The Universe Calls

And then their hands. Faeryn would take one hand and press it between his own, then exert gentle pressure on each finger. The warmth traveled up Lith’s arm, soaked gently underneath their skin.

On this occasion, Faeryn seemed more dejected than happy; his ears drooped more than usual, and his eyes—normally happily bright with drink—were downcast and darkened.

Lith didn’t like it. They didn’t like it because they didn’t know what to do about it. And so they remained silent. They gave Faeryn’s hand a squeeze, and that seemed to inject some life into him. It heartened Lith slightly, knowing that some action they’d performed had had some positive effect on the man they tentatively considered their friend.

Perhaps Faeryn didn’t just snuggle close and toy with Lith’s hands because he was bored or the actions fascinated him.

Perhaps Faeryn was just as lonely as Lith was, and was just as starving for those gentle, warm touches.

Did it make Lith a bad person—a bad friend—if they wished for that?

Probably.

But it didn’t change the fact that Lith did because it would go some way to assuaging their own bone-deep loneliness.

Faeryn blinked a few times before focusing his gaze on Lith. A small, self-deprecating smile twitched at Faeryn’s lips, and Lith’s stomach twisted at the expression; they knew what that felt like. They knew that whatever Faeryn was about to ask for, he felt like he didn’t deserve it.

“H-Hey, Lith, um…” Faeryn nervously toyed with Lith’s fingers. His hands shook. “D’ya mind if— D’ya think I— May I hug you?”

All four of Lith’s eyes went to Faeryn’s face. Their friend wasn’t looking at them, but Lith heard the anxiety in their voice without needing to see it in their eyes. Lith didn’t know how to answer—“Yes” was locked inside their throat, the desperation for the contact choked the word—so instead they gave Faeryn’s hand another squeeze and then clambered into their lap.

They sat on Curiosity’s floor, safely ensconced within its sturdy walls, nestled in the nook where Lith’s suit hung.

Faeryn shifted and adjusted automatically to the lapful of Hearthian. His tail unwound from Lith’s leg, only to instead drape across Lith’s hips when they settled. Their legs intertwined with Faeryn’s, and Lith felt the man’s rabbiting heartbeat against his back. It calmed slightly once the shock of Lith’s acquiescence fully settled.

The man wrapped one arm around Lith’s waist while the other settled over one of Lith’s hands. Lith turned the hand to face Faeryn’s and clasped it. They gave a firm, heartening squeeze, and that simple action drew a watery chuckle from Faeryn’s throat.

Faeryn nestled his head in the crook of Lith’s neck, and they felt the rumbling, vibrating purr against his shoulder and back. The sensation was calming, warm—safe, and Lith allowed the warmth to seep into them.