Chapter Text
"Because I like her."
Norman said this to Ray as Ray grabbed Norman by his shirt. Ray didn't know what to make of this. Like... As in that way?
They were siblings. Always has been, always will be. Ray has never thought about developing feelings for anyone at the Grace Field House. Heck, he spent 6 years planning for escape, let alone make time for feelings.
But Norman had this look in his eyes when he said that. He truly believed that they could all escape together. And if Norman truly set his mind on something, he can make it happen. Norman has a will that can move mountains, after all. Norman said that he would make it possible for them to all escape, and he only said that because he developed feelings for Emma. Ray, however, thought they were delusional.
"If this is what keeps them alive, so be it." Ray thought to himself. He grimaced, let go of Norman, and walked away, a glare remaining in his eyes. There was no way he would let Emma and Norman die. His most important friends. The only ones he cared for. It was up to Ray to save the two of them, whether they willed it or not.
For the next few days, Ray worked on his plan, the one where only Emma, Norman, and possibly Gilda and Don, are able to escape. He ignored Emma's will. He thought Norman's plan was idiotic. That plan was set based on those feelings Norman had, after all. What was even so interesting about a girl who wanted all their siblings to be served on a silver platter anyways?
It was only a few months later that Ray saw how attractive Emma could be.
"Just shut up and come with us, Ray!" Emma yelled at him after slapping him across the face. He remembers how wide his eyes grew, he remembers how strong and independent the girl he grew up with looked. The fury in her eyes. The overprotectiveness she had for all her siblings... Ray included. He didn't even include himself. He wanted to die in the fire, she wouldn't let him.
It was a surreal moment for Ray as he stood there on the wall, watching all his siblings soar across the gaping hole and into the forest on the other side. The girl he grew up with was strong. So strong. So powerful. She planned all this without him knowing at all what was going on. He still couldn't comprehend how she managed to pull that off.
Yes, she had the help of Norman's plan. The friend they both loved who unfortunately met his demise. However, this girl is the one who moved everything into place. She made it work.
She made it work... A plan he would have never imagined succeeding.
Ray couldn't help but chuckle as he stood on the wall. Emma, who was next to him, cocked her head and looked at him with concern. He noticed the confusion on her face and turned to face her, still grinning.
"Ray, why are you laughing?" Emma asked. This wasn't the time to laugh. That, they both knew. They both knew Mama could come at any moment.
"Emma," Ray said with a smirk on his face and affectionate eyes gazing over her. "You're so cool." Ray laughed more, somewhat uncontrollable it seems like. Emma looked at him dumbfounded, unable to comprehend his thought process.
The words came out of Ray's mouth before he could stop them. Realizing what he said, he quickly shut up and covered his mouth with his hand. He looked to the ground to avoid her gaze but slowly looked up again to peek at Emma.
Emma was looking at him in surprise, her mouth dropped open. They both froze up staring at each other, each unable to speak. It was rare for Ray to compliment her after all, since he always called her an idiot whenever he had the chance. Emma noticed that he said what he said without meaning to. It was written across Ray's face, and Emma, who was always around him, knew that.
"Ray, you-" Emma started to say. Ray noticed the slight blush of her cheeks as she started speaking.
They were distracted by one of their siblings who became too scared to go across. Her hands were shivering to the point where it'd be dangerous to let her go across alone. Ray took this as his chance to escape, so he tied the child onto him and flew across the hole with Emma following soon after. They dropped the subject, or so he hoped.
Emma was obviously worried about the trip as they continued on. Her mind raced with thoughts of how to protect her family. To ease her worries, Ray made an oath to Emma that he would protect her and their family. How it made her face light up... How her mouth grew wide into a smile and her eyes glowed in delight... Ray and Emma truly felt like partners as of that oath. And for that, he was glad.
But while the plan was in motion and while the group was escaping, trouble came. First, they got stuck in a giant hole with some plant trying to eat them alive. Luckily, they made it out due to Minerva's guide. Smart little Emma brought that book. When they demonstrated to their siblings how the plant couldn't harm them, they thought all their knowledge was finally coming into play.
But then the group met who they feared the most. Demons. Those things wanted to eat them. The plan to escape was in motion, but both Ray and Emma knew they wouldn't be able to outrun the demon. Emma pulled Ray aside to speak, knowing he, too, would understand the situation.
"Then let me become the bait," Ray said to his partner.
Emma flinched. Ray could see the worry in her eyes and knew what she was thinking.
"No Ray, you can't. Not again..." Emma started, slowly shaking her head. Seeing that look on her face made him already regret his previous escape plan, oh how dumb he was to allow her to make that face. He wanted to reassure her.
"I won't die, Emma," Ray said with a reassuring pat to her shoulder. "I'm not going off to die again. I'll survive and come back to you."
"After all, who's the better one at tag, you or me?" Ray said with a smirk.
Frowning, Emma reluctantly said, "You are..."
"Right, so let me be the bait. You gather our family and we'll meet up again." He gripped at her shoulder before reluctantly letting go and running towards the demon chasing after his siblings.
But Ray wasn't doing this with plans to die, he wanted to survive. Once he caught the demon's attention, he started running in the opposite direction, getting the thing to stop going after the others. He ran and ran, gaining distance away from his siblings until he couldn't see them anymore. Then, it was looking for a way out.
But what luck, the pursuers came and killed off the demon. One problem gone, another arises. But this one was an even bigger worry to think about. Ray knew he had to be better. Smarter. Faster. To see his family again.
Left. Right. Left. Ray strategized his escape. The demons were coming in close, trapping him from all sides, getting rid of all of his moves. He was running out of possibilities much too quickly.
Maybe he's already become soft. Just a few hours ago, all he could think about was killing himself off in a fire. He wanted to let his 6-year plan go to waste and use himself as bait for Emma and the rest to escape. He had the perfect plan to burn himself up to keep the others alive. When did it start that he became so protective of his family? When did it start that all he wants to do is see them again?
Ray fell down to the ground and collapsed, his legs unable to move. He felt the demons move around, circling him with grins on their faces. They knew their prey was caught.
He wanted to survive. He needed to survive. Ray made a promise after all. He felt his vision fading, but he wanted to see them again, not go like this. He wanted to see his family. He wanted to see...
"Grab on!" Yelled a voice, grabbing onto him and running off. Ray was still weak, his mind was failing him. He could hardly tell if the man who grabbed him was a foe or an ally. But... But...!
He grabbed on. To the last hope he had. But ah... his mind was still blanking out. He was devastatingly tired.
"Still, if only I could see her again..." Ray thought as he passed out cold.
Ray woke up in a startle. He found himself in an unfamiliar place, almost forgetting that their plan was put into motion only a few hours ago and that they've already escaped the Grace Field House. Not the comfiest bed he found himself in.
"Where are they?" Ray thought. He felt well enough to move, so he got up and started searching. Just after a few minutes of exploring the cave, however, he tripped on something. Maybe he wasn't as well as he thought.
"Emma?" He said, his eyes growing wide as he saw Emma lying on the ground, unconscious.
Ray felt his face flare up in a panic. His muscles tightened, his breathing increased. "Emma, hey, Emma!" He yelled, lightly slapping her across the face. He started shaking out of fear that something happened to her. Was she sleeping? Was she unconscious? Did she... die?
"Ray, is that you?" Emma said, her eyes slowly widening. Ray froze.
Relief.
Ray couldn't stop the smile growing on his face. She was alive. Alive. Ray felt his heart start to beat once more at the call of his name, maybe even faster than normal.
His legs gave out, so he sat down next to her. Emma saw the relief in his eyes, and she felt the same.
"He didn't die." Emma thought. He escaped the many demons that were chasing after them. He made it.
It troubled her to let him go after all. It was almost like sending one of her siblings to death. But she trusted him. She trusted Ray. But still... Still...!
"I'm so glad you're alive!" Emma said, wrapping her arms around him. He tenderly wrapped his arms around her too.
"Me too, Emma," Ray said as he nuzzled into her shoulder, making sure not to touch the wound where her ear used to be. "I'm glad to see you too."
Emma felt her heart race for a second. She noticed how affectionate Ray was being. Even before. She wanted to ask him about the time on the wall. What did he mean by saying she was cool?
Emma felt a bubble inside her chest ready to burst as she held Ray in her arms. Her mysterious, devilish sibling who always meanly teases her all the time... said she was cool. And she cannot. Get the words. Out. Of. Her. Head!
Emma pulled away from their embrace.
"Ray, why did you say I was cool?" She asked, staring straight into his eyes.
He tensed up a bit. "She asked." He thought to himself. Sure he knew the conversation would come up eventually, knowing Emma, but he didn't expect it now of all times.
"Emma, we can talk about this later." Ray looked away and tried to avoid the conversation. He wanted to get up but she pulled him back down again.
"Ray, I want to know," Emma said, her grip on his arm tight. She felt that bubble in her chest again. He didn't show it well on his face, but she was sure that Ray was embarrassed.
Ray grimaced. She wasn't going to let this go. She's a stubborn one, after all. "Arrrghh..." Ray moaned. He ruffled his hair and looked down into his lap, not wanting to show her his face. How he wanted to pull away from her grasp.
"Look, I just thought your plan was great. Norman would be proud of you, that's all. You were cool. In that moment, at least." Ray said quickly, not wanting to blurt out anything he did not mean again.
"Meaaan!" Emma pouted, slapping his arm. "Can't you just compliment me nicely for once?!"
The normal smirk was back on his face. He was happy to see her well, being the Emma he knows all too well. He got up and held his hand out for hers. She took his hand despite her being angry at him. "That's the best compliment you'll get out of me, Emma." He said.
They both decided to drop this conversation and move on to finding out what happened and where their siblings are.
But both of them felt the heat rise to their faces as they started walking. Ray knew that something was different, he wasn't dumb after all. What he said to Emma was something he should have never said.
"Because I like her."
That faint memory. It's now forever in Ray's mind, he wouldn't be able to get it out even if he tried.
Ray wanted to hide the feeling deep within his chest. That feeling was good on Norman, not Ray. Ray was the brains now, he has to calculate everything here on out. He runs on logical calculations. Because the one who didn't do so... is now dead.
Ray's eyebrows furrowed at this thought. No matter what, Ray was to hide this feeling, get rid of it. To protect them, he must never make a mistake like Norman. No way was he going to make a mistake like this happen ever again. No way was he going to let this feeling grow.
Emma, on the other hand, was still thinking back to that compliment Ray just gave her, a small smile on her face that Ray wasn't paying attention to.
It was so new, so interesting. She liked this feeling, she liked being complimented by Ray.
She could get used to these bubbles in her chest.