Oneshots+ | Ray Mond

II. Midnight Moments

(why does this video still give me life to this very day)

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Ray awoke with a start, panting heavily from her vivid nightmare. She looked around frantically as the memories from the ordeal with Joe on the bridge flooded back to her in waves. Swallowing her fear, she got out of bed and made her way to Vinny's kitchen, shakily pouring herself a glass of water. She threw her head back and downed the glass in one go, blood pounding in her ears.

She closed her eyes and stood unmoving in front of the kitchen sink for an unknown amount of time. Ray unsteadily swayed back and forth and trudged towards the living room sofa, knocking over a lamp from the side table.

 She flinched at the loud crash and rushed to clean up the mess. She was not completely helpless. As she was cleaning the mess, she cut herself on a piece of glass and cursed, abruptly standing to kick at the sofa. Laughing wryly, Ray shuffled out the front door, leaving her cleaning job unfinished.

The door to Vinny's apartment shut with a slam, the sound reverberating throughout the empty cubby. Ray took in a deep breath, glancing quickly around the cubby. She started walking towards the gate upon seeing she was alone and opened it as quietly as possible, slipping out of the cubby.

She started walking, head empty, as the familiar sounds of the still busy city of Los Santos-even at 2am-calmed her.

She didn't have any place to go in mind; all she knew was that she needed to get out. Lost in her thoughts, she did not notice as a green R8 pulled beside her, the driver quizzical as to why she was out walking this late. He called her name.

"Ray. Ray Mond" he said in his quiet voice.

Ray jumped, looking over at him and sighing in apparent relief.

"Holy shit Tommy you scared me. What are you doing out so late?"

Tommy grinned his lopsided grin. "Well I could ask you the same thing Miss Ray Mond."

"Touché. I was just... thinking really."

He blinked, taken aback by her quiet response which was an obvious contrast to her usual upbeat manner.

"Do you need a ride then?" he asked softly. "I'd be honored to drive the Ray Mond around," he added jokingly in an effort to raise her spirits.

Ray snorted at his exaggeration and hopped into his car, Tommy smiling brightly at her.

"So what exactly were you thinking about to be walking alone at 2am hm?"

"Hold on you never answered my question about why you're out driving right now."

"Ah," he said nodding his head slightly "I was thinkin' about the Mandem."

"Oh. I didn't expect you to actually tell me. Now I feel obliged to tell you what I was thinking about," Ray's voice took on a more lighthearted tone, much to Tommy's relief. He had succeeded in lifting her spirits.

"I'm hurt you weren't actually going to tell me what you were thinking about," Tommy said in a whiny voice with a pout on his face.

Ray smiled to herself at his cuteness and sighed. "Well..." She trailed off debating on whether or not telling him what was on her mind. The hopeful look on Tommy's face made her give in with a smile and a shake of her head. "I was thinking about Joe... what if he comes back? I don't think I could go through something similar to that again and I feel so bad for dragging you into this mess Tommy. If I hadn't-"

"Woah woah woah slow down, look at me," he said, placing his hand her cheek, making her look at him. "Whatever you think, it's not your fault Ray. I'm the one who invited you out for a date on Valentines'. At least this way, If he does come back we can face him together, aight?"

She blinked at him and nodded her head slowly. A mischievous smile slowly found its way onto her face as it lit up.

"So a date then eh?"

Tommy looked at her for a moment in confusion and then it hit him that that was the first time he called their outing on Valentines' Day a date. He grinned sheepishly and removed his hand from her face.

"I mean if you insist on it being a date then," Ray rolled her eyes playfully, a smirk on her face.

"If you want it to be a date, then it was a date," he said simply, trying to deflect.

They stared at each other, unspoken words flowing back and forth as they looked into the each other's eyes. Tommy cleared his throat nervously and was the first to look away. He changed the gear of the car and shifted in his seat, glancing at Ray shyly.

"So then. Where ya headed?" he asked.

Ray smiled at his nervous behavior and glanced out the window. "Honestly you can drive me around anywhere. I don't have a destination in mind," she said smiling at him.

He returned her smile, now less shy. "Your wish is my command," he said in the same posh British accent he used when he took her to rob her first jewelry store, making her giggle. He peeled off of the side of the road and Ray let out an excited 'whoop' as the car accelerated, adrenaline rushing through her veins. 

Tommy chuckled at her energy and he glanced over at her with a look of contentment on his face. He missed Ray's usually rambunctious attitude, and hoped the elated atmosphere would stay this way for the rest of their ride.

They felt closer to each other as they sped through the streets of Los Santos, all thoughts of Joe Goldberg washed away by the rushing winds of change.

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