Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Why are we here?" Asked yet again Gingi despise the fact they asked 3 minutes before the same question.

"Could you stop saying that?" Replied Norm that was annoyed by their behavior.

"Oh! I'm sorry. It's just that I have short memory so I NEVER remember things that DOESN'T matter" Said Gingi quite sarcastic not knowing half of the words they have said, there was a pause and they continued " NOW, why are we here?" Said Gingi asking again the same question.

Oliver sighed and decided to explain it what they were doing here. "We are here because we are going to camping, we are never togheter. Not like before, it's always because of our jobs or... Whatever... You do. So, why not camping?" Said Oliver a little optimistic.

"So Olive-man, you brought me here. Just for doing, what I always do? Survive?" Gingi tilted its head confused.

"Yeeaaaah. But, this time you will do it with your friends?" Oliver said doubting his choice of words but a little happy. The first time he went to camping was with Mr. Dickens, he hopes it's as good as he remembers.

"First step. Put the tents for everyone" Said Oliver, already finishing with his tent when he turned to see how his friends were doing.

Karen and Norm already finished with their tents.

Gingi was laying down on the dirt. Which they would call "tent" since... Their tent was back at the park.

And Randy was sitting on the dirt too, rocking back and forth since the swans had stole his tent.

Everything seemed alright. Randy could survive and Gingi was just being Gingi.

Everyone decided to do something to pass the time to wait for the night, Karen was trying to see if there was a horse near to paint it, Norm was searching some wood for the bonfire and Oliver, Gingi and Randy (being threatened) went to explore the 'beauty' of nature a little.

Oliver breath the fresh air deeply (from where? I don't know. Just follow with the story), it was so long since he didn't relaxed like that for the stress of working in the scareshack or when he worked at the cinema. But, he did it for Mr. Dickens, that man did so much for him so he wanted to return the favour.

He was the one who taught him all that was necessary after all.

Gingi got him out of his thoughts, running to every direction like a dog with rabies. Oliver started running until noticed Randy didn't move.

Later, he decided to come back. He couldn't let him like that anyway.

"Randy? It's everything alright?" Asked Oliver a little worried. The Nokia nod and gave him a thumbs up showing everything was ok.

But, the one in red shirt didn't believe it.

"You don't have to lie to me Rad, I can help you! I... You just need to tell me what's wrong, of course if you...want " Said Oliver with a calm voice grabbing Randy's hand. This did that his counterpart look at his phonehead.

"I- I-" Randy tried to tell Oliver what he thought, he took a deep breath and said it "I d-don't think camping was a good idea an- and what if there is a swan? What if I fell and my head explotes?" Said the one with cyan jacket grabbing his forearm without separating Oliver's hand, but the mentioned grabbed his two hands with bandages.

"Everything is going to be just fine Randy and don't worry, if it makes you feel better I will be with you" Said Oliver reassuring the Nokia, this worked and if they have faces they would be smiling. Until they noticed their hands togheter and Oliver decided to let go.

"Welp, We better get going searching Phonegingi! We don't want it to escape... Or that he is again the reason in another store for banning the color green." The last sentence was muttered by Oliver which started running where supposedly Gingi was. Randy stayed some seconds processing what just happened when he decided to follow the short male.

"Hey guys! You finally decided to come" Said a voice in a mountain. It was Gingi waiving their hand. It was waiting for them.

"Hey! We were asking where-" Oliver was cut off by Gingi which was pointing to the sky. Randy and Oliver decided to sit and look up.

There were shooting stars in the sky.

It was beautiful. Gingi decided to lay on the dirt near a tree, meanwhile their companions sitting near them. They seemed to forgot where they were for a moment, it seemed to last hours but it was really just minutes.

"What are you-" A feminine voice asked, being cut off when she saw the sky. It was Karen and behind her was Norm, they seem to have search for them since they wondered off. Gingi turned to them and did the same gesture that it did with Randy and Oliver.

The rest of the group did the same and sit, enjoying this moment. Enjoying the wind which was cold but comfortable.

Gingi decided to climb on the tree to enjoy the view better, when they were trapped in the zoo it would look at the stars so they could sleep and forget it was trapped.

But, as always, the green cryptic was fascinated with shinny things, so this wasn't surprising.

Norm decided to lay down on the start of the tree, meanwhile the other three were still in the same place hugging each other meanwhile they saw the shooting stars.

Definitely this was a night to remember.

Later of while, and that Norm almost fell asleep. They decided to go to the camping spot, for their luck Karen knew the way because everyone else forgot completely about it.

In their way they could heard how Big Foot ran willingly through the forest, obviously Gingi couldn't contain itself and waved and almost gets to run with Big Foot but Norm grabbed them before they could do something.

Norm started the fire and everyone prepared some smores. Even if Gingi didn't waited for the fire and just straight up eat them because "food is food".

When they ended, everyone went to their tents to sleep except for Randy and Gingi that slept outside. They already were used with the cold and sleep on uncomfortable places so that was not a problem.

They should reunite more often.

Chapter Text

Karen was sitting on the couch, looking through some horse's videos when someone knocked on the door.

She went to answer because the sound of the knock was becoming annoying and was angering her.

"Who?- oh it's you" The brown printer say without interested encountering Norm in the door "What are you doing here?" Asked Karen tilting her printer? head? Norm sighed and replied "Well, I wondered if ya' maybe... wanted me to go and teach ya' how to ride a horse? Or at least looking them if ya' don't want that" Norm left out some nervous chuckles.

Karen thought about it, she didn't have nothing to do today and it would have her ideas of what to drive and she would get ideas for drawings. Besides she would learn how to ride a horse, and how to decline seeing a horse?

"It's alright! I will do it. We go now or...?" She said trailing off waiting an answer from Norm, he just smiled and nodded. "Yeah, unless you have something to do?" She shaked her head and the two went to a field.

...

The man with a head covered by a paper bag breath some fresh air. "Don't ya' think it's beautiful Karen? It isn't bad some fresh air. Amirite?" The woman just nodded, she was focused on seeing where the horses where.

Until she saw them.

Those beautiful creatures that she admired and loved so much, where in that place eating, drinking or running free through the field.

In her eyes (eyes?) was beautiful, maybe other people didn't know how to appreciate the beauty of these animals. But she did.

She went running where all of them were, taking Norm off of guard making him ran and scream "Wait for me!"

Karen already got where all the horses where, she didn't want to interrupt whatever they were doing for fear of scaring them, that was the less she wanted. She grabbed one of her sleeves thinking of what could happen. She could fell and end like a bruise in her printer like Randy? The horses would be scared of her?

She started to play with her hands for nervousness, she was starting to reconsider her decision. Maybe it was best seeing them through the distance.

A sight besides her scared her. It was Norm catching his breath. "The truth is ya' ran pretty fast, or maybe 'm gaining weight, who knows?" Norm pause and waited for Karen to say something, but like she didn't talk he kept talking "Welp, better get starting." He started walking towards the horses but noticed how Karen didn't follow him.

Norm turned to see Karen and noticed she was grabbing her sleeves. "Hey, what's it?"  He asked a little worried, Karen shaked her head trying to find some words to explain what she wanted to say.

He decided to go near her a little "Calm down, you don't need to tell me" Said Norm calmly. Karen sighted and whispered "I have fear of falling." 

Norm couldn't help but remember when his kids had fear of going the first time to school.

...

"We're here" A more young (not so young) Norm said about to drop his kids to school.

One waved a hand towards him and ran directly to school but he heard a voice "Dad, I... I can't. I can't! It's difficult. What if nobody likes me? What if I don't got good grades?" Said a scared voice grabbing his pants.

"Hey, don't worry. 'M sure someone will like ya', and don't worry about your grades. Ya' can with that, m'kay?" Said the man kneeling down and touching the shoulder of the child trying to reassure the kid.

"But, dad... I'm scared" whispered the voice scared playing with their hands. Born smiled "It's ok having fear, I also had fear, but y'know how can you pass it?" The kid looked at him confused, their dad? Having fear? The child shake their head.

"Confronting it, being brave isn't not feeling fear, it's having it and confronting it. Ya' wanna be brave like your dad?" Norm smiled more when his kid nodded "Then go there and show what an Allen can do!" He said holding the child and spinning. The kid chuckle and when Norm put them on the floor the kid said...

...

"Thank you Norm" Said Karen hugging Norm which zoned out on his thoughts, he blinked twice and smiled "No need to thank me..." he paused, like he was trying to remember something but the thought had gotten away "Karen" the two separate and looked at each other. If Karen had a face she would be smiling.

"Ok then, shall we ride horses Karen?" Asked the sargent to the woman with a printer for head. She nodded and went to a horse that was eating.

Norm put a horse riding saddle on the horse, he extended a hand to the air and said "Whenever ya' ready" the woman quickly took his hand and put herself on the horse.

"Alright, hold the reins strongly" Instructed Norm which Karen just realized the action, "Now, remember. For direct, ya' only have to move the rein to the side ya' want to go" The woman tilted her head confused and Norm sighed "Go to the left, move the left rein. Go to the right, move the right rein" Karen nodded slowly.

"Now for going forward you only have to press your legs" Karen realized the movement and the horse started to go forward slowly. Norm smiled and decided to ride another horse.

The two started to ride through the field meanwhile the sun was hiding "Hmm.. what if?.." Karen trailed off and applied the same movement making the horse move more faster. The woman was a taken back for the sudden movement but later started enjoying it.

Norm blinked twice, processing what happened and smiled applying the same movement. He wasn't gonna left her steal all the fun.

Karen pulled softly the reins and the horse stopped on the mountain, watching the sunset, she decided to get down of the horse and pat it. The horse made a sound like it was enjoying her pats so she keep doing it.

Norm get a little later and also got down of the horse "We should get going, don't ya' think? It's getting late" Said the man with a paper bag on the head, the woman groaned of disappointed but nodded. She started to ride the horse with Norm to the same place where they started.

...

Chapter Text

The green creature looked at the fire for a couple of seconds, what could be called his old "home" (even if it was most like a prison) burning in front of them. They have spent so much time here that he didn't even knew how to react, not like he knew in other occasions anyway.

"Gingi? Are ya' alright?" The one with the bag on the head asked getting the green individual out of his la-la-land. "Yes yes, don't worry" 

This didn't convinced the sergeant. "C'mon, I don't understand what have ya' been through, but ya' should be happy fer this place not runnin' anymore" He tried to make them feel better, but the other didn't answered.

They stayed quietly for a while, it wasn't comfortable but they didn't have the need of break it. The green one delved in the zoo, Norm tried to stop him but it didn't have any use.

After all Gingi was always a free spirit.

The one in green noticed a thing on the dirt, a rotten and old sign, it was difficult to identify it with the fire that was surrounding everything but they could clearly read their name print there.

He saw his old cage burning, but the memory (for some miracle) was still in his mind. Theoroar passing by taking notes of his behavior, nights were they spent looking at the stars, days were he saw kids and adults watching with disgust or interest. Everything that he saw behind bars.

They managed to see how similar was their life before and after escaping that place, sure, Theoroar stopped studying him but the people looked the same when he was trapped, they went out of their tent to see the stars as the same source of hope that they have searching a place he could fit.

Or that was before he understands he didn't needed to fit. He is like he is and if the so perfect 'society' didn't accept him like he was then they would have to put up with them. After all it didn't matter, it was the present and now they needed to focus on getting to Mayor Mingus.

And convince Norm to not kill her... That too... Speaking of him...

"Hey, why did ya' came here? DO YA' HAVE A DEAD WISH? This place's burning!" The mentioned one screamed with his accent, Gingi tried to think quickly on a excuse and focused on the shotgun that Norm throw minutes ago and grab it just when they saw him.

"I was just searching this, but meh, I think it's not necessary now, how could I use this?" Th green one throw the shotgun far away and the space cowboy was about to kill them for waste like that a perfect gun, but he reluctantly sighted and tried his best to not do so.

"Alright, if that's what ya' were searchin' fer, I think we should get goin', isn't?" Asked trying to change the subject but again, his counterpart wasn't paying attention, sometimes he asked if he could pay attention for at least a second to something.

But he noticed something on the dirt.

It was the same sign with the name Gingi being consumed by the flames, this made Norm scratch his neck unconsciously, he didn't knew what to say but he couldn't let his 'partner' distracted by a bad memory.

At least not like this.

He cleared his throat which seems to attract their attention "Y'know I hafta admit I'm a tad surprised" Gingi tilted his head, which make the other think of his choice of words better "Act'lly nah referrin' t' how I feel right now as simply bein' surprised 'd be like callin' the twister that sucked up yet pa a 'light freeze" The green one was even more confused.

"Is that uhh... A country expression?" He asked a little startled, the paper headed man decided to go straight to the point. "Look, when we met I figured yer talk of helping folks was nothin' more than manipulative horseshit" He paused, processing what he was about to say and gulped accepting that he saw a creature that was considered surreal. "But you helped rise Bigfoot's self-esteem. Is there someone in this town you haven't helped?"

The green creature thought for a second, Has he helped everyone right now? Maybe, but it wasn't of a genius to know they haven't, he turned around to see Norm with confidence. "I can think of one. It's not too late for you, y'know. It's never too late" They tried to convince him before he committed a craziness that would cost him, maybe like this he would think before acting.

The other didn't seem affected and crossed his arms " Look, you've got yer eggs back, whoop-de-doo, but-" he paused doubting if he should tell them but what other option he had, sooner or later they would have to part ways, besides it's not like he hasn't repeated his plan to them a million of times.

And they should stay away of this, not mattering what would happen.

"But the mayor still has it out fer us, we've bested her goons, sure, but considerin' the lengths she's gone t', tryna a take us down" Gingi tilted his head and the cowboy sighted. "What I'm tryna to say is: I don't reckon this is gonna end with a peaceful heart-t'heart"

He tried to get straight to the point and making him enter reason but it was useless "We don't have to forfeit the happy ending that we deserve" Insisted again, they weren't going to stop until they would convince him, the two of them have a future. After all, if the others could have it, why they can't?

"Look I don't wanna mislead you, yer a nice person Gingi, you help people" He swallowed his pride and accepted it. "I ain't like you, and the Mayor is certainly ain't anything like you"

"What are you saying?" He didn't knew why they didn't understood it yet, he sighted heavily, it was like speaking to a toddler. But it should have been expected or maybe it was him, he was without any form of contact with nobody for god knows how long and maybe he has forgot how to express his ideas or how to speak, or, to be honest, how to do anything.

"I'm sayin' I don't wanna implicate ya in all this any more than I already have" He said firm and a bit aggressive being direct, he should have done this more frequently so his counterpart would understand better, the mentioned one let him to continue his point.

Norm (even if you couldn't see it because of the bag) looked to the side and crossed his arms "Our deal was fer us to partner up 'til we reached  Mayor McCatFace an' nothin' more, best jus' step aside when we reach the Mayor. Let me an' her sort our business on our own..." 

He took a pause and muttered "Unlike me, you ain't too deep in all this jus' yet" He saw that the green creature was about to speak again but he cut him off, he was confident about his decision. "I don't want you t' pay the price fer what I've finally realized I need t' sort out once an' fer all. An' fer whatever it's worth it..."

He sighted and turned his head to see them with a smile and say with a more softer tone than before, dispose to thank them about all they have done until now and for try to stop something unstoppable. "I'm grateful that ya bought me back here. That ya went t' the trouble o' helpin' the good folks o' Dialtown just 'cause ya felt like it. I ..."

He wanted to say something more, but his pride didn't let him, besides they needed to get moving or they would burnt, maybe even Mingus would sent another one to take 'care' of them. He didn't wanted another inconvenience to distract them from their mission. His mission.

"We should get moving I reckon" He said to get out of the scene distant meanwhile the place was burning. The green creature looked confused but didn't question it, they looked one more time to his old cage and went behind the sergeant confidently.

Maybe they would convince him in other way...