A Series of Rune Factory 4 One-shots

Spies can love too! (Doug x Frey)

Doug sat on the shore of Dragon Lake. He stared down at the water, thinking about that person and Frey. He wondered if things could remain the same between them. Frey was really close to that person, but he knew the truth. The truth of what that person had done.

He didn't have the heart to tell her. Not because he thought it would break her heart, but because he was worried that she would choose that person over him.

Would she believe him? Or would she trust that person who killed his family over him? He really didn't want to hurt her. He didn't really want to hurt anyone, but after what had happened to his home...

He didn't have it in him to forgive Ventuswill yet. Maybe he never would. And if Frey chose that dragon, would that mean he would he end up hating her too?

He didn't want to. She was kind and made him tempura rice and onigiri. Whenever he was hungry she was always there with a snack. Whenever he got bored at work she would come and chat with him. It was like she knew that he wanted her around.

Lately he'd been avoiding her though. He didn't know what to do...

He was a spy, but he had begun doubting himself lately. What if it actually wasn't true? But if it wasn't, then what had happened to his clan?

"Doug?" The red haired dwarf jumped up in surprise, and he looked at Frey in surprise. She tilted her head curiously.

"Something wrong?" she asked. He sighed.

"No, I just..." He trailed off, looking out at Dragon Lake once more. Frey frowned, but decided not to focus on it too much.

"Um, are you hungry?" Frey asked. Doug perked up, smiling at Frey.

"Yeah. Do you have something to eat?" he asked hopefully, eyeing her bag. He was convinced that it was enchanted. It was such a small bag, but it held so much. So many different kinds of foods and none of them spilled! It was amazing!

"I made a tempura bowl earlier." His eyes lit up  as she pulled his favorite dish out of her bag. Excitedly, he grabbed it from her and began to quickly dig in. She smiled as she watched him shovel food in his mouth. She enjoyed knowing that he liked her cooking.

She frowned, thinking back to when she had first gone to the Water Ruins. She had gotten distracted, and a goblin was about to attack her, but Doug came to her rescue at the perfect moment. But he was talking about someone then. He seemed to despise that person, whoever it was. She wondered what the person had done to make Doug so angry. Doug was usually such a bright person. It had shocked her when he had looked at her with such a dark expression.

"Frey?" She blinked in surprise when Doug said her name. He had already finished off his food.

"Huh?" she asked.

"Are you okay?" he asked. She nodded quickly, smiling reassuringly at him.

"Yes! I'm perfectly fine!" she exclaimed, louder than she had meant to.

"You sure?" He watched with a frown as she nodded again.

"A-actually.... There's something I want to tell you..." She began to blush, fidgeting as Doug stared at her.

"What is it?" he asked. Frey took a deep breath, gathering her courage.

"I love you!" she exclaimed. Doug stood there for a moment, trying to process the information. Then his face turned as red as his hair.

"What?!" he yelled. Did he really just hear that?? Was he imagining things? Or did Frey really just...

"I really love you, Doug," she said. Doug took a deep breath. She was joking. She was definitely joking. There was no way Frey would ever fall in love with him...