Diggory Graves knew many things.
They knew, for example, that while the Museum was their home, they liked living in Scout City with their friends and siblings very much. They also knew that they were finally getting better at the strange board games Riot and Danielle were trying to teach them, even if they still didn't understand most of the rules.
They did not know, however, why lately, there was a deep ache in their chest every time they watched Raj kiss Vincent's cheek, or Percy and Ratty dance to a music no one else could hear, or Riot tentatively reach for Shelby's remaining hand.
Diggory sat cross-legged on the sofa, playing with the little pewter dragon their friends had gifted them, when Danielle entered the room, sighing deeply as she left her shoes by the door and flopped down on the sofa next to Diggory.
"Fuck, how can sleeping all day be so exhausting?"
"I think you might work too much," Diggory said with a sympathetic hum.
Danielle groaned. "Ugh, I know I work too much. But I'm the closest thing Scout City has to a therapist, and we both know how much the people here need one."
She stretched and leaned her head on Diggory's shoulder with a yawn, and Diggory froze. They expected Danielle to immediately pull away again from their ice-cold skin, but she didn't. She just sighed softly and snuggled closer like it was the most normal thing in the world, like she was comfortable touching Diggory this way—
"Diggory?" Danielle asked. "You okay? You seem kind of tense."
Diggory turned to look at her, brows furrowed. "Oh. I am sorry, Danielle. I do not mean to be. It is just... I am not used to... touch. Being touched. Like this."
Danielle immediately sat up straight and stared at them in shock. "I'm so sorry! I should have asked before I touched you. I'm usually better at this, I just—I really didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"You did not," Diggory replied and sighed deeply. "It is… complicated."
Danielle smiled encouragingly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Diggory was not sure they did, but they nodded. If there was anyone who would understand, it was Danielle.
"Ever since I returned from the North," they began, "I have felt... separated from those around me. Perhaps it is the heart, its power. But perhaps it is only me. Percy… Before I met him, I thought I was destined to wander this forest alone, for the rest of my existence. I was lonely, desperate for connection. But then he appeared, and we came to the Scoutpost, and I thought I had found my purpose. I was surrounded by so much love and hope, even if I was not always a part of it. But now our relationship has ended, and our friend group has changed in so many ways…" They sighed. "When you touched me, it reminded me that I feel… alone, sometimes."
The look on Danielle's face made their chest hurt worse, and they looked away to stare at their hands, the neat stitches and sharp fingertips—and then, there was another hand holding theirs, warm and gentle and careful. "Is this okay?" Danielle asked softly. Diggory nodded. "You're not alone, Diggory. I'm so sorry I didn't notice you were feeling like this."
"It is alri—"
"No, no, no," Danielle interrupted immediately, "you don't have to pretend. And also, I think I know what you mean. After Clem and I broke up, I felt really lonely and touch-starved, too."
"Touch-starved?" Diggory asked, tilting their head.
Danielle nodded. "It's when you don't get as much physical contact as you're used to, and you're longing to be touched."
"Oh."
Their feelings must have shown on their face, because before they knew what was happening, Danielle was holding them, and Diggory couldn't help but relax into her warm embrace.
"Still okay?" Danielle asked quietly. Diggory nodded, unable to speak. They curled up in Danielle's arms, resting against her soft belly, and sighed contentedly. They were not used to this much warmth, this much affection. They felt… safe. Danielle pulled them closer and pressed a soft kiss to the top of their head, humming quietly to herself.
"So," she asked after a while, "you really miss Percy, huh?"
"I am very happy for him and Ratty," Diggory said without looking at her. "They are a lovely couple."
Danielle gave them an unimpressed look. "You didn't answer my question."
Diggory sighed. "It is not only him I miss," they admitted. "He was the first person I ever met, the first person who ever saw me, who cared about me. I do not know if it was love or only the relief of not being alone anymore, but… he was my person. He will always be a part of me. I feel no great need to find a new romantic partner, but I miss having someone like this in my life."
"You don't need a romantic partner for that," Danielle replied to Diggory's surprise.
"I do not?"
"No, of course not. Your relationships can be whatever you want them to be. If you want to have a partner, but without all the romantic stuff, or only some of it, that's totally fine."
Diggory considered this, and thought of their recent months of living with Danielle—the mornings waking up to her singing off-key in the kitchen, the board game nights with her and Riot, the nights spent talking to each other until the sun came up. "In that case," they asked solemnly, "would you like to be my person, Danielle?"
Danielle gasped softly, and for a moment, Diggory thought they had made a mistake—but then Danielle's arms were around them again, squeezing them tightly. "Of course I would," Danielle beamed. "Especially if being your person includes more cuddles. You're surprisingly comfy."
"Thank you," Diggory said, and smiled. "I like cuddling with you, too."
Diggory Graves knew many things, and they learned new ones every day. They knew now what it felt like to be held closely, to be enveloped in warmth—and they knew that they were loved so much more than they had ever thought possible.