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What Is This Thing You Call 'Affection'?

Arukir
Warnings
Creator chose not to add warnings
Fandom
Gargoyles (Cartoon)
Main relationship
Puck | Owen Burnett & David Xanatos
Main characters
Puck | Owen Burnett David Xanatos
Other tags
Kidnapping Aftermath Hugs Platonic Life Partners Social Anxiety Panic Attacks Maybe? I think what Owen experiences is a mild panic attack but am not sure Everyone Needs a Hug And Gets One
Language
English
Originally published
on AO3
Stats
402 words1 chapter 29 sparks0 comments0 bookmarks4 readsUpdated 04 Aug 2024
Summary

After Owen is rescued from a very-stressful kidnapping, Xanatos is overcome with relief that he's safe. His reaction reveals a gap in Owen's knowledge.

(Set after the Gathering, so Puck couldn't just save them. The kidnapping isn't actually shown, just the aftermath, but I might write it someday.)

Notes

Owen's been in extreme danger for like a week or something, so Xanatos was pretty much completely stressed out and sleep deprived the entire time as he worked to rescue him.

Now I wanna write more 'how to people' lessons...

Owen getting to be insecure and needing Puck's help dealing with humans is such a flip from how I normally see them, and I love it.

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"Owen." Xanatos breathed, stepping out of his Gargoyle Suit. Relief flooded his face, a rare display of completely open and genuine emotion that proved how exhausted and stressed he must have been.

 

Owen felt a pang of guilt for causing that stress. "Sir, I-" He was interrupted by Xanatos tackling him, arms wrapped around the taller man's frame.

 

What is he doing?! Owen mentally panicked, not sure if Xanatos was upset or not.

 

He's hugging you. Puck laughed, doing cartwheels at the back of their consciousness, relief at not experiencing a mortal death emanating from him.

 

Oh. Owen hadn't been hugged before. Puck had, a few dozen times, but Owen hadn't. What is the correct response to a hug?

 

Don't just stand there like a wooden plank! Puck admonished, paying more attention to the outside world now. Hug him back.

 

How do I do that? Owen asked, somewhat embarrassed and still half-panicking.

 

You- I can't believe I forgot to teach you this. Puck sighed. I thought our 'how to people' lessons were over, but I guess I can add another. Okay, lift your arms, wrap them around him, and lightly squeeze.

 

What if I scrape him with my stone hand? Owen asked, his panic getting worse. How tightly should I squeeze? What if I do it too hard? How do I know when to let go? Where should I put my hands, what if I accidentally touch somewhere I'm not supposed to? How do I- Why is he shifting?

 

He's moving away, he's thinks you don't like the hug! Now Puck was panicking. He didn't want Xanatos to feel like they didn't care about him.

 

But I do like it. Owen sounded confused, which would've been funny to anyone more used to his put-together attitude, but Puck was used to this side of him. I think...

 

Well, how is he supposed to know that?

 

Before Xanatos could fully move away, Owen lifted his arms and awkwardly returned the hug. "I am... It's good to see you again, Mr Xanatos."

 

Xanatos chuckled, thrown slightly off guard by the delayed reaction. "I'm just glad you're alright. Remind me to commission a sniper drone to follow you around, in case this happens again."

 

Owen smirked, Puck's laughter ringing in his head. "I'll add it to the agenda, Sir."

29 carried over from the original posting

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