Before Alex had woken, Norma slipped out from his arm's grasp and fled downstairs to see if Norman had already gotten up. She'd heard sounds that echoed from what she suspected was the kitchen. Norman's charade of civility was not fooling her, but she hoped that it had assured Alex of his place in their family. Her son had only been home for a couple nights and the atmosphere had been contorted and suffocated by his presence. No one could act authentically and it was driving Norma to complete insanity to be in the room with the two men she knew had some tension they were hiding from her. Norma was insistent on breaking this, and so she planned an outing for the three of them to pick out some Christmas lights and decorations for outside of the house and motel. She hadn't told either of them, but decided that she would force the prospect of a bonding experience on them this morning.
Norman was cooking up some breakfast, which appeared to look like it was for everyone. He was cooking masses of French toast. He caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye and snapped his head toward her and shining her a small, closed mouth smile. "Good morning, mother. I feel like Alex and I have started off on the wrong foot. I made some breakfast. I hope that's alright." Norma's mouth gaped but quickly a grin took the surprised expression's place. She had to try and act as normal as possible. The two men in her life had to get along and she wasn't going to stop Norman from making an effort.
"Oh, sweetie! That's so kind of you. It looks wonderful," she praised, pulling him in by his shoulder and kissing the top of his head.
"Wow thanks, Norman. This looks delicious," a lower, strained voice chimed in from behind them.
Norma and Norman realized that Alex had entered the room. He was buttoning up the top of his flannel and forcing a smile. It was a Saturday and it was the very first day that Alex wasn't spending the entire day at the station, and he was almost positive that he couldn't go through the entire day without something happening between Norman and him.
"No problem at all," his voice verging on a sputter. Norman kept his moral high, though, putting breakfast on everyone's plates on the kitchen table and gesturing them to sit down. Alex had always felt a bit disconcerted by Norman's unique demeanor and aura to him. The sophistication and sociopathical polarization of his personality baffled him. How could Norma allow him to stay in the house? He knew how close they were and he sure as hell wasn't a parent, but something sank to the pit of his gut and remained there. It told him that there was something beneath the surface that just was not right, and that beyond Norma's stubbornness she sensed it too. She was afraid and she loved him, and Alex had a feeling that it was not a winning combination to have those opposing feelings wrapped up together.
They ate in silence for a while. Finally Norma took the opportunity to bring up the Christmas decoration outing. "I was thinking later today we would all go pick out Christmas decorations for the house and for the motel. I haven't gotten any exterior ones because I didn't have the time, but now with you both here we can all decorate." She noticed neither of them looked up from their plates, but Norman was the first to respond.
"Sure. Sounds great." Norman jolted up from the table and picked up his finished plate to the counter. "I'll be downstairs working."
Norma cleared her throat and interjected, "Um, Norman…the basement is cleared out. All your projects, finished and unfinished, are packed away from after you left. It was cluttering the space down there. I'm sorry, honey, but it's…it's not a completely normal hobby and…it still freaks me out. I'm sure we can work something out with the shed."
Alex was a keen observer of Norman's obviously contained rage. With a surge of resentment, Norman chuckled breathily and folded his hands neatly in front of him, glaring at his mother. Alex knew that if he hadn't of been there, a new side of Norman would unleash where he would go further than push her around like he'd seen him do in the past. He looked downright pissed and Alex was curious to find out what these "projects" were.
Norma saw Alex's look of confusion and side stepped to explain. "It's his taxidermy. I just don't think it's something you should do it down there anymore." Norman began to heave slightly, crossing his arms.
Taking to lighten the mood, Alex added, "I think it's cool that he's into that stuff. I saw some of his work around the house, Norma. If you have it out still, it's probably not that…" His voice trailed off, triggered by Norma's unimpressed glare.
"Please, Norman. Can you work somewhere else?" Norma's voice escalated in pitch. Without another word, Norma left the room and Alex tensed at the shift in atmosphere. Norman smiled at him coolly.
"Sorry, Stepdaddy. She has the final say around here when it comes to her son. She'll always pick me and she will be the only parent around here. You're here for…decoration," Norman sang sweetly, keeping an even and collected tone that sent a shiver down Alex's spine.
Alex lifted his eyebrows at the remark. "If I were only here for decoration, I wouldn't be here at all. She's scared, Norman. She can't protect you on her own…or protect herself," he spoke sternly and unwaveringly. Norman gawked at his boldness but Alex's eye remained unkind and desensitized.
"Protect herself from what?!" Norman hissed.
"Look in the mirror." And with that, Alex strode out of the kitchen to find Norma.
Norma's light green vintage Mercedes pulled up at the outdoor Christmas shop. It was dark out, creeping into closing time, but Alex only had to remind the store keeper of who he was and they were granted some extra time to pick out the perfect lights and decorations. It was his fault they were late anyway. Work had dragged on longer than expected and Norman had tried to convince his mother that the two of them should had gone before the store closed, but Norma refused to leave him behind.
The three of them walked around in search for decorations. Norman silently gagged as he witnessed Norma and Alex hand in hand. He watched as Alex gently and continuously swept his thumb over the back of her hand, like he was easing her discomfort with the whole situation. As soon as Alex could no longer fight the urge to kiss her cheek, Norma's eyes wandered over to Norman who's face was now scrunched up in repulsion. Unconsciously, Norma veered away from Alex's vicinity and put her hands on Norman's shoulders. She cleared her throat. "Um, do you see anything that would be nice for the house, sweetie?"
Norman smirked at her dodge of Alex's PDA and Alex shot him a look of distaste that Norma luckily missed.
"Uhhh…" Norman scanned the rows lights and mini plastic reindeer, sleighs, and Santa's. "These ones. These look good." He yanked green and red lights out of the display crate. "Can we go now?"
"Norman. Don't be rude. We waited for Alex to come here so maybe he should get some say. What do you think, hun?" She reached for his arm and tugged him into her. He winced at all the pressure from both sides.
"It…it's great. Nice choice, Norman." Truth be told, he wanted to get out too. He knew how important bonding was to her. But it was clear Norman wasn't having it, and he wasn't about to force him to be okay with the sudden change of him sitting at the kitchen table in the morning drinking coffee or watching old movies with Norma at night. "I'll carry it and pay," Alex stated. Norman had other plans.
"No, no, I insist." Norman reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash.
"Norman?" Norma breathed. She looked surprised and delighted by his gesture, but Alex was thinking, not so fast.
"I've got this. Don't worry about it." Alex snatched the lights from Norman's grasp and left to pay inside at the cashier.
"I could have paid, mother." He rolled his eyes at Alex's chivalrous act.
"It's not a big deal. He's the one who's trying to win your approval, Norman. The least you can do is be gracious." Norma's hands were on her hips and she paced back and forth waiting for Alex's return. "Please, just try to get to know him. He's making an effort. Please?"
"I just feel like I'm not included." He manipulated her by cueing the tears now welling in his eyelids.
"Don't be upset. I can't stand it." She hugged him just a bit too tightly. Alex returned with the tree.
"Are we ready to go?" Alex could see they were having a moment, and let them be.
When they returned home, Alex set down all the lights and vowed the next morning to meticulously put them all up and Norman did not fight to stand in his way.
"Norman, would you want to help him? It'll be a huge job and might be dangerous. We don't want Alex doing it alone…you know with the ladder and staple gun and everything."
"You're right. We wouldn't want Alex to do it all alone." Norman nodded and flashed a smile that lasted a millisecond, but Alex caught the mocking intensity of him playing coy and compliant.
"Well, I'm exhausted and heading to bed," Norma said with defeat in her eyes. She could see the condescension in Norman's attitude, but dealing with it right then was not something she had energy for.
Alex didn't know if he could follow her up right at that moment with Norman standing beside him. The silence between them was charged with hate and Alex knew he was watching his every move. Alex looked up to make sure Norma was nowhere in sight. She had already made her way up the staircase.
"I won't stop you from going upstairs to sleep with her, Sheriff Stepdad, you've already gotten into her pants before. Did you role play? Were handcuffs used? I bet they were. Good cop or bad cop?" He was pleased by Alex's short fuse finally showing. Norman's smile disappeared as Alex's eyes darkened and he found himself doing what he promised he wouldn't. Alex grabbed Norman by the collar of his shirt and threw him against the living room wall. Both of their breathing escalated.
"It's not appropriate to talk about your mother that way. I don't want to hear anything about our intimacy ever again. It is not your job to control Norma and wedge your way in between me and her. We're happy. Why is that so hard to accept?" All of this was said at such a low register and at such a strained calm. Norman was fascinated that he wasn't punched right there and was instead let go. He smoothed out the creases on his shirt and rubbed his chest, catching his breath.
"Don't talk to me about happiness. This family has never and will never know the meaning of that archaic word." He stormed out of the room and went toward the basement. Alex saved a snide comment about how his things were moved out of there, and took the opportunity to see if Norma had settled in.
When Alex walked into their bedroom, his pulse began erratic and his head spun. His palms were sweaty at the mere sight of Norma stripping off her clothes, wearing nothing but a white thong and bralette. His eyes widened when she bent down to pick up her clothes from the floor. Closing the door, he cleared his throat to get her attention. Norma jumped and turned to see Alex walking toward her. Her expression softened at Alex's captivated gaze and she looked away from him bashfully. She still felt a little self conscious, no matter how he worshipped her with kind words and tender touches. It felt surreal. It was a love she had never had or probably would ever have again.
His eyes sparkled as he ran his hands up and down her sides, feeling her curves. She initiated the kiss and motioned him over to the bed. He lay her down gently and moved her up to the edge of the bed. No words were needed. Norma fell back and anticipated his next move. Alex ran his hands up and down her inner thighs, which were already trembling slightly. He kissed lightly around her panties and licked his lips, watching her intently for a sign of pleasure. He was rewarded with a quiet moan. Before he could continue, the door to the room swung open and Norman stood at in horror. His mouth was gaping and the life was sucked out of his expression. He blinked blankly at the sight of the man he disliked so ferociously going down on his mother. Norma pushed Alex off of her and felt her cheeks heat up. She covered her mouth with her hand and tried to save the last ounce of dignity she had covering herself in the duvet. Alex kneeled on the floor, motionless. This was the worst of all scenarios he could have worked out in his head. He could never look at this boy the same.
"Norman! Knock before you come into the room!" No one spoke and Norman's face was blank, he was staring off into nothing. Norma got up, slipped into a robe, and hurried out the room as fast as her legs would let her. Out of all the humiliating situations Alex had ever been in, this took the spot of number one.
Standing up and smoothing back his hair, Alex had no intention of apologizing. It was his wife and they were in their house, but he did feel guilty. He'd probably scarred the kid. Alex casually looked down to check himself, making sure he wasn't excited. It turned out Norman was more effective than a bath in ice.
"Norman, that's not…" Alex stopped his train of thought when he saw something in Norman's eyes glisten, and a switch in him had gone off. Norman smoldered at him and titled his head, leaning in as if to hear what Alex would say next.
"That's not something…" Before he could finish is stuttered explanation, Norman placed an index finger on Alex's lips. Alex's eyes widened in shock and he shrunk away immediately.
"Shhh…Alex, hun. Don't worry. He knows we're intimate. He'll get over it, I'll talk to him later. But first…" Norman smirked playfully and pushed Alex onto the bed. Alex was paralyzed in disbelief. He'd never seen one of Norman's episodes, never had been told about what they were like, and now he was witnessing it first hand. Alex felt ill, his body stiffening as Norman climbed onto the bed on top of him. Their faces were inches apart. Norman whispered in a seductive tone into Alex's ear.
Bile rose in Alex's throat as he whimpered, "Show me, Alex. Show me what you were going to do before my pesky son walked in," he growled. Norman pinned him down and straddled him. Alex watched in as Norman pulled off his shirt. He was now shirtless and leaning down to suck on Alex's neck.
Alex clawed at Norman, finally gathering his sense and strength and shoved him off of him. Alex stood up, launching himself away from the bed where Norman was stretched out, posing for him.
"Baby, what's the matter? I thought you were in the mood?" Norman cooed, looking confused and hurt. He frowned at Alex, fixing his hair and looking down at his body uncertainly.
"Do you not want me anymore? I knew once Norman came home our bubble would be ruined." Norman sat up and slipped out of the bed. He rested his hands on his hips.
"As soon as reality returned, that was it for you, wasn't it? I thought it could be hot with the whole secretive scenario. All men are the same." He strut up to Alex clawed at his throat, attempting to grasp it and choke him up against the door. Norma hadn't returned back to the bedroom, and Alex didn't know how he would retell this to her and have her believe him.
Norman was gone, and another entity had washed over the once innocent appearing boy. Norman's nostrils flared and he bit his lip in firey rage. He punched at the door, just missing Alex's head.
"Alex, I thought you were different. I thought we had a change, that we would work." Alex jumped. For the very first time, he felt utterly defenseless deep down. He was scared, this young adult was weighing heavily on his psyche.
"Norman, what are you…?" Norman clamped down on Alex's wrists and placed his hands on his bare chest.
"Feel my heart. It's pounding for you. Let's forget about the outside world, just for a moment." Alex took advantage of the boy's bumbling rant to snatch his hands and gained enough momentum to pin Norman against the door where he had been forced up against the second earlier.
"Listen to me. Norman, you're not yourself. Look at me. You've got to stop this," he shouted, meeting his eyes with Norman's. The kid was miles away, eyes glazed over and dreamily watching him.
"I love when you take charge," Norman soothed. Alex shook his head in dismay. How could he get him out of this state of dissociation? He had to get Norma to see what was happening. Maybe this would convince her he needed help that neither of them could give to him.
