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„Norman really is amazing...“
A female voice spoke which belonged to a certain, quite well-known redhead. Her friend, who was Ray just sighed at Emma, who was looking around the hideout again in awe like many times before since they arrived, greeting everyone with her seemingly very contagious smile. „You sound like a broken record, Emma. I get it, he's amazing, we can all see that, no need to remind us of the obvious every five minutes, okay?“ The boy with the darker hair color said. He appeared to be one of the few people who were immune to her infectious cheerful attitude.
At his words, Emma looked at him with a grin, stopping her tracks which left him raising a brow. „If that's so, I'll gladly say it every minute! At least someone has to speak out what we all think, no? Norman deserves to know how outstanding his work is!“ Ray rolled his eyes away from her as he raised one hand to balm it into a fist and bump it down on her head, hard enough to show that he was serious but soft enough to be considered harmless. „ Please don't, he's not even here so if you want to let him know the same thing over and over again every minute, I beg you, go to wherever our dear Emperor is.“
He was waiting for another comeback from his energetic friend but what he didn't expect was seeing Emma actually looking somewhat sad and as if she was frozen in place. She slowly reached up to her head, caressing it softly. „I would but he won't let me or rather his friends seem to try to keep me away from him- They're not trying hard to hide that...“
'Ah, so that's what she's been doing every time she just randomly excused herself and disappeared...' The black-haired man from Gracefield House thought with a tired expression, sighing he spoke up again. „You're acting like that's such an undoable task to do, since when have you been someone to give up this easily? You've accomplished the impossible once, try again, Emma. It's Norman, after all, he can't avoid you forever, he knows that better than I do.“ Emma looked at him, a little irritated as if she was trying to figure out some hidden meaning behind his words but it didn't last too long as the girl just looked at Ray with a suprised glimpse in her emerald eyes. „Hold up, I didn't say I gave up or anything! Don't just assume things, stupid Ray!“ After telling him that with a small pout, she quickly turned away from him and headed elsewhere but it was quite obvious to where exactly... Norman's office.
Before he could say anything else, Emma was already too far away and he was left alone in the middle of a crowd of children their best friend had saved. Only now he noticed the stares he was receiving from them and how silent it actually was. „Do I have something on my face or am I on fire perhaps?“ Ray chuckled lowly at his own little insider, it wasn't even funny. As they all continued with whatever they were doing before as to act as if they weren't just being called out by him. he looked up to the highest point in this massive tree they were in, his stare rather serious as he knew that's where Emma was going to. '...Norman, don't mess this up...'
Her heart was beating faster as she ran up, the children who saw her just smiled, almost everyone seemed to know Emma and her personality by now- She was just a big sister or even a mother figure, since she was already an adult, to almost every child here, even if the woman with the wonderful leafy green eyes didn't know them personally, she'd consider them all family by now. It was Norman who saved them after all... 'Norman...I'm coming'
As she came closer to his office Emma stopped, collecting herself and letting her breathing turn back to normal. For some reason, she didn't want Norman to think she was being too desperate and in a rush to talk with him. Even if that's totally the case. It's not like he needs to know everything, right? Why was she making such a big deal out of it anyway? 'Wait a moment! This was too eas-' „It's you again, huh?“ A female voice spoke behind her, sounding serious. Her green eyes were still staring at the door for a moment in absolute disbelief. Emma tried her best to smile genuinely as she turned around.
„ Hey there, Barbara! Yep, it's me again, I hope you don't mind if I visit my best friend, who's behind this door... Please?“ Emma's change in tone to something that sounded more like a plea at her request was denied by the older female, she didn't change her mannerism at all.
Barbara simply huffed and bowed down with her upper body towards Emma, her face very close to the redhead's one as she squinted at her. „This is the hundredth time already, carrot girl- Don't think just because you were one of his 'best childhood friends' you get some extra previ- uh, privileges!“ The taller one was trying hard to sound tough, although she was having trouble doing so since Emma would have found Barbara's limited vocabulary hilarious and tried hard not to laugh in order to not hurt the older one... that is if Emma wasn't occupied with that sting in her heart of a feeling she didn't recognize yet. 'W-What is this feeling, I don't like it...' Just where was Norman again to answer that question for her?
The girl with the tangerine-colored hair felt anger mix into that strange emotion, making her rest her hands on her hips unconsciously. „What's that supposed to mean? The Norman I know would be overjoyed if someone visited him, no matter who. He's kind enough to appreciate everyone's company equally, so I don't see what you're trying to get at... He's probably very lonely in his office, so let me through, please!“
Why did her own words hurt Emma? She didn't want to believe she was just as important to the boss of this hideout and her friend as everyone else, she wanted to be special... Special to him! „U-uh..“ Emma suddenly lost her confidence for a moment, she felt horrible at the realization that she was thinking awfully selfish and that sudden uneasiness made her shiver.
Barbara didn't look too pleased. Her yellow eyes that had seen the worst side of the demons that ruled this world showed bubbling anger as she noticed Emma's sudden loss of certainty. „Boss isn't the 'Norman' you knew, he's become more than whatever he used to be and you're in his way of growing, demon-lover! Why can't you just get it... He's not always alone in his office, Boss still has us, ya know?“
Barbara knew the boss‘ old friend wasn't a bad person, yet the girl really pissed her off for some reason. 'Her naive kindness, her foolish ideals, the way everyone seems to like her... She's nuts!' Barbara was obviously jealous of Emma but she was also trying to make the younger one see the world a little more through her eyes. To her, Emma had no right to judge or stop Norman's plans.
'She didn't have to suffer like us! She's so selfish... It makes me sick how she's trying to make us feel bad for wanting revenge by mentioning her demon friends...' Those thoughts were Barbara's main source of anger.
Her forest green eyes held sadness in them, Emma was having trouble finding her words. Seemed like Barbara had hit a weak spot in her heart and the hateful aura that was shooting from her to Emma made it harder to collect herself again. Luckily Emma was good at not giving up, she had had a lot of practice.
Her gaze drifted back into the usual stubborn and determined one, emerald flames lighting her eyes up and burning the sorrow away, making the older girl with the swirly ponytail at the side of her head back away a little. „If you're so sure about that why are you so afraid of me talking to him? Are you scared I could be right and he's still the boy from Gracefield I know? Barbara, I'm not your enemy...“
Her voice held a warning undertone, despite the smile Emma was still carrying but at the last sentence it turned soft, Emma didn't want to fight.
The one she was trying to reach out to was having none of it though. 'She's fucking with me!' Barbara was ready to teach her a lesson that she wouldn't forget- The angered older woman slammed her hand down on the door with a loud noise, cornering Emma with her body as she growled at her, making her green eyes widen.
Our protagonist wasn't comfortable at all. „Listen here you smartaaa...“ She seemed to lose her voice at Emma slowly falling backward. Huh? 'Why is the wall opening? Wait-'
Norman had opened the door and Emma fell fast but he had calmly captured the ginger girl in his arms before she could hit the ground. He wasn't very strong but Emma was surprisingly light so it was no problem for him. His expression was showing his clear dissatisfaction as he looked at Barbara who was frozen in place. 'I forgot we were right at his door! Shit...' She opened her mouth to say something but Norman was quicker. „I've heard enough. You are dismissed, Barbara. It would be better if you left.“ Barbara flinched and nodded formally at his demanding voice before she did as he said.
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Emma got up again and Norman looked at her with his ocean blue eyes which held that beautiful slight hint of pink that the girl found herself lost in. 'Wait, what?' She looked away as she noticed how she was staring.
Norman's brows narrowed in an apologizing way as he sighed. „I'm sorry, she's sensitive at the moment, more than usual.“ 'Yea and you won't say out loud that it's my fault for not liking your plan of genocide...' Emma shook her head with a chuckle. „It's alright really, don't worry about it!“ It actually wasn't, the girl wanted to know how much her friend had heard.
Norman didn't look convinced. „You know I know you're not being honest with me on that... Emma, you wanted to talk to me, right? If it's about my plan, I already-” „I promise it's not!“ She interrupted him, her voice sounded so desperate and for that Emma almost wanted to be buried alive. The white-haired young man felt the tension in his face soften with that smile, his standard spring smile. Emma felt nostalgic.
The emperor closed the door again, a click could be heard once it was shut.
„Well then, I'm all yours now. What is it you wanted to talk about with me?“ In reality he was actually busy with paperwork but Emma was his first priority. His goal was to ensure a future for her and everyone, because that was what Emma would want. He would carry all the guilt and burden that it would take to clean this world of everything that could ruin a happy life for her, it didn't matter if Emma, his friends and his family would hate him for it, it would even be better for them if they did, because...
The man in the navy blue suit knew he wasn't going to exist longer than that. Norman would die shortly after his wish of fulfilling her wish she made back at the orphanage, was completed. She'd probably be sad but she would get over it. 'Emma already got over my death once' Emma could do it again or so he thought and Norman would make it easier for her by making her hate him for his way of doing just that. Yet, it was still terribly painful for him. He didn't want to die, ge didn't want to do it all alone and be known as a mass murderer of a whole kind but his wants came after everything else. Norman couldn't let Emma see through him, even if he wanted nothing more than to be stopped by her.
Said girl was feeling relieved, finally, she could talk to him about her most anticipated question! „Amazing! Okay, so... Um, Norman how would you describe yourself?“ Emma simply asked with an adorable but curious tilt of her head. The braid that was covering her right ear fell a little from it's place. It wasn't too much to ask for, was it?
Norman on the other hand was caught off guard, the man with the platinum blonde hair blinked at her twice and found it cute how his giraffe loving friend was looking at him.
Though what he deemed to be strange is that he didn't find an easy way to answer her. „W-why are you asking that?“ The girl was truly full of suprises for him. He thought about it for a few seconds, intensely. „I'm just myself, Emma. Norman.“ The man smiled softly. He didn't want her to know any details- To him, Emma already knew him too well, any more information could be used against him in the worst case.
Unfortunately, his female comrade gave him a disappointed glance. „But who's Norman now?“ Emma felt the corners of her mouths drop down. What was the reason Norman didn't give her clear answers? „I'm starting to feel like I don't know you anymore. You suddenly have so many names, so much responsibility, so many burdens and a lot of work to do! You heard us, right? Did you really change that much? Was I wrong in thinking you wanted to be visited?“ Emma came off to him as lost, like a puppy who was abandoned in the streets. Norman wasn't sure what to say, this topic was no better than Emma disliking his plan.
„You're making a big thing out of nothing, Emma. I grew up and I choose the future I desire, I didn't change one bit. I'm really sorry that I can't find much time for you and Ray.“ His voice was warm but freezing at the same time, how was that even possible?
Emma was making an effort in understanding her old friend. He's so complicated at times, understanding how he felt was a huge challenge to her at times. This situation was one of them.
'Why are you acting like this? Where you always this settled on getting what you want? Is it revenge? What could possibly be more important than supporting me, you always did, no matter how risky it was so why now?'
The questions in her head were beginning to echo through her mind again, making her head hurt ever so slightly, it didn't help that Emma knew Norman wouldn't give her any clarity on those things.
Oh yea, he was still talking...
„I really do appreciate your attempts to visit me but it has been proven again that currently our perspectives on elements regarding my strategy aren't matching up.“ The boy with the moonlight hair tried his best to contain his feelings and sounding gentle but as he looked at Emma he saw her frustrated and angered expression.
'Are those tears at the corners of her eyes?...' He decided to close his own blues for a while, his tone now more strict, his anger towards her persistence leaking out a little no matter how hard the boy tried to keep up his facade. „That's the reason I was trying to avoid talking to you. I don't like arguing with you but everytime we do end up in a conversation it somehow always ends up in one.“ They opened again, Norman was secretly hesitant to look at Emma again but when he did he was confused about it. 'They're gone...?' It didn't make sense to him.
Yet Emma was glad he wasn't trying to hold back his true emotion anymore. 'Don't smile at me when it's dishonest!' Emma wanted to see more. More of his true self and his feelings.
„You're a no better liar than I am, Norman. Please, I- I want to know this person everyone here talks about and calls Boss or Minerva. I feel like your hiding a part of yourself from me for a reason and I don't like it...“ He was slowly losing it, she wasn't gonna go away without an answer so he was going to end this quick before things escalated again.
„I see, thanks for sharing your concerns, Emma. If that's all you wanted to tell me I'm gonna take my leave now, I still have things to do so if you'll excuse me.“ Norman opened the door again and walked out this time.
Emma was left dumbfounded by his obvious attempt to get away from her. Her mind dared to show her a picture of a younger Norman dressed up in a suit, carrying a suitcase. Mom closing the door behind him. His shipment. Her eyes widened in horror.
„Wait!“ She ran after him, he wasn't stopping but only walked faster. „You're dismissed, Emma.“ He simply said but she continued walking behind him.
„Norman, don't go!“ He didn't stop.
„Please, listen to me!“ He still didn't turn around. The people nearby looked afraid. His face turned grim.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, it had been only a matter of time after all. Norman finally stopped but he didn't turn around. Emma was slowly falling apart but she tried her best, her next words filled with longing and bittersweetness.
„Don't leave me again...“
.
.
.
A few moments of silence had passed. No one said a word and the tension in the air was making it hard to breath. Emma was experiencing a ton of emotions. She was hopeful, scared, desperate, and never in her life had she wanted Norman to just hold her in his embrace more than now.
The emperor wasn't feeling any better. They weren't alone, he couldn't just ignore her any longer or he would come off as a coward. What should he do?
.
.
.
„Emma, you wanted to see a side of me that you thought I was hiding from you, right?“ His voice was neutral, she looked up as his hand was on hers which she had placed on his shoulder. Norman took a hold of it and turned around... The girl felt her hope shatter.
Cold blue eyes, determined to archive the goal of their owner were staring right at her own widened ones. Tears were swelling up again in her green pools. It wasn't what he wanted but...
„This is him.“ He let go of her hand and it hurt, it hurt so bad. Norman didn't want to be like this to her but she left him no choice. 'Hate me, it will only hurt to love me.' He loved her in a way she probably wasn't even aware of and he was gonna protect her from himself. „I wasn't lying when I said I didn't change. Emma, the truth is you never truly knew me.“ Norman turned away.
.
.
.
'Sometimes we just have to fight against the ones we fight for.' He thought bitterly.
Emma fell to the ground, her chest hurt. Something had just broken inside of her and she couldn't stop her tears from rolling down, it was all too much. She felt like her whole life was a lie, who was she kidding it literally was.
Crying in puplic was the worst. She felt weak, he had been her reason to not give up but she felt like his support slipped away from her forever. A hand was on her back, it wasn't Norman's.
„Emma, I saw what happened... Can you..G-get up..?“ Gilda. She stood up, wiping her tears from her eyes. „Actually... I'm fine.“ Emma took a deep breath, her sister hugged her, it felt nice. 'I want to make him feel this comfort too.'
Her stare was on Norman's back. He was already far away and Emma lost sight of him once he disappeared behind a building. She smiled despite it all. Gilda was sobbing and Emma started to caress her back. How ironic.
The young Emma from Gracefield did a mistake todays Emma wouldn't do again. 'I'm not letting you go, I won't hate you for trying to make me hate you. I understand now...' She closed her eyes as the people around them who had seen everything were going back to their activities the silence slowly fading.
'You didn't change. I just failed to know how much you really cared for everyone even back then. You're strong Norman but it hurts you, still you endure it...You really are-' She realized that she forgot to tell him something and sighed.
Gilda was slowly looking up at Emma and was surprised to see her smile warmly at her. „Hey, Gilda... Norman's amazing, no?“ The girl with the fiery orange mane said with a grin, making the green-haired girl blink with confusion.
In the end, Emma did get her answer to her questions. She started giggling, how foolish of Norman to think she wouldn't catch onto his true intentions. This had been a good lesson to her, she had failed to follow him because of the pain his words caused but truth to be told, it wasn't nearly as bad as what Norman must be feeling. She had been so oblivious, it almost made her laugh more.
'Thank you, Norman. Next time, I'm going to walk alongside you no matter how much it hurts.'