"I do," he replied quietly. "I really appreciate closeness." He shrugged, the liquor making him more open. "I wasn't really hugged as a child, so it means a lot to me."
She hugged him, the movement steady and sure. Her hands pressed against his back, and her head buried in his shoulder.
He hesitated, surprised, and then slowly wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head lightly.
She was quiet for a moment, but when she spoke it was soft. "I'll make sure to give you a lot of hugs, okay?"
He was quiet. "Okay," he said eventually, and there was a odd sense of relief in his voice. "Thank you."
"I like hugging you too," he said quietly. She would be able to feel his heart beat in his chest. It was strong and steady, and he sighed contentedly as his fingers lightly brushed her hair back.
He visibly relaxed, kissing the top of her head one more time before letting go. "Good," he said quietly. "Good."
