He Needs Those Hugs Fr - Tumblr Posts

Lil’ Keith & Hugs

So we can all pretty much agree that after Keith’s dad died, he became very touch-starved.

After he was admitted to the system not a lot of people hugged him. He remembers a social worker hugging him when meeting him in a hospital after a fight; he remembers a teacher loosely wrapping her arms around him when she sees his black eye; he remembers a girl in 2nd grade hugging him because her mom told her to “hug the disheveled boy who’s parents didn’t come to parent day.”

None of them were genuine in their hugs.

More and more he missed his dad’s hugs. His dad’s big, strong arms hugging him so tight — almost to the point where he couldn’t breathe, but close. In a big scary world, it was the one place Keith felt safe. Felt happy. Felt secure.

That feeling was lost for years.

Until he meets Shiro.

The first time Shiro hugs him is about a month after he starts living with him and Adam. Shiro’s gentle at first, but instantly Keith is reminded of his dad and he hugs Shiro back as tight as he possibly can.

Because in the same ways, Shiro is big. His arms are big and strong and he squeezes tightly — not too tightly that he can’t breathe — but enough that he feels secure. Shiro’s warm in the same way his dad was. And when Keith is held in his arms, he’s happy.

He’s safe.

He’s secure.

He’s at home, once more.