Comrade Cuddles

After a few minutes of walking in silence through a corridor I spoke up

“Exile, where are we going?” I mumbled nervously

Exile looked at me, “To my room” he sighed as he looked away from me

I made a funny face but didn’t ask why. I trusted Exile enough by now to know he had no bad intentions. We stopped at a clearing that broke off into five paths to choose from. Exile pointed towards the middle one, “This way” he sighed again

I made another funny face, but this time I was really concerned. What was wrong with Exile? He seemed very bothered. We took the middle path and eventually came to a large metal door. Exile opened the door and motioned for me to go in

“Exile, is it, really okay for me to go in there?” I stammered

Exile pointed to the entrance of the door like your mother would when you got in trouble for something and she sent you to your room so you could think about it. I flinched and crept into Exile’s room reluctantly. As I made my way passed the doorway Exile came in behind me and cut on a light as he locked the door behind us

“What are you doing? Why did you lock the door?” I exclaimed

“Relax, I just need to have talk with you. That’s all,” Exile sighed deeply as he moped over to his bed and sat down, “Come, comrade” Exile sighed as he patted the empty space beside him on his bed

“Exile, what-”

Exile cut me off, “Come here, now. Take a seat” Exile scolded me

I didn’t hesitate much this time. I crept over to Exile’s bedside and stopped in front of him

“Sit” Exile sighed once more

I swallowed a lump as I nodded. I then took a seat next to him

“Exile, what’s wrong with you?” I mumbled

“Nothing is wrong with me, it is you, isn’t it?” Exile asked as he raised a brow

I made a funny face, “Um, no, I’m fine” I chuckled sheepishly

“Comrade, please do not lie to me. I do not like dishonesty” Exile frowned

I flinched, “Sorry” I mumbled as I looked down at my feet

I felt something warm and soft grab my shoulder and I jumped to see it was Exile

“Calm down, it’s okay. I’m not mad at you. I’m just, concerned” Exile said slowly

I loosened up and looked at Exile, “Why are you concerned about me?” I asked with a befuddled face

“Because, I can see everything that you hide behind that mask you wear all the time” Exile frowned

I didn’t know how to react to this. I just stared at him. I was awestruck

“Comrade, I pay attention to you more than you think. You are not alone like you think you are either,” Exile said as he looked away and removed his hand from my shoulder, “So tell me what is on your mind. Why are you always so sad?”

“Exile, I don’t really know what to say” I whispered

Exile just smiled, “No need to worry. Just speak your mind”

I looked away from Exile and blushed, “Exile, I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t want to talk about it, I’m sorry” I whispered

I got up from Exile’s bed and began to walk towards the door when suddenly something grabbed me by the wrist. I turned around immediately to see Exile with a hold of my wrist

I gasped, “Exile, please don’t hurt me, I’m sorry! I-”

I was cut off when Exile suddenly got up as he pulled my arm towards himself and turned me around only to wrap me in his arms and gently hold me in his warm embrace. He held me close up against him as he wrapped one arm around my waist and grasped the back of my head affectionately as to let me know that I was safe. I literally froze, as if my heart had stopped along with my breathing. I was petrified

“James, I,” Exile swallowed. Exile hesitated as he rested his cheek on top of my head, “I love you. I do not wish to see you so sad. I want you to be happy,” Exile said with a broken voice, “I care about you too much to see you this way. It makes me so sad to see you suffer” Exile cried out as he hugged me a little tighter

I stood there frozen in place as a single tear escaped my eye, “Exile, you’re crushing me” I wheezed
Exile gasped as he released me immediately, “My apologies” Exile whined as he hung his head and laid his ears back

I walked up to Exile and wrapped my arms around him the best I could, “Don’t apologize you big fuzz ball” My arms didn’t meet each other from how wide Exile was but I didn’t care. I grabbed the most of Exile as I could and rested my head upon his chest, “I love you too Exile and,” I paused, “You make me happy” I smiled as I hugged Exile tighter