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Emma blinks.
The summer breeze is hot through the ajar window which hadn’t been opened in the night. The curtains rustle in a soothing way, dancing to the wind hypnotically. She’s sleepily entranced, stuck between being awake and not quite conscious. The blankets feel heavy and warm. The comfort has her sinking deeper into the mattress. She blinks. A hand cards through her hair.
“Emma.” His voice carries melodically and her heart soars. “Breakfast.”
“That’s my line.” She mumbles, her words muffled out into the pillow- their pillow. A giddy part of her rolls around in circles. The exhausted part of her that spent all day patrolling just wants to get a few more hours of sleep. Just a wink. Only a little-
He’s moving around the bed, his yellow shirt and boxers blocking the window. He’s leaning forward over the bed space in front of her to brush her fringe out of her face. She see’s blue and white and smiles.
Norman returns it gently, “Good morning.”
“Mnngh.” She flails her arm against the bed, a weak attempt to grapple his arm but it never makes it off the bedsheets. His smile widens, a softness dancing in his eyes that has her melting. But she’s tired, and there’s something cooking nearby that’s wrapping her in a sweet embrace. Except its Norman, lifting one knee onto the bed to press his forehead against hers. Her breathe catches at his earnest gaze, his aching grin.
“I die every day for that.” He presses his lips to her nose. “You’re too cute.”
Oh no, she fights the blush screaming up her neck, he’s waxing amazing poetry again.
“Norman.” She drawls in complaint, but her lips can’t fight the adoring smile. He’s giving her such an eager look, mixed with the rising energy and she just wants to hop up and scream. Instead she channels it all into leaning forward, tilting her head just right in a way that he’s weak to. Their lips meet and he hums delightedly. Emma snakes her arms around his back and cards a hand through his hair, pulling him back deeper and deeper into the covers to-
He parts from her, drawing back with an amused smile, “I’m not falling for that.”
“Mnn?” She pretends to play innocent and hides her pout into the comforter. “I’m tired.”
“Tired enough to kiss like that?” He teases, his hand still caressing her cheek. She loves it too much to swat it away. “I’ll carry you.”
She gives him a flat look. His smile doesn’t change, but they both know he couldn’t lift her. Only Ray was capable of that. The threat of actually attempting it hangs in the air and Emma doesn’t like the idea of hitting the ground so early in the morning.
“Fine.” She sits up with a stretch. Norman doesn’t look smug, but his smile widens pointedly. Ordinarily she’d feel like ribbing him but the comforter was heavy and her bare feet touching the floor was like an icy shook. She whined.
“We need carpet.” She says but knows will never happen. If it gets her up in the morning, the two won’t ever change it. Norman laughs softly and steps over to press a kiss to her cheek.
“We need breakfast, actually. Ray is going to get-“
“Food’s done.”
Emma rubs her eyes, looking forward to the dark shape at the doorway. Ray was actually dressed in comparison to them. His shirt is unbuttoned and his hair is a mess and- yup, he’s yawning.
“Is someone visiting today?” She asks him.
He makes an ‘mmm’ noise as he steps into the room, walking over to their bed with lazy confidence. It’s only when he reaches them and leans forward to let his head fall onto Norman’s shoulder does he say, “No.”
Emma frowns at the sarcasm, “I smell bacon.”
Normally she wouldn't be concerned. But meat is a delicacy and having it for breakfast instead of celebration- wait, unless it is a celebration. She see's Norman’s face is tinted red. He gives a shaky laugh, because Ray was doing his cat-thing where he nuzzles into his victim neck. The only problem is, it was Norman and he was slowly crumpling under the other boy’s weight.
“Special day.” Norman managed.
“Very special day.” Ray confirmed, voice muffled into Norman’s shirt. “The first time Emma swore.”
She scowls, “I swore plenty times when I was little. There’s no way you remember that.”
Ray lifts his head to give her a dry look. She winces because he has an excellent memory and finding the moment she first told Don the go fuck yourself over a game of catch was embarrassing. She waves him off before he even starts to smirk.
“Okay, okay.” She stands up, sighing happily as her back cracks in just the right way. “It’s special ‘fuck’ day.”
She moves to go around them but stops. They are both staring, a little surprised. But she can see their smirks and the delight dancing in their eyes.
“She said it.” Norman awed.
“She said it.” Ray echoed slyly.
She blinks, “Yesterday I told Gilda the water banks were ‘shitty business’ and she laughed so hard she choked on her fruit. I swear all the time!”
Ray looks every bit like the cat that got the canary as he loops his other arm around her shoulder, drawing her into to the three sided hug. She’s confused but readily accepts the affection, wrapping her arms around their waists and pressing a kiss to the dark haired boy’s cheek.
Norman sighs, partially in relief that his legs won’t give out and the other half in bliss, “It’s not a special swear word day. Though you are close.”
“Hmm.” She mulls that over. Ray takes pity on her and leans over to caress her ear- the only one left- with soft words.
“The day you saved Phil, Em.”
“Oh.” She feels her chest get warm and fuzzy. She tries to hide her burning face in Ray’s hair but he’s leaning forward, taking her lips with his and looking infuriatingly smug about it. They part and she says, “I didn’t swear that day.”
“No.” Norman is smiling nervously. “Phil did.”
She laughs, the memory springing up to her from ages ago, “He was excited! Besides, I was right when I said I swore when I was his age. There’s no demons or adults to tell him no.”
“It was great.” Ray is dragging them now, but by their heads, and Emma is starting to fear for her life. “Almost as great as my food that’s getting cold.”
“Ray.” Norman vainly tried for peacemaker. “I tried.”
“He did.” She might as well save the one of them that can make it. She only feels a little bad, especially as the warm scent of cooked eggs, ham, and bacon come around the corner. “When will Phil be coming by?”
“Later.” Ray kisses her ear again. “Enough for us to eat.”
She grins, because she’s not about to let these two get the best of her this morning. She bodily swings herself into Ray, who crashed into Norman with a yelp. All three end up on the ground, Emma laying on top of the pile triumphant as she could be.
“Emma.” Norman complains from the bottom as Ray gives an annoyed grunt.
She turns a sly grin to them, leaning down to kiss them one by one, “I could stay like this for hours.”
“Please don’t.”
She laughs and lets Ray pick her up. The three make their way to the kitchen, the soft laughter and fading footsteps leaving the hallway behind.