Chapter Text
It starts with Denki being very observant of Shinsou and realizing he's touch starved. He catches him in the kitchen looking exhausted and making another cup of coffee. He's seen Shinsou with at least three others through the day and is beginning to wonder if he ever eats. Shinsou looks half dead.
Denki knows why he's awake. Insomnia is kicking nuis ass again. He assumes Shinsou is going through the same thing.
Instead of leaving him to his devices Denki puts his hand over the top of the mug, taking it away.
"Nope. None of that." He sets it on the counter, turning back with his hands on his hips. "When was the last time you slept?"
Shinsou winces, rubbing at his tired eyes. The floresents are giving him a headache.
"What day is it?" It comes out gravelled and raw. Every part of him is exhausted and his head is pounding but he can't sleep. His entire body aches and there's a constant buzzing in his ears he can't get rid of.
Denki's expression falls as he realizes Shinsou isn't kidding.
"Okay, no. Not cool." He takes Shinsou by the wrist and tugs him out of the kitchen. He needs food but more than that he needs sleep. Shinsou stumbles after him, struggling just to keep his balance.
"What?" He blinks through bleary eyes, trying to hold onto what Denki has said.
"Dude, you look like a walking corpse. You're going to bed."
Shinsou groans, dragging his feet.
"Kaminari, I can't." It comes out more a desperate whine than he means. "I've literally been trying all night. I can't fucking sleep."
Kaminari smiles at him over his shoulder. "I'm pretty sure I have the cure. And I could use the company."
In spite of himself, Shinsou is curious. He allows himself to be dragged down the hall and into Denki's room.
He stands awkwardly as Denki flops onto the bed, wiggling around to get comfortable.
"Um…"
Denki pats his chest before extending his arms with a grin. "Maybe you just need a cuddle buddy."
Shinsou flushes, shifting his weight and generally looking out of place. "I-" He struggles for words, rubbing the back of his neck.
Denki's expression softens. "It's okay. I do this with the Bakusquad all the time," he reassures.
That draws Shinsou up short. "You do?"
Denki nods, expression sober. "A lot of us have nightmares. Sero technically started it. He and Kirishima have a very loose definition of personal space." A wry smile touches his mouth. "And we're all touch starved as fuck. So we decided to have cuddle puddles whenever something bad comes up."
Shinsou sits on the edge of the bed, still tense and uncertain but it's a start. "Bad?"
Denki nods. "Yeah. I know things are really bad for Bakugou after Kamino," he says softly. "Kiri too. Mina, Sero, and I all have our own trauma." He doesn't elaborate. "When we heard about Bakugou's nightmares Kiri dragged him into the cuddle puddles."
Shinsou raises his eyebrows. "Bakugou?"
Denki nods. "He kind of took over as our Den Mother. He's stupid protective of all of us." He jabs a finger in Shinsou's direction. "Which I never told you," he says seriously.
"Cause Bakugou will kill me?" Shinsou teases.
"Because what happens in the cuddle puddle stays in the cuddle puddle." His tone is serious and Shinsou sobers. "There's some really hard shit that comes up and we've all had to get really vulnerable to be able to talk each other down out of panic attacks and nightmares."
Shinsou's lips part in surprise. "Oh."
Denki nods. "Same rules apply here." He gestures between them. "What happens here, stays in here. Promise." He opens his arms again. "Now come here. My insomnia got a lot better once I started sleeping with Sero or Mina. Even Bakugou will let me fall asleep on his chest after a really rough night." He shrugs.
"Having another heartbeat helps for some reason. Makes me feel safe."
"Oh." Shinsou picks at his nails and Denki opens his arms again.
"Unless you don't want touch," he says easily. "That's cool too." Shinsou bites his lip, picking at his nails.
"I'm not-" He doesn't know what to say to that. He wants touch. Craves it badly. But he's been burned before and it's been a long time since anyone touched him with anything other than malice.
"I don't bite," Kaminari says softly. "Well, unless you ask me to." He wiggles his eyebrows and winks.
Oddly enough, it does the trick and Shinsou rolls his eyes with a laugh. He crawls up next to Denki, slotting himself under his arm.
It's not as awkward as he thought it would be. He's taller than Denki but his chest is warm and solid, heartbeat steady under Shinsou's ear.
Denki wraps his arms around Shinsou, shifting a little so they fit together more comfortably. And then a hand strokes through Shinsou's hair, starling him.
Denki stops. "This okay?"
Shinsou swallows thickly, forcing himself to relax and nod as his scalp prickles. It's…nice.
"Yeah," he rasps. He can feel Denki smile.
There's a loud kiss pressed to the top of his head before Denki goes back to running his fingers through Shinsou's hair. His other arm is wrapped firmly around Shinsou's middle and after awhile Shinsou hesitantly loops his own arm over Denki's chest, slowly relaxing into his hold.
The steady thrum of Denki's heart and the fingers in his hair lull Shinsou rapidly towards sleep.
"You're safe," Denki whispers, nails gently scratching along Shinsou's scalp. "It's okay."
Shinsou sleeps better than he has in years.