“Platonic cuddling” fill for the Found Family Bingo, Flynn&Jiya+Rufus, it’s set in the middle of this other fic, so maybe you should check that out for context.
@foundfamilybingo
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He was so quick to flee, his body panicking for air that had been sucked out of the room by Lucy’s words, that he only realizes that he has gotten out when the chilly air hits him in the face and the door closes behind him.
There isn’t much to do besides following his legs’ instinct to carry him away from there, away from — away from Lucy, which is the very last thing he thought he’d ever want. Lucy was always his lighthouse, his beacon of hope even in the darkest of times, she — she is not someone he is supposed to need to escape from.
They are only words, he tries to remind himself. She only said a few words, there is no need to — hell, he did so much worse to her. She still sleeps soundly beside him every night, does she not?
But then again, she was always better and stronger than he could ever hope to be.
He hates fighting with her. He hates the way he gets when they fight, how his ugliness starts creeping out when the only thing that he can see is how much of a danger the world poses to his girls, but — but how can he ignore it? He allowed himself that luxury once already and —
Lucy’s words cut through his head once again, cold and unforgiving, reminding him of what happened to the last child unlucky enough to call him her father. He knows that what happened is on him, that he might not have pulled the trigger but Iris and Lorena died as a direct result of his actions. He has never stopped shouldering the blame for what he did.
He doesn’t know why it hurts so much to hear Lucy agree.
[More on Ao3]
