Norman x Reader || SAUDADE

08-D-aydream

After the reunion, we were given the chance to clean up and retire for the day. I went to the bath with the girls to help them clean themselves as well. 

"It feels so good here isn't it?" Gilda smiled as she helped Alicia scrub her back. 

"Even better than the shelter we were in huh?" Gillian laughed. We were having a lot of fun in the bath talking as usual and cleaning ourselves from the dirt that has piled up for days in our body. After we got ourselves cleaned, we then changed into a new set of clothes as the old ones need some seriously deep cleansing. I was given a white nightgown. It was so soft to the touch, that I felt like melting immediately into it. We helped the smaller ones get dressed. Their gowns were so much smaller and it's so cute to look at them dressed accordingly. 

"_______, do you want to play with Ray and Norman as well? We'd play some games and catch up!" Emma appeared after she's done. 

"Sure!" I told her while settling my things on the bed. We went to the boys' room across the hall and decided to play chess. The four of us kept playing until it was past our bedtime already. 

"Hey, let's play another game!" Emma told Ray who is laying flat on his back trying to relax his back. 

"Stop playing and sleep already!" Ray mumbled in annoyance. I looked at the clock, one minute until midnight. 

"Well, we haven't caught up with each other in a while, we can rest the whole day tomorrow too." I chuckled as Emma nodded vigorously. 

"It's true and I know you wouldn't sleep on us Ray." Emma pointed out. I stretched a bit feeling a smile slowly etching my lips, 

"After wandering two years in fear, we're finally able to rest easy." I smiled hugging my knees. Everyone stopped playing for a while and mirrored my actions. 

"I guess that's true. We've been living in constant fear of being pursued, yet we have no power to defend ourselves, whether we're able to live another day or to protect our family." Ray pointed out. 

"So, I'd like to thank you too Norman, that we're able to live at an ease for now. Knowing that our families would be safe at least in this base." I smiled at him, which he smiled back with a little more pink color on his face. 

"Yes, even though that, we couldn't stop fighting here. We have a lot more steps to do in order to save Phil and the other kids." Emma grinned positively. 

"Of course, it does make us fight a little braver knowing that the others are safe meanwhile." I hummed. 

"For now, let's go play some more!" Norman made us refocus back to the game. I can't remember then, but I fell into a deep slumber not long after. It was cold but I felt as if something warm with a minty and baby powder scent was wrapped around me, which made me very comfortably warm, pushing me deeper to sleep.

"_______! Emma, wake up!" My senses slowly came back and my eyelids fluttered a few times before finally regaining consciousness. Light entered my eyes, unusually natural light, along with the sight of an unfamiliar room. My gaze met Emma's who was rubbing her eyes beside me. Then, it hit us like a bullet. We overslept! 

"What time is it, why are we in bed?" I asked an equally confused Emma. 

"I-I'm not sure, I got too excited last night that I didn't remember what happened." She had a frenzied look painted across her face. Pulling ourselves together, Emma and I raced down the stairs to the dining room. 

"I'm sorry I overslept!" Emma and I announced in sync. "Don't worry, we do too." Gilda and Don brushed it off while proceeding to prepare a late breakfast's utensils. 

"Wait, we have too much food!" Emma exclaimed at the amount of food piled up on the table. 

"Can we actually eat all of these?" Don asked at the surprised Norman, but he nodded nonetheless. 

"Are you sure? Would there be enough for the others?" Lani asked. 

"Yes, you can eat everything on the table. Don't worry." Norman chuckled with a little sadness at our reaction. Cheers erupted and I have never seen us so happy, laughing and eating. I wish we could stay like this forever. I looked at Norman, who was talking with Ray, Emma and the others while eating, he has grown a lot over the past two years. He grew taller, more mature, but then I saw how his eyes did not have the brilliance he once had, they looked a little tired, a little sad, a little lonely. I guess that showed just how rough things were after we left Grace Field. However, I know I can still see the same brilliance in Emma's eyes, she always has a positive outlook in life. The late breakfast was soon over and the older kids stayed behind to clean up all the mess and the dishes. Ray and Emma cleaned the tables and dining area. Meanwhile Gilda, Don, Paula, Gillian and I washed the dishes in the kitchen. 

"It's been a while since I've felt this full after eating." Don chuckled to himself. Everyone agreed almost immediately at the fact. 

"It's highly delicious to boot." Gillian pointed out.

I visited Chris in the infirmary to check up on how he was doing. There he was, lying flat on one of the beds, still as ever. He had become dormant ever since that incident happened. My anger stirred up a little at the memory of that day. Peter Ratri, the man who killed his brother and my friends, harmed my family, I truly wished for his death. I sighed heavily before taking deep breaths in an attempt of calming myself. Gently, I ran my fingers through his hair, hoping it would comfort him even in the smallest way. I thanked the kids in charge of the infirmary and reminded them to change the drips on time. After the visit, I continued my way to the bath to cleanse myself. I haven't got the chance since I overslept this morning. I slipped off of my nightgown and entered the warm steaming bath provided right in front of me. I was staring at my reflection on the mirror to fix my hair after the shower. My gaze fell onto the numbers printed across the left side of my neck, 44194. My fingers unconsciously touched those numbers a few times, however they could only identify the feeling of my skin instead. My thoughts wandered off to happy and painful memories as I sank deeper into the water. I miss mom, I miss Grace Field. I miss Norman. Speaking of which, I haven't seen the said boy after breakfast. Where could he be? I went out of the bath, continuing to brush my teeth and got dressed for the day.

The day went off as usual, I did some more training for combat with Oliver and Nigel. I figured that I have to learn other things than archery. I sharpened my archery skill as well, but I managed to learn how to handle firearms as well. 

"________!" Yvette called out running towards my direction, she had quite grown attached to me after the escape we made at shelter B-06-32. 

"Oh, Yvette!" I quickly let go off the weapon I have been holding and opened my arms waiting for her. 

"Can you braid mine and Jemima's hair before dinner?" She asked after I lifted and gave her a twirl. 

"Hm, let's see." I pretended to ponder for a while, before sneaking a glance at her hopeful stare. 

"Alright!" I chuckled at her reaction. 

"Thank you _______!" She hugged me with twinkles in her eyes.I then let her down after the hug. 

"What were you doing earlier?" She asked me while looking at the gun. 

"I was practicing, I have to help the others to protect everyone too!" I knelt down and sat beside her. She seemed to be in deep thought before looking at me, 

"Then should I learn it too? I wanna help as well!" She pouted. 

"Oh, you can help once you're big enough to hold that. It's very heavy." I smiled at her. 

"For now, you can help everyone by eating well, sleeping well and growing big and strong alright?" I touched her nose lightly. 

"Of course! I'll grow up big and strong just like you!" She showed me a determined face and eyes brimming with passion. I laughed a little, 

"You will grow stronger than I would ever be, and I hope you don't have to wield any weapons once you grow up Yvette." I gently pat her head. I smiled a little bitterly at myself. At thirteen, I felt like we were forced to be even more mature than how usual fourteen year olds are supposed to be.