#touch averse reader

[sleepymothafterdark]

eddie and volt with a touch starved reader?? Reader gets held gently for once in their life and they just break down crying in their arms. I think this would be very cute and im excited to see what you'll do with this request ^_^

I wrote this at work when we had to shut down yesterday and finally had a chance to polish it up.

Eddie & Volt x reader, angst(ish) more so yearning, reader is touch starved, allusions to rejection sensitivity dysphoria, based on my own experiences with touch starvation

not beta read!!!

How do I make this yearning poetic

You always avoided touch. No matter how much you craved it. Your past partners hardly wanted to hold your hand let alone hug or hold you. It became easier to avoid it than to ask for it. Wasn't it easier to avoid the matter in its entirety rather than face an inevitable rejection?

Regardless, you craved contact so badly it felt like the very sinew of your muscle was about to reach out of your skin and hold onto the first person you could see. It got worse as you gradually stopped leaving your home, and dear reader if you were ever wondering, agoraphobia and touch starvation do not mix very well at all.

The objects in your home respected your avoidance of some of their casual affections, Volt noting the way you find ways to shift out of his embrace as he guides you into the bar, Dirk watching you sidestep him when he rests his arm on your shoulder, he isn't mad he himself isn't a very touchy guy. Harper on the other hand did not take it well and you had to have a sit-down talk with her about how you didn't really like much contact like that.

It's after you help fix the Breaker Box and everything seems to get better that you realize just how terrible the ache in your chest had become. You still did not ask. But the boys noticed. Of course they did they noticed everything. You wished they'd stop noticing.

Eddie noticed when your hand would chase his as he sets a drink down for you, or the look on your face when his fingers brush yours while you hand him a wrench.

Volt noticed the way you stood closer to him, the time you were so tired that you had fallen asleep on his shoulder just before the show had started. He hated having to wake you. He hated the way you seemed to purposefully put space between you and him after that like you were ashamed.

Anyone who'd frequented the Breaker Box knew that Volt was a touchy person so seeing the two of you not really be..well, touchy with each other was strange. They knew the three of you had gotten together after the reset, how could they not? It was all Volt talked about.

Volt brought it up to Eddie, but Eddie mentioned that maybe you just didn't like to be touched. And so, Volt let it go.

Until he couldn't anymore of course.

There was a night when Eddie had maintenance to do that you couldn't help him with despite how much you really wanted to (something to do with the current, too dangerous to take you around, but you could wait upstairs with Volt for him to get back.)

So, you did just that. You waited upstairs with your knees hugged to your chest to make yourself as small as possible to give Volt room on the bed though you already didn't take up much.

"You can be closer Live wire I promise I don't bite." Volt teases "Well..that hard." He chuckles at himself, and you give him a soft smile before you move just an inch or so closer. He looks worried for a moment, just a split second, a twitch of his eyebrow, the spark in his eyes dimming a little bit before he speaks again and fully turns to face you.

"My dear, you know it's okay if you don't want to be touched right?" He asks, you nod pulling your bottom lip between your teeth and biting the skin off your bottom lip, his thumb reaches up slowly and pulls you lip out from your teeth. He moves slowly like he's worried he'll spook you.

"I do want you to." That's the problem. You fidget with the threads in the sheets. "i-" You're interrupted by the creaking of the door to their loft opening Eddie nods to you and doesn't say much before he goes and starts a shower, he'd been covered in what looked to be dirt.

You and Volt sit quietly for a good few minutes, he doesn't press, actually he doesn't really say anything it's a contrast to how he is during the open hours of the club, as if the minute he gets up here he lets himself be off for once. When Eddie comes out, towel wrapped around his hips while he digs through the dresser for a shirt you're able to speak up while he settles for the night.

"Can I.." You trail off trying to find the right words to say as Eddie moves closer so he can hear you better, Volt perks up shifting again on the bed to sit up and look at you. The right words don't come so in the end you just let whatever's in your head spill out of your mouth. "Can I lay on you?"

They both look surprised at this but after a second Eddie smiles and settles on the bed so you can lay between them. Volt wraps an arm around you waist as you settle on Eddie's chest it's like you'd done it a thousand times and it felt so good you could cry gods above how long had it been since you felt the warmth of another persons touch.

Volts hands running through your hair seem to break you apart, you don't even realize you were crying until Eddie cupped your face and turned it toward him.

"Baby what's wrong? Are you alright?" He asks attempting to get you to sit up not expecting you to cling to him, to get as close as you can, "Talk to me spark." He says.

You smile up at him through the tears. "Just really touch starved Eddie." You wipe your eyes and settle deeper against his chest. His arms wrap a little tighter around you. Behind you. Volt entwined his hand with Eddies across your waist and gives you a kiss on the crown of your head, you feel a little spark of static from it and can’t help the giggle that erupts from your mouth. Volt does it again, then again beginning to poke your sides to make you laugh more.

“You’re so perfect live wire.” He murmurs when you finally settle back down.

“I love you both so much. Thank you.” You say closing your eyes, the warmth made you sleepy.

“For what baby?” Eddie asks his brows furrowing,

“This?” You say but it comes out more like a question, Eddie shakes his head at you. “Don’t thank us for this. It’s not some luxury, we adore you, anyone who wouldn’t want to lie here with you is an idiot.” He runs one hands through your hair as he speaks his other on your chin tilting your face to look at him. “Do you understand?” You nod. “Okay. I love you.”

“I love you too.” A yawn breaks free and you three shift into a comfortable silence that puts you to sleep. You sleep better than you have in years there in their arms and overtime you don’t avoid their touch as badly anymore, you let yourself fall asleep on Volts shoulder or reach out for Eddies hand during his breaks at the bar.

I love you all, thank you so much for 209 followers MWAH

I am sleepy so goodnight

m.List

[deepspacedispatch]

Lads Men x Touch-Averse!Reader

I apologize for not being the best writer, and for not having a proof reader, but I've had a lot of thoughts in my head about how each LI would react to a touch averse reader due to some past trauma in their life. GN!ReaderxLIs. Individual POVs. My requests are open if anyone has idea for me to write!

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Xavier:

Xavier was always watching, noticing every little detail. The way you stepped away when someone reached out. The hesitation in your eyes when his hands drifted a little too close.

He never pressed, he never asked. He made sure to keep a safe distance, to step between you and anyone who was getting too close. When he draped his coat over your shoulders on a cold night, he made sure not to touch your shoulders.

One night, you were sitting together but separate, rain pattering outside of your apartment. Xavier had ordered takeout, and you ate together in a comfortable silence.

He reached across the table to grab a napkin, and his hand just barely brushed over yours. Without thinking, you jerked your hand back, knocking your glass over and you watched, frozen, as it fell to the floor shattering and spilling its contents all over you and the floor.

Xavier immediately stopped, eyes widening just slightly at the crash. He took a slow, careful breath and said softly, “It’s okay… accidents happen.” He grabbed some paper towels and began cleaning up the mess, keeping his distance, letting you step away.

You stood there for a moment, flustered and embarrassed, cheeks heating. He continued in his calm, quiet way, his voice gentle. “Take your time. I’m right here.”

You felt the tension in your shoulders slowly ease, comforted by the fact he wasn't pushing you to explain or rushing to help you clean off. You excused yourself briefly to change out of your ruined shirt.

You finally sat back down, listening to the rain falling outside. The steady sound of the downpour soothing your breaths. Finally, you whispered, so softly he almost missed it, "I'm...I'm not very good with touch."

Xavier's eyes softened as he looked at you, noticing the way your lips quivered, embarrassed by your own admission. "You don't need to explain," he said, slowly, gauging your reaction. "Love isn't about how close we are physically, it's about how close our souls are."

His words wrapped around you like a warm blanket, and you smiled softly, cheeks flushed. "Thank you," you said and inched a little closer to him. Still not touching, but enough to feel he was there.

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Zayne:

Zayne was never a man of many words. He was never one to waste them on things he already understood. He saw your tensed shoulders, the guarded look in your eyes.

So he found other ways. He always left a blanket draped over the arm of your favorite seat. When you went out and the streets were busy, he shifted his body to create space for you and shield you from the others.

One day, you were enjoying an array of macarons and small cakes in a little bakery when somebody walked by, accidently brushing against you, and you froze, a panicked look in your eyes, your heart rate rising and your breathing becoming unsteady.

Zayne noticed immediately, and he didn't reach out for you as his instincts wanted him to, but his voice cut through to you, low and soothing.

"Breathe with me."

He shifted his body slightly, blocking the crowd from your view, but still saving the space you needed. "In through your nose. Hold. Out through your mouth." His voice was steady.

You tried your best to follow his instructions. Your breath was shaky at first, but his steady presence grounded you. His eyes never left yours, giving you something to focus on.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to, I just, I don't..." You started speaking too fast, embarrassed by what he had just witnessed.

"No," he said, stopping you, "you never need to apologize for how you react. I will always be here to help you through it."

You nodded and exhaled as if a weight had been lifted off your shoulders, one you had been carrying for too many years.

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Rafayel:

Rafayel was affectionate by nature. always leaning in, always teasing. But the moment you had flinched away from him, his mischievous grin faded.

He stepped back, raising his hand up in surrender. "You're like a delicate flower," he noted. "My mistake for reaching out too soon."

From that day, he turned a full 180. His affection turned from touch to words. He whispered poetry under the stars, laughed with you late into the night, and complimented you in every shared moment. He made sure you knew how much you meant to him, he made sure there was never a moment of doubt.

He had asked to paint you in his studio, and although you were shy, you agreed at his constant insistence.

You were sitting on a velvet stool in the center of his studio. Canvases lined the walls, each one more brilliant than the last, but his gaze was fixed on you.

“Hold just like that,” Rafayel murmured, his tone soft. No teasing, no dramatic flourish. His brush moved, and the soft sounds filled the room.

You fidgeted under the weight of his attention, but as the time passed, his quiet focus soothed you. There was no pressure here.

When you finally broke the silence, your voice was hesitant. “Thank you.”

He paused mid-stroke, brow arching. “For what, cutie? For capturing your beauty? That is simply my calling.”

You shook your head slowly. “No, I mean, that too, but... For… changing. For noticing when I flinched, and not making me explain. You just—adjusted. Not everyone would do that.”

His lips curved slowly, tenderly. He took a moment before responding. “Ah, cutie, you wound me. Did you think I could ever ignore what you need?” He set his brush down, leaning back just enough to look at you fully. “Touch is shallow compared to this. To see you, to paint you—it is more intimate than any embrace.”

His grin returned then, boyish and a little smug, but beneath it, his eyes were warm.

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Sylus:

Sylus never missed a thing. He had spent so long earning your trust back and knew your relationship was still fragile. When he brought you to Onychinus's base for the first time, he forgot to warn you about the twins.

They came charging into the room, swarming around you, talking too fast. "It's so nice to meet you, boss lady!" Kieran said, slinging his arm around your shoulders. "We're happy to see the old boss man finally settling down," Luke said, tugging you from his brother into a hug.

Sylus noticed the way your eyes widened immediately. Your body froze, panic flashing across your face as you struggled to worm your way out of their grasp. "Enough." He said loudly, his voice commanding over their constant chatter. In an instant, they let you go.

"Leave," Sylus commanded, and Luke and Kieran left the space, uncertain of what had just occurred. Sylus watched as you wrapped your arms around yourself, trying to be as small as possible. "Follow me," he said and guided you into a large living room, gesturing for you to sit.

As you sat in the farthest seat from him, he watched intently. Watching as you wrung your hands and fiddled with your hair. "You hate being touched," he said, not a question but an observation.

Your breath caught in your throat, waiting for his judgment, his pity, the push for you to explain yourself. But that never came. He stood, waiting, watching.

"That's fine," he continued, slowly. "I don't need to touch you to be with you. I can wait for you to be ready."

It took some time for his words to register, for you to fully understand what he was saying, and you let out a breath you didn't know you were holding.

"Thank you," you said softly, "thank you for not asking for more than I can give."

"I'll take whatever you can give," he said in response, "and I'll talk to the twins."

"Thank you," you say again, a genuine smile flooding your face as you pat the space next to you. Sylus sits, leaving just enough space between you.

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Caleb:

Caleb had known you for years. He remembered the excited hugs you gave as a kid, how you always wanted to be around him. And now, now he saw how even the slightest touch made your whole body stiffen.

He didn't bring it up. But he didn't just let it be. He always showed up. Always encouraged you. He was always there, and he never demanded anything in return.

When you were visiting him in Skyhaven you helped him cook dinner. The radio played soft music, and the smell of braised pork filled the kitchen. You were sauteeing some vegetables, and he reached past you to grab a spice jar, his arm brushed against yours. A jolt of panic rushed through your body.

"I-I'm sorry," Caleb said immediately, jumping back to give you some space.

But you didn't answer. You didn't want to explain. You were embarrassed and flustered, and without a word, you ran out of the kitchen, running out of the room, and you closed yourself in the bedroom.

He hesitated for a moment, considering his options, and followed behind, knocking gently on the door. "Hey... Pips?" He called out through the door. "Come on, you can't hide in there forever."

He tried the door and, finding it unlocked, he slowly opened the door. He found you curled up against the wall, and he crouched down next to you, careful not to touch. "You don't have to explain anything," he started gently, "I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

You took a shaky breath. "I wish I wasn't like this," you whispered, tears streaking your cheeks.

Caleb frowned, shaking his head. "Don't Pipsqueak," he said, "don't ever want to be anything other than what you are. Touching or not, you're still you. That's the person I want." He hesitated and then smiled, "That's the person I will pick every time."

With him, the past didn't feel so heavy anymore.

[tinyshyteacup]

Spare Parts

You weren’t looking to stay in Santo Padre—just another tourist passing through, keeping your head down.

Then you met Coco Cruz. He’s rough around the edges, all smart remarks and easy charm, but there’s something in his eyes that feels safe. Familiar. Like someone who’s been through his own kind of hell.

You start spending time together—coffee runs, long talks on cracked sidewalks, quiet nights where the silence says more than words ever could. But Coco notices the one thing you won’t do: touch him.

He doesn’t push. Not until the night everything breaks—when the truth comes out in anger and tears, when you tell him what was taken from you. Now Coco has to figure out how to be the kind of man who doesn’t reach for what isn’t freely given— how to love without crossing a line.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four 🖤

Part Five

Part Six 🖤

Part Seven

Part Eight

Part Nine

Part Ten 🖤 *TW: S work & implied SA threats*

Part Eleven

Part Twelve

Part Thirteen 🖤 *TW: panic attack*

Part Fourteen 🖤

Part Fifteen

Part Sixteen 🖤 *TW: SA (offpage)*

Part Seventeen - coming soon ❤️‍🩹