Work Text:
Life in the big city was extremely chaotic, and yet, life found its way to create bonds and connections between human beings.
One of these many humans living in the big city was Norton Campbell. Currently, he was a "handyman" in a small nursing home, working mainly as a nursing assistant. Coming from a poor family, Norton always had to strive to have the bare minimum. In his adolescence, while working in a factory, he suffered an accident involving a boiler, leaving him with permanent scars on his body.
After the accident, he went through several jobs before ending up at the nursing home. Despite not having formal nursing training, Norton was skilled at tending to wounds and restraining people, given that his father was an aggressive alcoholic. Furthermore, he didn't work alone, assisting William, a nurse who at first glance seemed large and intimidating, but William was easily the kindest and most patient person Norton had ever met. William dreamed of being a doctor, but life didn't allow him to continue with medical school. Despite not being able to pursue his dream, William showed no displeasure at being a nurse; quite the opposite, he cared for his patients with great love.
Norton's life revolved around his work and his home. He lived in a small apartment with one bedroom, a bathroom, and a common living room/kitchen area, plus a balcony. Although it didn't seem very appealing, what, or rather, who lived with Norton made life infinitely happier.
They had been together for five years, three of them sharing the same roof. Norton's partner had blond hair and a contagious personality. Mike Morton was a young man from the countryside who came to the city dreaming of becoming a great actor, but like the vast majority of people who lived there, his dream didn't come true. Mike worked in a café/record store and in his spare time did freelance work as a photographer.
Norton met Mike at his workplace. He had entered the unfamiliar place on a cold winter day, guided by the aroma of coffee, looking for a hot drink to warm his body after a long shift at the nursing home. At the time, he had only been working there for six months, still getting used to the random rhythm of the place, where some days were calm and others chaotic. Norton entered through the door and found himself in a place crammed with records, CDs, and cassette tapes, as well as a small coffee maker surrounded by small tables. The place was strange, but strangely cozy. He went to the counter, where a young blond man with mismatched blue eyes was engrossed in the coffee maker, humming along to the music playing on the store's speakers: Aerosmith, Angel.
Norton sat down at the counter; the young man took a few seconds to notice Norton:
-Good afternoon! Welcome to Coffee & Music! How can I help you?
The blond man's voice had a cheerful tone, his face beamed with a smile, and Norton felt his stomach churn for a moment.
-Good afternoon, black coffee, please. No milk, a little sugar.
The blond man nodded and prepared Norton's drink while humming the chorus of the song. He couldn't help but notice how handsome and graceful Mike was. Norton was gay, although he had never admitted it to anyone. It wasn't the first time he'd noticed another man, but it was the first time he'd felt his heart race and his hands sweat. Norton wasn't one to strike up a conversation with anyone; he was quiet and reserved, but that afternoon, something changed in his heart, and while Mike prepared the coffee, Norton asked:
-Do you like Aerosmith?
&Huh? Oh, yes, I like that! It's hard to find a song I don't like, but if I had to choose a favorite band, it would be Oingo Boingo.
Mike handed Norton his coffee, a smile on his lips. He sipped his coffee and tried to act normal, chatting about music with the blond man. Norton didn't even know why he was sharing his musical taste with a complete stranger. Indeed, he liked romantic rock, but he hid it because his father said it was shameful for a boy to like it, but something made him tell Mike, a complete stranger, how much he liked bands like Whitesnake and Aerosmith.
After an hour of conversation, Norton paid for his coffee and went home; night was already falling. He felt silly, but happy. After that afternoon, he became a regular customer at Coffee & Music.
Over time, they grew closer. Mike was much braver than Norton, asking him out on a date. After that first date, many others followed. After several dates, Norton formalized the relationship with a completely awkward proposal in a secluded corner of a square near the Café & Music. This would be his first boyfriend; he had no idea what to do, but Mike happily accepted. After that, Norton finally lost his virginity. Mike was younger and more experienced than him, being uninhibited about sexual matters, giving Norton his first orgasm that wasn't self-induced.
After all this, they decided to live together. Mike already had his own apartment near his work; it was small but comfortable. Norton agreed to move in with his boyfriend. He lived in a small studio apartment in an old, dirty building. The change of scenery would be good, especially since it was still close enough to his work, and, above all, he would be living with Mike.
Since then, they had been sharing the apartment, splitting the bills, and they could afford a few small luxuries. The first thing they bought together was a new bed; Mike's old bed was small and uncomfortable, so it was replaced by an iron bed that Mike found for sale on an online marketplace. Along with a new mattress and sheets, the bed fit perfectly in their room, and Norton counted the hours until he could leave and lie down next to Mike in that soft, comfortable bed.
Mike sometimes arrived home earlier from work than Norton, given the unpredictable nature of his job. When this happened, he would usually prepare dinner and wait for his boyfriend so they could eat together. When they arrived practically at the same time, they would cook together, talking about work, the day's events, music, art, and anything else that came to mind.
The two tried hard; it wasn't a perfect relationship. There were arguments, mainly because Mike was intense and volatile with his emotions, while Norton was reserved and had a lot of difficulty processing feelings, seeming distant and selfish at times. There was conflict, yes, but both tried to make the relationship work, and for the last five years, Norton felt genuinely happy. Deep down, he couldn't imagine himself without Mike anymore. That small apartment would be a prison for anyone, but not for Norton, because he had Mike by his side.
However, one day, maybe it was a Wednesday or a Thursday, Norton couldn't remember, he woke up late; it was his day off. Mike should already be at work, but to his surprise, he found his boyfriend in the kitchen, staring intently at his cell phone, an angry expression on his face. It was rare to see Mike angry.
-Mike? Didn't you go to work?
-No, Norton. I'm taking a few days off; I need to visit my family.
Norton felt his heart sink in his chest.
-Did something happen?!
-Nothing serious, it's just my Uncle Joseph arguing with the family again and they want me there to redistribute of uncle's Joseph Will. I really like Uncle Joseph, he taught me everything I know about photography, but he's not quite right in the head. The old man is in perfect health and he's started this inheritance nonsense again. Every other year, he invents a problem in his head and we all have to get together to make sure everything's alright."
-When are you going?
-This afternoon, I shouldn't be gone for long. I was waiting for you to wake up to tell you.
-Do you want me to come too?!
-No need, I don't want to involve you in family drama, especially since some of my relatives are quite…idiotic. Everything will be fine! I'll be back before you know it!
Mike stood up from the table and hugged his boyfriend. Norton felt a wave of despair wash over him. He had been used to Mike being there for three years, and the mere thought of not sharing that space with him was devastating, even if it was only for a few days.
Norton played the tough guy all day, even though inside he was falling apart. He watched Mike pack a small bag with clothes and toiletries; Mike instructed him to take care of the plants while he was away, as there were homemade frozen hamburgers in the freezer. At two in the afternoon, Norton took him to the train station, they said goodbye, and Norton watched the train depart.
He returned home; the apartment seemed to be losing its color. Norton had never felt like this before; his whole life had been lonely and gloomy. Mike was the sunshine that brightened his days, and the disruption of that routine was agonizing. He tried hard to be tough, lying to himself that everything was fine and that Mike would be back soon. Norton tried to get through the rest of the day, watering Mike's plants, putting clothes in the washing machine, and making his dinner, but when he sat down at the table and saw the empty chair next to him, he cried.
With red eyes and a broken heart, he dragged himself to bed, wanting to end the day, even though it was only seven o'clock at night. He turned on the record player in the room, keeping the volume low; Aerosmith played through the speakers—Mike had probably forgotten that record there after their last night of sex. He noticed he'd left one of Mike's t-shirts on the bed, the one he was wearing before leaving. Norton hugged it, savoring every particle of his boyfriend's scent, tears streaming down his cheeks. He felt stupid for being so vulnerable. The music played softly, and Norton cried himself to sleep, wishing Mike were there.
In his dreams, Norton was trapped at the bottom of a well, where he could barely see the way out. Mike, in the form of an angel, came to rescue him. He woke to the sound of the alarm clock; it was time to get up for work. Norton went to the bathroom to start his day, his eyes were red and swollen, and he had to make a great effort to stop the tears from flowing again.
He was so distraught by Mike's absence that he didn't even make coffee for himself; he just got ready and left for work, wishing that when he returned home, his boyfriend would be there, a smile on his face, waiting for him with open arms.
Norton wasn't exactly the most friendly or communicative person outside the home, being reserved and careful with his work. He mainly assisted William with tasks like bathing patients and administering medication. Accustomed to his father's outbursts, he didn't mind when patients screamed or freaked out, always doing his job carefully and attentively.
That morning, William asked Norton for help administering medication and doing a routine check on the patients before breakfast. Norton seemed not to pay attention to what William said; his mind was elsewhere.
-Did you understand, Norton?
-What?
-Are you alright, Norton? You're not one to ignore what I say. Your face looks swollen, are you feeling okay?
Norton looked away from William, turning back to the medicine bottles.
-Yes… I just had a bad night…
-Did something happen between you and Mike?
-No! I'll check the patients, you take care of the medication.
Norton grabbed a clipboard with a list of names and ran out of the room before William could say anything else.
He spent the morning busy talking to patients, noting their complaints and questions, trying to avoid William as much as possible. Eventually, lunchtime arrived. Norton picked up his food tray and sat at a secluded table in the staff cafeteria, wondering if Mike had already eaten. He picked up his phone; there was a message from Mike. His heart raced, his throat tightened, and he opened the message:
“Good morning, love ♡
I hope you slept well. Uncle Joseph is making a scene about how self-serving we all are and how we’ll be disinherited (*・～・*)
I really want to see you again. Have a good day at work! I love you more than anything! (◕દ◕)”
A tear rolled down Norton's left eye. He was so engrossed in reading the message that he didn't see William sitting down right in front of him.
-Is everything really okay, Norton?
He almost dropped his phone, nervous upon hearing William's voice.
-Y-yes! I just…
-Norton, you don't need to lie to me, we're friends. Is everything REALLY okay?
William's face showed genuine concern. Norton sighed deeply.
-Well…Mike…
-Did he do something?!
-No! He just…needed to go to the countryside to deal with a family problem, it's nothing serious but…
-But…?
Norton looked at his food, trying to avoid eye contact with William.
-I don't know how to explain it, but he's only been gone for a day, and I'm feeling so…bad.
William shook his head as if agreeing with Norton.
-Well, I'm not a psychiatrist, but I think you have separation anxiety. Norton, you have this tough guy image, but whenever you talk about Mike, I can see the gleam in your eyes. Don't worry, he'll be back soon.
William smiled at Norton, who responded by shaking his head, pondering those words.
He ended up working overtime; a patient had a panic attack and in the process made a huge mess. Norton had to help clean everything up and check if the patients were alright. By the time he and William finished, it was late. Before leaving, William turned to Norton and said:
-You really like him, don't you? Take care of your blondie and take care of yourself, okay?
William then went on his way, disappearing into the night. Everything he had said floated through Norton's mind.
Separation anxiety.
Norton had always tried to live discreetly; his father said that trusting people was stupid, so he spent a good part of his life avoiding forming deep bonds with anyone, until Hurricane Mike crossed his path. Maybe William was right and he did have this separation anxiety.
The apartment was dark and empty; it was half past ten. Norton threw himself onto the sofa, tired from the workday and still sad about his boyfriend's absence. He fell asleep right there, dreaming again about Mike. In this dream, the two were together on a beach, walking as the sun set, but Mike simply started running, distancing himself from Norton, and no matter how hard he ran, he couldn't catch him. Finally, he began to sink into the sand, desperate, shouting Mike's name.
Norton woke up startled; it was already morning. He didn't feel well; his head ached. He was going to call his boss and ask for a day off. Norton looked for his cell phone and saw that there were some unread messages from Mike.
They were trivial things, asking if he had eaten, how he was doing at work, and telling him about his relatives. Mike knew that Norton didn't check his cell phone often because of work, so the delay in responding was usual. Norton took a deep breath and replied to the messages, lying that everything was fine, trying to maintain his tough-guy image so as not to worry Mike.
Nothing was fine.
Mike was almost like a drug, and Norton was suffering from withdrawal.
He notified his boss and got up, going to the bathroom to wash his face. Norton spent the rest of the day taking care of the house, trying to keep his mind occupied. He tended to the plants, washed dishes, and cleaned the circus-themed knick-knacks that Mike loved so much. One of the most memorable encounters they had was a simple trip to the circus; Mike loved the ring. Norton remembered the sparkle in Mike's eyes and his happiness that night; it was those simple moments that filled Norton's heart with love for Mike.
Being at home surrounded by happy memories of Mike cheered Norton up a little. He was still restless from the absence of his beloved, but now the feeling was more manageable, so to speak. As soon as day turned to night, Norton cooked a simple dinner for himself and went straight to bed, falling asleep almost instantly. His dream that night was reliving their encounter at the circus; everything seemed more colorful and ethereal, Mike's smile shining like a million stars. Morning arrived, and Norton woke up to another day of work.
The next few days were more bearable. Norton still felt sad and restless, but he dealt with his separation anxiety by clinging to happy memories with Mike. Photos in picture frames, his favorite records, the lion plush toy he kept on the armchair in his room, the herbs on the windowsill—all of this served as comfort for Norton. He maintained his tough-guy persona through messages, not wanting to worry him, saying that work was hectic and that's why he didn't texted more.
Being alone for this time was basically torture, but it also made Norton realize something: how much he needed Mike, and not only that, how important Mike was to him. The thing Norton wanted most that week was to have Mike by his side forever, to love and care for (and be cared for by) as long as his heart beat.
After five long days, during lunch, a message arrived. Norton opened the notification to read, “I’m going home! Things have finally calmed down! I’ll be there tonight ;)”
He almost choked on his food, hurriedly getting up from the table. William was sitting across from him, startled.
-What happened, man?!
-Will, can you handle the rest of the day on your own? I need to go home.
-Did something happen?
-Nothing serious, I just need to sort something out!
Norton ran to get his things; he would let his boss know later, but right now his brain could only think about Mike.
He had little time before Mike arrived; everything needed to be perfect. He cooked things Mike liked to eat: spaghetti with tomato sauce, herb salad, and pudding for dessert. After that, he took a shower, shaved, and styled his hair, putting on his best clothes and applying that cloying sweet perfume he hated, but Mike loved. The final touch was lighting candles and putting on a playlist full of romantic 80s songs; now it was just a matter of waiting.
The wait seemed like an eternity; every tiny noise, every creak, made Norton nervous. When the clock struck ten at night, the door opened. Mike's slender figure entered the apartment, turning on the lights and getting a surprise.
-Norton...?
He didn't answer, just got up from the table and ran to hug Mike. He didn't react, surprised by it all.
-What's all this? You're wearing that perfume...?
I missed you...
Norton hugged him tighter, Mike laughed, kissing his boyfriend's cheek.
-I missed you too, but why all this?
Norton looked him in the eyes, with a serious expression.
-Mike, I love you. I suffered every second you were gone. I love you.
Mike just said "oh," still confused. Norton wasn't exactly the most romantic person in the world; obviously, all of this was a surprise, but deep down, he understood Norton's reasons.
-I love you very much too.
They kissed, Norton's kiss was full of feelings, of thirst and emotion; Mike felt embraced.
They sat down to eat. Mike told them about his uncle and his antics, about how his older brother, Murro, was living a good life taking care of the farm, and how his cousins could be jerks sometimes. Norton listened attentively as if it were essential to his life.
-And you, what did you do this week?
-Well… I realized how much I love you.
Mike laughed. Norton sighed and got up from the table, then took Mike's hand and held it tightly.
-I'm serious, Mike. I know that sometimes we'll be apart for whatever reason or even fight fight because of dumb stuff, but I realized that I don't want to be without you, ever again, I need you. Mike, please… I want you to stay with me forever.
Mike smiled tenderly, getting up to kiss Norton on the lips. No words were necessary; that kiss was enough to know that the feeling was mutual.
That night, when they went to bed, Norton finally felt good again. Mike was hugging him from behind, letting him be the little spoon. The blond played with his hair, humming "Is this love?"
-I've never seen this side of you.
Norton mumbled something, feeling like a complete idiot for having become vulnerable for such a silly reason. William was absolutely right; he suffered from separation anxiety.
-I like that. You act tough but you're a fool, Norton. Always stay that way.
Mike kissed the nape of Norton's neck, pulling him into a tight hug. It wasn't long before the two fell asleep. Norton was genuinely happy, grateful for the man with whom he would share his life from now on.