#just one of those hugs that heal and add years to one's lifespan

[manijardi]

The softest hugs ✨

[2econd-of-1sts]

TW for torture mention and scars mention. It starts off sad but then it gets better.

One day Alek innocently asks Nikolai how old he has to be before he gets tiger stripes like his Da. Nik's heart skips a beat as he realizes Alek is talking about the scars Price has on his back from being whipped. Neither of them believe in sugarcoating, but he also knows that if he explains Gulags to his toddler, they're going to get angry letters from the other preschool parents, so he tells Alek those are marks from where his Da got hurt once, but he doesn't need to worry because he's all better.

Alek finds Price before Nik can warn him and immediately demands Price turn around so he can "kiss his boo-boos".

Later Price is undressing and finds to his surprise that his scars do ache less. Nikolai pulls him close in bed and asks if he's alright. Price smiles.

He's better than alright. He's home.

MORIIIIIIIIIII

MY HEART. OUGH IDK IF ITS BREAKING OR HEALING THIS IS P R E C I O U S 😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏 I swear the things you send literally add years to my lifespan 💖

Just this precious smol bean pressing a messy kiss to his poor da’s back, little hands reaching up for him, whilst I’m firmly convinced Price is doing his absolute best not to let himself cry at how loving and gentle his boy’s hands are. How soft and warm he feels surrounded by his little family 🥺🥺🥺

This man deserves all the good things 😭🙏 Gentle hands and warm hugs and all the joy from his little family that can be brought 🙏🙏🙏

[silenceerased]

Hugs (Pt 1)

Prompt: Your hugs heal people but it comes with a great cost. It decreases your own lifespan by 5%. Only the richest of the rich come to see you. You have cured clients with cancer, aids, incurable diseases, and more. However, those poor children dying in the hospital, the urge to help them eats you alive. You are getting depressed as you can’t stand this injustice any longer. You set out to visit a hospital for children with terminal illnesses. You write two words on a piece of cardboard: “Free hugs”. (Changed it from 5% to making it depend on the severity of the problem being healed)

“What am I up to now, Sys?” I asked aloud, exiting the large mansion.

“You’re at 53% life capacity, sir,” the AI responded into my earpiece. “Would you like me to call you a cab to your next appointment?”

I sighed. “Are there any immediate emergencies?”

“No, sir. Two smokers, one of which you’ve treated in the past.”

“Alright then, Sys. Do me a favor and let my manager know I’m taking the rest of the day off. Just add the two to my list tomorrow,” I responded as I walked off the property and onto the sidewalk. I wasn’t in any mood to deal with any more men who decide it’s fine to not give a shit about their health just because I’m around.

“Good plan, sir,” she commented while working on the email. “Would you still like a cab?”

I took a quick look around the neighborhood, revelling in the peaceful morning of a usually busy city. “Nah, Sys. I think I’ll just take a walk around.” I spotted a small bakery across the street. “Maybe get a bite to eat.”

“Alright, sir. I will send the message to Ms. Evans now. Enjoy your morning and be sure not to eat too much sugar.”

“Thanks, Sys,” I laughed. Of course it would be an AI that would care most about my well-being. I crossed the street to enter the bakery and I was immediately greeted by a warm room and delicious aroma. “Mm, that smells good.”

“I’m glad you think so, dear,” an elderly woman replied as she walked into the storefront from the kitchen. “I’ve never seen you around here before.”

“Yeah, I just came here for work. I’m not from around these parts,” I said as I eyed the wonderfully sugary goods in the glass case. “Is there anything you’d recommend?”

She gave me a kind smile and answered, “The cheese danishes are my daughter’s favorite. She used to ask for one for breakfast every day before going to school.”

I let out a small smile of my own at the clear fondness in her voice. “That’s a good enough review for me. I’ll take two to go.”

The woman, who was named Ellie James according to her nametag, put two danishes in a brown paper bag and placed them on the counter. “That’ll be $7, Mr…”

“Peter is fine, Mrs. James.”

She smiled again. “Okay, then. That’ll be $7, Mr. Peter,” she joked, giggling a bit to herself. “And you can just call me Ellie.”

I couldn’t help but laugh with her. I handed her the right amount of money before asking, “So, what’s there to do around here? I’m taking the rest of the day off and I’m looking for a nice place to relax.”

Ellie pondered for a moment before saying, “It’s a pretty quiet neighborhood. Very residential. Just filled with rich folks and nice cars. But there’s a nice little park just a few blocks away. It’s near a children’s hospital.” She grabbed another danish and put it in a bag. “I was actually just on my way there to visit my daughter and granddaughter.”

“If that’s the case, then may I accompany you on your trip on this fine day?” I asked with an exaggerated bow.

She laughed heartily. “Oh, you silly thing. That would be lovely. Just let me tell my assistant that I’m off to visit the hospital.” She went back into the kitchen.

I took out a danish and examined it. It was still warm and flaky and smelled like heaven. I took a bite and groaned. This was damn good. I needed to make an effort to come here whenever I was in the city. “Hey, Sys,” I called out to my trusty personal assistant (if you could call her that).

“Hello, sir. Enjoying your danish?”

“Very much so,” I said in between bites. “Can you search up the children’s hospital Ellie was talking about?”

“Of course, sir. Give me a moment.” I let her do her thing as I finished off my first danish. “Okay, sir. It’s called the Children’s Hope Hospital. It offers care for all children but is known for taking especially difficult cases. Many rich donors from this neighborhood fund the hospital so patients generally pay little to no fee.”

“I bet they only do it for the tax deduction,” I grumbled.

“Don’t forget the good publicity, sir.”

“Ah, yes. That too,” I rolled my eyes. “Would it kill these people to actually do things out of the goodness of their heart?”

“Ironic that you would say that, sir,” Sys chimed in. “Considering your circumstances.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t think any of them would actually die if they helped out more.”

“Alright, dear. Are you ready?” Ellie’s voice brought me out of my mood and I gave her a small smile.

“All ready. Shall we go?” I offered her my arm, getting a giggle from the woman.

“How charming,” she said, grabbing onto my elbow, before leading me out of the bakery.

The walk to the hospital was pretty short, but it gave me enough time to talk to Ellie.

“Do you mind me asking about your family?” I asked after a few moments of silence.

She let out a small hum. “Ask away, dear.”

“How old’s your granddaughter?”

“Ella’s just 8 years old,” she answered quietly. “Her mother named her after me, you know.”

“Ella’s a beautiful name,” I said. “Is it serious?”

Ellie looked down. “She’s been in the hospital for 6 months. To this day, the doctors say they’re not 100% certain about what’s wrong with her, but without being hooked up to machines, her lungs wouldn’t be strong enough to work on their own.”

“Oh.”

A tense silence fell upon us. I wasn’t sure if trying to further this subject would be a smart idea, so I kept quiet. After a while, she broke the silence. “She’s being so strong about it, you know. Ella, I mean,” she said fondly. “Despite everything, the first thing she does when she sees me is ask how my leg is doing. I tripped a month before she was hospitalized, sprained it and everything. Of course it’s healed up by now, but she always asks. She’s there, bedridden constantly, but she always asks.”

I felt my eyes water a little but blinked back the tears. “She sounds… very kind. What a great kid.”

“The best.”

Before I knew it, we were at the entrance to the hospital.

“Thanks for walking me all the way, dear.” Ellie smiled up at me. “The world needs more young men like you.”

I laughed uncomfortably. “It was no problem. I was happy to keep you company.”

“Well, I best be off. You come visit the bakery more often, alright?” she asked.

I grinned. “Of course. Where else will I get the best cheese danishes in the world?”

She laughed as she entered the hospital, leaving me alone on the sidewalk. The smile dropped off my face as I stared at the glass door. Young men like me? With all that I can do but don’t?

I’m brought out of my thoughts by a ringtone in my ear. “Hello?”

“Peter.” Great. It’s Evans.

“What is it?” I said, not in the mood to talk to anyone, especially not her.

“What’s this email about moving your appointments? You know you can’t just do that!” she all but screamed into the earpiece.

I winced at the volume. “I just wanted a break. Geez…”

I could almost feel the glare burning through the phone. “You can’t just decide how to change your schedule. Months of planning have gone into this.”

“Fine, Erin,” I conceded. There was no point in arguing the terms of my contract. “I’ll have Sys call a cab for me.”

“Thank you, Peter. I’ll see you there.” She hung up.

I sighed. “Sys, you heard all that, right?”

“Yes, sir. The cab will be there shortly,” she responded.

I looked at the glass doors again. Yeah, young men like me? As if we need anymore of that.