rayemma oneshots & other

Shaking

• Short

Mild spoiler warning for chapter #52 and onward - mentioned character, mentioned location

It was a bit infuriating to look at the Mister sitting over there, legs crossed all casual, head tilted back, shoulders low and relaxed. He was an adult with years of experience and all, but... seeing him so carefree when the two children's stomachs were groaning in hunger, their limbs screaming in exhaustion, bloodshot eyes racing from one end of the trees to another...

The divide between them and him was pretty damn wide, wasn't it? But that was just another reason why this period was paramount in them learning the way of survival.

This was the third night of travel. They'd set up camp near a jagged cliff this time. Things were dead silent between the three voyagers.

Ray glanced at Emma.

Her expression tonight was rare. She hugged her knees to her chest. Her shoulders were so tense, they met the line of her neck. Her eyes were glazed, focusing on very little - or perhaps nothing at all, save for the flicker of the minute fire.

Her entire frame was shaking. From her hands trembling in her coat pockets, to her legs struck with nervous tremors.

He knew it wasn't just the cold that was getting to her.

He placed a hand on her shoulder, which made her jump.

"Emma."

"Huh?" Emma stared at him in a daze.

He now noticed how severely she was sweating, and how there was a quiver in her voice. She was definitely aware of how bad she looked, because she then sat up straight and buried her exhaustion under a smile.

"You seem tired," Ray remarked.

"Ah, do I?" Emma chuckled. "Maybe a little bit! I'm alright, though!"

He doubted that this was a rouse to make the man less likely to pull any stunts on them. Because he hadn't made a move since then, and their fatigue was already too apparent to hide now.

In conclusion, this was just a front she put up so that Ray wouldn't worry.

Ray sighed.

"Sit with me."

"Hm? But I'm already sitting with you."

"I mean lean on my shoulder."

"Oh! Uh, well, you don't-"

Before any more protest could be made, Ray twined his arm around Emma's waist and pulled her close to him, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder, and the rest of her body to fall onto his side.

Ray gently pulled her hands out of her pockets, then displayed them over his palms.

Hm. He hadn't noticed this before. There wasn't much of a difference between them, but her hands were so petite.

"See how badly your hands are shaking?" He murmured next to her ear, absently stroking her thumb with his.

Emma pouted. "...You don't miss anything."

She gingerly looked over the Mister, making sure his eyes were closed. Then she sighed.

"Yeah, I'm nervous. I'm tired. We've been on full alert since the first day. We don't know when another demon will come around the corner. It's like they're everywhere here... but we did come prepared for that."

"I'll be fine," she continued with a nervous laugh. "But I might be just a bit shaky on the way to A08-63!"

Ray studied her for a moment.

"Then you should rest on me until you've calmed down."

Emma tensed. "Huh?"

"Just lay on my shoulder like you're doing now. You can sleep like that, right? Just get some rest, and I'll stay on the lookout."

Emma frowned. "But that's unfair to you!"

Ray smiled. "No it isn't. I can't sleep right now, anyway. Just rest. At least until you're not shaking anymore."

Emma didn't seem completely satisfied, but she gave in and relaxed on him anyway.

"You... can let go of my hands, now, Ray."

"Just like the rest of you, they're staying here until they stop shaking."

Emma huffed in offense, but she was grinning. "Fine!"

Ray glanced up to see the Mister with one eye open and peering at them. Then he turned his back to the two with a quiet hiss of disgust.

The nights were long, and this trip was tiring. But if they could continue being there for each other just like tonight, they would undoubtedly make it through.