tripping over himself to get his hammer from the house. He returned and patched up his friend. "Thanks, Felix," the giant sighed. "That's much better." He nodded. "My pleasure, brother. Now, how in the world did that happen? And where were you?"
Shifting the sleeping child to one hand, Ralph rubbed the back of his neck. "After I talked to the doc I was pretty upset, so I went to a fighting game and busted up a couple o' cars." The soldier snorted in disbelief. "How many is 'a couple', Wreck-It?" His blush extended to his ears and neck. "…All of them. And all the barrels. And some jawbreakers from Vanellope's game." Felix's hand flew to his mouth, exclaiming, "Oh my land! What got your goat so bad?" The wrecker's mouth opened, but no sound came out. His courage had failed.
Thinking quickly, he said the first excuse that came to his mind. "I'd rather not say in front of Vanellope. I'll tell you after I take her home. Her little green assistant reminded me she's on the roster today." Ralph started to get up when Calhoun grabbed his shirt and snarled in his face, "We better get an answer, wrecker." He snarled right back, "Back off, lady. You will." She let him go and he lumbered to the train, careful not to jostle his precious cargo.
When he had disappeared into the tunnel, Tammy whirled on Felix. "C'mon, Fix-It. We're gonna follow him. He's not gonna hide in Tappers and weasel out of this. Not on my watch!" Her husband gulped, "Is that wise, Honey Lamb?" She didn't answer because she was running to get her cruiser. Returning and throwing it to the ground she replied, "Somethin' ain't right. He's not telling us something big, big enough to probably effect your game." She got on the board and Felix followed suit. "Keeping intel like that a secret hurts everyone." And with that, they flew off down the tunnel.
Ralph squinted until his eyes adjusted to the brightness of Sugar Rush, using his free hand to shield Vanellope. "Crud," he muttered, "I have no idea where the avatars are supposed to wait." Lacking a better idea, he made his way to the winner's circle. Fortunately, he was in luck. Taffyta and Candlehead were there, talking. Waving to catch their attention, the man approached.
"Hey, kids," he said in a low voice. "Hi, Mr. Ralph!" Candlehead chirped loudly. Ralph covered her mouth quickly, knocking her off balance. "Oops! Sorry. Look, I've got Vanellope and she's sleeping." Taffyta rolled her eyes. "Really? She's so lazy sometimes!" The grown-up shrugged his shoulders. "She had a long night. Cut 'er some slack, Pinky!" He sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't 'ave snapped atcha. Where are the avatars supposed to wait?"
"Right here!" the birthday racer whispered cheerfully. "Great, thanks." He looked around for a place to put the sleeping president. There was a candy wrapper awning nearby casting some shade on a bench that looked promising. He turned back to the two girls, "You two are on the roster, right?" Both nodded. "Good. Can I count on you to look after her? I gotta go." They nodded again. He smiled in relief. "Thanks girls. Let her sleep as long as you can." He set his bundle on the bench and turned to go. A whimper made him look back.
Vanellope was shivering. "…'mm cold," she said in her sleep. "…where's Ralph…?" His heart wrenched. He couldn't just leave her shivering like that! "Kids, got any blankets?" The pink racer shook her head. "The only things we have are some candy wrappers and they don't keep you very warm."
"They don't stay on, either!" Candlehead piped up. Ralph sat on the ground and unbuckled his overalls with an exasperated sigh. "Man, the things I do for this girl!" he griped, but his smile gave him away. He took off his top shirt, rebuckled his clasp, and wrapped the child up like a burrito, careful not to disturb her too much. Finally able to leave, the giant thanked the two racers one last time and disappeared into the tunnel to Game Central Station. The children waved at his rapidly shrinking back and exchanged glances. "What are we gonna do, Taff? How long 'til the arcade opens?" Taffyta shrugged. "I dunno. Let her sleep, I guess. We've still got an hour or so."
A happy little sigh brought their attention to their friend on the bench. "…love you…" she murmured, snuggling deeper into her make-shift blanket. "Did she say what I think she did?" Candlehead snickered. Taffyta giggled, "I think so." An idea came to her and she grinned impishly at her companion, "Hey, wanna have some fun, Candlehead?" She nodded eagerly. "Go get the others. Tell them to keep it down though. We don't want to wake her up!"
Taffyta's and Candlehead's plan was inspired by my brother again. He and a bunch of scouts were camping and one boy was sleep talking about some girl he liked. The other boys decided to mess with him :)