Sold On You [Raymond x Reader - ACNL]

One.

It's cold.

It's okay. Raymond has grown used to it. He's lost count of the days since the heating was shut off. His mother, a rather snobbish calico called Crystal, would be back from work soon. At least, that's what she always told him.

He grows impatient. The cupboards are empty, and his stomach growls. With a little luck she'd spare some food for him when she gets back, unless she's spent all her money on her habit again.

Habit. It infantilizes her problems into one, concise, soft word. It wasn't a habit.

He shakes his head and tries to focus on his homework. The answer to the equation is seconds away, but the seconds last hours and the hours last years in this house. With a frustrated sigh he leans back, staring mindlessly into the mold-covered ceiling. The blues, blacks and greens look like a galaxy if he removes his glasses. As disgusting as it is, it gave him hope.

As a kid he'd been fascinated with space. Always building toilet roll rockets and fashioning space helmets out of detergent boxes. Life was good when his dad was still in the picture. Of course he had to leave us behind.

The answer hits him, and he scribbles it down. He crosses the final 7, and the pen explodes all over his paw.

That was his last one. As though to match his mood, rain starts tapping on the window. He feels mocked by it. Tap tap tap. Look at me! I'm free!

His mother has taken his phone, again. There was no way to contact his professor. It pained him, but he gave up on the homework.

The house was blissful in it's silence for just another few minutes, before his mother stumbled through the door. She's on the catnip again. He only hopes she's brought food. She yowled his name.

"Raymond!" Her voice sounded as though she'd consumed a pitfall seed. Painful. "I have someone I'd like you to meet!"

A new boyfriend? Raymond stared at his ink-covered paw, now shaking. He grabbed it with his other paw, trying to steady it, but only spreading the ink further. He's going to be dead meat if he doesn't clean himself up. "Give me a minute!" He called down. He was met with an incoherent screech that sent his heart straight into his mouth.

So he goes downstairs, his paws more black than grey. Beside his mother stood

A human?

Raymond blinks, his gold and green eyes doing little to hide his surprise. What's mom doing with a human?

"I thought you said he was white and grey?"

Crystal glares at Raymond, noticing his black paws. "He is. He's useless, can't even keep himself clean. He used to be a bright one."

"Used to?" You eye him up and down. His glasses are crooked, and his puff of white hair looks more matted than not. "I'll offer you three million."

"Three million bells?" Crystal screeches, the smell of catnip on her breath. "You said four!"

You shrug. "Three."

What's going on? Raymond's mouth turns dry as he watches you and Crystal debating money. He uses the opportunity to try slinking away to the bathroom, but his mother screeches at him the moment he takes a step away from them.

"Okay. Three and three quarters." You sigh, writing the check. "I'll send you a nook miles ticket at harvest day, so you can visit him."

Visit me? He said that out loud. You giggle, your hand placed over your mouth as if you were about to say something naughty. But you never say what. Raymond feels ready to explode with anxiety.

Without saying goodbye to his mother, Raymond is ushered into your car. Riding shotgun, is a racoon. It's hard for Raymond to place who he is, but he seems familiar.

"Raymond, this is Tom Nook. Whilst I drive, he'll discuss living arrangements with you."

"What do you mean?" At least I'm not going to die? Tom Nook is a famous architect, and runs many charities throughout the country of New Leafland, but the whole situation was throwing Raymond into turmoil.

"Raymond." His voice was deep and gravelly. "(Y/N) has graciously allowed me to build a large basement on their property. As their slave, you will be living there, hm?"

"Slave?!"

"I'm surprised by how little your mom has told you." You chuckle, putting the car in drive.

"Yes, yes. Do not worry Raymond. By working as (Y/N)'s slave you will pay back your debt in no time at all."

"What do you mean? What's happening?" Raymond placed a paw on the door handle, getting ready to escape.

"No point in doing that." The racoon chuckled, indicating towards the door handle. "It's locked. Now, renovations are not free, hm? You must pay for them."

"I don't want any of this!" He yowls, but you press hard on the accelerate. He's too far away to even consider walking back now.

"I guess I should introduce myself." You say, meeting his eyes in the mirror. "I'm your new owner. You'll be working for me for an indefinite period."

You wait for a response, but there's none.

"I live on an island with Tom Nook and several others, called Horizonia. You'll be living in my basement and helping me around the island. I deal with outdoor maintenance and islander management."

"And they don't get paid a single bell!"

You scoff. "It's a labor of love."

"So why me?" Raymond pipes up. He was a nobody, studying a nobody degree at a nobody college living in a nobody town.

You shrug, and keep driving.