Chapter Text
When Norman gets accepted into Gracefield University, he isn't entirely surprised.
To be fair, his intellectual mind is off the charts, his personal bank account exceeds tuition fees, and his social presence alone is a guarantee for him to get admitted without question.
When he first arrives at the prestigious college, he can't help but let out a sigh of relief — he knows that this is a window, an opportunity, a chance for him to rebuild his life without the influence of his crazed father or the fading memories of a simplistic, privileged wealthy child.
(That stupidly simplistic privileged wealthy child being him, of course).
Gracefield University is an entirely different experience for Norman; for one, his independence isn't compromised and neither is his way of thinking. He is surrounded by breathing, eager students, instead of the mindless maids his father would send to him. At Gracefield, he feels as if his body and mind are one instead of unwillingly separate from each other.
Not to mention the technological advances and the sheer amount of new features the University offers. At his arrival, Norman was nearly overwhelmed with the innovative inventions and sheer genius that was presented. He'd hoped to create greater things, too.
But that's about when the amazement and gawking stops. Because when Norman receives his single dorm room — the university is more than capable of providing individual rooms — he finds that his shower is, unfortunately, broken. When he twists the valve, a lack of water is painfully evident. Instead, a pathetic hiss creeps out beneath the shower head and that's enough for Norman to back off.
He can hardly believe it.
The singular most crucial asset of his dorm room is broken. Cleanliness and presentation is something he values highly, and not just because his shit stain of a father says so.
He doesn't have time to think it over… But really, how does the fastest advancing university with an acceptance rate of 1.3% and the greatest number of intellectuals in a single school have a broken shower? And that shower being his own? He can't help but laugh.
Tapping his foot, he mulls over his options with knitted brows. He could directly contact the administration or the dean (his connections are vast, you see) but there's no knowing how long repair would take. Besides, to report something as silly as a non-functional shower to the dean sounds even ridiculous to his ears.
The next best thing is to ask others. Perhaps someone next door would have an actual working shower? He frowns at how that could potentially come off as strange, but he's too frustrated to care.
With a towel and change of clothes in hand, he leaves his dorm and settles for his direct neighbor. He doesn't know who resides in the room next to him, and he's hesitant to know.
But the possibility of not being able to take showers overpowers his hesitance, and he finally delivers three sound knocks at the door. Hopefully, he doesn't look like a fool outside of a potential empty dorm room.
Thankfully, his prayers are answered. After what feels like eons, the doorknob turns and he faces a boy, possibly close to his age, with shockingly noticeable eye bags and an equally stunning pair of amethyst eyes… or, eye, to be exact. The left side of his face is covered with a sheet of onyx hair, the back of his strands spiking out as if he'd just rolled out of bed. He wears an unamused expression, his eyes lidded and a singular brow raised as if he'd just asked a question and was expecting Norman to answer it.
"Hello? You there?"
Norman blinks. "Ah, I'm sorry. Did you say something?"
Perhaps he did ask him a question.
"Uh, yeah." The boy with amethyst eyes leans on the door frame, arms crossed. He doesn't look impressed. "I asked who you were and why you're standing outside of my dorm room with.."
He gestures to Norman's clothes and the towel bundled in his arm.
"That."
"Oh! Yes, that, right. Apologies, let me introduce myself. My name is Norman — I'm your dorm neighbor." He points to his right then offers a hand to his potential savior.
"Ray." The boy, er, Ray, responds, taking Norman's hand to shake. He scans him with squinted eyes and tilts his head. "So, you're my dorm.. neighbor, cool. Why are you here, again?"
Norman clears his throat, relaxing. He prays that Ray doesn't reject him outright — he's a sensible person, he can tell.
With a breath, he continues. "I was wondering if your shower was working. You see, mine is currently broken, and there's no telling when it will be fixed, so…" He trails off.
"So you want to use my shower? Is this some kind of pick-up technique?"
His heart sinks. This went to a direction so much worse than he'd predicted. Inwardly panicking, Norman shakes his head.
"Oh, god, no! Could you imagine — never, that was not my intention, I promise you — oh, you're laughing. Why are you laughing?"
Ray is fully leaning on the door frame now, his body shaking with the laughing fit he's been hit by. His laughter is contagious, painfully so, and Norman can't help but let out a slight chuckle.
"Dude, you should've seen your face! All the color drained just like that," Ray snaps together his index and thumb, "oh, my god."
As he and Ray settles, the latter opens the door wider and motions him in, his speech still riddled by short giggles. "Yeah, you can use my shower. I'm not that cruel of a person to deny another a bath, I mean, c'mon."
Norman ushers a small thanks before being guided to the bathroom, all awkwardness dissipating from Ray's small joke. He's grateful he found a willing person to share their bathroom with — and on his first try!
"Thank you, truly. I hope this isn't a hassle for you."
Ray huffs as his eyes roll, shaking his head. "It's nothing, promise. I trust you know how to operate a shower?"
"Yes, yes, of course, I'm not that helpless."
As Ray leaves and enters another room, no doubt his own bedroom, Norman rushes to the bathroom with a click of the door locking.
Before he can allow himself to let out an elated noise, he first needs a shower. Desperately.
Hopefully, Ray will let him use his bath for an extended period. As twists the valve and thankfully, water rushes down, his phone buzzes on the sink.
Good evening, Norman Minerva.
We have evaluated the damage inflicted upon your washroom, and concluded that it has received severe impairment.
It will take up to six months for your baths to be completely renovated, as this is not a simple repair. Please note that Grace Field University does not have communal baths.
Thus, you will be moved to another dorm, where you will be sharing a room with an additional student.
Here is their student ID and room number: 81194 ; ROOM #1200
If you have any questions, refer to this email: Isabella [email protected]
Apologies for the inconvenience,
Grace Field staff.
..
Well, shit.