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Stinger wasn't really sure how it had all happened. Things had changed so quickly it was hard to exactly pinpoint where it had all began.
He believed that it started a while ago. He had been quite stressed out from some minor inconvenience in his life. When he got stressed, he tended to shut down. So, he had avoided everyone and hid alone. Didn't matter how close he was to anyone, he still hid away from them.
That was when Naga had approached him. Stinger had been curled up on a couch, lost in his own little world. Naga took a seat beside him, which broke him out of his thoughts.
"Are you okay?" Naga had asked him. "You've been hiding from everyone."
"I'm fine." Stinger replied bluntly.
"Raptor mentioned that you seemed stressed." Naga wasn't deterred by his words. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"I'm fine." Stinger repeated.
"I know I'm not the best at offering support this way, but I still want to try. Will you please let me?"
Stinger bit back snapping at him to go away. Naga just wanted to help. He was just worried about him. It was normal for your partner to be worried when you were acting differently. He shouldn't push him away so quickly. Especially when Naga was trying something out of his comfort zone. Stinger didn't want to be the reason why Naga never tried to help anyone else again. He'd never hear the end of it from anyone.
"It's stupid... you don't need to worry over me. I'm just stressed over a stupid thing." Stinger mumbled.
"You still need to try and stop being stressed. Stress isn't good for you." Naga replied.
"I don't see how you can help me with anything..."
Naga hesitated for a long moment and then asked, "Would you like a hug? Balance always would do that when I got frustrated. Would it help you?"
Stinger was caught off guard by the question. A hug was not what he had ever envisioned as being offered. Naga certainly wasn't the most affectionate one that he knew. He often only offered things like that after seeing it already done, whether that be by seeing Lucky initiate something like that with Stinger or watching another couple do that to each other.
"I... guess there's no harm in trying it." Stinger replied. He wasn't too sure about all of this, but figured he might as well give it a shot. Let Naga try to help.
Stinger hated to admit just how much of a pushover he had become when either of his boyfriends wanted something of him.
Naga nodded at his approval of the idea. He hesitated and then moved closer. He slowly wrapped his arms around Stinger and buried his head into his neck. Naga's breathing was uneven. Was he worried he was doing this wrong?
He probably should be doing this hug a bit differently, but Stinger wasn't going to say a word. Naga could do as he wanted, figuring out what would work best. If he asked for suggestions, then Stinger would give him some pointers.
But for now, Stinger closed his eyes and leaned back on the couch. He let himself relax and sink into the hug. It was... comfortable. It wasn't unbearable to allow this as much as Stinger often hated anyone getting close like this without much warning. He had a routine and hated when things went out of it.
"Is this okay?" Naga asked quietly.
Stinger nodded. "It's fine like that."
"You're really warm, Stinger."
"I am?"
Naga hummed.
"Well, do you plan to stay here for a while?" Stinger asked.
"As long as you want. Or until someone makes us split apart." Naga replied.
"Makes us split apart?" Stinger repeated, "I think everyone would just let us be if they saw us like this."
"You never know. And if Lucky finds us you know he'll insert himself into this situation."
"True. Unless you tell him not to. He'd listen and stay back if you said so."
"I don't like denying him..." Naga mumbled.
"He is hard to say no to, isn't he?"
Naga nodded. The two of them fell into a comfortable silence. This was quite nice. It was rare to get a moment like this for just the two of them. Having three people in the relationship made things quite interesting. They didn't get much one-on-one time.
...
The next time Stinger remembered was when he had started having a panic attack while on a mission. He couldn't exactly recall what had set it off anymore, and was quite grateful for that. But the matter remained that something had happened that made him go full panic mode.
Everyone in the group was trying to help, but arguably was just making things worse. Everyone was giving him space, asking him to try and take some deep breaths. Reminding him he was okay. It wasn't working.
And then, arms had wrapped around him and a soft voice spoke into his ear. "It's okay, Stinger... I'm here..."
He calmed. He was able to come back to his senses. And could now hear everyone worriedly asking Naga if he should really be touching him in this state.
"So, I try to hug him, I get slapped. You do it, you manage to calm him down." Lucky commented. "No fair."
Stinger wanted to try and explain, but couldn't. He himself was confused. Why had Naga so effortlessly been able to get to him and yet Lucky not?
"I'm his emotional support." Naga had replied, then a pause. "Uh... whatever that means..."
"Is that what Stinger calls you?" A confused Hammie asked in reply.
"I... just thought of that term now..." Naga replied.
That was where it all began with the name. Everyone had latched onto it. It became an inside joke between them all. Stinger hadn't exactly liked everyone calling Naga that. But it was sticking too much to get them to stop now.
From that point on, whenever Stinger was distressed in any way, someone would often ask where Stinger's emotional support Naga was at. That was how they began to announce that he was stressed. That he needed space. Stinger swore he would never call him that himself though.
...
Then a while later, Stinger found himself sick. He had been hit by an attack from some governor and it had made him feel horrible. Thankfully, he was the only one who had been given that fate. Everyone else was still fighting, working hard to reverse the effects for Stinger's sake.
Lucky had remained with him at the moment. He was doing his best to give Stinger whatever he needed to feel better. Unfortunately, there was only so much you could do in a case like this.
"Here. I brought some water. You should drink." Lucky returned to the room.
Stinger grumbled an incoherent complaint and then sat up. He accepted the water and drank. His throat did feel dry. The water helped a bit.
"Is there anything else I can get for you?" Lucky asked.
"Peace and quiet. I want to sleep." Stinger grumbled, already laying back down and burrowing under the covers.
"Don't you want to cuddle?" Lucky pouted.
"No."
"Aww... but I wanna help you feel better. Is there really nothing else you want that I can get for you?"
"I want my emotional support Naga... where is he when I need him..."
Stinger had to pause after he realized he had actually said that. So much for swearing to never use that nickname.
Lucky was desperately trying to hold back a laugh as he responded. "I'll go see if the commander will let him return then since you requested him."
Stinger wanted to die of embarrassment. He hid under the covers as Lucky left the room. Please don't let him tell anyone he had said that... Though, knowing Lucky, everyone on the ship was going to know before long. He was doomed.
But it did get him Naga. Naga had returned to the ship as fast as he could when called. It wasn't long before him and Lucky had both returned to the room.
"They still are being run around in circles by that governor. I'm sorry it's taking so long." Naga said as he invited himself into the bed, Lucky deciding to join in as well.
"Asshole..." Stinger grumbled. "Such a petty attack to do on people..."
"Grumpy, huh?" Lucky teased.
Stinger glared at him and rolled around to face Naga. Naga opened his arms and Stinger buried himself against him. This was becoming quite commonplace for them.
Lucky hugged him from behind, not wanting to be left out. Stinger didn't care. He just wanted to sleep.
"So, I am your emotional support..." Naga said.
"You started the stupid nickname. This is on you." Stinger replied.
"You used it, so you must like it enough."
"I... it does describe what you're doing."
"Then what am I?" Lucky demanded. "If he's your emotional support then what am I to you?"
"The annoyance."
"That's rude."
"It's true."
"Naga!" Lucky looked to him for help.
"You're... Stinger's motivational support?" Naga offered.
"Not another nickname..." Stinger grumbled.
"I like it. I'm your motivation." Lucky replied smugly.
"I am getting you both back for this when I feel better."