Snuggle Buddy

Candy stared longingly at the ceiling, the ticking from his clock killing his brain, the texture of his couch scratched at his naked back. Everything was annoying him right now, and that was putting it lightly. After a few more seconds of going slowly, painfully mad, he threw the blanket off of him and threw his legs over the side of the couch. He sat there for just a minute, letting his eyes adjust to the rest of his small living room. It was late, very late.

He stood up, the floor under him creaking slightly as he did, and let himself take a long, satisfying stretch. Once his bones agreed with him, he slithered towards his bedroom, which currently belonged to Vega for the night. The door was shut tight, and he quietly cursed as he realised he’d have to open it in such a way that it wouldn’t stress them out. The doorknob was cold on his hand, and it made a shiver go right to his spine, making him exhale a little.

The door creaked open, its hinges screaming to be oiled just a little. Candy cringed. Everyone could’ve heard that, astronauts could’ve heard that. But there Vega led, on their back, mostly unmoving, eyes shut.

“Vega?”

There was a hum of acknowledgment. They were still awake. No surprise after the deafening door opening. Candy stood at the doorway, fiddling with his fingers, trying to find the words to say.

“Can I… have a snuggle?”

Silence. Vega took a long, extended breath that felt like it went on forever, clearly thinking. He didn’t want to push their boundaries, so he let them take their time with it. Slowly, almost like a cat stretching, they lifted up the blanket off of them, patting the bed next to them.

Candy’s face lit up at the invite. He, as quietly as he could, half-ran to the bed. He hated being alone at night, it let his anxieties nibble away at his very soul, stopping him from sleeping very well if at all. He slinked into the bed and under the blanket, clinging to Vega’s side like he’d die if he wasn’t there.

Vega let the blanket cover them both, absentmindedly wrapping their arm around his back to pull him closer. He slung his leg over theirs, and despite being taller than them by quite a margin, he felt small — yet protected. He let out a satisfied giggle, burrowing into their chest like a kitten would to their mother.

And the silence was peaceful, and his memories didn’t bite, and he let himself fall asleep in Vega’s arms.