Author's Notes: Because Bates Motel wouldn't exist without Norman, I'm including him more in the chapter. I am not making him as severe as I had in previous fictions I've written. He's more of a vulnerable character in this story who is confused and maybe not even aware of some of his actions, similar to season 1 Norman. The first scene is inspired by one of the episodes in the show.
No worries, there will be plenty of Normero in this chapter also.
Sorry for the wait but this isn't edited yet, sorry for any mistakes. Please let me know your opinions. I greatly appreciate your thoughts!
I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 13: No More Secrets
Dylan runs up the last couple of stairs and grips the front doorknob firmly while pushing the door open aggressively, accidently leaving the door ajar in his haste. The shouting only becomes louder with words growing more chaotic the closer he gets. When he follows the noise to the kitchen, Dylan stoops down just in time to dodge a plate being hurled toward his head. His eyes widen as the plate crashes against the wall behind him, breaking into pieces.
"MOTHER! WHERE IS MOTHER!?" Norman screams while picking up a glass, once again throwing in the direction of his older brother.
Dylan takes a deep breath and quickly scans the room to observe a variety of silverware, broken dishes and glasses surrounding the area with even a kitchen chair lying broken on the floor. "It's okay Norman. Just relax," Dylan says in a calm tone while carefully stepping toward the distraught young man with one arm stretched out in front of him. Even though internally Dylan is panicking, he knows he needs to appear composed for his brother's benefit.
Norman's breath is heaving in fury, a glass pitcher secured in his right grasp so strong white knuckles are on full display. He's about 5 seconds away from flinging it against another wall to scatter more glass shards to the linoleum in a way to release some rage, but hesitates when he sees Dylan slowly approaching him. He blinks rapidly, causing his vision to become blurry and his mind to become confused. He shakes his head violently from side to side, Dylan's voice almost breaking him from whatever muddled state he's in.
"Norman? I saw Norma earlier, she's just getting coffee. She didn't want to wake you. Please calm down, everything is alright." The elder brother tries to soothe Norman with his words, hoping he has the will to disrupt his own thoughts with simple reassuring statements. Dylan continues to move slowly closer to Norman until he's only inches away and in arms reach to grab the pitcher from his younger brother's harsh clutches.
There's a swift tug on Norman's right grip, with the glass now missing from his tight hold. Without warning Norman drops to his knees, narrowly missing a broken piece of one of Norma's ceramic plates lying on the ground. His expression is blank and complexion pale while he lifts the empty palms of his hands in front of him as if he can't believe what's happened.
In seeing Norman's reaction, Dylan rapidly kicks away the shattered pieces resting around his younger brother with the sole of his boot and then quickly falls next to Norman's stationary figure. He scoots backward so his back is resting against the closed cupboard door behind him. His breath grows uneven as he attempts to think of what to do next in this delicate situation. This whole scenario is shocking for Dylan. Yes, he's seen his younger brother be dramatic and overly possessive of Norma through the years, but this has become out of control and he's not sure how to proceed.
He relies on his instincts when he notices Norman's previous unmoving position relax slightly with his arms sag loosely next to his sides and his shoulders slump in exhaustion. Before he falls backward with only little control of his muscles, Dylan rushes forward to take ahold of his brother's loose fitting shirt with his fist and pulls him backward. The momentum of the movement forces Norman to sit down next to his elder brother and collapse into Dylan's side, his head lolling to the side due to his inability to hold up his own neck at the moment.
Silence blankets the small space, causing the room to become in a stranglehold of tranquility. Dylan doesn't dare make a sound, hoping Norman will quietly drift off into a deep sleep from fatigue. However, the opposite happens when he hears a weak and raspy voice speak from his side. "Mother left me."
With a deep inhale and slow exhale, Dylan is careful with his response. Using only a volume above a whisper, he knows he needs to proceed with caution. "I promise she hasn't. I saw Norma this morning at the coffee shop, she only needed a little caffeine today." He smiles with a tight lip in hopes his little brother will believe him. "Some of us need help to make it through our day."
Norman remains unchanged in his stationed position, eyes never moving from glaring straight ahead at the mess lying in front of him. "You left," he utters in a robotic tone.
Dylan clears his throat in attempt to relieve the building tension. "Oh, um- I- um I didn't leave for good last night, Norman." Dylan lies with an awkward and nervous chuckle, instantly feeling guilty about retreating from his mom's house last night with a vow not to return. "I just couldn't sleep so I needed to drive around a bit."
"No! You left us." Norman shouts spontaneously with his eyes still glaring straight ahead, almost as if he's speaking as an afterthought and completely unaware of his emotions. "A long time ago," he murmurs quietly.
"Shit," Dylan flinches then speaks under his breath. "I- you- it's tough to explain," Dylan stutters with a sigh. "Norma and I just didn't get along. She probably never even noticed I was gone."
"I noticed." Norman's tone softens while gradually trailing off with his words. "You were never there."
"Right." Dylan whispers, dumbfounded by his brother's reaction. When they were young, Norman either hated him or ignored him on a daily basis. Due to this cold shoulder treatment from the time Norman was probably around eight years old, Dylan didn't give his exit from the Bates' residence a second thought. They surely didn't give him one.
Dylan simply disappeared and in his mind, no one seemed to care. But, it appears he was wrong.
When he turns to look at his little brother, Dylan notices the younger man's eyes flickering as he struggles to stay awake and not blackout. "I'm sorry," Dylan sighs, dropping his focus to the ground briefly before looking up once again. "I failed you."
In realizing Norman is rapidly losing the battle with consciousness, Dylan swiftly shifts to his knees and then leans down to wrap Norman's limp-like arm around his own neck. With only minimal assistance from the younger man, Dylan uses most of his strength to rise to an upright stance. Norman is immediately tucked tightly into his brother's side as they move in the direction of the stairwell leading upstairs.
With every step, Norman's body becomes heavier in his hold. By the time they reach the top stair, Dylan is mostly dragging Norman's feet across the floor. When they finally reach his little brother's room, Dylan moves toward the bed and sets Norman's now completely lifeless body carefully on his twin mattress. After covering his brother's sleeping body with a warm blanket, Dylan practically jogs out of the room and shuts the door behind him.
After the only access to Norman's room is closed, Dylan begins to panic. His breath becomes increasingly chaotic while his legs begin to shake beneath him. The scene which had unfolded in front of his eyes mere minutes before was worse than any other tantrum he's seen before. He's witnessed Norman work himself into a fit of rage in the past, but this was different. This was a sight beyond anything he could even imagine.
When he finally gains the strength to travel downstairs again, Dylan slowly shuffles his feet toward the stairwell. Unsteady on his feet, he slightly stumbles down the last few stairs before finally reaching the bottom floor.
As soon as Dylan approaches the doorway of the kitchen, he pauses and for the first time fully takes in the spectacle in front of him. His eyes widen dramatically while he gradually scans the room. Almost as if his body moves on its own, Dylan sluggishly drags his feet toward the kitchen table. He then grabs one of the nearby thrown chairs lying on the ground with shaky hands and overturns it before setting it upright again.
In taking a seat, Dylan slumps down in the chair while he rests his elbows atop the table. He takes a deep inhale while covering his face with the palms of his hands, slowly exhaling the breath he had been holding. His thoughts are racing, trying to figure out what to do next while his brother lies unconscious in his bedroom upstairs.
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Norma sits in her car parked in the Sheriff's driveway only for a minute before she quickly steps out and rushes to the front of his house once again. After knocking frantically on the door, it's forcefully swung open with a shocked Romero standing on the other side. Before he can even utter another word Norma surges forward and instantly collides her body against his, nearly knocking him off his feet. Promptly, she rises to her tip toes and drapes her arms around his neck with a giggle.
The Sheriff instinctively holds onto Norma's waist with a strong grip before smashing his lips against hers. The palm of his hands gradually sneak to the small of her back, prior to gliding his fingertips up and down soothingly against the soft material of her dress. Norma trudges forward aggressively, guiding a willing Sheriff backward through the doorway while simultaneously kicking the front door shut with the heel of her right foot.
The loud crash of the door slamming shut doesn't even cause the couple to flinch, each other's lips never leaving the other's touch. Even though they are barely able to breathe, neither wants to pull away.
Norma continues to push ahead with both of her hands now clutching the material of his uniform between her fingers, until the back of the Sheriff's knees and calves hit the living room's sofa. Romero's body collapse on the comfortable cushions of the couch underneath him, pulling her slender figure on top of him with ease.
Now taking control of the situation, the Sheriff promptly lies down while maneuvering their position so their bodies sprawl lengthwise on the furniture without ever leaving their tangled hold. Now in a more relaxing pose, Norma loosens her grip and then steadily skates her palms up her boyfriend's chest while shifting her weight to her forearms.
After using her last breath, Norma reluctantly pulls her lips from his with an audible gasp to fill her nearly empty lungs. Norma stretches her neck backward a bit to search her boyfriend's eyes but to her surprise, his eyelids remain shut almost as if he's trying to savor the moment a little longer.
When the Sheriff finally flickers his eyes open, he's met with a smirking Norma. Immediately Romero slides his hands from the small of her back up to her shoulder blades before placing his palms gently on the sides of her face. He flashes his own smirk while he softly massages her left cheek with the pad of his thumb. "So, what was this all about?" He quietly questions as he swipes his thumb across her swollen kiss-bitten bottom lip with smile. "You rushed out of here like the place was on fire."
Playfully Norma bites at his thumb with a giggle, earning a chuckle from the Sheriff in response. "I have a question for you."
Romero raises a brow in confusion. "You did all of this for a question?"
With a childlike grin Norma moves herself backward in his embrace to rest her cheek on his chest, feeling the vibrations of his uneven breath under her touch and the rhythm of his beating heart pleasantly tickling her eardrums. "Well maybe this is more a favor," she sighs contently as she feels strong arms wrap around her waist. "I had to make sure you would agree with me."
Romero teasingly pinches her left hip with his thumb and index finger as a silenced yet mischievous comeback. "You've played your cards to early love. I would've said yes regardless of the favor," he flaunts a smirk she can't see. "But… just out of curiosity, what is this favor you need from me?"
Norma exhales deeply before forcing herself into a seated position on the Sheriff's outstretched legs. In a natural reaction to her sudden movement, Romero drops his arms from her middle and adjusts his body to accommodate hers. He quickly scoots backwards to lean his back against the armrest of the sofa, instantly cuddling her back in his hold.
"I want to tell Norman about us." She whispers with a tentative smile. "And I want you to go with me, Alex."
Romero's eyes widen in shock at the request. Norma had always been very hesitant to tell her youngest son about their relationship, especially without the support of Dylan who she believed would somehow ease the shocking news for Norman. With Dylan's adverse reaction to the news of their bond, Romero assumed Norma would continue to avoid the situation with no end to this secrecy in sight.
As he remains speechless, The Sheriff's embrace tenses around her figure. The silence stretches so long that Norma begins to become restless in his hold, believing her boyfriend may not want to support her decision after all. Though the idea to be honest with both her sons has always been his advice, his reaction seems to convey the opposite.
Noticing Norma's sudden uneasiness, Romero clears his throat to disrupt the stillness. The minor sound regains Norma's attention, causing her to immediately meet his eyes with her tearful ones. In seeing her distress, the Sheriff is quick to wipe away the single tear dropping to her cheek with the side of his hand. "Don't be upset, Norma. Of course I'll go with you," he says in a hushed voice.
"You will!?" She screeches with a slight sniffle, eyes beaming in absolute delight.
"Of course I will, love. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you." Romero states, placing a sweetened kiss to her forehead in reassurance. "Well, within certain limits," he says with a wink. "I know you too well Norma." The Sheriff pauses for a moment, before asking one important question. "When do you want to tell him?"
Norma casually leans in closer, guiding the tip of her nose along the side of his neck while secretly inhaling the hint of musk nestled there. Before Romero could even flinch from the new touch, she places her lips softly to the skin near his jawline. "Now," she whispers into his ear.
After a brief chuckle, Romero shifts from to couch to stand with a fidgety Norma still secured in his hold. Norma squeals and then giggles at the abrupt change of elevation, kicking her feet back and forth. "What are you doing!?" She shrieks, realizing he's headed toward the front door.
"Exactly what you want Norma, we're going to have a very important talk with your son."
"But- but-but." She stutters trying to catch her breath in between fits of laughter while her slight figure still actively wiggles in his arms. "Don't you have to work?"
Romero smirks, squeezing her firmer into his sternum. "Well, yes in theory I have to be at the department today, but I don't have to be. Perks of being the boss." He remarks with an exaggerated wink.
"You come first, Norma. You always have."
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Norma peeks in her rearview mirror to see the Sheriff following close behind her in his Deputy SUV as she approaches the driveway to her motel. The corners of her lips curl upward into a tiny smile which quickly grows bigger when she sees the familiar blue truck parked in the lot. Immediately, Norma beams happily with the hope that all which was destroyed the day before can be repaired.
Norma convinces herself by only the mere sight of her eldest son being back at their home demonstrates his willingness to pick up the pieces she broke once again, as she unfortunately has done for years. This time though, Norma vows to never break their shaky bond again. She is determined to gain his trust and to strengthen their strained and often weak relationship once and for all.
Without a pause, Norma stops the car in an appropriate parking spot and quickly shuts down the engine. She quickly jumps out of the driver's seat and slams the door behind her before almost sprinting up the long outside stairwell. Catching a glimpse over her right shoulder, Norma notices the Sheriff taking two steps at a time to catch up with her. Norma knows she should slow down and wait for him but she can't bring herself to, she's too eager to speak with Dylan and fix everything she's ruined.
With all of the conversations and thoughts swirling around in her head within the last 24 hours, she's also become committed to telling her youngest son the truth. Norma's excitement blossoms when she realizes she'll finally be able to be free of the lies that have been so binding for months. She'll be able to share her happiness with her family at last, including the idea of moving forward with her loving relationship with Alex.
The house is silent when she steps through the front door with a brightened smile still playing on her lips.
But, the grin drops instantly when she walks to the kitchen and notices it in complete disarray. Her mouth drops ajar when her vision clears and focuses on the young man sitting in the middle of the chaos. Dylan's head is hung low and body angled downward with his focus not leaving the floor beneath him. His fingers are clasped forcefully under the table while his elbows dig deep in his thighs, which is most likely causing him pain but he seems not to care.
The second the sole of Norma's heel hits the linoleum floor, Dylan's neck snaps up to meet her eyes with his obviously distraught baby blues. He only utters a few words in a whisper before dropping his focus to the ground again.
"You can't tell him."
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Happy holidays everyone!