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How can you ask for more hugging? You're hugging me already! You can't hug me more!

[ More than he was. Or is? There's nowhere really for Tidus to move now and stop Inigo from doing anything, but he sure doesn't know how this whole thing can get more 'huggy'.

Because Tidus is an ignorant fool who perhaps shouldn't have asked that question in the first place... ]

[ Be careful what you wish for, Tidus. Or what you.. challenge.. someone for? Who knows what kind of phrasing would apply in this kind of situation, but Tidus is still playing a very, very dangerous game here. ]

We'll see about that.

[ More dangerous words have clearly never been said.

A moment after Inigo says them, he moves away a bit - enough to un-squish Tidus so he's properly lying on the bed again.

And then Inigo is just straight up flopping down on top of him. No side cuddling, nope siree. This is full on Inigo just using Tidus's ~~pecs~~ ~~chest~~ body as his own personal pillow. Nuzzling his head against it and all. ]

You know, this is more comfortable than I thought.

[ b-bro!!

bro!!!

BRO!!!

The full effect of what is going on - that he didn't get simply flopped on, but that his chest is being used as a pillow!! - doesn't hit Tidus until the nuzzling part. And then he yelps, a pitch higher than the small grunt that came from the heavier force before, hands grabbing for Inigo's shoulders to try and shove him off. ]

H-h-hey! Come on! Time out! Time out!

[ Mercy, Inigo, mercy!! ]

[ HEHEHEHE.

It's not often that Inigo can get one up on Tidus like this. So there's something about that flustered reaction that makes him feel instantly victorious. He's even doing his best to cling on tight for a few moments more, just to make Tidus squirm a bit! No mercy for the wicked!

.. Or maybe some mercy, because a few moments later Inigo finally lets go, flopping over towards the side so he lands on his back right next to Tidus on the bunk.

He's smiling. ]

You know, I feel a lot better now.

[ Broooo! What is he supposed to think or feel about you getting all comfy on top of him?!

Tidus sinks into the bed, or tries to, since there isn't a lot of room to go one way or another on the tight space. But an attempt is made, along with the groan (read: the whine) that Tidus lets out at Inigo's expressed delight. ]

You're a leech. You come and hug me with those arms - [ cue him making exaggerated gesturing of arms coming to hug from above ] and suck out all my good vibes for yourself!

[ Listen to this crime! It's a crime! And Tidus is absolutely being over the top on purpose, but his point is still true and real!! ]

Maybe that is how it works, huh?

[ Inigo, completely unbothered by this exaggerated accusation, just laughs. Seemingly just way too amused about this still. But it certainly beats feeling bad about Bucky's weird reappearance. ]

In that case I should do it more often. [ He's staring up at the bottom of the bunk above, since it's not like there's a whole bunch of space to turn his head and look at Tidus, but he's smiling. ] It's not like you don't have enough to share around!

[ Look at this threat of regularly being turned into a pillow for Inigo, Tidus. How terrifying. ]

[ Excuse you this IS terrifying!! Inigo can't see him, but Tidus is absolutely putting his arms across his chest. ]

Why don't you get a friends with benefits 'cept for hugs? [ Huh?? ] Go put up an ad somewhere on the train! Make a hug club!

...

[ Hang on, Tidus. We need to interrupt your shame and terror program for a moment for Inigo to wonder something as he's still staring up at the bottom of the other bunk. ]

Wait, what are the usual benefits you get from friends if they aren't hugs? [ That just went five miles over his head, huh.

At least he does genuine seem less sad now. ]

Uh. [ Uh. ]

... What do you call people who get together for sex and nothing else? [ it's ok they're both adults, they're dudes, they can talk about this! ] It just means-- get a hug friend.

[ There, see! That's the point here! ]

[ Can they really talk about this.

Because now Inigo's cheeks are rapidly starting to grow red, though he's trying to put a halt to it before he gets too flustered-- ]

Anyway!! [ Subtle. Smooth. A champion of smoothness. ] I have plenty of hug friends I'm actually friends with! And we talked about it before, and you told me you didn't mind me hugging you either!

[ Don't think he has forgotten that whole fiasco. ]

[ Was that a scoff you heard, Inigo?? Maybe it was just the wind.

... but now Tidus has to say more. And the smile may be slow to lift on his face, but- ]

Yeah, but when you're a friend with benefits, it's the full package, no strings attached, you know? [ Here's some real smooth going on here. Sweet, sweet implications. ] All the cuddling, hair stroking you could ask for. Maybe you can agree on a few kisses too - just on the face?

Just think of all the positions you could be trying out.

[ HEH. ]

[ Inigo sounds like he's about to shriek, though thankfully - for the sake of everyone involved here - he manages to smother it behind his hands at the last moment. This is too much. He tries to cuddle Tidus's ~~sweet manboobs~~ chest one time, and this is what he gets?! ]

I already kiss Taiki on the face, thank you very much!!

[ He says it like it's some sort of defense against what Tidus is saying here, though Inigo just seems to be making himself get more worked up as he says it.

STOP MAKING THIS WEIRD, TIDUS. ]

Oooooooooooooo.

[ Is this a teenager sleepover because Tidus is breaking out the scandalous sounds. Tidus cannot be deterred, and he's even shifting over onto his side, facing a Inigo he can barely see. ]

Did you like it?

[ By the deep tone there, he is definitely messing around. ]

Yes.

[ Maybe it's exactly because Tidus is jokingly making this into some ~scandalous~ thing that Inigo decides to just dig his heels in. There's no winning from Tidus anyway when he gets into this sort of mood, so whatever! P-Pah!!

Not that he's moving. Inigo is still on his back, staring up, like he's trying to avoid looking directly at Tidus. Even if it'd be in the dark. ]

So what, huh? [ You can't get him with this messing around!! ]

[ Why thanks for asking. ]

So you wanna do it again?

[ What else, Inigo. Where else was that question going to lead Tidus! ]

Yes.

[ Is that the right answer that will stop Tidus. Will he stop messing around if Inigo just somehow stops being fun - by not giving Tidus what he wants, and instead just giving these simple, one-word answers?

It's not even like he's lying. Sure, he'd show affection to Taiki again, why not! It'd be a lot harder to answer if Tidus was asking if he wanted to kiss him instead. ]

This isn't a surprise.

Wow, you're so easy-going about it. I think I should be feeling jealous!

[ Listen to this, his two pals being smoochy friends. But he doesn't want to take his teasing too far. They're both important to him, and he doesn't really think there's anything between them (anymore, anyway). ]

I guess you already had a friend with hugging-benefits. [ And then he reaches out in the dark, hand reaching somewhere near to the side of Inigo's head. Fingers slipping down to touch the skin of his cheek. ]

You're not pouting too hard, are ya.

[ He was going to poke his face, but it's hard in the dark!! ]

I am. [ Thankfully Tidus doesn't have to accidentally feel his face to realise that Inigo definitely is pouting - it's clear even just in the tone of his voice as he replies like that. Inigo is being a big, pouty baby right now. ]

And what are you going to do about it, huh?

[ How do these tables flip so constantly. ]

[ Tidus chuckles, his hand dropping from Inigo's face and finding a place back on the bed. ]

I'll stop, [ he answers simply. Because does he need to do anything more when Inigo is sulking this much? He could, but he's a nice guy under all the mischief.

And what can he say? His friends here inspire most of it. He's never really gotten to have relationships like this before.

But, just to sound satisfied: ] I was taking back some of my vibes.

[ It all comes back around. ]

[ These vibes will be the end of him.

But after being quiet for about ten seconds or so, Inigo moves on the bed. He rolls onto his side once more, facing Tidus, and drapes an arm over him. He's pretty close to Tidus, considering the nature of two teenage boys being squished into one bunk, but he's not trying to overly cuddle on purpose. ]

Compromise. [ He says, still kind of pouty.

Though it seems to fade the more he speaks on. ]

Just let me sleep like this for tonight. That's enough vibes for me.

Okay.

[ Compromise agreed to. A deal made. It's easy to pretend there's a real night with the hush now coming between them, a little like when the two of them were out on the planet Nion, but without the light drumming of the rain above their heads. When it's dark, you can pretend a lot of things.

But Tidus is alright with this. Less cramped conditions would be nice, not everyone as comfortable or sure about just swinging arms around their guy friends, even now. But Tidus doesn't mind what they have now, his arm tucked in by his chest, knowing Inigo sounded better than he did before. And that last is what counts. ]

Don't have any funny dreams.

[ There's no protest to that last part other than a small huff.

And then Inigo just goes quiet. Because for all the trouble he has with sleeping most of the time - sleeping too light, the constant nightmares, the worrying in his head that keeps him from falling asleep too quickly.. All of it fades whenever he sleeps like this. Just being close to someone. Knowing he isn't alone, but that someone he cares for is right next to him.

He's not alone. Even if yet another platform day brought him pain-- he's not alone. Not alone.

It doesn't take long at all for Inigo to have drifted off already, his breath slowing and then evening out as a telltale sign. ]

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