Norman x Reader || SAUDADE

23-N-ewfound

"But it's just not possible. I can't live with all of you." I felt him releasing us and started to drop down into a crouching position, my body automatically held onto his body and tried to stop him from slipping out. 

"N-Norman." I supported his weight for a little before letting him go completely. 

"Because of the drugs administered to us at Lambda, we don't have much time left. I can't live with you." He started sobbing loudly, it was too painful to see. 

"Help me Emma, Ray, ________." He broke down for the first time in his life. 

"What are you talking about?" Vincent cut into the conversation in disbelief. 

"You were the only one who wasn't a guinea pig because you were a special sample from Gracefield." Cislo seemed to recite what he was told. 

"That was a lie, it was true I was being kept separately in the facility, but I was also experimented on. My seizures," Norman answered, revealing all of the secrets he had kept all this time, "have already advanced to level four." He continued. 

Level four? Is that the last stage? What exactly did that amount to in terms of severity? The most severe?

"I wanted to be a boss you can rely on. I didn't want anyone to feel concerned or hesitant around me. I'm sorry." He looked down guiltily. 

"I don't regret killing the queen and the aristocrats. But, I don't want to kill anymore than that. 

I want to end what I already did, I don't want to give up on the lives of the Lambda group. Even if the chances are close to none, I want to try and save everyone including myself." He stated with desperation clear in his tone. 

"Got it, leave it to us. We'll help you." Ray's voice broke the silence in the air. 

"It's going to be okay. All of it, let's do it together." Emma hugged Norman before helping him stand back on his feet again. 

I looked at his eyes, and it seemed like a lot of load was taken away from his shoulders. I smiled at his new-found hope. 

"Are you kidding me?" I heard Vincent's voice behind us, pulling me away from all the touching reunion we had. 

"I don't care about our lives anymore, eradicating the demons is the only salvation. You said that you weren't going to look back. But now you're saying this? You're not just going to abandon the plan, but you're going to be in our way! I'm not stopping! Even if you quit I-," Vincent's rage was apparent in his voice and yet, Cislo decided to cut Vincent's rant. 

"It's enough, Vincent." He sighed. 

"I know you've been suffering boss, but because he's amazing and capable, we've been dependent on him, taking advantage of his ability and kindness. We used him as a tool for our revenge, even though he's human just like us." Cislo smiled sadly. 

"So what do you want to do Boss? If you want to stop, it's fine. We did this much, I still despise the demons and I want revenge. But you're more important than that. I'll follow your lead." Cislo smiled more genuinely now. 

The wounded Barbara, who was in tow with Cislo, agreed along with her partner. I immediately let Norman go and went to Barbara, "What happened?" I asked, inspecting her wounds. "The queen stabbed her." Cislo let Barbara settle to a more comfortable position. 

A hole was made through her abdomen, this is very serious. How is she still conscious through all that is beyond me. 

I quickly rip the cloak I'm wearing into a make-shift bandage for now.