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It started out small.
Borderline unnoticeable, if it weren’t for Naib’s aversion to being touched.
A skim of the fingers while passing a remote control, a pat on the back after a good match, a knee brushing his own while having a meal... things like that. Nothing that others would point at or think twice about, nothing he would get a wink for or a “Get it, Naib!”
Something he would flinch at.
Naib was never an affectionate person. Growing up, hugs were scarce, kisses on the cheek were for his first few birthdays only, a hand would meet his forehead gently only to check if he had a fever from overworking himself. He hadn’t thought about it much back then. Though, if he had known how touch would soon become a direct link to pain, he would’ve closed his eyes or maybe even leaned into it, asking for more warmth and care.
Or maybe it was better that he never did. Getting used to affection must be scary. One day you’re bound to realize being alive isn’t soft and sweet and it’s going to hurt, especially if you’ve been pampered and shielded throughout your life.
Touch is to be avoided like a plague.
At least that’s what Naib told himself.
“It was hilarious!”, Norton wheezed, clutching his stomach as he doubled over, “She was this close to beating him up!”
Naib wasn’t really interested in Norton demonstrating to Eli how badly he fucked up in the previous match, looking comfortable as ever leaned against the cold kitchen wall. He had to sigh. It’s not like he kited that one specific cipher on purpose- it just happened to be there while he was trying (extremely hard, thank you very much) not to get hit by Joseph again. And it’s not like he knew Helena would be there...
Okay, maybe he was a little interested in the story, but only because he was waiting for his turn to justify himself and then maybe blame Norton for not even trying to save Helena while she spammed “Thank you!” from her chair.
Instead, Naib found his eyes glued to Norton’s hand resting on Eli’s shoulder, casual and relaxed. Eli’s face (or at least what was visible of it) was free of any creases, any signs of discomfort. The story interested him much more than that gesture.
It was just a hand. On a shoulder. For Eli, at least.
“I’m surprised to hear Naib messed up, to be honest.”, his focus shifted when he heard Eli’s amused, yet somewhat concerned voice, “Were you struggling with Joseph?”
“He was on my ass from the beginning! He’s faster than me, of course he caught up eventually.”
“Yeah and you used up all of your nyooms straight up!”, Norton added. He seemed to be having fun blaming their loss on Naib. His face, with that stupid plastic smile somehow looked eminently punchable.
“His nyooms!”, Mike parroted from the dining area, cheerful as ever.
“Yeah, well... Why didn’t you rescue her if you’re so much better than me?”, Naib rolled his eyes, arms crossed as if to shield himself. One glance. That hand was still holding Eli in place.
“She seemed so snug and comfy in that chair. She was excited to go back to the manor.”
“SHE WAS BEING SARCASTIC!”
Norton opened his mouth to speak again, so Eli tried to stop that from happening. This seemed to be the wisest move very often when it came to Norton and Naib.
“Oh, so what happened next?”
Norton went on to explain how the photographer took them out afterwards: landing a Terror Shock on Norton who was decoding when he emerged from the Camera World, screen positioned right next to the cipher, then chairing Naib who was already injured when he foolishly tried to save Norton, leaving Fiona to escape through the dungeon alone. It was a mess.
Eli seemed troubled as he gave his input on how the entire mayhem could’ve been avoided, voice kind. He was always one of the more perceptive ones in the manor, more sensible ones. But Naib already knew what advice would be given: Don’t rush, don’t sacrifice yourself. He’d heard it before.
He no longer felt defensive, just guilty instead.
The entire day had been an exhausting one, he had a lot to ponder on, so he wanted nothing more than to go to his room and sleep till it was a new one. He glanced at Norton. He must’ve noticed Naib tense up as his grin vanished from his face, eyebrows twitching. Ass.
“I’m going to my room.”, he spat out through his teeth, leaving Norton to eat his dust.
The long, depressing hallway to his room did nothing to lift his spirits. Neither did the sound of heavy footsteps on the squeaky hardwood floor. Goddammit.
Norton was, clearly, intent on not giving him a break, gripping his wrist before Naib could make it into his room. He immediately tensed up, a gasp leaving him as his body prepared to defend himself on reflex, fists squeezed shut. It never came.
“I know you won’t fuck up next time.”
It took him a moment to process the words. There was no real danger in Norton’s usually blank eyes, even if his tongue threatened otherwise sometimes. He was still ready to attack though.
If anything, Norton’s eyes widened at Naib’s reaction, a single “Oh.” escaping his lips as he seemed to have connected a dot or two. Took him a damn moment, too.
The fingers gripping his wrist relaxed, but still lingered. Naib wouldn’t go as far as to call it gentle, but it was far from aggressive. It was... okay.
So this is what Eli must’ve felt on his shoulder a few minutes ago.
He nodded his head, enjoying the small, barely there at this point, touch, not hurting him in any way. Like people would when he was still a child. Nortond retrieved his hand, expressionless.
That was...
“Warm.”, Naib mumbled to himself after having closed the doors, fingers tracing his wrist where a ghost of Norton’s touch still lingered.
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Something changed. Just a little bit.
Ever since that stupid hand gripped his stupid wrist with zero malice, a deliberate touch, not something unintended, Naib’s poor brain categorized Norton as A Relatively Okay and Trustworthy Guy. A grand title, truly.
Norton. The guy who once shrugged at Freddy instead of saving him when he got chaired. The guy who never waits for anyone at the exit gate. The guy who took Naib not slapping his hand away that night as permission to seek out touch whenever he felt like it.
And Naib... he would still catch himself flinching sometimes, other times glaring, but... overall, he felt like he leveled up on his mental scale of social capabilities.
He’d often feel an arm slinging around his chair in the match lobby, only to find Norton’s entertained face when he glared or clicked his tongue.
“Don’t mind me.”, Norton would excuse himself, not bothering to move his arm.
“I will. Get your paws off my chair.”
“Paws? Naib, you’re the one wearing cat ears.”
Messing around before a match always helped relax them, so Naib didn’t even mind the quips.
One morning, after spending a particularly restless night rolling around in his bed, he slouched his way to the kitchen for breakfast. His eyes felt dry and his body useless and weak. Remember the long, depressing hallway? It somehow seemed longer when he was starving. Mornings were a pain in the ass in general to Naib: he was groggy and disoriented throughout them more often than not.
Emma was the only person present when he walked in, greeting him with a: “Rough night, huh?” He mentally thanked her for not prodding as he nodded, leaning against the counter to lazily chew at a sandwich.
God, could he use some more sleep.
Long nights weren’t uncommon in Naib’s book. He often struggled with sleep. So did others though. They never discussed it, but the source of deep eyebags marring their faces was no secret.
He realized his eyes had closed and he had stopped chewing when a hand landed on top of his head, gripping and shaking.
“Don’t sleep in the kitchen.”
It was Norton. Norton, with his shiteating grin even at ungodly hours (9am), looking fresh as a daisy despite the pillow marks stretching across the left side of his face.
“Mm...”, Naib tried to complain, but it was way too difficult to make human sounds in the morning. His eyes closed again, though he found the energy to swallow the food.
“This idiot.”
He heard Norton sigh and slacken his hand, keeping it there for a moment before giving Naib’s loose hair a light ruffle. Warmth seeped into his scalp and down his spine, body relaxing instead of growing stiff for the first time. Feels nice...
It was a kind touch. That, Naib realized, is something he will most likely never get used to: someone treating him as if he’s... not fragile, goodness no, he would throw hands if someone called him fragile... but, more of... someone worthy of affection.
Naib’s eyes flew open again. He blinked.
Norton was looking at him, one eyebrow lifted, lips pulled into a smirk.
“Good morning to you too.”
He still had some pride though.
“Shut up.”
Naib almost gasped when the same hand flicked his forehead. Asshole.
“Now get your ass off the counter.”
New ability unlocked: Not flinching at physical contact. For better or for worse.
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It was all downhill from there.
Naib tried to get back into his “you touch me, you die” mentality, but it seemed as though all of his cognitive thought and reason had been balled up and chucked into The Void. Serves him right.
See, for some reason, such as, perhaps, irreversible brain damage, Naib found himself seeking out Norton often.
And, for some reason, such as, without a single doubt, irreversible brain damage, he found himself doing anything but avoiding touch. In fact, he was itching for it more often than not, eyes locked onto his hand waiting impatiently for a brush or a pat.
Which, and he cannot emphasize this enough, is not his fault. Not one bit.
Wasn’t this only to be expected after spending a lifetime relating touch to pain, only to find that it can actually feel okay? Better than okay! He allowed himself to have this.
It wasn’t anything grand. Just a slight change of atmosphere between them, an air of fondness and amity settling whenever they were around each other, even during their banters that left most of the remaining survivors rolling their eyes or yelling profanities at the two. It was new, it was exciting.
“You know...”, Norton teased, hand nested in Naib’s hair, gently scratching at the scalp, “One of these days I’m just gonna chop this off for you.”
“Mm... You wouldn’t dare.”
Naib knew Norton was just trying to distract him from the feeling of bandages being clumsily wrapped around his wrist as Tracy’s puppet did the best it could with the limited supplies given during a match. The gash and the clattering of the cipher made Naib’s stomach churn in dread, so he was thankful for the distraction, despite being unsure of Norton’s intentions. He tried not to think about it.
Being close to Norton sent little bolts of electricity from his lower belly to his fingertips, longing for more. He gasped as the puppet prodded at an aching area, eyes immediately searching for Norton’s.
Touch me again, touch me again, touch me again...
“Oh, but I would.”
The same hand traveled down to his face, tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear, brushing it slightly in the process. Naib had to swallow and look away as something hiccuped in his chest. He leaned into the warmth at the side of his head as it found his cheek, pinching like one would to a child. This guy...
“Focus on decoding!”, came a message from Tracy before anything else could be done, her puppet looking judgmental despite the blank face as it continued working around the rattling cipher machine, done with healing. Right.
Naib thanked Norton with a curt nod before they parted ways.
His ear still felt like it was on fire.
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The sound of sirens rang loud as the fifth cipher popped, signaling that the exit gate could be opened. Naib’s legs carried him to one of the large steel doors, only to find the puppet already working on the password. Tracy was a genius, always making sure the puppet was at the switch while she worked on the final rattling machine.
Naib was relieved to see Norton nearing him, no hunter in sight. It had been quite a while since they ended a match in a victory. Getting a draw almost started to feel like something to be celebrated.
“The exit gate is open!”, Martha informed them that she opened the one on the opposite side of Moonlit River Park. That made three out of four people safe.
Geisha was the hunter for that day’s match: fast with her ability to pounce, always a breath away; so Naib wanted to stay and wait for Tracy, make it a perfect victory and all that. Aside from taking one hit while saving a chaired Martha, he was quite satisfied.
“I told you you won’t fuck up next time!”
Norton’s smile was dazzling as he threw his arm over Naib’s shoulder. A feeling of safety nestled in his stomach, like he was cocooned from all possible harm, a child sheltered from a thunderstorm raging just out the window.
As a hand wrapped around his head, pulling him in towards Norton’s shoulder, he almost fell apart. He really wanted this.
To be held.
It was them and the puppet at the gate now, no danger in sight.
Naib wondered why his heartbeat accelerated for a moment, eyes wildly scanning the area for the hunter.
“Did you feel that?” he immediately pulled away, despite really, really wanting to just lean in, rest his head on Norton’s shoulder. But he couldn’t. Not now.
“Feel what?”
“The hunter?”, he placed his hand on his chest: his heart seemed to have calmed down a bit. Strange.
Naib shrugged at Norton who was still waiting for an answer, eyebrows raised and looking slightly alarmed.
“I probably imagined it.”
“Huh.” he raised his eyebrows, as his eyes closed in an exaggerated smile, “Well, we‘re outta here.”
Of course he wasn’t going to wait for Tracy.
Wait... we?
Naib shrieked as a magnet pushed him through the exit gate, Norton barely stifling a laugh as he ran towards him.
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“You’re evil!”
“Oh yeah?”
“What if she got hit and I wasn’t there to rescue her?”
“But she didn’t, right?”, Norton shrugged, rolling his eyes. He couldn’t look more indifferent if he tried: sunken into the old couch of the manor’s longue, limbs sprawled out, barely giving Naib the time of his day as the other crossed his arms before him. Great.
Naib wondered why he was surprised at this point; Norton had almost never waited for anyone at the gate- not unless they were crucial to win.
Which, Naib will admit, Tracy really wasn’t this time; it would’ve been a win both with or without her. But still, he couldn’t help but feel somewhat offended. He really was starting to believe Norton had softened up.
“She could’ve.”
“But did she?”
“Well, no, but-”, Naib was cut off by Norton’s cocky voice.
“She knew we were at the gate. Her puppet was right there, right?”, he waved a hand in the air dismissively as he explained, “Tracy knows her shit, man.”
“That... she does.”, and she really did. After Naib and Norton escaped, Tracy informed Martha to leave her. Martha was reluctant, but after she was notified that Tracy was near the dungeon, she sighed out in relief.
In the end, they scored a perfect victory.
“Look...”, Norton sighed for the nth time during their argument “You sacrifice yourself way too much. You gotta stop doing that, you make softies like Eli concerned.”
“And you sacrifice yourself way too little.” he snorted. It was the truth.
“Guess we even each other out.”
Naib had recently discovered that exhaustion makes him sappy. Even now, as his legs felt like jelly, he still found it hard to breathe as Norton leaned towards him from his seat, tugging at his sleeve.
He didn’t protest to being pulled in.
Their position would probably cause others to choke on their spit or do a double take if they walked in. Luckily, everyone scattered around the manor as soon as they had noticed an air of tension around them, knowing it would be headache-inducing to stick around or try to console them.
But, Naib realized, he wouldn’t give a shit. Not when he was almost sitting in Norton’s lap, knees digging into the couch on both sides of his dense thighs. He felt heat radiating from the hand on his lower back, supporting him so he wouldn’t fall. Not that that was likely, as his own hands were already gripping Norton’s shoulders.
They’ve been close to each other before. Never this close though.
There was something about the way Norton touched him. It made him feel safe and supported, it made him feel warm, it made him feel the slightest trace of fingers for hours after the touch was gone.
It was intoxicating.
Naib was greedy.
He couldn’t help but arch his back when he felt his hand traveling to his side, sliding up and down, gripping. Naib wanted to feel that pressure forever, melt into it completely.
A gasp left his lips when he felt a scratch of blunt fingernails at the uncovered skin of his hip. It felt so good to feel skin pressing up against his own. Intoxicating, indeed. One look at Norton and, for the first time, he realized he wasn’t the only one being affected by all the touching and brushing and pressing. A glance gave him away: despite Norton’s blank expression, his ears were tinted bright red, a pretty contrast from his dark hair.
Naib internally apologized for never returning the affection. Late is better than never though.
The hands roaming over his skin stilled as he put his own on Norton’s face.
“You always touch me a lot.”
Though it would’ve been simpler to just let himself fall into the caress of the hand brushing his sensitive stomach, he knew he had to test something out.
“I do.” as Norton replied, Naib could feel his breath on his hands. Oh god.
“I wonder why.”
The bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed didn’t go unnoticed by Naib. His eyes widened, just for a moment, pupils blown wide, making his eyes look darker than usual. Naib felt the roughness of the fingers on his own skin.
“Don’t think too hard, you’ll hurt your brain.” Norton tried to ease the air by joking. Naib wasn’t having it.
“Close your eyes.”
“Naib-”
“Do it.”
Naib gnawed at his lower lip in uncertainty as he watched Norton’s eyes shut closed with one more sigh. He had to do this. His body was so stiff, a baffling contrast to when he was watching Naib throw a tantrum minutes ago.
They were the same, weren’t they?
Please touch me more, please touch me more, please-
The atmosphere changed. Here Norton was, underneath his gaze and fingertips, looking more open and more vulnerable than ever. If someone told him he’d find himself in Norton’s lap, testing if he had been aching for touch as much as he was, a few months ago, he’d probably laugh at their face. And yet.
“Relax.” he breathed out, his voice surprisingly mellow, as he brushed his knuckles over Norton’s cheekbones, admiring their shape. He placed his other hand on his chest, feeling the heartbeat quicken underneath his palm, nervous.
“I’m not gonna hurt you, okay?”
Norton’s face gave no indication of registering him, but Naib could’ve sworn he leaned into his touch, just a little.
“I would never.” he tried again.
He let his fingers roam up and down his face, only avoiding the scarred area, unsure if that would cross some line.
They probably crossed many lines already, but not that one, no.
Naib appreciated the sensation of Norton’s skin beneath the tips of his fingers, warm and smooth. He wouldn’t say it felt as good as being touched himself, but... it cut close.
And, besides.
“You wanted this all along, right?”
At that, Norton’s eyes flew open and Naib couldn’t help but recall the time he had the same reaction in the kitchen. They looked unfocused, yet like they seeking for... something in Naib’s own.
“Not judging you...” he cleared up, already regretting stating his observation.
“You don’t have the right to.” with a half grin, he relaxed again and Naib felt relief, “You’re like a puppy.”
Because... see... Norton looked so beautiful when he was like this, despite the obvious exhaustion taking its toll, circles under his charcoal eyes and all. His lips parted, just a little bit, when Naib traced his features and something clenched in his chest.
He came to a conclusion.
There was nothing friendly about the way Norton made him feel.
Unless people usually want to melt into their friends. He knew he didn’t want to do that with Patricia or Eli, at least.
And, knowing that, Naib felt his chest grow tight, gaze trained onto Norton’s lips. He knew he was being obvious. Norton still hadn’t closed his eyes. If only he could lean in, trace every centimeter of his skin with his fingertips, his lips, but never his teeth.
Could he?
“Go for it.”
His heart thrashed in his chest as he realised Norton was just a breath away- no, they were closer than that, sharing the same air. Naib could smell the scent of firewood that always seemed to cling to Norton, a strangely pleasant scent, and it filled all his senses.
There was no going back.
Not when Norton’s lips found his own with such vigor and desire, Naib was certain he’d never be capable of thinking about anything else. Their noses bumped awkwardly as their lips parted and rejoined, but neither of them cared, completely focused on the feeling of each other’s proximity.
Naib was shaking, literally, as he wrapped his arms behind Norton’s neck, desire making his mind hazy. Norton reciprocated, hands gripping his thighs, tugging him closer.
A tongue met his lips and he wasted no time parting them, shivering at the feeling of it licking into his mouth. It wasn’t a delicate kiss. Norton was making sure not to leave a single inch of the cavity unexplored and Naib felt his body grow lax.
He allowed Norton to kiss into his mouth, relishing in every single moment of it, not even bothering to try to keep up.
“Naib...” Norton puffed out, barely breaking their kiss “Naib.”
And hearing Norton sound so absolutely wrecked made Naib realize his initial point: he wanted to feel like he was someone worthy of affection. Norton was the same.
Naib took this as his chance to change the pace, taking control of the kiss as Norton collected himself. Opposite to his erratic movements, Naib took his time to slowly trace his teeth with his tongue, leaving stray kisses onto the corner of his mouth before going back to lavishing him with attention.
And lavish him with attention he did.
He cupped his jaw while his other hand made its way to Norton’s, intertwining their shaky fingers.
Breaking their kiss, Naib rested his forehead on Norton’s, just letting them both breathe for a moment.
“I want to touch you more.”
“Not now.”
Norton looked at him quizzically, eyebrows drawn together. Naib almost laughed.
“Why not?”
Naib opened his mouth to give him an answer, but someone beat him to it.
“GET A ROOM!”
He eyed Norton’s lips, attractive and red, as they shaped an “Oh.”, eyes widening in realization as Mike’s shrill voice pulled them out of their trance. Naib could only watch in horror as he turned to wink at Mike, completely regaining his cool.
“But deflowering the princess is much more fun out in public.”
Naib’s hand reacted immediately, shutting his mouth as his face flushed red at the sight of Mike gagging before throwing in an: “You guys are disgusting, you know that right?”
“Absolutely nauseating.”, he added in, just for good measure.
He glared at Norton, trying to remember why he was ever nice to this ass. Nothing to lose.
“I’d be the one doing the deflowering.”
“You’d be what now?!”