July's Whump day 2 for Red maybe? :)
here's whumperless whump day 2, touch starvation with red and shadow! not really whump on the surface level but that's okay because this ask was sent to my main blog so i just won't tag the event. hope you enjoy regardless!
“Shadow, can I give you a hug?”
Shadow was surprised by the question, staring at Red like he hadn’t heard him right. “What?”
Red rocked back and forth on his heels and toes. “A hug! Can I give you one?”
Shadow scoffed. “I don’t need a hug.”
“Okay, but sometimes it’s nice to get one anyway,” Red reasoned. “And I want to give you one!”
“What’s so special about a hug?” Shadow argued. He wasn’t looking Red in the eyes anymore. “I touch people all the time.”
“Come oooon,” Red whined, and sat down beside him. “Are you sure you don’t need a hug? You’re hugging that pillow right now! Wouldn’t it be nicer to hold a real person?”
Shadow looked down at the pillow in his arms and quickly threw it across the room, like he hadn’t even realized that he was holding it. “Ugh! Fine! If you really want to, then just do it already!”
“Yay!” Red half-tackled Shadow in an excited hug, but Shadow didn’t hug him back. Red waited for a moment to see if Shadow would return it, but Shadow seemed stiff and uncomfortable so Red pulled away after a disappointingly short hug.
“Hey!” Shadow yelped. “Was that it?”
Red tilted his head in confusion. “Yes? I didn’t think you liked it.”
“I wasn’t ready, that’s all! Do it again!”
“Bossy, bossy!” Red teased, but Shadow wasn’t actually being mean so he leaned over for another hug.
Shadow was quiet for a minute, then he mumbled, “You’re… warm.”
Shadow didn’t answer. He leaned closer to Red, almost shy as he slowly lifted his arms to properly hug him back. He made a strange noise and shivered, but Red thought that he seemed calmer now.
“…Do you want to be done?” Red asked cautiously after the hug had lasted much longer than the first one.
Shadow immediately shook his head. “No!”
Red laughed, happy that Shadow had wanted a hug after all. “Y’know what’s even better than a hug? Cuddles!”
Shadow nervously held on tighter. “Does that involve getting up?”
“Nope! We can cuddle right here. It’s like… a really long hug. You can even fall asleep if you want.”
Shadow sighed, relaxing in Red’s arms. “I guess, if you really want to.”
They both knew that Shadow needed it.