Work Text:
5 things Norton noticed about Luchino (and 1 thing Luchino notices about Norton)
01. The way Luchino carries himself
The professor and the prospector did not get along at first.
When the professor had first arrived at the manor, Norton had looked at him in disdain.
From the deep V neck shirt he wore along with his leather suspenders, down to the fancy loafers on his feet; everything about him screamed high class. Hell, even the prominent title alone tells him that the professor probably never had to work a single day in his entire life to make ends meet. After all, only the rich could afford higher education and to pursue their passion in respective institutes.
The other survivors had all crowded around the professor, eager to know more about their future teammate and what sort of abilities he could bring to the table. As the professor answered the fleeting questions, Norton could not help but take another swift glance at him.
He had arrived at the doorstep of the manor, clutching a small wooden box by his side, along with a white cotton square of bandage secured over the right side of his forehead. Norton had thought it was pretty odd at first, but deduced that it probably had something to do with his abilities.
The professor had looked around the room with a lazy smile, as if he was familiar with the manor, before letting himself be led away by the eager survivors. He moved through the room with a confident and elegant demeanor, his posture impeccably straight and his steps measured.
Each movement was fluid and deliberate, exuding an air of calm assurance. His presence commanded attention without demanding it, drawing eyes naturally with the grace of his gestures and the quiet authority he carried. As he engaged in conversation, the professor’s gaze was steady and his expressions composed, radiating a sense of poise and sophistication that set him apart in the crowded space.
Instantly, Norton felt his face frown. Maybe it was ingrained into his head as he was a child, but he had always viewed the world in black and white; the rich as oppressors and the poor as victims. The rich, with their almighty power and status yet refused to ever offer help to the needy, and the poor who always had to get their hands dirty, cleaning after the oppressors.
Everything about the professor was a harsh reminder to Norton about their societal differences; how one’s life was defined based on where they were born into and the privileges one could get if they were born into the right family. Life was just that unfair.
Was it hypocritical of him to judge someone he had never met before based on appearance and assumption alone despite hating it when others do it on him? Yes, it was. Norton was aware of it too, but he could not help it. Embarrassed and angry at himself, he merely tilted the tip of his prospector hat as acknowledgment to the new survivor before stalking out of the room.
“Professor Luchino Diruse..” Norton scoffed as he recalled Luchino’s introduction.
“Even his name sounds fancy”
02. Luchino’s abilities
Based on his profession, Norton had assumed he would be a decoder.
He had been so preoccupied with picking apart the new survivor in his eyes that he failed to notice what role would Luchino even be classified into.
Imagine his surprise when he found out Luchino was a kiter.
Luchino’s sinewy build showed everyone in the manor that he was more than just a brilliant mind. With the ability to summon a shield to deflect and push back a hunter; Luchino quickly became a dread to all the single hit hunters that rely desperately on their first presence, often opting to switch targets when coming across the professor.
To the hunters’ dismay, his unique scales, glistening and strong, could also be picked up by his teammates, granting them the same protective barrier against their hits.
With every pulse of the shield, the hunters’ attacks were also slowed, buying precious moments for the survivors to escape and regroup. Luchino's blend of intellect and power quickly made him a favorable teammate to have in the survivors’ matches.
However, Norton could hardly mask his horror when he watched Luchino inject some sort of toxin into his arm for the first time.
“What are you doing?” Norton asked, his gaze boring intensely into the pipette Luchino was holding.
Luchino merely thrusted the ripped piece of scale into his direction. “It helps with the shedding.”
“Does it not hurt?”
“A little,” the professor admitted sheepishly. “My head gets fuzzy and I feel myself becoming dizzy.”
“So why do you do it?”
Luchino paused for a moment, his eyes drifting away for a split second, before returning with a soft gaze. “I noticed it really helps you guys in your matches”
After a moment of hesitation, Norton reluctantly accepted the scale before thanking him rather stiffly.
The professor merely smiled in response before bidding a short farewell to the prospector as he made his way to find another unoccupied cipher.
Norton stood there, grappling with Luchino's words, a silent battle waging within him. For years, he had always put his own needs first; never once going the extra mile to help someone out, especially if he gained nothing from it.
But as he watched Luchino, a man that he once lumped together with all the upper-class men that used to make his life miserable, reaching out to help total strangers without a single gain, Norton felt like he saw a glimmer of something different.
03. The way Luchino reaches out to him
Norton did not have many friends.
Preferring the quiet company of his own thoughts, Norton had never reached out to anyone unless it involved strategizing for a match.
It wasn't just Norton's preference for solitude that kept people at bay; it was also his demeanor.
His stern face and perpetual scowl had earned him a reputation of being unapproachable. Conversations with Norton also proved to be notoriously difficult, with his knack for cutting them short with harsh, blunt words that left others feeling unwelcome and uncomfortable.
It wasn’t that he intended to be rude; he simply lacked the finesse for small talk and social niceties.
As a result, only a few dared to approach him. Those who did often regretted it, their attempts at interaction met with cold, curt responses. Norton honestly did not care.
In fact, he preferred it this way. The fewer people who tried to breach his solitude, the better . His world was one of silence and self-reflection, and the prospector was perfectly content to keep it that way.
Yet, seeing Luchino always alone puzzled him, especially since the latter was so well-liked by the other survivors in the manor.
The way the professor interacted with the others was short and direct. He answered every question politely, yet never seemed to offer any additional information to keep the conversation going. From there, Norton could tell that he was a reserved person; someone who would prefer to keep to their own.
Norton could respect that, after all he was the same.
What he did not expect was the professor to actively seek him out.
During meal times, Luchino would always take the seat right next to Norton, despite all the other empty seats around them. "Mind if I join you?" Luchino would ask, yet never seemed to wait for a response before sitting down.
Even though the professor hardly shared much about his life to the others, Luchino was unusually chatty around the prospector, always taking the initiative to start their conversations. He would chatter about the matches they had faced, the different species of reptiles he had experimented on, the science behind the study he was currently working on - anything and everything.
Norton would listen in silence, occasionally nodding or grunting, hoping his lack of engagement would drive him away but the professor seemed impervious to Norton's icy demeanor.
He would find Norton in the most secluded spots: the farthest corner in the manor’s library, the old and abandoned study room that no one frequented, even the quiet bench by the manor’s garden where Norton sometimes went to clear his head.
No matter how hard Norton tried to fade into the background, Luchino always found him.
When Luchino came up to him again, Norton stopped in his tracks, turning to face Luchino. "Why do you keep seeking me out?" he asked, genuinely perplexed. “There are others that would appreciate your company more.”
Luchino's smile softened. "Because I can see you're not as invisible as you think. Everyone needs someone, even if they don’t realize it."
Norton didn’t respond, but Luchino’s words lingered in his mind. He continued his solitary ways, but he found himself less annoyed by Luchino’s intrusions. In fact, he began to anticipate them.
Over time, Luchino's persistent friendliness began to chip away at the walls he had built around himself. Norton found himself opening up more to the professor, even going as far as to purposefully invite him out just to enjoy the latter’s company.
In Luchino, Norton found an unexpected ally, someone who saw him even when he tried his hardest to hide. Luchino’s warmth had gradually melted the ice around Norton's heart, revealing a person who, deep down, yearned for connection despite his reluctance to admit it
As the seasons changed, Norton noticed subtle shifts within himself. He began to initiate their conversations, finding solace in Luchino's unwavering optimism. Luchino's kindness became a beacon in Norton's otherwise solitary existence, guiding him toward a new understanding of friendship.
Maybe being seen wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
04. Luchino’s dedication to his research
Norton loved going into Luchino's room.
In fact, he spent so much time there that it might as well have been his own, with his familiar presence blending seamlessly into every corner and crevice.
His favorite part of the day would be seeing Luchino hunched over his desk, research papers stacked neatly around him, as the professor wrote feverishly.
“What are you writing about this time?” Norton asked, trying to read off Luchino’s shoulder.
“The regenerative abilities of reptiles.” There was a sparkle in Luchino’s eyes, voice breathy with awe. "Imagine a world where a lost limb isn’t a permanent disability. Look at salamanders and lizards—they can regrow entire tails! If we can understand the genetic mechanisms behind this, we could revolutionize humanity."
"These reptiles’ biology holds the key to the next step of human evolution." he said, a feverish excitement coloring his tone. “I’m going to be the first one to push that boundary.”
Norton gazed at Luchino with eyes full of wonder and admiration, as if Luchino had hung the stars in the sky himself. “And I believe you can do it,” the prospector replied earnestly.
Consumed by his research, Luchino would go great lengths just to gather more evidence. From spending almost every bit of extra time in the manor’s library, nose buried deep into reptile biology books, to the point of experimenting the said abilities on himself.
His daily routine included a series of self-administered toxin injections. For Luchino, injecting himself with various toxins had become as routine as a morning cup of coffee. He believed that to truly understand the effects of these potent substances, he needed to experience them firsthand.
“Where on earth did you even manage to get ahold of these reptile toxins?” Norton had asked.
The professor simply replied, “The manor provides it. That was the sole reason I accepted their sketchy invitation - I wanted to pursue my research with no limitations.”
Norton was aware that the toxins the professor injected into his arm pushes him to the brink of insanity. That is why he always insisted on being by Luchino’s side during every experiment; to keep an eye on him.
Though it worried him immensely, Norton could not help but marvel at Luchino’s dedication to pursue his studies, despite the looming risks in every corner. In a way, it kind of reminded the prospector of himself.
Unlike the upper-class men that Norton had grown up resenting, who often flaunted their high-status information and looked down upon those they deemed beneath them, Luchino was welcoming and eager to share his knowledge to anyone willing to listen.
Luchino loved learning, including the niche topics that piqued Norton’s interests.
Just as how Norton would listen to Luchino ramble on about his reptile studies, Luchino loved listening to Norton talk about the skills and interests he had picked up from various work experiences.
Each job Norton took up, out of necessity, left him with a new skill or interest, transforming him into a veritable jack-of-all-trades.
Luchino had found it incredibly inspiring; the adaptability and resilience of the human spirit.
To Norton’s amusement, the professor had even jotted his experiences down and somehow managed to link the incredible potential of the human spirit to turn adversity into an opportunity for human evolution.
The way Luchino’s eyes lit up passionately as he began explaining a new theory he had just conjured up in that brilliant mind of his was enough to captivate Norton’s entire attention.
05. His genuine smile
The first time Norton had heard Luchino giggle, he felt his heart skip a beat.
It was a soft, melodic giggle that seemed to freeze time and envelop Norton in a bubble of warmth and joy.
“I can’t believe you did that to Orpheus!” Luchino’s eyes sparkled with a radiant light after his laughter subsided, the remnants of his joy dancing in his gaze. “What was going on inside your head?”
Norton’s face grew hot, and he could feel the warmth creeping down his neck. “I dunno…I guess he looked really punchable at that time”
Luchino’s laugh bubbled up again unexpectedly, and with a swift, graceful motion, he lifted his hand to stifle it. His fingers, slender and elegant, moved with a fluidity that drew Norton’s eyes. Each nail was meticulously manicured; sharp yet adorned with a glossy black finish.
As his hand approached his mouth, Luchino’s long, claw-like fingernails brushed against his lips, their smooth surface contrasting with the soft curve of his smile.
Norton would be lying to himself if he never thought of the professor as handsome.
With a face that radiated gentle allure, Luchino possessed a beauty that was both captivating and calming. His hair, a cascade of rust-brown braids, framed his face in a way that seemed effortlessly perfect. His features were finely chiseled, yet not harsh - there was a softness to the angles of his jawline and the curve of his cheekbones that added to his natural grace.
It also didn’t help that the professor constantly opts to wear deep V-neckline shirts that clings to his body, revealing the incredibly toned body underneath. The plunging cut revealed a tantalizing glimpse of his sculpted chest, where his well-defined cleavage drew immediate attention.
Norton felt his eyes trailing over the professor’s lean figure.
“My eyes are up here, Campbell.” Luchino teased, the corners of his lips twisting into a playful smirk.
Ears burning with the sudden rush of embarrassment, Norton quickly looked away.
The professor did not seem to take offense at his shameful actions, in fact moving closer, his sharp fingernails gently grazing over Norton’s skin.
“Norton, do you like me?”
Norton’s eyes widened as the unexpected question hung in the air, catching him completely off guard. He opened his mouth to respond but only managed to splutter, words failing to form coherently. “I… uh…” he stammered, his voice faltering.
A deep blush spread rapidly across his cheeks, the heat surging through his body. Luchino’s brown eyes stared back at him, rich and warm like a pool of melted chocolate, as he awaited his response.
The prospector glanced down, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions, but the intensity of the moment only amplified his flustered state. His normally composed demeanor shattered, leaving him visibly nervous and shy.
“..Yes,” Norton confessed; his voice soft but steady.
As the words of acceptance sank in, Luchino's entire face lit up. His eyes sparkled with a joyous light, the rich brown depths now shimmering with warmth and happiness. His lips curved upward, revealing a hint of perfectly white teeth, and his cheeks took on a soft, rosy hue, the color spreading to his entire face.
Norton had never deemed himself as worthy of accepting such warmth into his life.
But in that moment, as he beheld the warmth of Luchino's smile, Norton made a silent promise.
He would do anything, everything in his power, to keep that smile eternally upon the professor’s face.
+1 Norton loved the little touches.
The first time their hands had brushed against each other, Luchino was surprised to note that Norton did not pull away immediately.
Instead, Norton’s fingers had lingered for a moment, a fleeting contact that sent a warm tingle up Luchino’s arm, before shyly drawing his hand away.
They had been sitting on the quiet bench by the manor’s garden, where it quickly became a favorite spot for the both of them to clear their heads. Luchino had reached out to show Norton a particular leaf he had found, their hands meeting in exchange.
For a heartbeat, the world seemed to stand still.
Norton had accepted the odd-looking leaf into his hands but not before leaving behind a lingering warmth against Luchino’s fingers that lasted a bit longer than usual.
From that moment on, Luchino became acutely aware of the small touches they shared.
Each one seemed to carry a weight of its own, a silent communication that spoke of their growing affection with each other. It wasn’t long before the touches became more frequent and more deliberate.
Luchino had noticed the way Norton would lean into his touches, yet would scowl when it came to breaking their little contact. When given the chance, Norton would also intertwine his fingers with the professor’s, his calloused ones brushing against Luchino’s softer palms.
It was pretty cute, honestly.
Luchino loved seeing this softer side of Norton. Especially since the prospector always had his guard up around others, never once relenting or showing any sort of emotion.
One evening, after a particularly grueling match, Luchino heard a soft knock on his door. He looked up from his book to see Norton standing there, looking exhausted and worn out. Without a word, Norton entered and closed the door behind him, the familiar creak of the hinges echoing in the quiet room.
“Norton,” Luchino said gently, setting his book aside and stretching out his arms. “Rough day?”
Nodding, the prospector took a few steps forward and practically fell into Luchino’s awaiting embrace. Luchino’s arms wrapped around him instinctively, pulling him close and holding him tight. Norton let out a long, weary sigh, the tension in his body slowly melting away as he sank into Luchino’s warmth.
“Come on,” Luchino murmured, guiding Norton to his bed. “Let’s get you comfortable.”
From the looks of it, Norton probably had not showered and had come straight to Luchino, seeking for comfort, but the professor was willing to brush that aside for now. Norton badly needed a break.
Luchino eased Norton onto his mattress, then joined him, the two of them lying side by side. Norton immediately turned toward Luchino, seeking his presence, and Luchino responded by wrapping an arm around him, pulling him close.
They lay there in silence for a few moments, the quiet of the room wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. Luchino could feel Norton’s heartbeat, slow and steady, gradually syncing with his own. He gently rubbed circles on Norton’s back, a soothing gesture that seemed to ease the last of the tension from Norton’s body.
Norton had once mentioned that he hated the scars around his body. Without a word, Luchino began to trace the scars on Norton’s skin, his touch gentle and reverent.
As Luchino’s fingers moved across the rough and uneven texture, Norton’s expression grew tight. “You don't have to say it, I know they’re ugly,” he muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness.
Luchino’s heart ached at the self-deprecation in Norton’s words. He tightened his embrace, pulling Norton closer. “No, they’re not. They’re a part of you, they tell a story of courage and resilience. To me, they’re beautiful.”
Norton didn’t respond, but Luchino could see the doubt lingering in his eyes. He continued to trace the scars, his touch light and comforting, hoping to convey with each caress the depth of his admiration and affection.
As the minutes passed, Norton’s breathing grew deeper and more even, a sign that he was finally finding rest. Luchino continued to trace the scars, his touch light and comforting, until he felt Norton slip into a peaceful slumber.
Luchino was familiar with Norton’s past.
Growing up without receiving any sort of proper love or care, Norton was extremely touch starved. His childhood had been a barren wasteland filled with neglect and coldness, turning love, to Norton, into a foreign concept. Something he watched from afar but never dared to get close.
With the habit of pushing others away before they could even manage to get close, Norton had saved himself from a lot of potential heartbreaks. But he was also so desperately in need of connection, the warmth that he had been denied for so long.
That was why he was so eager to latch onto the warmth of Luchino’s love.
Like a drug, Norton had become addicted to the comfort of true affection. Luchino’s touches did not just bring him solace but helped him feel alive. It was electrifying, intoxicating even.
As they laid in bed, still wrapped in each other’s arms, Luchino realized just how much he wanted to help Norton heal.
Norton might never fully believe that he was deserving of love and care, but Luchino was determined to show him that he was.
One step at a time, one day at a time, Luchino would help Norton see the truth: that he was not alone, and that he was deeply, unconditionally loved.
Perhaps he’ll start by showing him the acts of love through the little touches they’ve shared.