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“Nom? What are you doing?” Scott’s voice makes Nom jump, nearly dropping the resin into the water. He turns around, hiding the clump behind his back.
“Ah, nothing! Just looking at the water, thinking about things.”
Scott lifts an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “Uh huh. You definitely weren’t just lifting something up to your face and are now hiding it behind you.”
“That’s correct, nothing happening here.” Nom tries to shove the clump somewhere in his armor very subtly, but the clinking of metal from resin and more metal touching makes that quite difficult to do.
Scott sighs. He casts the water bubble spell, pulling Nom closer to him. “No, come on, you’re doing something you know you shouldn’t. As your friend, I want to make sure it’s not something stupid like taking an offer from the Creaking King.”
Nom curls his lips into his mouth, not responding.
Scott facepalms. “Nom…”
“How else am I supposed to get stronger and protect the kingdom, Scott? We’re all getting weaker from this weird plague that even that healing mage can’t seem to reverse! Besides, I’m not going to be listening to him if he wants me to do anything to Blue Kingdom or Katie.” Nom’s arms come away from his back, revealing the clump in his hand.
“But what if it doesn’t work that way, Nom? What if you don’t get a choice and become a very powerful puppet for him? What do you think is going to happen when he’s done helping you defeat Red Kingdom? Because I don’t think he’s going to stop there.”
Nom looks down at the clump in his hand, giving it a squeeze. “Scott, what if this is the only way to end the war? No amount of talking is going to fix things, it never has.”
“I don’t think the risk outweighs the reward. He made an offer to me too. To make me stronger, more powerful. I didn’t listen, and I proved I had enough on my own, and in turn did reach new heights on my capabilities. You don’t need his help, Nom. He wants you to think you do because he needs yours.” Scott puts one hand over the resin, resting the other on Nom’s shoulder. “I know I can’t forcefully stop you from making a choice, but please listen to what I’m saying. I want to protect Blue Kingdom as much as anyone else. It’s become my home. But I wouldn’t risk it all because a creature that both kingdoms are fighting against made a deal with me.”
Nom keeps eye contact with Scott the whole time, taking in every word. He sighs, bowing his head forward. He knows Scott’s right. “I just wanted to protect you and the others…”
“You don’t need the Creaking King to do that. You’re incredible all on your own.”
Nom tilts his head back up to see Scott smiling at him. And well, he’s not quite sure why he acts on the thought, but he moves to gently push his forehead against his, closing his eyes. “Thank you.”
“O-oh. You’re-you’re welcome.” Nom feels more warmth coming from Scott’s face as Scott leans into it. It’s nice. It feels so comforting, and the soothing floral scent coming from Scott only aids in making Nom more relaxed.
After a minute or two of the pair standing in a comfortable silence together, Nom pulls back, turning to face the ocean again. He goes up to the edge of the water, chucking the resin as far as he can throw it. He coughs a bit from the sudden exertion after a very calm moment, but he doesn’t miss seeing as the resin plops into the water in the distance.
Scott comes up from behind him, leaning into Nom’s side. The pair link hands without even thinking of it, watching over the waves.
“Hey, Scott?”
“Yes, Nom?”
“I’m glad you’re here. Blue Kingdom wouldn’t be the same as it is now if you didn’t come.”
“I’m glad I’m here too, now. May have started rough, but…it’s home now. It’s where you are.”
They both look at each other, recognizing the same longing in each other’s eyes. Nom lifts a hand to Scott’s cheek, speaking softly. “Scott?”
“Yes, Nom?”
“Can-“
The clinking of armor that is definitely not Nom’s disrupts the moment, and both look over to see Owain jogging up to them. “Afternoon, you two! Hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Neither reply, their hands still linked and Nom’s other hand still on Scott’s cheek. There’s silence for a moment before they hear a quiet ‘ohhh’ from the armor set. “Ah, I see. Apologies. I’ll just head back. Um, come meet me back at the castle when you’re done here.” Owain turns and leaves.
Scott and Nom look back at each other, and burst into laughter, occasionally coughing.
“I thought this was going a little too smoothly.” Scott snickers.
“Yeah, I was just waiting for one of us to suddenly cough in the other’s face or for my sister to suddenly show up.”
“Oh gods, yeah, imagine if Katie just showed up to the two of us. Her brother getting all pda with someone.”
“Especially if she showed up later than Owain just did and I actually got to ask about ki-“ Nom covers his mouth, and Scott’s laughing stops.
“What was that you were going to say?”
“Nothing.”
“Nom-“
“I have no idea what you mean!”
“Nom were going to ask to kiss me?”
Nom turns quite pink in the face. “I meannn…maybe. If the moment wasn’t ruined.”
Scott smiles. “Of course you can kiss me.”
Nom’s eyes widen. “Wait really?”
“Yes, silly! Why else would I say that?”
Nom grins, and doesn’t waste a moment longer to swoop in and kiss Scott. It’s every bit as amazing as he thought it’d be. It all felt right. Like everything from here out is going to be okay. And he believes in it.
Later, when they’re heading back to Blue Kingdom, they walk hand in hand. Not really specifying what it was they were quite yet, but both with the understanding it was something the other had been wanting for quite some time now.