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Naib had first realized something was very wrong when Norton had suddenly let out a panicked shriek, then grasped onto his hand like it was the only thing keeping him tied down to existence.
Yes, clinginess is something that Naib has reluctantly (actually, sometimes less reluctantly than he’d like to admit) learned to expect from Norton throughout their friendship. Certainly, it’s disheartening seeing him so touchy with other people, but it’s easy to forget jealousy when his hands are all over -
Anyways. The point being that, while touching isn’t entirely unexpected from Norton, it’s usually accompanied by teasing and borderline-flirtatious remarks that serve as a reminder towards how far gone Naib is, because Norton is an asshole and Naib wouldn’t put it past him to lead him on without even realizing what he’s doing.
This time, however, is clearly different: there’s no buildup, and the questioning glance Naib shoots Norton goes unnoticed - well, there’s little light to spare, so it wouldn’t come as a surprise that Norton simply didn’t see, but offering no justification for an action that could otherwise be misinterpreted as intimate? It’s just not Norton’s style.
Couple that with the undignified reaction Norton gave to the lights turning off, and it’s quite clear that something is amiss. There’s no response when Naib nudges Norton lightly in flustered confusion, which… well, the way Norton has progressed from holding his hand to maximizing all points of contact between them seems like permission enough to not move from his current ( rather compromising, but who’s complaining? ) position.
Still, it’s not like Naib to take advantage of someone in distress in order to fulfill his own desires, so once he’s got enough of relishing in how pretty Norton can be as long as his mouth is shut, he tries his hand again at communication.
“Nort?” Naib asks quietly, keeping his voice low so as to not disrupt the ongoing drill. Idly, he wonders what their classmates are up to right now, and he’s endlessly thankful that he’s the one who volunteered to go grab some miscellaneous long-forgotten supplies with Norton. (He’s not sure how he feels, knowing someone else could have been in this position with Norton.)
Now, though, he’s sure something is off: to be entirely honest, Naib had considered the possibility that this could just be one big elaborate prank, and at any point Norton would burst into laughter ( ‘screw the drill, it’s not like it’s real anyway’ ) and mock him endlessly about how worried had been.
Maybe that alternative would be better, actually, than reality: at least then, Naib could rest assured that Norton is his usual self, not a thing to worry about.
Norton doesn’t even respond to the nickname that Naib tries to use so sparingly for special occasions, so now Naib has to figure out what’s wrong with his - ah, his friend, yes.
Out of nowhere, Norton lets out a whimper, murmuring something quiet under his breath that Naib doesn’t quite catch.
“Sorry?” Naib’s eyes flicker towards the closed door - protocol insists that they keep the lights out and door locked until the drill is announced to be over… if he could get around the rules, he’d gladly let Norton out of this prison that has him so upset. (Even if they could get away with breaking rules, he’s not sure he can move from the position he’s locked in, though.)
Louder, this time: “Please don’t go.” And really, who is Naib to deny Norton anything in this state? He exhales a deep breath.
“I would never.”
Naib wishes he could pretend he doesn’t feel the euphoric joy in his chest at the way Norton’s body relaxes a bit next to him, but it’s short-lived as the usual brightness in his eyes is still long absent, and his breaths are shallow and quick.
Tuning in further, Naib’s heart sinks a little at the hushed chorus of fuck fuck fuck that he can hear Norton whispering. He’s still not sure what it is that’s got Norton this panicked, but he swears that as soon as they can both get out of here he’s never letting him feel this way again.
Honestly, Naib’s not sure how to offer comfort to Norton, sprawled over him and almost in tears - it’s hard enough to keep himself from falling into agitation in tandem, and any more physical contact, intentional or not, might just make him combust. Nonetheless, the fact remains that (no matter how awkward Naib is when it comes to feelings) Norton needs his help, and Naib…
Well, Naib’s known for a while that he’s weak to anything that Norton wants from him.
In a trembling voice, Naib tries to maintain his composure. “H-hey, it’s okay… I’m here…” Shit, I sound so stupid.
Norton buries his face in Naib’s chest, and Naib decides not to think about the snot and tears that he’ll probably find on his uniform once they leave. At the very least, Norton hasn’t stopped crying just to laugh at the way he’s embarrassing himself, which is motivation enough to keep talking. The complete silence from the rest of the school is jarring, as though they’re performing for an audience - which is silly, because there can’t be anyone anywhere near the two of them.
(Never mind the security cameras - it’s better for Naib’s sanity if he assumes they’re dysfunctional.)
“Shhh… I’m not going to leave you alone.” Naib doesn’t really know what he’s saying anymore, but his words seem to have their intended effect so does it really matter if he’s improvising?
A thought strikes him out of the blue, and Naib wishes he had this kind of deductive talent during class but never mind that because Norton is what’s important right now, school be damned:
“Nort, are you scared of the dark, by any chance?”
He hears a sharp intake of breath. Ah, bullseye.
Norton lets out a startled, wet chuckle. It’s a pathetic sound in contrast to his usual boisterous laughter - he sounds like a scared child, and Naib feels the urge to wrap his arms around Norton and protect him from everything that has ever dared to hurt him.
“I don’t suppose I can ask you not to tell anyone?”
Naib really hopes that’s a joke, because if Norton expects him to go around and gossip about ‘oh wow, Norton is actually human, he doesn’t know Naib nearly as well as Naib would like to believe.
Naib says nothing, instead shushing him again and boldly making the move to stroke his hair. It feels surreal, being able to act like this with Norton, soft and vulnerable in a way that only his dreams have ever let him believe could happen.
Maybe it’s that, then: too hard to believe this is reality, Naib subconsciously treats this like a dream where his actions and words have no consequences the moment he wakes up.
A dream where Norton has a panic attack over being enclosed in a dark room is, admittedly, not the best thing his mind has ever generated, but Norton asking him to stay and relying on him for support and showing weakness like he trusts him - Naib feels all mushy and gooey and when he gets back to Aesop he’s absolutely certain he’ll be massively judged while gushing about everything that’s happened within the past short few minutes.
With that said - the crisis that Naib is in the midst of combatting comes second to making sure Norton is okay.
Ever since Naib started feeling this overwhelming fluttering in his chest around Norton - before that, even, when Naib’s days would brighten through a single laugh from Norton, or when he’d receive little massages when thoroughly drained from practice, or when they’d walk home together - he’s felt the instinctual urge to protect Norton, who he’s always sensed is more fragile than he acts ( when I came back to an empty classroom and he was the only one there and his eyes looked so tired, smile long gone -).
(There is the alternative explanation, that he’s felt - like this, whatever this goopy mess of affection and fondness is, for longer than he’s felt the butterflies for, but that is a Thought to be saved for later.)
…Even so, Naib finds himself lost on what to do. He’s hesitant to provide too much physical comfort, because even if it looks like Norton is leaning into the scarce touches he does offer, that could also just be him projecting his feelings onto him and justifying the way he enjoys the heat rolling off of Norton’s body, so close to him.
So, like the idiot that he is:
“What do you want me to do…?”
Naib immediately curses himself after the words exit his mouth. Evidently, Norton isn’t in any state to be answering that question, and anyone with a brain would realize that acting like he has no idea what he’s doing leaves the opposite effect of what Naib wants.
Norton seems to not notice the way Naib longs for death to consume him and his embarrassment, though. He exhales shakily, body tense.
“C-can you just keep talking to me?”
Oh lord, are you sure that’s what you want?
It’s not like Naib could ever say no, though. The stutter that Norton tries to cover up seals the deal - it’s heartbreaking, watching him try to maintain his dignity when he shouldn’t need to worry about that in front of Naib but whatever, just do what Norton asks.
Here goes nothing…
“You - you’re Norton Campbell, and I’m Naib Subedar. We’re both second-years at Oletus High.” Naib’s words come out choppily and he cringes, but surprisingly enough Norton isn’t laughing at him - in fact, he seems satisfied with what Naib’s saying, which means he must be doing something right.
Spurred on by this newfound knowledge, Naib continues on. “Currently, we’re in the middle of a lockdown drill that we both forgot about, consequently leaving us trapped in a storage room.” We’re dumbasses.
“You told me today that you’re scared of the dark. In hindsight, I guess I’m kind of stupid for not putting the pieces together earlier.” It’s getting easier now, just saying what’s on his mind - Naib almost doesn’t notice the way Norton’s closed his eyes, entirely tuned in to Naib’s voice.
“Still,” and here his tone gets harsher because it’s important the point gets across, “you’re also an idiot for assuming I’d think any less of you just because you feel fear too.”
“Really, Norton, I don’t know what you were thinking. It’s like - it’s like you don’t trust me.” Too personal reel it back reel it back stop talking right now but it’s too late for that and Naib’s on a roll and he keeps speaking, against his will:
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you that you really seem to believe that I won’t like you anymore because of this when…”
When there’s nothing that could make me like you less, because you mean so much to me, you don’t even know, I hate seeing you so scared, I want to-
“When I just - really really like you.” Naib clears his throat before registering the silence where muffled rapid breathing had previously reigned.
It takes another beat for the words that had spewed out of his mouth to sink in.
“Uhh,” he sputters intelligently, wondering how to turn back time to before he was born. He averts his gaze, unwilling to meet Norton in the eyes for fear of what he might see. Horror? Disgust? Discomfort? It has to be extreme for his words to have brought complete noiselessness upon them.
To his surprise, the quiet does not last for an all-consuming eternity. When Norton speaks, his voice is still raw from not-crying, but at least the not-tears seem to have abandoned him now.
“Naib, what the fuck?”
Naib’s stomach sinks. Still refusing to look up from a particularly fascinating spot on the ground, he dreads the next words he’ll hear: he definitely went too far, got distracted by their proximity and the way Norton seemed to be relying on him ( definitely just projecting ).
“Naib,” Norton hisses - his name always sounds wonderful from Norton’s mouth, but the circumstances right now are less than ideal, “ what the fuck ?”
“Er-”
The entire situation is mortifying, and maybe if Aesop isn’t busy doing god knows what with Eli he’ll get headpats for trying when he gets back, except then suddenly his chin is being tilted up by a clearly furious Norton and on second thought maybe Naib won’t be getting back, his corpse will take a while to be discovered -
And then thoughts of Norton killing him ( at least it’s Norton ) exit his mind promptly because ah , there’s a pretty pink flush on his cheeks and it’s so different from the usual assertiveness he exudes that Naib can’t help but gape.
At least he’s not in tears anymore.
Or at least not in tears yet, because Norton sounds more sad than angry when he elaborates. “You know, it’s not - it’s not, um…” He’s clearly out of his element, but this time Naib keeps his mouth firmly shut because the last time he let himself ramble - well, the last time he let himself ramble this happened.
“Taking advantage of… someone else’s feelings just to make them feel better when they’re upset when you don’t mean it is kind of mean.”
This time, Naib’s mind draws a blank. “What?”
Norton’s hand drops from Naib’s face and he glares with the heated fury of a thousand suns. “Playing dumb now? You don’t need to pity me, Naib.”
What?
Norton buries his face into his arms, squatting on the ground and shrinking into himself.
In the heat of the moment, Naib is genuinely baffled enough that the only thing that he manages to get out is “I’m not pitying you”. Frankly, he doesn’t have the mental capacity to summon pity right now: he’s still in the midst of processing Norton’s words, filled with neither the revulsion nor the awkwardness that he had been expecting.
Scowling, Norton peeks up to glare at him. “Don’t tell me you need me to spell it out for you.”
Sorry, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what I need.
Naib is rather expressive, showing his thoughts on his face, and he’s sure Norton knows it: he hears an incredulous laugh - ‘ seriously? ’ - and then an exhale.
“Naib, you know I like you?”
…What?
A hesitant look begins to show up on Norton’s face as the passion that had filled him dwindles out. “You… did know, right? That’s why you said you liked me, because you knew and wanted me to calm down…” At this point, it sounds more like he’s trying to justify it to himself as he turns even brighter red, practically glowing.
It’s endearing, Naib decides, even as he’s still in the middle of comprehending the events of the previous few minutes.
Nonetheless, the widening smile that finds itself on Naib’s face should speak for itself.
“Nort,” he murmurs quietly. “Nort, look at me, please?”
Eventually, Norton’s eyes flick up to him - and that’s all he needs, Norton’s eyes on him forever… ahem.
“You know I wouldn’t lie about something like this, right?”
“Besides, would I really say something as absurd as liking you if I didn’t mean it?”
There’s no edge to Naib’s voice as he teases Norton. Softer now, he finishes: “So you know I mean it when I say you’re adorable.”
He flicks Norton on the forehead, but he doesn’t do so much as react, staring wide-eyed at Naib as though he’d never seen him before, as though these were words he never expected to hear in his lifetime.
He really is so cute, Naib thinks fondly, wondering why he hadn’t told him earlier - Flirtatious Norton is wonderful in his own right, but Flustered Norton? Oh, Naib wishes he had a camera to capture this moment forever; Norton’s blush is truly a sight to behold.
Norton’s still in a trance when an announcement comes on, startling both of them. The lights turn back on soon after, and Naib doesn’t miss the way Norton visibly sags in relief.
“Attention, students!” The principal’s voice echoes from a speaker above their heads.
“I’m pleased to declare that nearly every class has performed wonderfully during this lockdown drill. This is wonderful news, as it’s clear to me you’re all prepared for the event of a genuine emergency.”
“However, I’m afraid that there was one notable incident that I must speak of. To the group of students in the supply room - and I’m not naming any names here - I’m glad you’ve worked out your differences, but I hope you didn’t forget that this was, in fact, a lockdown drill.”
The principal sounds exasperated, and it occurs to Naib that ah, there had been footsteps behind the door that Naib had assumed were figments of his imagination. Their eyes lock as the implications of the principal’s words sink in - I see we weren’t completely alone after all - and Naib really isn’t sure what he’s going to tell Aesop now, who’s definitely deduced what the principal was talking about.
Shockingly enough, Norton doesn’t seem to sympathize with Naib’s mortification, which would be insulting because this is absolutely his fault too, but suddenly all that seems very far away because Norton-not-in-the-dark, Naib has forgotten, is very different from Norton-in-the-dark.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Norton and his newly recovered bravado are suddenly looming over Naib, accompanied by a rakish grin that sends shivers down Naib’s spine.
“Adorable, did you say?” he purrs, and Naib can’t help but wonder how he managed to survive being in close proximity with this menace of a man for such a prolonged interval of time.
As it turns out, it’s very much not a good idea to tease Norton too hard while he’s in distress.
Perhaps, Naib thinks as Norton whispers something about paying him back, Naib has made this realization far too late.
(Not that he’s complaining, as Norton pulls him in hungrily for an experience of a kiss.)