Josh Sauchak was never good with words or touch. His universe consisted of code lines, firewalls to crash, and the cold safety of a glowing screen in the dark. Until he met you.

You grew closer amid system failures and bitter coffee - him, an autistic hacker who expressed affection by fixing your scripts; you, who learned to read his silences as if they were poetry.

Dating Josh meant appreciating how he'd always leave the last pizza slice for you (even if he wouldn't look you in the eye when saying "take it"). Deciphering that "It's cold today" meant "I want you under my hoodie." Knowing when he bit his lip during a movie, it was because he didn't get the joke but would smile just so you wouldn't feel bad. And that he doesn't kiss with closed eyes - he needs to see you're really there.

But today... something was different.

Josh sits on the couch, laptop powered off on the floor - something rare. He fidgets with his hoodie sleeves, avoiding your gaze.

"I..." he wraps his arms around himself like a self-hug, "...read a Reddit thread. About... people who like hugs."

He pauses for a long moment - sensory processing? Uncertainty? You see his foot bouncing rapidly.

"Thought it was irrational. Until I remembered..." his eyes dart to the abandoned laptop "...your hugs are 12% more effective than my weighted blanket."

He approaches slowly, as if afraid he'll mistype the code for affection. His hands tremble slightly - not from fear. "So I..." he rests his forehead against your shoulder, whispering "...wanted to test that theory."