Disclaimer: I don't own My Hero Academia
Beside You
Emma sighed as she stood outside of Grace Field House, or one of the five.
It was over.
They were no longer mere cattle meant to die and be eaten.
Despite everything against them, their family survived every ordeal thrown at them and defeated everyone that stood in their way.
Now they had gotten back to Phil and the others and were all together again.
And tomorrow they'd be going the the human world.
A wave of sadness crashed over her but she shook it off.
She knew her deal with the Demon God was necessary and if it meant her family being safe and together it would all be worth it!
'Even if I won't remember it...'
"Emma? Mind if I join you?" a familiar voice suddenly called, making her jump.
Turning around she calmed down right away upon seeing who was approaching her.
"Norman." she smiled at seeing one of her best friends walking her way.
"Of course you can." she also answered his question without hesitation.
"Thank you." Norman smiled back as he went to stand next to her, overlooking the house where everyone was spread over the rooms, resting and getting ready for their journey that would start the next day.
"I still find it hard to believe. All this." he spoke after a few moments of silence.
"Yeah, me too." Emma agreed with a nod.
After all, a couple years ago they were just living their lives together, happy but oblivious to their fates yet thanks to Ray they found out and managed to change everything not just for themselves but for all cattle children.
"This is all thanks to you, Emma." Norman then spoke and Emma blinked.
"Huh? What do you mean?" she asked.
He gave a wry smile. "I think you know exactly what I mean. You were the one who motivated everyone to never give up and keep faith. You even managed to change the way everything had been going by me."
Emma nodded now.
Right, when they reunited Norman had originally had a whole different plan of massacring all the demons to let the humans live in their world.
It had honestly been a logical plan that made perfect sense but Emma hadn't been able to accept it like everyone else had for two reasons.
One was that she didn't want all demons to die, knowing most were just eating them to survive and living normal lives just like them.
The other reason was because she could see what it did to Norman.
She had been able to see that despite his words, he really didn't want to go through with it.
She had seen how his normally beautiful blue eyes that shone with gentle kindness were darker and duller from both pain and fear.
This had been what drove her to forge the new Promise as soon as possible.
Having found that she and Ray were too late to stop Norman but still refusing to give up on him they had rushed to him.
Even when he already had all the aristocrats killed Emma didn't want to let Norman go.
She didn't want him to commit crimes he didn't want to and that would make him suffer, all on his own.
"You don't have to protect us! I want to walk next to you!" and "Let's live together, Norman!" she had shouted.
She remembered telling him how these things had finally made him turn back into the Norman she knew and loved.
'Yet I'm such a hypocrite!'
She jumped when he placed a hand on her shoulder, finding him smiling gently at her.
"Thank you for standing by me, Emma." he said and she found herself smiling back despite herself.
"Of course, silly! I'll always be right beside you!" she grinned, heart clenching at the lie.
"Always?" Norman reached out and gently cupped her cheek, making her gasp softly.
It was just like when they had been reunited in his office yet... different.
This felt even more tender, happy and... loving.
She felt her face grow warm and her stomach tickle at the thought.
"Emma?" she snapped back to reality and her eyes widened upon seeing the boy in front of her.
There he stood, tall frame bathed in in the soft light of the moon that made of normally snow-white hair glow silver as it blew if the calm evening breeze, framing his pale sharp face.
And what caught Emma's attention the most were his eyes.
His sky blue eyes that held the tiniest hints of pink and purple where glimmering like a pair of aquamarine jewels as they stared down.
'He's so handsome...'
Emma felt herself blush more at that.
"Emma?" he called her again and she jumped, realizing she hadn't answered him yet.
"Y-Yes!?" she blurted and right away felt like kicking herself as Norman chuckled.
"Easy. It's just me." he told her, softly running his thumb up and down and Emma swallowed.
She had almost forgotten that he was touching her face.
Still, he was right.
It was just Norman so she took a breath to calm herself before smiling up at him again.
"Sorry for spacing out. So, what's up?" she asked.
"I... I asked if you were serious just now." Norman admitted and she blinked.
"When you said that you'll always be right beside me." he clarified and she had to bite her lip not to gasp again.
"I want to." she answered honestly, looking at her shoes.
She hated how she couldn't stay with him, no matter what.
Yet for now she'll just ease his mind and enjoy some of her last moments with him.
She heard him exhale. "That's enough for me."
"Wha-" she started to ask only to find him suddenly even closer than before, closer than she anticipated.
"Emma." he spoke her name again as his free hand mirrored the other's actions so he was holding her face as she stood frozen, unable to stop him.
"Hearing that is enough for me." he almost whispered. "You have no idea how much it means for you to want to be by my side, Emma."
"What do you mean?" she asked timidly and he chuckled again.
"Maybe it would be best if I showed you." he answered and her eyes grew when he started leaning closer.
As he did so Emma panicked.
What was he doing? Why was he doing it? And why wasn't she stopping him?!
She mentally shook her head at herself.
She already knew all the answers!
She wasn't stopping him because he was Norman.
He was her best friend with who she grew up with, who had always been so kind to her and made her feel like she could do anything.
She didn't want to stop him.
And then Norman kissed her...on the cheek.
"Eh?" Emma blinked as she watched him pull away with a sheepish smile.
"Emma, how do you feel about me?" he suddenly asked.
"You're my best friend." she answered.
She knew she saw him differently than Ray but she wasn't sure how exactly.
"I think..." she added after a moment and Norman sighed.
"I figured as much." he said, letting go of her and stepping back.
"I'll let you figure out how you feel about me in time but I know my feelings won't change." Emma's heart jumped at the confession.
"Norman, I-" "It's fine, Emma. I can wait for forever, as long as I get to be beside you." he cut her off.
He was being so kind and understanding...
"Norman!" she cried and threw her arms around him in a hug, making him stumble before gently hugging her back.
"It okay, Emma. I'm just content knowing we'll be together." he said and she buried her face in his shoulder.
"Right."
'I'm sorry, Norman. I can't stay beside you...'
The End
Thanks for reading! This has been the seventh fic for NoremmaMonth2020, "Day 7: Alongside you"! I hope you liked it! Please review, fav and read my other work too!