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The darkening sky was enough to alert Norton Campbell something he knew of millions of times. Something harsh was on its way, something he hated the most. By Norton’s logic, the darker the gray clouds in the sky were, the harsher the thunderstorm would be. It was a nightmare for the ravenette prospector, really. He could already feel the overwhelming dread setting in as he swallowed hard, leaning against the window of the dining hall. Survivors were in a chatter with one another, standing and drinking wine as they conversed with one another. Norton, on the hand, remained quiet and as isolated as he could. Every thunderstorm, he refused to show any sorts of weakness; if he did, survivors could blackmail him, or his teammates would believe he was incapable of doing anything for them if he was scared of something as mere as a little thunderstorm. To Norton, it was something silly to be afraid of. Would he berate others for sharing the same fear as him? Of course not; he understood very well how terrifying a thunderstorm could be. The rain did not bother Norton. The things that did were the increased wind, the violent rumbles, and the bright flashes. He found nothing but malice in such storms like these, and did not find any purpose in why they existed. They were nothing but violent and harsh, and brought despair wherever they went, and to anyone who enjoyed them, Norton just could not understand how or why they would enjoy something like that.
How could someone enjoy the incredibly loud rumbles of the sky? How could one enjoy the bright and violent flashes of light that came and went in a matter of seconds? The brighter the lightning, the louder the rumble that followed afterwards. God, just thinking about it now sent shivers down Norton’s spine as he swallowed hard, keeping his gaze fixated out the window. He’d rather be locked inside a soundproof and windowless room than to be by this window now, but he couldn’t tear himself away from the window, watching as he could see the lightning in the distance and hear the faint rumbles of thunder as the storm steadily approached the Oletus Manor. It caused Norton’s breath to get caught in his throat as he swallowed hard, heart racing in his ribcage. The thought was heart shattering in a sense; Norton was not excited as he felt the fearful adrenaline course throughout his body. He barely ate anything, too, simply out of anxiety and fear. It was unfortunate to say that Norton Campbell snapped like a twig when it came to thunderstorms - they just awoke painful memories and fear inside of him, things he’d rather forget, screams he’d rather not hear more than he did. He knew there were other survivors afraid of the thunderstorms, Tracy Reznik being one of them. However, Norton was also aware of others who were also afraid of the storms and wouldn’t admit it, such as Naib Subedar and Luca Balsa. Norton emphasized with them, but made no effort to help them during such times, not when he couldn’t even help himself during those frightful times.
Norton had tuned out most of the background noise he was hearing from the other survivors, all in favor of paying closer attention to the rumbles of thunder that came closer and closer every second. He’d rather hear the thunder, simply to know if it was coming closer or not. The louder it was, the closer it got, and knowing how loud it was expressed how harsh it was going to be. From the looks of the pitch black sky with splotches of dark gray, Norton could tell this was going to be a harsh one. The prospector had heard chatter over the thunderstorm arriving tonight, the chatter of survivors saying how scary it was going to be, how harsh it was going to be, how the wind could be so violent that it’d knock the power out. Safe to say, survivors had already gathered candles and fully charged flashlights just in case the power went out. Did Norton have flashlights or candles with him? Well, he had the one on his prospector hat that he could use if the power were to go out. That was something, right? It probably wasn’t as good as a flashlight; Kreacher Pierson had a surplus of those flashlights. Most likely, he’d share them due to the oncoming thunderstorm, knowing he might get an earful from the other survivors if he didn’t. Norton would share too - he didn’t like sharing because he never really had anything to begin with, but he knew how threatening thunderstorms could be and emphasized with people who were afraid of them.
Despite everything, no one expected that Norton Campbell of all people would be afraid of thunderstorms. Due to his rather large, tall, and muscular figure, no one would expect him to be afraid of anything. Norton appeared as fearless and brave, as though nothing could break him down, except things could break him down, because Norton was a human being that suffered traumatic memories he’d rather forget. Thunderstorms were just a reminder of the memories… even if the thunderstorms weren’t directly involved with the mining explosions, they just reminded Norton of the mining explosions. That was all it took for Norton to collapse under the weight of trauma. He watched as the darkening clouds approached closer, frowning as his eyes narrowed. He could already feel the trembling of his body, and he realized that soon enough, he’d begin to show physical signs of fear and anxiety, and that wouldn’t be good, especially around all these people. Norton refused to let any physical symptoms of fear and trauma. After all, if that got out… Norton wouldn’t know what he would do.
He didn’t wish to be put into a place of dread, of manipulation, of blackmail. Norton was VERY aware there were people here who did not like, such as the perfumer, Vera Nair, the painter, Edgar Valden, and the magician, Servais le Roy. If any of them were to find out Norton’s weaknesses, he was certain he would be doomed and done for. They’d blackmail him, berate him… they already berated him so this wouldn’t be different really, but giving them another weapon against him was less than ideal. God, how he hated rich people, or aristocrats, really. He considered Luca the only exception to this, however; despite Norton’s dislike for being around others, Luca was pleasant at least. Sure, his pleasantries could get annoying, but they were much better compared to the nastiness that radiated from Edgar, Vera, and Servais. Norton would take Luca over them any time, any day, anywhere. Even Freddy Riley, the lawyer, and the thief, Kreacher Pierson, would use this fear against him if they ever found out about it, and Norton was not planning on letting that happen any time soon. Oh God, Norton could already foresee the tragedy that he would endure if others found out about his weaknesses. It was nightmarish, truly, and he was not ready for it. All Norton came here for was his damn money that he rightfully deserved. Instead, he was given empty promises and an eternity strapped down to this wretched manor and the inhabitants of it. He hated it here with a passion, and while he lived in somewhat luxury due to the manor being luxurious, he just wished to escape these endless matches and live in his own lavish home on his own.
What would it be like to live in a mansion of his own? Norton would think he’d have a few portraits of himself up made by famous painters. Sure, he wasn’t as nearly as narcissistic as Vera and Edgar were, but it was a bit hard to not be a little bit of a narcissist, not when one had been missing something like that from their lives all along. A strange way to put it, of course, but Norton couldn’t resist. He wanted to be treated like an aristocrat would be treated. Norton wanted people to admire him, to look up to me, to find him a very important figure. He wanted to go down in history as a very well known aristocrat, and getting money was the one way to go. It was all Norton ever wanted, and someone from his status couldn’t disagree with him on that. Being rich? Please, that was something almost everyone wanted, and Norton was absolutely certain that most of the people in this manor had come here for money. He remembered the introductions, how some people actually chose to share their motives for coming to the manor. Most of it was money reasons - Eli Clark, the seer, came to this manor to gain money to get himself and his fiance into good financial standings. Naib also came here for money, along with Kreacher, Freddy, and other survivors. Money seemed to be the prime thing that many people were after, yet Norton was surprised to hear of the select few survivors who weren’t chasing after money.
To people like that, Norton considered them weird. Money was the anthem of success after all, not to mention it was the bloodline of humans. Too much money made people corrupt but… too little money also made people corrupt. Norton considered himself corrupted and tainted. The screams and begs of mercy his friends cried out during times in the mines… how Norton was the reason they died because of his greed that kept growing and growing. The pain resonated with Norton, but he would admit that he had become a monster, that he had become a disgusting man. Being the sole survivor of such a tragic event that HE caused held so much weight… those men had families, those men were Norton’s family… and he killed them due to his own selfishness and greed, and in the end? They died for nothing; the gold was never uncovered and it made Norton question if there was any gold to actually begin with. He never received anything, so those efforts he put it, the lives that were lost, it was all for nothing in the end. It was really disheartening, discouraging, and it ate away at Norton every single day. All the times with his companions in the mines that seemed beautiful and good were drowned in blood, tainted with malice. Did Norton really consider them his friends to begin with? He must have; their deaths resonated with him so and for once, he remembered himself being happy when the miners and him were laughing and talking like they were old friends. It had made Norton feel warm inside, something he hadn’t felt before, and something he hadn’t paid attention to back then. He guessed that old saying many people have said was true after all - you never know what you had until it’s gone, and all those friends Norton made, were gone because of him. It ate away at him every single day, every night, his dreams were nightmares and he was restless. The prospector would get very little sleep every night, being restless so often… damn, he was really bad at taking care of himself too, wasn’t he? Letting things eat away at him like this… it was almost pathetic, really.
Norton watched the storm, his dark brown hues not taking off of it. He could see the lightning and thunder approach, watching it boom in the distance high above the tall trees of the forest that enclosed the Oletus Manor. It caused him to swallow hard, letting out a shaky and quiet exhale. He intentionally tried to keep himself quiet, so that no one else picked up on his fear. His dark brown orbs hesitantly trailed over to the other survivors, seeing how they were doing. Everyone seemed to be doing fine, however; no one showed any visible signs of discomfort at the moment. He knew some people enjoyed thunderstorms here - Norton couldn’t understand them. He was aware everything was different, but he just had such trouble understanding people. Maybe that was his own doing however; after all, Norton had willingly closed himself off to people, which might’ve enhanced his lack of understanding in them, and maybe even in himself. The prospector returned his attention back out the window, his eyes once again fixed on the approaching thunderstorm, feeling the thump of his heart in his chest mix it with the oncoming rumbles of thunder. He hated this so freaking much, but was there anything he could do to change that? No, and Norton didn’t think there was anything that would make thunderstorms okay for him. He didn’t have someone like Naib did to comfort him when he needed someone the most; Norton was almost a bit envious of Naib’s relationship with Luca. However, Norton was well aware he was better off alone - being alone was better for everyone involved, including himself.
The prospector had been so wrapped up in thought that he hadn’t noticed that someone was calling out to him. The person calling out to him was Naib Subedar, the mercenary, one of the few people Norton conversed with. He wouldn’t call them friends, but they were somewhat friends with one another, really. They were technically friends, though, even if neither one of them would really admit it. Naib had given up calling Norton, noticing he was too deep in thought. At first, the mercenary was simply going to ask if Norton was okay - the mercenary was no stranger to explosions and how lightning and thunder would remind one of such dastardly things that haunted people’s nightmares. It seemed that the storms affected Norton as well as they affected Naib, and the mercenary had picked up on it without Norton actually knowing that, or anyone knowing that, really. However, Naib was no good at comforting others; usually, Luca Balsa, the “prisoner”, would be the one comforting Naib during these times, and Naib did not consider himself close enough to comfort Norton. Norton wasn’t opening up to anyone - it’d take a specific person to open Norton… someone who’d never give up on trying to comfort Norton, who would never let the prospector fight his troublesome traumatic battles alone, someone like...
“... Campbell,” the prospector heard a firm voice say. Norton hesitantly turned his head to see the batter, Ganji Gupta, standing in front of him as Norton sat on the window sill. The prospecto gave a grimace, worry setting in as he swallowed hard. Great, did Ganji already pick up on Norton’s physical cues of distress? “... You alright? You seem out of it.”
“... It’s none of your business,” Norton said. Great, why would he say that of all things? Now it made it seem like something was wrong - well, something WAS wrong, but Norton didn’t want anyone to know that. It was too late now though; Ganji was aware something was wrong, and no doubt about it, the nosy batter wouldn’t leave Norton alone after finding that out.
“You’re right, it’s not,” Ganji began, looking out the window as the storm approached, “but it doesn’t hurt to open up to someone about what you’re feeling. I know it’s not easy to open up… but you should definitely try.” Norton was about to speak, until a loud rumble of thunder caused his eyes to widen. He clenched his teeth, tilting his head down so Ganji wouldn’t see his expression, the prospector getting up from the winding sill.
“I’m going to my room, leave me alone,” the ravenette said as he brushed past the batter, who watched him go in concern and worry. Their shoulders bumped against one another, causing Ganji to pick up on Norton’s displeasure upon being asked what was wrong. Was that going to stop the batter from worrying? No, it certainly would not stop him from worrying. However, Ganji wondered… what could’ve put Norton in such distraught to the point he was trembling?
“Mister Gupta! Would you like to drink with us?” Emma called out cheerfully, looking over at the batter, smiling brightly.
“... No thank you, I think I’ll just head to my room,” Ganji said softly and nodded his head. With that, he trudged towards his bedroom, the batter still feeling iffy about the prospector, worried about what Norton was dealing with all by himself now.
***
Norton shifted uncomfortably in the bed. His curtains were completely closed, lights turned on to max brightness as he kept shifting in the bed. He was laying down, shifting as his shirt was completely unbuttoned. He was covered in sweat, having removed his shoes, socks, gloves, and hat. He even removed his scarf, drenched with sweat from his fear pumping through his veins. The storm was just arriving overhead, which meant it wasn’t even close to finish with the Oletus Manor. Anxiety filled Norton, the man shifting in his bed as he sat up quickly at the loud boom. He hadn’t even noticed the lightning before the loud rumble hit, causing Norton’s eyes to widen. He bit down harshly on his bottom lip, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread and fear rush over him. The prospector heaved a sigh as he ran a hand through his shaggy black hair, his hair a mess from the constant shifting and shuffling he did in his bed. He was so uncomfortable now, and his terrors were coming to life due to this thunderstorm that had emerged. He inhaled and exhaled shakily, running his hands over his face as he swallowed hard, his body trembling violently now. He couldn’t make any sound, any fearful noises, not when the batter’s room and the coordinator’s room was right next to his own, not when Norton wasn’t sure if everyone had returned to their rooms.
The prospector was restless as he was now unintentionally paying attention to the windows, his dark brown orbs widening as a bright flash flickered from behind his curtains, causing him to let out a gasp. Gradually followed by that, taking it’s agonizingly slow time, was the loud rumble that seemed to shake Norton’s room, causing his eyes to widen further as he covered his mouth, trembling hard. He felt like he couldn’t breath, like his throat was closing up, which was probably due to the fear he was feeling. What if Norton went into a state of shock from his fear that rendered him helpless, unable to call out for help? Even then, would Norton really allow himself to receive help? Sure, if he made sounds of fear and discomfort, Martha or Ganji would come to check on Norton and see if he needed help, if he was in a state of shock or something. Despite that, Norton wasn’t sure he’d actually allow it to happen - weakness was weakness. He wasn’t Naib, but hiding one’s weaknesses was something Norton found promise in. Knowing someone’s weaknesses made them vulnerable; the prospector wasn’t sure how Naib handled giving his weaknesses away to Luca.
The ravenette inhaled and exhaled shakily as another bright flicker of lightning came through, causing Norton to swallow hard and his heart to ache from fear and anxiety. God, he hated this so much. He didn’t ask for this, for any of this. Norton just wanted his money, he just wanted to escape poverty! Was that so much to ask for? Norton guessed good things didn’t happen to people like him. He guessed something like that a long time ago, however. He felt his breathing become sharper and much more shaky than it was before, his eyes wide and pupils dilated. God, the sounds were terrifying as he found himself gasping for air, clenching on to his shirt tightly as his heart raced. Another bright burst of lightning… BOOM! Norton tilted upwards, letting out a faint scream. Everyone was still downstairs, surely, which meant no one would hear a small, yet terrified scream. Norton’s hands were trembling as he sat up in his bed, eyes now bouncing all over the place from anxiety as he shakily swallowed hard. He was terrified, traumatized by this storm. His hands were trembling as he looked down at them, his mind starting to draw back to the nightmares of his past…
“Norton? Norton!” Norton could hear a voice calling out, a small knocking on his door. Whose voice was it…? It was drowned out in the heavy rain and wind, followed by the bright lightning and loud rumbles of aggressive thunder. “Shit, Norton!” Norton’s eyes widened as he saw another thing of lightning, followed by thunder, causing Norton to let out another frightened squeal. “Shit… Norton, I’m coming in…!” With that, the sound of the door knob being opened and the door being swung filled the room. The batter watched the prospector cowering in fear, all the lights on full bright with the curtains closed. Ganji’s dark colored eyes softened and saddened as he watched this. So this is what had been eating away at the prospector after all, huh? One would be surprised, but Ganji had his suggestions about what had caused Norton to be shaken up earlier. The thunderstorm was one of those suggestions, and it appeared to be correct. Softly, Ganji closed the door, being gentle and quiet as he was aware loud noises would only put the prospector into a more fearful state. The batter quietly approached Norton and his bed, the ravenette prospector burying his face into his trembling hands. Slowly but surely, Ganji reached Norton’s bed, putting one knee on to get on to the bed without putting his shoes on it. Upon feeling a dip in the bed, Norton hesitantly pulled his face from his hands, blushing slightly as he saw the handsome batter waiting there. To Norton’s surprise, he found no malice in Ganji’s expression - or pity. “... Hey… it’s okay…” Carefully, Norton felt a pair of strong arms wrap around him, pulling him close to a strong chest.
“H-hhnn…?” Norton murmured weakly, his eyes glassy from tears that were threatening to fall. He looked up, blushing as he felt Ganji hold the prospector close. “L-L-Let me go…” Norton’s tone was barely audible, but Ganji heard it… however, his arms didn’t move a bit. They remained firm around Norton, holding him close and protectively. At first, Norton was uneasy - when was the last time he was touched by someone else, especially a touch that felt so gentle and caring? He was almost at a loss for words; trying to figure out what to say or do. He knew he should push Ganji away. By letting the batter do this, Norton was already showing weakness by allowing Ganji to comfort him now. “I-I-I said let me go…!” Norton’s voice boomed in the room, his body trembling violently. To his surprise, Ganji did not listen again.
“... If I let you go, you’ll only suffer more…” the batter whispered, “... you don’t deserve to suffer like this… I figured you were afraid of the thunderstorm back in the dining hall when I noticed how shaken up you had gotten… and while I know nothing about your past, I’m sure the storm brings terrible memories back for you… being a miner must’ve… it must’ve left such an imprint on you…” Ganji clutched Norton closer, causing Norton’s arms to go limp, not wanting to fight or struggle against something that felt so sweet. Could he trust this moment with Ganji? Could he even trust Ganji? Ganji was an altruistic, one who could not stand to see people suffer. It only made sense that he intervened right now to try and comfort Norton from his nightmares, but the comfort did not come out of pity, it appeared. It seemed like it came out of true worry and concern, true kindness and care. Norton didn’t wish to admit it but… it seemed like Ganji’s kindness was having some sort of effect on him, as though he was submitting to the kindness at a gradual pace. “... Actually, there is something I should do first. Do you have any extra blankets?” Norton blinked. What kind of question was that?
“Y-Yeah… i-in the cabinet b-by the desk…” the prospector murmured, waiting for another flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder to appear. While he would’ve rather the storm had gone away, the arrival of the next pair of lightning and thunder was agonizingly slow; the storm was nowhere near over as the wind and rain whipped against the windows. It left Norton in such anxiety that he was forced to remain alert and focused on when the next pair of horror would come. Ganji nodded and slowly got up, letting Norton go completely. There was a pause as a bright flash of light flickered in the window, causing Norton’s dark brown and tearful eyes to widen. Followed by the sound of thunder, he threw himself off the bed into Ganji’s arms, nearly knocking the ever so slightly taller man over. A wave of surprise washed over Ganji as he looked down at Norton, whose head was buried into Ganji’s shoulder, the prospector’s arms wrapping around Ganji and clenching on to the batter’s white blouse so tightly. It certainly took Ganji by surprise, as Norton was just moments ago telling Ganji to let him go. Now, that same man was clenching on to the batter for dear life, as though he didn’t feel safe any other way.
“Hey…” Ganji said softly, arms slowly caging Norton into a protective hug, “it’s okay… I’m sorry I let you go… I promise I’m not leaving, though.” The batter was still trying to process what exactly just happened. Norton never showed vulnerability with anyone before, from what he heard from the residents of the manor. To think, Norton had completely come undone right here in front of Ganji, crying and sobbing… it made Ganji wonder how many times Norton had to endure this stuff alone. It made the batter so sympathetic and empathetic… everyone had their fears, no matter how little or large those fears seemed to be to someone. “I asked about the blankets because I’m going to put them on the windows, to help block out the lightning for you.” Ganji hesitantly pulled Norton away, seating the prospector down on the bed. Norton hesitantly watched, his heart aching and racing as his eyes never left Ganji, who strode over to the cabinet holding the blankets. When he opened it, the batter was relieved to see thick and large blankets, which seemed to be what Norton would use during the harsh winters at the manor to help keep him warm. Taking out two, Ganji closed the cabinet with his foot and set one of the blankets down on Norton’s bed, before taking the other one and walking towards the closest window to Norton’s bed. It was a small room, but there were two windows, one right next to Norton’s bed and the other closer to the bathroom.
Being as tall as he was, Ganji did not need a step stool to reach the window. While the curtains were closed, they appeared to be light, which meant they did almost no good in keeping Norton’s eyes from witnessing the bright flashes of light that emanated from the dreary night sky. Ganji adjusted the blanket slightly, before throwing it up and over the curtain rack that kept the curtains up, pulling it and adjusting it so it completely blocked the window. Norton’s eyes widened as he noticed lightning flashed from the other window… but he couldn’t see it from the window Ganji just blocked up. Norton flinched at the thunder, but he felt at ease with Ganji being here, or at some degree of ease. Ganji took the second blanket and blocked up the other window, too, soon completely finishing before joining Norton back on the bed, the batter having removed his shoes and shin guards to not get any dirt on the bed. Norton was surprised that Ganji had been putting so much effort into comforting him from this terror; Norton didn’t think anyone at this manor would put effort into him like Ganji was doing now. “Is that better? I can’t do anything to block out the thunder, really… but I’ll try anything to help comfort you.”
“... Why…” Norton mumbled.
“Why what?” Ganji asked, blinking his dark eyes at Norton in confusion. The two were facing each other as they sat upright on Norton’s bed, the ravenette man keeping his head low.
“Why?! W-Why are you helping me…?! I-It’s none of your business…!” Norton shouted almost, his body trembling as a rumble of thunder came on.
“... You’re right, it is none of my business,” Ganji said after a moment of silence. Norton was filled with dread, worried he had just pushed away the only one who ever was putting effort into making sure he was safe and happy, especially in a moment of terror for the prospector. Norton didn’t want Ganji to leave…! He just… he just wanted to know why the batter was putting in effort to comfort him like this… sure, Norton was aware that Ganji was altruistic (and nosy), but… that answer wasn’t good enough for Norton. “... I’m doing this because I care about you, Norton. You’re so reserved and filled with… pain… you always radiate such a painful aura and while others don’t pick up on it, I did. I knew I couldn’t force you or push you into opening up to someone about it, because forcing you to open up would be awful of me to do to you… so I just… I did my best to just talk to you, to try and help you in any way that I could. Why do you think I was so protective of you… when we were on that Golden Cave game stage…? I picked up on your discomfort and did my best to make sure you escaped from that hell.” Norton listened quietly, his heart picking up speed as his cheeks flushed. “... You were annoyed I was so insistent on following you around that match, even though I knew you were shaky and really disoriented, so I didn’t leave your side, even after you told me to go away.” Ganji finished completely, looking at Norton, allowing the prospector to take everything he just heard in.
Ganji really went above and beyond… to make sure that Norton was safe, huh? Norton always considered such advances of Ganji’s to be a nuisance, and he found nothing good in them. It was ironic, because thinking about it now, Norton was certain a part of him had somewhat enjoyed Ganji comforting him and being there for him, even if Norton could never admit to himself or to others. Ganji was like him in a sense - the two both had great desires to change their fates, one wanting to rise up from poverty, and the other who wanted to return home back to the place he always found sanctuary in. They were different people, driven to the same manor by the same objective - to change their fates. The two also had a hatred for rich people, ironically enough, as neither one enjoyed the company of Vera, Edgar, or Servais, so they also shared that, as well. It really left an imprint on Norton thinking about it now, thinking about how they were so alike, but also so different. Maybe… maybe that was why despite consciously considering Ganji a “nosy neighbor”, he always found subconscious solace and comfort in the batter’s presence. As Norton’s tears continued to fall, Ganji reached a hand out gently to Norton’s face, his gloved hands reaching to the prospector’s cheeks and wiping his tears away gently with his thumbs. Norton flinched, but resisted the urge to pull away, honestly finding comfort in this. For a moment, it seemed like time had come to a pause, the two melting in this moment with one another as the rain and wind pounded against the windows, the thunder and lightning still raging on outside.
Norton wanted to say something, he really did, but he couldn’t come up with anything to say. He wasn’t good at conversing with people, and he wasn’t exactly someone who had good experiences with people, anyway. Should he thank Ganji for the help? Did Norton even know how to properly thank someone? He came into the manor with the mindset he was going to be the odd one out, different from everyone here, and so he refused to converse with anyone here due to that mindset. However, he listened and learned that not everyone here was as different as he expected them to be, that people came here for money just like him, that people had similar traumas just like he did, that the people here were similar to him. It was so strange, but Norton had tried to keep that mindset of staying clear of others for his sake and for their own. Ganji had always been the nosy one that wouldn’t leave him alone ever since Ganji came to the Oletus Manor. It was annoying at first, but then… it became something nicer that Norton never consciously admitted to himself, or to others.
“... I… found you annoying at first…” Norton mumbled, averting his eyes as Ganji continued to dry the prospector’s falling tears.
“I’m not surprised. People warned me about it when I first approached you,” the batter responded. So the others warned Ganji about Norton when Ganji first approached him? Yet, Ganji never gave up on Norton? The prospector could feel his heart skipping beats at this point, as though… something was developing in his chest.
“... You didn’t give up…” Norton whispered softly.
“I didn’t give up,” Ganji repeated softly, nodding his head. Another rumble of thunder occurred, but it didn’t bother Norton this time, not when he felt… when he felt Ganji’s hands on his cheek in such a comforting way, drying his tears. “I’m glad I never gave up.” Norton was screaming at himself to push Ganji away, to be left alone, but the odd part? Norton didn’t WANT Ganji to leave him alone. Norton wanted Ganji to stay with him, to comfort him, to take all the pain away. “Why don’t we get some rest? If you’re asleep, you won’t focus on the thunderstorm at all. That is… if you wouldn’t mind if I shared the bed with you?” Norton’s eyes widened as he blushed. What? No way! No way would they share a bed together! Bed sharing should be something made for romantic partners, Ganji and Norton were not romantic partners! Norton couldn’t bring himself to reject Ganji, however. Something in his heart was screaming at Norton not to reject Ganji’s proposal. With his heart swelling in his chest, the ravenette quietly nodded his head, not daring to show Ganji his flustered face. The batter nodded his head in response as Norton laid down, Ganji following after him. He grabbed up the blankets, and placed them over both of them, the two men facing one another as their hearts raced. “... I’ll stay with you all night. I’m not quite sure when the storm will settle, so I’ll be here. Just get some rest.” Norton blushed at Ganji’s words, heart racing violently in his ribcage.
Despite the raging storm, there was something different in the atmosphere of Norton’s bedroom. The scary and eerie atmosphere that occurred earlier due to Norton’s fear of the thunderstorm was replaced with something sweeter. Norton felt safe in his room now with Ganji here, as though Ganji was protecting him somehow from the storm. Norton closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing to relax himself and try to ease himself into falling asleep. He didn’t want to force himself to sleep, and part of him was worried that he would fall asleep after Ganji did. Norton didn’t want to be awake by himself; the thought was terrifying and it made him worry that he would be alone, even with Ganji laying there with him. Norton’s now slightly trembling body was reassured by Ganji’s arms wrapping around him and pulling him close to his strong and built chest. Ganji… had such a handsome scent. It was relaxing almost, and it certainly put Norton at ease now, even with the raging storm outside that pounded against the Oletus Manor. It seemed so strange how one person could make Norton feel at ease right now. It was amazing and surprising, and it was something that Norton usually would’ve never let into his heart. Things change, though, and things certainly have changed now. The prospector found himself gradually falling into the land of dreams, taking in Ganji’s scent which only relaxed him more. Soon, he had completely drifted off to sleep in Ganji’s arms.
The batter looked at the prospector adoringly, his black eyes soft and affectionate. Tonight, he got to see Norton’s vulnerable side, a side of Norton no one had ever seen before. Others only got to see his cold, reserved, and short tempered side, which had driven other survivors away from Norton. It would never drive Ganji away, however; he knew Norton was suffering, and his short temper came from that suffering that continued to resonate with him to this day. Like the prospector, Ganji had also been able to see that Norton and him were more alike than they would’ve previously thought. They were both out to change their fates, as that is what lured them both to this manor… but both of them were lied to, and now they were trapped here. Ganji heard that there was no escape, that no matter how far you would run, you’d just be back at the manor again. It felt like there was no hope, but Ganji refused to give up hope. He refused to let anyone else lose hope, too, especially Norton. Ah, it seemed he had become rather fond of Norton since coming to the manor, huh? It was so strange. As Ganji gently caressed Norton’s cheek, his eyes softened as they closed. Ganji considered this… to be the most beautiful moment in his life since leaving India.
***
The beautiful morning sunshine cascaded upon the Oletus Manor, some dew on the ground and rain drops on the building from the heavy rain of last night. Nothing seemed destroyed, the environment was not disrupted, either. The men rested in the same bed together, blankets covering them along with their arms draped around one another. There was shifting from the left side of the bed, dark brown eyes opening. The prospector’s heart raced as he was greeted with the batter’s handsome sleeping face, his short hair already more messy than usual. He was handsome when he slept, wasn’t he? He wasn’t handsome in general, of course, but his sleeping face was so peaceful. Ganji really stayed with Norton the whole night, didn’t he? The batter didn’t look like he shifted from this bed at all, as though he hadn’t gotten up all night. It was… it was so sweet… Norton’s heart raced in his ribcage as he felt a familiar heat rise in his cheeks. Norton originally wanted to get up but now… he didn’t even want to move. He wanted to stay here with Ganji, wanting to stay here at this moment. It felt so sweet in this moment together, and Norton usually wouldn’t have let that sweetness in… but due to his vulnerable state last night, he couldn’t help but welcome Ganji and his sweetness into his heart and into his life. Now, Norton didn’t want that sweetness, nor did he want Ganji to leave. Norton’s right right hand hesitantly reached out to Ganji’s cheeks, his fingertips brushing ever so delicately against Ganji’s cheek. His skin was so soft for someone whose face yielded a nasty burn mark. In a way, they were matching, weren’t there? Just another similarity between the two, it seemed.
“Mmmm…” Norton gasped quietly and pulled his hand back upon Ganji’s stirring. The batter groaned, opening his eyes. As his vision gradually adjusted, he was met with Norton’s flustered face. “... Good morning…” Norton blushed a bit and swallowed hard.
“M-Morning…” he muttered, averting his eyes. Did he wake Ganji up? Somehow, Norton felt guilty about it. Ganji seemed completely unbothered by this, however, smiling ever so slightly. Ganji was smiling? He actually had a really handsome smile… wait, why was Norton thinking something like that?! He quickly shook his head, before swiftly sitting up and shaking his messy black hair out, inhaling and exhaling.
“Norton, how did you sleep?” Ganji said as he sat up carefully, shaking his own hair out a little bit.
“... Good, for once…” Norton said, muttering that little ‘for once’ at the end of his short sentence. Ganji caught on to it, making him smile a little bit more.
“Is that so? I’m glad,” the batter said and chuckled, his eyes softening as he seemed content. “I’m glad the thunderstorm didn’t disrupt your slumber.”
“Yeah… me too…” Norton muttered softly. It was quiet between the two men for a few moments, before Norton gave Ganji a small side eye, his cheeks a flushed shade of red. “... Ganji.”
“Yeah?” the batter responded.
“... Could we… maybe… keep this under wraps? I really don’t want anyone to know-”
“-that you’re scared of thunderstorms?” Ganji finished for Norton after cutting him off. When Norton gave a nod, Ganji smiled a bit more. “No one will hear it from me, I assure you. However, I do request something from you in return for that.”
“What?” Norton said, wrinkling his nose in annoyance now. No, he shouldn’t be annoyed, not when Ganji was going to keep this a secret from everyone else. Really, Norton owed Ganji for everything he had done for the prospector, so he really couldn’t be annoyed with Ganji for requesting something.
“I want you… to come to me when you feel vulnerable, when you feel like you need someone,” Ganji said, turning to face Norton completely, “you don’t have to handle everything alone anymore, I’m here with you, and I’m not going to let you get hurt. I just… I just don’t want you to suffer by yourself anymore… it must’ve been so painful… not having anyone to turn to when you needed them the most… I want to be there for you, Norton, I want you to know that I’m not going to leave your side, that I’ll always be there for you.” Norton’s jaw dropped a little as he swallowed hard, unsure what to really say at that moment. What was there to say, really, besides thank you? Norton wasn’t sure if he was ready to let anyone into his heart yet. Then again… Norton was already exposed to how nice it was. Usually, he wouldn’t let anyone in so easily, but it appeared Ganji destroyed his walls, or at least, climbed over them into Norton’s heart. The feelings of warmth in Norton’s rib cage was because of Ganji, so maybe Norton had already let the batter into his heart after all. “I-I know it’s probably far from easy for granting my request, I understand if you-”
“I’ll try,” Norton cut Ganji off, averting his eyes.
“What?” Ganji said, surprised.
“I said, I’ll try,” Norton said a bit louder, blushing as he averted his eyes and swallowed hard. Ganji perked up a bit, and ended up smiling a large and handsome smile, causing Norton’s heart to race rapidly in his rib cage once again.
“... I’m glad,” Ganji said, “ah, anyway, we should get up, yeah? Probably a good idea since we have matches.”
“Any morning matches?” Norton asked.
“I’m not sure,” Ganji said, “most likely not, since we had morning matches yesterday.”
“Good,” Norton said before being bold enough to grab Ganji and pull him down. “Let’s go back to this…” His words came out as a murmur, an embarrassed murmur. Ganji blinked, bit chuckled a little bit as the two snuggled back into bed with one another. It seemed that despite thunderstorms being scary, it brought two people together, not to mention… it opened one of their hearts up. Sometimes, bad things have to happen for good things to happen. Norton Campbell surely found himself falling in love with Ganji Gupta that night of the thunderstorm, a love that he’d cherish forever.