*Chapter 62*
"Vanellope," Ralph breathed with a small chuckle, his smile wide. Vanellope darted away from him, her long black hair flicking around. She had the most joyous smile on her face as she peered back at him.
"Catch me if you can, Wreck-It," Vanellope teased as she sped off down the long hallway from the kitchen.
"I may have given you my wrecking code," Ralph started as he quickly scrambled after her, "But you gave me your racing skill."
"Does that make you quick in all aspects?" Vanellope laughed as she back pedaled for a few moments to give Ralph a smoldering, playful smile.
"Better believe it, toots," Ralph barked as he caught up to her. She squealed and scrambled to correct her sprinting.
The two tore for the spiral staircase that led to Vanellope's perch of a bedroom. Vanellope squealed a few sharp giggles as Ralph chased her up the stairs, his hands grasping for her. He grabbed her shirt just barely a few times but was outrun by his racing sweetie. They heaved a few loud laughs as Vanellope tore to the final landing, her bedroom door hung wide open. She began to scramble for the door but Ralph quickly scooped her up into his arms. Vanellope finally slumped as the two practically passed out in hysterics; Vanellope immediately felt her cheeks begin to hurt from all the sudden smiling she was doing. She turned around in Ralph's arms as he stumbled and hunched over her a little; she pushed her hands to his chest and threw her head back, her smile insatiably irresistible.
Vanellope eased into Ralph's arms as if they hadn't missed a single day with each other. She felt her code bugle and glitch gracefully with excitement; it shot surges up her spine. Ralph's code reacted the same way, the two came alive with purpose. Vanellope felt her heart practically jolt out of her chest as she could feel Ralph's hands slowly inch down her lower back, to her rear. With one fluid movement, she gently lunged into his body and wrapped her legs around him as best as she could; her arms quickly slapped around his neck. Ralph immediately bowed his head and caught Vanellope in a firm, passionate kiss. She inhaled a surprised noise as she smiled on Ralph's mouth; his hands quickly supported her in his arms. He held her thighs firmly as the two quickly began to become lost in the rush of everything.
The two remained locked as Ralph kissed her with passion and purpose; he immediately began to feel as if he couldn't push into Vanellope's room fast enough. Vanellope's firm hands slid down the back of Ralph's head and to the sides of his jaws; Ralph immediately, and clumsily, began to push closer to Vanellope's room. His hand fumbled around for the door once he was in her warm room. As soon as his hand gripped the edge of the door, he quickly swiped it closed. It slammed as Ralph eagerly began to stumble towards Vanellope's bed. He was surprised how much he remembered after a month of not seeing a single sprinkle of her room, especially with his eyes closed.
Vanellope exhaled through her nose nervously on Ralph's face, their hot breath practically becoming one. Vanellope gripped him to her as she could feel every single last pixel of her code practically jolt out of her skin with want. She clung onto him like a leech as he quickly laid her down onto her bed. He crawled into her firmly as the two broke the kiss a few times, each time harder than the last to break. Vanellope sighed his name as he finally began to trail the kiss to her jaw and neck. He hunched over her, one of his hands was firmly pushed into the bed next to her while the other remained glued to her left thigh. He tugged on her gently as he felt her fingernails begin to claw the back of his neck. Ralph exhaled a powerful sigh, his body exuded all the strength in the arcade. Their clothes began to wrinkle with tension as Vanellope whined a playful plea; the two squirmed with want. Just as he gently began to shove into her to obey her orders, Vanellope's code wigged out, a searing hot, purple mess of binary. Before Ralph could even think, the dark, sour sky outside was slapped with a crackling boom of thunder; the whole room lit up. Both lovers froze as the thunder rolled.
After a few moments of the two drowning in the realization that was set upon them, Vanellope heaved a shaky sigh and slid her hands down Ralph's shoulders. Ralph exhaled an annoyed, raspy breath and closed his eyes, he set his forehead on her shoulder as his whole body finally relaxed. Vanellope's bed croaked and complained under the weight as Ralph fidgeted his legs a little. Vanellope inhaled slowly and gripped Ralph's shirt, hoping he wouldn't sit up or leave her close presence.
"The first night we're reunited, and there just HAS to be a storm," Ralph said softly onto her neck with a small chuckle.
"Of course," Vanellope groaned as she kept her grip on Ralph's shirt. She bit her lip in contemplation.
"We could take our chances," Ralph said deeply above a whisper as he gently kissed her neck, underneath her ear.
"Consequences would include a power surge," Vanellope whispered as she tried to focus on her words; Ralph continued to kiss her neck with want. She inhaled a shaky breath and pried her eyes open to gaze at the ceiling, "Or worse, Taffyta's wrath."
"I'd risk a game over for you," Ralph said, his kisses trailed with a playful smile. Vanellope hugged his head.
"I wouldn't let you," Vanellope giggled before Ralph finally pried himself from her neck. He raised his head above hers to get a good look in her eyes.
"Maybe we should head over to my game, then," Ralph said almost playfully, "It isn't storming over there."
"In-game storm, earth storm or not," Vanellope started as she rested her hands on Ralph's chest, "I don't want to cause a power surge like last time. You remember how awkward that was."
"Fine," Ralph grumbled as he gave her a pathetic, earnest look of playful sadness.
"Guess there's always tomorrow," Vanellope said in a teasing way. She smiled through earnest, eager eyes, though she looked absolutely exhausted. Ralph smiled and playfully rolled his eyes before gazing down into her beauty. He titled his head a little as the two were silent; the storm outside raged.
"Can, I ask you something?" Ralph said softly. The two remained tangled on the bed, though more relaxed than prior.
"Anything," Vanellope whispered as she averted her eyes to Ralph's shirt; she fixed his collar a little.
"What, exactly, did Rancis mean when he said sloppy seconds?" Ralph asked gently, his eyes hiding a tint of hurt.
"He hardly meant anything by that," Vanellope said honestly as she gazed up into Ralph's eyes, "He was just spouting hot air."
"But you guys used to be a couple," Ralph started, the air between them was quickly becoming tense, "Obviously it meant something."
"Ralph, I'd rather not talk about it," Vanellope said gently, the mood quickly vanishing.
"Why not?" Ralph argued, "Obviously he was an important part of your life while we were separated."
"Ralph," Vanellope said sternly but gently as she began to sit up; she pushed on Ralph's chest with one hand while steadying herself on the bed with the other. Ralph's eyes widened at her strength as she somehow managed to push Ralph off of her, albeit with a small struggle.
"D-did you guys…well," Ralph trailed off as he gently got off of her; the two sat with their legs crossed, facing each other.
"Code swap?" Vanellope said in shock before laughing, "No, not at all. Were you seriously worried about that?"
"What else could sloppy seconds mean?" Ralph asked loudly as he furrowed his eyebrows.
"I told you, he was just spouting hot air," Vanellope said, "He wanted to get a rise out of you. What he said was way out of line, hence, the punch."
"That was a nice punch, by the way," Ralph said softly, the corners of his mouth curling upwards; Vanellope chuckled and rolled her eyes.
"Well, it's all thanks to you and your wrecking binary," Vanellope smiled.
"So did you guys kiss?" Ralph prod, feeling worried. Vanellope instantly slumped her shoulders.
"Ralph, why does all of this matter to you so much?" Vanellope complained.
"Because, I thought that, all this time, he just puppy dogged after you and you didn't care for him at all," Ralph urged, "I had no idea you guys actually were a couple."
"It was practically unofficial," Vanellope pleaded, "It lasted for not even a month. And no, we didn't ever kiss. Though he did try to make moves on me every once in a while."
"I'm not sure if keeping him around makes me comfortable," Ralph worried.
"It was your brilliant idea!" Vanellope barked with a scoff of disbelief, "What, you're surprised that some other guy has fancied me?"
"That's not what this is about, and you know it," Ralph argued deeply as he gave her a look.
"Then what IS it about?" Vanelope urged with her arms and hands.
"Keeping him on the grid was an act of grace on our parts, towards him," Ralph explained, "But I don't want him to use that as an opportunity to worm back into your life like previous."
"Well then what are you going to do about it?" Vanellope urged with a sarcastic smile, she was eager to see where this would head.
"What do you mean?" Ralph barked, his eyebrows furrowed.
"You said you didn't want him worming his way back into my life, in that aspect," Vanellope said nonchalantly, "So what are you going to do about it to make sure that doesn't happen?"
"I-I'm not sure," Ralph worried, "I can't really do too much right now."
"Well why not?" Vanellope urged.
"Because I'm not King of Sugar Rush, Vanellope," Ralph chuckled in a disbelieving tone as he gave Vanellope a contemplating, embarrassed look.
"Well would you look at that," Vanellope snapped with a sarcastic smile as she unfolded her legs and scoot off of her bed.
Ralph held his breath as he felt his face get hot. He suddenly felt as if he had been slapped in the face with memories and remembrance. It took all of him to hide his bursting smile as he remembered the wedding band he had made for his princess. He looked over his shoulder to gaze at Vanellope. She had made her way over to her french doors, which were peeked open. She hugged her arms close to herself and tucked away; she gazed out at the storm. Ralph breathed a silent chuckle and shook his head, wishing he could just spill his surprise to her right now. He gently got off of Vanellope's bed and slowly made his way over to her. He felt his heart begin to pound at the fact that she was obviously on the same page as him. Ralph ever so gently approached her and slowly wrapped his arm around her middle. She easily leaned into him, though she kept her arms tucked to herself.
"Do you think I would make a good King for Sugar Rush?" Ralph asked softly, his voice coated with happiness. Vanellope heaved a long sigh and kept her eyes glued to the outside world. The two were silent for a few moments before Vanellope's shoulders slowly lifted as she inhaled a deep breath through her nose.
"I've never felt so sure about anything in my entire life," Vanellope uttered softly, her cheeks rapidly turning red. Thunder clapped the sky suddenly, causing lightning to flash the room with passion.
"Really?" Ralph asked softly in surprise as he gazed down at Vanellope; she let a small, defeated smile play across her face.
"Yeah," Vanellope breathed as she shyly avoided eye contact with Ralph, "I-I hope, that doesn't freak you out."
"Not at all," Ralph said gently before inhaling deeply, "Though I'm sure with that honor, a lot of responsibility would follow."
"If I can do it," Vanellope breathed a chuckle as she shrugged. She trailed off as she looked down to the ground, her cheeks hot red.
"Thank you," Ralph said lovingly as he gently tucked his finger under her chin; he tilted her head up to get a good look into her dewy, hazel eyes.
"For?" Vanellope breathed softly as their eyes met.
"For believing in me," Ralph said gently as he carefully cupped her face in his palm, his large fingers wrapping around the back of her head and hair. Vanellope wrinkled her nose and very lightly nudged Ralph's chest as she looked down and to the side.
"I don't know how everyone would feel about Sugar Rush's king being programmed for a whole different game, though," Vanellope said nervously as the two trekked into their first, touchy conversation on the subject matter, "Do you think Taffyta and Candlehead would approve?"
"I don't see why not," Ralph said gently as he tried to look as oblivious as possible, though his heart pounded with hope and knowing.
"Guess we'll just have to see what happens," Vanellope said with a small sigh as she bit her lip, her cheeks blushed pink.
"Yep," Ralph said with a confident smile before giving his future bride a massive hug; Vanellope laughed and slapped her arms around Ralph's neck, "Now, I think those jelly puffs are calling my name."
"So much for stealing away," Vanellope chuckled as Ralph eased his arms off of her with a smile; thunder clapped the sky yet again.
"Maybe if the storm subsides we can try again later," Ralph said softly as he leaned his head down to kiss her cheek and neck a few times.
"You promise?" Vanellope said through a few girly giggles as she scrunched her shoulders, Ralph hummed a small noise of assurance.
"Race you downstairs," Ralph said gently with a wide smile.
