X-COM: Friendship Unknown

Zossi hummed softly as she slithered over and set a steaming bowl of soup on a little TV tray on Command’s lap, as Command zoned in front of the TV. “Need anything else? More pain meds, the remote?”

“You’re a darling,” the human groaned. “No, I think this’ll be...good for now.” He winced a little bit. “Nobody said it would be this bad,” he muttered.

“I’m sorry.” The snek wilted a little. “What can I do to help?”

“Cuddles?” Command offered, opening one arm a little to let her in.

Zossi plopped herself on the couch and nestled against his side. There were a couple snaps of static but that was normal at this point. “Better?”

“Mhm,” the human nodded, kissing Zossi’s cheek and drinking in the feeling of her being next to him.

“So what are you watching?” The viper asked as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“Just a documentary,” Command sighed. “Just...something to take my mind off things.”

“Wanna just just chill, or watch something else, or wanna play a game? Sorry I don’t know how to help.” Zossi said, looking a little flustered.

“No, you’re honestly good and adorable when you’re trying to help,” Command chuckled, squeezing her against his side. “But thanks for trying.”

“Okay…” Zossi said, sounding unsure. “Just let me know if you need absolutely anything.”

“Right now what I need is for you to relax,” Command hinted. “You being tense is just making me tense.”

Zossi took a breath and relaxed against him. “Okay. Okay. I can calm down. I just worry about you.”

“Fair enough, but worrying won’t fix anything,” Command agreed. “But having you by my side makes it so much easier to relax.”

“Yay.” She cheered softly nuzzling against his cheek.

“So,” Command mused. “How long until my next pain pill dose?”

“Lemme see… You took the last one… You’ve got ten minutes.” Zossi nodded. “Then it’ll be another ten to kick in.” She pouted. “I’m sorry. Maybe we could ask for a stronger suppressor?”

“It’s fine,” Command brushed the concerns off. “Just wanting to make sure I don’t miss it.” The small snap of discharging electricity didn’t escape her notice.

“I got the times in my head. You can only take four a day.” Zossi nodded. “And this’ll be your second.”

“Yay for drugs,” Command chuckled. “And how long until I don’t need them?”

“Two more days.” Zossi said with a hum. “Then you have to wear the suppressor for two more weeks.”

“Joy,” Command replied. “Well, hopefully the random sparks die down before then.”

“I can get used to it.” She smiled at him. “Plus it might be a little kinky eventually.” She winked at him and giggled.

“I’d need a lot of training for that,” Command replied easily.

“Well, obviously.” Zossi nodded. “I wonder…” She hummed. “Who would be the one training you? I mean, you probably have to anyway since rare psychic power stuff.”

“Yeah...no clue,” Command shrugged. “I mean, I’ve been told we’ll talk about that when the suppressor’s off.”

“Mmmm true.” She hummed then kissed his cheek with a small snap of static. She made a small face and puckered her lips a bit. “And I’ll need to get used to that.”

“I mean, I’m not exactly in control of it yet,” Command pointed out.

“Duh, silly. I’m assuming this just happens.” Zossi giggled.

“Well, we don’t know for sure yet, but it seems likely,” Command agreed.

“Hey, I think Floor mentioned an anime we should watch.” Zossi hummed. “She specifically mentioned it after hearing about your new psychic powers.”

“I mean, it’s not quite developed properly yet, but sure, what’s the anime?” Command agreed.

“A Certain Scientific Railgun.” The viper said with a small shrug. “Apparently there’s a couple series that can be watched side-by-side with it.”

“Okay...sounds interesting,” Command allowed. “You got it to hand?”

“She was gonna give me the box set of the first season, but she has to actually find it. Some series she has more on hand than others.” The viper shrugged.

“Fair, fair,” the human nodded. “Okay, so…” He took a sip of soup and sighed. “That’s good,” he told the Viper. “You’re getting good at that.”

“Thanks. It’s just some chicken soup.” Zossi smiled.

“It’s still good,” Command praised her.

“Yay.” The viper bounced happily.

“Mhm, I can taste the effort you put in,” Command nodded. “So...thanks for being here for me.” He kissed her on the cheek again, sighing as he relaxed against both the couch and the Viper.

“Awww…” She blushed. “You always know how to fluster me.”

“You’re worth it~” he teased.

“I am?” She squeaked.

“Mainly for your reactions,” Command nodded.

She covered her face. “Don’t look at me.”

“But you’re so adorable~” Command taunted. “For a big snek girl, you’re awfully cute.”

She slowly pulled her turtleneck up and stuffed her face into it. “Why do you make me like this?”

“Cuz you’re cute, and I like you,” Command said blandly. “And it’s fun seeing you turn red.”

Her eyes poked out of her turtleneck. “I’m not that cute, right?”

“Sorry, you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal case of adorable,” Command said solemnly.

She gasped. “Oh no! How do I fix it?!”

“I’m writing you a prescription for ten grams of snuggles,” Command said with a bit of a smile. “I suggest you fill it as soon as you can.”

“Please snuggle me! I don’t want to die!” She pleaded piteously. In response, Command held his arms open for her to take advantage of. She flopped into his arms as her head popped out of her turtleneck and immediately started to nuzzle his face and neck.

“Mmm...this is nice,” Command mused, hugging her back. Snake hugs really were the best.

“Mmmmhmmm.” She nodded into his shoulder. She pushed herself up. “And you need to take your pill.” She got up and slithered over to the kitchenette.

“Ah, the one thing that can interrupt a good snuggle time, medication,” Command sighed. Ah well. “Bring on the fuzzy feelings.”

She slithered back over with a glass of water and a pill in her palm. “Here.”

“Mmm, down the hatch.” Command took the pill, took a breath, and gulped it down with the water assisting him. He already felt better.

“Back to cuddling?” Zossi asked, taking the glass and returning it to the kitchen.

“Oooh, that sounds good,” Command nodded. “Let’s do more of that, yes.”

The snek slithered back over and plopped down, snuggling up to his side. “I’m your little cuddleslut.”

“That, I can get behind,” Command all but purred. “Mmm...You’re very good at that.” He stroked the Viper’s back with one hand and sighed as the familiar feeling of scales registered and comforted him.

“Mmmmmm…” She hummed nestling her head into his shoulder.

“Honestly I could probably just stay here all day stroking and cuddling you,” Command noted out loud. “You’re very cuddleable.”

“Is that even a word?” Zossi asked, scrunching up her face in thought.

“It is if I say it is,” the human decreed. “Now. Let’s take up the whole couch and just lie here like lumps.”

“Hold on.” Zossi got up, accompanied by a whine from Command, and picked up the TV tray, before moving it to the kitchen.

“Oh yeah, that woulda been messy,” the human noted.

Zossi returned and cuddled up next to him again. “Wanna lay down? Or would you rather use me as a pillow?”

“How about I use you as a blanket?” Command teased. “There’s certainly enough of you for that.”

“I can do that, but are you sure I’m not too heavy?” She asked tilting her head to the side.

“I trust you not to crush me,” the human answered, moving to lay on his back. “Let’s try it.”

Zossi crawled over him and laid on top of him. She coiled her tail around so it covered his legs, then rested her head next to his. “Better?”

“Mmm, big snek blanket,” Command hummed, kissing her lips gently. “So cuddly and cute.”

“Awww…. If you say so.” She blushed.

“I do,” Command nodded once. “I like cuddle-snek, you’re adorable like this.”

“Thanks…” She replied, blushing.

Command then used one hand to pull her hooded head closer to his own and started kissing her on the lips, while the other hand stroked along her inner hood to feel the scales.

She squeaked a little and melted against him. Her arms wrapped around him.

This was nice. Cuddling, sharing warmth, being close to each other like this. Zossi was a good friend. Command moved his hands to stroke against Zossi’s sweater and frowned. Right, she’d gone back to wearing clothes. It was so much easier when she was more comfortable around him to get a handful of scales…

Zossi broke the kiss. “Trying to get a little handsy?” She giggled.

“Well, it was easier before you went back to wearing clothes,” Command admitted. “Plus there’s something about the feeling of scales that just relaxes me.”

“Would you prefer the turtleneck off?” She asked with a small smile.

“I’ve told you before, you don’t have to wear clothes around me,” Command riposted.

“Aaaaand Wallflower hasn’t been knocking down our door recently.” Zossi hummed, looking thoughtful.

“Yeah, she muttered something about not wanting to startle the guy with shock powers or his snakey girlfriend into a startle reflex,” Command joked.

“Of course.” Zossi rolled her eyes and tugged her turtleneck up. Command laid there and then promptly went back to cuddling Zossi once she laid back down after taking the sweater off. His hands roamed over her scaly back as he hugged her close to him.

“Why do you like my scales so much?” She asked with the occasional giggle as his hands roamed around her scales.

Command paused a moment to think his answer through. “I think,” he said carefully, “That when you went around without clothes on, brushing up against me, trying to get me to do things to you, it sort of...ingrained into me over time that you trusted me enough to bare yourself to me. That the feeling of scales on skin was a good thing, soothing, relaxing even.”

“I guess that’s good?” She said with a small hum. “I’m happy I can comfort you at least.”

“Ye, though it doesn’t quite feel the same without you trying to grope me every ten minutes,” Command joked.

“I wasn’t trying to grope you that much.” The viper huffed.

“I’m counting accidental brushes of your tail as well,” the human countered. “Cause I know there’s no such thing as accidents with you.”

“I just didn’t know how to flirt yet.” Zossi countered, shifting her head to look at him.

“And there’s no real need to flirt now,” Command pointed out. “I mean, we’ve already crossed the biggest hurdle already.”

“Yeah, a couple times-ish” She giggled with a small blush. “But hey, I now know that you like my scales.”

“I mean, yes, your scales are comforting, but you’re not scaly everywhere,” Command pointed out, before blinking. “Wow. Uh. The drugs must be loosening my reaction time to my first thought.”

“Well… true.” The snek blushed a little redder.

“Let’s go back to cuddling before my tongue suggests we sleep together again-” Command cut himself off by forcefully closing his mouth.

“I’m not going to sleep with you when you’re on drugs silly.” Zossi shushed him. “Especially who knows what might happen in the middle of it.”

“...Point,” Command allowed himself to say. “Okay. That makes me feel better.”

“Did you really think I’d sleep with you when I’m this worried about you? If you were perfectly healthy and in your right mind, maybe. But not when you’re hurting and on drugs to stop the hurting.” Zossi pouted a bit at him.

“Well you were sort of...insistent when I was fine,” Command pointed out, before raising his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. Cuddles it is.”

“I’m sorry. I can just get really in the mood sometimes.” Zossi sighed. “But, yeah. Cuddles are fine.”

“Mmm, snakey cuddles,” Command sighed as they laid together again.

“And human cuddles are best cuddles.” She cooed. “Because you are so warm and cuddly.”

“Well you can’t discount how smooth you are,” Command pointed out. “But yes...let’s just enjoy the whole lack-of-pain going on.”

Zossi nodded. “Just laying around sounds very nice.”

There came a “knock” on the door. It really sounded like polite pounding. “Sorry.” Came the apologetic rumble of Ajur.

“You know I could’ve knocked.” Floor’s voice followed, sounding a little irritated.

Zossi blinked, then sat up to put her turtleneck back on.

“But isn’t it the gentlemanly thing to knock or something?” Ajur asked.

“A, technically you’re not a man, and B, no, no that’s not a thing.” Floor replied.

“Huh. I swore I saw that somewhere.”

“I’m comin.” Zossi said, pulling away from her boyfriend and slithering to the door. She opened it and wasn’t sure who to look at. The, on the small side Floor, or the, having to hunch over, Ajur. “Can I help you two?”

“Sorry again.” Ajur rumbled.

“It’s fine.” Zossi said with a somewhat strained smile.

“We were just wondering if you wanted to do a binge watch of something?” Floor asked. “I just found out that this guy likes manga.”

“Among other things.” Ajur rumbled with a small blush.

“Well, I was going to spend the day cuddling with my very in pain boyfriend who is dealing with his psychic awakening, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind me leaving him all alone to suffer in silence.” Zossi said, only a little tense.

The pair in the doorway blinked.

“Zossi, it’s fine, the drugs kicked in a minute ago,” Command called from the couch. “And we’ve got surge protectors everywhere,” he added after a moment of thought.

Zossi craned her head around. “You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m fine for a little bit,” Command waved his hand at her. “Go on and help Floor find that anime she was talking about earlier if nothing else.”

“That I can do.” Zossi replied, then turned back to the pair. “Fine, let’s go watch some stuff.”