Waiting for Player Two...
Title:【 Waiting for Player 2 】
Author: NIL » allseeingusagi
Story: Project Airhead
Flavor(s): Chocolate 11 » confusion | Banana Cream 3 » grind
Toppings/Extras: N/A
Rating: E for Everyone~
Word Count: 1'282
Notes: What happened in this story? Who knows! I'm making an outline for what I want to happen so I don't lose my place.
He sat in the driver's seat and jerked his hands to the left, trying to steady the steering wheel. A car swerved in front of him. He had to react quickly! The brunet scoffed and lifted his foot off the gas. His foot jerked over the brake, but he resisted the urge to press down on it. He let out a slow breath and moved his foot over to the gas again. The steering wheel turned again, this time towards the offending vehicle. His lips curled up into a cheek-dimpling grin. The brunet crossed over the finish line and leaned back in his chair.
He had been playing the same track over and over for the past ten minutes. He wanted to get number one, but that same car kept cutting him off. He finally figured out a winning strategy and… He looked to his left and stared at the empty seat beside him. He let a heavy sigh and lowered his hands down to his lap. He watched as the replay went on. His car sailed around corners. Computer generated rain splashed off the car frame; puddles splashed under the chassis. He noisily sucked the inside of his cheek and tipped his head back. At this rate, he was going to have to refill her card. He groaned, loud and upset, before sitting up again. Fine, one more go around the chantry, he supposed. Now that he thought about it, wasn't it a mite disrespectful to be racing in front of holy grounds…? He shrugged up both shoulders before pushing and quickly pulling the card out of the feed. Well, it wasn't his problem. He stared at the main menu and turned his steering wheel, selecting his ride and the level.
Hurried footsteps tipped off his right ear, but he didn't take his eyes off the half-drowned race track. Panting proceeded a heavy hand on his shoulder. He grunted in acknowledgement.
“Where the hell have you been?”
“Sorry. I overslept.”
He scoffed, brows knitting together as he lifted up his gaze. He trained his gaze of disbelief and exasperation on her for a few seconds.
“Sleeping? What're you, four? It's fucking four in the afternoon.”
“I know,” the blonde apologised. She quickly dropped her things between their seats and settled in. “I'll make it up to you.”
She stuck out her hand for her card. He pointed his elbow at it; it was sitting on top of the card reader. She leaned over, swiped it, switched it to her other hand, and - She fed it into the receptacle. A warning popped up on the screen. INSUFFICIENT FUNDS. She quickly turned her head to her friend, flatly regarding him as he turned on the track.
“Your fault for leaving me here,” he stated in a low, almost melodic tone.
She stood up with a huff of “Whatever”. She reached over and gripped his steering wheel, tugging it to the side. He squawked in surprise, trying to correct his spinning car.
“Bit- mm….” He swallowed the insult, gripping the steering wheel tighter. His foot slammed down on the pedal.
The blonde reached up, pushing her hair over her shoulder. A small boy was standing at the card dispenser, shoulders hunched. After a couple of moments, he slammed the heel of his palm against the machine and withdrew his card in frustration. In his storm of emotions, he turned quickly and almost ran into the blonde. She gripped him by both shoulders.
“Hey there. Everything alright?” She blinked and lowered herself down. “Oh! It's you again. How've you been?”
“Fine,” he pouted, running his card over his fingernails.
She tipped her head down to it then back up to him. “What's wrong?”
“Stupid thing ate my money again - or my card's messed up, I dunno.”
She nodded her head and stood up, rubbing his shoulders.
“Come on. I'll buy you a new card, okay?”
He brought his head up quickly. “Y- you don't have to!”
“Sure. At least we'll know this one works, alright?”
The little boy nodded his head and followed along, heading to the main counter with her. The brunet sat in his chair, partially waiting for his companion to return. The other parts of him were thrumming with adrenaline. This was the closest race he had been in since he started an hour ago. He heard something familiar and quickly glanced around. He saw the blonde with a boy walking towards the front counter. His face surely had deep set wrinkles from the numerous incredulous looks he made towards and because of her.
There was a loud screeching that pulled his attention away. He overshot a turn; the dark blue car he had been neck-and-neck with veered past him. He cursed and righted his vehicle. The blonde was briefly forgotten - not that she would have been surprised if she had known. Her fingers danced against the boy's shoulder blades, waiting for the attendant to come back to the front. She smiled at the other female and bought a twenty dollar game card as well as a thirty dollar refill for her own. She moved her hand from the young boy's shoulder to retrieve her wallet, missing the sly smile that curved his lips.
When she got the card, she handed him his and stuffed her wallet back into her pocket. He hurriedly thanked her before running off, narrowly avoiding the tall brunet at the bottom of the stairs. The high schooler watched as the child ran by, noticing the excited lip bite. He raised his brows and glanced up to his companion, who was surprised to see him.
“What're you doing here?”
“I was gonna ask you that,” he replied, glancing back behind him, rocking onto his heels.
She shook her head, coming down the stairs. Her hand connected with his chest. “You left our stuff unattended, you dork. C'mon.”
He rolled his eyes and followed after her. The blonde stood off to the side and behind the seat she was in previously. She pointed at their things with a flick of her wrist. Another eye roll and the brunet leaned down, grabbing his bag and hers. She smiled, pleased with herself, as she took her bag from him. She patted him on the cheek; he pulled his face away, swiping at her hand.
“I'm not your errand boy. I did it 'cuz you're lazy.”
“The end justifies the means,” she replied in a happy melody.
She turned on her heel, redirecting them towards another set of games. He followed along quietly. There was a co-op shooter next to a square of bulky dance machines. His eyes went back and forth between their options, silently hoping that they weren't going to bust a move.
“Here. I love this game,” the blonde said finally. She reached over, fanning her hand towards the plastic pump shotguns.
The brunet sighed heavily, eyes fluttering closed. He pulled his bag off his shoulder. She blinked up at him.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, sure,” he responded, grabbing the blue gun from its mount.
She ducked down to feed the card into the reader and jumped up to her feet shortly after. She slapped the card down onto the console. Her thin fingers wrapped around the orange companion gun. The brunet pulled on the pump, smirking at the creatures that shambled across the menu.
“You ready?” He asked, training that smile on her.
She nodded her head and aimed her gun. “I was born ready.”
He scoffed at her cheesiness but let her have it. At his lack of a response, the blonde smiled, aimed her gun, and fired to start the game.