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When Yuugo told her to go collect resources for the shelter, she knew Ray would accompany her, though she figured their journey would have been relaxing, not worrisome. But she had turned out to be wrong, for the journey was very worrisome. At least, to her best friend.
Ray over thought things, a lot of things. Maybe a little too much every day. Emma took notice in his worries, doubts, and hesitations - because his thoughts comprised danger, demons, their family, and her.
Emma knew that, she always did.
The danger was about the current journey they were on. Anything could happen to them in an instant. An ambush, change of weather, or dare they even think of it, death. No, they couldn’t die. They had a family to return to, which was why they were on their current mission. The task at hand was simple: resources for their family. Shouldn’t be too hard, right?
Emma still felt uneasy. Her heart stung. Was it because of him? Yes, it was. Why wouldn’t she worry over her best friend? The boy who kept on overthinking, worried and agitated over the slightest distractions to their aim.
How could one think so much?
Emma could have felt it at one point, when she found out about her crush on Ray. The sudden realization hit her like a train wreck, and to her knowledge, trains weren’t mostly even in the demon world. Still, the crush was so visibly present that everyone knew from way before. She just couldn’t believe it. A crush on her childhood best friend? Impossible! But… the impossible’s something she’s always best at. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing, though she never imagined them to be together. When did she even fell for him?
He’d always been there for her, by her side. As a friend, companion, and partner. That would never change between them, but… what if they could be romantically dating too? She loved him, but she couldn’t just tell him her feelings. If it came to a point where she had to, then yes, she would.
For now, though, she would just continue to show her affection.
“You’ve been on edge, Ray.”
“Edgy how?”
“Edgier than usual.”
Ray just hummed in response, looking around his surroundings for any demon tracks and needed supplies for the shelter. “Sorry.” His apology didn’t sound very genuine.
Emma pouted, kicking the dirt with a frustrated sigh. Maybe she was going the wrong way about the whole Ray situation. He could just be having a bad day because of stress. Lots of people have bad days. It was a normal occurrence. Though even if he was, his mind was still roaming with endless possibilities of how the day could get even worse.
Catching up to him, she grabbed onto his arm. “Ray, are you okay?”
His eyebrows furrowed. “I’m fine, Emma. Now, if you don’t mind, I would like to continue the rest of our trip in silence.”
She reluctantly let go of his arm, nodding in obligation. He wanted silence. Not only to hear incoming demons, but to think with no distractions, or in his case, annoying best friends who are just concerned over his wellbeing.
The whole overthinking was taking a toll this time. At one point, he might have even snapped at her if she continued to bother him. However, if he did, then he would immediately blame himself. And it would inflict the guilt onto her.
She wanted to comply with his wishes: to leave him alone and in with his thoughts. But she just couldn’t. Something was bugging him, eating him up inside. She had to know what it was. It didn’t matter if he loses control over his emotions by snapping and yelling at her. Ray was her best friend, and no friend gets left behind.
“Ray!” Emma called, causing him to stop in his tracks. He immediately turned around for any kind of danger before locking eyes with the ginger-haired girl. He seemed stressed, tensed, and most of all, worried.
Ray sighed, pushing back his hair in frustration. “What is it, Emma?”
Feeling hesitant, she took a deep breath and looked directly at him. “Tell me.”
“Tell you what, exactly?” Ray scowled.
“What’s on your mind.” Emma clarified. “I want to know, Ray.”
He turned back around with a scowl, looking straight ahead. “There’s nothing.”
“There’s something.”
Her eyes flickered down to Ray’s hands. They turned into clenched, shaky fists. She walked up to him, reaching out to touch his shoulder. “Ray…”
He reluctantly shrugged her off, causing her to turn around, cross her arms, and close her eyes. She tried to take in the small, temporary silence for as long as she could, though his thoughts were also getting to her.
“Will you be quiet?!” Emma yelled at him, annoyed.
Irked, he whirled around sharply. “I didn't say anything!”
“Well… stop thinking so loud!” She retorted.
Taken aback, he took a step forward. “Oh, I’m sorry if I can’t turn off my brain for you! Would you like me to mumble instead?”
“No! I just want you to talk to me and say exactly what’s on your mind.” Emma told him. “The thing is, I already know, but I want to hear it directly from you! I want to help you though you won’t let me in!”
“Ugh! Just leave me alone!” He turned his back on her.
“I can’t. I won’t!” She refused frustratedly. “I’m sorry, but this has been going on for far too long. Please tell me…”
With a heavy sigh, he glared at her, causing her to flinch, and inflicting pain in her heart at the words he was about to say.
“Have you considered that maybe I don’t want you?”
She knew it wasn’t true. He wanted her. He just said that to push her away, right? Yes, he did. God, it pained her seeing him like that. Even so… No matter what came between them, she would still stay by his side.
“Ray, I’m not giving up on you! I never will! Who cares if you don’t want me?! Losing a longtime friend is more hurtful, it’s going to hurt you biting you back when you least expect it!”
Ray didn’t turn back around.
“Ra-!”
Instead, he fell to the ground with blood flowing out of him.
Emma blinked before realizing a demon was standing by Ray’s body, claws out.
That’s when she knew. This was an ambush.
“RAY!”
Grabbing both of their guns angrily, she used both to shoot that demon in its eyes, and others. It took many tries as she tried protecting Ray, who was beside her, grunting in pain. After hastily dealing with the demons, she helped him up and ran. While making her way to the closest hideout, rain fell heavily.
Change of weather, though the gray clouds during their journey were a sign.
Seeking shelter in a cave, she rested Ray on a rock and immediately got to work. She got the first-aid out of her bag, taking out bandaids. She removed her coat, holding it in her hands.
“Um, Ray? I need to… uh…”
“Go ahead.”
Setting her coat aside, Emma zipped down his coat zipper, and slid it off his shoulders before taking it off. She placed her fingers on the hem of his attire. How she wished she could admire him in it for one second - black was his favorite color. That would have to be at another time.
He rose his arms up, allowing her to pull the black turtleneck over his head. Tossing it aside, her gaze went immediately on his chest down towards his injury.
“Okay, next I have to wash it… this may sting a bit.” Emma warned, grabbing a bowl and rag out of her bag. She poured water inside the bowl, then put in the rag to collect it. She took it out, squeezing it, and dabbing it onto the wound. Ray winced at the applied contact to his skin. Emma muttered an apology.
After cleaning the wound, she wrapped a flexible bandage around his stomach. “Okay, I’m done…”
Her hands lingered on his bandage as her eyes gazed into his. The only responses she got were a lip bite, flushed cheeks, and a nod.
They eventually sat beside one another after cleaning up the area, touching shoulders and looking off to the side. The rain was still falling. It would be awhile before they had to head back to the shelter. Emma didn’t mind waiting it out, especially considering Ray’s injury. She had to solve a personal issue with him, anyway.
In what seemed to be their silence, Emma heard him. “Ray, you’re mumbling again.”
Ray turned his head, covering his mouth.
She sighed, crossing her arms. “This ‘silent’ fight between us is getting nowhere. We need to talk. I want to hear your thoughts, which I did just now. I kinda already knew them though from your inner mind. That’s how close we are. You know that, right?”
He stayed quiet.
“Say something…” She turned her body with a frown, gazing at him. “Ray, what’s going on? Why won’t you just talk to me?!”
“You know I’ve never been… really good at talking.”
“Then screw thinking, mumbling, and talking!”
To his surprise, she grabbed and kissed him. What else could she do? Emma knew she was on his mind. The danger, ambushing demons, change of weather, injuries, and death? All those were past thoughts, only she remained - she always did. Yes, they fought, but because they care for each other.
Ray kissed back after the brief shock, wrapping his arms around her back as she did the same with his neck. They stayed kissing for a short while before slowly pulling away. Another gaze into the eyes.
Immediately after the kiss, he nestled his head onto her shoulder with a sigh. “I’m sorry, really. Everything I said... Emma, I want you. I’m just so stuck in my thoughts. I think about you all the time, whether it be my feelings towards you, me wanting to protect you, or both.”
She hugged him, blushing slightly at his warm touch and heartfelt words. “I’m sorry too. I kept pushing you to talk to me when you didn’t want that. It’s my fault for our stupid argument and your injury. You got hurt because of me! I couldn’t protect you!”
Ray rubbed circles along her back. “Emma, you protected me. You fended off all the demons in one go.”
“But… you have permanent stomach scars now.”
“So do you.”
Emma slightly nodded in response, allowing the inner silence to come out and befall on them once more. At first she didn’t like it, but the quietness has grown on her. It calmed her. She could tell Ray was feeling fine too by the steady pacing of his heartbeat, which also brought her to serenity.
“Hey, just for tonight, let’s stay here together.”
Emma wasn’t expecting a reply, though she got one anyway. He pulled themselves down to the cave ground, and a blanket over their bodies. Ray quickly brought her into a kiss full of affection.
“Screw tonight, I want to stay with you forever.”
Her eyes softened with sparkles alongside a red blush across her face, touched by his confession. He affectionately held her close. She did the same, staying in one another’s comforting arms, and enjoying the sound of silence.
“I never want to lose you again.”
With the rain eventually stopped, only stars soon filled the night sky. The two lovers slept soundlessly in a cave, all while in their proximity, and in their heart of hearts.
Ray and Emma were finally together.
For real.