Work Text:
Physical affection was a concept that was not foreign to Pencil, not in the slightest. Before coming to this wretched place, she'd spend every night cuddled up to at least one of the members of FreeSmart, especially Match. Falling asleep next to someone was like second nature to her, and as such, being put in a situation where she didn't have someone else ate at her. Here, she was alone. Here, she had nothing. No one. Well, except Four when he came by, but she'd rather go to the underworld back from BFDIA 9 than EVER dare interact with Four like that.
Physical affection was a concept Leafy was far from used to. Years upon years of isolation left her deeply starved, eating away at her as she watched everyone spend time with each other. She found solace within herself, because she had no one, and she didn't know when the others would back on her again. She had far too much fear that she'd lose everyone once again, and when she was eliminated, she realized she would be isolated once again. It hurt, but weirdly enough, she wasn't all that scared of the E.X.I.T.. In fact, she was far more afraid of leaving the E.X.I.T. and seeing everyone move on from her.
A weird side-effect reared its head when the two found themselves alone that first night, tired and ready to get some rest. Leafy, of course, figured she'd just sleep alone. Once again. Like always. A fate she was so used to, she had already condemned herself to it. Pencil, meanwhile, hadn't slept well in weeks. She didn't exactly want to cuddle up to an island stealer, but desperate times have always called for desperate measures. Just like back in BFDIA, when they created all of those elimination prevention plans.
This, of course, was a desperate time, calling for a desperate measure.
Pencil sighed, seeing Leafy curl up, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep, "Leafy?"
"Hmm?" Leafy opened one of her eyes, glancing at Pencil, "What's up?"
"...Come here." Pencil didn't mean to sound so demanding, but she didn't know how to word what she wanted well.
Albeit confused, Leafy obliged, because she had no better to do. Once she had come to the side of Pencil's desk, she felt herself get lifted up into the seat. Despite Pencil caring deeply about her appearance, this close Leafy could make out deep eye-bags that had formed under her eyes. Pencil was everything Leafy was not; a strong, powerful leader atop a throne that had an insane social circle that Leafy could only ever feel jealous of. Yet, here, the two were on the same playing field, two isolated contestants with no one else.
It took some adjusting, but the two contestants found a position where they were both comfortable. Surprisingly, Leafy felt even more exhausted than usual, sleep tugging at her and trying to lull her away. But she wanted to relish in the warmth, the feeling of someone holding onto her. It was a feeling she was so not used to, something that felt like heaven. Pencil had dozed off quickly after getting situated, finding it far easier to sleep with someone else next to her. Leafy, too, could only succumb to her tiredness, despite how much she wanted to relish in Pencil's touch.
Neither of them would talk about their little arrangement. It was just a small part of their daily life in the E.X.I.T.. Even when others came, the two slept next to each other, because it was what they always did. It was their little thing, something that helped both of them. Something that fed Leafy the touch she was deeply starved of, that feeling she could only relish in, while it helped Pencil sleep at night. Something small, but something vital. Neither of them ever thought their small thing would be ripped apart before they could get out, anyways.