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Sacred Heart hospital... One of the classic maps used for this sick, twisted game.
Out of all the tragic locations Norton’s seen, something about the hospital made his soul shudder. Maybe it was the scattered beds and overturned gurneys, or perhaps the sludge of the swamp that crept through every nook and cranny of the lost buildings. Maybe it was just the solemn silence that fell after the game bell rang. He wasn’t certain, but he knew one thing for sure: the whole map reeked of hurt and hopelessness. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, for him, the sound of shattered glass resonated across the foggy field, igniting a flare of anxiety in his chest. Once the sound settled, the games began...
Norton made a beeline for the old shed and quickly ducked inside, hugging the wall as he approached the cipher so that he could keep an eye on the window. The gears of the cipherbox clicked and clattered harmoniously in front of him, while the typewriter added to the melody of mechanics. With timid taps, Norton typed away at the cipher, keeping an ear out for any off-putting noises nearby. The shed‘s emptiness tended to be a blessing and a curse on the hospital grounds. No one could sneak up due to the creaks and echoes that hauntingly alerted anyone inside, but, on the same token, it felt isolated from the better kiting spots on the map. A small slip up could easily leave him trapped, downed for sure... He shuddered at the thought. His fingers slipped from the typewriter in that moment and sparks erupted from the metal box. “Shit..!” Norton cursed under his breath and took a step back to gather himself. He hesitantly slid his hands back on to the keys, though immediately froze at the sound of the shed creaking, almost in unison with the howl of a passing breeze. “Just... my imagination.”
But then he heard another shuffle, another creak or two.
His heart rattled in his ears and his hands shook from the sheer force of it. “Already? There’s no way that calibration fail could’ve drawn the hunter here so soon..!” He paused and let a trembling hand fall to his side, his fingertips brushing the top of his magnet that settled snugly on his belt.
“Norton!!” Mike popped up from behind and slammed his hands down on the side of the cipher machine, sending a frenzy of sparks sputtering out from beneath it.
Norton nearly jumped out of his overalls, and, on instinct, hurled the hefty magnet towards the intruder. It whizzed past Mike’s head, and he could hear Mike let out a small huff of air in surprise. “M-Mike, you cant sneak up on my like that!” Norton chuckled nervously.
“Sorry...” The acrobat giggled back while rubbing the napeof his neck. He pushed a few of his blonde, coiled locks away from his eyes, and offered a bright smile to the miner, who smiled back in return.
How could Norton be upset at a face like that? He took a deep breath before motioning to the machine. “Give me a hand with this cipher real quick.”
“Sure thing!” Mike scratched his head, then proceeded to bang on the side of the machine, pressing and pulling whatever knobs he could find.
Norton didn’t understand how the acrobat could decode like that, yet, by some miracle of Mike, the two of them made speedy progress. Part of Norton remained on edge, but having Mike by his side helped his nerves tremendously. They rarely caught a moment together, just the two of them, ever since the mansion owner increased the number of games... Some sort of tournament going on or whatever. He didn’t quite understand it, but he sure felt the strain on his relationship. Days would go by, and they’d only get enough time for a fleeting moment of affection if they were lucky...
Mike always held an air of positivity regardless, though Norton knew the acrobat felt the same mutual, lonely longing. Still, he had no idea how Mike managed to smile through it all... Through all of the games and exhaustion, the separation and sadness, Mike always painted the brightest of grins on his face.
“Hey, hey!” Norton snapped back to reality at the sound of Mikes voice, and felt the other’s hand gently cup his face.
“Why the grumpy face lovely?” He cooed, and Norton felt the gentle swipe of his thumb on his cheek.
“Ah, sorry. Just thinking.”
“About?”
“A lot of things,” Norton sighed and reached up to clasp his hand within Mike’s, casting his gaze down to the whirring machine. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too... “ Mike sighed, “But hey, we’re here together now!”
“That’s true...” Prospector looked up at him, catching a glimpse of his face right as he broke out another one of his characteristic grins. “Sorry.” He mumbled in to Mike’s palm.
“You don't have to apologize.” Mike reassured. “Keep your chin up, we can do this!” He bopped Norton on the nose with his thumb, then continued his enthusiastic rambling.
“And remember, no matter where you are, I’ll always be your positive charge~! We’ll never be pulled too far apart from each other.”
Norton smiled at that and rested his hand back on the typewriter keys. He felt Mike retract his own hand, leaving a warm, tingling feeling on Norton’s cheek.
In a split second, the cipher machine deafened the room with a pop, and the lightbulb at the top of it lit up and cast rays of dancing, warm, light upon them. They heard two other ciphers pop in the distance, and in that subtle moment of clarity, Norton felt... peaceful. He bathed in the residual silence, barely noticing Mike's gentle hand take his own and give it a warm squeeze.
Maybe Sacred Heart, for just once, just this once, would let them have a small victory.