Hugs

Audrey & Uma - Because They Don't Know What to Say So They Resort to Hugging

   "I don't know. I mean, Mom wasn't big on feeding me. Especially not food from the shop. That food was just for customers. The only way I could really get away with eating it is if I took Harry's order and we shared," Uma shrugged as she explained, her legs crossed on Audrey's bed.

Audrey just stared at her blankly in absolute horror from where she was resting her back against the headboard, her eyes wide as she took in Uma's words more fully.

This had all gotten started because of Audrey sharing stories about her own mother and about how one of the few bonding experiences they had was over food. It was then that Uma brought up her own experience, and Audrey was left completely baffled.

And Audrey's first thought was to wrap her arms around Uma and just hold onto her.

Audrey knew that hugging was not much their thing, but she could not think of any other way to respond to her. Besides, they were in Audrey's room having a sleepover, and Uma was usually a little more open to being vulnerable when it was just the two of them with no prying eyes to see Uma's softness.

So that was what Audrey did, crawling forward and stopping just in front of her to grab her.

Uma instantly froze a little, not sure of how to respond to the sudden and completely unexpected affection. Audrey pressed her cheek against the side of Uma's head, looking down at the comforter as she kept her arms thrown around Uma's neck.

She was truly at a loss for words at the moment, and she felt terrible for actually bringing up her mother in front of Uma. Uma had not had a good childhood and Audrey knew she should have thought of that.

"I think that is the saddest thing I've ever heard," Audrey expressed, and at the sudden statement, Uma seemed to stir to life a little. She just cleared her throat a little, shrugging as she tried to play the entire thing off in that typical Uma manner.

"It was life. Ain't no need to get all emotional over it," Uma stated simply, her voice breezy despite the smallest hint of an edge within it.

Audrey shook her head.

"But still," Audrey persisted.

Uma reluctantly started to return the embrace, her hands gentle on Audrey's waist as they made their way around to hug her in return. Just as Audrey thought, Uma was not going to instantly fight her off, and it was likely because there was not a soul in the room with them.

"Look, some folks get born with the silver spoon in their mouth and others get something more like a rusty knife, but there ain't nothing to be done about it now," Uma stated, the words rather harsh but her tone oddly fragile in contrast.

Audrey let out a breath, Uma's hair brushing against Audrey's hands and a soft fragrance of something that could only be described as the sea floating around her. Audrey could feel Uma readjust her head to rest her chin on Audrey's shoulder, and Audrey remained still in the embrace, enjoying that she had actually managed to spring a hug on Uma and that Uma did not reject it.

It was hard for her to ever get Uma to be a little less than just perfectly irritating, but when she could pull it off, she was always beyond ecstatic. It was not that she necessarily wanted Mal and Evie's sort of friendship that was all about soft words and touches, but she sometimes did want to be able to share some sort of contact with Uma. Or at least feel freer to do so than she often did.

Uma did not have a problem with touching people, but she seemed to have a difficult time being vulnerable, and somehow, hugging anyone except her boys or occasionally Mal was difficult for Uma.

Audrey assumed that it was probably something about their shared past as kids of the Isle, and while she would never try to get in between that, she did want Uma to feel like she could open up to her.

They could be downright terrible to each other sometimes, but they were best friends and they loved to constantly be at each other for something or another because it was terribly fun. It was extremely fun to roast Uma when she could, and while it was less fun to be the one roasted by Uma, Audrey was not opposed to it because it meant Uma wanted to interact with her somehow and that she was not scared of her or negative towards her.

Uma remained quiet in Audrey's hold, and she knew that Uma was likely less than perfectly comfortable at the moment. Nevertheless, Audrey kept her held in her arms.

"I don't know why you're so upset by this," Uma pointed out, and Audrey sighed deeply.

"Because it's horrible," Audrey told her, and Uma huffed.

"Well, I didn't tell you all that for you to feel sorry for me or some crap," Uma stated, her words coming out a little harsh in her attempts to bring them to a safer territory of less feelings.

"I know. But you shouldn't have had to go through that."

Uma did not reply, but her arms did slightly tighten around Audrey. Audrey rested against her a little more fully as the both of them just hugged it out.

Uma may not have been the most emotional sort, and Audrey was not usually one to be too soft.

But for Uma, she was.