Normero One Shots

Chapter 5

**TW: Brief mentions of Norma's trauma.**

This chapter is a little different because it's not technically linear like the rest of my chapters have been thus far. This chapter is about Norma and Alex's first night together. I worked hard on this one so I really hope you guys enjoy angst and smut!

"Alex?" Norma asked almost inaudibly, the second his name left her lips immediately regretting it.

"Yeah?" he asked, turning himself so that he was now facing towards her. She kept herself facing away.

"D-do you think you could stay in here? Just for tonight? You don't have to, it probably sounds silly."

"Yeah, of course."

That was months ago.

Sometimes if it was late when he got home, Alex would fall asleep in Norma's bed with his uniform on. If that's what he had to do to keep his best friend from waking up screaming and crying in the middle of the night, he would do it in a heartbeat. And he did.

It quickly became routine. Norma began asking him every few nights, then every night, and eventually she asked him if he'd like to move his things from the spare bedroom into hers. He agreed.

Sometimes she'd ask him to hold her close and he would, though it hurt him how she had no idea that being snuggled up to him was the best part of his day. He looked forward to holding her and comforting her when she needed it. But if he told her how he felt he would risk everything he worked so hard for. She was the only good thing in his life and if he ruined it he would end up right back where he started.

Sometimes they both had trouble falling asleep, but no matter what, Norma was out before him. This wasn't to say that she didn't wake up a million times throughout the night because she did. Sometimes she'd wake up whining and panting heavily in a pool of sweat. Even if she sweated all over him, Alex would much prefer this to her not moving or making any noises at all, which she also did sometimes.

Alex picked up a mirror from the dollar store around the second or third time it happened. He hid it in his bedside drawer so he could grab it in the middle of the night it if he ever needed to hold it under her nose and check for fog to make sure she was still breathing. This was something he worried about too often.

But this night was different than all the rest. Norma was more restless than usual, kicking his shins every few minutes and apologizing breathlessly. She stilled for awhile and Alex thought that she had finally drifted off until he felt a hand grope at his hip. He jumped a little, the sudden movement catching him off guard.

Neither of them said anything.

And then her hand trailed up and down his leg a few times, so softly he could barely feel it. He wasn't sure if maybe he was sleeping or if she was, but he kept quiet until he couldn't take it anymore.

"Norma, are you awake?" he finally built up the courage to ask. She gave a little mewl and pushed herself against him. "Norma?"

She shushed him, wiggling her ass in circles so that she could feel him up against her.

"Touch me," she insisted, reaching behind herself to grab his hand.

"Norma..."

"Please."

"Don't play with me."

"I'm not," she said, turning so that she was now facing him. "I'm not."

"What are you doing?" he asked, admittedly a little freaked out and astounded that Norma was expressing sexual interest in him. Even when he didn't like Norma, when she was under investigation, he still was attracted to her. She never expressed any similar feelings.