Chapter Text
Julie woke with a start, jostled by Normal who seemed seemed to be playing some sort of videogame on the television. She was too tired to really focus on it. Hermie hadn’t been sleeping very well and after the emotions of this morning, they had needed the nap. She didn’t know why Hermie was upset but Sunny had assured her that she would take care of him and Julie should have fun with Normal for the day.
“Sorry.” Normal said quietly as she sat up holding the blanket gently.
“It’s okay, Norm.” Her voice slipped into her actual tone rather than Hermie’s. She wished Hermie was there to help her shift the body.
“Hi, Julie.” Normal smiled recognizing the voice from the last few weeks that he had been at the house. “Have a good nap?”
“Mhm.” Julie’s yawn betrayed her as she hid her face into the blanket to stifle it. “Where’s Paeden?”
Normal couldn’t help the smile crossing his face as Julie’s words slurred together. He really did care about her.
“Should be in bed still. Why don’t you go change and grab him while we put away the game?” Julie nodded climbing down from the couch and retreating to the bedroom.
“What was that?” Julie paused hearing Lincoln ask. She wanted to hear what they were talking about.
“That was Julie. Remember?” Normal spoke in an even tone that Julie had to struggle to hear, clearly aware that their voices carried through the house.
“The kid?” Taylor asked. She hadn’t even noticed Taylor was there. She likes Taylor.
“Yeah. She’s six so like. Watch your language I guess?” Normal sounded unsure but the conversation moved too quiet for her to hear so she started to change into her favorite skirt overalls and a soft pink shirt. Julie tried a few times to get the button to attach properly but they wouldn’t work. And she was starting to get frustrated over it. So Julie cracked the door open.
“Can someone help please?” Normal’s footsteps stopped just outside the bedroom door and she opened it all the way.
“Having some trouble with the buttons, button?” Julie laughed and nodded moving her hands and letting Normal help, he began to speak as he did in a low voice, enough no one but she would be able to hear. “What do you think we should do with the afternoon?”
“Does Taylor have his sword?” They wouldn’t be there to stop her from learning now.
“Maybe? Why?” Normal looked a little concerned as he grabbed a pair of her socks from Hermie’s drawer placing them in her hands “Can you do those by yourself?”
“Yep.” Julie sat on the bed starting to work on putting on her long socks. Normal had picked the perfect pair to match her outfit. “And cause I wanna learn how.”
“Don’t you think a sword is a little dangerous?” Normal looked worried now, and Julie couldn’t help feel slightly disappointed. She thought she had someone who wasn’t overly worried about her like Hermie tended to be. Someone who would let her do things that she wanted to do and not overly monitor what she wanted to do. It wasn’t fair.
“No, I don’t think so.” She responded firmly. “I can be safe.”
“I don’t know baby. Maybe we should wait and I can ask Sunny or Hermie first.”
“No.” It came out as more of a whine than she had intended but maybe if she did whine enough he would relent and he would say yes. She just needed to turn up the charm. “Please Please Pleaseeeee.”
Normal sighed and bent down to help her fasten the shoes she had picked. There really was not a whole lot of wiggle room for argument. What if Hermie had said yes and Normal was just complicating things for no reason.
“How about a compromise?” Normal picked his words carefully. Trying to think of how his grandpa Henry would have handled it. “How about we teach you how to play soccer today and when we have a safe sword we can teach you to fight? I’m worried about the sharp blade but if we can get you one that won’t hurt we can use that.”
“Fine.” It was grumbled and almost a whine but an agreement nonetheless.