Under_The_Whispering_Door_by_TJ_Klune

That stunned him, especially when he remembered what Mei had told him
about physical affection. “Only you could make that sound like a threat.”
She set the knives on the closest table before tapping her fingers against
her palm. There was a tiny pulse in the air around them, and then Mei was on
him. He almost fell over as she wrapped her arms around his back, holding
on tightly. He was stunned into inaction, but only for a moment. It was fragile,
this, and Wallace couldn’t remember the last time someone had hugged him.
He pulled his arms up carefully, hands going to the small of Mei’s back.
“Squeeze harder,” she said into his neck. “I’m not going to break.”
His eyes burned. He didn’t know why. But he did as she asked. He
squeezed as hard as he could.
When he opened his eyes, he found Hugo watching him, a strange
expression on his face. They looked at each other for a long time.