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Can't move. Won't move. It was another one of those nights. Think too hard about the wrong thing and shut down completely. Like some broken program crashing disgracefully. Like some puppet cut by its strings and left alone.
A torrent of horrible emotions coursed through Kris where they sat, but no part of them would move. Not their face, or hands, or even the bumps of their skin. Nothing shook this state.
The window opened. A shadowy figure climbed into the room. They crept to the bed where Kris sat alone. They reached out, and...
...began to... brush their hair...?
"Susie...?"
"Hey."
The monster continued running their hairbrush through Kris's mane, slowly getting them back.
"What... what happened...?"
"You tell me, dude. You didn't come by the alleyway like we agreed."
"You... came to... check on me...?"
"Well- uh- it's not like I was- ...okay maybe."
A small smile slid onto Kris's face, not visible to Susie in the moment.
"...Sorry. I had an... episode."
"Oh god, is that what that was? You were still as a statue. Freaked me out."
"It happens sometimes. Whenever I... think too hard. About certain things."
"Well, I don't want you thinkin', then. I'll do enough for the both of us."
"You're a sweetheart, Susie."
"Okay, don't get too mushy on me. I'm just here to help you down, however long you might need."
Kris said nothing as they let Susie brush away. The feeling was beyond therapeutic. Susie said it was what they use to calm down when things get hard to handle. It seemed Kris had a penchant for it as well, the way they leaned and pushed their head into the motions.
"Mmh... you said... you could be here for as long as I need? Is that... okay...?"
"Well, we were gonna hang out all night anyway, I don't have anything else going on."
"Do you... do you think you could stay with me tonight...?"
For a moment, Susie stopped brushing.
"O-only if you... want to—"
Susie bounced over onto the bed, putting their back to the wall, pulling Kris close to them and resuming the brushing. A smirk bloomed on Susie's face:
"Yeah, maybe I could be bothered to stick around."
Kris was smitten in Susie's grasp. The brushing turned into playing with and running through hair with fingers, occasionally softly scratching the back of their head. The resulting sensations were vocalized in all kinds of soft noises from the small human.
"Mmmh... you're.... really good......"
"Heh..." Susie's voice was gentle. "Do you really know someone if you don't know their petting spots?"
With that, Susie cradled Kris in one arm, turning them to face the other. The other hand was dedicated to combing through the soft apple fields on their head. Susie brought their face to the side of Kris's, taking in the scent as Kris took in the feeling.
"Mmm... You told me not to get mushy, but you're turning me into mush over here..."
"Heheheh! You're too holdable, I can't help it. C'mere."
Susie tipped the two down onto the bed, cuddling Kris tight and pulling the covers over. Susie resumed brushing as well, having unfinished business in the human's flowing mane.
"You really just like brushin', don'tcha..."
"I wasn't done!!" Susie pouted.
They finished soon enough, tucking the tool back into its beloved pocket. Now all attention was on spoiling Kris, snuggle levels sharply rising. Kris bursted with giggles at how affectionate Susie could get when they really liked someone.
"Had enough yet, nerd?"
"Nnnnnever."
"I'll make you eat those words."
"Mmmmhhope they taste like cinnamonnnnn....."
Kris had clearly been cuddled stupid, but Susie couldn't be damned to stop now. They pulled Kris in, pushing their foreheads together and challenging the title of Nose Nuzzle Champs '2X with their ridiculous display. Kris could not help but smile wide and laugh as they returned the gesture in full.
"You're such a wimpy little marshmallow," Susie pinched Kris's cheek.
"I am, and you love it."
"Heh. Yeah."
Leaving their hand on Kris's face, Susie brought them close and softly met their lips. Kris found themself bouncing between moans and giggles as their heart glowed with a dozen flavors of love. Things never picked up speed, simply remaining a gentle and warm embrace, the softest side of either of them shining forth. The energy was low and heavy with drowsiness.
After a long trip to another world where only they existed, the two broke the kiss and settled into each other's company.
"Mmmmthank you, Sooz..." Kris mumbled from somewhere in Susie's chest.
"Don't mention it, y'little....." Susie trailed off before they could finish the sentence, having spent much more energy than they'd been aware of.
Kris slept soundly in Susie's arms, having never felt more at home anywhere else.