This is an AU of episode 1x21 "Like Father, Like Son", rated T for mentions of blood.
I have no medical knowledge so don't take this very seriously.
꧁▁▁I'll fight your fights; I'll dry your eyes ▁▁꧂
In Bob's opinion, this routine it's really starting to get tiring, and with routine he means Ray or any of his friends coming to the creature realm and getting inevitably involved in serious conflict or mortal peril.
This time though has made it to the top three terrible journeys to the creature realm, and it's just barely under the time they traveled to the water capital to get his friend's memories back because the emotional fear and disgust for water he felt was worse than his current situation, at least so far.
And their current situation is that bad for many reasons, first, he doesn't have enough energy to defend Ray and himself as he usually would do, second, Ray's gauntlet is somehow blocked and even something as simple as a mana shield takes a lot of effort and pain from him, third, those damn bounty hunters have no regard for respect or honor, so not even in this sacred place are they save, and last but not least, it's that they have to deal with the loud boy that in Bob's opinion it's all muscles and no brains, and even those muscles are of no help whatsoever.
Which leaves them in their current predicament, so if they want to have a chance to survive, they'll have to divide and conquer.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
When the bounty hunters arrived, for a moment, it seemed like their plan was going to work until they disarmed the lousy boy and then blew the spot where Ray was shooting the missiles.
-"Ray!", screams Bob as he tries to reach the place where his friend was but now it's all dust and debris.
However, he doesn't make it, as the snaptongue lizard restrains him, in his haste to help Ray he had forgotten to keep track of his enemies, leaving him vulnerable though not for long as he fights them back, even overpowered them.
A flicker of hope blossoms in his mind again, yet it's squashed when he hears Burnclaw and turns just to see him holding the brawny boy and Ray... Ray who is hanging from an arm under the creatures grasp and unconscious.
-"There's still one hunter, with a couple of prizes", said the Burnclaw.
Not wanting to risk Ray any further he surrenders, and let's himself be tied to his father's tomb. During the process they have also tied the other boy and left Ray on the floor, not even bothering with rope for him, as he lay still as one of the statues of the place.
Now that things aren't blowing in the air, he can smell a metallic scent coming from Ray, blood, he recognizes after a moment, even though he cannot see any of it, it's not exactly a reassurance, after all, tiny injuries can be fatal if dealt in the right place.
He knows how fragile humans are, he's seen time and time again how they get hurt in duels, how Ray gets hurt so easily, how he feels a little less anxious when he's riding his back for he can protect him better that way, his small weight a constant reminder of how easily he could get hurt.
He has to free himself in order to get Ray to safety until help arrives, he knows Gabriel must have told the Masters by now and must be on their way, but until they arrive, he must protect them.
So, he breaks his chains, once more honoring his name, and battles the hunters away. Once the threat has passed, he approaches the boys and notices the blond one checking Ray's pulse at the same time he touches his head beneath his hair and lets out a small gasp.
-"What is it?", asked Bob urgently.
He doesn't get a verbal answer but it's enough to let out a startle sound of his own: blood coats the boys trembling fingertips when he withdrawals them from Ray's head. Bleeding it's a bad sign but combined with his state of unconsciousness, it's really worrying.
Looks that this is now the WORST experience in that extensive list of disastrous interdimensional trips.
-"W-what do I... What do I do?", asked the brawny boy as he look at him with fear written all over his face, as if Bob knew anything about healing humans.
This situation it's a painful and cruel way to remind him of how young Ray really is, just a child courting death every single time he deals with anything kaijudo related. Sometimes with all the courage and spirit his friends displays on a daily basis, he tends to forget these facts.
Just as he starts to think of what they can do; he sees movement from where the hunters disappeared. He readies himself for the rematch but is immediately relieved to see the Masters and their dueling creatures coming their way.
-"What happened with Ray?", says Master Kimora as he is the first to arrive.
-"His gauntlet wasn't working properly and there was an explosion that collapsed a cliff alongside him... I don't know for sure what happened, but he's been unconscious since then a-and he is... he is bleeding", answered Bob, his stuttering betraying how worried he really was.
-"We have to get him back and give him medical attention immediately", said Kimora.
-"Finally! Can we get the hell out of this place please!?, asked the other boy, and right, he forgot there was someone else in here.
-"You are coming with me, young man", said Master Nadia as she opened a breach in the veil and escorted the loud boy out of there.
-"If he has a head injury, we cannot risk jolting him too much", mused Master Kimora out loud and turned to Rusalka as he commanded her to levitate Ray, gently.
Bob watched as Ray floated out of the floor and stayed suspended there, noticing then a small dark red puddle in the dirt, making him dizzy with fear.
How much was too much blood for a human? Was this already a dangerous amount? Is it treatable?
There were many questions and Bob didn't have the answers.
-"Thank you, my friend, your assistance it's no longer required", said Master Kimora to Shouter as he dismissed him. Then he and the water creature turned to the breach carrying Ray alongside them.
-"I'm coming too", said Bob as he followed them to the portal.
-"Perhaps it's not a goo-," started to say Kimora only to be interrupted.
-"I'm not leaving him until he wakes up, so we can do this either the good way or the hard way, but I'm not leaving my friend's side", said Bob as he assumed a defensive position and growled.
-"Ahhh, very well", relented Kimora.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
Once in the temple they rushed to get Ray into the infirmary and with the help of human medicine and water technology they were able to patch him up and determined he had a minor concussion.
-"But if it's minor, why did he faint?", asked Gabe.
-"His mana levels were already low, combined with his energy consumption during the fight and the blow from the explosion along with the fall his body shuttled down", answered Master Nadia.
-"So, he is going to be okay?", asked Bob.
-"He may experience some lingering effects, but with medication and rest he will be fine in a couple of days", answered the water Master as she also released Ray's gauntlet.
-"Maybe now is a good time for you to rest too Tatsurion, I will send you back so you can recover", said Master Chavez who was also now in the room.
-"I'm not going anywhere until he wakes up", answered Bob with defiance on his every word.
-"He may not wake up soon", warned Master Nadia.
-"Then I'll wait, right here", and to empathize his point, he laid down around the bed where Ray was resting, curling around it like a barrier.
-"I could just banish you without your permission", answered the fire Master.
Growling louder Bob replied, "you can try!".
Both Masters present shared a look and sighed.
-"Don't cause any trouble", warned Master Chavez one last time before leaving the infirmary.
Once they were out Bob turned to question Gabe.
-"Won't his family worry?", said Bob.
-"Not at all, I called his mother and told her we were staying at Allie's to cool down some steam after the fathers-sons night, I just hope he wakes up before noon tomorrow", answered Gabe.
-"Me too", replied Bob softly.
He saw Gabe getting comfortable in another bed, taking out his shoes and leaving his backpack on the floor.
-"Aren't you going home Gabriel?", questioned Bob.
-"You're not the only one who is worried about Ray, besides, Allie would kill me if I left him alone", answered Gabe.
-"He is not alone, I'm right here", said Bob a little defensively.
-"Umm I know, but I meant it as in helping with his bandages or giving him water, stuff that involves ahem smaller hands and not umm claws?", replied Gabe a little nervous.
-"Mhh right", said Bob, conceding that Gabriel had a point.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
He is not sure how long it passes when he senses Ray waking up.
-"Wake up Gabriel", says Bob as he moves the boy's body with his tail to alert him.
-"Huh, what's up?", says Gabriel as he chases the sleep out of his eyes just in time to see Ray opening his too.
-"Ray, how are you feeling?", asked Gabriel as he approached his friend's side.
Ray blinks a couple of times before answering very slowly with a low "fine".
-"That doesn't sound like you're fine", said Bob instead.
After he speaks Ray turns in his direction, looking straight into his face as they are at the same level, with him lying on the ground and Ray up in the bed. After another moment of staring Ray smiles and throws himself at Bob, circling his snout and cuddling his face in his very short fur.
-"You're so warm", said Ray slurring a little, "big warm Bob", continued Ray after a pause and kept nuzzling his face against him.
-"What?", said a very shocked Bob.
-"Oh man", said Gabriel.
-"What!?", repeated Bob.
-"Um it's just one of the effects of a concussion, some people have headaches or dizziness, but others may experience hallucinations or in Ray's case, it messes up their thoughts, it's like he was drunk or something like that, he probably won't even remember this later", explained Gabe.
-"Of course I'll remember, I won't forget my best fire friend", said Ray to Gabe and then returned his gaze to him, "you're so warm, I've always wanted to hug you", said Ray with a smile in his face.
-"Umm Bob, don't take it personal, he doesn't really know what he is saying", said Gabe, and really, he was starting to get a bit anxious, he knew the half dragon wasn't a big fan of displaying emotions, and even though he cared about his friend, he wasn't sure how much Ray could keep pushing until Bob snapped.
-"I know what I'm saying! You hug Gargle, Allie hugs Squeaky... Why can't I hug Bob?", said Ray, and to their horror he started crying.
Bob was in shock, first the affection gestures and then the hugging statement followed by distress, is this how Ray really felt? As he started crying, he broke the hug to clean his tears, Bob and Gabe could only watch without knowing how to calm him.
-"Even Hissy lets me hug him, if it's not fo battle or transport Bob barely lets me pat him, sniff, it's okay, you're not big fan of contact, I get it, but why don't you trust me?", said Ray while he looked Bob directly in the eyes.
-"I trust you", is all Bob could say. But apparently it wasn't enough as Ray started to cry harder.
-"NO YOU DON'T! I didn't know about your father or how was growing up with him, the only reason you said so it was to teach Carny a lesson, otherwise you wouldn't have told me! It's always like that!", said a very distressed Ray as he covered his face with his hands.
Seeing him like this, Bob was once again hit in the face with the remainder that Ray was a child, a child with wants and needs, but unlike others Ray kept all those things hidden, to be strong for the people that needed him.
Bob tried to pray Ray's hands from his face gently, but he flinched away from him, hiding himself beneath the thin blanket of the infirmary.
-"Ray, that's not true, you know Bob, he trust you, it's just that he doesn't like hugs or talking about himself, but you can always count with us!", said Gabe when he noticed Bob didn't said or did anything to make Ray feel better, and because Ray was acting even more childish than his age he added, "and if you really want a hug just ask Allie or me, I bet she will summon Squeaky if you ask, after all, she is always saying how soft her fur is", finished Gabe, trying to console his friend.
It helped to quiet Ray's sobs down, but he didn't emerge back from the covers.
Bob had retreated his hand as Ray hided himself, but after hearing Gabriel he got angry, he wasn't sure why, all he knew was that even thinking about Ray seeking affection or comfort in other creatures that weren't him was irritating. Even if he hadn't considered the possibility, now that it was on the table, he wanted to be able to provide it, not some furball of the dark realm, wasn't he Ray's friend? Isn't that what friends do?
He couldn't also help but feel angry at himself, how couldn't he have noticed that Ray wanted to know him more? Those times when they would have dinner in the yard of Allison's house and Ray would ask "so, what's new on the fire realm?", and he would reply with a "nothing" only to be followed by a dejected expression from Ray made a lot more sense.
He had to fix this, it's not that he doesn't want that closeness with Ray, it's just that it never really crossed his mind, but know that he knows he wants to make it real. He thinks back to his childhood, before his dragon family, how his mother was (and still is) a huge fan of hugs, cuddles and the like. He remembers her playing with him and his siblings, nuzzling them gently with her horns to tickle them until they couldn't breathe from how loud the were laughing. Showing them with those little gestures how much they were loved.
Decided, Bob lowered his head to where he assumes is Ray's stomach under the blankets and gently nuzzles him with his foremost horn.
That elicits a startled sound out of Ray, so he keeps the motion in action, and even tries to purr a little, so he knows it's not a threatening gesture.
-"What the hell...", hears Gabriel say but ignores him, he is not his priority right now.
He also hears Ray giggling a little under the blanket, until he is laughing fully out loud and emerges from his makeshift cocoon.
-"Bob! What are you doing?", asks Ray with a big smile on his face.
-"You weren't coming out, how am I supposed to keep you warm in this cold place if you can't hug me", said bob as he lay his head on the edge of the bed.
Ray stares for a moment until he reaches for him once again, hesitating before clinging sideways to his muzzle, and a content smile still grazing his features.
-"I trust you Ray, and you can trust me too, whether in battle or for comfort, I'm here, it's part of friendships remember?", said Bob.
-"Got it Bob", replied Ray as he yawned and fell asleep again almost immediately.
-"Well, that was something", said Gabriel.
-"Go back to rest, if he needs something I'll wake you", replied Bob.
Gabriel nodded and went back to his borrowed bed. It was ok, Bob will look after them while they slept, he just hoped Ray would remember their conversation when he next wakes up.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
The next day Gabriel it's the first of the boys to wake up and gets up immediately to get Master Nadia and do a check up on Ray before he returns home.
Meanwhile Bob notices how his friend is starting to wake up slowly.
-"Bob, what are you doing here? Am I still dreaming? Or... hallucinating?", asked a bleary Ray.
-"You're not, I wanted to make sure you were okay, I've been here since we returned from the other side", answered Bob while he wondered if Ray remembered.
-"Since then? Then that means that yesterday was real and... Oh my God Bob! I am so sorry; I didn't mean to- I wasn't really- maybe we could just pretend it never happened? I swear I won't do anything like that again", said Ray all the while without looking at him.
-"No", was Bob's short answer making Ray wince.
-"I know you're angry, whinny clingy Ray it's not exactly what you signed up for, but I promise it won't happen again", replied Ray.
-"I AM ANGRY!", shouted Bob as he couldn't hold back anymore, "at those bounty hunters for hurting you, angry at the other boy for complicating everything! But I'm also
disappointed on myself for letting you think that you couldn't speak of anything with me... and incredibly angry for I didn't realize it sooner!", said Bob, louder with every word.
-"Bob...", it's all Ray could say.
-"I noticed you were more... tactile with all your friends except when it came to us, I thought nothing of it but now I realize what was really going on", after a small pause Bob continued, "Ray, you are my best friend, I can't tell you I will always reciprocate the gestures cause I have never been used to them, but I promise I will welcome them, whenever you feel up to them".
-"You really wouldn't mind?", said Ray with hope in his eyes.
-"I won't, unless you decide that a lizard or the dark furball are a better choice then we will have a problem", said Bob trying to veil his irritation, its jealousy supplied a part of his brain, with humor.
Ray just laughed softly at that and hugged him again.
"Thanks Bob, you know the same goes for you right? I know I don't understand a lot from your home and your family, but I'm always willing to listen or help you blow some steam if that's what you want", finished Ray.
Bob nodded just before the door opened and Master Nadia entered the infirmary along with Gabriel.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
From that point onward, Bob started to notice the slight changes on Ray's behavior: how he sometimes he leans on his neck while he's on his back, hugging it when they win a duel, how he says hi to him with a fist bump... if the situation it's not dire of course, or how on the quiet dinner night at Allison's house Ray would lean more on his side. whether because he wants the proximity or to warm himself, it's still not clear, but Bob has even let him play with the spikes of his tail from time to time.
He thought he might hate it, that he would have to pretend very hard in order to fulfil his promise to Ray, and yet, it doesn't feel wrong, despite not being used to it, the closeness feels right.
So yes, friends are awesome, feelings are not so bad, and even though they are risking their necks on every battle, it could be so much worse... yeah, Bob's life it's good.
The end.
A/N: Tittle comes from the song I won't let go from the Rascal Flatts.
I just want Ray to act like the young fatherless adolescent he is, he is all about touching creatures and you are telling me he doesn't love physical affection? So yeah, I'll keep up with my agenda #LetRayActHisAge, also I love angsty fics so here's another one, and let's face it, if anyone had to deal with all the hits Ray has received, they would be death twenty times already. Also, let's pretend Rusalka was included in the rescue party.
Thanks for reading and constructive criticism is appreciated.
