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It was very Rare for Tango to be alone in the apartment-
It was actually so rare that it’s never happened before today.
Skizz had the idea to go out to the park, he thought the fresh air and sun light would be good for everyone.
And.. he wasn’t wrong…
But Tango had been caught up in a project and didn’t want to leave.
Impulse and Bdubs tried to prod him into going- but a few well placed glares got the message across and they let him be-
Now he was completely alone and the apartment was silent…
That’s he wanted right?
So.. why did it make his skin itch..
How dumb was that-
Tango certainly wasn’t the clingiest borrower- and he didn’t think he needed people around to work
But now that he was alone-
Now that silence screamed all around him.
It became harder and harder to breath
A harsh shiver ran up the Borrower’s spine and he curled into himself atop the laptop he was supposed to be fixing.
Why was is so cold all of a sudden- it the middle of summer, today had been blazing that the air conditioning struggled to keep up!
So why-
Why was he cold-…
Flashes of memory jumped before his vision.
A dank alleyway-
A bitter breeze,
The rancid smell of trash and overly rotted food.
Prowling animals around every corner.
Fear, pain, selfishness, hatred-
So so much hatred.
Tango’s shivering turned into sobs at the memory of the last time he had been alone.
Before he was found by Zedaph. Before he had been reunited with his brothers. Back when he believed he left them to die.
But he knew now he didn’t!!!
He knew that he was safe, and that his family didn’t abandon him.
They just went on an outing!! He chose to be left behind! He wanted this!!! Right!? … ..
…
right…?
No…
This was the last thing he wanted-
He wanted Impulse, wanted Bdubs- wanted Zedaph to hold him like Skizz held Impy-
With such tender affection and gentle touch.
How stupid was that-
His sobs were interrupted by a series of hacking coughs- the past phlegm of his original pneumonia stirring out of spite of Tango’s wellbeing.
Because of course it would.
Stupid cough-
Stupid cold-
Stupid head!!
He just wanted it all to stop hurting all so badly-
Please let it stop hurting!
Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please ple-
“Tango? What are you doing I though- oh geeze-“
There was a distant clatter and Tango looked up just in time to see Zedaph, clad in his soft pink hoodie dropping his bag and swiftly moving to The Borrower’s side.
Tango sniffed before reaching a trembling hand up towards the human-
He desperately wanted to be held- to be warm- to feel safe.
Even if it was stupid and childish-
Blessedly Zedaph didn’t hesitate- he never hesitated when it came to Tango.
The Human gingerly wrapped his fingers around his friend And warmth instantly seeped into the borrowers small body-
“Tang tang— what happened??? Your crying? Did you get hurt???”
Tango opened his mouth to answer but finds only a pathetic whimper in its place.
Great… just great.
As if he’s not already a blubbering pathetic puddle- but now he can’t even speak on top of all that
Instead he opted to hug Zed’s thumb,
What else could he do??
He just needed to remind his entire nervous system he was no longer alone-
No longer dying.
One of Zed’s fingers came and rubbed gentle circles on Tangos back.
They stayed like that for a while, the human patiently waiting for the borrower’s composure to return-
He was a grounding presence.
And gentle warmth-
The sweetest and kindest human Tango ever had the luck to meet-!
“Z-Zeddy…” his voice was soft and shaky, he doubted the human could actually hear him but Zedaph hummed and shifted his hold on his friend-
Tango was now seated in the giants palm thumb across his lap like a seat belt.
Its weight was a comfortable reminder of how tangible his Human really was. Then he was lifted closer to Zed’s eye-line, that way he could here Tango without too much strain
“What’s up Tango, what happened my friend?”
The borrower looked at his pink clad friend with big watery eyes, his voice still soft and shaken
“I was alone- and… it brought back memories.. “
“I thought you wanted to be alone- I thought that’s why you stayed behind???”
“I thought so too-! and then I tried to start working on the skadoodler- for the
thing-a-majig and… … and then… then… I couldn’t help but think about the last time I was alone… I was starving, sick. And a coward….”
“Oh Tango…, is that when… I found you?”
Tango nodded silently, not trusting his voice to break under his unstable wibbly emotions.
“Oh Tango-“ Zed’s opposite thumb came around and gently smoothed out the borrower’s messy hair.
“I’m sorry- I’m so so sorry you had to experience that-“
Tango leaned into the touch- letting his eyes drift shut as he shrugged his shoulders in lieu
of any real answer.
“What can I do for you My friend? Do you want cuddles- snacks? A distraction?”
The borrower hummed softly in thought,- strangely enough his thoughts brought him to watching Skizz and Impulse the other day.
And the peppering of kisses his older brother received.
Tango didn’t necessarily want a million kisses like that but…
Embarrassingly the idea of a kiss sounded really nice- from Zed-
Not from Skizz
Not that it really matter just..,, a matter of pride after declaring he didn’t want any of Skizz’s kisses.
But to just ask Zedaph for a kiss???
It would be weird right?
Even if it was purely platonic?
It wasn’t Tango’s style to just ask for something like that.
“Um.. Tango? You still with me Mate?”
Great-
Overthinking for the win… … yay….
“Uh yeah- I’m okay Zeddle face… I’m… I’m all good…”
“Would you like some medicine? A warm bath maybe? Some tea?”
“Coffee?”
Zedaph’s brow furrowed- “you really think caffeinating yourself is the right move right now??”
“Ah- no you right… that’s probably not my brightest idea…”
“No” Zed stated, softly chuckling as he did- “no it is not-… but besides coffee… is there… anything you want? anything I can do to help you?”
“I… I’m all goo-“ Tango’s voice faltered, and cracked- forcing him to pause….
“Tango?”
Tango took a shaky breath- “could… could I have a kiss?… like Skizz did with Impulse but… not… as much????????”
The borrower didn’t mean nor want his voice to rise three octaves higher
But we’ve already established Tango wasn’t in full control at the moment so that’s exactly what happened.
He was already in a pit of embarrassment-
What’s a little more??
“Wait what?” The Human asked, and Tango’s stomach plummeted-
“Y-you don’t have to, I know it’s weird- it was just a stupid idea- forget I said anything- please-“
“No No wait Tango- it’s not- of course I’ll give you a kiss, I just didn’t expect it is all— I didn’t think you’d want a person getting that close to you with this face ya know??? Just seems overwhelming….”
“Ye-yeah… at least the way Skizz does em looks overwhelming but…
…your my best friend Zed… I know it would be better from you-“
“Aww Tango, I know you were a sappy guy after all-“
“Ah shut up you big jerk-“ the borrower grumbled
Zed just laughed, once again adjusting his hold on Tango- shifting the red borrower so he was gently held between thumb and fingers-
The hold was warm with just enough pressure to help Tango stay grounded.
He also couldn’t help but noticed, now Zed’s thumb was right over his heartbeat, a simple and fairly effective way to keep in touch with how stressed a borrower was.
Tango was certain If it was anyone else the act would be overwhelming and over bearing-
But Zed’s gentleness helped.
Zed was always gentle, always kind-
And when he placed a soft kiss on top of Tangos head, it immediately cued the rest of his body to relax.
The final reminder than he was safe-
He practically melted in Zedaph’s hold-
“Heh- I take it that helped?-“ the human’s voice getting softer, not wanting to disturb the sweet peace that has rolled over both of them.
“Few more? Please?”
“Of course” Zed planted another delicate kiss atop his head, before moving to his cheeks-
Tango’s noticed how mindful Zed was with his kisses, carful to not fully envelope the borrower’s face or head with a kiss-
Keeping them to the smallest of pecks
The more he did the more Tango leaned into the touches until finally- he put his hand out to stop Zed in his tracks-
The human listened of course-
Then unexpectedly Tango leaned forward and planted his own kiss on the tip of Zedaph’s nose.
“Awww.. Tangoooooo”
“Mhm yeah well tell anyone else and I’ll deny I just did that-“
“Tsk, of course you would- but that won’t stop me from bragging about it regardless-“
This earned a long suffering Tango Sigh which Zedaph couldn’t help but giggle at.
“Oh you love me Tango-“
“….Yeah well… your not giving me very good reasons to-“
“Hey now, do you think I go smooching just any one off the street??”
“Just the literal trashy borrower you found under a dumpster-“
Tango retorted
“Nuh uh…. I’ve smooched Skizz too-“
“Ahhhh that explains your low bar-“
“Pfft”
That cracked both of them and both burst into a fit of laughter-
“Poor Skizz, catching strays even when he’s not here.”
“Yeah but- he’s Skizz, he makes us pay in hugs regardless if we threw them or not”
“Very true-“ Zedaph smiled and Tango didn’t understand how he had ever felt cold before-
“Are you feeling better now mate?”
Tango Hummed “yeah.. much… thanks Zeddy-“
“Anytime my friend- I’m always happy to be smooching away your worries-“
“Pfft uh huh- I’m sure you are” Tango said with that tone that he liked to used when implying something he shouldn’t be-
Zedaph loved it- he snickered and placed one more peck on Tango’s cheek
“You’re the worst sometimes-“
“Buuut you still love me?”
“Yeah- of course Tango-“
“Ha- sucker.”