A younger Ray, barely 22, crouched in the corner of the room. Her body was racked with sobs, shaking and spasming with every hiccup and sniffle. In the nearby bedroom groans and curses can be heard, stumbling feet and dragging footsteps. A tall figure appears in the doorway, yawning and massaging his head. He catches sight of Ray, distraught and in pain, shards of glass spread about her.
"Ray?" He asks, his voice stricken with worry. He rushed over, kneeling in the glass and resting a hand on her shoulder. "Ray baby, speak to me, what happened?" His voice is begging as his hands move to her face, gently pulling it from her hands and examining the blossoming bruise on her cheek. "Oh baby I'm so sorry." He pulled her into a hug, burying his face in her shoulder, tears leaking from his eyes. "I promise, I swear, it won't happen again baby, I didn't mean to, I'm so sorry." He pulled away and pressed a gentle kiss to the bruise, and another one to her lips. "I'm sorry, I wasn't in my right mind baby, and it wasn't me." He stood up, gently pulling her with him and holding her close. Ray's sobs had evened out slightly by now, and she timidly raised a hand to press it against his cheek.
"Y-you scare me Caleb," she whispered hoarsely. "Y-you r-really scare me." She buried her face in his chest. "I-I'm sorry, b-but I'm going to s-stay with Ali for a f-few days." She winced as his grip around her tightened suddenly, placing pressure on her bruises. "C-Caleb," she gasped out.
"You're not leaving me baby. I can't be without you," Caleb pulled her face roughly to face up at him. "You can't go." He told her, the volume of his voice climbing. "If you go I don't know what I'll do!" He shook her and she cried out, tears dribbling down her face again. "You're never going to leave me baby, and I don't want that nosy brat poking her nose in. We're fine, you're happy aren't you? Yesterday we had such a lovely day, you looked so beautiful." He buried his chin in her shoulder, his stubble scratching her skin and making her squirm. He held her even tighter, lifting his head and pressing against her lips in a punishing kiss, while she whimpered and struggled in his arms.
Ray opened her eyes with a shout, throwing her arms out to protect herself and falling from the sofa with a loud thump and a cry of pain as her ankle twisted beneath her. She lay there for a moment, face scrunched up in pain, chest heaving with wheezing breaths. It was as she was gingerly pushing herself up that she heard a firm knock on her door. She froze, staring at the varnished wood in the watery darkness. The knock continued and she shook slightly, pushing herself up and hobbling over. She unlocked all the locks, pulling it open as far the chain would allow and peering out uncertainly. A tall, muscular blonde man stood there, half dressed with his hair tousled and shirt barely on.
"Sorry to disturb you," he greeted, looking down at Ray curiously, thick eyebrows furrowed. "I heard shouting and a crash and I wanted to make sure you were okay." His face flicked over her form, still in her uniform and messy from sleeping on the couch again. Her hair was lank, severely needing a wash, and she was shaking, both from the cold and the fear she'd felt in her dream.
"S-sorry," she stammered. "I'll k-keep it down." She went to close the door, when the man put his hand against it, not letting it close, a concerned expression on his face.
"It's fine, I'm not angry, I was awake anyway. I just wanted to make sure you're okay. It's Rachel, isn't it?" His voice had lowered slightly, as if he were talking to a frightened animal, trapped in a corner. Ray nodded, confirming her name. The man smiled softly. "I'm Erwin Smith, I live next door. I've been meaning to come and introduce myself for a while now, though this isn't quite how I'd imagined myself doing it." He chuckled slightly and held out his hand for Ray to shake. She looked at it with a look akin to terror in her eyes, but her own boney hand came up tentatively and took his through the crack in the door. His engulfed hers, though he didn't seem to mind, shaking it warmly and firmly. Ray retracted her hand quickly.
"W-well I'm Rachel Nicoll. It's n-nice to meet you." She managed a small smile. "Erwin is German, right?" Erwin smiled easily, nodding.
"Yes, my grandparents moved to England from Germany." He replied. "I'd make a smart observation about your name but I can't think of anything." He smiled apologetically.
"Rachel is a Biblical name," Ray offered. "But I j-just go by Ray."
"Ray," Erwin savoured the word for a moment. "Very nice." He glanced down at himself ruefully. "Well, I'd better go and finish getting dressed," he said. "We should arrange for dinner sometime." Ray's eyes widened and she shifted from foot-to-foot.
"Um, maybe." She replied. "It was nice to meet you Erwin." She closed the door gently, turning and pressing her back against it. She gnawed at her lip nervously, before glancing at the clock. 7.15. She found herself moving to the bathroom, wanting to take a shower, surprising herself. For the past 3 months Ali had been basically babying her. She fed her, found her flat, got her a job, made sure she showered, decorated the new flat, washer her clothes. Ray had found it difficult to care, she felt damaged and broken, simply going through the motions of whatever Ali told her to do. If it weren't for Ali, she'd simply have lived and quickly died on the streets. Or worse, she'd have found her way back to Caleb. Some nights she even found she missed him, though she knew she shouldn't. He'd taken care of her, cooked for her, sheltered her, bought her clothes and told her what to do. She'd found it sweet at first, but it only took a few months before she began to feel suffocated, tethered, controlled. She couldn't go out, she couldn't wear her old clothes, she wasn't allowed to cut her hair, she had to follow his every order, or else the consequences would be brutal.
She fingered her jagged hair, staring in the mirror as she waited for the shower to heat up, the water drops pounding the basin thunderously. She remembered the night they decided to cut it, two weeks after Ali got her out, when she'd broken down sobbing on her friends sofa, and finally opened up a little bit. Ali said she just needed to find the old her again, the spunky punk rebel who hadn't given a damn and dreamed of someday playing drums in some shitty metal band. They'd cut her hair that night, and gone shopping the next day, burning everything Caleb had bought her, all the drab tops and prudish dresses. Now all she owned were skirts, revealing tops, short and colourful dresses, even a corset she swore she'd never wear.
Ray jutted her chin out, shooting herself a defiant look in the foggy mirror. She was determined to become independent, to live for herself, like the old her.
o0o
Black smoke curled up in a cloud above the stove as Ray frantically waved a towel in the air. The overwhelming smell of burning food filled the air and she coughed, her eyes watering as she poked at the pan on the hot ring, shoving it out of the way and wincing as she burned her fingers. A few seconds later the shrill ringing of the fire alarm began. She dropped the towel, smacking her hands over her ears. She suddenly felt utterly dejected, tears watering at the edge of her vision as she sank to the ground in front of the cooker, trying to block out the ringing and the burning and the onslaught of memories. She didn't hear the banging at her door, the frantic crying of her name, Ali's spare keys scraping the locks and the door flying open to reveal a panicked Ali and a frustrated Levi.
Ali rushed forward, grabbing Ray by the shoulders and shaking her. Ray looked up, startled, and shoved her back, scrambling to get away. All she could think of was Caleb, he was shaking her, he was in the corner, he was in the doorway, sneering at her, laughing at her attempt at normalcy.
All of a sudden the shrill ringing cut off, and something cold was shoved in her hands.
"Drink." A distant voice ordered. She did so obediently, taking a gulp of what turned out to be ice cold water. She blinked, feeling the dizziness beginning to fade away as she focused on the drink, gulping it down and soothing her dry throat. She gasped as she finished the cup, blinking rapidly and staring around her, bewildered. She was kneeling on the tiled floor of her kitchen, the fire alarm had been miraculously shut off, and the air was less smokey. Staring at her were Ali and Levi. Ray stared at Levi, a man, in her home, in her space. She slid back slightly, glancing helplessly at Ali, who looked shaken up.
"It's alright Ray," she murmured gently. "It's just Levi, from across the hall."
"I know that," Ray choked out, her throat still dry. "But he's in the flat Ali. No one's supposed to be here, you promised." This earned her a steely gaze from Levi.
"A thanks would be nice, for helping you when you tried to burn down the building." He retorted sharply. Ali, seeing Ray flinch, softened her gaze and held out a hand, helping her to her feet.
"What were you trying to do?" She asked. Ray looked at the shrivelled remnants of what used to be bacon.
"I wanted to cook." She whispered. "I wanted to be like I used to, independent. I couldn't even cook some fucking bacon though." She gritted her teeth and tightened her hands into fists, stomping a foot on the ground. To her surprise, instead of looking stricken or upset, Ali laughed quietly. Ray shot her a questioning look, and she simply laughed harder. "What?" She asked, looking down at herself, thinking maybe there was something on her clothes or face. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary though, she still wore the red skirt and black top she'd put on after her shower.
"Nothing, it's just, you're acting like you again." Ali answered, grinning. "Old Ray always stomped her feet when something didn't go her way, she was stroppy. Recent you would just shake and cry. And you showered, and you tried, so at least there's that." She clapped her hands happily. "You even look a little better! Well, apart from the soot." She giggled and turned away, picking up the shopping bags that had been hastily dropped on the couch. She looked at the coffee table in shock. "You cleared up a bit." She exclaimed. Ray rolled her eyes, wrapping her arms around her stomach as she looked at Levi, still uncomfortable that he was in her sanctuary.
"You're a grown ass woman who needs congratulating for cleaning up and throwing a tantrum?" He scoffed, raising his eyebrows. There was little heat behind his words, but Ray looked down anyway, nervously shifting between feet. She did see what Ali meant, she felt a little like herself, but she had a way to go before she could snap back a witty response to someone she barely knew. She'd hardly spoken to Levi since he'd walked her home a week ago, occasionally nodding if she saw him whilst walking with Ali or… well she'd yet to leave the flat without Ali's presence.
"Ray, hurry up and get ready for work, we've got to leave in 10 minutes. Also, I brought you some new curtains, to go in your room when you finally decide to unpack it and use the damned bed to sleep."
o0o
Levi sipped his tea leisurely, hidden from Hanji's impatient gaze behind his newspaper, reading an article about a case involving three murdered women in their twenties, a case he himself had assisted on. As usual the reporter was only interested in the juicy details and horror factor, completely misinterpreting every word they'd said and telling the investigation wrong. He sighed, setting his cup down and carefully folding the paper, coming face to face with Hanji as soon as he lowered it.
"Good, you're finished!" She exclaimed, leaning away to sit properly in her chair. "I made a new cupcake range! They're inspired by Sonny and Bean, one's chocolate, one's toffee. They're made to look like them, to replace the potato cakes topped with spinach buttercream." Her face fell and she looked crestfallen. "They didn't sell, but you'll take some home right?" She looked up hopefully.
"When Hell freezes over." He told her, though he knew he'd end up taking home a tub full of the disgusting experiment. Hanji grinned, grabbing her mug and draining it.
"Also, I've been speaking more to Ali, Rachel's friend, but she's very tight lipped, won't tell me anything about her. Well, some things, but not why she's so quiet and unsociable." She pouted, before she lit up again. "She did tell me her favourite hot beverage is tea, dash of milk and one sugar, another thing she shares with you Levi!" She was saved from having her leg savagely kicked when a man taller than the both of them combined sat down, motioning for a waitress. "Erwin!" Hanji exclaimed, clapping the newcomer on the back excitedly.
"Hello Hanji," Erwin greeted, smiling warmly. "Sorry I'm late, and for not being here last week. This promotion's running me off my feet, constant paperwork on one thing or another. Congratulations on closing that case Levi." The smaller man grunted his thanks, pondering if Hanji would be terribly missed if she disappeared. He reckoned no, but then again she'd probably left him those slobbering mutts in her will just to piss him off from beyond the grave. He was interrupted from further plotting when a familiar waitress approached. "Ray!" Erwin greeted in surprise. "I didn't know you worked here!"
"Erwin!" Ray sounded just as surprised, setting down Levi's tea and Hanji's coffee-hot chocolate. "Yeah, I started about a month ago. What can I get for you?"
"Coffee please, black." Erwin answered, smiling kindly. Ray nodded, striding away to fetch it. Hanji rounded on Erwin.
"I didn't know you knew Rachel!" She exclaimed accusatorily.
"She's our neighbour," Erwin told her. "I met her this morning. She prefers to be called Ray I think." He glanced at the waitress, who was nodding at something Armin was saying. Hanji narrowed her eyes, leaning threateningly towards him.
"You can't have her Erwin, I have plans to set her up with Levi." She muttered. Erwin leaned in too, dropping his own voice.
"Hanji," he breathed. "I'm gay you idiot." He snorted with laughter. "And I've been in a stable relationship with Mike for four years." He added. Hanji brightened up, pushing away and settling back in her seat.
"Oh yeah!" She said. "You can help me force them together then."
"You can't set me up with her shitty-glasses." Levi cut in sharply. "Or anyone really, but definitely not her."
"And why not?" Hanji looked affronted. "Is it because she's messy? Because she's better than me. Or maybe because- " Levi cut her off again.
"She's fresh out of an abusive relationship shit-for-brains."
An uncomfortable silence settled over the table.
"How'd you know?" Hanji asked.
"It's not hard to see." Levi scoffed, looking at Erwin, who shrugged.
"I guess not," he murmured. "It is a good explanation for…well, everything." He ran a hand through his smooth hair. "You know if the perp got arrested?" He asked. Levi shook his head.
"He's free, she wouldn't say why." He replied, picking up his tea. "Scumbag." He added darkly. Erwin and Hanji nodded in agreement.
"Well, this only deepens my resolve to make her a part of the Titan Café Family!" She declared. Levi cringed.
"Your café has a shit name." He told her, but she merely laughed and chucked a packet of sugar at him.