Noris&Nathan: Waiting for you only

Chapter 5

The next day Norris again accompanied Nathan to his office, but did not stay with him. They separated to do their work. The secretary was nervous, but at the same time he did not want to be a burden, so he did his job silently. 

From time to time A.J. made sarcastic comments about him, but Nathan tried to ignore them, although it was not easy.

It was tiring to write messages instead of discussing things verbally, so he preferred to work alone, except when he needed to clarify something with Luca. 

The head of the department, Henry, made Luca Nathan's mentor, but he did not need any support. Having worked as a secretary for Roman for many years, he had excellent knowledge of documentation.

Noris always joined him for lunch, which displeased AJ. He would then mock Nathan when the bodyguard was not around.

Life slowly settled down: during the day the secretary worked in his department, and in the evenings he stayed in the room with Noris.

Finally, it was time for Tiger's personal bodyguard to return to his workplace.
During the month Nathan had gotten used to his new position and the fact that he could not speak was not so frustrating. But as the day of Noris' departure approached, he felt fear again, because they had been together all this time.

When the workday was over, Nathan would go back to his room to read or watch a movie. Apart from being with Noris, he had no social life. The constant presence of the bodyguard at his side calmed Nathan. This was enough. What was the need for other interactions? But at the same time, with Noris' s departure, he would be all alone.

On that day, Nathan finished his work and went as usual to his cabin to take a shower before dinner. 

When Noris came out of the bathroom, he saw a frowning boy sitting on the edge of the bed. Nathan looked at the bodyguard, whose taut and muscular body was covered only by a towel wrapped carelessly around his hips, and blushed deeply.

Pushing aside the thought of how attractive the man looked, he wrote:

[Why do you always walk around naked].

- How come? I'm wearing a towel, he replied and the man started to approach.

Nathan quickly looked away and wrote again:

[Get dressed so that we can go to dinner.]

- First tell me what's wrong. What are you upset about?

Nathan pressed his lips together. How could he say that he didn't want Norris to leave, that he was used to relying on his new friend, who showered him with care and understanding? 

[Tired of AJ]

That was true, too. He was exhausted by his coworker's scathing sarcasm.

- Do you want me to talk to him?

Nathan remained silent, avoiding looking at Noris.

[If you do, he'll get worse.]

- Then ignore him and just focus on your work.

The boy sighed, nodding his head slightly.

Noris walked over to the closet and Nathan glanced at him blankly. The man was indeed very attractive.

When the bodyguard had finished dressing, they went to the dining room, and as usual, AJ was already there with Luca. Nathan went to get some food and when he got to the table he heard Noris saying to someone:

- Sit down with us.

Dr. Mason joined them. 

- Well, did you manage to crawl out of the lab? - Luca asked jokingly.

- Otherwise, I won't know whether it's day or night! - replied the scientist with a smile. 

- Noris, you're going to the party in the break room tonight, right? It's Garel's birthday," AJ asked excitedly.

It was already a tradition on the ship. Whenever it was someone's birthday, there was usually a party so people could relax after work. 

Noris turned to the guy sitting next to him and looked at him for a moment. 
- Do you want to go?

Nathan lifted his head and looked at him to make sure that Noris had asked him. He didn't really like the idea - he didn't even know the birthday boy. Besides, the guilt gnawing at him inside didn't make him want to talk to anyone, so he shook his head negatively in response.

- Then I won't go either. Have fun without me. 

Nathan stared at him in confusion. Why did Norris refuse to go too?

- If he doesn't want to go, he can stay in his room. Let's go hang out! - AJ continued to insist. 

- Garel bought a lot of good wine, Luca chimed in. 

- Yes, he'll be very happy if you come, because you're his idol! - AJ added.
Everyone knew that, including Noris himself.

- Okay, I'll stop by later, - replied the bodyguard, thinking that the birthday boy would be happy if he congratulated him personally.

They continued eating. 

- Nathan, have you gotten used to it? - Dr. Mason asked, and the boy raised his head to nod.

- Well, if your throat starts to bother you, go for a checkup, just in case. There could still be the possibility of side effects of the medication, even though it had been almost a month.

Nathan nodded again.

After the meal was over, everyone went to their rooms. 

- Noris, can I talk to you for a moment? - Dr. Mason stopped the bodyguard when he was on the threshold of his and Nathan's cabin.

The man paused, and the secretary entered the room alone. Although he wanted to know what the two men would talk about, Nathan suppressed his curiosity. It was probably a private conversation.

- I will stop by for a while for the birthday party. You don't have to wait for me, go to bed.

Nathan nodded, thinking that he would have to get used to being alone, because Noris would be leaving soon.
The man stayed in the room for a while and then left.

When Nathan was alone, he immediately felt lonely. When he was alone with his thoughts, he often thought of Roman. But it was more the guilt because Tiger was disappointed in him. The pain of unrequited love was slowly subsiding. The fact that he didn't have to see his boss helped too. Perhaps his feelings for Roman would soon disappear altogether? Strangely, he hardly thought about him when Noris was around.

Nathan sighed quietly and turned on the TV to watch a movie and distract himself. 



- Noris, can I get you another drink? - A.J. offered helpfully, sitting down next to him.

- No, I have to work tomorrow," the man replied, glancing at his watch. - I think it's time for me to go back to my room. Have a good evening.
Noris has been here for two hours. 

- Why are you in such a hurry? Worried about your roommate? - AJ asked playfully.

The bodyguard looked at the persistent guy calmly, which made him stop talking for a while and then continue again, but not so swaggeringly:
- Well... he's not a child anymore! I don't see why you should be so protective of him.

- AJ, I know Nathan made a mistake, but he's more than paying for it now. The fact that the boss didn't punish him more harshly means he's willing to forgive Nathan in time. If Roman is willing to give him a chance, don't you think that everyone else should do the same? - Norris deliberately raised his voice so that everyone could hear him, especially those who shared A.J.'s opinion. - Being unable to speak was already hard. Or do you think that being mute for two years is nothing?

The conversations around them died down as everyone listened attentively to Tiger's personal bodyguard.

- I hope that when I'm not here, no one will bother Nathan, -  the man said with a clear warning in his voice.

He had come here partly to clarify the situation. Many people felt that Nathan's punishment had not been severe enough. But could they really know how he felt?

- You seem to care for him very much! - A.J. said with  jealousy.

- I know what you're trying to do. Stop it," Norris said firmly. 
He knew he was interested in him, but he also knew that AJ saw him as a trophy, nothing more. No real feelings.

Such a reaction infuriated the obsessive guy, but he restrained himself.

Noris stood up and, after congratulating the birthday boy again, left the party.

When he opened the cabin door, he found that the TV was on, but Nathan was already asleep. Shaking his head, he turned it off and went to the bathroom.

When he had freshened up before going to bed, he approached the bed from the side where the boy was sleeping. His gaze slid over Nathan's face, and a gentle smile played on his lips - he looked so peaceful in his sleep.

Norris looked at the boy's tantalizing lips and, unable to resist, slowly tilted his head and kissed him.