Chapter Text
Over the course of the year and a half Yor Briar Forger had been with her husband, she had learned many things about him, and everything he found out she learned he took in stride, even if it brought back rather unpleasant or slightly embarrassing memories. Well, everything except for one thing apparently -
Loid Forger was an insane cuddler.
When it came to that fact, the man was as stubborn as an old mule.
He really was like a child sometimes.
She had found that out the first night they had shared a bed, forced to when Yuri had stopped in after only God knows what as he bled profusely from his head and nose with bruises all over and slurred speech. At that point in time, Yor had already had an idea of what Loid’s “love language” (as her coworkers called them) was - physical touch. However, she wasn’t aware of just how accurately that fit a certain Dr. Loid Forger.
It had taken Loid roughly about five months to start being openly loving towards her, and the first time he had explicitly done so made her heart swell with pride as Franky had previously informed her that his best friend was a tough nut to crack in the affection department. But once it started, it didn’t seem to slow down in the slightest, instead growing ever steadily. It was little things at first - walking or sitting closer to her, brushing stray strands of hair out of her face or fixing what slipped out of her headband, pressing his forehead to hers when he had the opportunity. But soon, it turned into hugs from behind and kisses before he left for work or even when she was simply cleaning as well as more intimate things.
But those things really only happened when they were both home while Anya was still in school. They didn’t want their footsteps and closing doors to attract attention from their daughter, so they had never actually slept together - literally speaking.
And to be perfectly honest, Yor wasn’t sure what exactly she was expecting from her extremely well-mannered and calm husband when it came to sleeping patterns. She knew he had a bad case of chronic insomnia due to the trauma he experienced during the war, regularly only getting two hours of sleep a night, so him barely getting an ounce of rest – perhaps even none - was something she was anticipating. But…even that hadn’t been the case that night.
No, in fact, she was dead wrong.
Instead, he fell asleep immediately after she began to stroke his blonde hair, soft breaths escaping his ajar mouth, bare and firm chest rising and falling slowly. He had looked so peaceful in that moment. She wished she had had a camera to commemorate that time forever - to remember the first time she got to see that side of him, to see him so vulnerable.
She recalled turning around after a few minutes of just watching him, still smiling at the sight with a blush upon her cheeks and wanting to watch more but knowing full well it was rude to stare at someone in their sleep. “Goodnight, Loid,” she had whispered to him as she got comfy in his bed.
It normally took her about ten minutes to fall asleep. Whether it be from the lovely silence of the night around her or having to count sheep in her head, she always managed to leave consciousness in a pretty timely manner. That night, however, it took a bit longer. Because after about five minutes, she felt something – breath, she later realized - tickle her neck and muscular arms wrap around her waist. She remembered her face heating up as she tried to call his name softly to see if he was awake but received no response.
Loid Forger was not only a cuddler.
Loid Forger was a sleep cuddler.
And was that not the cutest thing in the damn world!
Yor couldn’t help but recall her coworkers always complaining that their significant others never wanted to snuggle with them, which was likely the main reason why she never even considered that her husband would be the one to challenge that fact. But now that he was actually doing it, she realized that of course he would be the one to do so, and she had to contain her giggle after the realization set in so as to not wake him.
This man was perhaps the cutest man she had ever met.
The raven-haired woman hadn’t even attempted slipping out from his grasp, even if the position was less than comfortable. Just the knowledge that she had been the reason why he could get a full night’s rest allowed her to slip into sleep after twenty minutes of basking in what felt like a personal victory.
And the next morning, he was still holding onto her, still dormant.
Luckily, it was one of the rare days he had off, so he could sleep however much he needed to. Unluckily, she still had work, and Anya still had school, not to mention she had to check on Yuri’s injuries which to this day are still a mystery. So unfortunately, she had to strategically wiggle out of his arms, which even for her took a bit of skill. Once she had withdrawn herself from him, she kissed his cheek and quickly changed into her work clothes to begin her morning.
He had woken up only three minutes later to begin making breakfast for the four of them as well as Bond, kissing her when she greeted him in the kitchen.
“You seemed to have slept well,” Yor had attempted to tease, thinking he knew about his little habit.
“I did, yes. That was the best sleep I have gotten in a long time,” he responded without a hint of a flush. Did he really not know?
“Loid-”
“Good morning, Yor!” Yuri had interrupted happily, drowning out Loid’s name. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to talk about it. “Oh, we’re having Loi-Loi’s cooking?” the younger Briar questioned with a bit of a hiss after seeing his brother-in-law begin to crack some eggs into a frying pan.
“Yuri, be nice,” Yor reprimanded her little sibling before leaving to go help Anya get ready for school.
The rest of their morning routine had been busy as usual, causing the Forger mother’s question to slip from her mind until right before she left for work after Yuri had already left. After putting on her coat, she turned to Loid.
“Loid, do you normally-” His blue eyes looked towards her, head tilting the tiniest bit to the side. She wasn’t sure what came over her in that moment, but something told her that maybe, just maybe, another secret of her own wouldn’t be so bad. So, instead she smiled.
“Do I normally-?”
“Do you normally sleep on your side? I’ve heard that sleeping on your back is best for your neck. Maybe that’s why you have so many knots in your shoulders.”
Loid placed his fingers on his chin in thought. “Huh? I guess I never thought about it. I’ll have to try to break the habit,” he responded.
Wait, that means he wouldn’t spoon her again!
“Oh, er, actually, I apologize. It’s sleeping on your stomach that’s bad for your neck, not your side. It’s probably something else,” she amended before looking at her wrist watch. “Ah, I don’t want to be late. Have a good day off,” Yor told her lover before giving him a kiss on the lips goodbye. She heard Anya’s little “Ew, now Mama has cooties!” from behind Loid. She giggled as she turned to the girl, “Anya, be good at school! Have fun! Mama loves you!”
“Love you, too! Bye, Mama!”
“Have a good day at work, Yor.” The smile he gave her was as warm as a summer day in July.
“I’ll certainly try. Bye!” And with that she left, grinning to herself as she thought more about how Loid had looked in his sleep the night prior, slightly disappointed that she had to get up that morning and work was something an adult had no choice but to attend.
Maybe we can sleep together again tonight, she thought to herself. I’ll just have to get up before he does again so he doesn’t catch on too soon.
And so, that was how they moved into one bedroom, sharing a bed every night. And every one of those nights, whether it be in the haziness of being half asleep or while she was wide awake and alert, she would feel him spoon her after he nodded off. Sometimes, she would even turn towards him to press her head into his chest or shoulder, his scent and body heat soothing her more than any lullaby or bedtime story ever could.
And, she absolutely loved it. There was something about it that made the already extremely attractive man even more appealing, knowing that he could allow himself to be so vulnerable around loved ones (specifically her), even if he had no idea.
Which, for someone so intelligent and brilliant and cognizant of his actions, was surprising. Even more so, considering there were times where he woke up while he was still strung around her. Yor assumed that maybe his mind was just blurry from his rest, but it had happened multiple times. You’d think he would have figured it out by now. Either way, he still had no recollection of ever embracing her.
Which, fortunately, allowed her to keep that secret to herself - until she later let the secret slip one morning.
Smooch.
The grogginess settled in as deep sleep faded out, her mind entering that hazy state that she normally had in the mornings. Her eyes were closed yet she could still see the darkness getting lighter from the soft, morning light from behind her eyelids.
Smooch. Smooch.
Yor groaned as she felt something repeatedly kissing her - pecking her on her shoulders, her neck, her cheeks, her head - and a hand that was not her own rubbing up and down her waist, hip, and thigh.
“Loid,” she slurred through the fogginess.
Smooch.
A tickle was sent through her nerves, a giggle escaping her lips and the fog of rest lifting considerably. That kiss had been right on her weak spot - the one he knew about, the one he only knew about when he was awake.
“Loid, I know you’re awake,” she smiled, feeling fluffy locks of blonde graze her as lips pressed into her shoulder.
“Of course I’m awake. Do I kiss you in my sleep?” he spoke softly, voice hoarse and low from a good night’s rest.
“Sometimes. You’re quite the affectionate sleeper,” Yor blurted out before she could stop herself. Whoops.
“I have no idea what you mean.”
“Are you lying to me, dear?”
“No.”
Yor’s eyes finally opened, turning her head to see ocean blue staring at her in complete innocence.
“You’re telling me that you have never realized how much you cling to me in your sleep?” she laughed. Maybe it was finally time to tell him.
The room was silent for a moment.
“I don’t cling,” he grumbled adorably.
“Then, what exactly are you doing now?” Yor asked him, gesturing to the strong arm wrapped tightly around her waist. She could see a blush rapidly forming on his handsome features.
“I can tell you that I’m not clinging.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Aw, is my big, strong, manly husband embarrassed that he likes cuddles?” she teased.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You’re so cute.”
“I’m not cute.”
“Especially when you cuddle me in your sleep.”
“I don’t cuddle you in my sleep.”
“Loid.”
“Yor.”
Their eyes met in a duel that the woman would no doubt win. No matter how battle-hardened the man was, he could never win over his heart when he looked his wife in the eyes. When it came to his family, the man was absolutely hopeless.
And so, he did the only thing he could that would distract her enough to forget their previous conversation - push her into the mattress and take control.
And, it worked. She forgot all about what she had accused him of earlier that morning.
Until, he cuddled her after.
Because Loid Forger is a cuddler.
A soft snore ripped her from her thoughts, her thumb pausing its head petting duties and raising to give him space. Her red eyes looked toward her beloved as his hold around her waist tightened, and he moved his head to slightly lay on her abdomen. She couldn’t help but question how much use his pillow actually served, seeming to get more decorative use than practical with how much he constantly deemed Yor as his pillow instead - not that she minded.
“Yor,” he mumbled in his sleep, causing a deep blush and smile to run across his wife’s face. She would have squealed if she knew it wasn’t going to stir him. But alas, it most definitely would have.
She placed her hand back on his head, fingers combing through the soft blonde locks. She smiled lovingly at him before closing her eyes and allowing sleep to overcome her, Loid’s soft breaths and adorable, little snores serving as her lullaby while his arms constricted around her.
Let the record show that Loid Forger is most definitely a cuddler.
And a liar.