Cuddles

A Big Baby

Zack and Rachel were on a continuous run. They had been doing this for months- running from the cops, finding a cheap motel/dumpster/old house where they can stay for the night, and then do the same for the next day.

Most of the time when they slept, they would sleep away from each other, in two seperate corners, being aware of how akward it would be to sleep close to one another. Rachel had no problem to be in close contact with Zack, but he was thick-skinned and always avoided Rachel's touch- any sort of touch- since his childhood, because he knew that the only sort of touch that he ever recieved and perhaps will receive- was the one that the orphanage-keepers gave him- rude, cold and harsh. He feels pained whenever he gets reminded of those strong spanks and the way he was dragged like some sort of a tool. That single word made his blood rush up to his brain- and just when he began to tremble with rage thinking about these sorrowful thoughts, a hand - a very small, thin and soft hand arched around his torso, and he snapped out of his nightmare.

He was so lost in his thoughts, that he didn't even realize that Rachel had shuffled close to him, and right now, she was hugging him. He's brain was a bit groggy from the dream, so it took a few seconds for him to realize what was happening. As soon as he looked into the gravity of the situation, he yanked her away from him and yelled.

"WHAT THE HECK- YA BRAT!! DIDN'T I TELL YA TO SLEEP AWAY FROM ME !!!!???"

Rachel's eyes snapped open when she felt the pain in her lower back from falling down from the huge bed.

"Zack..?? What's wrong??" she replied with the same monotonous voice of hers and a dead look in her eyes, as if she wasn't pushed down from the bed just now.

"Don't 'what's wrong' me! Do I look like a damn teddy bear to ya?? If ya repeat this, I'm gonna make you sleep outside." he said in a panicked tone.

"Oh...you don't like hugs?? Is it because you've never been hugged before? I'm sorry- I didn't realize that back then..."

Zack grunted and decided to shut his brain down again- trying to forget what just happened. This time when he slept, he didn't see another nightmare, so he got a good shut-eye. Almost fifteen minutes had passed when he felt pressure against his back accompanied by something clawing his blood-stained hoodie. He knew what this was, and he was ready to turn around and smack Rachel's face again, when she nuzzled further into his back. Zack felt his heart beating faster for a reason unknown to him.

He finally turned around after a few moments of hesitation, with his torso towards her now. She looked so peaceful when she slept - golden locks that shadowed her face, the same boring face which looked dead as she slept. It reminded him of a little kitten snuggling with it's owner. She nuzzled into Zacks chest once again and he flinched from this foreign contact. Nobody dared to stand close to Zack- cause in the end they knew that they'd be killed. And yet, here was Rachel - snuggling with him- as though she felt safe and comfortable around him, regardless of being killed or smacked away from him once more. It made him shiver a bit, and a red hue was spreading across his face, beneath the bandages.

Zack had this strange urge to hold her even closer- keeping all of her to himself and nobody else. He knew that he's actions would be proven to be stupid, but he was an extremely impatient person, since he had an impulsive disorder. He carefully wrapped his left arm around her frame, making sure that he doesn't wake her up and pulled her even closer. Now he feels like a kid- a literal kid who has been touch-starved for years. This time, he was the one holding her like a teddy bear. He felt her lean into his touch. That night, he niether had a dream, nor a nightmare. He had a peaceful nap in a long time.

The sun's rays flooded through the window at morning. Rachel woke up early and was surprised to see the position she was in. Zack held her close to him, with his head nuzzling in the crook of her neck. Their legs were entangled. Rachel made a small giggle, and thought of Zack as a huge puppy of some kind. She decided to stay like this until he woke up. This was her only chance to tease him.

"Zack? Are you up?" Rachel asked in a soft voice.

"Mhmm..."

She snickered a bit. " You're such a big baby".

"Nhggg...whaddya mean???" Zack said- still half asleep.

"Who knew that the Back-Alley Murderer- Isaac Foster was a big cuddler??" She said in a teasing- voice.

"Shuddap n' lemme sleep some more.... I'm fricking tired .."

"Okay, then atleast let me make breakfa-"

"Ya ain't goin' anywhere- if I'm sleepin', you're sleepin' with me.." he said , gripping her tighter in his arms, making sure that she doesn't move.

Rachel's cheeks had a tint of pink in them, she didn't expect such a reply from a hard-skinned person like Zack.

"Alright then..."

She said hugging him back.

"I guess I am you're teddy-bear, Zack.."

( ◜‿◝ )♡