The corridor stretched ahead, bathed in the soft glow of the ship's ambient lighting. Riza and I walked side by side, our earlier playful shoving match having settled into something more relaxed but no less warm. The quiet hum of the ship surrounded us, broken only by the sound of our footsteps and the occasional murmur of distant crewmembers going about their business.
I stole a glance at her, taking in the way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her expression unreadable but peaceful. Her hand swung slightly at her side, and for a moment, I considered reaching for it again—but instead, she beat me to it, lightly brushing her fingers against mine before slowly intertwining them.
I smiled to myself, giving her hand a small squeeze. "So, you feeling confident about this rematch?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She turned to me with a smirk, her cerulean eyes sparkling with amusement. "Absolutely. You may have lucked out last time, but this time, I'm going in with a strategy."
I scoffed playfully. "Oh yeah? What's the strategy?"
She grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Alright, keep your secrets. Just don't cry when I take another victory lap around the arcade."
Riza laughed, rolling her eyes. "You're so lucky I like you, otherwise I'd have to trip you just for that."
I smirked. "Noted. Guess I'll watch my step, then."
She bumped her shoulder against mine lightly as we made our way down the corridor, the faint sounds of the entertainment deck growing closer. The ship's artificial 'day cycle' lighting had dimmed slightly, signaling the late hour, but neither of us cared. The night still felt young, and the warmth of our time together made it feel like the rest of the world was nothing more than a distant backdrop.
"So," she said, swinging our hands slightly. "Observation deck, check. Arcades, in progress. What's next?"
I thought about it for a moment, glancing at her. "Honestly? I don't mind. As long as we're hanging out, I'm good with whatever."
She paused for a second, then smiled softly. "Yeah… me too."
Our steps slowed slightly, and I felt the weight of the moment settle between us—not heavy, not awkward, just… warm. Comfortable. I squeezed her hand again, and she leaned slightly against me for a brief moment before straightening.
"Come on, loverboy," she teased, tugging me forward. "Time to watch you suffer a humiliating defeat."
I laughed, shaking my head as we turned the final corner. "You talk a big game, Riza. Let's see if you can back it up."
With that, we stepped into the arcade, the bright lights and familiar sounds washing over us as our next adventure began.
The flashing neon lights of the arcade cast a colorful glow over Riza's face, her expression twisted in sheer frustration. She let out a dramatic groan, gripping the arcade console's joystick tightly before finally shoving herself away from the machine in defeat.
"Ugh, this is ridiculous!" she huffed, aggressively ruffling her hair with both hands. Stray strands of her ponytail fell out of place, sticking up in a way that made her look both adorably flustered and completely exasperated. "How the hell have I lost five times in a row?! I swear I'm better than this!"
I leaned casually against the arcade cabinet, arms crossed, a triumphant smirk on my lips. "Maybe you're just cursed when it comes to me."
She shot me a glare, still furiously messing with her hair. "No. No way. There's no way I'm this bad." She turned to face me fully, eyes narrowed with determination. "You have to be cheating."
I let out a laugh. "Oh, of course. Because I totally hacked the system just to mess with you."
"It's the only explanation!" she exclaimed, pointing at me accusingly before turning back to the arcade machine. "I was supposed to redeem myself, Pepper! This was my moment! And you—" she jabbed her finger at my chest "—ruined it."
I shrugged, feigning innocence. "Hey, it's not my fault I'm just naturally talented."
Riza groaned dramatically, dragging her hands down her face before sighing heavily. She let her arms drop, her shoulders slumping. "This is officially the worst."
I bit back a laugh at how utterly defeated she looked. The way she pouted, the stray strands of hair still sticking up from her frantic ruffling—it was honestly one of the cutest things I'd ever seen.
Reaching out, I gently smoothed down the loose strands of her hair, tucking a few behind her ear. "Hey, don't take it so hard," I said, my voice softer now, teasing but reassuring. "You put up a good fight. I just happen to be the reigning champion."
She huffed, but I noticed the slight blush creeping onto her cheeks. "You suck," she muttered, crossing her arms but making no move to step away from me.
"And yet," I said, leaning down just slightly, "you still keep challenging me."
She rolled her eyes but let out a tiny, begrudging chuckle. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, loverboy. This isn't over."
I grinned, stepping back and gesturing toward the next machine. "Alright, then. What's next? Wanna make it an even six losses?"
Her eyes blazed with renewed determination, her hands balling into fists. "Oh, it is so on."
And just like that, the frustration melted away, replaced by the same playful energy that made nights like this feel so effortless, so perfect.
Riza strutted out of the arcade like a queen, her head held high and a victorious grin stretched across her face. The energy radiating off her was almost blinding, a stark contrast to the frustration she had been drowning in just half an hour ago.
"Six straight wins," she gloated, laughing confidently as she clutched her prizes tightly. "I told you it wasn't over!"
I sighed dramatically, shaking my head as I walked beside her. "Yeah, yeah. Guess I should've known better than to count you out."
"Damn right you should've," she teased, nudging me playfully with her elbow. "I went from tragic loser to arcade legend in a single night. The redemption arc was perfect."
I smirked, rolling my eyes but unable to hide my amusement. "Oh, so now you're an arcade legend?"
She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder, grinning. "Obviously. Who else can say they suffered five humiliating defeats and then came back to completely crush their opponent?"
I chuckled, glancing at her pile of prizes—plushies, keychains, and even a ridiculous oversized alien doll she had practically tackled a claw machine for. "I don't know how you're even carrying all that."
She let out a satisfied sigh, leaning slightly against me as we walked. "Honestly? I don't either, but it's worth it." She shifted her arms, adjusting her grip on the pile of winnings before tilting her head up to look at me. "Wanna carry some?"
I smirked. "Oh, now you want my help?"
She gasped dramatically. "Are you implying that you wouldn't help your loving, devoted girlfriend in her time of need?"
I chuckled, reaching out to take a few of the prizes from her arms before she could drop them. "Alright, alright. Hand 'em over, arcade legend."
She beamed, happily relinquishing a few of her stuffed prizes before leaning back against me again. The warmth of her body against mine, the way she tucked herself just slightly closer—it sent a rush of warmth through me, one that had nothing to do with the ship's artificial climate controls.
"This was fun," she murmured, her voice softer now.
"Yeah," I agreed, glancing down at her. "It really was."
She sighed, content and relaxed. "So, where to next?"
I thought for a moment, then grinned. "How about a late-night stroll? Maybe check out the garden deck?"
She perked up, nodding enthusiastically. "Oh, I love that idea. A walk sounds perfect after all that action."
"Alright then," I said, adjusting the plushies under my arm. "Let's go."
With her still leaning against me, we made our way down the corridor, her laughter still echoing in my ears, a sound I never wanted to stop hearing.