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Norton was a loner, that was clear to everyone at the manor, he didn't trust people, he made that obvious by the way his brows were pressed against eachother all the time, and the way he didn't appreciate a single remark made by the Novelist. It just looked like he hated absolutely everyone. And perhaps he did, until a certain guest joined the manor.
Emil and Ada had joined the manor together as a couple, at he beginning no one could separate them. But that didn't last as others captured their attention, eventually slowly drifting from eachother until they were no longer in love. They addressed it and concluded their romantic relationship, ending as really good friends as they pursued their new love interest. Fortunately for both of them, their feelings were more than reciprocated. In no time one could catch the psychologist laughing, and holding hands with the barmaid, or even catch them kissing. As for Emil he was often seen with a hat that didn't quite belong to him, and holding hands with the clear owner of said hat, the Prospector.
---
It was late, just after the dinner at the manor had been served. Emil layed on Norton's bed, looking and talking as Norton cleaned his magnets and Emil's hooks.
"I feel uneasy" The patient randomly said as he sat up.
"Why is that?" Norton said, sneaking a glance at his lover.
"I do-don't know" Emil was a stutterer, result of many years of being the test subject of experiments that altered his being. Norton put the objects down on the floor, and hugged Emil, burying his face on the other man's shoulder as he gently pushed him down.
"Is okay, whatever it is, I promise we'll be fine" his words slightly muffled by the skin as he smiled and placed a soft kiss on Emil's neck. Emil smiled back and placed his hand on Norton's head, softly stroking his hair, his finger threading on the harsh and somewhat dusty hair, a texture he was long used to, Norton practically purred at the action, lowering his hands to Emil's waist as he pulled him closer to him. Emil shifted a little leaning in for a kiss, which was happily welcomed. Their lips danced passionately but gently, tongues sliding and interwining against eachother. Emil broke the kiss before speaking. "Can I-I stay?"
Norton smiled and placed a kiss on the corner of Emil's eye, "of course" He responded as he pulled the sheets over them. Shifting their position a little, Norton cupped Emil's face with one of his hands and looked at him, pure love and adoration radiating from his eyes. "Eres prescioso, te amo con todo mi ser" he murmured, giving him a kiss on the forehead. Emil had no idea what Norton said, aside from the last sentence, but based on the sweetness of his tone, it had to be something beautiful, so he just smiled as he spoke, "I love you too"
They drifted to sleep in eachother's arms, as their faces and bodies touched, and their hearts beated in unison.
The night went by in a blink, both of them greeted by the sunlight that peeked through the curtains. The did their morning routines and exited Norton's room, they walked down the hall and stairs, eventually reaching the dinning hall, where the other guests at the amor were already reunited as they enjoyed their meals, Emil and Norton took a seat next to each other the mood in the room was lively. Laughs and voices resonated in the room. There was the ring of a bell, and the chatting stopped, everyone turned their head to the origin of said sound. Once he had everyone's attention the buttler started to explain a series of games that would take place in the manor during the weekend, he then handed out some paper sheets to each guest, each paper having the names of the participants of the game the guests belonged to.
Norton took the paper and read its contents.
"Hunter:
???
Survivors:
The novelist
Prospector
Explorer
Patient
In and hour"
It said nothing about place or hunter, but it was the normal format for the papers, Norton felt a gently elbow on his ribcage, and he looked at Emil, who mouthed the words 'we're together' to him. Norton nodded, a shy smile drawing on his lips.
"Everyone, since the first game is schedule in an hour, those who will be involved please get ready" The buttler concluded as he turned around to attend other matters.
Norton and Emil finished their breakfast and headed to Norton's room once more to retrieve their objects.
---
Norton and Emil were the first to arrive the waiting desk, they talked for a while before the Orpheus entered the room and took a seat at the end of the table, He didn't even gave them a word, the moment he sat he opened his book and adjusted his Monocle. The prospector visibly tensed up with rage, and the patient placed his hand on top of his, an action to sooth him a little and an indication to relax. Norton took a deep breath, grasping Emil's hands. A couple of minutes passed before the Explorer arrived. He took a seat next to Norton as he looked around, unfamiliar with the other three.
"What is your name?" Norton asked as he also didn't know the man.
"Kurt Frank" he answered, shifting his attention completely at him. "Yours?"
Norton hummed at the name "Norton Campell" he would ask more, but decided that it was better to wait until the game started to figure certain stuff out. Emil adjusted his hooks as a soft hum resonated in the room. And the game started.
Norton found a cipher quickly, he started decoding, his progress was nearly at half when his heartbeat skyrocketed, he looked behind him and saw a butterfly speeding at him. He quickly doged the butterfly and got off the machine. He started to run around, vaulting windows and even hitting Geisha with a pallet once. Emil had encountered Kurt and though about helping him decode, but noticed how fast his decoding was so he switched to another machine. Neither of them were new to the game, they all had been at least once before, so they knew what was up. Emil focused on his machine until he heard a bell ringing, the one indicating that someone had been hit, followed, the machine Kurt was working on lighted up and buzzed. Emil sighed heavily, hoping that Norton was fine as his last message had been 'the hunter is nearby!' His decoding progress was a little more than half when Kurt found him, without question he let Kurt have his cipher as he went to search for another one. He ran for a while trying to find the nearest machine when he saw on his peripheral vision a figure dashing towards someone, then the bell followed. His eyes fell onto Norton who held his head due to the impact, he was quickly attached to a set of balloons and placed on a rocket chair. Another buzz was heard, followed by another one, two more machines completed. Emil ran to the chair and managed to trick the hunter, making geisha hit the chair, Emil used the moment to pull Norton of the chair. He held his wrist as he ran. Pushing him infront of him, in order to bodyblock. When Geisha regained her momentum she wiped her fan, hitting Emil on the head, pain running though his bones as he and Norton struggled to not trip.
"I got this you get away" Norton said as he turned around and threw a magnet at Geisha.
"Okay, p-please be careful" He then shot one of his hooks and went over a wall, gaining significant distance from the hunter. He ran the opposite way Norton ran and quickly found another machine to work on, at the same moment, the novelist sent a message 'Cipher machine 47% decoding complete' Emil went back at his machine. I'll probably have to prime this one. He thought as his fingers pressed the keys.
Norton had lost the hunter. He had to stop for a second to regain his breath, he coughed a little. He turned around to search for Emil, who he saw before and get himself healed, as well as just check on his lover. There was a message from the patient 'cipher machine decode progress 23%' he wasn't far, so he headed that direction. In a couple of minutes he found Emil, heavily focused in his machine, Norton smiled at the sight.
"Hello there, handsome" Emil flinched, backing away from the cipher to prevent any errors, he looked at the origin of the voice, his eyes lighted up, and a happy smile traced over his lips. He immediately ran up to Norton and Hugged him from the neck.
"Nort!" He said giggling, he then pulled away and told him to take a seat to help him with his wounds. Those who went on the games had an aid kit, one that they couldn't use on themselves. Emil lifted one of Norton's arms, which was bleeding and gently wrapped a bandage around it. There was also some blood stains on the knee area of his pants. He lifted the fabric up and also wrapped a bandage around it. Relief instantly washed over Norton. "Thank you, love. Neat work, as always" Norton praised as he tucked a strand of hair behing Emil's ear. Emil's cheeks reddened slightly and his heart couldn't help but flutter. He then helped Norton up.
"You don't want me to help with the wounds?" Norton asked as Emil went back to the cipher. The patient only shook his head, "No...I don't th-think I'll need it, we're just missing a cipher, plus I h-have borrowed time. I-I should be good" Norton nodded in understanding and walked up to the cipher to help with speed. The bell resonated once more in their ears, this time the one who got hit was the Explorer, but their powers combined accelerated the decoding process significantly, in no time they more than halfway completed. Emil was about to send a message that the machine was primed when the explorer got down, they wasted to time in finishing it, creating a perfect cipher pop.
As adrenaline rushed through their veins and previous pain of injuries were overpowered by the rush, Emil and Norton quickly dashed to the nearest exit gate. Norton started opening the gate when Kurt joined them, telling them the Hunter had telephoned to the opposite gate. Norton moved so the explored could open the gate, as they waited they were joined by Orpheus. Norton gave him a look, but didn't comment, Orpheus didn't comment either.
Norton let go of Emil's hand and turned his head to check on the gate progress when a loud 'BANG!' Rang on his ears behind him. Norton jumped, instantaneously looking behind him. His eyes widened at the sight, Orpheus adjusted his Monocle with one of his hands as the other held a flare gun that was leaving smoke. Norton's gaze followed the trail of aim of the gun, Landing on no one else but his lover. Emil lifted a hand to his chest. His clothes quickly being stained by the blood. Emil stumbled backwards and Norton rushed to prevent him from falling. He kneeled on the floor and helped Emil lay down. Nortons breath was uneven, panic and horror taking over his features.
"Emil, Emil, look at me" He said as his hand found his way to the patients cheek, caressing the skin. Emil was having a hard time keeping his eyes open, he felt his head heavy and his vision was clouded, but he could see the expression if Norton's face.
"Norton—"
"No, no, no, don't talk, don't talk, I'll get you out of here, please, please hold on—a-as soon as we get inside— I-I-I-ll get you to Emily—she'll know what to do— please hold on" Norton glared at Kurt who still was on the gate, pressing buttons franatically, then returned his gaze at Emil. Emil could feel Norton's hands trembling. But Emil could feel it. He wouldn't make it even if he tried.
Emil opened his mouth, speaking between grunts of pain, "Norton...thank you— thank you for le-letting me be at your side— For letting me L-love you— a-a-and for Loving me back. I couldn't be h-happier" Emil smiled with dificulty, he felt his eyes watering, the tears slowly sliding down his face. With the remaining strength he had left he cupped Norton's face and trapped their lips together. He allowed his eyes to close as he felt the warmth from Norton's body one last time. After the kiss, Emil dropped on Nortons arms, the hands that had been on his face, now lump and motionless. Norton's eyes widened in horror.
"No. Emil, please, no, no, no, no, please look at me— please Emil, No, no, please please. Oh god no— This isn't happening. Emiiil, love, love, Emil— please. Please answer me please. Emil" Norton gently tapped on Emil's cheek, he sofly shook him. But there was no reaponse. Norton's heart ached, it felt like he was getting stabbed on the same wound over and over again. His face twisted and he felt tears forming on his eyes. Tears that he had long forgotten he had, the last time he had ever cried was after long hour shifts working on the mines when his hands were sore, His legs shook, and his arms felt like they were going to fall off. But this was a hundred times worse. He felt like all control he had over his life was slipping away, promises he had done being broken. A fist drop hit Emil's stiff face. Then another followed. And another. It was like someone had taken the most important part of his life away. Norton lifted Emil's body to his chest, using a hand to prevent his head from slumping. He pressed their foreheads together as Tears rushed from his face. He hugged Emil's body as if hoping he would come back. But deep inside he knew he was gone. Norton shivered, quiet sobs turning into louds screams of agony. He pressed Emil's head against his lips, muffling his sobs, he pressed his eyes together, unable to contain the countless tears that fell from his eyes, landing on the corpse of his lover, that by every passing second, he could feel the warmth of his body fading away into coldness. He held onto Emil as if he might never let go. Until he felt a hand pulling at his shirt.
"Come on. Leave it. We have to go" A male voice said but it wasn't Kurt. Norton's eyes shot open in anger. He grited his teeth as his brows pressed together. With extreme delicacy he lowered Emil's body. His hands pressed into tight fists as he whirled around.
Orpheus was sent backwards a Meter from Norton. He held his nose in pain as blood dripped from it. "¡HIJO DE PUTA!" Norton yelled, neither of them knew what he had said but from his tone and the way his face was contorted in rage and aggravation, it wasn't hard to guess thay it something very offensive. He took heavy steps towards Orpheus, heavily landing on his knees. He took Orpheus collar and launched another punch towards his face. "¡TE VOY A MATAR CABRON!" He yelled once again, another punch landed on Orpheus face. And he couldn't do anything but try and block the punches. "¡ANDATE A CHINGAR A TU PUTA MADRE!" He was pretty much screaming onto Orpheus face, insult, after insult accompanied by a heavy swing of his arm. Orpheus Monocle broke at an impact, cutting his own flesh and Norton's nuckles. Blood splattered to the sides and onto Norton's face, but that didn't make him stop, Norton couldn't stop crying, not even as he took his rage on Orpheus, his expression was a weird mix between devastation and wrath. It didn't matter to Norton, what went though Orpheus' head when he pulled the trigger, it didnt matther the reason why, or if something was wrong with him. He wasn't going to stop. Kurt had finally opened the gate, he stood frozen in front of it, not daring to look back as the sound of thumps of Norton's knuckles against Orpheus face turned into something more like squelches.
The scene went for two minutos or three. Norton rose his arm again and and a loud 'crack' was heard when his punch landed. Kurt could feel goosebumps on his skin. Finally, Norton lowered his hands. The hands that had been trying to block the punches layed still at the sides of the body. The face of the corpse was so mangled and so bloody that one couldn't recognize it. Norton stood up, with his head down. He then turned around, his face and arms were covered in blood, some of it even driped. It looked like he had just taken a blood bath. Even behing all the blood, the trails of tears could still be seen.
Kurt turned around, his expression dropped slightly at the sight, the condition of Orpheus body was truly disturbing.
Norton walked back to Emil's corpse and kneeled. He slid one of his arms under neck and his other arm under his knees, lifting the body into a carrying position. The rage that had once taken over him was overshadowed by an immerse sorrow.
"Let's get out of this shit-hole" He said as he walked past the now open gates with Emil on his arms. Kurt glanced at Orpheus' once more before also leaving the gates.
The moment Norton's feet touched the floor of the manor, there was a quick and sharp scream. He turned his head, finding Emily, the doctor, with a hand over her mouth. She was often at the end of the halls of the exit gate in order to help and treat those who ended up wounded. Norton looked at her and asked, "where's the embalmer?" His voice broke at the last word, still struggling to accept the fact that Emil was gone.
Emily lowered her hand and pointed at the sofas in the living room. Norton nodded and started walking that way.
"...sorry about that" Kurt apologized to the doctor, following her to treat his wounds.
As Norton walked some people gasped, others screamed at the view, others just stared. He finally arrived the room, multiple people hanging out with eachother, some, such as the enchantress and the priestes who talked lively completly ignored the scene unfolding in front of them. Norton walked in front of the booth the embalmer was sitting on, his arm around the postman as they Petted Wick. Victor was the first to look up, his eyes widened, he covered his mouth in horror. The reaction caused Aesop to also look up, his expression not changing in the slightless, he retrieved his arm from the man's shoulder, Ruffling his hair as he did so, he stood up and fixed his gloves.
"Mr. Campbell, how may I help you?" He politely asked, glancing at the corpse on his arms.
"I— I require your...your services" Norton mumbled the last words, his heart breaking with every word, tears rushed from his eyes again, hitting Emils face with delicacy. Victor's face twisted in sympathy, he retrieved his notebook and wrote something on it, flipping it to let Norton see "I'm sorry for your loss...I can't imagine what you're going through :(" Norton looked at the note, tears clouding his eyes. He weakly thanked Victor as Aesop told him to follow. They walked up the stars, Emils body on his arms seeming to grow lighter with each step, Norton looked at him, tears mixed with blood that had landed on his face, ruining his pale complexion. Norton's lips quivered, forcing his eyes away. They reached Aesop's room, the room felt like a morgue, the walls were white as a paper, in the center there was a metal table and a drawer with multiple tools was next to it. On a corner was the bed and next to it layed a coffin vertically, there were wood planks on the floor, and a set of books in the night stand. Aesop indicated Norton to lay down Emil on the table.
"You craft them?" Norton asked as he gently discharged Emil from his arms.
"Yes. Will you stay and watch? If you prefer so, you can also leave." Aesop answered, opening a drawer and taking out towels. Then filling with water a bowl.
Norton stayed silent for a moment, wiping his face with his arm. Smudging all the blood on his face and staining it on his clothes even more, his features now slightly more visible. His voice broke once again when he spoke. "I'll stay" He took a seat on Aesop's bed, pulling his gloves off and wiping tears thay had started running once again.
The embalmer just nodded and got to work. To Norton's surprise, the process was incredibly delicate, from cleaning his face with a towel. Somewhere in the process Aesop asked whether he wanted Emil to be with a fresh set of clothes, or have the one he had washed. Norton took Emil's blood stained uniform and took it to the laundry machines. Leaving Aesop to continue his work. When he returned, the body was completly clean, even the bullet had been removed and the skin had been sewed, even if there wasn't much to it. Aesop dressed the corpse again and allowed Norton to carry him again as he set the coffin on the table. Once he was placed inside the coffin Aesop gave Norton a wet towel to clean himself up and he spoke.
"I will go get Andrew. You can mourn your lover in the meantime. When you're finished just let us in" And he walked out of the room. Norton cleaned his own face and hands, not wanting to stain the work. He stood infront of the coffin. Emil layed still, his hands clasped on his stomach and his expression was calm, even a soft smile was ticed on his lips. Norton felt his heart break once more, tears rushing out of his eyes. And guilt taking over him.
"I'm sorry— I couldn't protect you...I-I-Im so sorry Emil...I—" His hands trembled, there were no words to express the anguish he felt inside him. He had never cared for something, for someone, as much as he had for Emil. And now he was gone, the only person who understood him, the only person that was worth more than the purest minerals and precious rocks. The only person that had more value than a whole bunker of gold. The only person he had put above his greed, his desire for wealth and even his hatred for others. The only person he had ever wished to be next to all the time, to hear his voice every second. The only person he had genuily loved and wished to protect with his life. The only person that had ever heard him and treated him properly and not like a monster. The only person that had a messed past like him. The only person that accepted him even with his flaws, and the only person he accepted equally. The only person that made him happy and wanted to make happy. And now all of him was gone. Norton fell to his knees, pressing his hands against his face, feeling his cheeks and the palms of his hands wet. His heart throbbed and he felt like the whole world was crumbling around him because Emil was his world. He only wished for the pain to end, even hoping a little for death to take him aswell. Norton wanted to scream, to rip off his heart. 'What ifs' thay couldve prevent this from happening rushing on his mind. But it was not use. No matter how much he wished that all was a bad dream. He knew it was real. He let himself cry for a couple of minutes before standing up again. He looked at Emil once more before searching into his pocket and taking out a pair of metal rings, each of them had a small fragment of a sapphire encrusted in them, the inside of both had the same engraving, 'Norton ♡ Emil' the only difference was the position of the names after the heart. He fiddled the rings on his fingers. Sime after they had started dating, he had crafted them with the minerals he had brought for his instance at the manor, a chunk of metal and some fragments of gems. "I'm sorry, I...I had planned to give this to you when we had beat the game...that if after the manor we still were together...I would propose...but— but I suppose that won't happen" A set of tears hit the the pair of rings, Norton sniffled and grabbed the ring that had Norton's name first, he gently slid it onto Emil's right ring finger. He then slid the other ring onto his own right ring finger. He sighed heavily. "I love you. I always will" after his last words he went over to the door and opened it. Aesop and Andrew who had been waiting outside for some time entered the room.
"I'm sorry for your loss" Andrew said, glancing at the coffing.
"Thank you, I appreciate it" Norton thanked weakly.
"All set?" Aesop asked as he lifted the lid of the coffin. Norton's lips quivered, and he bit onto his bottom lip, rubbing his eyes trying to wipe away the tears thay had formed once again. His voice broke when he talked. "Yeah"
Aesop and Andrew looked at him with empathy. Then Aesop closed the coffin and offered to carry it with Norton, he accepted and lifted the the opposite side of the coffing, resting in his shoulder. They descended the stairs, gaining glares from the other guests. They walked outside the manor to the yard. Norton indicated a spot and they lowered the coffin. Norton thanked Aesop and the embalmer left. The grave keeper prepared his shovel, shyly talking."You don't have to stay if you don't want...I'll take care of it"
Norton shook his head. "I'll stay" He then took a seat on the ground, slightly away from the area Andrew was preparing to dig. The hours went by, at some point Norton decided to help Andrew dig, by the time they had the hole in the ground, the sun was going down. The hole was at most 2.5 meters deep, it didn't need to be super deep since the cadaver was embalmed. Norton helped Andrew place the coffin, and started cover it by dirt again. By the time they finished it was almost midnight.
"Okay, He's sealed" Andrew claimed as he patted dust off his hands. Norton thanked him and watched the grave keeper walk towards the manor. Norton glared at the dirt mountain. He sighed as he took his hat of and pressed it against the dirt. its sides being buried. He closed his for a moment. His mind wandering to the day of the dead. "I'll never forget you Emil, I promise. I'll build the altar you deserve." After a couple of minutes, he stood up and entered the manor again.
He walked towards his room, the sudden emptiness and coldness adding to the void he felt on his chest. He flicked the light on, his eyes landing on the bed He and Emil had shared for many nights, where laughs, tears, kisses, and moans had been exchanged. He forced his gaze away, walking up to one of his drawers. He retrieved a small box and a lighter. He then walked to the balcony, his eyes fixated on the stars. He let his arms rest on the railing as he took out a cigarette and placed it on his lips. He lighted it up sucked the smoke, instantaneously coughing heavily. Norton had long ago stopped smoking, the work on the mines did enough damage to his lungs to keep adding to it. But he didn't care at the moment, nothing seemed to matter anymore. He lifted the cigarette to his lips again, this time not having any issues with it, he waited a second then puffed out the smoke. His mind replaying a conversation he had with Emil in that same balcony, in a similar night.
"I really like stars"
"Yeah? Why's that?"
"H-honestly? I-I don't really know...but I like to think Th-that when we die, we turn into s-stars"
"Hmm, is a nice belief. But I would rather have you by my side for now"
"Haha! Of course, I wouldn't want you to turn into a star either...a-at least not for now"
Norton observed the sky for a moment "if you are a star I bet you're the prettiest and brightest one" He crushed the cigarette on his hands the butt of it burning his hand slightly. He went back inside the room. Throwing the cigarette pack and the lighter somewhere. He let himself fall onto the bed, which suddenly felt too big for one person, his hands hugged onto Emil's pillow. Missing his body pressed against his and the warmth of it.
---
After Emil's death, Norton was never the same, his development in the games was descent, but it no longer had the will to live he had when Emil had been with him. He often spent time on the place Emil was buried, spending hours talking to no one but the ghost of his dead lover. He isolated himself from the guests more than he already was, never initiating a conversation. He never picked up his hat from where he placed it, and the ring on his finger was never taken off.