Author's Note: Originally conceived between 2010-2012. Finally pulled from the fic vault and gifted. Happy Birthday Shinaka!
What Else is Soft and Cuddly?
Terra loved moogles, almost to a fault.
From their vibrant red nose, their cries of kupo, to the little puff springing up from the head and their cute wings, rapidly flapping to support the moogle in the air. She loved them so much, that she recalled one of her memory was of a stuffed moogle in her arms. She would drag that thing around everywhere she went, until the stuffing was worn down, the fuzz on the outside matted, and the increasing appearance of mismatched stitching holding everything together.
Her precious Mr. Moogly accompanied her for years.
(It went missing shortly after.)
She disliked bears. Bears were violent, always clawing at everything, and even tried to snatch her gil when she wasn't paying attention! During their travels, she'd heard Locke complaining about the thieving ursids during his night shifts. He'd mutter at nobody, as he took inventory of his pouches, cursing about losing 260 gil to the "fat bastard mammal".
Then again, Terra never completely understood Locke's preoccupation with money. It must be a treasure hunter thing.
One day, it occurred to her as they were battling random encounters across the Veldt, taking down a couple of Silver Lobos. Touching places where the Lobos weren't singed, she felt that familiar texture.
Despite their ferociousness, they felt soft.
Sure, sometimes their fur can be coarse, or matted with dirt, blood, and overall wetness. Nevertheless, the fur was soft, even rivaling moogles' fur.
(Mog made her promise never to squeeze him like a toy after an awkward encounter in the middle of the night.)
Bears had fur. Were they also soft?
She felt him slide into sheets, an arm curled around her waist. Then a coarse and fuzzy sensation rubbed against her nape, moving towards the area between her shoulder and neck.
He breathed in her scent as both laid in bed, a slight breeze came over from the window as the winds made their way north into the Veldt. She placed her arm over his, intertwining fingers, focusing on how soft the blonde arm hairs felt on her skin.
"Welcome home, " she said.
"I am back."
He drew her closer to his chest, her skin warming against his muscles.
"Did you wash up yet?
He grunted out in response, breathing slow and steady.
After a few moments of listening to his breathing, and feeling the subtle pulses of his heartbeat on her back, she nudged on his arm.
"Sabin, are you still awake?"
"Hmh, yes?"
"I want to cuddle you."
"I- Alright."
His arm left her waist, as he turned around, curling his body smaller to adjust for her height.
Terra also moved around, eying his muscular naked back. This time, she wrapped her arm on his chest, fingertips traveling towards the middle. She gently played with the small patch of hair where his chest met his abdomen, curling her fingers on the hair.
It was soft.
Like a bear.
-END-