[He's about to lose his shit but he can't, not yet, because he has to explain, he has to-]
Ray.
[Venkman lets go of his hands in order to cups Ray's face, and when he says Ray's name, it sounds like a prayer- reverently spoken, and more than a little choked up.]
Ray, I need- I need you to listen to me, ok? When you were in college, and your parents died in that plane crash, and Spengs was being stupid and didn't know how to help and kept insisting on that Bermuda Triangle shit, who- who was the one who separated you two when you clocked him, and helped calm you down afterwards?
Who did you let cheat off you for years in college 'cause he didn't have any other chance of passing his classes, especially after his mom died when he just fell the fuck apart? And- and when you two got fired as professors for the first time, and the second time, and the other dozen times, who quit and went wherever you two decided to move on to, 'cause he couldn't fucking think of a life without you guys?
And when we- we, Ray- bought the firehouse, when Egon and I first saw how god damn excited you were over the place, and me 'n Egon bought the damn thing just because we love seeing you happy and you've got us both wrapped around your damn finger- and Winston too, now, because we all love you- so fucking much-
[There's tears in his eyes, and his heart feels like it's about to burst. He rubs Ray's cheeks with his thumbs, and leans a little closer, still not breaking eye contact.]
no subject
Ray.
[Venkman lets go of his hands in order to cups Ray's face, and when he says Ray's name, it sounds like a prayer- reverently spoken, and more than a little choked up.]
Ray, I need- I need you to listen to me, ok? When you were in college, and your parents died in that plane crash, and Spengs was being stupid and didn't know how to help and kept insisting on that Bermuda Triangle shit, who- who was the one who separated you two when you clocked him, and helped calm you down afterwards?
Who did you let cheat off you for years in college 'cause he didn't have any other chance of passing his classes, especially after his mom died when he just fell the fuck apart? And- and when you two got fired as professors for the first time, and the second time, and the other dozen times, who quit and went wherever you two decided to move on to, 'cause he couldn't fucking think of a life without you guys?
And when we- we, Ray- bought the firehouse, when Egon and I first saw how god damn excited you were over the place, and me 'n Egon bought the damn thing just because we love seeing you happy and you've got us both wrapped around your damn finger- and Winston too, now, because we all love you- so fucking much-
[There's tears in his eyes, and his heart feels like it's about to burst. He rubs Ray's cheeks with his thumbs, and leans a little closer, still not breaking eye contact.]
What's my name, Ray?