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You were laying in a cold, dim room on the cold floor in the cold blacksite. Everything was so cold. It felt like you’d never known warmth. It wasn’t helping that you had to swim through part of the blacksite recently, and your jumpsuit was still soaked. It chilled you to the bone.
You turned your head, gazing longingly at the monster in the room with you. Mask was sleeping peacefully close by, its back turned to you. You had slept behind fake doors a few times, but you were never as cold as you were now. Since Mask fell asleep, you had been building the courage to ask something of them.
You couldn’t, though! What if Mask found out how you truly felt about it and got uncomfortable? And you’d hate to interrupt its sleep. Yet the cold was making you desperate…
You sat up, scooting over to Mask’s side hesitantly. “Mask..” you whispered.
Mask growled softly as it woke up, stretching its claws. It twisted its neck around to look at you. “Yes, dear…?”
You didn’t show it, but you felt your brain fry itself whenever Mask used that name on you. It called you that from the beginning, yet it felt like a loving petname to you. It wasn’t helping that Mask often used it on their partner, P.AI.nter, as well.
“I’m.. cold…” you murmured, averting your gaze in embarrassment.
“Hmm.. Perhaps I could help with that...” Mask turned its body to face you. “Would you like me to cuddle with you…?”
It was as if Mask had read your mind. You stared at them in surprise for a moment, then remembered you were supposed to respond. “I… Yes.. I would…”
You yelped as you were suddenly pulled into a hug. You felt your face grow warm. It wasn’t as cold as you’d expected it to be, but that was probably because you were freezing.
“Your face is so red..” Mask murmured, “Is there something you’d like to tell me?” it teased, making you even more flustered.
“N-nooo.. Not at all!” you stammered, “I mean.. The cold is just making the blood rush to my face.. You know!”
Mask stared at you knowingly. “Of course… The cold... How could I forget the cold..?” It chuckled quietly. “You should get some rest now, dear...”
You just lay there in Mask’s arms as the monster’s breathing slowed again. What just happened? Did Mask know you were in love with it? How could you give it away so easily? You thought cuddling with Mask would make it easier to sleep, but it just left you with a bunch of questions. Well, at least you were a little warmer…
You rested the side of your head against Mask’s chest, listening to its heartbeat. Or.. heartbeats? At first you thought you were hearing one heart beating, then you realized the thumps seemed to be coming from different areas in its chest. Part of you wasn’t even surprised, considering how unusual the monster’s anatomy was.
As you listened, a new sound joined the monster’s hearts. It was a deep rumbling coming from Mask’s throat. Why are they growling? you thought anxiously. No.. It’s too gentle to be a growl. They must be purring! Did that mean Mask was happy? You forced yourself to suppress a squeal.
Maybe Mask wasn’t uncomfortable with you after all.. You let yourself relax a little. You could tell Mask how much you loved it, if you wanted. You could imagine the monster responding with an ‘I thought so’ or an ‘I knew’...
As you daydreamed, you didn’t notice your eyelids becoming heavier. Mask’s purring made you sleepy. Soon you dozed off, and your daydreams transitioned into your sleeping dreams.
Soon you’d confess your feelings. Soon…