God it's been awhile since I've last posted anything, and for that I am very sorry! I know it's no excuse, but school's been hectic. Just an update for anyone that's interested in my out of fanfiction life…

I got a leading role in the school musical, and I have auditions for a few acting schools! Also, my writing teacher actually assigned my class NaNoWriMo, so basically everything I've been writing lately has been for that. I really want to hit the 50000 words.

Regardless, here's a little thing that I'd written a LONG while ago. It will one day be a companion piece to Gaige's 10 Step Guide, when I finally have enough time to write more of it. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I think you all know this already.

~*~
Hugs
~*~

I was never really that fond of hugs.

Originally the extent of physical intimacy I would partake in involved my blade in someone's body. The idea of hugging someone, or allowing one to hug me seemed atrocious. Why would I ever allow anyone that close? Being close enough to someone to hug or be hugged was a death sentence waiting to happen.

Hugs, or any type of physical intimacy, was just a convenient way for others to get close enough to kill you.

At least, that was what I thought.

But then, one day, I saw her crumble to the cold ground of Pandora. Streams of tears fell from her eyes when she realized that she was probably never going to see her family again. And I knew that the harshness of her realization was brought upon her because of me.

Slowly, unsure, I had approached her. At first I crouched down in front of her as she frantically wiped her eyes sobbing apologies for not holding herself together.

"My apologies,
I did not mean to cause this.
Please stop crying, Girl."

My inability to call her by name ended up making her cry louder.

"M-my name i-is G-gaige." She had stuttered out through her sobs, holding herself, shivering "N-not…"

"Your crying might alert enemies." I told her in, hoping it would make her stop crying, however my words only succeeded in making her hide her face in her knees as an attempt to muffle her sobs.

"-'m sorry. I'm sorry."

As a final attempt to make her feel better, I awkwardly wrapped an arm around her, patting the mechromancer's back with a four-fingered hand. I will never fully understand why I did it. Hug her regardless of the fact that I was not fond of hugs. The moment my arm wrapped around her, she stiffened up. She was wary of me. Confused at my actions. Once she had processed that I was attempting to make her feel better however, she threw her arms around my waist. For what seemed like eternity we sat there. Her crying the last of her tears into my chest while I simply held her in my arms. In that moment, I realized that I never wanted to see her cry again.

After that day we seemed to grow closer. I began calling her by name; she always greeted me with a smile. We began working as a team instead of working separately. I listened to her ECHO casts, brought her hot cocoa, anything to keep her happy. To keep a smile on her face.

And her smile was one of the few things on Pandora that made me feel…

Sometimes she would hug me. Sneak up on me from behind (Although I always knew it was her) and wrap her arms around my neck with a grin.

Hugs from her, I didn't mind.

"Hey Zero! What's up?"

Hugs from her, I didn't mind.

"Want to do something? I'm bored."

Hugs from her, I didn't mind.

"Hello? Pandora to Zero."

I was never really fond of hugs.

But I was fond of her.