*Chapter 71*
"Nooo," Ralph sighed, though his cheeks grew red as they approached his house, "I'm not letting you miss the New Year's ball because of me."
"Well, I don't want you to miss it either," Vanellope worried as the two slowly moseyed into Ralph's house.
"Bah, I won't," Ralph chuffed as he looked around his house in a tired manner, "I-I should be better by then."
"I certainly hope s-" Vanellope was cut off by Ralph suddenly sneezing a few times into his large arm and elbow. Vanellope frowned hard and put her hands up, as if to tame him, "Ralph, Ralph c'mon, let's get you relaxed."
"Sorry," Ralph mumbled as he sniffled a long breath, "I must be so attractive right now," He muttered sarcastically.
"You're sick, you can't help it. Don't beat yourself up," Vanellope said sweetly as she gently took his arm and began to lead him to his room, "C'mon, we'll put you in some comfortable clothes, make you a hot cup of tea, and we can relax. How does that sound?" Vanellope smiled as Ralph pushed into his room. She pat his rear end with teasing love. Ralph chuckled and glanced over his shoulder with a wide, blushed smile.
"Sounds good to me," Ralph said as he tried to clear his throat. He vanished into his room to take off his game day polo and overalls. Vanellope heaved a long sigh and gently took her hair out of its pony tail as she moved into Ralph's kitchen with purpose. She looked around his cabinets for a mug and his collection of teas. She chuckled to herself as she opened another cabinet; stacked neatly and orderly were all of Ralph's teas. She wondered how such a big, scary bad guy could be so dainty and cute, with the things in his house, when it came to the bottom of it all. She quickly began to prepare him some calming tea as he emerged from his room and strolled into the kitchen. Vanellope took a double take on him and gaped at his state as he stepped into the harsh lighting of his kitchen. His face was pale, and his nose was an irritated red. Vanellope felt her heart swell with sadness as she quickly approached him.
"Ralph, go lay down on the couch, I'll bring you what you need," Vanellope said as she gently turned him around and lovingly gave him a gentle nudge out of the kitchen. He trudged away without a single word, his large feet clumsily slapping against his dark, glossy concrete floors. He was in a comfortable red shirt with a pair of brown sweats. Vanellope chuckled at the sight of him being rather helpless as she quickly returned to the kitchen to finish Ralph's tea. Once she finally had everything set, she quickly came out of the kitchen and into the living room. She stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes landed on Ralph. He was sat on the ground, half of his body was slumped into his couch while his arms were awkwardly sprawled and limp beside him. Vanellope blinked a few times as she tried to take in the hilarious sight. She scoffed a small, understanding chuckle and quickly rushed his tea to the coffee table. She set down his drink before she quickly stood next to Ralph. She put a loving hand firmly on his shoulder, the other wrapped around his large arm as best as she could.
"Ralphie," Vanellope cooed as he jolted his eyes open and inhaled sharply. She giggled and tried to lift him, but failed miserably, "C'mon babe, up you go."
"My head is so clogged," Ralph croaked as he gathered his strength and pushed himself up onto the couch. He sat down normally, but his whole self was as if he was a hollow husk of a skeleton. Vanellope gently handed Ralph his tea before making her way to the closet near the front door.
"It's okay, just drink the tea," Vanellope said as she pulled a spare blanket from the closet, "You'll feel better."
"Thank you," Ralph croaked as he sipped the hot tea he held. Vanellope came back and gently sat next to Ralph as she threw the soft blanket over both of their laps. Vanellope leaned into his side and tenderly rubbed his chest. She gazed up at him through concerned eyes; Ralph glanced at her through watery eyes back.
"I hope you feel better in time for the ball this Saturday," Vanellope worried. He heaved a nasally sigh before he took a few more sips of his tea.
"I-I'm sure I'll be better by then," Ralph said with a smile as he gazed down at her, "Thank you, for taking care of me."
"Of course," Vanellope said softly, "I'll always take care of you."
"It's crazy that Rancis was going to propose to Taffyta," Ralph said through a croaked chuckle, which caused him to cough a few times. Vanellope winced.
"I-I know," She said as she kept her eyes trained to Ralph nervously, "I knew of their history, but to think that they were that serious without a single one of us knowing."
"Well," Ralph sighed, "Looks like things will finally dwindle back to normal."
"Hopefully," Vanellope smiled, "Maybe Rancis will ask Taffyta to the ball."
"Well, I know who I'm going with," Ralph smiled down at his mate with the best smile he could put on. Vanellope beamed, her cheeks red.
"I finally will have a proper date," Vanellope scoffed as she nudged his arm.
"That's not fair, remember last year?" Ralph said before taking a few more sips of his tea.
"Yeah," Vanellope barked sarcastically, "I dreadfully went with Rancis, you stole me from him, aaand then he died in Vanilla Lake. Good times!"
"Well when you put it like that," Ralph chuckled as he set his empty tea cup on the coffee table before him. He quickly, and angrily, began to rub his eye as best as he could. Vanellope frowned and gazed at him with concern.
"Ralph, I'm really worried about you," Vanellope said as she gently put her hand on his thigh, "Is there any way we can rid this from your code in your code room or something?" She asked as she began to stand; Ralph immediately latched onto her and pulled her back.
"No, no," Ralph said before he quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and kept her to him, "There's no way to get rid of a virus, but to just get over it. Besides, I need a hug."
"O-oh," Vanellope frowned before she easily slid her arms around Ralph's head and neck. She widened her eyes as Ralph continued to push into her. He slumped his head into her chest as the two quickly fell back against the couch. Vanellope's back eased into the arm rest on the couch as Ralph nuzzled his whole upper body into her torso. His large arms firmly wrapped around her as he quickly nuzzled his head into her chest with a smug smile. Vanellope adjusted her sitting position before heaving a small giggle. She hugged Ralph's head gently, her fingers softly stroked his thick hair.
"Please don't leave," Ralph said just above a whisper as his head nuzzled firmly into her chest, causing her mint colored tee to wrinkle a little. Vanellope beamed and kissed the top of his head a few times.
"I'm not going anywhere," Vanellope smiled as she pointed her fingers and began to scratch his scalp. Ralph scrunched his face before letting out a loud, satisfied groan mixed with a chuckle or two as Vanellope gave his scalp a good scratching. She giggled as her hands furiously continued their venture. Her eyes widened as the skin on Ralph's back suddenly began to crawl with streaks of shivered, purple glitch lines under the thin fabric of his shirt. She heaved a surprised chuckle before nuzzling her face into the top of Ralph's head. She pushed her nose and mouth to his scalp, her lips eagerly placing warm kisses in the same spot over and over. Ralph hummed a long, satisfied noise as he slumped his whole upper body to her, keeping her pinned. He was like a large grizzly bear cuddling his very own teddy.
"I love you, you know that, right?" Vanellope said above a whisper into the top of his head.
"I love you, too. You're such a comfort." Ralph croaked in reply with a charm in his voice before he sniffled a few times and rubbed his face in annoyance.
"I try," Vanellope sighed with a smile as she slowly and tenderly pet Ralph's head and the side of his face. She lulled her head into the couch and gently bat her eyes closed as she could feel Ralph's body completely relax and unwind. She inhaled a long breath and figured she could doze off for a tiny bit. Her hand slowly continued to pet Ralph in a lulling way as the two fell into a comfortable silence. It wasn't long before Ralph very softly began to wheeze a few snores every now and then. She chuckled silently as she remained still. She melted into Ralph's warm body, knowing that she didn't have to be anywhere anytime soon. She felt happy knowing she could take care of him and lull him to sleep, even if he was helplessly pinning her into his couch.
Vanellope suddenly jolted awake and gazed around Ralph's living room in slight shock. She blinked hard a few times and gazed down at Ralph, who had only stirred in her arms just slightly. He continued to snore the day away. Vanellope curiously looked around and towards Ralph's living room window. She figured she had only dozed off for maybe ten minutes. She gently began to pet the back of Ralph's head before there was an urgent knock on his front door. Ralph jolted suddenly and just barely lifted his head. He smacked his lips and inhaled a deep breath before clumsily slumping back into Vanellope. She choked a sharp exhale as he landed on her with force. She inhaled slowly to catch her breath as she eagerly gazed at Ralph's front door. Ralph grumbled a tired, ill and nasally grumble before carefully trying to sit up. Vanellope rubbed her eye and practically had to pry her legs from the couch as Ralph sat next to her normally.
"I-I think we should move to your bed, Ralph," Vanellope said in annoyed, sleepy tone, "I don't want to reset on your couch even though it is comfortable."
"Mkay," Ralph croaked as he clumsily stood and began to head to his front door. Whoever was on the other side of it furiously knocked a few more times. Ralph barked a grumble of annoyance before slowly opening his front door. It was Taffyta.
"Ralph, what the heck are you doing?" Taffyta barked as she slapped her hands over her head, "Where's Vanellope? The arcade opens in five minutes!"
"But, the arcade just closed not even an hour ago," Ralph croaked as his nose began to run again. He sniffled and closed his eyes in annoyance.
"Taffyta," Vanellope groaned as she rubbed her eye, "What time is it?"
"Quarter Alert time, come on!" Taffyta urged as she stepped down Ralph's stoop. Her racing clothes looked clean and ready for the new day. Vanellope furrowed her eyebrows before shooting a shocked expression to Ralph.
"Did…did we really sleep that long?" Vanellope barked before Ralph shrugged and looked at her with concern.
"I feel like death," Ralph barked as he slowly began to sink into his house. Vanellope frowned and took a step towards Taffyta before she gazed at Ralph, her eyes full of worry.
"Ralph, are you going to be okay today?" Vanellope called after him. He put his hand up and nodded a little.
"I'll be fine, Vin, I'll see you after game day," Ralph reassured as Taffyta quickly dragged Vanellope out of Ralph's doorway. She closed his door quickly as the two girls rocketed for Game Central Station. Vanellope glanced at her and noticed her racing goggles were secured to her face, obviously covering her black eye.
"Hows that eye of yours doing?" Vanellope teased as Ralph's game train tinkered into the outlet in Game Central Station.
"Better than your sorry hide after game day," Taffyta barked with a playful smile.
"Did Rancis kiss it all better?" Vanellope cooed playfully as she held onto her sister's arm and made kissing noises with her mouth. Taffyta gaped and yanked her arm away.
"Are you kidding me? I'd give him a black eye if he tried to kiss me," Taffyta hollered as they ran across the empty station towards their game.
"You'd give him a black eye because of the force of your guys' faces meeting after what felt like centuries!" Vanellope said wistfully as she slapped her hands together and looked up to the ceiling in a girly way. She tried to continue without giggling, "All those lonely nights without your sweet peanut butter cup!"
"I think YOU want a black eye, secretly," Taffyta snapped, her face hot red, "I have no problem giving you one."
"Will you land it on me with true love and chocolate covered peanut butter hearts?" Vanellope sneered, her smile wide and playful. The two girls rocketed into Sugar Rush's morning air. Taffyta exhaled an annoyed breath and rolled her eyes as she nudged her sister.
"Knock it off!" Taffyta hollered with a small laugh.
"I will, eventually," Vanellope beamed as they ran down the rainbow road, "I have a lot of payback still saved up."
"Yeah, yeah, tell me something I don't know," Taffyta muttered.
