Negative Space

Chapter 14: Norata

Disclaimer: I do not own Galactik football and I make no money from this fanfiction.

Norata's holo-phone buzzed with a new message: At a casting 2day, am crossing my fingers – K. She sent updates every few hours; he didn't reply to any of them. He'd always hated texting.

Besides, he was busy. He had papers spread out over every surface, print-outs detailing their financial situation, and was studying them intently. The money was running out, it was clear to see. Sure, he had the plan to start up the florists again but he still needed to work out the details.

The door bell rang. Rocket promptly woke up and startled bawling, upset by the noise. Blast it, hadn't he told the supermarket not to ring the doorbell when delivering food? Norata hauled himself up, using the cane for support, and strode over the crib.

"Come on, son," he said. He rested the cane against the crib and gently pulled Rocket up and into the baby-sling he wore permanently these days. He jiggled him up and down a little, hoping the movement would sooth Rocket.

He grabbed the cane and walked over to the door, as quickly as possible, hoping they wouldn't have left by now. He opened the door. It wasn't the supermarket.

"Was on my way back from work and I figured I might just drop in – hope it's not a bad time?" Adium said, beaming at him. She used to just stop by like this back when they had all been at school together, always seeming to know exactly when they would be finished with chores and ready to hang out, but joining the team had made the habit obsolete. There was no need to visit when you all lived in the same place and besides, she'd started to spend way more time in his brother's room. Odd how living together could push you further apart.

"Is everything okay?" Adium asked and Norata realised that he'd just been staring off into space.

"Yes, yes, fine," he said, quickly. "It's just a bit messy in here."

His hopes that she would get the hint and just go away were quickly dashed. "I'm sure I've seen far worse – I used to room with Gabby, remember?" She bent down a little. "Hello, little Rocket. It's your Auntie Adium here!"

Rocket made a sound and it wasn't crying so Norata figured that meant that he was happy. Reluctantly, Norata stepped back to allow Adium through.

She took a free spot on the sofa and sat down. He put Rocket back in his crib and took the other. There was a moment of silence.

"Is Keira about?" Adium asked, cheerily.

Norata tried not flinch. "Not at the minute," he muttered, deliberate in the ambiguity of his answer. He knew he needed to change the topic before she pursued this line of questioning but he wasn't sure what he should change it to. It wasn't like he left the house or did anything interesting these days. Finally, he settled on saying: "So, how was work?"

This proved to be a good choice because she started a long and detailed description of what she had done. Norata tried to listen but he kept tuning out, the boring minutiae washing over him. At one point there was a discussion of the etiquette of making hot drinks in the office that Norata would swear went on forever. Regardless, he pretended to listen by nodding along and making 'mmm' noises occasionally. It wasn't like he had any experience with anything she was talking about anyways and she seemed perfectly happy to just monologue for a bit.

Almost too happy. Her work sounded deathly boring but she still had this smile plastered on her face and Norata couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be such an optimist.

After a while, she trailed off. "Sorry, I've just being going on. How have you been?"

"Fine," he said, trying to inject even the slightest bit of enthusiasm into his voice. "Just been looking after Rocket."

"What are all these papers?" Adium asked, gesturing to the mess that he had attempted to use to put her off coming in.

"Oh, I was erm, thinking of getting back into the floristry business."

"That's great! You always had such a talent for plants and there's definitely going to be a demand now that you can't just going and pick them anytime you want."

He nodded. "Just need to sort out a few things and I should be good to go."

"Between you and Keira, you'll have the market cornered," Adium said, enthusiastically.

"Mmmm," said Norata.

"Where did you say Keira was, again?" Adium asked, to Norata's horror. "It's a pity I've missed her – is she due back soon?"

"She's with her agent, I think," Norata ventured. It wasn't a lie after all. "It might be a while before she's back – I really wouldn't wait." His holo-phone buzzed violently. "Excuse me," he said, relieved for the interruption. "The supermarket delivery people are here – I need to go collect my food from downstairs."

He struggled to his feet.

"You stay here, I'll go get them," Adium offered.

Her pity stung. She was trying to be nice, he knew, but he couldn't rely on nice forever. "No." He sounded sharper than he intended. He softened his voice a degree. "I mean, if you could watch Rocket for me whilst I go, then that would be great."

"Sure!"

He scrambled out the door and downstairs, gripping the banister tightly as he walked. He was tired and out of breath by the time he got down to meet the delivery man. He handed over the credits, wearily and went to take the bags.

"Oh no, sir, I'll bring them up," the man said, blocking his path.

"It's fine, I can take my own food up," Norata said, through gritted teeth.

"It's all part of the service, sir," the man said, and proceeded to begin to carry the bags upstairs.

Norata followed him, hands empty, and felt guilty for the sudden relief of knowing that he didn't actually have to carry everything up.

"Thank you," he said, stiffly to the man, once everything was done. By the time he had turned around and had gone back into his flat, Adium had already started putting the food away in the cupboards for him.

"You don't have to do that," he said, walking over and starting to put things away himself.

"Oh no, it's my pleasure," said Adium, cheerfully oblivious. "Really, I insist."

They put away together in silence until everything was done.

Adium looked at the clock. "Well, I guess I had better head home but it's been lovely seeing you. We should do this again sometime – I don't see you enough these days."

Norata made a non-committal sound.

"Say, that awful movie version of The Famous Three is on holo-tv this Saturday," Adium continued. "You want to watch it and make fun of the inaccuracies? If I remember correctly Keira has never seen it which is a crying shame really…"

"She's seen the t.v. adaption – you know, the actual good version," Norata replied automatically, kicking himself mentally.

"How about it then?"

"I don't think Keira will be around this Saturday," Norata said, looking away.

"But you're free?"

"Well, yes…" Norata admitted.

"Guess it'll be just you and me then – just like old times!"

Great.

That's it for this chapter. It might be a while until the next one because I'll be starting a new course soon and it's meant to be quite full on. Then again, there are always such long gaps between updates anyways that maybe it'll make no difference.

Anyways, as ever, I would really appreciate any feedback you could give me on the chapter!