Passing the time was like chewing rocks. Every minute ground past and Nora found herself getting ever more restless. The cage was too small for the three of them to comfortably inhabit. Most of the time they had to cram together on the floor, only barely managing to not touch each other while they tried to make enough space to fully stretch out their limbs for sleep. One time the super mutant, named Strong, had accidentally flung his arm over her while they were both asleep and she had kicked him sharply, nails sinking into his skin as she violently shoved the limb off of her. He grunted and jerked away and never bothered her again. He didn't even try to steal food from her anymore, which had been a regular occurrence.
During the day time, it wasn't much better. They avoided the toilet area and all huddled towards the cage door, staring out over Boston, scanning the city for anything interesting to pass the time. The super mutant would growl something under his breath and shot glares to the two humans every now and then. Especially Rex. On multiple occasions, Strong had threatened to eventually eat Rex, but Nora somehow always managed to talk him out of it.
Rex kept blathering about classical literature. Which Nora tried to remind him probably included Twilight at this point because that was pretty old by now.
Rex would simply ignore her scathing comments and drag her into another bout of conversation, asking if she remembered this or that from high school or collage.
It felt really unnatural talking about her college literature days. It made her skin prickle and her attitude got worse. As if being locked up wasn't bad enough.
She would spit insults at Rex when he got too annoying, and then he would turn to Strong and attempt to quote all sorts of plays and books. Nora noticed the mutant's vocabulary improving, but not much else. He would grumble that it made no sense and all he wanted to do was fight. At this point, Nora felt the same. But she kept to herself, letting the two idiots deal with their own problems.
It was sometime on the fifth day that she made the mistake of telling Rex about her Theatre class. How she had scored the role of Juliet after half the class had auditioned for the part. She let out a laugh like sandpaper at the simple minds of college girls, including herself.
One moment Nora had her forehead placed against a metal bar of the cage, the cool surface soothing her headache as she spoke, the next Rex exclaimed so sharply that she thought they were all in danger.
She whipped around, and noticed that Strong was scowling ferociously at the man as well.
"What puny man do?" Strong barked, stepping closer and towering over him.
"We're always scratching out heads to pass the time, I have a wonderful idea!"
Nora hummed unenthusiastically, still sitting on her heels, clutching the bars behind her as she stared at the insane reality that now was her life.
"And Strong," Rex chided, "It's 'What did you do, puny man?' Correct grammar structure isn't too difficult."
"Bah."
Nora sighed with irritation.
"So, Nora, my lady, you are familiar with the play, and I, of course am as well. I believe we could work to teach it to Strong here."
"You've got to be kidding," She deadpanned.
"I'm not. You could play your role as Juliet and Strong could play Romeo. Of course we will have to improvise with other characters being only the three of us."
Nora couldn't help it. She burst out laughing. "Yeah?" She asked, still shaking.
Rex "humfed" but continued anyway. "I would be better suited as a director, but I could place in lines from additional characters. It would be a perfect way to teach Strong about human love."
Nora rolled her eyes. "It's a better idea than watching the paint rust," She admitted, standing.
Most of the takes wound up being redone over and over. Strong would mumble his lines and Rex tried to go easy on him, as much as someone like Rex could.
Nora watched with an amused smile as Rex tried to explain the purpose behind each scene to Strong who crossed his arms and argued. "Puny human talk too much."
Rex stopped instantly and stated, "'The puny human talks too much.' You almost had it. Try one more time."
Strong unfolded his arms and glared, "You talk too much," He barked.
"That was perfect grammar! And here, we can do a scene that may convey to you the depth of human emotion with at least fewer words." He grabbed Nora by the arm and tried to pull her closer but she slapped his hand away. Strong laughed approvingly.
Rex shook his head and sighed, disappointed in their lack of appreciation for what he was trying to do. As he set up the scene, Nora realized that it was the scene where Romeo and Juliet meet. It was a kissing scene.
"Now, Strong," Rex announced. "You are so taken by the lady that you speak to her in a friendly tone, playful, bold, entranced!" He then explained the lines to Strong who repeated them back like a robot, not knowing what any of the old English meant. Nora didn't blame him. Then Rex went on to explain how to perform a kiss and Nora rolled her eyes.
"That's not how you kiss someone, Rex. Have you never gotten any action?" A muscle in Rex's eye twitched and Nora continued, explaining how to really kiss someone, continuing to insult Rex along the way.
"Fine, fine!" Rex said finally, turning to Strong. "Now, say your line and kiss your lady!"
Strong turned to Nora, who was chuckling at the awkward way Strong delivered his lines. He repeated the words as best as he could. Leaving out a few "thous" and "doths". He leaned in to kiss Nora and she turned her cheek so he would kiss the side of her face instead.
"No, no no!" Rex scolded. "We are trying to teach him about human affection! A soft, sweet kiss is a perfect way to melt a man's heart!"
"He's not exactly a man anymore," Nora mumbled. "I explained what a kiss was, isn't that good enough? We don't actually have to kiss for him to get the concept."
"That's where I think you're wrong. Strong, more passion, more feeling!"
"This been going on for hours. Strong want to try break bars again."
"Just finish this scene and we can call it quits for now!" Rex sighed.
Strong turned to Nora he didn't even say his lines, he just leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. It was a chaste kiss. A simple lip to lip contact. She had been expecting it to be a disgusting wet kiss with saliva coating his lips. But she was pleasantly surprised.
"No!" Rex interjected again. "With feeling Strong! Nora, you must help him! The kiss has to be longer!"
"You're fucking crazy," Nora groaned, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose. "Can you just drop-"
Strong let out an exasperated, irritated sound and suddenly Nora's heart was in her stomach as she was lifted in the air and her back pressed against a post. Strong smashed his lips to hers and used a hand to pull her knee around his waist. She inhaled suddenly as it forced her leg open and allowed Strong's torso to press against something more... sensitive.
She jerked in a pathetic attempt to get away and was vaguely aware of Rex nervously sputtering that that was enough.
Strong, seeming to listen to Rex's earlier instructions, dragged out the duration of the kiss. Nora didn't know what to do, pinned against incredibly strong arms and the wooden post. Strong's lips moved against hers and his arms tightened, pushing his torso more against her which put pressure on her clit. She moaned and Strong bucked against her.
"Strong! You can stop now!" Rex's voice sounded panicked. "Stop!"
Strong let her go and she fell to the ground, gasping and catching her breath.
"That wasn't a romantic kiss at all! You took it too far!" Rex's eyes seemed too wide and Nora looked at Strong and was immediately shocked to see a sizable bulge that was standing erect under his clothing.
"It was your fucking idea," Nora growled, standing up and wiping off her mouth. "Next time you kiss him." She moved back to her corner, hiding just how impressed she was at both the kiss and the size of Strong's... bulge.