Alex Romero

I can be a real nice guy, until I break you.

[sheriffxbulldog]

cute-but-nutty-lady​:

Originally posted by sevendaysofaphrodite

Norma felt like a truck had drove directly into her head at one hundred miles per hour. Her eyebrows furrowed together, her eyes fluttering open but almost immediately closing again because of the bright lights shining above her. She groaned, wondering what could have possibly happen to her. The last thing she remembered was writing that note for Alex and crying in her bed, her heart breaking at the thought of having to end the best relationship she ever had or will ever have. Now, she was waking up in a hospital? By the sounds of machines beeping around her and the strong smell of some citrus cleaning supply, she assumed that’s where she was.

She was vaguely aware of someone’s hand in hers, thinking it was Norman’s until she gave it a weak squeeze and really felt it. It was a bigger hand, warm and gentle but fingers a little rough. That was her Alex. What was happening?? She was in the hospital with Alex. A thought suddenly hit her that sent a jolt of fear through her…where was Norman?

Forcing her eyes open just enough to be able to see the outline of Alex sitting next to her bed, she opened her mouth and frowned at how dry it was. She swallowed hard and grimaced at the pain that caused. “A-Alex…” She managed to choke out, her voice sounding as groggy as she felt. “What h-happened? Where’s N-Norman?” She had to close her eyes again, the lights making her headache worse. “God…was I hit by a truck?”

She was only half joking.

@sheriffxbulldog​

With his eyes closed, quietly hoping, quietly . . . praying. Something he had given up a long time ago yet in this moment, no longer having control of the situation, it was all he could do. It was the only thing he could do. He had not seen her own eyes open but he heard his voice and upon it reaching his ears, he immediately opened his eyes to look at her beautiful ones. Seeing her awake, seeing her conscious, seeing that she was going to make it through . . . relief did not even begin to explain what he was feeling right now. “Norma,” he practically breathed. He was a man who always had guarded his emotions, to never let them be revealed not even through his expression . . . but with Norma, this need to be guarded, the desire to be was non existent. And now, seeing her awake made him feel like he could breathe again. 

Continuing to hold one of her hands in his, he brought his other hand to her forehead, gently stroking it. Upon the mention of her son’s name, he knew he had to bring her mind to ease. That her son was alive and resting in another room. “Norman’s fine,” he assured her softly. “He’s in another room, resting.” He had woken up before Norma so Romero’s concern had primarily remained on the woman he loved. He gave a slight smile at her question, continuing to caress her skin, and relish in the feeling that she was alive. 

“Not quite,” he said in a continued soft tone. “It was carbon monoxide,” he told her, leaving out the details of his own thoughts regarding it, but knowing she deserved an answer as to what had happened that brought her and her son here. “Norma I’m . . . I’m sorry.” His words of apology pertaining to the last conversation they had for he truly could not bare to think of that having possibly been the last conversation they ever would have had. He was determined to fix things between them, no matter what it took. 

@cute-but-nutty-lady​

[sheriffxbulldog]

cute-but-nutty-lady​:

Originally posted by verafarmiga

Norma had just been balancing her expense books with a smile on her lips. The motel was doing so well and she was finally making money from this place instead of losing it. She had just been happy she had a room available for Alex when he came by looking for one last week. The man seemed to get annoyed with her so easily and didn’t want to be around her more than he had to…but then why did he chose to come to her motel to stay indefinitely?

There were two other places he could have stayed. The Kings Motel and some Hilton chain hotel, but no, he came to her. Her smile grew at the thought. She was just closing up her books when the office door opened and in walked the very man who occupied most of her thoughts nowadays. She was just curious about him, that was all. He was a mystery, she couldn’t be blamed. Before she could even so much as greet him, he asked her his question in such an annoyingly accusing tone.

She rolled her eyes slightly and gave him a look. Why was he always so high stung and suspicious? She supposed she didn’t have room to talk but she at least took a break from being intense every once in a while. “I did. Because that’s what happens at motels, Sheriff. You’ve been staying here for a week now and I was afraid of what would happen to that room if I didn’t clean it.” She said all of this with a soft smile and a gentle voice, not wanting to actually make him mad. She liked to clean and she liked Alex so she put the two together. She thought she was doing something nice for him but she didn’t want to make him squirm too much by admitting that.

@sheriffxbulldog​ 

It was the way that Norma Bates stood her ground and was not so easily intimidated that had intrigued Alex the first time he met her . . . and something he continued to find rather, appealing. Attractive even. The strength that the woman had, whether it was about the most simplest thing like cleaning, to the more serious natured circumstances she often found herself in. “I didn’t realize most  motels fold their guests clothes and clean without their permission.” His tone was a bit sarcastic, but it was clear he was not angry. 

“Didn’t I tell you the only thing I require is privacy,” he added, somewhat rhetorically, for he knew that he had. Remaining silent for a few moments as he just looked at her, he decided to soften his words a little, despite the consistency of the way and tone he said them in. “Thank you for doing that, but it’s really not necessary.” The thought of her having to clean up after him was . . . well, not something he wished to inconvenience her with. 

@cute-but-nutty-lady​

[sheriffxbulldog]

cute-but-nutty-lady​:

Originally posted by mulderscully

Norma was lost to her own world so when she heard someone saying her name, she jumped, her head lifting up and her eyes snapping open, making the room spin. Bad idea… She tensed for a moment, ready to fight as her eyes took in the man who was laying his jacket over her. When she recognized his sheriff’s uniform, she relaxed, but only just a little. His words sounded muffled and far away but as her head slowly stopped spinning, her mind caught up with his words and she sat up a little more. 

Pain. There was a lot of pain. Enough to make her head start spinning again. She let out a shaky breath and forced a small smile on her face, one that she knew wouldn’t reach her eyes but with any luck, this man wouldn’t notice that. He was a man after all so he probably wouldn’t. “Hello, Sheriff…” She winced when her voice sounded hoarse. Of course, ten minutes of pure, terrified screaming would do that, wouldn’t it?

She slowly tried to stand, her hands holding tightly to the table as she pulled herself up. God, she was going to pass out from this. The pain was like a hot iron all over and inside of her body. She looked away from Alex so he wouldn’t see her eyes closing and her nose scrunching up in agony. “W-What can I help you with?” She was pleased that her voice held a somewhat cheerful tone. She had a lifetime pretending she was happy when she was in misery. 

True to her form, she was going to downplay this as if her life depended on it. She didn’t know why he was in her house but she was determined to pretend like everything was just fine.

@sheriffxbulldog​

Romero moved with her; standing when she did as she greeted him. A small small forming on her lips, but Romero had been doing this job for many years. He knew people. He knew victims. Her stance, her demeanour, the way she looked away from him, the hoarseness in her voice . . . something had happened. His eyes did not leave her despite her averting her own from him. Even when she turned away and asked him what he could help her with, he looked at her. He was ready to call for an ambulance for her but if she was coherent, perhaps it was best to get some answers first. So that he would know how to proceed. 

“What happened to your hand?” He asked, her inquiry replaced with his own - one he considered to be of greater importance. Even though she turned away from him, he walked around her so that he was standing in front of her once more. His gaze fell to the blood, reaching for a nearby towel he moved to to gently place over her hand to at least soak from of the blood. His eyes met hers as he continued to speak. “You need to tell me what happened.” Because something had happened. His voice was low, stoic to match his demeanour and while he did not know her well - or at all really - he expected the truth.  

@cute-but-nutty-lady​

[sheriffxbulldog]

cute-but-nutty-lady​:​

When Norma heard a knock on her door, she frowned, thinking it was weird that he didn’t just walk right in. She moved from the kitchen to the front door and opened it, getting her answer from the first words that came out of his mouth as he moved past her. She blinked rapidly, turning around but not moving as she stared at his retreating form in disbelief. She was about to make some snippy remark about making himself at home but she realized that he could. This was his home now because she made it his home when she proposed to him. She really, really didn’t think about the logistics of all this. God, what if he rearranged everything? Or worse, tried to do the laundry?! She shuddered. 

She took in a deep, calming breath and let it out slowly through her nose as she closed the doors and followed him inside. She watched as he took a step towards the stairs and then turned around to ask which room he was going to be staying in. She tilted her head back a little and raised her eyebrows before she realized that she thought he would share a bedroom with her. Of course, there would be no need for that because no one would see how they acted with each other inside of the house. 

She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before she started to walk past him and up the stairs. “Follow me. I’ll put you in Dylan’s room. I changed the bedding and cleaned up a little in there,” She glanced at him over her shoulder and gave him a small smile. “And by that I mean, I took out all of the weed magazines and porn. Sorry if you enjoy either of those things.” She teased him. 

As anxious as she was feeling having him living in her space, she knew that he didn’t have to do this and without him, her son would go back to some horrible mental hospital that would strap him to a bed and feed him meds all day until he didn’t even remember his own name. She needed Alex…and besides that, she liked him. He had been such a wonderful -everything- to her and it might be nice having another adult to talk to besides her sons. 

@sheriffxbulldog​ 

Alex listened as Norma explained that he would be staying in her son’s room, having assured him that she cleaned it and elaborated by stating she removed the weed magazines and porn. Romero gave a small smile at her tease, following where she led. "You won’t have to worry about either of those things with me,” he said, offering the same light remark in return. His often unwavering serious nature seemed to falter when he was with her. And it felt, comfortable to allow it to. Within reason of course. But now that they would be living together . . . surely not everything need be so serious. 

“And you don’t have to clean up after me,” he added in his own form of assurance. A reference to when she cleaned up his room when staying at the motel. He knew that this was difference. He was living in her home; he was a guest here. As, temporary as this arrangement was neither would know the duration of it. The last thing he wanted was for her to have to pick up after him or place her at any inconvenience. He had previously assured her that he was barley home due to work, and he meant it. “Like I said before, I’m barley home so you may very well forget you even have a roommate.” Roommate. Such an, odd thing to refer to in a marriage. But it was what they were after all. And yet, the words sounded . . . strange, though Romero made no outward show of his assessment and judgement of them. 

@cute-but-nutty-lady​

[sheriffxbulldog]

the no tell motel

It had been a long day at work and Alex was currently returning to . . . the motel. His house would take some time to be rebuilt and while he missed the comfort of being in his own space, there was something oddly . . . comforting about being around Norma Bates. He could not describe it, nor did he delve deep into his emotions to try and understand it. He could attempt to deny it but he knew it was there. Being around her was becoming more frequent, and that was not by accident. Besides, with all the chaos and trouble that seemed to be drawn to her, he also felt a bit at ease being here so that he could keep an eye on things. Keep an eye on her. The protective instinct that he felt on occasions in his profession rather strong in this one, though he would not admit it - perhaps not even to himself. 

Arriving at his temporary stay, he exited from his vehicle before locking the door. He made his way to his motel room, eyes drawn to the office to see if anyone was in there. Sure enough, he could see her even from the distance. Norma Bates. Glancing at the key in his hand, desire usually gave way to reason and logic. Not exactly a frequency for the Sheriff of White Pine Bay. But there was that urge to see her, to check in on her. Yet he managed to fight it and instead, unlocked his room, stepping inside with every intention to close the door behind him . . . when he turned on the light and saw the state of it. It was, clean. His clothes had been picked up, folded - most probably washed. His bed was made, and . . . his things were organized. Clenching his jaw for a moment, he closed the door and made his way to the office. Apparently, he would get what he had wanted after all. 

He opened the door to the office, stepping inside. As a man of purpose, he was not one to make idle chat. He feared becoming one however for any excuse he found himself having to be in her company. “Did you clean my room?” He inquired, his voice composed and not raised, yet there was an underlying tone of accusation in it. 

@cute-but-nutty-lady​

[sheriffxbulldog]

i won’t give up on us

Romero could have sworn his heart stopped beating for a moment from the sheer panic of seeing Norma on the bed looking so . . . lifeless. He had immediately picked her up, moving her downstairs and opening all the windows he could. And, did the same for Norman. Because despite it all, he was her son. Yet the guilt of leaving her alone with him . . . he should have known better. He should have done something more. Whether Norma had wanted him around or not, he should have been there. These were the thoughts that now raced through him once the panic starting to subside. He was sitting in a chair next to her hospital bed. Once he’d gotten her out of the room, he’d called the paramedics who had come on the scene rather quickly. Between CPR and their hasty arrival, she had made it. Just barley, but she was alive. 

Yet Romero needed to see it. He needed her to open her eyes. Her heart may be beating, air may be filling her lungs . . . but he needed to see her looking at him. Whatever expression it may be behind her gaze. He had not left her side since they’d come to the hospital. Norman - who had woken up while they’d still been in the house - was in another room so Alex was far less concerned about him. But Norma . . . his wife, the woman that he loved . . . he just, needed to see her wake up. 

He held her hand in his own, slowly raising it to his lips to kiss her soft skin. Fear had never quite gripped him like that before and he doubted he would ever forget the feeling of seeing her on that bed. Tensions may be high between them, but he was determined to make it better. To make this marriage work. To heal the wounds between them. Whatever it took; no matter what it took. “Please wake up,” he quietly whispered in a voice barley audible. He could feel the sting of tears in his eyes, threatening to emerge and did all he could to fight them back. He just . . . needed her.  

@cute-but-nutty-lady​

[cute-but-nutty-lady]

Norma was nervous and she had no reason to be nervous. Why was she so nervous?! She knew Alex, not all that well, but they were close enough that she shouldn’t be feeling THIS nervous. He was “moving in” today after he got done with work because he was an elected official and this all needed to seem “real”. She supposed she understood.

He was an elected official and it would seem odd to the town if he was living in a separate house, especially when they were supposed to be newlyweds and happy. Of course, when she had asked Alex to marry her for the insurance, she didn’t think this far ahead. She didn’t think about logistics. They would have to live together, share their space and time with each other, go to events and out to eat together…she was feeling overwhelmed. So she did what she did best…

She started cleaning the house from top to bottom, dusting, vacuuming, spraying every surface down with Lysol, replacing all the bedsheets -including the ones in her room for some reason-, and put fresh flowers around the house. By the time she was finished and glanced at the clock in the kitchen, she knew he would be “coming home” soon.

Yeah, Norma was nervous…but also a little relieved? She didn’t think being alone in this house would be good for her and she was actually kind of happy he was coming. Out of all the men in White Pine Bay, maybe even the whole damn planet, she liked Alex the most. He made her feel safe and he never made her uncomfortable with anything he said or did. It could be worse…

@sheriffxbulldog

[sheriffxbulldog]

This was either the best idea, or the worst idea. Though Romero’s agreement to it lend way to understanding which he was leaning more towards. Alex had never considered remarrying, but there was something about Norma Louise Bates. Something that uprooted his entire life in ways he could not explain. Perhaps ways that even she did not know. Despite his stoic exterior and composed demeanour, he found his emotions were growing increasingly difficult to control. To ignore. He was after all a man, who should be in control, of every situation. Yet here he was, married to Norma because . . . because  he could not deny her anything. The inherent need to help her, to protect her, to take care of her was overpowering all other sense and reasoning. All that he had been in the time he did not know of her existence, seemed to be undone by her alone. He could not even be angry towards it. For in a strange sort of way . . . he felt happier knowing her. He felt reason to smile more, reason to start to let someone in and . . . now he was married to the very woman who seemed to elicit so many things within the Sheriff that he had dare not previously explore or even currently admit. 

Married. Such a strange thought indeed.   

He had packed his bags before arriving to work in the morning, unsure how the day would progress. The unpredictability of his job potentially hindering him from going to her home - the falsity of it being their home now he supposed - until late. But the day was calm. Too calm. And it left Romero sitting at his desk, staring at the clock. Unable to focus on anything but the time. Time that seemed to be ticking away. He did not want to go to her residence too early out of risk of appearing overly eager. Nor did he want to go too late for he did not wish to inconvenience her. So he was just staring at each second tick away; seconds that led to minutes. 5:30. That seemed to be a reasonable time to go home. Surely others would assume his need for a swift exit from work. As, untrue as it were. Knowing he could not avoid it any longer he rose from his seat, grabbed his jacket and made his way straight to his car, briefly saying bye to everyone. Though was hardly in the mood for conversation about this, newly wed life. He’d had enough of that earlier.  

His mind was racing the entire time he drove to her house. Parking in the driveway he stared up at the large residence.  A residence they would share for . . . however long she needed him for this arrangement. For yes, he was quickly learning that he could not say no to her. About anything. Making her happy seemed to be a goal he had taken upon himself. Undoubtedly motivated by how he felt about her. Exiting his vehicle, he grabbed both bags and made his way up the stairs, ringing the bell. The added realization that if this was their shared residence, he would need ease of access to it. 

So when she opened the door, he decided to make a remark that would perhaps ease any tense mood between them. “I’m going to need a key,” he stated, not waiting for a response as he walked passed her. Though he only made it a few steps before realizing that he was not sure where to go. Which room would be his. He had not seen her house in its entirety and now . . . they were to live under the same roof. Pausing in the hallway he turned to face her. “Which room will I be staying in?“ He asked. The need to pretend only extended to the shared house; not a shared room. Even if the thought was . . . well, tempting in a way that Alex had long since been forced to admit to himself. Since the day his feelings of her grew so large, that he could no longer deny them.  

@cute-but-nutty-lady​

[cute-but-nutty-lady]

She should get up. She knew she should get up and move but she just couldn’t. Her body felt overheated and the cold kitchen floor was the only place she could even think about being right now. Her eyes were tightly shut, afraid that if she opened them, she would see Keith Summers still in her kitchen. She knew he was gone but she just couldn’t shake the feeling of his presence.

After he was done with her, she was only half aware of him taking the handcuffs off her and then the noises of him pulling his pants back up and doing up his zipper and belt. She swallowed the thick bile that threatened to come out of her mouth and slowly sank to the floor, bloody, cut, and shaking. Her breathing got a little easier when she heard his feet shuffling towards the kitchen door and it slamming shut behind him on his way out but her body was betraying her and forcing her to stay frozen on the floor. Maybe this was too much? Maybe this was the final straw and she couldn’t take any more? Maybe she would just die here?

And where was Norman? She had screamed and cried for his help and he never came down from his room. She needed him to protect her now like she had protected him all throughout his life and he wasn’t there. She was alone.

@sheriffxbulldog

[sheriffxbulldog]

Sheriff Romero had long since learned to trust his instincts. It was a skill that had allowed him to hold his current role in law enforcement for over two decades. And right now, they were telling him to check on the new owners of the Seafairer Motel. He knew Keith Summers well but even if he did not, it hardly took familiarity for someone to recognize his displeasure over someone taking over his family’s motel. The man had even come to Romero in the hopes of his position assisting him but this had to do with finances with the bank which Alex would not get involved in. No matter how well he knew the man. It was this very clear anger that prompted Romero to stop by location on his way home from work. Something just did not feel right and this feeling only intensified as he made his way toward the new owner: Norma Louise Bates. 

These unsettling feelings grew even more when Romero saw Keith’s vehicle speed past him. He turned his head to watch the reckless driver disappear down the road and decided he would check in with him later. It was where he was coming from that was more concerning. Pressing his foot on the accelerator he hastily pulled into the motel driveway. Leaving the sirens on, he made his way up the stairs and towards the door, ringing the doorbell. There was no answer. The car was in the driveway so surely she was home. Stepping around the house to explore a little, his eyes landed on the broken glass of the window. Pulling out his gun, he held it out in front of him, looking over the destroyed pane. Turning the handle, he slowly pushed open the door, knowing there was no point calling it in right now. He was fairly certain he knew who did this. 

What he was not fully expecting was what his eyes rested upon once he entered through the door that led straight into the kitchen. There was who he could only presume was the new home owner, but it was not her presence that had him staring but rather, the state of her presence. Masking his emotions, he briefly closed his eyes for a moment, glancing around the room but not wasting time checking it. He tucked his gun back in its holster and slowly approached her. Evidence of a struggle was clear with the table off center, the chairs far too close to it and disarrayed. The blood on her hand brought concern but . . . Romero loathed to think just how far Keith had gone. “ Mrs. Bates, ” he said in a low voice, slowly approaching her. He began to remove his jacket, carefully shifting closer to her in the hopes to drape it around her trembling body. “ I’m Sheriff Alex Romero, ” he introduced. Once he was close enough he crouched down in front of her, eyes dropping to where the blood seemed to be coming from before his gaze met her face once more, trying to assess her before needing to ask for details of what happened. First, he had to make sure she was alright.

@cute-but-nutty-lady​