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It had happened in a flash. Acceleration raising to the top, just as they rounded the corner. He knew it was impossible. He had known he would hit the wall, and he had known the only option he had was to slam the breaks. When it happened his entire body had been tossed forward and off his bike in what felt like seconds. Suddenly he was on the ground and he knew he couldn’t stop the bikes. The bikes drove at a speed as high as he had, and suddenly he passed out. Last thing he remembered being a loud noise followed by a crushing pain to his face.
Everything was black and the way his eyes felt made it hard to desire anything but to keep it dark. Eyelids were heavy, and he was too busy trying to make sense of anything. The numbing statics played in the corner, eventually turning into what seemed to be a familiar tune. Mumbling filled the room, yet he couldn’t make out what anyone said. Only thing he could make out was that some people were loud, while others faded more to the background and fell muted to the music.
Eventually everything fell silent to the music.
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The radio was playing loudly, filling every crook and cranny of the workshop with that happy tune, the tune that made Norton’s foot tap along against the floor. Pushing himself from one side of the workshop to the other, spinning around on his chair before it stopped by his toolbox. Rummaging through the shelves he found what he needed in the rather messy space, pushing himself back to the car with yet another twirl.
He hummed along to the tune of the music while working on the car’s motor. Glad to have the place for himself so he could relax and have fun with his work. As much as he loved his pals there was something about being alone in such a huge, open space that made him giddy. The lack of voices was calming, and enjoyable for a change.
“Hey, Norton!”
Oh shit. Suddenly falling off beat Norton stood up, head bumping against the car hood. His hand shot up to hold where he had bumped his head, rubbing over the spot as he groaned. Embarrassed by his own action he chose to not pull the hood down, rather pretending he was still working with the engine. “Back so soon?” he tried to sound confident, but the previous embarrassment failed him, causing his voice to crack.
Coming up closer Naib leant over him, peaking over his shoulder to see what he was doing. “Yeah, our last mission went swift, so I could come back sooner,” he hummed, his arm grabbing onto Norton’s shoulder to steady himself. Making the blonde jolt at the touch. “I heard a noise, you bumped your head or something?”
With a huff he shook his head. Standing up he concluded himself finished. Pushing the hood down, careful not to bump his head for Naib to see. “No, that was just the wrench hitting some metal,” turning towards Naib he saw a grin that told him loud and clear, Naib didn’t believe a word of what he just said.
“Well then, guess someone has to be more steady with their hand,” he remarked, tone serious and act humble, making it all the more mocking.
“Mhm,” Norton grumbled while sitting back down. Leaning back on the car, perhaps to look a bit more serious, not to mention cool, for the other. “Did you come here to mock me or not? I haven’t heard anything about your return until now, so considering you came here first..” he looked Naib up and down, smirking as he picked up on the details, “you really got yourself beat up in the abyss this time, huh? Need a quick hand with your equipment ‘Steam’?” he grinned widely, moving himself side to side as he sat there like a pleased child.
Crossing his arms Naib let out his own little huff, but he went up to Norton. Holding out his arm for him, letting him see the damage done on his elbow-pads. “You see right through me. A piece of it seems to have fallen off, so they don’t work. I couldn’t get away in time, I was lucky Kurt noticed.”
Something about those words made Norton’s brow furrow. “You weren’t in danger, were you?”
“Every mission is dangerous Norton”
With great care Norton held gently onto Naib’s arm. Looking over the elbow pads while his head was elsewhere. “Right.. Well, I see the issue. I can fix it now if you would like.”
“Please.”
Norton turned to get a small screwdriver and grabbed some pliers which he put aside for later. Then he got to work, changing the pipe for the steam on the pads. Silence fell down on them, both of them too focused on the elbow pads to really notice the silence. Except for when some time had passed, and the silence would dawn more in on the both of them. They hadn’t seen each other for weeks yet neither of them quite knew what to say now that they were together. Now that it was silent.
The radio kept getting louder and louder in the background, serving Norton something to fill his head with while working, trying his best to ignore the silence between him and Naib. He replaced the pipe using the pliers. Unconsciously tapping his foot along to the music in the background while working.
Not having much to do himself, other than stand still for Norton, Naib started to take notice of the little tapping. “You like this song?”
Caught off guard, Norton needed a brief moment to register the song, noting down what he was actually tapping along to. “Hm.. yeah, guess so. It’s not the best nor the worst…. Unless you like it, I don't mean it’s not good..”
Naib chuckled a bit at his response. Lifting his hand up to hide a tiny smile. “I don’t mind it. Not the best song, nor the worst. I’m sure there are better things to dance to.”
For a moment Norton’s heart skipped a beat, and it was too late to stop himself, “then would you like to dance?” he spoke, the embarrassment hitting him hard a few seconds after the words left his mouth. “To.. another song, of course..” sheepishly scratching his head he panicked, wondering if he had spoke too soon, scaring off Naib with his stupid, stupid offer.
“I mean, if you have anything better to dance to.”
In disbelief he looked up. Eyes wide as he looked at Naib, searching for any sign of a joke. When he saw none he realised how idiotic he must have looked, quickly getting up to go change the music on the radio.
Music, music. What music would Naib like? He gave it a careful thought as he switched through the various radio stations. Stopping first when he heard a familiar tune. This. This was danceable, right? Quickly he turned to have a look at Naib, checking to see if he hated the music or not.
A bit spaced out Naib only smiled at Norton when he looked over. “That’s nice. Found the song?”
Norton gave a short nod. Clearing his throat then reaching a hand out for Naib. A faint blush present on his cheeks as he looked nervously at the other, waiting for him to come join him. Something about that look on Norton’s face made Naib’s heart skip a quick beat, which made him a bit flustered as he went up and took his hand.
’Have I told you lately that I love you’
Moving a hand up to Naib’s hip he got them in position. Feeling the nerves strike as it was dawning in more and more what was going on. He was going to dance with his crush.
’Could I tell you once again somehow’
Nervous, he swallowed hard. Mirroring Norton’s movement by placing his opposite hand on Norton’s hip. The first step was Norton’s. Leading them both into a slow, casual waltz around the open floor
’Have I said with all my heart and Soul how I adore you’
Their eyes locked. Both waiting for the other to look away, or say anything. No words came. Only thing filling the silence was the slow melody of the song. Say, had it always been this slow of a song?
’Well darling, I’m telling you now.’
The music went on, and so did their dance. The tension was there, but eventually went away, somewhat. Perhaps it was the realisation that it was one out of few moments they got together like that. A moment of silence and comfort, with just the two of them. Perhaps it was knowing that soon they would be apart once more, Naib going back to his missions while Norton would keep racing. Racing until he was ready for the big race.
’Oh have I told you lately that I love you?’
They continued dancing until the song came to it’s last line, both of them smiling awkwardly at the other before at the lyric and the dance itself. Waltzing like amateurs in a workshop to a slow love song. That wasn’t often you saw between friends.
’Oh darling, I’m telling you now.
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Laying on the bed he heard that line play over and over in his head, though the radio had only played it once. He knew the rest of the lines by heart, yet it was those words that lingered in his thoughts. To the music he slowly found the motivation. Motivation to open his eyes, or as much as he could open them. One eye remained only half open as it just felt too heavy. Perhaps it was that bike, the one he could barely remember before passing out.
“Norton, are you alright?” That voice…
Slowly he pushed himself up on his elbows. Eyes adjusting to the light and the bright room before he could properly make out the person before him. It was blurry, but he could still see him. “Naib,” he mumbled, still a bit dazed. “What are you doing here?”
Naib threw himself over Norton, arms hugging tightly onto the other in relief. Puzzled, it took Norton a wild moment before he returned the warm embrace. Taking in the scent and presence of the other. Shutting his eyes while he nuzzled up against Naib’s shoulder
“What do you mean… Look at you. You’re asking why I’m here?” Naib pulled back, squeezing Norton’s cheek while looking intensely. Did Norton spot.. tears at the corner of his eyes? “You had me worried sick… Of course I came back when I heard about the race.”
The race… right. He remembered the race, a mock-up for the abyss. It somehow made him feel embarrassed to have ended up in a state like this for a mock-up race. Practice had endangered his life in such a foolish matter. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, too ashamed to look up at him. How was he ever to fight the abyss like Naib did at a rate like this?
“Don’t apologise. I’m just… glad to see you’re safe.” He sat back, giving Norton some space to breathe, trying not to suffocate him with his presence.
Still a bit flustered he looked away, searching for any kind of distraction. Eventually his eyes went to the radio on the table next to him. The melody became clearer to him, and he hummed along to the tune. “Did you bring it here?” he asked, slowly closing his eyes and leaning back against the wall.
“Mhm. Had to sneak it past the nurses, but I got it,” he let out a half chuckle, pleased with his own efforts. “It’s that song-”
“We danced to,” Norton interrupted, still fixated on the lyric. “The song we danced to.. after you came back from the last mission,” he added on in a tiny mumble.
“Right, right…”
They both fell into another silence. Wondering what to say in a situation such as this, while the music kept playing and started reaching its end.
”My world would end without a mem’ry of you”
“Hey.. Norton?”
”I’m no good without you anyhow”
”Oh!”
“Have I told you lately that I love you?”
Norton opened his eyes to look at Steam, singing along to the lyrics, but once he opened his eyes he was met with a pair of soft lips against his. Startled, his head needed a moment to tie any sense to the current action.
Slowly it dawned in on him, and he sighed, reaching up to grab Steam’s burning cheeks, leaning back into the kiss with a slight blush himself.
”Well darling, I’m telling you now”.