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It was late that night in Oletus Manor. The Grave Keeper admired the surrounding flowers in the garden. It has been a while since he got to relax.
Norton had made his way beside him, not saying a word just yet causing Andrew to jump a bit when turning around. "O-oh! Mr. Campbell! You really startled me there" said Andrew. He had been admiring the Prospector's work during matches like when he'd rescue when Andrew couldn't or when he'd take over the kite when the Grave Keeper just couldn't go on longer.
Him and Norton would occasionally talk before or after a match and would exchange a couple words during matches but they'd never talk one on one like this.
"I've said this a bunch of times Kreiss, call me Norton" the Prospector said with a soft voice not wanting to startle Andrew again.
"Then, please, call me Andrew" he replied.
The Prospector did nothing but nod.
"Mind if I join you on your walk?" Norton asked looking up to see the other's eyes.
"No, not at all!" Andrew replied.
And so, he continued his walk in the garden, this time with company.
There was a short silence between the two. Andrew didn't mind the silence but Norton wanted to try to get to know the grave keeper more.
He started thinking of ways to start a conversation but his thoughts were interrupted when Andrew spoke.
"So... why'd you decide to spend your evening with me?" He asked.
"I wanted to get to know you more" Norton replied "we have so many matches together but we barely speak afterwards"
"I see..." Andrew said as he looked to the side. This caused Norton to remember the first time he saw Andrew.
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It was the 15th of March. He had just arrived at the manor the day before and it was his first match. He ended up being early since no one else was in the room, he sat down for a couple minutes waiting for his teammates to arrive and just then he saw the Grave Keeper...
He instantly grew interested. His white eyelashes revealing his red eyes that reminded the Prospector of gemstones. The way his white hair covered an eye causing his face to be asymmetrical.
Norton tried talking with him. The other's voice was coarse yet soothing and he spoke in a whisper. The following match he just couldn't quit thinking of the Grave Keeper... and he still couldn't.
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His thoughts ended when they stopped to be in front of the water fountain at the center of the garden... just how long had he been staring at Andrew?
"Are you alright?" Andrew asked with a concerned face.
"Y-yeah." Norton said, noticing that he'd been blushing while admiring the Grave Keeper's looks
"M-maybe you're sick..." Andrew replied "I-I'll go get Emily"
He rushed to leave the garden but was quickly stopped with Norton's hand grabbing onto his arm.
"It's alright, I'm fine really!" Norton said.
"A-alright" Andrew said.
He sat down on a nearby bench with Norton following close behind.
Norton's eyes wandered back to Andrew. How could they not? In Norton's eyes... he was beautiful.
"W-what?-" Andrew said, his face burning red.
...Did he say that out loud?-
"Y-yeah..." The Grave Keeper said looking away in an attempt to hide his face. "I don't get what you see... I'm not what you think I am..."
"That's not true, you're amazing in matches. You're always out there saving me whenever I mess up" Norton said.
"R-really?" Andrew said.
"Mhmm, which is why I wanted to get to know you more" Norton replied
They spend the rest of the night together sharing their interests and stories that happened before they came to the manor.
The two started talking more, though usually it was Norton who approached Andrew but it was fine.
As time passed they grew closer and the closer they grew the more Norton realized his feelings for the other...
-Time Skip-
It had been a while since Norton and Andrew started talking more. You could say that they've developed a close friendship but one thing was for certain, not a day went by where the Prospector hadn't thought about Andrew.
He realized his feelings after the first couple weeks and now he just couldn't hold it in anymore. He made his way to the Grave Keeper's room. He knocked and the door opened revealing the same red eyes Norton loved so dearly.
"N-Norton?" The other said in surprise "It's 22:00, why are you out this late?"
"...I have to tell you something" Norton said. He began wondering if he really should tell him but it was too late now.
Andrew moved to the side to let Norton in.
"What is it that you'd like to tell me?" Andrew asked as he closed the door.
"Well..." Norton started thinking about what to say. "Goddamnit Norton why didn't you think this through!?" He mentally cursed himself.
"I-it's hard to explain." He said
"It's fine, take your time" Andrew said sitting down on the bed patting the spot beside him signaling Norton to sit beside him.
"Remember when I first approached you outside of a match, and I said that I wanted to get to know you more?" Norton asked.
"Yes, I recall" replied Andrew.
"Well, I've been thinking about it and..."
The Grave Keeper froze. Was Norton gonna tell him he didn't wanna be around him anymore? Was all this kindness just a facade to make the Prospector feel better about himself? "No." Thought Andrew, that doesn't sound like something Norton would do... right?
Andrew began to worry until he felt a pair of lips touch his. It was Norton who had leaned in. While he was overthinking about what the Prospector had said, Norton just gave up trying to describe his feelings and go for the kiss.
It took Andrew by surprise, he had never kissed anyone like this before. It felt... nice... but before he could lean in and kiss back Norton had already pulled away.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that..." said the Prospector contemplating whether he should leave already and whether or not the Grave Keeper was disgusted by him but his thoughts were interrupted when the other spoke.
"No, it's alright" Andrew said, a small smile forming on his lips "I actually... quite liked it."
"Then, is it alright if I..." Norton said wondering whether he should finish his sentence but he didn't need to, Andrew nodded and they kissed again.
Yet it wasn't enough for the Prospector. He'd gotten greedy and wanted more. He licked the bottom of Andrew's lip. The Grave Keeper opened his mouth allowing the Prospector's tongue to meet his.
After a while they pulled away.
"So... does that mean we're a thing now?" Asked Norton catching his breath.
"If you'd like" said Andrew, hoping the other would say yes.
"Then it's a yes then." The Prospector said with a smile, kissing Andrew's cheek and hugging his waist, pulling him down so they could lay down.
That night they cuddled in the same bed with Norton's arm wrapped around Andrew's waist along with his head resting on the other’s chest, and fell asleep.