Chapter 12: He smelled like summer thunderstorms and petrichor

Summary: Nor has a revelation. Laxus gets a lapful of Nor.

*Laxus*

Nor and I had just hit the outskirts of a medium sized town, and were planning on staying for at least one night. We'd been on the road for too long between towns, and I knew I at least, was exhausted. Nor had a much easier time camping than I did, but I could tell it was wearing on her, too. It'd been a month since I'd met her, and although slow, we'd made progress. Very…slow…progress.

The thought of a real bed, and a bath, was enough to get my spirits higher than they had been in a couple weeks, and I threw an arm over Nor's shoulders. She'd gotten used to the casual touches I'd started to initiate about a week after we'd met. This was bigger than just brushing hair away from her face, or 'accidentally' touching her hand as we walked side by side, but she didn't flinch away. Touching was still hit or miss. Even though we'd shared a bed that first week, for one night at least, every time the opportunity came for us to choose a room, she would always default to two beds. Every time. It kind of boggled my mind that she would rather be in pain than share a bed with someone else, but – I hadn't gone through what she had.

"What the hell is that?" she asked, looking at my arm.

"Affection."

"It's disgusting." She said, giving me major side eye. I started removing my arm, but she grabbed it and brought it back to her shoulders. "Do it some more."

I had to stifle a laugh, because I knew it would irritate her, but Gods, was she adorable. I was in a truly unique position, because as an adult who had a (somewhat) normal childhood, I experienced all of the 'firsts' (kiss/hug/holding hands/sex) as a teenager, with someone I cared about. But now, as an adult, I was faced with another adult who had…not.

When we went to check in, we were informed the only rooms available all had only one bed. I looked at Nor, and she just shrugged, but I could tell she was uncomfortable with the idea. We dumped our stuff in the room, then trudged downstairs to eat before we both took our time in the bathroom.

"Want me to sleep on the floor tonight?" I asked, fork full of food halfway to my mouth.

Nor wouldn't look at me. She was staring really intently down at her plate, pushing food around but not really eating it.

"S'ok. I will."

"No – that's not – that's not what I meant." I sighed and thought about trying again but knew I'd essentially be talking to myself until we got back up to the room.

Then I had an idea.

We finished eating, and went back upstairs. I had first dibs on the shower, and was waiting on the bed with our reading supplies when she walked out in pajamas we'd bought a couple towns ago. She stopped a couple steps away from the bed, looking at me, also in pajamas.

"C'mere already, would'ya?" I asked, hoping to sound nonchalant and not nervous like I actually was.

*Nor*

Laxus had our reading stuff spread out next to him on the bed, and asked me to join him. Instead of going all the way around the bed and climbing in from the other side, I climbed over him. I was feeling playful. It was awkward – we're both pretty long-limbed – but we were both giggling by the time I got settled. He'd grabbed my hands as I crawled up him, so I wouldn't topple over, and I ended up getting a face full of Laxus chest.

He smelled like summer thunderstorms and petrichor - I'd never realized that before. How had I never realized that before? He must have noticed me sniffing him.

"Kitten – are you smelling me?"

I was wide-eyed. "You smell like the farm I grew up on, after a summer thunderstorm. Laxus. You smell like my home."

How had I never realized that before? I shoved all our reading stuff out of the way and was practically in his lap, my face pressed up against his neck. There were tears running down my cheeks. I never thought I would smell something this familiar again.

I could see my dad in our barn, working on his tools. I saw our cows out in the pasture. I saw our small plot of crops. Our thatched roof, when it was wet. The way the stones felt oddly cool in the summer, despite the heat. I remembered a time when there was a summer thunderstorm, and I was outside, playing in puddles. My dad came out to scold me for making a mess, but then ended up jumping with me.

And there were more. They kept coming. Laxus had his arms around me and asked me to describe to him what I was seeing and feeling. So I did. My dog, Jester. The rocking horse my dad had carved for me when I was a baby. The first bow my dad made for me. Hunting with my father. Learning how to dress the first deer I killed. Milking cows too early in the morning. Collecting eggs from our chicken coop.

I felt like I had been given a gift. The best gift.

I didn't have trouble falling asleep that night. I fell asleep practically on top of Laxus, my face pressed into his neck. He was making a sound that rumbled through his chest. I swear it sounded like he was purring.