#sort of danger ray territory but sort of romantic and wholesome idk

[natasha-in-space]

Secluded Waltz

Ray/gn!reader;

It's good to celebrate your achievements, and what better way to do that than to organize a grand party for all the believers to enjoy? Thankfully, you don't have to worry about much. Especially with Ray as your partner in the ballroom.

"Oh, I'm sure Mr. Ray will be in pure awe once he sees how wonderful you look!" A young unnamed believer chirped from behind you, busying themselves with fixing an unruly strand of hair that kept refusing to stay in its proper place. You shifted from one foot to another, feeling a little uncomfortable being treated in such a peculiar way, particularly by someone who didn't even have a proper name given to them. This almost felt like you were a royalty of sorts, one that didn't even have to worry about getting dressed in the morning. But... This particular believer was quite friendly with you, complimenting you on how good you looked in your party outfit quite a few times already.

Perhaps Ray chose them personally from among the others.

"Haha, thank you... He does have good taste. I trust him." As you exhaled, you carefully tied one last delicate magenta bow on your collar to complete the look. Not having to worry about what to wear to such a formal event was nice. Everything has been already carefully decided for you, down to the tiniest of details.

A part of you felt somewhat sad because you couldn't ask them to become your friend. You were aware that this is not the way things operate here. At least, not for you. Still, you appreciated the pleasant company while it lasted.

And, knowing Ray, he chose something incredible just for you.

"He's been very excited to see you today, tester. We haven't seen him this bright for months! I'm sure our Savior will be very pleased to see how happy you made him. Maybe you'll even get welcomed officially!" The believer smiled, hurriedly giving you one cheeky wink that made you blush and lower your gaze onto your lap. Sometimes you forget that this place is filled with all kinds of people, with their own inner social circles and unique personalities. It was rare for you to interact with any believer in such a casual way. Most of the times, you were pretty much confined to your room, excluding the rare occasions on which Ray would take you out for a walk personally. Initially, you wanted to explore the floor you settled into, but it seemed barren and isolated from the rest of the building, leading to your disappointment.

This thought made your cheeks warm up, as you tried your best to keep your heart from racing and wondered just what his reaction would look like once he finally sees you in all your glory. Frankly, even you had no idea what the finished look will look like. Of course, you already knew you did not have to worry about him feeling disappointed with you... Frankly, you could go out wearing nothing but a dirty potato sack, and he would compare your charm to one of the spring flower in bloom. Even so, you had the desire to surprise him...

You were a stranger here, and despite being treated with respect by believers, it was evident that you were not a good fit. At the very least, not yet.

The final pieces of clothing were put back in their proper places in no time, and you were taken down the long halls to the ballroom. It's true that this shouldn't have surprised you so much as it did. Magenta has all kinds of rooms hidden within its many winding corridors, both big and small. This thought both impressed and scared you.

What is the size of this place? How many of its secrets are still being concealed from you?

Either way, the paranoid fears and doubts that were raging inside your mind like a swarm of angry hornets disappeared as soon as the large ornamented doors were opened, leaving you in awe of the bright sight before you. The ballroom was huge and bustling with life, creating a picture that was straight out of a fantasy movie. Intricate decorations were carefully adorning the white room: from the long mint ribbons hanging on the walls to the expensive looking candlesticks resting on the tables where the guests sat. Long strings of fairy lights adorned the ceiling, leading to the breathtaking chandelier placed right in the center of the room, strung right above the waltzing pairs of believers chattering and laughing between themselves. Upon inspection, it was evident that every individual column was adorned with vibrantly colored flowers, with stunning daffodils blooming in the center.  

And there, standing right in front of you and taking you in, was none other than Ray, very clearly studying your reaction to it all. He was happy with the result based on the proud twinkle in his eye. He wasn’t in his normal magenta suit you were so used to seeing him in, but instead in a breathtaking white one. The tails of his blazer were tipped with golden lines, very similar to ones you could see scattered on the decor all around you. His suit hugged his slim waist in all the right places, inadvertently making you think and ponder what it would feel like to place your hands on the small of his back and pull him towards you, until he was pressed flush against you. The bright lights of the ballroom made large golden buttons shine, stealing your attention from the light mint button up that was visible underneath his clean white suit. Instead of the blue rose you grew familiar with, a large begonia was placed front and center for you to admire. The outfit framed him almost perfectly, sweeping you off your feet from just the sight of him alone. Only to add more fuel to the fire that was blazing deep within your chest, as your wide eyes slowly trailed up his body to meet his piercing gaze, you could notice how he styled his hair a bit differently from the usual, his long bangs swept to one side of his face to create a new princely look that is going to make your heart burst tonight for sure.

There was something very different about the way he stood today. His back was strengthened, and his mint eyes bore right into yours without a single sign of insecurity swimming in them. It was... honestly, way more attractive than you were willing to admit.

"Ray..." A breathless gasp was all you could muster out of yourself, unknowingly taking a few steps towards him. You were attracted to him like a moth to a flame, and you weren't planning on resisting his warmth anytime soon, that's for sure. "You look... Wow... You're... beautiful."

It looks like you're going to be the one who blushes and blubs tonight.

"I'm not nearly as beautiful as you, Y/N. But... I'm happy you like it. I tried really hard to pick out something you might like. I wanted... to look worthy to call you my partner tonight." He smiled bashfully, his unusual confidence slipping away for a few fleeting moments as he closed the distance between you two and gracefully took one of your hands in his. The bustling ballroom faded around you as his other hand slowly lifted up to caress your cheek with the back of his glowed fingers, a touch so light and gentle that it was almost unnoticeable. But, you felt it, your heart skipping a beat at the contact. God, you could feel your knees buckling just from this brief touch alone. Your increasing nerves temporarily taking control over you, you couldn't help but giggle, dropping your gaze to the ground, and praying that your face wasn't as bright as a ripe tomato right now.

No words could possibly convey to him just how breathtaking he was in your eyes. It wasn't sufficient. You wished you could take your thundering heart straight out of your chest and place it into his hands, only to show him what a great effect his beauty had on you.

Look who's blushing now.

"It's perfect. You're perfect. I-I mean, the outfit. The outfit is perfect. B-But you're always perfect to me, it's just- Agh, you know what I mean..." You made a mess of yourself by babbling and tripping over your own words. If it wasn't for Ray holding onto your hand, you would definitely try to hide your burning face in your palms. Though, judging by the amused chuckle pouring into your ears like the sweetest melody known to humankind, he did not mind your stuttering nearly as much as you did.

He leans back to allow you some breathing space and tilts his head adorably to the side, with a glint of mischief flickering through his warm eyes. "There's no need to be nervous around me, prince/ss. You look absolutely breathtaking with this blush on your cheeks... I'm happy to be the reason for your heart to flutter."

"Haha... Well, it's good to know I'm not ruining anything with my awkwardness." You acknowledged and gave him a small grateful smile for his warm reassurance. Honestly... he was right. There was no reason for you to be so nervous around Ray, of all people! You trusted him, and you wanted to prove that to him any way you could tonight. So, you took a deep breath to calm your jittery thoughts and straightened your shoulders, wordlessly telling your body and mind to relax.

Ray's new side was definitely enjoyable, even if you had to endure the burning in your cheeks throughout the night. He brought to mind a prince charming from the fairytales you read as a child. Did his recent success with his work lifted his spirits, perhaps? Either way, you were happy to see him so bright and open for once, whatever the reason for that may be.

He nodded, returned your smile with one of his own, before offering you his arm silently in an invitation that looked straight out of some historical romance you'd watch on Saturday night. "You could never ruin anything for me, so please don't worry about a thing, alright? I want to ensure that you're feeling comfortable... Now, shall we?"

You smiled and grabbed his arm, feeling like you were on cloud nine. Holding onto him like this felt so right... It's like you were two puzzle pieces that were meant to be locked together in this wonderful way from the very start, however sentimental this may sound. You were living out one of your many daydreams involving your white-haired friend, and you were going to make the best of it while you still could.

You soon found yourself being easily transported around the ballroom, avoiding the crowded and loud center and opting to stay hidden under the safety of columns adorned with beautiful flowers, like a makeshift garden of sorts, just for you two to enjoy. To be honest, you hadn't expected it to be so simple to let go of your usual worries and dance with him without any doubt hindering your movements. After a few first nervous steps, you moved as one, loosing yourselves in the gentle melody enveloping you in its weightless embrace and each other's eyes. Ray was a much better dancer that you initially thought of him. The way he moved was light and airy, just like a magical phantom who arrived to enchant you with his wits and take you away on the ballroom floor. Never once did you stumble or loose your balance; his glowed hands always kept you steady and safe, and your skin was warm under his gentle touch.

Did he... practice before this, perhaps? You wouldn't put something like that below him. He would try his best to make this experience perfect for you... even if it meant learning how to waltz.

This thought made you giggle to yourself as you spun and turned together. Your quick steps slowly turned into quiet and delicate ones as the cheery melody subsided into a more intimate and somnolent one.

"I don't want for this moment to end..." You admitted with a hushed whisper intended for him alone, tilting your head slightly to gently rest your forehead on Ray's shoulder as you swayed back and forth to the gentle melody.

It was as if you were the only two in your own little world, shielded from any prying eyes or judgmental whispers. As you moved together in perfect sync, the lightness in your chest was almost hypnotic. Oh, how you wished this magical night did not have to end... For this moment to last forever, keeping away every worry waiting for you outside of these doors.

"Me too." He murmured, pulling you ever so slightly closer to him, his body heat reaching you from underneath all the layers of clothing, like a small reminder of him truly being here with you in person. You smiled, breathing in his floral scent you loved so dearly, and closing your eyes. It wasn't long until you felt his fingers caress the top of your head, careful not to make a mess out of your meticulously styled hair. "But... I want to believe that there is going to be many more moments like this for us to come. Moments when we get to be together... like this. You have no idea for how long I've dreamt of experiencing something like this with you, Y/N."

Your heart fluttered at his sweet words. The notion of him fantasizing about the same exact thing as you made the tips of your fingers tremble with overwhelming joy. Though, you didn't want to overwhelm him... And, it would be weird for you to confess to something like this so soon. That's what you assumed, at any rate. Instead, you simply hummed in appreciation, leaning into his delicate touch to show that you were flattered by his words. "Well... In that case, I hope I can help more of your dreams come true. Seeing you so happy today is definitely the best part of the night for me... Regardless what the Savior has planned for us next."

Before you heard a reply, there was a brief pause. Perhaps, you shouldn't have mentioned his Savior in such a bold way... After all, it was a figure he respected faithfully. Before you could come up with a quick excuse, your eyes were wide open to the unmistakable warm sensation of his lips touching your forehead for a short magical moment. A silent gasp was all that escaped you, as you stood there, frozen, and too afraid to make one wrong move and push him away accidentally.

"I know I shouldn't think like this... But, your words just made me the happiest I have ever felt, my precious tester. With you by my side supporting me like this... I'm sure I can do anything."

His warm breath tickled your skin as he whispered his next hushed words into your ear, keeping them hidden from anyone around you, and a pleasant shiver ran down your spine.