Note: some of my fave chapters from this fic are coming soon and I'm excited to share them here!
Note (from ao3): It's a short chapter, but a lot is revealed in it
Also, Trigger warning for
Mention of death and suicide
Enjoy!
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Their nightmares didn't stop there. They came back over and over, sometimes with new scenes.
From the moment they both told the other they had those bad dreams, Norman and Emma could be found cuddling together. Most of the time it would be Emma who would go join Norman in his room. Norman didn't want to disturb her, so he preferred to stay in his own bedroom. Emma would actually scold him for not coming to her when he needed to.
Ray noticed, when at work, how tired they both looked and that something was bothering them. When he asked them what was wrong, they would always answered that everything was alright. He was determined to find out what was bothering them. At first he thought that it was related to the whole Peter situation.
So one evening, Ray invited both Emma and Norman to go eat something all together. After all ordering, the raven boy didn't wast any time.
« So, spit it. Both of you. What's wrong? You two are extremely tired lately and I can clearly see that something is bothering you, and it's not related to the whole Peter situation. So spit it, tell me what's wrong. »
Emma and Norman looked at each other before looking back at their best friend.
« You'll think of us as weird. »
« Not like that wasn't already the case but go on. »
The ginger-haired girl glared at him before explaining him about their nightmares that were too similar and seemed far too real for there own good. After she finished talking, Norman explained his version of the nightmare. Ray listened to them, not saying a single word as they talked. He nodded once the two had finished their story.
« I see... you know, I've been having those kind of dreams too. But, unlike you two, I've got them since... always. »
« Really? »
Ray nodded.
« Why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you tell me before? »
« Because you wouldn't had believed me if I told you I had dreams, memories, about my old life. My life that happened a thousand years ago. »
Norman looked at his brother worriedly. Ray looked at both of them before talking again.
« The moment I met you, Norman, was the moment I had confirmation that those dreams weren't dreams. But that they were my old memories, from my past life and just to see you there. In front of me. I cried you know. »
The white-haired boy's eyes widened before softening.
« That night, when I went to bed, I cried because you were there. Because you were alive, you were alright. I swore that I wouldn't let anything happen to you ever again. And then, years later, Emma came into our life. »
Emma raised her gaze that was staring at her hands to look at the raven boy.
« I swore to do anything to protect you two. To do what I wasn't able to do before, so I could finally see you both happy together. Like you two always wanted. »
Ray let out a sigh as he felt his eyes fill up with tears. He took a deep, shaky, breath before continuing, his voice full of tremors.
« I cared for you two, so much... you both knew it. But you still left. Emma, you disappeared after making the Promise. While searching for her, Norman, you overworked yourself and never really did the treatment for your sickness. You-you died because of it... you even told me to let you go, that you couldn't take it anymore. You had no hope remaining at that point. We found you Emma two weeks later. »
