Nora (thisishappening) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2018-01-28 20:47:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, lie ren, nora valkyrie |
Who: Nora and Ren
When: Today
Where: Their Place
What: Nora’s no longer a mind puppet
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
Ren didn’t know what to do about Nora. He’d tried everything short of throwing the computer out. If they could have afforded it, he would have thrown out the computer all together. He’d done his best to make sure that Nora got the things she needed to live, but since she’d found the game he could see nothing of the Nora he knew and loved in her.
As ashamed as he was, he’d been spending a lot of time outside of the apartment. What time he didn’t spend training at the dojo, he spent in the University library. Not studying for his classes, but rather, reading up on psychology textbooks and hoping he could find something that could help Nora.
He hadn’t found anything again that day. He had considered finding a bench to sleep on at the University, but decided in the end he had to go home after all. Still, it was a heavy disappointment when he unlocked the door, once again with no knowledge of how to help the person he cared about most in the world.
Nora still wasn’t sure what had happened. The game wasn’t even all that great, now she had a clear mind to think about it. Something changed today, and though she couldn’t figure out what it was, she didn’t care that much. She finally turned off the game, then the computer, and then she stood and looked at her place. There were food boxes all over. She hadn’t changed her clothes or bedding in a couple of days, not since the shower--
She climbed up off the sofa and started cleaning. She got a little light-headed after… well, all the exertion, and then decided to shower. Shower, food, clean clothes… Nora was starting to feel like herself again after so long. And the guilt and horror at her actions over the past… couple of weeks(?) started catching up to her as she showered and dressed. Oh, God. The way she’d treated Ren?
She was toweling her hair off in the living room when the front door opened. She lifted her wet head and turned her eyes to the man who’d just come in. “Hey, Ren.” She was somber, serious, and wholly unlike the happy-go-lucky Nora or the video-game-addicted Nora. This was a Nora who came to visit seldomly, but wore her heart on her sleeve when she did.
Ren glanced around the apartment, a little surprised. He hadn’t expected that the apartment would be clean when he returned. Or that Nora would be somewhere other than on the computer. He paused in step, then closed the door behind him.
“Nora,” he said, as a greeting. “Did you finish your game?”
The wet towel still dangling from her hands, Nora looked over at Ren coming through the doorway. How had things grown so awkward between them? First it was the magic mistletoe--something they hadn’t talked about at all since--and then it was that stupid game. She was going to leave it the worst review ever on her blog.
“No.” She said, then cleared her throat, realizing she said something stupid. “I mean, yes. I mean, I’ve finished. I won’t be playing it anymore.” She turned and draped the towel over the back of a chair because she knew how much he hated wet towels in puddles on the floor. Then she turned back to him, slipping her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know how to start this conversation.
“Good,” Ren said, and he watched her for a moment, looking into her eyes. He hadn’t seen her there for weeks, but it looked like Nora. The Nora he knew. His Nora. He didn’t know what to think about the last couple of weeks, but a feeling of relief flooded through him. He took a couple steps closer, and spread his arms to her.
Nora almost felt like she was going to burst into tears. Almost. Her nose started to burn as she took a couple of fast steps, closing the gap between them. She practically flung herself into his arms, wrapping her own around his middle, and burying her face into his chest. It felt good. He felt warm. She took a long moment just to breathe him in.
Ren’s face softened, and he wrapped his arms around Nora, a gentle hand on the back of her head. He turned his face down into her hair. It had been a strange experience, missing someone while still seeing them every day, and he hadn’t realized just how much he had missed her. He held her, and he wouldn’t let go until she was ready.
After what felt like both a very very long time and a very very short time, Nora finally pulled back out of Ren’s arms. She turned to look up into his eyes (had he always been this tall?) and all the emotions churned inside her. She wanted to tell him so many things. But this was one of those emotionally-charged moments when she went uncharacteristically silent.
“Ren, I…” She leaned in a little, one hand still on his arm. Her cheeks flushed as she looked at him. “...I’m starving. Can we have pancakes?”
Ren looked back at her, his relief at her being back completely outweighing his annoyance over her behaviour over the last few weeks. He looked at her for a long moment, glad to have her back, before he answered. “Of course,” he said, moving toward the kitchen.
Nora smiled. She knew that things could go back to normal--back to how they’d been before--and there were few things that she wanted more. Because after the kiss and the game and all of that, she’d been terrified that things were too far gone.
The big question remained: was she satisfied with back to normal? Could she handle the fact that she wanted more?
While Ren headed into the kitchen, Nora straightened her shirt. She took a moment to swallow, collect herself, and then bounce after him.
Ren smiled as she bounced after him, gathering the ingredients for the pancakes as he made his way to the stove. It wasn’t until he started mixing the ingredients in the bowl that he decided to speak again. “Nora… what was that the last few weeks?”
Nora bounced into one of the kitchen chairs and perched on it, one leg folded over the other. She leaned back on her elbows and turned her gaze to the ceiling, looking up at the slight stains on the ceiling. She couldn’t wait for pancakes. She was bouncing in the chair, so happy that things were going back to normal.
And then he asked about the last few weeks. Nora sighed before turning her attention to him. “I don’t know. It’s over though. I think it was the game. I know that sounds crazy--doesn’t it sound crazy?--but I think it’s true. I guess I’ve heard stranger things, but I just… I’m done with that now. From now on? No more video games.” Although as soon as she said it, she knew she couldn’t follow through. She loved video games too much. And half her vlog business came in from all the game stuff she put up there.
It did sound crazy, or would have not too long ago. But Ren had seen monsters and dreamed of another life, and so the idea of Nora being compelled by a video game didn't seem as crazy as it might once have.
Though, as much as he believed her about the game, he wasn't entirely sure if he believed her about quitting games for good. He gave her a knowing smile, and turned back to preparing the pancake batter.
“Besides,” Nora said, bouncing up from the chair and moving to the fridge. “I’ve got other things I need to do! Like working for Kanan.” She pulled a Pepsi from the fridge, then turned to Ren with a grin. She stepped up close. “And hanging out with you.” She bumped her hip into his.
Ren smiled when she bumped her hip into him. His immediate response had been to ask if she even still had a job with Kanan, given that he hadn’t seen her leave that computer for the last while. But when she continued, he decided that was something he could ask her about later. He thought about the best way to respond, and then said simply, “I missed you.”
Nora flushed. She couldn’t seem to look up at him, and she couldn’t seem to stop smiling. It took her a moment to push down the giddy happiness that bubbled up within her at the sound of his voice forming those words. Of course, they were best friends. Of course, they were as good as family. But she was starting to realize and embrace how much more he was to her than that. He was more than a friend, more than a brother.
“I missed you, too.” Finally, she looked up at him, leaning in close. “I’m so sorry about how much time we lost.”
Ren gazed at Nora, a feeling of contentment washing over him. He brushed her hair from her forehead, and gently placed a kiss where it had lain.
Nora felt herself leaning further in, and her eyes fell closed at the press of his lips to her forehead. She breathed out a deep sigh and relaxed against him. For the first time in ages she felt calm. Content.