Ton of Nortons
Norton Campbell x Fem!Reader x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell x Norton Campbell, and finally, Norton Campbell/Reader.
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Prologue
"Norton, I'm back from my match..." Speaking to him as you open the door to your shared room, you bend down to take off your shoes as the door swings closed behind you, "I also brought some herbal tea I got from miss Emma, she says it'll help clear your sinuses right up if you get a runny nose again!"
You smile as you finally look over to the bed where he's resting, only... Norton isn't alone. In fact, more than that; there's a whole audience of strangely dressed men surrounding him. All around his height, and his build...
"Ah...?" You've never been more confused in your life, and that's saying something, considering you've been trapped in a manor with endless games and matches for quite some time now. Ones where you can't really die, or escape, or say no to. So this, somehow topping all of that, is insane.
None of them say anything, and neither do you. Maybe it's shock, or maybe it's just that none of you were expecting this. Probably both.
Until finally, a young boy squeezes his way out from behind some of them, and rushed over to you, hugging you tightly, "You're here!" That seems to finally break whatever trance you were all in, as you immediately crouch down to comfort him.
"You know me?" Looking him over, you can tell this boy is rather young, and shockingly, has a matching scar to Norton's, and the same piercing too... Is he some sorta fan of Norton?
"Mhm... You're taller, and older, but I could never forget you!" Tears well up in his eyes at the exclamation, and you begin to fret over him in turn, hugging him tenderly.
Even if he's a stranger to you, he's still a child after all, "Shhh shhh, there there, we'll figure this out..." Head on his shoulder, you glance over at the other men, who seem to be watching you like a hawk. "Uhm, and can I ask why you're all here?"
They all begin to speak at once, leaving you stunned, before bizarrely, a strangely dressed man appears almost out of thin air, commanding them, "Quiet!" Obeying him, this leader of sorts, you suppose, he shakes his head at them and within one blink, he's standing in front of you, "...you are his beloved, are you not?" His fingers points to Norton, sleeping on the bed, still sick, and you nod.
"...some pieces are falling together... Though, I cannot say I fully understand it myself, either..." As cryptic as that is, you appreciate that you're not the only one stunned beyond belief. "As it stands to reason, my best assumption at this moment appears to be that we-" he gestures to the men scattered about the room "-are your partner, just not the one you know."
"Huh?"
He sighs softly, then traces his features slowly, "Look at me. Look at my nose, this piercing, even this scar, underneath the face paint. Who is the man you know with all these things?"
This is truly unbelievable, you're sure he's aware, even as you breathlessly whisper in response, "Norton..."
"Exactly. It appears to me... That for some reason, that different 'Nortons' from different places and times have all been gathered in this mysterious place..." Trailing off, he turns around to the man, holding his hand to his chin in thought, before chuckling, "The true question is... Why?"
You follow his gaze to the others, who do seem to be far more calm now after being addressed by him. Petting the boys head, you standing up with him still clinging to you, worried and scared. "...listen, if you're all Norton... Then that means my Norton is okay, right?" Thankfully, they seem to understand what you mean, stepping to the side so you can see him clearly on the bed once more, still sleeping away.
That eases your worries at least... But... Now the real issue is figuring out what you're all going to do. The manor may not like that Norton has seemingly summoned forth all these other 'Nortons' in his sleep. Hell, he definitely doesn't know he did it either.
"This is definitely... going to be quite something to explain to Orpheus..." At that, some of them stiffen, apparently recognizing the name in some capacity. The same one from before, with his face painted like a skull, chuckles at the response.
"Let's see... With Norton himself excluded... That's fifteen new men, and one boy, now housed here..." He chuckles again, almost like his comments are supposed to be banter, "I suppose it's a good thing this manor seems to be endless, hm?" And how exactly does he know that? It's true, but he just got here... Was he already snooping while you gone?
Well, at least he's speaking for them. You don't think you'd be able to understand so many talking at one time. "It's so crowded in here... Why haven't you all begun exploring?"
Looking around at each other, they all seem to mumble some explanation, before the boy at your waist whimpers, "Waiting for you..."
For you...? They all know you? Wait, they all probably know a version of you, wherever they come from... That's why even the little one said something about you being taller, and older... You think you've got this pretty much figured out by now.
"I see... Well, I need to take care of Norton, so... Can you all go and wait for me downstairs? Surely you can all find the living room on your own, right?"
Stepping to the side, you point towards the bedroom door, and though you hear some grumbles and complaints, the herd of men starts to leave the room. Some seem eager to go, one dressed in some red outfit with a black cape, another in beach attire, and then the others follow suit. Though the one with the skeletal face paint lingers with the down open, clearing his throat, "Sparrow, let's go."
The arms around you tighten, and you realize that must be this particular one's name, as he whimpers and whines, "Don't make me leave, I missed you so much!"
Feeling a bit put on the spot, you crouch down again to address him, trying your best to reassure him, "Hey... I'm not going anywhere, I promise you. I just want to check in on my Norton, okay? Then I'll be downstairs to help you all, I promise."
His arms finally begin to loosen as you close your mouth, and the one in purple steps back to gentle grab the boys hand, "Won't be long now, come on, don't you want to show her how mature you are?" Now that, actually seems to work, as Sparrow immediately straightens up and nods, affirming that sentiment.
It's pretty cute, you're admit that, and though he looks back at you as they leave the bedroom, you nod to assure him that it truly won't be too long. Norton is just a bit ill, he'll be as right as rain soon enough, and then you'll be able to show him this insanity.
That is, if it isn't all some big dream you're having anyway. Maybe you got hit too hard during that last match and you're actually passed out right now in the infirmary, that could be reasonable. Regardless of that though, you do still want to check on Norton, just in case this all actually is real.
Checking that the door is closed and locked, you walk over to him, still sleeping... You can't believe he slept though all that, usually he wakes at the drop of a pin, yet that sickness must be really getting to him. You sit on the edge of the bed with a small sigh, reaching over to check his temperature, and you find that he's feeling normal again.
No shallow breathing, no redness in the face or running nose, he look fully recovered... But he isn't waking up? Now then, that's truly strange.
"Norton... Wake up, my love." Stroking his face with your hand, you earn a little grunt in response, and that relieves some of your worries. Just sleeping... He must be exhausted after recovering from his sickness, that's all.
Which doesn't leave you much in terms of distractions from going downstairs to deal with... All of that. Now does it?
"Oh Norton... I hope you wake up soon..." That's it, you'll just wait till he wakes, then you'll go down together...
For now though, you curl up on the bed, into his side, and rest your head on his chest, wanting nothing more than to prepare that herbal tea and relax with him until your next match. Even though life has apparently thrown not only a wrench, but a circus of monkeys, your way.
Or perhaps you'll wake up and this will all have been one long dream. Who truly knows... You don't.
But to those downstairs... This adventure is only truly beginning.