Chapter Text
“Aw, look at those silly little freshmen in orientation,” Norton said leaning over the balcony.
“I hope you realize we’re only a year older,” Eta stated, rolling his eyes. He did keep looking over at them though.
“Sure,” Norton leaned down closer to Eta’s face, “But we aren’t in our first year anymore, are we?”
Eta became flustered and turned the other way. Before he could form a proper response, a loud knock sounded at the doors.
“Oh my fucking gods,” Norton muttered. “The fucking door is open.” He yelled over at the guest.
The door slowly opened and a girl peeked out from behind it.
Am I interrupting something? She signed with a slight flush on her face.
Not at all. Do you need something? Eta signed back, walking to her and leaving a scowling Norton.
“I love when I can’t understand anything people are saying.” Norton grumbled. He remained by the balcony with his arms crossed.
“Grace, don’t mind him. Why don’t you come in first?” Eta invited, holding the door wider for her.
I really hope I’m not intruding, she signed meekly, while ducking into the house.
“Not at all. We were just looking at the incoming class. Time flew really quickly, huh?” he said while leading her to the couch.
“No, I was going to do something else.” Norton seethed from his spot.
“Shut. Up.” Eta glared at his roommate.
Oh okay. The thing is, I was. . . Grace trailed off. Eta looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue. After a moment of pause, she signed rapidly.
“Wait, do it again, I didn’t catch what you were saying. Slower please.” Eta said sweetly.
There’s going to be a party later today and I wondered if you two wanted to come along, Grace blushed furiously after.
“What did she say. What is she saying? My fucking gods, is she confessing? What, are you going to fucking date now?” Norton spoke out.
Both Eta and Grace were flushed, it did not help that their pale complexion did little to hide the redness.
“You are, aren’t you?” He kept prodding.
“No!” Eta exclaimed abruptly. “She was…uhm. She was asking if we wanted to join the party later tonight.”
“Really?” Norton’s eyes lit up and he walked over to where they were sitting. “Hell yes. We’re crashing the shit out of that party.”
So is that a yes? Grace glanced up at Norton.
There was a moment of silence as Norton waited for Eta to translate. At last, he nudged Eta. “You do realize I don’t know sign language right?”
“Oh sorry, yea.” Eta mumbled. “And yes, that’s a yes,” he said to Grace.
Grace clapped her hands with a smile, Perfect! I’ll let you two keep doing what you were doing before I interrupted. She smiled as she stood up.
Eta stood in alarm, We really weren’t doing anything, he signed frantically, Nothing was going on.
Norton rolled his eyes, “Just what I wanted, more silent conversations I’m not a part of. When’s the party again?”
Grace held up nine fingers as she left the door.
“She’s saying it’s at—”
“I fucking know how to count fingers,” Norton turned his back.
“It’s at nine. . .” Eta trailed off.
~~
Eta looked in the mirror, at the outfit he was wearing. It was rather off. . . Norton had picked it, which should have alerted him it was not going to end well.
“You ready?” Norton peeked in. Even from what could be seen, Eta could tell it was absolutely hideous.
“No. And you aren’t either.” Eta stated, then dragged him into the room to view the entire outfit at its most horrendous state. “How the hell did you manage to make something that looks good look this bad? It’s not like you’re ugly as sin either.”
“You think I’m devilishly handsome?”
Eta remained silent, fussing over the outfit Norton had on.
“You do know staying silent means you agree right?” Norton smirked, obviously preening at the thought.
“I’m thinking about how to salvage this.”
“I think it’s perfectly fine,” Norton turned.
“I swear to god, just take it off. I’ll find a better one.” Eta finally said, exasperated.
Norton hummed while slowly taking off his outer layer, “You do realize that there are better ways—”
The door slammed shut, cutting him off. He stared at the door in silence. “Well, that was rude,” he muttered.
~~
Eta pinched his nose, trying to calm down. Once he collected himself, he headed towards Norton’s room.
‘All these decent clothes and not one does he bother to wear’, he thought with mild annoyance as he surveyed his closet. He took out the best looking set of clothes, just a pair of jeans and a thin sweater, along with a tight fitting jacket.
Eta knocked on the door to his own room. “I’m coming in,” he stated before he flung open the door to the sight of Norton only in his boxers. Flustered and shocked, Eta threw the clothes at him and slammed the door shut again.
“What’s with the panic? Didn’t you tell me to take my clothes off?” Norton shouted through the door.
“I forgot,” Eta muttered quietly.
“I didn’t hear you, what you say?”
“WHY THE HELL IS IT ON BACKWARDS?” Eta screamed. Way. Too. Loud.
“The walls are really thin, I heard that way too loudly.” The door opened and Norton leaned against the frame. “Also, why were you looking in the first place?”
Eta ignored the question, “Wait outside, I’m also going to change. Your fashion sense is absolutely terrible.”
Norton rolled his eyes at the comment but walked over to the couch and threw himself onto it. “Don’t take too long, or I’m leaving you.”
“You have to wait for Grace anyways,” Eta countered, “And you can’t understand her so you’re going to need me.”
Norton scoffed and settled deeper into the couch. “Whatever you say.”
~~
Eta let out a breath and headed towards the closet to take out the clothes he had initially planned to wear before Norton forced him into the clothes he was currently wearing.
It was black jeans with a blue sweater on top, with a silver chain draped between the belt loops. It might be one of his most overused outfits combo but it couldn’t be helped, it simply looked too good.
There was a muffled knock, presumably the front door. “Nort, get the door,” Eta spoke loudly.
“Yes, yes. Anything for you m’lord,” he groaned as he walked over.
Eta could hear the door opening. “Heya Grace. We’re going to have to wait for Mr. Fancy in his room over there.” He heard Norton’s muffled voice speak.
“I’m almost done,” he said as he did a final check with the mirror. Grace greeted his entrance with a small wave and a smile.
You’re dressed nicely, she signed, Although I do think I’ve seen you wear that before.
I have, it’s just really comfortable, Eta signed back, smiling a little, You’re dressed nice too. She really was, it was a fluttery blue-green dress that reached her knees and a black jacket.
Norton coughed. “Please refrain from flirting in silence while I’m in the room,” he scowled.
Grace laughed silently, her hair waving around as if it was in water. You should tell him with the amount of scowling he does, it’s amazing he doesn’t look ancient already.
Eta stared at her sternly, I am not telling him that. I’d be skinned alive.
“I am, in fact, still here. With the way this is going, I’ll just go wait outside,” Norton huffed.
Grace flailed her arms, trying to catch Norton’s attention. When she did, she exaggeratedly shook her head ‘no’ and pointedly looked towards Eta.
Sensing what Grace wanted him to do, he started for the door as well and Grace followed behind him. “We have to get going anyways, c’mon.”
Norton hummed as he followed behind them. “Grace, how far do we have to go?”
Grace seemed to think for a moment before gesturing a three then a zero consecutively, then she shrugged as if unsure.
“About thirty, okay.” Norton returned to humming. And other than that, the walk over was in silence.
~~
It was obvious where it was being hosted as they walked closer with the bright lights shining from the windows to the music thumping louder and louder the closer they got.
“Only a minute later than what you promised. I’m assuming it’s because of the tag-alongs?” A girl in a wheelchair asked Grace.
Grace shook her head, I got lost in the dark on my way to bring them.
“I, for some reason, doubt that,” she looked at Grace pointedly before focusing on Norton and Eta. “I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Galatea. And clearly, paralyzed.”
“Yea, clearly,” Norton remarked sarcastically. Galatea glared scathingly at him. Eta forcefully nudged him.
“Don’t mind him, he’s sometimes like this,” Eta gave an awkward smile, “I’m Eta, and this is Norton.”
Galatea sighed in resignation. “Well, I was on my way out, parties aren’t really my thing. I hope you enjoy it though.”
Grace nodded enthusiastically before waving goodbye.
“I don’t think I’ve been to a party before, if I’m being honest,” Eta stated hesitantly when they reached the door.
“Really? That sounds lame. What did you even do then?” Norton asked, “study?” he added sarcastically.
“Practically yeah, that’s what I did.” Norton let out a snort when Eta said it.
This is my first too, Grace signed so meekly that Eta almost missed it.
“See? Clearly you’re the outlier here,” Eta stated.
Norton huffed. “Whatever. C’mon, I’ll show you how to dance since you clearly lack the skill.”
“You wouldn’t know if I did.”
“I’m saying you do. C’mon, I’m trying to be nice here.”
Eta grumbled in annoyance but still followed Norton to the dance floor. Before he arrived there, he saw Grace sign, I’ll go grab a seat for now. He nodded to show acknowledgement, but was unsure if she actually saw him.
“Stop being distracted. Remember, I’m right in front of you right now,” Norton leaned down. “I also may have underestimated you, you’re more fluid than I expected.”
Eta stifled a laugh, pretending it was a cough, “Who do you take me for? No, what do you take me for would be a better question.”
“A square,” Norton said in all seriousness. “Your fucking college life is boring.”
Eta sighed in resignation, but kept dancing along.
The music slowed down and the atmosphere became moody. Norton looked around in slight disgust. “This is boring. Where’d Grace go anyway? She just disappeared.”
“She went to grab a seat for us, since you decided to drag me to the dance floor the moment we got here,” Eta said as he surveyed the room. His eyes settled on Grace sitting at a table with a group of guys surrounding her. “I found her. Hold on.” Eta moved towards the table and Norton trailed after him.
“Hello,” Eta greeted with a fake smile, “Thank’s for keeping my friend company for a bit, but since we’re back, you can take leave.”
“She can just tell us to leave,” one of the guys challenged, “She hasn’t been saying anything.”
“She’s clearly uncomfortable. Have you ever thought that she isn’t talking because she doesn’t want to talk to you?” Norton argued back behind Eta, “Even now she isn’t telling us to let you stay, is she?” Norton glared down.
The group looked at each other before finally deciding to leave. Eta and Norton sat down in front of her.
Thanks, Grace signed.
“Oh, I know that one. No problem, I guess.”
Grace looked at Eta, catching his attention. Do you want to dance with me. . . ? She signed hesitantly with a slight flush on her face.
Eta perked up, “Of course.” And got up from the table, squeezing past Norton. “I’m going to dance with Grace, you can come along or wait here. . .”
“I’ll wait, I’d rather not interrupt your flirting with my amazing moves.”
“Sure,” Eta stated, deadpanned. Grace’s eyes gleamed with amusement at the interaction.
Grace took the hand Eta held out to her as they walked towards the dance floor. The music was still slow and soft. Her movements were flowy and graceful. Her hair bounced up and hung in the air for a moment longer. When Eta commented on the fact, she only smiled and closed her eyes, immersing herself deeper into dancing.
~~
They settled back into their seats in complete exhaustion, rejoining the still energetic Norton, who was clearly enjoying the food.
“Oh, hey unc!” someone yelled over the music.
“I can’t fucking believe this,” he hissed under his breath. Raising his voice, he shouted back, “For the last time, I’m only a year older.”
“You know, I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you curse,” Norton looked at him expectantly.
“Really? He swears me out every time I see him,” the person, a girl, who yelled at Eta responded, sitting down next to Norton.
“Yea, maybe because you keep trying to fucking use me as target practice,” Eta muttered.
“Can’t help it,” she shrugged and turned back to Norton, “I’m Brynhildr by the way. Bryn for short. I’m his cousin.”