I wasn't actually going to write this part but y'all made so many headcanons for it that I couldn't resist. So yes, this chap is... technically filler while I struggle through writers block? But yeah.

(brought to you by my iphone6s)

———

Ray had never been very good with emotions.

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It didn't take long for them to notice something was very wrong.

It was late on November 15th— to the point it was getting into the A.M. The library was becoming something of a camp-ground at this point; all the guest rooms in the castle were being used by demonfolk who had lost their homes, so the fairly-heated library was the best alternative for the humans.

Now blankets were strewn across the floor, and a platter of empty tea cups rested on a nearby table. Everyone was spread throughout the area; some sat awake on the couches, others at desks, and some browsed the library for a lack of a better way to spend their time.

From an outsiders' perspective, it would appear they were wasting time, perhaps, but when you stayed a few minutes you would feel the tense air in the room work its way into your gut, and you'd realize that they were all waiting.

Though, to this waiting, there was an indefinite and uncertain air that only added to the heavy mood –as if they themselves didn't know what they were waiting for, or rather; how long they'd be waiting for.

It was only 3 days in to this uncertain waiting now and already everyone was itching for action. Alas, none of them knew where to start, and were eventually lectured about "trust" by one of the few non-humans in the area.

Of course, the humans knew well that rather than trust, it was a blind faith at this point. "I'll be back," Y/N had apparently said, but she had said something similar before, several times, even, only for it to turn out a lie. Thus the weariness, the uncertainty; waiting out of fear that it wasn't a lie this time, "just in case," hoping that she made it back to them alive and well while knowing that if she wasn't okay there was nothing they could do about it.

With each passing minute, the uncertainty only grew bigger, as the numerous worries settled in the deep of their guts until they formed a stone, heavy and cold, always present; a constant reminder that left them unable to rest.

Which brings us to now, rather, nearly 1:00 am on November the 16th, 2049. Mujika came into the library to collect the old tea cups and replenish them; she had been busy nearly all day–Sonju, too, helping with political things, but visited whenever she was able to check up on the human companions.

By now, a few of them settled for bed; Zack was snoozing on a couch already, while Poppy and Hannah started to doze together, swaddled in a blanket and sitting on the floor. Yuugo leaned against a far wall, glancing out of a window between sips of now cold tea. Emma and Norman exchanged quiet words at another one of the couches, and Ray sat on an armchair, a stack of books ever growing on the small table beside him.

They looked up as Mujika entered, Emma with a polite wave and a smile, Zack with a half-assed salute, apparently conscious as he righted himself on the couch. "How is everyone?" Mujika asked, gathering teacups onto the platter, careful to make little noise. There were a few shrugs in response and a grunt of assent from Yuugo. 

"We're alright." Emma soon answered with a small, thankful smile.

"Yeah." Norman agreed with a polite nod– he was still a little timid around the demon queen, after his previous exploits, despite Mujika's keen forgiveness.

Mujika nodded and strolled over to Ray's side, picking a forgotten teacup up from the coffee table. The ravenhead acknowledged her with a slight nod– more of a shrug, if we're being honest, before turning back to his book.

The demon queen had just scooped up the platter and started towards the door when there was a tug on her heart, a strange sort-of thing that compelled her to turn back around. Right as she did, a black spot formed in the room, expanding in an instant until it was a whole human– a familiar human, Mujika was soon to realize, as Y/N's near-white hair drifted about her and her shocking blue eyes opened. "Y/N–!"

The girl suddenly stumbled forward, and Mujika found herself dropping the tea platter before she could get a word in, practically catching Y/N, who seemed unable to stand on her own feet. Disoriented, perhaps, Mujika thought a moment– she had seen the after-effects of Y/N returning from Day and Night before, and the girl certainly often ended up unable to tell the floor from the ceiling.

"Where did you– What's–" Mujika had started, as she now propped her hands against Y/N's shoulder blades, helping the girl stand. She was rapidly noticing that something was very very wrong, and the others, who were waking up or rising to their feet, could tell, too.

"Mujika..." Y/N's voice was uncharacteristically quiet and rough, as if it uttering those words took a lot of effort. "I need... help..." she said, and Mujika followed her blue eyes down to her stomach. In an instant, the demon queen knew what exactly was wrong, and just how bad it was from the amount of blood that covered Y/N, from her dark turtleneck to her pants, some already having made its way to the floor.

For the first time, Mujika found herself praying it was someone else's, but her hope was dashed the instant she observed Y/N's uncharacteristically pale skin and lips to the hand the girl had pressed against her lower left side, blood coating her fingertips all the way to her sleeve.

This train of thought went by in a matter of seconds, and Mujika reached her conclusion just as Y/N went totally limp in her arms, legs buckling.

"I need help!" Mujika shouted, looking up. Everyone who hadn't been on their feet before was standing now– in the dim lighting of the library, they still couldn't tell exactly what was wrong, but they knew something was off, and Mujika's frantic plead confirmed it.

Mujika laid Y/N down on the floor, and now, even in the dim lighting, all the humans could see the blood. As soon as he saw the red, Zack ran over to the door. He flicked on the light and scooped up his bag from the floor, practically sliding to Mujika's side on the carpet.

Mujika was tearing open Y/N's shirt to get a closer look, and certainly didn't like what she was seeing. A gash, at least 9cm long and 2.5cm thick in Y/N's left side, which continued to release blood now.

Zack rifled through his bag, grabbing out gauze and whatever else he had on hand. "How bad is it?" he asked.

Mujika, usually the calm-and-collected type, had tears brimming in her eyes. "She needs a transfusion." she spoke quietly yet urgently, grabbing the gauze from Zack's hand. She pressed it against Y/N's side and applied as much pressure as she could manage, while Zack wrapped it in place.

The others were all watching, helpless, hearts thudding in their ears.

"Do you have the equipment for a transfusion?" Norman asked, recovering from his initial shock as he knelt by Mujika's side.

Mujika shook her head. "I don't."

The mood worsened even further, as everyone's eyes looked to Y/N, who's breaths were shallow and weak, occasionally shuddering or wincing as Mujika dressed her wound.

"...there might be some at Grace Field." Emma was speaking hopefully– always the optimist, settling into the role once she recovered from the position she had been in a few moments prior– hands covering her mouth as she watched with fearful eyes.

"It's worth a try." Norman murmured.

Mujika's eyes quickly scanned Y/N, soon resting on a large scratch-like wound the girl's arm, which was also bleeding, (though not as much as the other injury). Mujika grabbed the hand of Ray, standing closest to her in silence, and brought it to Y/N's stomach. "Apply pressure." she said, (though in the tenseness of the moment it was something closer to an order), and Ray obeyed, still without a word.

He appeared to be in shock or something similar, eyes wide and staring down at his hands, totally focused on his task yet totally out of it at the same time. Mujika quickly wrapped up Y/N's other wound, and was grateful to see a little less blood actively leaving the girl, but she knew that things were still looking grim–

Y/N suddenly shuddered and grimaced, seeming to come to life as she moved to sit up. "Lay down!" Mujika exclaimed, her hands quickly finding Y/N's shoulders and pushing her gently back down. It was then that Ray started to snap out of it, and his nervous eyes trailed to Y/N's labouring face.

"Mujika..." Y/N spoke weakly, paler than ever. She was delirious, Mujika new, and she couldn't have her moving around now and accidentally making her injury worse. "Agh, shit, that hurts." the girl winced sharply. "Like...a buttcheek on a stick." she seethed through clenched teeth before promptly passing out again, head knocking lightly against the ground.

(Despite herself, Poppy chuckled, though it was something closer to a sob.)

"How do we get her to Gracefield?" Hannah was asking, voice tight with anxiety, and Ray's eyes followed to her, unable to find his own voice.

"I could take her." Yuugo offered. "Wouldn't be the first time." he finished drily, and mostly everyone knew what he was referring to; when he carried Y/N piggy-back style from Goldy Pond to Bunker B-06 32 so she could get emergency medical treatment.

Again, everyone wondered how Y/N had managed to survive this long. And then they all had that notion, that realization, that this may be the last straw– maybe she really wouldn't be surviving any longer.

Mujika shook her head, who didn't feel the same type of dread, though she was fearful. "I don't know if we have that sort of time. It would be different if..."

"–It wasn't for a few days ago." Cozbi finished, rubbing the back of her head as she crouched by Y/N's side. Mujika nodded nervously— it hadn't been long since Y/N last lost a lot of blood.

"What happened?" Norman asked, the first to dare.

Cozbi's eyes travelled the room, seeing a bunch of overprotective people (who also had weapons within reach). "You know what? Nothing important."

Mujika chuckled, though it had nervous undertones, ever present. "I need someone to go get Sonju." she spoke, shooing Ray away to take his spot, but the ravenhead remained firmly in place, without giving her so much as a glance as his eyes had moved back to his own hands.

"Okay," she tittered, looking about frantically. "Emma! I need you to go get Sonju... tell him to saddle Bessie... have him get one of the other guards to saddle up, too."

Emma quickly rose to attention. "Got it!" she quickly exited the library, large dark doors swinging behind her.

"Alright, I'll ride with Y/N and Sonju and make sure she doesn't worsen on the way. What's Y/N's blood type?"

"What's a blood ty–"

"Type B." Ray interrupted Benny without looking up, before his eyes slid to Poppy. "Right?"

Poppy nodded. "I– I'm... pretty sure that's right, yeah."

"I'm blood type B, too" Norman added. "Emma is O, for the record."

Mujika nodded sternly. "Alright. I'll take both of you, just in case something goes wrong, or we need more than expected. You ride with Zack, who will come for medical backup. Sound good?"

"Yeah." Zack and Norman nodded.

Mujika looked to Y/N now, worry in her eyes. Traces of red were already showing on the bandage Ray was applying pressure to. Mujika had no idea if Y/N would still be alive by the time they made it to Gracefield, at this rate.

Ray took notice of her expression, dark eyes flicking from her face to Y/N's. "I'll carry her out." he spoke lowly. "I can't ride with you, so..."

Mujika looked at him with something akin to pity. "Alright. Zachary, can you help him?"

"It's just Zac-" Zack started, and then rethought the rebuttal, shaking his head. He carefully picked Y/N off of the ground without jostling her, and then transferred her to Ray, who held his arms out in the ready. He shifted under the weight but held his ground.

Zack pointed at him, giving a few directions: "Keep pressing there," he pointed to the wound "and if you get tired, tell me, and I'll trade off."

"I won't." Ray quipped, walking briskly past him.

Zack's eyes trailed after him a moment. "God, kids these days." he muttered before starting after the younger boy.

"Yeah, tell me about it." Yuugo grumbled, following quickly after them.

Soon they were setting off, Sonju and Y/N on one horse-like creature, while Emma and Norman rode on another, Zack and Mujika together on the last.

The others watched them off with worried expressions– partially out of discomfort at the thought of staying behind.

Mere moments later, Norris rose by on his own horse. He saw a bunch of humans just... standing there, out in the open and froze. The soldier made eye-contact with them. "What the fu–"

Cozbi suddenly waved. "Hey, you're from before!"

Norris frowned. "Hm?" he paused a moment. "Oh! You're the sword-wielder. Nice moves. Also, thanks for  your help earlier." he thanked both Benny and Cozbi, though his eyes flicked to... the humans????

"Yeah, yeah." Cozbi waved the thank you away, distracting Norris. "Oh, but, as a favour, lemmie borrow your thing."

Norris blinked. "...what?"

In response, Cozbi practically hijacked the horse from him, pulling the soldier off of his saddle and then setting him on the ground. She spurred the animal, but a hand gripped the reins right before she could leave.

"Take me with you."

Cozbi stared at Ray a moment. "...why, in gods name, would I do that?" she responded curtly. "I don't like you much."

Ray's frown deepened. "Do you know the way?"

Cozbi blinked. "I'll...figure it out."

"You're an idiot."

"Okay, now I'm definitely not taking you."

Ray's jaw clenched, and he paused. He looked to the ground before meeting Cozbi's eyes again. "...please." he mumbled.

"What was that?" Cozbi hummed.

Ray scowled. "Please take me with you."

"Alright." Cozbi grinned now. "Hop on, loverboy. In the meantime, tell me all the stories you have about Y/N."

"Yeah, not happening." Ray muttered, pulling himself up onto the saddle behind Cozbi.

"Boo, stingy." Cozbi griped, speaking to Ray one more time before spurring the animal into action. "Also, if you dare grab on to me as we ride, I will push you off."

Ray scoffed. "I'd sooner fall."

Then they rode off together, the unlikely pair, leaving Hannah, Poppy, and Norris in the dust.

"Er..." Norris started awkwardly, wondering what he'd done to deserve this and how he should treat the two humans. "...do you... want one of our spare animals?"

Poppy nodded tiredly. "We'd like that."

-----

Waiting outside the operation room was hell. Ray was already not stoked for needing to ride on a separate horse-thing on the way there, (though he never admitted it, his facial expressions made it abundantly clear), and now he was still waiting anxiously, his nerves strained more with each passing minute.

Alas, Norman and Zack were let in alone, while Zack helped Mujika treat Y/N and set up the blood transplant. They found the proper materials, and even found fluid replacement that was safe to use. From Norman, they took around a total of 1000mL over the span of a few days. He was mildly anxious for some time after that, jittery and such. Then, from Emma, they took an additional 350mL, to be safe.

Within 5 days, Y/N's condition seemed to be steadying, though she had yet to regain consciousness. Now that the anxiety was gone, all that remained for Ray was an anger and a hurt feeling, for a number of reasons; too many to figure out which one bothered him most. Then, with time they were replaced with a sort of numbness, his anger sort-of dissipated, and instead he found himself asking a lot of questions.

Most of these questions didn't have answers, so he had to wait to get them. Which he did. But when the chance finally arose to ask, he was unable.

Ray wanted to live in the moment while he could; in that peace where things felt almost back to normal, witnessed only by the many stars in the sky. He might've realized that this was because he was so afraid it would slip through his fingers again, that she would slip through his fingers again, but instead he mistook it for his anger dissipating; that he had let it go. He couldn't see he was too relieved to feel anything but, too desperate to keep that moment, that peace, that feeling to do something that might risk ruining it.

He may have been a genius, but Ray had never been very good with emotions.

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MMM I don't write in 3rd POV often.

Again, I was not expecting to write this chap, so no, there was not a plan for it. Also the draft for this was completed before the last chap so... hey, here's to hoping it's somewhat consistent.

I actually think completing this helped a lot with my writers block, though! Here's to hoping, LOL.

Anyways, see you guys in the next one!