Chapter Text
Caitlyn sat drowsily in a chair at a café.
She had recently gotten off of work and felt drained to the bone, an occurrence that's been happening more frequently than she would have liked. But, she forgot she had made plans beforehand with Mel and Jayce to meet up and catch up with each other since their schedules have been hectic.
So here she was, on a Friday evening, trying to keep herself awake and not slam her head into the table like some sick lunatic deprived of sleep.
Though, the faint hum of people chatting in the background, along with the lo-fi jazz that played through the café and the warm inviting scent of freshly brewed coffee and other pastries was making it impossible not to.
Keeping her head up felt like trying to keep heavy rocks afloat while struggling to stay above water, but gravity was doing its best to drag her down.
She slumped forward, pressing her cheek against her palm, barely holding herself up. Caitlyn struggled to keep her eyes open, feeling like they had suddenly gained a couple of pounds, forcing her to blink deliberately just to stay awake.
Her head lolled to the side again before she caught herself. The elbow propping her up wobbled like an unsteady support beam, barely holding up a collapsing structure.
With a sigh, Caitlyn straightened up, peeling her weight off her elbow and staring off into the distance.
Staying awake felt like an uphill battle she was bound to lose. Her body was already surrendering, her eyelids growing heavier with each passing second.
Just as she started to doze off, Mel’s voice cut through her sluggish thoughts, making her jerk awake again.
“Caitlyn?”
Caitlyn blinked a few times, shaking off the haze clouding her vision, only to find Mel and Jayce staring at her expectantly.
“Hm?”
“Did you hear what I just said?” Mel asked, sipping on her tea as she raised a perfectly sculpted brow.
Caitlyn processed Mel’s words for a second, trying to replay the last few moments of conversation in her head, but came up short. Nothing.
“Yes..” She lied smoothly, hoping it was convincing enough Mel.
Mel eyed her for a moment before her lips curled into a knowing smile. “So.. you’re in?”
Caitlyn hesitated but quickly nodded, deciding that saying yes was probably the safest option. Even though she wasn’t in her right mind at the moment.
"Of course," Caitlyn muttered, remembering she had ordered coffee when they first got there. She took a sip to seem casual and avoid further questioning, but grimaced at the lukewarmness of her Americano."
“Great!” Mel chirped, clasping her hands together. “Jayce, it’s settled, we’re becoming strippers!”
Caitlyn started to choke on her coffee, coughing violently as she thumped her chest. “ Excuse me?!” She sputtered, her voice hoarse.
Jayce burst into a laughing fit, his head tipping back as he slapped the table. Mel simply shook her head, exuding her usual air of dramatic disappointment.
"This—" Mel said, gesturing toward Caitlyn with a graceful flick of her wrist, "—is why you need to pay more attention, dear. You could be agreeing to something dire."
Caitlyn cleared her throat, cheeks a little warm from falling into Mel’s trap. She rubbed her face and let out a small sigh. “Right, sorry, I’m just a little tired right now.”
Jayce snorted. “A little? Cait, you’ve been dozing off since we got here.”
Caitlyn frowned as she leaned back in her seat. “Well, I’m sorry your conversations have been so dull to the point I nearly fell asleep.”
Mel and Jayce gave each other a weary glance.
Mel held up her phone, showing her instagram feed. “Caitlyn, we’ve barely spoken. You’ve been staring at the salt shaker for the past ten minutes.”
Jayce nodded. “You even nodded at it like you had two a understanding or something.”
Caitlyn blinked.
Fuck. Was the lack of sleep starting to make her hallucinate?
Jayce reached over the table and gave Caitlyn’s hand a small pinch, earning a small hiss from the woman.
Caitlyn shot him a glare as she yanked her hand back, rubbing the sore spot with a deeper frown. “Ow! What was that for?”
“I was trying to make sure you’re actually here with us right now. You look like a corpse.” Jayce pointed out, shaking his head.
Mel leaned closer, giving Caitlyn a once-over. “Now that you mentioned it, she does.”
Caitlyn scoffed, crossing her arms. “I won’t let myself be subjected to your judgmental stares. Did you ever think that this was the look I was going for and you guys just made fun of it?”
Mel gave her a flat look. “ Oh, please. No one tries to look like they just crawled out of a horror movie.”
"Your hair's a mess, you're paler than usual, and you have bags under your eyes. Even if you were trying to look like the girl from The Ring , I’d still be concerned for you."
Jayce nodded in agreement, picking up his chocolate covered croissant as he gave Caitlyn a scrutinizing look. “If you were a look then you definitely nailed it down. Ever thought of being a haunted house actor to scare people?” He asked between bites of his croissant.
Caitlyn decided she hated them both right now.
Mel studied her for a moment, concern written all over her face. “What’s going on darling? Talk to us.”
Caitlyn bit the inside of her cheek as she traced the rim of her coffee cup, not wanting to Meet Jayce and Mel’s worried stares.
Mel studied her closely. Then it clicked and her gaze softened. The dozing off, staring into the distance, the bags under her eyes, it all made sense.
“Caitlyn.. Have you been sleeping?” Mel asked quietly.
Caitlyn let out a small snort, “Define sleep.”
Mel ignored the sarcastic remark.
“When was the last time you actually slept, Cait?” Mel asked softly.
Caitlyn paused, tensing up slightly, like she was trying to shield herself from something she wasn’t sure how to explain.
“Caitlyn,” Mel prodded gently.
Caitlyn shrunk in on herself, as if she was trying to shield herself from judgment that wasn’t even there. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she looked away.
"Caitlyn Luian Kiramman.”
Caitlyn sighed, succumbing to Mel’s intense gaze. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to gather her thoughts, before speaking in a barely audible voice. “I don’t know... I think the last time I slept without any problems was probably Sunday. Ever since then, I’ve been having trouble. Little naps here and there, but not actually a full eight hours.”
“Caitlyn.” Mel frowned, her tone laced with slight disappointment. “I thought you said you would tell us when your insomnia got bad?”
“I know... I figured it would just go away like last time, but I promise I was going to tell you guys.” She mumbled, her voice small. It was a lie. She knew it wouldn’t go away, but she just didn’t want to bother them about it.
“Yeah, eventually I bet. And you’ve been drinking coffee, you know that makes it worse.” Mel tsked, taking the coffee cup away from her.
Caitlyn sulked, trying to reach for her coffee, but Mel slapped her hand away.
“But... I only had like two sips...” Caitlyn tried to justify, but she earned a look from Mel that made it clear Mel wasn’t having it.
“Do you know what caused it to get worse? Usually it’s manageable for you.” Jayce asked after a beat.
“It usually stems from stress, and lately, work has been making me want to pull out my own hair.” Caitlyn sighed, slumping back in her chair as she rubbed her forehead. If she was being honest, she didn’t even want to come hang out with them today—she was just too exhausted.
“It’s that bad?” Jayce asked, clearly surprised.
Caitlyn’s eye twitched. She didn’t know what it was, but that made her snap.
“Yes! It is that bad, Jayce! It’s like my brain won’t turn off, I’m always thinking about work and only work, and I’m too tired to really do anything—even the stuff I used to love! I just want to sleep! Is that too much to ask?!” Caitlyn exclaimed, gripping her face, surprising Mel and Jayce with her sudden outburst.
She exhaled sharply, feeling tears rim her eyes, trying to blink them away. Swallowing hard, she spoke again, her voice small.
“Sorry. I’m just really tired of everything right now.”
“No, don’t apologize. You’re clearly stressed out, and I don’t blame you for being mad at the world right now.” Mel huffed, taking Caitlyn’s hand—clenched into a fist—into her own, giving it a squeeze for comfort.
“Have you tried anything that might help? Chamomile tea, melatonin gummies, maybe even therapy?” Mel asked softly.
“Yes, yes, I have. Some of it usually works, but lately it hasn’t. And I really don’t have the time or patience to go to therapy.” Caitlyn said, her tone a little snappier than she intended.
“So what did help you..” Mel muttered more to herself than Caitlyn, trying to remember what Caitlyn usually did that helped her.
Caitlyn shrugged, not entirely sure herself. “I don’t know... I just... try to get through it.”
Mel’s eyes narrowed slightly as she thought about it, her fingers tapping the side of her cup. She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, as if trying to dig into memories of when Caitlyn had felt better in the past.
Then, as if something clicked, Mel snapped her fingers, getting Caitlyn’s attention. “Wait—didn’t Maddie help you sleep? Like when you two were still together?”
Caitlyn grimaced but nodded stiffly. “Yeah..she helped me.” Caitlyn muttered, picking at the sandwich on her plate.
“Well, what did she do to help?” Mel asked, waiting for Caitlyn to continue.
“Oh! Did you guys have sex to the point it would tire you out so you’d fall asleep?” Jayce chimed in, only to get a light smack to the head from Mel.
“What? I was just asking! No need to hit me...” Jayce grumbled, rubbing his head.
Caitlyn scoffed, folding her arms on the table. “I wish. Maddie would fall asleep before I could get a chance to receive.
Caitlyn bit her lip slightly, staring off into the distance as she rubbed her arms. “But… to help I would ask her to hold me, and we’d cuddle. She would run her fingers through my hair until I eventually fell asleep.” Caitlyn murmured, her eyes glazing over slightly, something close to wistfulness in them.
“She wasn’t the best but.. she still made me feel special in a way.” Caitlyn’s grip on her arms tightened slightly, smiling bitterly at how her body still ached for her touch—not just missed it, but craved it, even, in some sick and twisted way.
She missed feeling relaxed and at ease, even if it was under a false sense of security, it was still something .
“Is it stupid that I miss it..?”
Mel shook her head, reaching over the table to hold Caitlyn’s hand again, rubbing soothing circles with her thumb into her hand. “Of course not, Cait. You associated her with feeling safe. You’re missing what she gave you, the comfort, the feeling of being held, it makes sense that you miss that.”
Caitlyn nodded and sniffed, squeezing Mel’s hand back. “Yeah, you’re right. I just miss being held by someone other than myself.”
“We all do Cait, we all do.” Mel hummed sympathetically.
They sat there in silence for a moment, basking in the comfort the café gave them.
After a while, Jayce spoke up. “It seems like physical touch helps you sleep, right?"
Caitlyn nodded, unsure where this was going.
“If that’s the case then.. Have you ever thought about getting cuddled or something again?”
Caitlyn’s brows furrowed in confusion. “By Maddie or…?”
Jayce shook her head, pulling out his phone. “No, I mean getting cuddled by like a professional cuddler."
Caitlyn blinked.
“What?”
“A professional cuddler.”
“What is that?”
Mel stared at her flatly. “It’s in the name Caitlyn. It’s someone that cuddles people as a profession, they get paid to.”
Caitlyn stared at them bewilderedly, she has never heard of this before. “So you’re telling me… people pay for someone to cuddle them..?”
Mel nodded and Caitlyn sat back in her seat running a hand down her face, needing a minute to take in what she just heard.
“People actually pay for that?” Caitlyn scoffed.
“Yeah, it’s pretty popular actually, they make loads of money from it. I got professionally cuddled before, it was nice.” Jayce recalled, laughing once he saw the look on Caitlyn’s face.
“C’mon, you should try it out. Don’t judge a book by its cover.” He insisted.
“I will certainly judge. Why would I spend my money for a stranger to lay with me and hold me? When I can just— I don’t know— cuddle a pillow or even one of you.”
Mel rolled her eyes. “That’s not the same as an actual person and you know it. I love you and all Cait, but I am not cuddling with you.”
“So you’d rather a stranger cuddle me and possibly strangle me or something than you— someone I know , cuddling me?”
“Now you’re just being dramatic.” Mel sighed. “Just try it out like once okay? If it doesn’t work, you can say ‘I told you so’ or something.”
‘If I even live to see the day.’ Caitlyn thought as she huffed. Reluctantly, she nodded. “Fine. I’ll…consider it.”
Mel smiled happily. “Good.”
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Caitlyn shut off her bathroom light and stepped into her room, tying the soft silk robe she was wearing.
Her feet padded across the floor, stepping over the cluttered mess that covered it, making her way to her bed.
She climbed in, purposely ignoring the pile of clean clothes sitting there, waiting to be folded and put away. She was too drained to even do the simplest of tasks.
With a soft sigh, Caitlyn closed her eyes, shifting a few times to find a comfortable position—but to no avail. Nothing seemed to work.
Staring up at the ceiling, her mind raced like an engine that wouldn’t shut off. She thought about what Jayce had said earlier about seeing a professional cuddler. The idea still didn’t make sense to her.
He had sent her the website to where he booked one a while ago, but Caitlyn hadn’t bothered to check it out, let alone open it.
She scoffed lightly at the thought again. No way in hell was she going to pay someone to cuddle her like she was some weirdo who didn’t have friends or loved ones who could do that for her.
“Stupid Jayce... with his stupid idea—thinking all I need is to be cuddled like some desperate child in need of physical affection.” Caitlyn grumbled, pulling the blanket over her chest and closing her eyes, trying to force herself to sleep.
Sleep.
Sleep.
I’m sleeping.
I’m sleeping.
Totally sleeping right now.
Caitlyn furrowed her brows, squeezing her eyes shut tighter.
C’mon, it’s not that hard. Just sleep.
…
One sheep.
Two sheep.
Three sheep.
Four s—oh, to hell with it.
Caitlyn shot out of bed and searched around her room until she found her laptop, then climbed back into bed, sitting up against the headboard. She opened her laptop with a sigh.
Okay, she really needed to sleep. If being cuddled by a stranger was the only way she could manage it, then so be it.
She opened the link Jayce had sent her, and it led her to a website called SnugSpace.
She let out a small snort. How fitting.
It took her a few moments to get through the sign-up and login pages. Caitlyn spent some time creating an account, setting up her profile, and going through the usual security verifications—something she didn’t mind considering the circumstances.
Once she was in, she scrolled through the site, feeling a bit of hesitation but also a strange sense of relief. She found a tab of professional cuddlers available for booking and decided to browse through the options.
The profile pictures of the cuddlers varied—some young, some middle-aged, and a few men mixed in, though the majority were women. Caitlyn clicked on each one, her mind buzzing with the idea that maybe, just maybe, this could help.
Claria M. ("The human weighted blanket")
Age : 29 | Gender : Female
Bio: “Specialize in firm, motionless cuddles. I will not move. I will not speak. I am simply here to be your human pillow."Likes: soft blankets, slow jazz, Staring into your soul for exactly five seconds before we cuddle. Icebreakers, y’know?
Dislikes: too much moving, sleep farting, sleep kickers(I know what you are.)
Caitlyn stared at this one for a moment, she would have to pass.
Sarah L. (“Motherly Snuggles”)
Age: 42 | Gender: Female
Bio: “I provide a nurturing, motherly presence. I can hum lullabies and stroke your hair like a loving parent would. Let me cradle your inner child."
Likes: Humming softly but only 80s power ballads, calling me mother(We all need one once in a while), platonic nose boops. But only if requested.
Dislikes: People who sneeze directly into the cuddle zone.
Oh, Caitlyn was not unpacking that today.
Milo F. (“Snuggle ASMR sessions”)
Age: 26 | Gender: Nonbinary
Bio: "I incorporate soft whispers, breathwork, and gentle face-tracing into each cuddle session. Personalized ASMR requests are welcome."
Likes: Purring like a cat while cuddling, Holding hands dramatically like we’re in a period drama.
Dislikes: When someone tries to make direct eye contact the entire time. Please don’t.
The words ‘personalized ASMR requests’ set off alarms in Caitlyn’s head. She didn’t really like asmr, so she definitely wouldn’t want someone to cuddle her and do it. She could imagine what it would be like, someone whispering weird mouth sounds into her ear, tracing shapes into her face as they held her, sounded horrifying. To each their own but she would have to pass.
Justin V. (“Cuddle king.”)
Age: 32 | Gender: Male
Bio:" I have perfected 27 distinct cuddling positions, including ‘The Fortress of Solitude’ and ‘The Reverse Koala.’ Ask me about my signature move, ‘The Blanket Octopus.’"
Likes: Pretending we’re penguins huddling for warmth, Soft, sleepy mumbling. Bonus points if it makes no sense.
Dislikes: When people try to make it a therapy session. I’m here to cuddle, not solve your childhood traumas.
Caitlyn didn’t even know what a reverse ‘Reverse Koala’ was. No thank you.
Dr. Emil C. (“Cuddle Therapy.”)
Age: 42 | Gender: Female
Bio: “ As a certified wellness coach, I integrate light cuddle therapy with emotional processing techniques. We will discuss your feelings while embracing in a supportive posture."
Likes: Head pats with just the right amount of existential reassurance, Cuddles so good they make you question your entire existence.
Dislikes: Clients who insist on narrating everything like a documentary. ‘Observe the professional cuddler in her natural habitat…’ No.
Caitlyn was NOT discussing her feelings while being spooned by a stranger. Next .
Luna G. (“Healing cuddles.”)
Age: 41 | Gender: Female
Bio: “ I practice energy-aligning cuddling, designed to balance your chakras and cleanse negative auras. Sessions may include gentle humming and forehead tapping."
Likes: Crystal healing, forehead kisses, chanting.
Dislikes: Feet. If your feet touch me, I will politely ignore it but die inside.
What the hell was forehead tapping?
Pass.
Terrence L. ("CuddleWolf")Age: 47 | Gender: Male
Bio: “Alpha energy. Strong but gentle. I provide deep, primal comfort—like a wolf protecting its pack. If you need to feel safe, shielded, and cherished, I’m your guy. Howl-free guarantee.” 🐺✨
Likes: Howling comfort, Being the big spoon and whispering motivational quotes in your ear, skin to skin contact.
Dislikes: People who fall asleep instantly. Like, can I get a little buildup first? People who try to play footsie under the blankets. I will revoke cuddle privileges.
Caitlyn stared at her screen for a good minute after reading that, contemplating if she should even continue and not just close her laptop and rework her brain because ‘what the fuck?’
She let out a breath and decided to continue on and ignore whatever that last one was.
She scrolled through some more profiles, each one sounding weirder than the next or just not interesting to Caitlyn. It kinda felt like swiping through a dating app in a weird way, not being able to find a match to what she wanted.
She was starting to give up and honestly felt a little disappointed when she couldn’t find someone that seemed normal and didn’t weird Caitlyn out. She zoomed past a lot of differen't faces, about to exit the tab when she saw a flash of pink hair.
Quickly scrolling back up, she spotted a profile picture that caught her eye.
It was a woman that looked roughly around Caitlyn’s age. She had this weird pinkish-red hair, one side was shaved while the other was messily unkempt. One would think it would look crazy but Caitlyn thought it suited her nicely.
The woman was holding up two thumbs at the camera, grinning so wide her eyes were closed.
Caitlyn couldn’t help but take a closer look. She pulled the laptop screen closer to her face, not even bothering to zoom in and DAMN was she jacked. She also noticed the roman numeral number on her face and the scars that pierced her lip and eyebrow.
Huh.
Without even thinking, she clicked on her profile mildly intrigued.
Vi L. (“Bear hugger.”)
Age: 26 | Gender: Female
Bio: "If you need a solid hug, a warm presence, and a no-pressure space to unwind, I’m your girl. No pressure, no weirdness—just warmth, comfort, and good vibes. Whether you wanna talk, nap, or just exist in peace, I’m here for it. Big spoon, little spoon, or just a chill presence—you set the pace."Likes: Helping people feel safe and cared for—seriously, it’s my favorite part of the job and Turning skeptics into believers. If you think cuddling won’t help, I’ll prove you wrong.
Dislikes: When people try to talk business during a cuddle. No, I do not want to hear about your crypto investments. Also, clients who try to make it weird. Don’t make it weird.
Caitlyn couldn’t help but be a little surprised after she finished reading the bio, this one wasn’t so bad.
Noticing there were reviews, Caitlyn was curious to see what other people thought about the woman.
★★★★★ "Vi is incredible! I was so nervous at first, but she made me feel at ease instantly. She’s warm, easy to talk to, and gives the BEST hugs. I actually fell asleep for the first time in weeks. Highly recommend!" – Jenna K.
★★★★★ "The perfect balance of soft and secure. Vi really listens and adjusts to what you need. I booked her after a rough week, and by the end of the session, I felt like I could breathe again." – Alex R.
★★★★★ "I was skeptical, but Vi changed my mind. She has this calming presence that makes everything feel lighter. Also? She smells really good. Like, unfairly good." – Bella T.
★★★★★ "10/10 cuddle experience! If you need comfort without awkwardness, Vi’s your girl. She’s professional but also really genuine. I left feeling safe and cared for." – Lena M.
This woman was rolling in five-star reviews. Was she really that good?
Caitlyn bit her lip, the bright blue “Book” button at the bottom of the page practically glowing. Should she?
Fuck it . If this woman was really a miracle worker, then why not?
She clicked the button, her heart racing slightly as she reached over to her nightstand to grab her wallet for payment. The screen led her to the checkout page. She hesitated for just a moment before deciding on the $95 session—an hour of what she hoped would be relief. She booked it for tomorrow at seven.
The sooner, the better.
After she paid, a questionnaire popped up, asking for details about her preferences and what she liked or disliked. Caitlyn clicked through them, her mind still spinning from the fact she had actually gone through with it.
- What is your preferred cuddle position?
- ( ) Big Spoon
- ( ) Little Spoon
- (✓) No Preference
- ( ) No Contact At First
- Do you prefer quiet cuddling or light conversation?
- ( ) Quiet
- ( ) Light conversation is okay
- (✓) Not sure
It depended on how Caitlyn was feeling in the moment so she left it as not sure.
- Are there any areas you do NOT want touched?
(Example: back, arms, hair, hands, etc.)
As long as it wasn’t her rear or chest then Caitlyn would be fine with it.
- Do you like gentle motions like hair strokes, back rubs, or hand holding?
- ( ) Yes
- ( ) No
- (✓) Unsure
Caitlyn lingered a little longer on this question. She liked when Maddie did stuff like this but she didn’t know how she would feel if a stranger did anything like that to her, so she left it unsure.
- Do you have any sensory sensitivities (e.g., strong scents, fabrics, warmth)?
Caitlyn let out a soft hum as she read the question, liking the way they made sure to ask the right questions.
- On a scale from 1-10, how much do you crave human touch?
Caitlyn stared at this question for a minute before leaving it blank.
If you fall asleep, would you like them to wake you up at the end of the session?
- ( ) Yes
- (✓) No
Caitlyn thought about it for a moment. On one hand, she would kill to get any type of sleep and not be woken up, but on the other hand, she didn’t want them to not wake her up and then possibly snoop around her place and steal something.
Caitlyn took one long glance around her room.
Yeah… She’s definitely going to have to get a hotel because her room looked a mess.
With that being said, she had nothing valuable laying around in a hotel, so she went with no.
- Do you have any existential fears about being held? (Yes, this is a real thing! It’s okay if you do!)
- ( ) Yes
- (✓) No
Once Caitlyn submitted the questionnaire, she got put into a small chat box with Vi.
A sudden ping startled her. She blinked, surprised at how quickly Vi had responded, especially this late at night.
Vi: Hey Caitlyn! Thanks for booking. Let me know if you have any questions or specific preferences not covered in your form. 👍
Caitlyn: I don’t.
Vi: Cool, see you tomorrow then! :)
Caitlyn stared at the chat before shutting her laptop with a sigh, wondering if this was the dumbest decision she ever made.
She actually booked a session.
To be cuddled. By a stranger.
Caitlyn groaned into her hands.
This was going to be a long 24 hours.