Any chance of a Malcolm Reed fic where either the reader or Malcolm is having a rough day and the other cuddles them? Maybe since it takes a while for Malcolm to be comfortable with people, the cuddle comes as a shock? But like a good shock? Does that make sense??
That absolutely does make sense! I loooove this idea, nonny, thank you! 10/10 Love me some cuddly Malcolm, because omfg mans needs a hug. I tried a new style with this, so I hope that I’ve done your request justice! Cross-posted to my AO3 here.
If anyone wants to be added to my taglist or wants to submit a fic request, my ask box is always open! If you want to know whether I write for a certain character, have a look here. If the character you want isn't on the list, I probably just forgot to add them, so please feel free to ask.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Reserved
Malcolm Reed (ST:ENT) x Reader
Warnings: This is fluff, so...awkwardness? Awkward cuddles that become natural? Idk how to class this, but Malcolm keeps himself to himself, so...yeah. Take that for what you will.
~*~
It started as a need that Malcolm had seldom felt before. He had always been a rather solitary man - reserved in almost every way - so this urge felt almost entirely foreign to him. Somewhere between adjusting his forcefield experiment and recalibrating the phasers, the Lieutenant felt something unfurl in his chest. Amidst all the cold metal of his surroundings, what Malcolm wanted more than anything was a hug, of all things.
How odd. Perhaps he should see Doctor Phlox after his shift...No. No, every bit of him rebelled at the thought of someone as professional as Phlox learning of his...weakness. That’s all this was, a momentary weakness.
“Everything okay, Mal?” A quiet voice asked at his side. Only two people called him that, and since Commander Tucker wasn’t feminine like the voice he’d just heard, that left you, Ensign (y/l/n). His heart gave a rather alarming skip when he realized that you were the one to check on him. “...Mal?”
Oh, right. You needed an answer.
“Er, yes. Yes, everything is perfectly fine, Ensign,” he replied as he felt his cheeks heat up at how unsteady his voice sounded.
“You sure? You looked like you were a million light-years away...”
“I’m fine, Ensign. Thank you,” reiterated, and when he saw that you were about to say something else, he couldn’t risk you of all people seeing that he was compromised. He cut you off hurriedly. “If that’s all, return to your duty station on the double.”
Malcolm saw your smile fall, and he instantly regretted his cool, much-too-harsh tone. You hadn’t deserved him being so rude.
“Yes, sir,” you acknowledged quietly before hurrying away. Malcolm felt like a heel.
--
The rest of his shift was tedious and much too slow for his taste. As soon as it was over, he clocked out and went to the lift. Before he realized it, he was outside your quarters wondering if he should bother you or not.
“Lieutenant Reed?” He turned toward the voice and saw you looking at him inquisitively. Malcolm must have left the armory just before you did. “Is there anything I can do for you, sir?”
“I...As a matter of fact, there is,” he said straightening his posture. “Could I have a word with you in private?”
“Of course,” you said as you opened the door to your quarters and ushered him inside. After a moment’s silence, you cleared your throat and spoke. “I’m sorry about what happened earlier in the armory. I-I didn’t mean to pry, I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I never meant to make you uncomfortable.”
“There’s no need to apologize, Ensign. In fact, that’s why I came here. I was unconscionably rude to you when you were only checking on my welfare,” Malcolm said feeling a little sheepish. “I suppose I...Well, I’ve been feeling a bit off today.”
A look of concern passed over your face.
“Is there anything I can do to help? You know I’m always here if you need to vent or just talk. I-I mean, I know you’re my superior officer, but I do still consider you a friend,” you clarified as you offered Malcolm a seat, which he gratefully accepted.
“Thank you, Ensign. I’m afraid I hardly deserve your kindness, though,” he admitted, unable to meet your eyes.
“Of course you do. You’ve always been kind to me. One rough day isn’t about to change that. Oh, and please...call me (y/f/n). We’ve been serving together for over a year now. I think a first-name basis is appropriate at this point, don’t you?” The way you asked him was so nonchalant. Socializing obviously came at least a little easier to you than it did to Malcolm - a fact he was infinitely aware of and grateful for. Otherwise, he might never have plucked up the courage to speak to you off-duty. Oh yes, it was you that started that first conversation in the mess hall when the two of you were coming off your shifts. Trip had made some transparent remark about fraternizing and then slinked back to engineering, leaving Malcolm alone with you. Of course, you’d been warm and had laughed at his sorry attempts at jokes. If there was anyone on Enterprise that Malcolm felt almost comfortable with, it was you. At the same time, however, you made him ridiculously nervous, because you were quite possibly the most beautiful woman Malcolm had ever been befriended by.
Alright, so Trip hadn’t been entirely wrong when he made that remark about fraternizing, but surely he could be forgiven for that? After all, you had the voice of an angel and eyes that could melt even a klingon’s heart.
“Ensign...” He paused before murmuring your name. Should he admit what he’d been feeling earlier? “I...The thing is... er, I...”
He trailed off and his cheeks heated up. Why couldn’t he speak? Your hand came up and cupped his cheek softly, sending his heart skittering in his chest.
“You have no need to be nervous, Mal. You can always tell me anything. I’ll never judge you.”
“How are you the way that you are?” The words had escaped his lips before he could think better of them, but instead of being horrified like he expected you’d be, you just smiled shyly and let out a breathy laugh. The urge was back stronger than ever, now, and before he could stop himself, he wrapped his arms around you like he’d always wanted. You were every bit as soft and warm as he’d imagined. He very nearly shed a tear when your arms went around him instead of pushing him away like you should be doing.
Because he was your superior officer. He was your superior officer, and he was hugging you.
The gravity of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks, and he pulled away rather abruptly, standing up to give you space.
“I-I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have allowed myself to behave in such a familiar manner. If you wish to report me to the Captain, I will, of course, submit myself for a formal reprimand-” He was cut off by your arms wrapping around him a bit more firmly this time around. Stunned, he could do little else but hug you gently and try to imagine why you hadn’t thrown him out of your quarters yet.
“Don’t be silly, Mal. You may be my C.O., but like I said, I care about you. We all need a hug every now and then.” With that, he gave in. He gave in to your softness, he gave in to your embrace, and he even gave in to that weak part of himself that loved this and never wanted to leave your arms. Malcolm was usually never one for social situations, but if being more open with you meant that he’d get hugs like these, then he was more than willing to do a bit of fraternizing, even if it wasn’t in the sense Trip had been referring to. Perhaps one day he’d even work up the courage to tell you how he felt about you.
Chapter 28 of “Unpathed Waters, Undreamed Shores” up now. More awkward travels, more awkward interactions, and some awkward, sad, and tender cuddling. I hope you enjoy :)
Okay so I often imagine s/o not being able to sleep and idk Noctis offering s/o to sleep with them and all fluffy and cute plEaSe i lovee you
“You still up…?” You jolted at the sudden sound that broke the silence, heart skipping a beat before you clamped your hand over your chest. God! You didn’t realize just how badly you had zoned out into the window until the prince’s voice came into earshot. But perhaps it because it was so late. You didn’t expect to hear another voice at this time. The prince raised an eyebrow at you and your startled behavior, letting out a yawn as he came over to sit down on the couch next to you. “It’s three in the morning, you know.”
“Really? Three? I thought it was earlier than that.” You adjusted yourself to sit upright on the opposite end of the couch, legs pulled up to your chest as you glanced towards the prince with an awkward smile. “I couldn’t sleep tonight, and there isn’t anything good to watch on TV either, so…”
“Still bummed out that Specs won’t let you use the internet?”
“I mean, he won’t even give me fifteen minutes to check!”
Noctis chuckled in response, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his messy bed-hair. Ignis was really strict about making sure Noctis was safe, even if that meant no internet or data on their phones. Guess that meant the same for you, unfortunately. Especially if you were to travel with them for the time being. But with the way you looked so sad and bored without access to the internet, it was almost sad to see. And yet, you couldn’t sleep either, stressed maybe? Noctis couldn’t place his finger on it, but he knew you definitely looked like you needed the sleep.
Silence settled in against the two of you as you lost yourself in a daze and Noctis… Well, he was already sleepy to begin with. And yet, despite the silence, it didn’t settle in for long before you looked over to the shifting prince as he rose up from his place and left the room. “Good night, Noct.”
“I’m not sleeping just yet.” You looked at him with a strange expression as you watched him walk away to the other room. Really? What was he planning on doing…? You didn’t really want to know, because who knows what a young man does when he’s left alone in privacy. You merely shrugged to yourself before turning back to look out the window again. Though your attention was broken once again when you heard someone flop onto the couch once again, getting you to jolt and look over to Noctis. The prince stared back at you, a giant comforter bundled in his arms as he raised an eyebrow at you. “Well?”
“Well what?” You arched an eyebrow back at him.
Noctis began to shift around, sprawling himself onto the couch and forcing you to get up off the couch as his feet reached the end of it. You frowned at him for taking your spot on the couch. This punk-ass little prince… But just before you could object, Noctis pulled the comforter from himself, scooting as far as he could into the couch before he pat the place next to him. “Come on. Let’s get some sleep.”
You couldn’t help but feel your cheeks redden at the prince. He really wanted to just fall asleep on the couch with you? He had a bed he was sharing with Prompto, so why cram himself onto a couch with you? But with how Noctis seemed to stare you down, gesturing with his head for you to lay down, you couldn’t really say no either. Especially to the prince. You let out a sigh, shaking your head as a smile crossed your face. You went over, turning off the lights in the living room before you returned back to Noctis. Kind of small for the both of you, but you made it work. Somehow. Well, kind of. You ultimately ended up flopping on top of Noctis with your head on top of his chest and your foot hanging off the couch until Noctis had to pull it up and tangle it with his own to keep it from falling. Cramped, but oddly comforting as you heard his heart beat, the air in his lungs fill and escape in a steady pace. You gave a faint smile before tugging the comforting up over the two of you a bit more.
“Is this alright for you…?” Noctis seemed hesitant in his words, almost nervous as he questioned you. Even his actions were slow and cautious as he gently rubbed your back, fingers brushing your hair back in a comforting gesture. “If you can’t sleep, or you get too hot, or you know, anything, I can always go back and-”
“It’s fine.” You tilted your head up to glance into the prince’s blue eyes. Just an exchange of stares was enough to get the both of you to blush. “I mean. This is fine. I kinda like being like this.”
“Y-Yeah… Me too.” Noctis relaxed once again, head resting back against the couch’s pillows as he continued to stroke your hair, eyes finally closing as he got into the routine movement of playing with your hair. “Sleep well, alright?”
“I will.” You let out a yawn, but watched the prince for a moment longer. A soft smile spread over your lips before he leaned up and placed a small kiss on Noctis’s cheek. The faintest smile spread over the prince’s face when you pulled back and settled back down against his chest. “Good night, Noct…”
