RayEmma Oneshots

Advice

Ray was confused.

He used to be very good at identifying what he was feeling - and then shoving those feelings into a hole, never to be seen again. At the House, that was how he lived practically his entire life. What use did he have for emotions when he was going to die in a fire in a couple years anyway?

Then, his lifelong plan to go out in a blaze of glory was snatched away from him; Emma made sure that he'd live, that he'd get better. At first he was a little annoyed that his whole life was upended like that, but he did have to admit that he enjoyed living a lot more now that he didn't have to hide anything.

And so that's why he started trying to express himself more, letting himself feel happy, feel free. He wasn't exactly good at expressing emotions, as expected, but he figured that with time he would get better.

But recently, he's been feeling a different type of feeling that he has no idea how to deal with.

And it frustrates him.

It seemed kinda like happiness. But happiness didn't make his face turn red or his heart speed at a million miles per hour. And this feeling only came into play whenever Emma was with him.

Strange.

—

This grievance is what occupied his mind often when he wasn't doing anything monumentally important (which, unfortunately, wasn't too often, but definitely more often than back at the House). Which is why one day, when out hunting with Don and Yugo, he was so lost in thought that he nearly tripped over a large tree root, his sudden, noisy lurch forward scaring off a few birds up in the tree branches that Yugo was aiming at.

Yugo glared at Ray, though Ray knew that he wasn't actually too mad. "What's wrong with ya? Is your brain not working today, kid?" He asked with a scowl. Don went over to Ray to make sure he was okay, frowning at him. "You have been kinda out of it lately, Ray... is anything wrong?"

Ray looked away. "Everything's fine," he spat, hoping they wouldn't detect the lie.

Unfortunately, Yugo is apparently really good at detecting lies.

Though Ray's also been very obviously not okay for the past week.

"Bullshit. Somethings weighing down on your mind, that's for sure. You can tell us what's wrong, you know, we're not gonna judge ya," Yugo said, and Don voiced his agreement.

Ray wasn't sure if he wanted to tell them about these feelings, but he also was trying to be a more open person with his emotions. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I dunno... lately I've been feeling kinda... happy? Like happiness but also warm and bubbly... and it only happens when I'm with or when I think about Emma..."

Don looked just as confused as he was, his brow furrowed. But then Yugo let out a hearty laugh, startling Don and Ray.

"Ohhh, so THAT'S what's been bothering you!" He breathed out. He tried - and failed - to contain his laughs. Ray and Don glanced at each other, confused, until Don spoke up. "Uh, what is it?" He asked.

The question caused Yugo to laugh even harder, until he saw the looks on their faces. "You... you're serious?" He said, his laughter now quieting down. Seeing Ray and Don shake their heads, he sighed in annoyance. "I guess it makes sense seeing how young your farm's shipment age is, but damn..."

"Can you just tell me what it is?" Ray said impatiently.

"You're in love, Ray. With Emma," Yugo said bluntly.

Don gaped at that, glancing between Yugo and Ray, until he started giggling too. "Ohh, so this whole time you've just been lovesick!"

Meanwhile, Ray was regretting his life choices. And mentally berating himself for not realizing it. How did I not realize?? There were hardly any romance books in the House's library, but I still should've known... I was so obviously feeling romantic attraction. When did I become such a dumbass.