summary: you can't seem to stop working. ryland helps you.
a/n: thanks @/cantsaythetword for beta reading!!
"how long exactly, have you been working for?" ryland's voice pierces through your muddled thoughts like a knife and you jump, heart dropping at the interruption.
"jesus," you clutch your heart.
a puff of amused air escapes from ryland's nose. he traps his middle finger against his thumb, willing energy and tension to meticulously build before flicking his finger on the crown of your head. just enough to sting. ow.
"go away," you say, which you feel is a perfectly reasonable request. "i need to finish this."
"why?" he questions knowingly, and you find yourself unable to answer.
"ryland."
"your back is going to hurt after this. i'm speaking from experience."
"i'll be fine-"
"you've been hunched over the table for a good twelve hours."
"...'m fine," you begin to say, but a surprised squeak breaks free. you glance down, and of course, you find ryland's incriminating fingers darting away after squeezing your sides.
"you wouldn't." your growing flush does nothing to conceal the pounding blood in your ears.
"oh, but i would."
the two of you engage in something which resembles a staring competition between petulant children. he's not budging, not a single inch; neither are you.
"go rest," ryland reiterates, his eyes gleaming menacingly.
there's something exhilarating about defying him. your self-preservation screams that you should haul your ass to bed right now, but you don't care.
how bad could it possibly be?
oh, damn your poor, naive brain.
"make me."
your misplaced confidence evaporates when his hands snake towards you, fingers curling into your skin and you've already cracked, hands batting feebly at his as choked laughter pours out of you.
he's so good at it, hands fluttering in just the right places to twitch against your nerves, ticklish sparks setting your body alight. you begin to question whether he holds a phd in tickling.
"f-fihihne!" you relent, albeit reluctantly. under dire circumstances, even the strongest soldier yields.
"i need to hear you say it," ryland grins. bastard.
"i-ihi cahan't!" your ability to form complete sentences rapidly deteriorates when his digits crawl up your sides.
"aww," ryland's voice is coated with faux sympathy. "i guess i'll just have to tickle you forever, then."
panic overtakes you. you begin blabbering pleas, hoping one of them is coherent enough to convey your sincerest apologies.
"ih'll rehest, plehease!"
before you can process it, ryland's withdrawn his vicious attack, already halfway across the room pouring himself a glass of water.
you glare, and he shrugs innocently.
shit.
he was right. you hate to admit it, but maybe ryland's phd in molecular biology somewhat correlates to his intelligence. maybe he isn't that big of a dim-witted twerp after all.
debatable.
you roll your shoulders for the thousandth time. the familiar drag of sprained tendons send a silver of pain up your spine and you wince. there doesn't seem to be an end to this: you're half-convinced the agony will haunt you forever.
ice packs, stretching, a warm bath- you've attempted every possible remedy on the face of earth. it has been the longest hour of your life and at this point, the sole, remaining option to save your descent into insanity is unbearable.
you don't even want to think about it, not the way his brows would inevitably furrow into his "concerned-teacher-after-child-falls-over" look, not the teasing "i-told-you-so" gaze.
no, you couldn't possibly ask ryland to massage you. that would be blatantly atrocious.
but then, your neck tilts slightly. a searing twinge treks through your system and you're done with this, your face scrunching up and convulsing from the ache. you get to your feet, slowly, feeling like an elderly man.
"ryland!" you call out, cheeks already tinting from embarrassment.
you find him bent over his work himself, eyes fixated almost obsessively over the paper. what a geek, you think.
"hey," you swallow. the words seem physically impossible to get out. "can you-"
ryland glances up. his eyes flick across your body, where your arms intertwine nervously against your chest. he spots the tension in your slouched back, the grimace you're trying and failing to hide, and he knows what's happened before you can find the words to explain.
his face softens.
he doesn't tease; nor does he holler "i told you so!" in your face. instead, he gestures for you to lie down on the mattress, before straddling the back of your legs.
"what are you-"
"shh," he says and you grumble something in protest, which swiftly dissolve into a series of relieved groans.
the soreness is dissipating with every movement and you want to cry in alleviation. the sounds that come out of you are downright sinful, synchronising with the tight, deep circles ryland is forcing into your muscles with his thumbs.
"oh god," you sigh airily, your voice holding a pleasured strain. "that's so fucking good."
"quiet down," ryland snickers at the way you melt into his touch. "rocky will think we're doing something."
"i don't care," you groan as his fingers stretch out your tense shoulder blades.
a comfortable silence settles between the two of you, occasionally interrupted by a particularly dreary "mm, that's the spot." or ryland's good-natured chuckle.
his hands begin drifting innocently down your back, where his fingers lodge themselves onto the sides of your ribcage to press his thumbs against the flesh. you can feel each digit wriggling into the skin in between each bone and oh god, it really fucking tickles.
you tense, feigning an exhale, but it comes out shakily. ryland notices immediately. of course he does. previously mentioned phd probably adds to his perceptiveness.
he tilts his head.
oh no.
"am i hurting you?" genuine concern is laced in his voice and you can't bring yourself to feed him some lame excuse- it'd be like kicking a puppy.
"'mfine," you mumble into the pillow, hoping the fabric will hide your widening, twitching smile. you feel your ears getting warm and you pray to god ryland doesn't notice.
his fingers continue painting a ticklish trail down your torso, shifting downwards to dig into your sides and you can't help it- your elbows shift down from under your head, ever so slightly. you bite your lip.
you can't think of a worse possible situation to be in. the way ryland ensnared your movement entirely was comforting in the initial massage, but if he knew what was really going on- you'd be trapped underneath him and his quick fingers, until he was utterly satisfied.
you press your face into the pillow, hard, muffling the small squeaks and giggles erupting from you. this goes on for an agonizing amount of time before you finally crack.
"hey, i think i'm good now," you say through gritted teeth.
"really?" ryland's hands latch onto your hipbone and his thumbs dig into your lower back. it takes everything in you to hold in a scream.
"yeah," you say, your brain short-circuiting. "my thanks to you."
"no pain anywhere?"
"nope." you pop the "p". can he get the fuck off already?
"okay."
you breathe a sigh of relief when the ticklish touch is withdrawn from you. your body relaxes with the newfound freedom, devoid of the pain shooting across your back.
without warning, ryland begins to claw rapidly from your hips to the top of your ribs.
"wahit- wahaait, FUHUCK!" your arms shoot down immediately, clasping randomly at the air behind you. you can't see where his hands are. nor can you coordinate your limbs to find his fingers that are dodging and squeezing everywhere on your torso. "ryhylahand!"
he laughs maniacally. evil son of a bitch.
"yohou knehew!" you groan through hysterical squirming.
and you should've known. there was logically no way a massage devoid of malicious intent could humanly tickle that badly.
in your defense, you were more preoccupied with concealing your reactions than questioning ryland's masseur capabilities.
"of course i knew," ryland sings, matter-of-fact. "and you just let me tickle you. for so long."
you whine and your fists pound desperately on the floor. the massage earlier does nothing but make your nerves ten times more sensitive, and when he drills his fingers into your hips, you absolutely can't. you desperately attempt to army-crawl from underneath him.
you make it about three inches before ryland grabs hold of your sides and drags you back to your old position. his fingers dig into the skin during the movement and you squeal, shaking your head wildly, fingers searching for the mercy of traction in the crevices of smooth floorboards. you find none.
"you thought you were so slick with it." ryland laughs at you, sounding awfully like a cartoon villain monologue.
you flop around helplessly and turn to your side, curling up. ryland lets you, leaving one side of your ribcage entirely exposed.
"didn't you?" he punctuates the question with sporadic pokes and you twitch at each one.
you can't do anything but lie there and take it, weak giggles spilling out of you. ryland slows when he senses your fatigue.
but he's not done yet: he lunges at you spuriously, fingers hovering over your midsection and your laughter pitches rapidly every time, before he finally rolls off you, allowing you to shield your face and die in embarrassment.
"we will never speak of this again." you say after a long while.
"we'll see," ryland smiles. "better not overwork yourself again."
a type of fluttering fear settles itself into your chest, but you remember something ryland doesn't- he's the workacholic here.
Just laugh. Just let yourself laugh! This will be so much easier for you if you just let yourself laugh. Come on, you're already smiling! You know this feels silly! You're not just gonna get used to it! You're not fooling anyone! I know it tickles, and I'm not stopping until you let me hear that pretty, crazy laugh. Just let go and let it happen! What are you so embarrassed about? What are you so afraid of? It's just tickling! You're just ticklish! Super ticklish. Ticklish here, and ticklish here, and – oh, REALLY ticklish here! Oh NO, did I find a BAD SPOT? Looks like you're just gonna have to let me hear your crazy, silly, ticklish laughter!
Hey! Where do you think you're going? Nope, you're staying right here, and you're gonna laugh for me. You're gonna laugh really really hard. I hear it! I hear it bubbling out!
There it is! There's that beautiful laugh! See? Isn't this so much better? Isn't it? Hello? You in there? Uh oh... now you can't STOP laughing, can you? Having a little trouble speaking? It tickles even more now that you're laughing, doesn't it? You shouldn't have let the laughter out! Now I can't help myself, I HAVE to keep tickling you!
Awww, what's happening? Am I tickling the shit out of you? Is it embarrassing, losing yourself in a flood of silly, ticklish, laughter-inducing sensation like this? Your face is turning red! I guess I could stop tickling you... Buuuut, I'm not going to.
You're laughing so hard! You look and sound so happy! I think you like it! I think you LIKE getting tickled CRAZY like this! That's right, cutie, just keep laughing for me. Tickle tickle tiiickle～!
Summary: Eddie threatens to tickle him Once and Steve can't stop thinking about it.
A/N: This fic has been holding me hostage for TOO LONG, so I'm throwing out into the world.
Words: 6k
[Read it on AO3]
Eddie wasn’t dancing, exactly, but he was moving his body to the beat as he was talking. It shouldn’t be surprising to Steve to see him embody music this way - he was in a band, after all - but he found much of what made Eddie up surprised him. Inviting him to this party, for instance. Steve didn’t know what he was doing there. He knew no one other than the Corroded Coffin members, all of which, sans Eddie, he’d only met like twice. They probably didn’t know why he’d agreed to come either, but they weren’t mean about it. Mostly they just pretended he wasn’t there, which, yeah, that was fair.
It had been a long time since Steve had been to a party though, let alone drunk at one. Conformity aside, he genuinely had no business going to high school parties once he’d graduated, so he hadn’t necessarily felt as if he’d been missing out. But he had been missing them, he realized now, even though this was not his usual crowd. Even though this wasn’t strictly a high school party and he had come there without his usual security net.
Eddie was there, though. And that was a new one, too. Eddie at parties. Eddie wanting him there.
He took another swig of his beer. He’d asked Robin to come - Eddie had said he could bring her - but she was spending New Year’s Eve away. A family thing, she’d said, just like he was sure Nancy and Jonathan were also spending the last evening of the year. Family things, possibly together. Not for him.
“How come you’re not gonna be with your uncle?” Steve didn’t ask him, though he’d wondered. Eddie was leaning closer to Gareth now, both of them laughing at something Steve wasn’t able to hear from where he was standing.
The house wasn’t spilling over with bodies like the parties he used to attend when he was younger, though people were rowdy enough. Laughter was filling each space of the house, and some people were dancing much more than Eddie’s rendition of it. Wildly. Drunkely. The music was loud, but it varied in genre, and Steve could see how this was a place for the outcasts more than it was a space for him. He wasn’t King Steve anymore, but he wasn’t this, either. In between them all and belonging to no one. God, he needed a cigarette. And to get fucking laid. He drank the last of his beer and discarded the can on the kitchen island, took one more look at Eddie, who was listening intently to whatever Gareth was saying now, and left the room.
He moved through the crowd slowly, aiming for the backyard, where deck chairs were once lined neatly alongside the house, but had been spaced out throughout the garden as the night progressed. There, he could probably find one that was free, far enough that he could take a moment to breathe, but not far enough that he would look like a loner. He hated that he still cared about what people would think. Hated that it mattered so much to him.
It was closing in on midnight. He had one single cigarette on him, because he’d technically quit years ago, but had always kept that emergency one on in his jacket. Robin would disown him if she knew, but Robin wasn’t there. And besides, he could smoke it now to end this strange, strange year, and then start fresh in the new one. He could be poetic about it, if he’d been in the mindspace, which he kind of wasn’t.
He pulled it out of his pocket and promptly realized he didn’t carry a lighter. And that might’ve been his last fucking straw.
“Here.”
Eddie came out of nowhere, tossing a lighter his way. It hit Steve in the chest and fell onto his lap, and he picked it up without asking why Eddie had followed him out, or for how long he’d been watching him sit and stare into the night before he’d decided to smoke. “Thanks.”
“It comes with one condition, though,” he said, sitting down beside him.
He lit the cigarette. “Which is?”
Eddie broke into a grin. “We share that.”
Steve huffed out a laugh and handed it over. “Do the honors, then.”
Eddie took a drag, agonizingly slowly, but there was something beautiful about the way he took pleasure in the entire act. “I didn’t know you smoked.”
“I don’t.” Steve took it back, was much more in a rush. “Well, not anymore. Don’t you dare tell Robin about this.”
“My lips are sealed.”
He took it back when Steve was done, and they sat like that for a while, passing the cigarette between them, the music getting louder each time someone opened the door. Steve kind of wished he’d grabbed his coat on the way out. He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and let Eddie smoke up the rest.
“So.” Eddie threw the butt onto the ground, crushed it with his shoe. “You having fun?”
“Oh, the time of my life.”
Eddie huffed. “Fuckin’ liar.”
Steve let out a laugh. “Sorry. I’m in a weird mood.”
“Isn’t that the usual end of year tradition.”
“I guess.”
“I’m glad you came, though.” Eddie was looking at the ground, still crushing the cigarette butt. “Even if you’ve forgotten how to socialize.”
“Oh, shut up.” Steve shoved his shoulder and Eddie smiled, and neither of them mentioned the first part of what he said.
“You got any resolutions?”
Steve hummed. “Not really?”
“You’re not a resolutions guy, then?”
“I haven’t really thought about it.”
“I am.”
“Oh? Do share.”
Eddie shook his head. “Nuh uh. Not happening.”
“Oh, come on. You’re the one who brought it up.” Steve leaned closer and poked his chest. “Now I’m curious.”
Eddie pushed his hand away. “Stay curious, Ponyboy.”
Steve poked him again. He wasn’t sure when they became playful with each other, but it came easily to him now, a couple of beers in. He aimed his poke lower this time, hitting Eddie in the upper ribs, and he twisted away with something so similar to a laugh that Steve did it again.
He grabbed his wrist. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Harrington,” he said, voice low.
Steve raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“You don’t know this yet.” He leaned closer, as if confiding him in a secret. “But I’m a really fucking good tickler.”
It was like his life shifted. It was funny, how something like that could happen in a stranger’s backyard, from just a few simple words coming from a guy he barely knew a year ago. Steve sat there, still slightly too cold, and felt his soul do somersaults. And Eddie, who probably had no idea that what he’d said would soon define everything, smirked.
“What’s the matter?” he asked. “You really that ticklish?”
Steve had never felt so shy so suddenly. “No.”
“No?”
“I mean-”
“Oh my god, you’re so flustered.” Eddie’s smile softened, though it was still absolutely merciless. “It doesn’t really help your case, if I’m being honest. But I might be nice. I might wait until we’re alone.”
Steve could tell that he was blushing, and he didn’t know what to do with that. “I- oh.”
People were suddenly rushing outside, giddy and laughing, and soon they were all counting down from ten, and Steve realized the clock was striking twelve, and it took everything in him to pull his attention away from Eddie and stand up, join in, looking at Eddie as everyone screamed out for the new year. He was looking back. He was smiling, but there was something reserved about it.
“Happy new year,” he said and leaned in, pausing only to allow Steve to protest, before pressing their lips together, briefly, hidden in the shadows as the sky lit up with fireworks, and if Steve thought his life was about to change earlier, it was nothing compared to this.
*
He woke up hungover in a bed he didn’t recognize at first. First thought: he was dying of thirst.
“Hnngg.” He tried to sit up, but the room was bright enough - what the hell - that he rolled back over to press his face into the pillow, which was kind of weirdly hairy.
“You could say that again.”
He opened his eyes fully. “Eddie.”
“Stevie.” Eddie was clearly feeling as groggy as he was. “Stop fussing, it’s too early.”
“Thirsty.”
“Oh my god.” He waved his hand around. “There’s a glass by your side of the bed, I’m pretty sure. And aspirin, if you need it.”
“So considerate.”
He huffed out a laugh. “Not my doing. Wayne’s.”
“Your uncle?”
“He picked us up, remember?”
Steve positively did not remember. “How much did I drink last night?”
“Not too much.” Eddie let out an amused sound. “Though you downed about five shots in way too little time.”
“Oh my god, Eddie, why did you let me do that?” he groaned and rolled over onto his back. “I’m too old for shit like that.”
“You’re barely 20, dude, relax.”
Steve tried to sit up again, head spinning, when the wave of nausea hit and he found himself fumbling out of the bed, knocking the glass over in the process and just barely getting to the bathroom in time once he managed to find it to puke his guts up. Eddie must’ve not had as much to drink as him - had probably skipped the five shots - because by the time he returned to the bedroom he was wiping the water off of the floor with what looked like a t-shirt. “I think I’m gonna die. This is it for me.”
He crawled back into the bed and closed his eyes, willing death, or at the very least sleep, to seize him.
A hand in his hair. “I’ll get you some more water, okay?”
Steve remained where he was, willing himself not to think too much. Thinking never did him very good, he’d come to realize. Eddie returned quickly, quietly, this time tapping him on the arm to get his attention. “Drink.”
He sat up again. Drank. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Eddie settled beside him again, so very close. Did they really sleep this close? He was still wearing his shirt from last night, but his jeans had been exchanged for a pair of slightly too big shorts, similar to the ones Eddie was wearing. He tried not to imagine what that had been like, taking his pants off while he was blackout drunk.
“You okay? Need to throw up again?”
“Huh? Oh, no, no, I’m good. I think it helped. Throwing up, that is.”
“It usually does.”
Steve leaned back again, hesitating for a moment before raising his arms above his head. It was comfortable, but he would be a liar to say he only did it for comfort. He kept his gaze on the wall as he said, “Tell me what I did last night.”
Eddie snorted. “What didn’t you do?”
“Oh my god, Eddie, don’t say that.”
“Danced on the table with Gareth, for one.”
“What the fuck.”
“My thoughts exactly! I bet he feels worse than you today, if it brings you any comfort.”
“It really doesn’t.”
Eddie’s smile softened. “Despite how you might feel today, I think maybe you really needed to just let loose. Don’t be embarrassed. It was better than you brooding in the corner.”
“I wasn’t brooding.”
“You totally were.”
“No, really, I-” He lowered one arm. Needed the movement for emphasis. “I just felt out of place, all right? I know what people think of me and I know what I was like back in school, but I’m different now and I guess I still haven’t really found my place and I was standing there and just didn’t know how to act.”
“You were insecure.” Eddie said it as if he just realized it.
Steve shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”
“And shy.”
“Hey now.”
“It was really unfairly cute actually.”
“I- what?”
Eddie just grinned, as if he hadn’t unraveled Steve at least three times in the span of 12 hours. Speaking of.
He raised his arm again, almost as if to test him. If Eddie had caught on, or even remembered, he didn’t let it show. “So I reckon you didn’t down five shots in one hour then.”
“I took two. Figured someone had to take care of you.”
“Who took care of Gareth?”
“Oh, Gareth was entirely sober. I think he likes you.”
“Only took me making a fool out of myself.”
“Letting loose,” Eddie corrected him.
“Letting loose. Whatever.”
“Did you have fun, at least?”
“Hmm. I don’t remember most of the night, but I’m sure I did.”
Eddie was quiet for a moment, before asking, “How much do you remember?”
Ah. Okay. He was allowing Steve the freedom of making a choice. All right then.
“I remember you dancing.”
“Excuse me?” Eddie laughed, so loudly and suddenly that Steve had to grin. “I never danced!”
“Not, like, properly. But I remember you swaying to the beat.”
“That’s hardly dancing.”
“It was cute either way.”
Eddie huffed. “All right, what else?”
“Us smoking.”
“And not to tell Robin. Or Wayne, for that matter.”
“And-”
“And?”
“That’s it.”
“Ah. Well then.” Eddie suddenly reached for him and Steve pulled his arms down quickly without really thinking. “Relax, I’m just grabbing the aspirins.”
“Right.”
He reached over him for the bottle which he’d placed on the nightstand. “I do remember that.”
“What?”
He opened the bottle. “You panicking when I threatened to tickle you. I have a feeling you remember it as well, but I digress.”
“I wasn’t panicking.”
“You so were. Here. Take one.”
“I- thanks. I was not.”
“Mmm, don’t believe you. I think you, Steve Harrington, are really ticklish.” Eddie’s grin was lethal. “And would you look at that. We’re alone.”
“Eddie-”
“Except for my uncle, of course.” Eddie cocked his head. “So not fully alone after all.”
Steve exhaled. “You’re gonna be the death of me.” In ways Eddie probably didn’t realize.
He laughed. “I’ll make you breakfast. How does some real greasy bacon sound?”
*
Steve couldn’t let it go. Steve has a mission. Maybe a resolution, even, which had settled in his bones as the sky had exploded with fireworks. Just once, though preferably more. He was greedy, he knew. He couldn’t let it fucking go.
They hung out more now. It was their thing. Smoking on Eddie’s porch and watching movies late into the night and going for drives when the town felt a little too stifling for them both. And they did most of it alone, too, but Eddie was either leaving him hanging on purpose or was just oblivious to it. Steve couldn’t decide which one was more believable.
They also hung out with Eddie’s other friends. Gareth had settled on liking Steve one day and being indifferent to him the next, which kept him on his toes more than he would like to admit. Eddie told him not to mind him. That he was used to Eddie bringing people into their group whenever he scoped out newcomings who needed it, but that Steve wasn’t his usual kind. Steve had lowered his gaze when he’d said it, but Eddie had reached for his chin and dropped his hand with a laugh when he’d flinched away.
They spent time with Robin, and obviously Dustin, who seemed to be in a limbo of being jealous of their new friendship and over the moon about it. Sometimes they even hung out with Nancy and Jonathan. Sometimes all of them together in strange combinations, though that was rare. Mostly Steve couldn’t let go of the fact that it made much more sense for Eddie to hang out with Jonathan and Nancy and Dustin and Robin than it did for him to hang out with him.
And yet.
They still hadn’t talked about the kiss. And they never did kiss again. Steve wasn’t sure why he’d expected it. It would be infinitely easier to get Eddie to tickle him than to kiss him again, and that was really fucking hard, as it turned out.
“You okay?”
She had been doing that recently. Watching him and his erratic behavior. He would have found it sweet had he not been a nervous wreck as it was without onlookers. “I’m fine, don’t worry about it.”
Robin raised an eyebrow. “Will I have to force it out of you?”
Steve looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time. He wasn’t picky. If Eddie wasn’t going to tickle him, Robin for sure was. She’d never done it before, but it wouldn’t be abnormal behavior. It wouldn’t be unusual for her to lunge at him and figure out a thing or two and then keep going.
“Mind your business, okay?” he snapped, and maybe she would’ve done something had Eddie not showed up just then, carrying a plastic bag filled with beers into Steve’s living room. When Steve looked back at her, she was already busy with something else.
How ironic for him to interrupt something Steve only did because he wouldn’t. He didn’t feel brave enough to do it when he was around, but he realized he became bolder when he wasn’t there. Provoking them all. Sometimes he even started tickling them himself, which he never had before and which for some reason never resulted in revenge. He also became cuddlier, longing for scratches along his back to become gentler, to make him squirm. If any of them, Robin, Nancy and Jonathan, found that he was acting strange, they didn’t bring it up.
He remained untickled. And so he was back to the source.
Not every moment he spent alone with Eddie was laced with this longing. Sometimes he really did just exist, leaning against the armrest of the couch as they were watching a movie or pouring Wayne a cup of coffee before he left for work in the evenings. He didn’t know when he became so comfortable there, but Eddie had told him many a times that both him and Wayne found it weird whenever he’d not been around for more than a couple of days.
The late March sun was blinding him, but he was too lazy to get up and close the blinds. “Eddie,” he called out weakly. “Help.”
“What is it?”
“Sun.”
Eddie stuck his head into the room. “What?”
“Sun.”
“Okay? I- oh my god, you did not just call me in here to close the fucking blinds.”
“Sorry.”
“You don’t sound very sorry.” He moved closer slowly, and Steve felt a sudden wave of anticipation hit him. Maybe. Maybe. But Eddie only walked over to the window to do what he was asked. “Better?”
“Mm, yeah.”
“You absolute princess.”
Steve laughed. “Sorry.”
Eddie loomed over him on the bed, and Steve did his best to lay entirely still. Wayne was at work. They were alone and Steve had inconvenienced him. Surely that would be enough. He grinned up at him, all but batting his eyelashes, and Eddie rolled his eyes. “Scoot over.”
“There’s plenty of room on the other side of the bed.”
“I said-” A finger in his face. So close. So close. “Scoot over.”
Steve jutted his chin out. “Make me.”
“Oho. You’re forgetting, Steve.” Eddie’s smirk was lethal. “I know a thing or two about how to knock you down a peg. I mean, I might not have seen you get wrecked-” He leaned closer. “But I’ve seen how you’ve reacted when I threaten to do it. And I’ve seen the way you flinch if I get too close. So I would be careful if I were you. You’ve really been asking for it recently, being so bratty and all but teasing me with your spots.” He paused, something flickering across his face.
Oh no.
“Wait.”
Oh no.
“Have you-” For the first time since Steve got to know him, Eddie looked uncertain. “You- you’ve not been doing it on purpose, have you?”
Steve didn’t reply.
“Steve.”
“Hm, what? Doing what?”
“You know.” Amusement in the corner of his lips. God, Steve didn’t know what to do with that.
He looked away. “Ah. That.”
Eddie rounded the bed and sat down beside him on his other side, making the mattress dip ever so slightly so that Steve felt himself lean toward him. “Hey. We can totally drop it if you don’t wanna talk about it, but I would like to understand.”
“What, my weird desire to get tickled by you?”
“It’s not weird, I don’t think, but-” He shrugged. “Yeah, that.” A smile. “I’m especially interested in the ‘by me’ part.”
Steve bumped their shoulders together. “Don’t get a big head about it. It’s your fault for threatening me on New Year’s Eve.”
“Is that why you became all flustered?”
“Oh my god, I think this conversation will be the death of me, but- yeah. Whatever.” He picked at a loose thread on Eddie’s comforter. “I’ve always- liked it. In some way. At first I thought I liked the roughhousing I used to do with friends when I was younger. But when I started getting into relationships. I mean, obviously I would do it to them. Just to tease, you know. Flirt. And sometimes they would do it back, which, oh my god, I didn’t realize it was the actual tickling I liked, but.” He trailed off, embarrassed. “Anyway. I always found no one ever did it for long enough or often enough to satisfy me, but I kinda had bigger problems, so I haven’t thought about it for a long time.”
“Until our talk during New Year’s.”
“Exactly. Just the way you made it sound as if you wouldn’t make it last for only thirty seconds. Oh, god.” Steve slid down the bed and hid his face under the covers. “This is humiliating.”
A hand on top of his head. “Why? Have I shown any judgment?”
“Well, no.”
“Have I made it sound as if I don’t find this incredibly sweet and hot?”
“I mean, no, but you’ve also not said that.”
“That’s fair.” His hand traced the side of Steve’s face, until he gently gripped his chin. “Come out, please. I want to say it to your face.”
Steve let himself get pulled back into the light, and Eddie let his hand linger on his face, all the things they’d left unsaid filling the room. That was the crux of it. That Steve’s desire came with so much more than just the tickling. That he wanted Eddie to do it to him. That he wanted Eddie and no one else to pin him and unravel him and laugh into his neck and kiss him when Steve couldn’t take it anymore. That was why it never worked, provoking anyone else. It was as if they could all tell that that wasn’t theirs to do. How could he make all of this known, when he couldn’t even acknowledge that he remembered their kiss, how gentle Eddie had been, how they’d dragged it out for longer than was needed. How Steve stupidly hadn’t known how to interpret it and had run away, and how Eddie had never held that against him even though he kept coming around, desperate for something without feeling brave enough to ask for it.
If Eddie saw any of that on his face, he didn’t say anything. Only dropped his hand, much to Steve’s chagrin, and smiled. That beautiful fucking smile.
“I think it’s really sweet,” he said, leaning back a bit as if to see him better. “and really hot, that you want to be tickled by me. That you want to be tickled in general, but especially by me.”
Steve nodded. “All right. Okay. Cool.”
He laughed. “And I think it’s really endearing how shy you are about it, but I’ll digress.” He exhaled. “Right. My turn, then.”
“What do you mean?”
“To confess.” He scratched the back of his neck, the very image of bashfulness which would have made Steve gone feral had he not been in the trenches of his own embarrassment. “You see, me threatening to tickle you was a bit calculated. I mean.” He let out a laugh. “You made it so easy for me, it was amazing. It made me wonder if you’d somehow figured it out, even though it made no sense because I’d made a very conscious decision not to pursue you until I knew if I stood a chance.”
“Pursue me.”
“In more than one way, but I think you know I like you, Steve, you have to know that.”
Steve’s heart was doing somersaults. “I-”
“No, wait, one confession at a time.” Eddie looked away. “Anyway. I’m not trying to be a creep about it, I promise you, but the thought of tickling you, even for just a moment, still makes me go crazy. And when you reacted like that.” He shook his head. “I didn’t know how to interpret it, so I just haven’t done it. I sometimes felt like all the signs I’m now sure you’ve shown were things I made up in my head.”
Steve groaned. “I thought I would go crazy from how oblivious you seemed.”
Eddie burst into laughter. “I’m sorry, but what would you have done in my shoes?”
“I have literally no idea.” Steve pulled his arms out from under the covers. “So. You like me.” The fear that briefly crossed Eddie’s face made him scramble to say, “I like you too.”
“You do?”
“Obviously, Eddie, oh my god.”
Eddie held out his hands. “Just checking.”
Steve shook his head. “Stupid.”
“Hey, watch your tone now.”
“And what if I don’t?”
Eddie seemed delighted. “Then I have no choice but to withhold tickles.”
“Aw, man, that’s not fair.”
“I need to ask you something,” he suddenly said. “Before I wreck you. Do you really not remember our kiss?”
Steve licked his lips. “Of course I remember. I panicked, I’m sorry.”
Eddie put his knuckles against his cheek. “Don’t apologize. I get it. Really.”
“It was still a stupid thing to lie about. I should’ve just been honest.” Steve leaned into the touch. “Speaking of. I lied about another thing. When you asked if I had any resolutions for the new year. Well, I didn’t then, but I do now.”
“Oh? Do share.”
Steve shook his head with a laugh. “Nuh uh. Not happening.”
Eddie grabbed his jaw. “Well, I better force it out of you then.”
Most fantasies were never as good in real life, but this was something else. From the way Eddie was suddenly straddling his lap, using his body to pin him to the mattress and making Steve’s entire being fill up with butterflies, to the way he was grinning, such playfulness, such unwavering confidence in what he was doing. It would be a lie to say he would be happy with just this, with simply the foreplay of it all. If Eddie would stop now, simply back off and leave Steve entirely untickled, he was pretty certain he would die.
But Eddie didn’t stop. Eddie had barely started, as it turned out.
“Any last words, Harrington?” he asked, looming over him as he pinned his arms to each side of his head.
“Three, actually.” He felt himself flush. “Make it good.”
“Oho, that I will. I can promise you that.”
The seconds before Eddie started felt like an eternity. Partly because he seemed to allow himself a moment to simply watch him, tilting his head with that ghost of a smile on his lips that always made Steve feel things in much more normal circumstances. Steve felt his whole body twitching from the anticipation. He was so exposed, underarms and all. And maybe he would be able to squirm away, struggle with all his might and escape, but something told him Eddie would make sure he didn’t until he really truly wanted out. He could tell that Eddie would know, somehow, when he’d had enough. He felt, he realized with a jolt, entirely safe.
That didn’t mean his body didn’t physically try to escape the very moment Eddie let go of one of his arms and placed his fingertips on his upper ribs. He wasn’t even tickling him, really, and yet Steve felt something seize him, something like panic and anticipation and something he couldn’t fully identify. He didn’t know what to do with it. He didn’t know what to do with it at all, so when he finally got what he wanted, what he’d spent the past few months and years and his whole life wanting so desperately, he forgot to enjoy it. All he could do was struggle back, as if it was too much, and maybe it was.
“Hey hey.” Eddie’s hand on his cheek. Eddie wearing a look of concern which made him even prettier, somehow. “You’re okay.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize, really, it’s okay.”
Steve exhaled. “I don’t know what happened.”
“Well, I can’t tell you what you’re feeling, but I can share my theory.”
“Please do.” Steve couldn’t look at him, but Eddie let him turn his head away. Eddie, who was still straddling him but now kept his hands to himself.
“I mean, this is a super vulnerable thing, right? Allowing yourself to be touched like this on already sensitive spots. I know I’ve been teasing you and all, but it really is okay to be nervous about it or to change your mind. This isn’t a very common situation. You freaked out, that’s all.”
Steve pressed his palms against his eyes. “Right.”
“We can stop.” He made a move to get off, Steve could feel it, but he reached out to grab his arm.
“Wait, no.”
Eddie’s smile was soft. “No?”
“I don’t wanna stop.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. Just.” Steve waved a hand around, suddenly impatient. “Just do it, okay? Don’t give me time to overthink.”
“If you say so.”
Eddie’s hands were on him instantly, curling over his sides in such an unbearable way that he started laughing almost immediately. He still struggled back, gripped Eddie’s wrists and dug his heels into the mattress, only this time it looked different. It wasn’t the same desperation to flee, but simply to get a moment of relief. It was fun, he realized, to shove insisting hands away only for them to return. Call him a masochist. He couldn’t help being built this way. He couldn’t believe he’d found someone who fit his puzzle piece so effortlessly, as cheesy as it sounded.
“Oh my god, no- please- Eddie- shit!”
“Having fun?”
“Shut uhuhup!”
“Oohh, feisty, are we. It must tickle like crazy and I’ve only tried one spot.” Eddie laughed along with him. “My, my, how will this go?”
Eddie couldn’t know what spots of his made him react in certain ways, but Steve could tell he was taking it in as he moved over his torso. He was analyzing and learning. Steve realized, in the midst of trying to curl in on himself as Eddie vibrated his fingers over his lower stomach, that he had been right. He was a really good tickler. It wasn’t just about the tickling itself, but he knew just how to keep Steve pinned to the mattress with his thighs, how to tease him just right to make it all the more exhilarating and, had Steve been someone else, frustrating. Not to mention that he knew exactly how to move his hands over his body, as if he’d been doing this for years. But Eddie had found out about him allegedly being ticklish only months ago.
“Who else have you been tickling?” he didn’t ask, though he wondered, something sour and ugly settling over his chest at the thought of it. It lasted only a second, because Eddie had just discovered that one spot on his hip and Steve was now busy howling and bucking for his life.
“Eddie, fuck! Not there, no-” Steve grabbed his wrists, squeezing the bones but he didn’t try to shove him away. He felt he had a level of control like this, which Eddie must’ve realized because he didn’t try to slip free. Instead he let Steve hang on as he switched spots, settling on his lower ribs and sending Steve into a giggle fit. It was nice, not needing to thrash. But it tickled. It tickled so bad he would for sure go crazy with time.
“Imagine how bad this would be if I went under your shirt,” Eddie murmured, circling the same spot over and over. “I’m sure I could make you beg even more, but I’m enjoying your laughter too much to push you that far so early.”
“You’re so fucking- shit!”
“Ah, sweet spot?”
How he’d longed for this. Two decades of trying to figure it out and Eddie unraveled it all within minutes.
He threw his head back as the giggles wracked through his body, and Eddie finally moved on to another, equally ticklish spot, and their dance continued. It was only once he reached his neck that Steve started fighting back in earnest, which seemed to be Eddie’s cue to stop.
“You did so good,” he told him, which, wow, okay, Steve could totally be normal about that. “How was it? How do you feel?”
“I feel- like mush. But like. Static-y at the same time.”
Eddie let out a laugh. “That’s good?”
“Oh, it is. I just-” Steve rubbed at his neck. “I feel tickly.”
“Well, I would sure hope so, considering I just tickled you.”
He breathed out a laugh. “Shut up. I’m not in a position to make sense.”
“Did you enjoy it?” Something crossed his face. Something Steve could now recognize as timidness. “Was it good?”
“So good, Jesus, Eddie, you fucking beautiful genius.”
They laughed together, which wasn’t new, but this felt different now. Everything had been unlocked with each curl of Eddie’s fingers. He leaned down to laugh into Steve’s chest, his hair tickling his face, and Steve wrapped his arms around him because he couldn’t handle not to. He tangled his fingers into his hair and felt Eddie inch his fingers into his underarms. When he clamped his arms down, laughter already pouring out of his throat and spilling out into the bedroom, he caught Eddie raising his head to beam at him.
And then Wayne came home. Because of course he did.
*
Steve spent the night without needing to make up a reason for it. He settled on Eddie’s bed and allowed himself to scoot closer under the covers, and when his mind tried to sabotage him, as it often did, Eddie pressed his lips to his cheek and it was so very easy to turn his head to capture his mouth with his own. He didn’t run away this time, and Eddie wasn’t afraid of touching him now. There was something about laughing into his lips when he felt fingertips spider over his spine, just shy of ticklish, that had Steve addicted.
“Is this okay?” Eddie asked him, running his hand over his side. “Would you prefer not to get tickled right now?”
“No, no, it’s okay.”
“You like it.”
“I do, yeah.”
“Good.” Eddie bumped their foreheads together. “I like it too. Obviously.”
“Obviously.”
Steve shivered at the touch, but realized Eddie wasn’t aiming to make him laugh. Just stroking his skin, catching him between relaxed and squirmy. A state he could get used to being in. If he kept this up, Eddie would for sure discover that he adored having his back lightly scratched, and that if you moved over his lower back just right, you could hit that one ticklish spot he couldn’t handle having touched. If he knew Eddie, he knew he’d never forget about that spot. And he knew Eddie pretty damn well at this point.
Notes: This is slightly late, but shh, don't worry about it. I've been reading through a lot of Sherlock Holmes lately for one of my classes, and have become obsessed with the idea of having someone that observant come into contact with a knismo. Anyways, as a result, have this~
Summary: Sherlock is seeking entertainment, and as usual, John is expected to give it to him.
“You know, we could go see a movie. Perhaps take a stroll around town. Get a bite to eat. There’s an escape room that only just opened up east of here, that sounds like it could pose a fun challenge.”
“Boring, trivial, not hungry, and really, John.” Sherlock faced him with a withering look. “An escape room? Is that all you take my intelligence for? One might begin to wonder if you had been paying attention on any of these cases if they didn’t have your blog to vouch for you.”
John sighed, rolling his eyes and sinking back into his chair with the exhaustion of a man at his wit’s end. They had been at this for nearly an hour. John would suggest an activity. Sherlock would shoot it down. With each reiteration of the process, both of their frustrations seemed to grow. John might give it up if it weren’t for the fact that they were only playing this game because John had found Sherlock applying one of his nicotine patches to his upper arm. I need stimulation, Sherlock had explained. There’s better stimulation than that, and better for you, anywhere else in town, John had replied irritably.
And so, the game began.
Sherlock drooped over the couch, his long limbs dangling askance with no thought of decorum. His head tilted a little off of the arm of the sofa as he stared up at the ceiling. He hadn’t bothered to take his shoes off from earlier that day, and he tossed them on the cushions with reckless abandon. He looked more liquid than man when he was in these states, boredom wheedling away at his mind until all his enthusiasm had seeped out of him.
It was awfully dramatic, and frankly, John was getting sick of it.
“You’re awfully picky about your choice of stimulant, you know that?” John asked wryly. “It must be death or else some awful mystery for the great Sherlock Holmes, or else he must resort to narcotics in order to pass the time. You have a library of the world’s greatest literature, an apartment in one of the busiest cities in England, and a very humble, very helpful friend willing to spend his Saturday evenings indoors just to help you out. Surely you can find something of interest amongst all that.”
A gleam had come into Sherlock’s eyes then. It was a gleam that usually meant he had alighted upon some new clue or unraveled the final knot in a puzzle. Often, it meant danger. Even more often, it meant danger for John. He narrowed his eyes at the detective, stiffening in his chair. “What’s that look for?”
“I think I’ve found my source of entertainment.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.” Sherlock sat up suddenly, leaning forward and resting his chin on his hands. “You.”
That didn’t bode well.
“Me?” John exclaimed, furrowing his brows. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Nothing too important, just a theory I’ve been developing.” Sherlock never took his eyes off of him. It had started to feel a little invasive and John shifted uncomfortably. “It’s sat at the background of my mind—as you can imagine, I’ve had more important things than John Watson on my mind.”
“Of course,” John said wryly.
“But now I find myself with a moment of peace and you are the perfect subject to explore. What better brain teaser to wile away the hours?”
“And just what exactly is this theory?"
“It is entirely postulated on the theory that you’re ticklish. Which, if that theory turns out to be wrong, could blow this whole puzzle to shreds.”
John had blanched at his words, his heart thudding a million miles an hour in his chest. Ticklish. He’d said it so casually, as if the word didn’t have the same effect as cocking a loaded gun and pointing it right at him. John swallowed, crossing his arms. He was aware that Sherlock noticed the action, aware that it was obviously a defensive gesture that would only confirm Sherlock’s findings, but he couldn’t help it. “Oh?” he croaked out. “What exactly does my sensitivity have to do with anything?”
Sherlock cocked his head. “Interesting. You use the word ‘sensitivity’, an arguably vague word as a replacement instead of just saying ‘ticklish’. Does just the word itself instill the same sense of apprehension as the action?”
He was beet red now. “Just get to the bloody theory, Holmes.”
“Right. Yes. I noticed it first with a few dates you brought over to the flat lately. There’s been a few moments where in the act of cuddling—”
“You said you wouldn’t spy on us!”
“I was in the kitchen John, I can hardly help it if I happen to notice things while I’m working on experiments. Besides, I didn’t bother you with it at the time. I only noticed that when you were close like this, occasionally a scuffle would break out that I quickly would realize as your date tickling you. Now, the normal reaction is to try to get away from something like that, but with you, you hardly moved, just laughed and allowed her to continue on as long as she liked. Despite this, you acted very offended afterwards, doing that blustery thing you do—”
“I do not bluster—”
“—you absolutely do, don’t interrupt please. Anyways, a strange reaction from someone so willingly going along with an activity. You’re a strong man, a capable one as well, and you don’t tolerate people to walk over you like that. Well. Except occasionally with myself, but that’s a mystery for another day. So, I wondered, why? Why put up the act? I admit after that I started watching more intentionally, gathering data on as many dates as possible—”
“Oh my god,” John moaned, sinking into the armchair. He felt warm and prickly all over, embarrassment settling into him like a fever.
“—and what I noticed is that this behavior remained the same. And then some new data. It went beyond simply allowing the tickling. You seemed almost to bait them into it. An interesting strategy for a man not enjoying himself. And so, my theory: you, John Watson, like to be tickled.”
“Oh my god,” John repeated again, possibly the only thing he was capable of saying at the moment. “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. What have I possible done to be here for this moment?”
“Is it true?”
“Is what true?”
“Do you like to be tickled?”
“No, Sherlock, of course not!” John snapped. “Who likes to be tickled? That’s not… it’s just not a thing!”
“You’re getting defensive.” Sherlock frowned. “Are you embarrassed about this?”
Yes. “No! I just think you’re wrong. You know, you are capable of it, being wrong.”
“Yes,” Sherlock mused, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back. “Despite my best efforts. In this case, though, I don’t think I am. You’re far too riled up for a wrongful accusation. I think I have landed on the correct theory, and you are putting up this act to lead me away from it. I don’t see why, though. There’s nothing embarrassing about it. Humans have all kinds of strange interests, it’s perfectly natural.”
John contemplated the window and whether or not he could throw himself out of it without permanently injuring himself. Probably not. He sighed, scrubbing his hand over his face and glaring at the wall instead. “Fine.”
“Fine?”
“Fine, I like being tickled. By some people. A little bit. Are you happy?”
The detective did very little to hide the self-satisfied smirk that always accompanied solving a case. “Of course I’m happy, I was right. It doesn’t always happen, as you were so quick to point out.” He paused, hesitating a little. “Is it only with romantic partners then?”
John’s stomach clenched. “Not necessarily, no.”
“So, friends, too?”
“People I trust.”
“Ah.” Sherlock steepled his fingers, locking him in an intense gaze. “Do you want me to tickle you?”
Do you want me to tickle you, were not words that John had ever anticipated coming out of Sherlock’s mouth. He looked oblivious too, the question asked so innocently and earnestly that John almost told him the truth outright. “I… why?”
“Well, you trust me.”
“Sort of,” John clarified, though there was no ‘sort of’ about it. When it came to Sherlock, John never needed to think, he just agreed and acted. “No, I mean, why would you want to tickle me?” He’d said the word a few times now and each time it sent a flush running anew over his features. “It’s not something friends typically do.”
“Perhaps. But friends don’t normally like that to happen. You do. And friends hug and touch as affection. How is this any different?”
It was true that as of late Sherlock had started engaging in more of the ‘typical’ friendship acts when it came to physicality. John wasn’t sure what had prompted it, but all of a sudden, Sherlock had been making more of an effort to touch his shoulder, hug at partings, or knock knees if they were sitting on the couch. He was stiff at first with it, clearly unused to that kind of behavior, but he had settled into it eventually and now it even felt normal. John suspected it was due to their last case. A client had remarked on Sherlock’s coldness with John after they’d mentioned how long they’d been friends. Sherlock had gone a bit stiff at the comment, though it was clearly meant as a joke. And now this behavior. John would have pointed out that Sherlock didn’t need to do any of that for them to be friends, but the detective seemed like he was enjoying it after a while, and John didn’t want to embarrass him. He kind of liked it himself, if he was being honest.
This tickling thing was likely related. Only unlike a hug, John wasn’t sure if he’d be able to stand this kind of physical affection from his friend—rather, from the great Sherlock Holmes. Being tickled by a detective as observant as he was both flustering and nerve-wracking.
John sighed, shifted, crossed his leg and uncrossed it, and finally muttered, “You can, if you’d like. I wouldn’t mind it, is all, if you’re curious. But only if you want. I don’t want you doing this out of some sort of pity or obligation.”
He wasn’t sure what would happen or how this would go down. But the next minute, Sherlock was hesitantly approaching him, resting his knee in-between John’s legs for support as he reached forward. His fingers halted moments away and John’s breath hitched. “Do you want to be teased?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Understood.”
And then Sherlock’s fingers were fluttering under his chin and along his ears. Of all the places! John was entirely unprepared for him to start there and immediately ducked his chin, letting out a snort as he batted at his hands. Sherlock’s fingers were long and nimble, easily evading John’s very weak attempts to get him to stop.
“This is a different laugh than normal,” Sherlock noted curiously. He scratched behind John’s ears more vigorously, a spot that seemed to make the other go bananas shaking his head and trying to squirm away. “It’s less restrained, more chaotic. I like it."
Sherlock hummed and then the bastard smiled, a smug little grin that was a bit shyer than his normal looks of superiority; he wasn’t in his element, but he was enjoying it. “I see. I think I should continue then, seeing as you want it to tickle.”
John was going to kill him.
The tickling didn’t last terribly long, all things considered. Sherlock spent the time mapping out his torso. Your ribs are only ticklish if I claw them, he would note. But your stomach and hips have to be touched gently or else you can block it out. Note after fucking note. Your left underarm is more sensitive than your right. You protest the least when I tickle your sides, possibly a favorite spot. You cannot stand hearing the word ‘tickle’. Each comment lodged itself in John’s mind, playing on repeat until he found himself unable to coherently respond to anything Sherlock was saying. There was something awfully vulnerable about being picked apart by the world’s greatest detective.
John loved and hated it in equal measure.
They eventually had to stop when Sherlock tried to squeeze his kneecaps and ended with John’s legs slamming up and connecting with his ribs. Sherlock had wheezed, stumbling off of him, and John had apologized a million times. The detective still seemed a bit miffed a few minutes later when he was sitting back on the couch again. Normally, John would have called him a baby for moping about over such a small hit, but he had no capacity for teasing the other in him at the moment. In fact, he couldn’t even meet Sherlock’s eyes, though he knew they were trained on him. Nor could he get rid of the smile that remained permanently fixed to his features.
“I suppose injuries cannot be helped when it comes to one so ticklish as yourself,” Sherlock concluded at last to a groan from John. “Next time I’ll just need to account for your limbs better. Your reflexes are far too refined.”
“I’m sorry, next time?”
Sherlock nodded solemnly. “Of course. Now that I know you enjoy it, I’ll make sure to employ it more often. Besides, your sensitivity will serve as a fun enigma to solve in-between cases. It’s just what you always wanted, Doctor Watson: a way for me to gain stimulation without resorting to those ‘devilish patches’ as you call them.”
John blanched, unsure whether he could handle being Sherlock’s personal experiment in-between cases. His mind rebelled at the idea, but his body tingled in anticipation of what it would mean to get tickled so consistently.
John sank back in his chair and closed his eyes, accepting what was to be his fate for the next several weeks.
Notes: I've been rereading through old destiel fics people have written and I felt I had to pay homage to these guys this month. I am obsessed with the idea of ticklish wings. Would they actually be sensitive like that if they existed? I don't know. But who cares, I make the rules now~
Summary: An angel showing another their wings is an honor that not many receive. Dean takes advantage of being shown Castiel's.
Dean had been at it for a while now, but in his defense, it was difficult to pull his hands away from the angel’s wings. They were softer than anything he had felt before, and they reminded Dean of a blanket he’d used to own when he was younger. It had a gentle, fluffy texture with little dragons painted all over it. He’d used to rub it against his cheeks relentlessly to fall asleep. Now, Dean pressed his face against Castiel’s wings experimentally. Much, much better than a blanket.
He heard a soft gasp when he moved. It was the first noise he’d heard out of Cas since they’d started this process. He’d been sitting quietly, if nervously, clenching and unclenching his fists on his knees. His wings twitched every once in a while under Dean’s touch as if ducking away from his fingers. It was cute. Well, it was awe-inspiring at first to see their majestic expanse expand and recoil, and then it was cute as Dean grew accustomed to the sight.
“Did I hurt you?”
Cas shook his head. “No. It’s just… strange to have them touched. Or kissed, for that matter. An angel’s wings are typically very private. I have not had them touched in a long while.”
Dean endeavored to shove down the burst of jealousy that sentence inspired as he wondered who the hell else had touched Cas’s wings. Instead, he pulled his face back and stared intently at the back of Cas’s head. “If this is too much, just tell me. I know I was the one who asked to see them, but you don’t have to—"
“Dean.” Dean’s mouth snapped shut at the gentle reprimand in Cas’s voice. “I’m fine. Really. I don’t really have any feelings about my wings either way, so it’s no bother to me. Though I have to admit, it is rather flattering to have someone so fascinated by them.”
Castiel was smiling gently, a soft flush on his features, and Dean felt heat rising to his own cheeks. “Yeah, well, they’re worthy of fascination,” he grumbled, then moved to plant his face back in the wings as a way of avoiding further conversation. Mercifully, Castiel allowed them both to sink into silence.
Since his wings could expand to fill nearly the entirety of their hotel room, Cas kept them furled close by his sides, so all the feathers bunched up together. Dean had to reach through layers of fluff to get to the skin beneath, which was strong and leathery with muscle corded beneath his fingers. He swallowed, tracing the surface wonderingly. “Can you feel this?”
Cas nodded. “It is only skin after all. It feels more sensitive than other areas of my body, though. Everything is heightened.” He shivered as Dean continued tracing a path of loops and swirls. “It’s nice.”
It didn’t necessarily seem just nice, from the way he was reacting. Cas’s shoulders were tensed, but as he had told him it was no bother, Dean tried to take his word for it. Maybe he needed to be gentler. If his wings really were this sensitive, even this light touch might be bothersome. Dean eased up his touch so that his fingers only ghosted over the skin.
Cas gasped, jerking forward suddenly. His wings started to flutter but he quickly drew them in again, remembering where he was. Dean pulled his hands back as though burned. Shit. He had overstepped, or crossed a boundary, or god forbid had hurt the other. It had to be something. “Everything alright?”
Except Cas didn’t look hurt. In fact, his ears were tinged bright red, and he was grinning ear-to-ear. It was a specific grin that Dean had not had the pleasure to see yet. It was adorable. Cas cleared his throat a few times, the words sticking in his throat. “Everything’s fine.” Even his voice was more high-pitched than normal. “It’s just… really sensitive there.”
Dean’s eyes widened. “Oh god. This isn’t like, some kind of angel erogenous zone, is it? Because I promise, I wasn’t trying to—”
“Nothing like that,” Cas was quick to assure him, laughing fondly at the other’s panic. “No, it just tickled is all.”
Tickled. Cas was ticklish. Dean blinked a few times, trying to process the information. He honestly wasn’t sure why he was so dumbfounded. He had never been interested in tickling before with any past partners. Sure, sometimes it could be a fun tool to use to fuck with somebody—he had certainly put Sam through the ringer more than once when they were kids—but the ticklishness of his partners was never something he had really noted before. But this was Cas. Cas with his cute, barely-there smiles. Cas with the blushes that dusted his features gracefully, unlike the ruddy, blotchy mess Dean became. Cas who was so innocently unflappable sometimes. Cas who Dean was desperately, sometimes pathetically, in love with.
He needed to see what he looked like being tickled.
Dean didn’t think about what he was doing before he was moving, skittering his fingers all over his wings with that same, ghostly touch. He felt like a man possessed, a hunger prompting his body into movement. The moment he did, Cas gasped and twisted forward, his shoulders jerking wildly as he tried to move away. His laughter was coming out breathless, peals of giggles and occasional squeaks as Cas floundered about, seemingly unsure what to even do with himself. Dean couldn’t see his face from this angle, but he could imagine how his eyes squeezed shut, how his mouth would be parted in that glorious smile once more. And then—
“Dehehehehean!”
His name, spoken amongst that desperate laughter, fueled the fire burning through his veins. Dean inhaled sharply, leaning his head against Cas’s back, trying to control himself. It was cruel to take advantage of this moment, to take such joy in his helplessness. But he couldn’t help it. Dean honestly didn’t know if he’d be able to see the other each day without the need to see that smile again.
He gave in and tickled harder. Cas whined under him. Dean didn’t speak, couldn’t really, too enraptured in the process. Cas’s wings shuddered and flapped anxiously, the muscles trembling as Cas tried to keep them under control. They were too big and kept knocking vases off of table, knocking into chairs, coffee makers, and more. Later, it would look like their hotel room had been stampeded through. Dean couldn’t find it in him to care.
It didn’t help that it looked like Cas was truly losing his mind. Dean wasn’t sure if Cas was this ticklish everywhere or if it was aided by the sensitivity of his wings, but the angel looked like he really couldn’t take it. He kept swatting at his legs or grabbing his face, and a few times he almost reached back to rip Dean’s hands away but would always stop himself at the last minute. He never protested. He said Dean’s name several times, insisted on how much it tickled, complained that they were going to destroy the room. But never did a no, stop, or don’t leave his lips. It was interesting to say the least.
All good things have to come to an end, however, and when Dean leaned forward experimentally to blow a raspberry onto the base of Cas’s wings, the angel let out a shriek like Dean had never heard before. A strangled, “DEHEHEHEHEAN,” rang out throughout the room as Cas scrambled forward out of the way, his wings really doing some damage on the room this time. That was enough to snap Dean out of his reverie, and he snorted, grabbing Cas and pulling him back into his arms.
“Dean, really, that’s too—”
“Relax, angel, I’m done with you.” Dean rested his head on his shoulder, pressing firm kisses there so as not to accidentally tickle the other. It took him a moment, but eventually Cas relaxed in his hold. They sat there a few minutes, Cas still shivering slightly from the leftover sensations. “I didn’t realize you were ticklish.”
Cas shook his head. “Neither did I. No one has ever tried before.”
That almost made up for the moment of jealousy earlier. Maybe he was not the first to see Cas’s wings, but he was definitely the first to tickle them. There was something special about that. “Really?”
“No. I knew human bodies were ticklish, but I didn’t think wings could be. It was… intense.” Cas shuddered. “But nice. I think I might have enjoyed it if there was some way to keep me still. I wouldn’t want to cause as much disruption each time.”
Dean’s heart thudded in his chest at the words. He definitely didn’t need the images that prompted in his head. He groaned, burying his face in the other’s shoulder. “Cas, you’re killing me.”
“What did I do?”
“Just… don’t worry about it. Here, I’ll massage them instead. Make up for it.”
The rest of the night was calm, filled with gentle breathing and sighs as Cas relaxed under his hands.
Summary: Awaiting for your arrival in your room, Chance has a devised a campaign for both of you to play. Surely he wouldn’t anything devious and ticklish planned as retaliation for you tickling him earlier… right? (Spoiler: he does)
Author’s Notes: CHANCE ARGH. That is all.
…Kidding. This one took me a bit to write. I hope the G&G exposition bits aren’t too long winded but they’re needed for obvious reasons. We can read our favourite fella yap together. :] Made this sickly sweet and fluffy too because ARGH I love Chance so much and I know a whole lot of you do too. Tysm for the support on part one!! 💚 Here is a direct link to part one if you haven’t read that yet!
Words: ~2,900 | AO3 Link
Night fell as the house grew quiet, as it did every night. You had spoken to the rest of your object friends with what remainder of energy you had left, and now it was time to go to bed…
…well, not quite yet.
Your mind flashed to what happened earlier today…
You flustered your favourite D20, Chance, until he was red in the face. Not only did you do that, but you discovered he was ticklish as well, and used that newfound knowledge to fluster him even more.
You must admit - Chance’s laughter was heart fluttering, and his face just looked so cute, so you didn't regret it (and he didn't mind). It made you fall in love with him all over again. But, what he stated afterwards as you hastily left the room…
You failed the grand GM’s Deception check when you reflected his question when he asked if you were ticklish or not. He rolled a critical failure on his dice. And now, apparently he has something planned for you in your bedroom tonight.
Honestly, you couldn't contain your excitement about it. There was a certain thrill with such a playful threat. But, something else did fill you with a bit of dread…
…you are extremely ticklish. At least, from what you could remember from past experiences. And Chance was ready to give you a taste of your own medicine, exactly what you gave him earlier. Probably even more so, since you initially lied about it.
Your legs felt a bit heavy as you climbed the stairs. Butterflies fluttered in your stomach, causing you to grip onto the handrail as you took another step. Your body was at war with itself; your nerves were set alight with giddy excitement - but you were also so nervous. You don't remember the last time you were tickled, or exactly how bad it was. The memory is hazy in your mind…
You finally made your ways up the last of the steps, gulping down some of your nerves and jitters as you opened the door to your bedroom.
The first thing you saw was Chance - obviously, he said he'd be here - but you also noticed a few loose papers and dice scattered about your bed sheets. You cocked your head to the side, were you both going to play a campaign in bed…?
“My hero! I knew you'd come… well, you come here every night, after all,” Chance laughed a little, excitement laced in his voice. “I have a different kind of game for us to play ready to go… with nothing evil or nefarious planned at all.”
“How can I refuse when you've got this all set up just for me?” You played along with a smile, making your way over to the bed, sitting down next to Chance.
“So,” Chance cleared his throat, already neck deep in his theatrics. “Your actions earlier have caused a beast to surface. A ravenous, hungry beast. The only way to sate this beast’s appetite… is your sweet, adorable laughter!” Adding to the effect, he gave your side a ticklish pinch, causing you to giggle, batting at his hand gently. “Aha! So, my Deception check was true? I knew you were trying to hide the truth! Tell me, where’s your most ticklish spot?” He was beaming, a smirk on his face as he watched your face instantly turn red.
Any sass or confidence you had before coming into the room jumped right out the window.
You covered your face with your hands at his question, trying to hide your flushed cheeks as best as you could. He might think your answer is a lie, but you truthfully didn’t know…
“...I-I don’t know, honestly,” you stammered, voice muffled by blocking hands. “And I’m not lying this time, you don’t need to dice check it!” You darted your head up to look at him. “I don’t remember the last time I… I was t-tickled.” That word caused your blush to spread to your ears, feeling the buzz of heat on your skin.
“That’s fine - actually, that’ll make what I had planned even more fun,” your heart skipped a beat as he talked. “...but that’s only if you’re completely fine with it! I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable or anything–”
As Chance continued to speak, in the midst of his rambling you reached out and grabbed his hand that was sitting on his knee. As soon as he felt the warmth of your hand, his mouth instantly closed, his cheeks dusting pink.
“Chance, it’s all good - I think I deserve it after what I put you through earlier, hehe…” you giggled, flashing him that sweet smile that you knew for certain gave him goosebumps. “I am a little nervous, honestly… but I trust you, so it’s something we can find out together… r-right?”
Your trust in him was a sweet cupid’s arrow right to his heart. He beamed at you.
“Of course! Don't worry, I'll make sure you feel comfortable and safe. But don't think I'll go super easy on you after what you did earlier today!” He let out a little laugh, pitching his voice down, slipping into his Evil Beast act. “The beast needs his fill, after all… he's starving, and needs your laughs!”
So, you both got ready. You laid down comfortably on your bed, Chance taking a comfy seat on top of you to snugly hold your body down. Chance was shy about all of this himself, too. But he wanted both of you to have a fun time. With a deep breath, he steeled his shaky nerves and put on his best GM voice which he already knew you loved so much.
“We start this adventure with a thrilling start; you - a thief - have stolen a precious artifact from a sleeping beast. He had been keeping his treasure in his clutches for as long as anyone could remember. It was his, and his alone. It was a sought out item that many people in your kingdom had wanted for themselves, but were much too afraid to take the risk of attempting to steal it… except for you.
“You had been recording and observing the beast's movements for a very long time, awaiting the day that you could steal this treasure for yourself, and get the praise you always craved from the people in your kingdom. The day came where you were skilled enough, thinking you could finally pull this grand heist off. And you did! Or so you thought…
“Deep within the beast’s cave, you snagged the artifact, but tripped on a rock in the dark, alerting the beast and waking him up. Being alerted by the noise, he chased after you, hot on your heels. You had to go rather deep in the cave to find his den, and in the midst of your panic, lost your way and encountered a dead end, stuck with your back against the wall, nowhere to turn.
“Emerging from the dark was the terrifying beast, looking down at his prey, claws and teeth at the ready. Was he going to hurt you? No, he had other plans in mind… he was hungry, not for your flesh… but for your laughter!”
Chance punctuated his story with a clawed hand scribbling on your stomach, giggles spilling out of you.
“H-Hehehe! I-I say sorry to the beast, please forgive me for stealing!!” You cried out in a dramatic voice, playing along.
Chance leaned downward, silliness encompassing him. He picked up one of the loose dice on the bed, rolling it in his palm. “The thief pleaded for their life, nowhere else to run. They thought that maybe if they were nice enough, that they'd be let go scot-free…” Tossing the dice so it could roll on the bed, Chance grimaced for added effect at the number that appeared on the dice. “But the beast didn't listen. He was hungry… and he wanted his meal, now!”
With some theatrical flair, Chance’s hands whirred into action, clawing onto your sides, pinching and massaging into the ticklish skin.
You let out a yelp laced with bubbling giggles, arms clamping down to your sides in an attempt to try to block his wandering hands.
“Oh no, we can't have that,” a chuckle left him, dodging your arms that nearly caught and trapped his fingers. He instead grabbed both of your wrists into a bundle, holding them over your head with one of his hands, his free hand going right back to skittering on your vulnerable side.
“The thief must pay their dues, the beast needs his fill one way or another, and he wasn't going to let anything sway him until he was satisfied.”
“Dohohoesn’t the— beheheheast have a good bone in hihihis body??” It was hard to talk when you're being tickled, you realised.
“Nope. Especially not for thieves like yourself,” Chance released an evil laugh, playing the part well. “Now… where will the beast target next?” His wandering hand left you for now, giving you a small breather to pick up the dice again. Giving it another toss, he knew exactly where to target next. He had already planned a lot of this out on paper and in his head before you even walked into the room, putting a good amount of effort into all of this.
Nerdy but cute, you thought to yourself. Exactly how Chance is.
“Aha, let's hope you're not too ticklish there,” chuckling under his breath at the result, Chance hovered a hand above your underarm. You were already squirming from his hand just being there. Chance cleared his throat, “Where could the beast get some more laughter? He still needed to put some thought into his meal, he would only be satisfied if he found the most nutritious, full laughter he could get his hands on. Maybe… here?” Chance’s hand touched down, scribbling right into your underarm.
“WahahaHAHAIT NOT THEHEHERE!” Good lord, you were a lot more ticklish than you remembered. It must be the whole vibe that was putting you in a silly mood. You couldn't concentrate on playing your part anymore, not when you were being tickled like this. Even as you were squirming about, laughing your head off… you could admit you were having fun. And Chance could tell as well.
Chance hunched over, stifling a laugh at your reaction.
“Wow, you’re adorable. You know that?” Chance slipped out of his GM persona, commenting with a sweet laugh, fingers still skittering rapidly. He couldn’t help himself, his cheeks alight with a light pink hue, though not as bad as your cheeks that blazed red at his endearing comment. Chance began dragging his nails from your underarms to the bend of your elbow and back, keeping you on your toes. “You might be even more ticklish than I am.”
“Ahaha— am not!!” You protested, though laughing and twitching about wasn’t exactly helping your case. “Thihihis is nohoHOHOTHING!”
“Oh? It’s nothing, huh?” A teasing lilt to his voice matching with the smirk on his face, Chance paused once again to give you a breather, picking up his dice once again. “If this is just nothing, surely a thief of your stature can handle this,” Chance rolled the dice once again, the numbering appearing as a result satisfying him. His gaze turned back to you, smile not wavering one bit. “The beast got a good amount of laughter from the thief’s underarms, but his stomach was only half full. However, the beast came up with the most obvious spot to satiate his hunger — some delicious, yummy ribs.”
Your eyes nearly popped out of your head in alarm hearing those cursed words. While you didn’t remember how ticklish most of your tickle spots were, you remembered this one quite well. Too well.
Chance was about to touch down on your vulnerable ribs, hand shaped into a claw, until your voice rang out.
“WAHAHAHAIT!!” You cried out, anticipatory laughter spilling out of you already, sounding a little more dramatic than you intended.
He paused, tilting his head.
“Huh? What’s wrong?” Chance asked with a touch of a serious tone in his voice. He didn’t want to push you to a limit.
You took this moment to catch your breath, sucking in as much air as your lungs could handle. Then, you spoke.
“Dihihihid I ever tell yohohou how much I lohohove you?” You were trying to get some sympathy, but in a silly way.
Chance saw right through you. He lowered his head, a certain glint in his glasses.
“Sorry, no flowery words will get you out of this one. Though, you have convinced the GM to make sure to give you extra cuddles after this.”
Your fate was sealed. Your mouth went agape at his response, face burning red. “Nohoho, that's unfair!!”
“Nothing’s fair or unfair in G&G, you should know this by now. The dice makes the rules, and you were just unlucky,” he chuckled, hovering a hand over your ribs with a grin. “You ready?”
“Of course not!!” Butterflies burst in your stomach. God, how did he make this so flustering??
“Well, too bad!” He touched down, clawed fingers digging into your ribs, eliciting bright, loud laughter from you.
“HAHAHAHA!! NOHOHO, IT'S SOHOHO BAD!!” You squirmed even more, but his hold on your wrists was snug. He laughed along with you.
“You weren't kidding, huh?” Chance mused with a laugh, though you couldn't hear what he said over your volume.
“GOHOHOHO SOMEWHERE EHEHELSE!!” You laughed yourself silly, tears beginning to bud in the corners of your eyes.
An idea popped into Chance’s head. “I'll do you one better: while the beast thought the thief’s ribs were yummy, he craved even more. Clearly a glutton even though he was full. He wanted more, more, more! He chewed on the thief’s skin, leaving nothing more than their bones.” Chance let go of your wrists, and with nimble fingers still digging and massaging into your poor ribs, lowered down and pushed the hem of your fantastic red shirt upwards, nibbling at your bare belly as well. His sneaky hands also snuck up your shirt to grant better access to your ribs.
Your laughter exploded. You were surprised none of the other objects in your house came and complained. You were sure you'd hear some of that in the morning.
“NOHOHO, IT TIHIHICKLES TOO MUHUHUCH!!” Your laughter only became louder and more frantic. You've never been nibbled on before, but it tickles just as bad as you assumed it would. Chance was gentle with it, of course, only very lightly dragging his teeth about while making loud ‘om nom nom!’ noises, occasionally lightly biting on a bit of chub to really throw you off. This combined with the rib tickles just made everything feel so silly. The tears that were budding in your eyes began to fall with how ticklish everything was feeling.
Chance did this for only a few moments, squeezing a raspberry or two in there for good measure to keep you guessing, each one causing you to shriek. He lifted his head back up, a content smile on his face.
“The beast finished his meal, making sure to polish all of the meat off the thief’s bones. He got his artifact back and filled up his stomach all the way, returning to his den to slumber after exhausting all his energy. The kingdom assumed that since the thief never returned, that they were eaten. They held a funeral at their loss, and life continued on…” Chance kept up his GM persona, then cracked a wider smile.
“Hahaha! That was so fun and silly! That went perfectly!” He lowered his head back down to your stomach again from his full body laugh, laughing against your skin. You couldn't stop yourself from laughing either - not from the tickling you just endured, but from how silly and endearing this all was.
Sharing this moment together… it was beautiful. No wonder you both fell for each other so quickly. It felt like second nature.
Bubbly giggles leaving Chance’s mouth, he wiped a tear from his eye, catching his breath and raising his head back up. “That was so fun, did you think so too?” There's that sweet, dorky smile you loved so much.
You nodded in mutual agreement, your smile causing the corners of your eyes to crinkle. “Heh, I wouldn't mind doing another tickle campaign sometime… I could learn how to be a GM like you.” You formed your hands into claws.
Chance laughed, bringing his hands up so he could hold yours, lacing his fingers and encouraging you to do the same. “I think we've both had enough tickles today… how about those cuddles I promised?”
“That artifact wasn't the goal: this was.” Cheeky smile on your face, you motioned for Chance to lie down next to you. He happily obliged, both of you rolling on your sides so he could snuggle up and spoon you, arms wrapping around your middle, his head resting on your shoulder.
Talking and whispering sweet nothings and deep discussions to each other during the night, you both drifted off to sleep, dreams taking you away.
Chance was perfect, and you knew you were perfect for him, too.
Solangelo fic where Nico is keeping a secret from will, so will decides to tickle him until he tells him!!!! I love your fics :)))
~Aww, thank you, Anon! I don't write these boys often, but with the new book coming out soon, it's as good a time as any! I made this one short, sweet, and extremely gay: my favorite flavors. Thank you for requesting, and I hope you Enjoy!~
Lee: Nico di Angelo
Ler: Will Solace
Summary: Nico is making Will a surprise anniversary gift. Unfortunately, the blonde figures out Nico's hiding something and employs some interesting methods to get him to talk.
Warnings: VERY fluffy, affectionate gayness. This is a tickle fic, so if you don't like that, scroll away!!
“Come on, just blend already…”
Nico huffed, glaring at the painted canvas in front of him. He was attempting to paint a sunset for his boyfriend, but it wasn’t exactly going as planned.
Will had advised him to paint more. Mr. D off-handedly mentioned art therapy to him a few times, and the black-haired teen had taken quite a liking to it. Something about creating things from his mind and controlling their outcome was both calming and regulating for him.
Since Will liked handmade gifts best, Nico figured a painting was a good present for their upcoming anniversary. Unfortunately, he’d forgotten just how long properly blending and mixing yellow with other colors could take. His desk in the Hades cabin was littered with paint-streaked paper towels and various brushes.
Nico had finally gotten the clouds to look right when he was startled by a knock at the cabin door. With a jolt, he quickly brushed all the dirty paper towels off his desk and into his trash, hiding the brushes in a drawer.
“Hey Ghosty, the door’s locked. Can I come in?” Will’s voice came in through the door, as loving and chipper as ever.
Crap, right, I said he could come over…
“Uh, yeah, one sec!”
Hurriedly, Nico hid the painting in his desk, making sure it wouldn’t get ruined. Once he was sure it was secure, he rushed over to open the door.
He should’ve known Will would clock his behavior.
“Is everything okay? You look a little… I dunno, frazzled.”
While Will’s concern is well-placed, Nico really couldn’t afford to explain himself. There was no way he was going to spoil the surprise, especially not because of his own forgetfulness.
“Yep, all good. Just…thinking about stuff. Training stuff.” Internally, Nico cringed at how phony his excuse sounded. He was a pretty good liar, but when it came to Will, he was helpless.
“Uh-huh,” Will drawled, crossing his arms. He saw right through his boyfriend’s bullshit. He could tell whatever Nico was hiding wasn’t serious; some silliness was more than called for. “Is that your final answer?”
“Will, c’mon,” he groaned, running a hand down his face. By the look on Will’s face, there was no lying his way out of trouble. “Can’t I just have some random, unimportant stuff on my mind?”
“Not my Death Boy.”
With a crack of his knuckles, Will lunged at his boyfriend. Nico tried to run, but after some laughs and a playful scuffle, the shorter teen was pinned beneath Will, arms above his head.
“Get off, you brute!” Kicking and squirming, Nico tried to free himself. He knew he was screwed, but the teen was never one to go down without a fight.
If Nico wanted a fight, he was definitely going to get one. Will moved his free hand to his boyfriend’s side, gently spidering his fingers across the ticklish skin.
“Wihihihill!” Nico squeaked, face quickly heating at the sound of his own giggles. His sides were pretty ticklish, and his laughter always got embarrassingly high-pitched when they were targeted. “Quihihihihit!”
Will chuckled at the adorable reaction, tracing little shapes on Nico’s sides. “Gladly. If you tell me what stuff you were thinking about.”
“Ihihi cahahan’t!” Nico shook his head, trying to pull his arms down. Why did Will have to be so strong? Nico could definitely fight, but when it came to physical strength, Will had him beat. He wouldn’t use it against the gloomy teen often, of course, but it was still annoying.
“Why not? You know I’m not gonna judge you, Nico,” Will questioned, letting just a touch of seriousness slip into his tone. He was still being playful, but he wanted Nico to know that he didn’t have to hide things from him.
“Ihi knohohow, buhut— I juhust cahahan’t!”
Will carefully examined Nico’s body language, looking for any serious signs of discomfort. Thankfully, he found none; Nico simply seemed giddily anxious about being tickled. Still, since it was a matter of secrets, Will decided to take a gentler approach.
Climbing off Nico, Will pulled the other teen into his lap, wrapped his arms around him, and rested his head in the crook of his boyfriend’s neck. Once he was sure Nico was comfortable, Will started nuzzling and placing little kisses on his neck.
“Youhuhu suhuck,” Nico whined, half-heartedly squirming in Will’s grip. He loved neck kisses—even if they tickled—and the blonde knew that. He was such a cheater!
“C'mon, Sunshine. Just tell me.”
Will’s lips traveled along the side of Nico’s neck, his soft curls nuzzling against the poor teen’s ear as he went. As nice as it was to get all the attention, it tickled so bad.
The son of Hades simply resigned to his fate, going limp in his boyfriend's lap. Will's evil little kisses continued to drive his nervous system nuts, and his ears were bright pink with a flustered blush.
Eventually, Will noticed just how tired Nico was getting. He reluctantly stopped, placing one last kiss on Nico’s cheek.
“You are so stubborn, Nico,” Will huffed, moving a hand up to gently scratch his boyfriend's scalp. The sight of him all flushed and giggle-drunk was rather adorable, so he couldn't complain too much.
“Uhugh… Th-the stuff is a surprise, you jerk.”
Nico's words came out as an adorably raspy growl, and it took everything Will had not to coo. Right, Nico was annoyed with him, and teasing wouldn't help get that lovely little scowl off his face.
“Ooooh. Why didn't you say so?”
The sounds of an indignant squawk and laughter soon filled the Hades cabin, carrying on long into the afternoon. At the end of the day, the secret of the painting was preserved, and a certain blonde was very happy when their anniversary rolled around.
This fic is sfw, but still Minors and Ageless blogs DNI
Lers Volt x Eddie x Lee Reader (Gender Neutral, No y/n)
Words: 6232
No spoilers, but this can be read with either normal or realized Volt and Eddie! Just some tk fluff with them cus they took over my brain completely, and I hope yall enjoy!!
Being with Eddie and Volt was amazing. You always felt comfortable, safe, between them whenever you were together, which was a lot. Unfortunately, that usual ‘safety’ quickly turned to danger tonight.
It was late into the night, but all three of you were still awake, relaxing on the couch downstairs as you watched a movie. It had become a routine every weekend to enjoy one while cuddling up with each other, each of you taking turns on who got to choose what to watch. It was Eddie's choice tonight, as Volt had picked the last movie, and you the one before. He chose an older action movie, one you all had watched before, but Eddie especially seemed to like.
Though there was nothing wrong with the movie itself, Volt and you just didn't quite have the same love for it as Eddie, both of you getting a bit bored towards the middle of it. The plot seemed to drag on a bit when you already had the knowledge of everything that would happen. That was what started it all.
Seemingly too bored to stay still, Volt’s hand, that had been resting on your side since the beginning of the movie, began to fidget, his index finger gently swiping up and down it. You jumped slightly, surprised at the sudden unexpected feeling.
“Sorry love, didn't mean to frighten you.” He gave a soft smile as he whispered an apology right next to your ear, assuming that he had just caught you off guard with the movement and startled you. He stilled his fingers once more, as though he thought it would distract you from the movie you weren't actually paying attention to.
“Ah, don't worry. Was just really into this part, I guess.” You whispered back with a quiet laugh at the end, lying to play off the real reason for your reaction and to hopefully hide your disappointment at him stopping. Neither Volt nor Eddie had found out about your sensitivities yet. Though both had come close many times, every time you somehow managed to find an excuse for whatever noise, jerk, or jump you had reacted to their touch with.
It wasn't as if you disliked it by any means, quite the contrary actually, you just weren't sure if you were ready for either of them to know about that yet. You feared if they found out and realized that you enjoyed it, they may find it strange, or judge you for it. Or, on the opposite side, you didn't know if you could take it if they did accept it, imagining them both lovingly teasing you about it making your face grow hot and head spin at the thought alone.
You were quickly pulled from the thoughts running through your head as his hand suddenly moved again, this time slipping under your tank top to feel the warmth of your skin against his. He gave a gentle squeeze to your lower side, and while you couldn't tell if he was trying to be playful or comforting, it had the same reaction either way. You jerked slightly away from the touch this time, curling into yourself with a small laugh. Volt looked at you, almost concerned for a moment, before you saw the pieces connecting in his head.
“Oh? Oh no… Now isn't this just terrible for you.” His hand gently squeezed again at the soft skin of your side, this time more purposefully, his lips forming a knowing smirk as you let out another quick laugh.
“No, Volt- Wait!” He didn't let you finish as he turned to fully face you, both his hands now latching onto your sides as his nails skittered up and down them with horribly accurate precision. Your hands shot to his wrists on instinct, but you barely pushed away, pretending to put up a fight for show, all while not actually trying to stop him.
“Apologies, live wire, but I simply can not do that. This is a very important discovery that just must be explored now, I'm afraid.” Despite his words, he didn't appear to be sorry at all, continuing to trace his fingers along your waist, his touch traveling up to your ribs.
“Noho! Yohou're inteherrupting the mohovie! Eddiehe!” You whined out your other boyfriend’s name through your now even more frantic giggles as Volt's fingers tested out the new spot, but you were met with no response from him.
“Am I now?” Volt gave a confident look, nodding his head towards Eddie, who was laid back against the couch cushion, fast asleep. You wanted to be mad at him for falling asleep during the movie that he had picked, but he looked so cute sleeping that you couldn't find it in yourself to be truly irritated with him. This did, however, put you in a tricky position. With Eddie asleep, this made it so you only had to deal with one of them for now, but it also made it so no one was there to save you from Volt until he decided to spare you. You debated on trying to wake Eddie up for a moment, thinking he may be on your side and help you get revenge on the other if you did.
Volt seemed to notice your line of thinking as he changed to gentle scratching around your tummy, clearly trying to find every spot that brought a reaction out of you. He wasn't disappointed as your laugh got even higher, your hands closing a bit tighter around his wrists as he targeted the more sensitive area.
“I don't think you’ll want to do that, dear. He can be even more merciless than I, especially if his sleep has been disturbed.” You couldn't fully tell if he was bluffing or not, but the thought of him telling the truth and having to face the wrath of Eddie, along with Volt’s already horrible teasing, was enough to stop you from attempting to wake the slumbering man.
“Yohou're suhuch an ahass!” You suppressed your laugh as much as you could, trying to be quieter than before with the new fear of waking up a vengeful Eddie, but you couldn’t silence yourself completely. It was a difficult task with Volt’s hands finding every ticklish spot on your waist, it taking everything in you not to squeal when he hit a sensitive patch of skin near the side of your stomach.
“Oo feisty~ Best be careful though, too loud and he may wake.” Volt took your words and the way your laugh quieted as a challenge, wanting to see how much it would take for you to get just a bit too noisy and stir the other. Though he usually wouldn't purposefully disturb Eddie's sleep, he figured he most likely wouldn't mind it so much if he was being awoken by your adorable laughter.
“Thahat would behe your fahault!” You whisper yelled as you argued with him, knowing that it really would be more on him than you, but you could tell he didn’t care. All he was focused on now was drawing more of those beautiful giggles from your lips, any consequences could be dealt with later.
“And why would it be my fault? You’re the one making all the noise, love.” If you were able to glare at that moment, you would have been throwing daggers at him with your gaze, but instead you were only able to give a slightly annoyed look through squinted eyes, a large smile still stuck to your face.
“Behecause you’re tihickling mehe!” You tensed as you accidentally got a bit louder for a moment. You glanced over to Eddie, and felt a wave of relief go through you as you saw he was still completely out. You already knew he was a deep sleeper, but you couldn’t help still being a bit surprised that he could sleep through all of this so peacefully.
“Oh am I? Apologies, I hadn't realized.” He gave you a fake look of shock which quickly turned back into a cheeky grin as a small laugh escaped him at your statement of the obvious. You let out a small growl of irritation through your giggles at his sarcasm, wanting to wipe that stupid smirk right off his face.
Unfortunately, you wouldn’t get the chance to do that anytime soon, as he found the sensitive spots located right around the tops of both your hips, lightly pinching on either one. You let out a small shriek, falling to the side as your legs curled up towards you to get away from and block his attacking hands. Landing you right on top of Eddie’s lap.
“Mmn… The hell..?” Volt’s hands paused for a moment as the dark haired man awoke, albeit a bit groggily, looking down to see you laying in his lap, some giggles still slipping through your lips and a clearly flustered expression spread across your face.
“Eddie! Hehelp! Volt’s torturihing mehee!” You quickly threw him under the bus, hoping Eddie may side with you if he believed it was Volt’s fault that he was woken up. Technically, it really was, as you never would have fallen onto him had Volt not been viciously attacking you with tickles.
“Yes, Eddie, be a dear and help me, won't you?” Volt used the way you had fallen back to his advantage, moving your legs down onto the couch, despite your effort to keep them curled to you, and sitting atop your thighs as he tried to lure Eddie to his side. Eddie seemed puzzled at first, but Volt cleared up that confusion by returning his fingers to your hips, making you break into immediate giggles once more as he softly pinched around them. The previously sleeping man let out an amused sigh as he became more cognisant and realized what you both had been talking about, already knowing whose side he was going to be on.
“Well, I suppose if you both insist.” You lost all hope you once had of him helping you as soon as you felt him shift, hearing the playful tone in his voice as his hands took your wrists and easily pinned them above your head onto the couch. You could instantly tell how screwed you were, now completely stuck between them with no way to protect yourself. You could feel butterflies fluttering through your stomach as you looked up at Eddie, a small smirk tugging at his lips already.
“Nohoo! Nohot him! Hehelp mehe!” You pulled at your hands that were trapped in his grip, though not too hard, not actually wanting to break free. You knew that if you genuinely told them to stop, then they would, without hesitation, but you didn’t really want that, and they definitely didn’t either.
“Aah, bit too late for that, sorry. Should’ve been clearer before.” Just like Volt, there was no hint of remorse in his voice as he decided to join in on the fun, however, his approach was very different from the other man’s. Rather than jumping in with clawed fingers in an attempt to get the biggest reaction out of you, he gently fluttered his nails on the side of your neck, tracing around to the other side to do the same, back and forth, bringing some small squeaks out of you between giggles. Perhaps it was just because he wasn’t fully awake yet, but you were surprised how much softer he was about it compared to Volt, though the conflicting feelings almost made it worse. Your brain couldn’t tell whether to focus on those light touches around your neck, or the almost electric sensations spreading throughout your sides as Volt moved up to them once again, wanting to try the area once more now he had easier access to it with your body being slightly stretched out over Eddie’s lap.
“Mm, yes. You really should be more specific, dear. You only have yourself to blame for this, honestly.” You would have loved to rebuttal, slinging some sort of insult or profanity at the white haired man, but your words were quickly caught in your throat as Volt’s fingers found the spot where your ribs and sides met, a squeal replacing whatever you actually wanted to come out of your mouth. Both of the men couldn’t stop the soft smiles that took over from hearing all the cute noises you were making from just some simple touches, and you could swear you heard some quiet laughs slip out from Eddie’s lips under Volt’s louder chuckles, your face only growing hotter as you felt your heart skip a beat at the sounds.
“Thihis ihis so unfahahaiir!” You whined out a complaint as soon as you found your ability to speak again, one that neither of them seemed to take seriously. They exchanged mocking looks, knowing that it absolutely was completely unfair, but that fact only seemed to make this even more amusing for them, finding it adorable how you only seemed to fight with your words and never to actually get away.
“Darling, who ever said anything about playing ‘fair’?” Volt emphasized his words by bringing his hands up to under your arms, which were still pinned above you by Eddie, his grip holding strong, especially for someone who had been sleeping only a few minutes ago. He tested them first, using only his index fingers to circle around the outside to the center, wanting to see just how ticklish you may be here before going all in. He was extremely pleased when he heard your giggles getting higher as your arms reflexively jerked down, but didn’t break from the hold they were stuck in, an almost nervous glint in your eyes. You cursed at yourself mentally for choosing to wear a tank top for a pajama shirt tonight, but the weather has been quite warm recently, so it felt like the best choice earlier on.
“Y'know, if you didn't want this, then you really shouldn't have woken me up.” You felt a mix of shock and slight exasperation as you heard Eddie's words, but when you looked up at him, his expression clearly gave away that he was just messing with you. Seeing the cocky looks on their faces, part of you already began plotting your revenge on them, especially Volt, him being the one who got you stuck in this situation in the first place. You couldn't focus too much on that right now, though, too busy squeaking under their hands and they tested out every spot they could reach on you.
“Thahat wahas Voholt’s fahault ahand yohou knohow ihihit!” The mentioned man let out a fake sigh and pretended to look disappointed at your words, still not stopping the tracing under your arms as he did, though Eddie had taken his fingers away from your neck, allowing some slight relief.
“Still blaming me for your mistake I see… I think we need to teach you how to take some responsibility, live wire.” A shiver went through you at his tone, it sounding even more sinister than his previous teasing. You looked into his eyes and hated how someone could look so innocent yet so mischievous at the same time. They were full of so much love and adoration for you, and yet his smirk looked downright evil, only confirming the fact you already knew. You were screwed.
“V-Voholt, whatehever you’re thihinking, yohou behetter nohot! Eheddie, hehelp mehee!” You tried giving Eddie your best puppy dog eyes, hoping to garner some possible sympathy from him, but he just snickered at your misfortune, using his free hand to push your hair from out of your face, running his fingers through it soothingly after.
“Sorry, but Volt’s right. You really do need to learn how to take responsibility. I mean, I was sleeping soo well before you woke me up, kinda rude, don’t you think?” His sarcastic tone was a stark contrast to the comforting way he played with your hair, only making you whine at him more at his refusal to take your side.
“Yohou fehell asleheep durihing the mohovie yohou pihicked! Isn't thahat ruhude?!” Knowing you weren't winning him over, you switched to antagonizing him, which may not have been your brightest decision. You saw his face flush red for a moment as his hand froze, clearly a bit flustered about that now that you had called it out, Volt chuckling at his embarrassment.
“Thehey do have a point there, dear.” Eddie shot a glare to him, and then back to you before removing his hand from your hair and placing it on your ribs. He didn’t actually do anything yet, but the contact of his hand on the spot made you tense, as you expected him to immediately dig into it.
“And here I was trying to be the nice one. I guess that was my bad.” His words were full of a playful irritation that made you want to sink right into the couch and disappear, and if you thought Volt’s smirk was evil, Eddie’s was downright villainous, a small bout of regret almost starting to creep its way into your brain. Before you could apologize or get even a single word out, you felt his nails moving across your ribs in a much more calculated way than your previous attacker. That combined with the way Volt was still tracing under your arms caused a small shriek to leave your lips, his other hand still preventing you from yanking your arms down as you continued pulling on them. Not one to be outdone, Volt stepped up his game as well, turning one finger into three under both arms, adding his thumb and middle finger to scritch his silver painted nails in and out the center of your underarms.
“W-Wahait! Sohorry, Ihi’m sohohorryyy!” Hiccups began filling your laugh as the sensations overwhelmed your brain, unable to decide which one was worse. Neither of them listened to you, too busy enjoying your helpless laughter and the chance to get revenge for all the times you had sassed them before.
“You know, I really don’t understand how it took until tonight to find out about this. I mean, they’re so sensitive, it’s a miracle they were able to keep it hidden till now.” Volt’s words were directed towards Eddie, but his gaze stayed on you, watching your face as he spoke and moved his hands just slightly around, trying nearby spots like your upper arms and the sides of your underarms, going closer to your back. He was pleasantly surprised when the latter spot was met with more squeaks in your laugh and your shoulders shaking slightly in an attempt to get his hands away.
“You’re right… How did you manage to keep this from us? It feels like we’re barely doing anything, yet here you are looking like you're fighting for your life.” ‘Barely doing anything’ felt like the understatement of the century to you, especially coming from the man who managed to learn just the right ways to take you apart in a matter of minutes, though being honest, it really wasn’t that much of a feat. He managed to find every spot on your ribs that made you flinch, giggle, and squeal, hitting them with perfect accuracy, yet still keeping his touch gentle enough to not fully overwhelm you. Volt was more interested in finding every spot on you that he could, aiming for quantity over quality, it seemed. Every time he changed spots and heard your laugh change, even just slightly, he lit up. He was clearly enjoying that no matter where he tried, it got some sort of reaction out of you, no matter how big or small it may be.
“Ihi wahasn't tryihing toho!” That may not have been completely true. There were a few times when you may have lied to them when they accidentally tickled you before, but you felt them knowing that may only make things worse for you. If it weren't for the way your vision slightly blurred from the tears beginning to well in your eyes from laughing, you may have noticed the looks of skepticism the two men shared with each other.
“Oh dear… I believe they may be lying.” Volt stopped his hands for a moment, noticing the way your eyes were starting to water, Eddie following right after, though neither moved away from the spots completely.
“Oh, they definitely are. Did you really think you could keep being this ticklish a secret from us?” Eddie emphasized his point by giving your side a light pinch, making you jerk away with a squeak before you answered.
“Mahaybe…” Honestly, you didn't really know what your plan was with hiding it as long as you did. If you knew it would turn out like this, you probably would have let them find out much sooner.
“Hmm, I feel as though we should make up for all that lost time of not knowing. Don't you agree?” Volt looked to Eddie once more, both sharing the same sinister look with each other.
“N-No! I don’t!” You felt your stomach already fluttering yet again with anticipation of another round. Despite your words, however, you didn’t really want them to stop just yet.
“Ah ah, dear. I wasn't asking you, besides, I believe all of us know that's just another lie.” Volt’s smirk said everything you needed to know. They had you fully figured out. Your eyes went wide, a nervous smile taking over your lips against your will as you went to refute.
“Wha- I don't-” Your stuttered replies were interrupted by their shared snickers, Eddie speaking up this time.
“Don't think we haven't noticed how you didn't once actually ask us to stop. Not to mention, I've seen you when working before, you have more strength than that, love.” Your face felt hotter than ever before, both men having easily caught on to the fact that you really didn't mind this kind of attention. Through that embarrassment though, you felt relief. They weren’t weirded out by it, and they were teasing, sure, but they weren’t actually being mean about it. You realized that the reason you tried to hide your sensitivity wasn’t in fear of this. It was in fear of judgement, of disgust, of being shamed. You felt embarrassed in a bit more of a foolish way now. Of course they weren’t going to hate you or find you weird over something as silly as enjoying tickling, in fact, they both seemed quite happy about the fact that you liked it.
They seemed to notice how flustered you were getting, both beginning to get a bit worried they had made you uncomfortable or assumed wrong as you got quiet. You were a bit surprised as you felt Eddie release your arms and Volt move off of your legs, shifting himself, and you, to sit on the couch with your legs in his lap. Eddie moved over, turning himself to the side to have your head resting on his crossed calves, bringing a hand to the side of your face after, softly holding it as his thumb brushed over your cheek. Volt followed suit, doing the same as he rested his hand right above your knee, comfortingly rubbing his thumb on the side of it, making sure to add enough pressure that it wouldn't tickle.
“Apologies if we assumed wrong dear, but please know, it’s quite alright if you do like this. Honestly, I think it’s truly adorable, don't you agree?” Volt’s voice was softer than you had heard it all night, trying to soothe you in case you were upset, not knowing that it was very much the opposite. He gave a glance to Eddie as he asked his question, looking for backup in reassuring you.
“It really is.” Eddie’s eyes were locked to yours, his gaze transfixed on you as if you were the prettiest night sky he ever saw. He cleared his throat and refocused himself as he realized how much he was staring, the same flush from earlier returning to his cheeks. If either of you teased him about it, he’d make an excuse about how he was still tired, but you both knew it was bullshit.
“What he means to say is, while we very much enjoy this, if you truly do not, then we’ll stop. Just say the word, dear.” Volt grabbed one of your freed hands, pressing a kiss to the back before setting it down with a gentle squeeze. You took them in for a moment, almost tearing up as you wondered how you got so lucky as to end up together with these two amazing men.
“I mean, you don’t- you don’t have to stop…” You couldn't bring yourself to look either of them in the eyes, glancing towards the television instead, where you saw the ending to the movie that none of you had been paying attention to playing out. You could feel the tension ease out from both the men you were laid upon, knowing that you were okay and that their assumptions turned out correct.
“That sounds like an invitation, love.” Volt's sly tone was back immediately, his arm starting to wrap around your legs to keep you still for what he had planned. You moved your arms to cover your face, trying to block it from their view in an attempt to save yourself even a sliver of dignity tonight.
“Nuh uh, none of that. No way you're hiding that pretty face of yours away from us.” Eddie went to move your arms away from your face, but you decided to be more difficult this time, becoming even more playful than before, now that you had nothing to hide. You held your arms tightly around your head, blocking as much of your face as you could while not covering your nose too much, still, of course, needing to breathe. Eddie tried pushing them up gently, but noticed you weren’t budging, raising an eyebrow at you.
“Oo, our little live wire really wants to play now.” Volt wasn't helping Eddie at all as he smiled at your newfound stubbornness, it being very amusing for him to see you try to defy the other. Eddie let out a fake sigh of resignation as he moved his hands from your arms down to your stomach.
“Guess we'll just have to make you move them a different way then.” Right as the words left Eddie's mouth, they began again. Volt's free hand tested out your knees, spiraling his nails from the center outward, his other arm holding your legs strong, keeping you from jerking your leg away. Eddie, on the other hand, had both his hands on your waist, one gently clawing your stomach near your belly button while his other did the same to your side. Though you wanted to try and stay stubborn, the combined sensations made you drop your arms almost instantly, grabbing at Eddie's hands, but not deterring him in the slightest.
“Shihit! Wahahait!” No matter how much you squirmed, there was no escape. Volt had a steady hold on your legs as he alternated between your knees, loving the way it made you shake and squeak. Eddie kept his hands moving, lowering them to your hips as he massaged his thumbs into your skin towards the top of them, the same spot Volt had found earlier. The squeal you let out only motivated him further, keeping his touch focused on them, continuing to softly dig into the spot.
“My, that didn’t last long.” Volt teased you for your short lived defiance, both men having smug smiles plastered to their faces. You attempted to flip him off, bringing one hand off of Eddie’s and just barely getting your middle finger up before he switched methods and squeezed above one of your knees while scribbling under the other with the hand of the arm wrapped around your legs. Your hand quickly fell, hitting down on the couch cushion as you cackled.
“Well, I am getting them pretty bad, makes sense they wouldn’t be able to hold out.” Eddie’s voice sounded far too cocky, obviously trying to antagonize the other. A slightly surprised look took over Volt’s expression for a moment before realizing what the other was doing, playing along with his game.
“That may be true, however, I think I may be what truly made them cave in the end.” You could sense something brewing between the two of them, a competition that you were the main determining factor in. You could tell where it was going, the anticipation filling your stomach only adding to the sensations dancing around your legs and waist.
“Why don't we just have them decide, then? Tell us, who’s doing a better job of breaking you?” Eddie leaned forward so his head was almost directly above yours, a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he changed from massaging your hips to dragging his nails up and down them, slipping just slightly under the band of your pajama pants.
“Yes, dear. Please let us know, and I’d make sure to answer correctly, if I were you.” Volt stepped up his game as well, moving up to your thighs and targeting the underside of them, scritching all around the area, trying to find the spots that would make you squeal. He got what he wanted and more, a small shriek leaving you at the combined attacks, hiccupy laughter taking over right after.
“Yohou’re bohoth bahad! Gehet awahahay!” You squirmed as much as you could, but there was no escape from their hands. You couldn't even figure out what to do with your own, wanting to cover your face, grab at their hands, and slam them on the couch all at the same time. You settled with grabbing at Eddie's wrists again, his hands being the ones closest to yours.
“Ah ah. That doesn't answer our question, love.” Volt’s hands formed claws as he vibrated them into the sides of your thighs, your legs kicking out in his grip, still without breaking free.
“Maybe they just need a bit more motivation.” Another shudder went through you at the way he spoke, questioning how they were planning on making it worse than it already was. You were surprised when you felt Eddie’s hands pause for a moment, alleviating some of the sensation, but not all, as Volt still continued. You felt his hands go under your arms and jolted, but he wasn’t attempting to tickle you there this time. Instead, he lifted you to be sitting up in his lap, tucking his chin into your neck as his arms wrapped around you.
“Well, this hardly seems fair, I think I may need to even the field a bit.” Volt stopped as well as he adjusted himself once more, now straddling your calves, giving himself easier access to more of your spots.
“Yohou’re one to tahalk about fair!” Some giggles still fell from your lips as you used the momentary break to catch your breath and call out Volt’s hypocrisy. He only let out a laugh at you, Eddie even letting out a huff of amusement, one you could feel on your neck from his closeness, it sending a small shiver through you.
“It is really unfair if you enjoy it, live wire?” That got you quiet quick, him looking knowingly into your eyes as he said it making it even worse. An embarrassed pout took over for a moment, mumbling a small ‘shut up’ under your breath that you didn't mean, only serving to entertain both men more.
“Clearly we aren’t doing enough if they still have this much of an attitude. I think we need to teach them why they shouldn’t test us so much.” Eddie’s arms tightened around your waist, keeping you pressed to him as he made sure to speak lighter, being close to your ear.
“I agree, and they still haven’t told us who’s been doing a better job. I would very much like to know, dear.” One finger dragged up and down one of your thighs, making sure not to tickle too much, not yet.
“I cahan’t decide! You’re both mean!” You wiggled around in their grip, but there was no way you were getting out now, nervous laughs completely taking over before they could even start again. They couldn’t help but find it incredibly endearing how cute you were right now. You were undeniably flustered, but there was a sparkle in your eyes that told them how much fun you were having, despite your attempts to call them ‘mean’.
“Oh live wire…” Volt’s hands stilled for a moment, Eddie leaning in close to your ear right after.
“You haven’t seen mean yet.” Before you could even fully comprehend the words that were whispered into your ear, their hands began moving again, it all happening so suddenly that you couldn’t even begin to stop the scream that left your lips. Volt’s fingers were gently but quickly pinching at your inner thighs, moving up and down them, sporadically switching to dragging his nails across the front or sides of them before changing back again. Eddie, on the other hand, had unwound his arms from you to place his hands back onto your hips, this time slipping under the bottom of your tank top and massaging his thumbs into your lower back while the rest of his fingers gently dug into the sides of them. He added on to that by nuzzling his chin into your neck, making sure his stubble softly scraped against the side and down to your shoulder.
“WAHAIT! NOHOHO!” You could barely get the words out, far too lost in your own laughter. Though your body wiggled around as much as was possible, you didn't move much, your two boyfriends keeping you trapped as they continued.
“All you need to do is tell us who's doing a better job, dear. That can't be too hard, right?” Volt changed his methods again as he spoke, softly digging the tips of his fingers into the spot where your thighs and hips met, enjoying the way it made your laugh get higher and legs attempt to kick out from under him. It was far easier for him to say that. You couldn't even focus on the feelings separately, all of them combining to turn your brain to mush as squeals and hiccups poured from your lips. That was until Eddie moved his hands up to your ribs, now focusing his touch on the lower back of them. You would have fully folded into yourself if his hands hadn't been there, your laugh turning silent for a moment after the loudest shriek of the night left you. They both stopped again, mostly in shock, but also wanting to make sure they didn't go too far. As soon as your giggles came back and your head fell against Eddie's shoulder to reveal your wide smile, they untensed, seeing that you were still having fun.
“I think we have an answer.” Eddie shot Volt a smug look, knowing it was the spot on your back that made you react like that. Volt rolled his eyes dramatically, not ready to admit his loss just yet.
“Now now. We don't have an answer until they give us one. Ready to decide, live wire?” You took a moment to collect yourself, trying to think of how to answer. Both of them were horribly good teases, and made quick work of finding a good amount of your sensitive spots and what worked best on them, it felt impossible to choose between the two of them.
“Ihi can't pick. Cahan't we just say you both win?” Volt was about to jokingly argue that a decision needed to be made when a loud yawn came from you, it spreading to both men, making all of you realize just how late it had gotten.
“I suppose that's agreeable for now. Though don't think we'll be forgetting about this anytime soon.” Volt shot you a wink as he moved off of your legs, Eddie taking you off his lap to be squished comfortably in between them and the couch. Their arms wrapped around you, holding you protectively as you began to drift off, all the energy you used up quickly catching up to you.
“You did good, get some sleep.” Eddie used the arm that wasn't around you to grab a large blanket, handing one side to Volt as they carefully placed it over all three of you, making sure you were fully covered.
“Thanks guys.. I love you both.. Goodnight.” The soft smile and tone to your voice melted their hearts, Eddie placing a kiss to your forehead and Volt doing the same to your cheek as they smiled with you.
“We love you too.” Eddie spoke without fully looking at either of you, still a bit embarrassed whenever he said the words.
“Good night, live wire.” Volt shut the TV off, pushing himself even closer to you to give you more warmth as you slept. Eddie copied, leaning into your other side so the three of you could be as close as possible. It didn't take long for all of you to fully nod off, each of you getting a better night's sleep than you had had in a while.
Heyo! It's been a minute since I've posted a fic spontaneously! To make a long story short- I'm playing Bustafellows (as one does), fell MADLY in love, finished Limbo's route in one sitting (again, as one does) and had the sudden and incredibly intense urge to write a sugary sweet fic with my two favorite people Teuta and Limbo! (and also the first Bustafellows fic I wrote that's coming out eventually is a wee bit angsty and I wanted my debut fic for the series to be a bit more soft and cuddly!) I hope you like it! :D
Summary: Limbo really likes it when Teuta calls him "Darling." Unfortunately, she's being stubborn and won't say it again! He breaks out his famous negotiation skills to try and change her mind.
“Say it again.”
“Never!” Teuta turned her head away from him, a cute pout on her lips as she crossed her arms. “That was a one time thing.”
“Aww, come on! I wanna hear you call me ‘darling’ again.” He whined childishly, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “It was so truly villainous-I felt my heart skip!” He nuzzled her cheek, feeling her shiver against him. “Can’t I hear you say it just one more time?”
“Hmm..” She made a noise, continuing to stare forward. It did nothing to deter him, not with how red her cheeks were growing. He could almost feel the heat radiating off them. “It’s not gonna happen. Let me go.”
“No way.” He giggled, nuzzling her more as he held her tighter. Despite her squirms, she clearly was enjoying this. “I love you too much to ever let you go!”
“You’re so clingy!” She complained, shimmying her shoulders slightly. “C-Cahhareful, my neck! It tihihickles!”
“Oh? Are you ticklish?” Judging by the way her face went bright red, he suspected she hadn’t meant to let that slip. Teuta’s wide eyes cut to him, a mixture of fear and anticipation dancing within the sparkling emerald irises. He waggled his brows in response, relishing the way her face seemed to burn even more. God, she was so beautiful when she blushed.
“Limbo…” She spoke with warning.
“Teuta.” He replied with clear intent.
“If you tickle me, I’m gonna scream.” She glared at him. “And then Shu will come in thinking something’s wrong. Then we’re gonna team up to get you.”
“Shu’s not home.” A buff. “Even if he heard you screaming, he knows you’re with me. He might assume the screaming’s from-”
“Limbo!” She squeaked, embarrassed. He hated to admit his implication flustered him as well. They were in a standoff, sizing each other up.
“Call me ‘darling’?” He teased, the hands on her sides poised to tickle. Teuta twitched, a small giggle escaping her lips. “Or do you want me to tickle you?”
“....You’re a real jerk, you know that.” She scrunched her face at him, making him laugh. “Do your worst!”
“Are you sure?” He dragged it out, feeling her squirm. “Positive you want me to tickle you?”
“I’ll have my revenge in the end.” She told him ominously, the threat nothing but adorable to him. He leaned in and kissed her cheek with a loud, obnoxious sound.
“Sure you will. Here I come!” He made to tickle her, and as promised, she screamed. An adorable squeal like sound, the kind that tickled his soul. He bursted out into laughter at her reaction, hugging her tightly. “Oohohoho my gahahahwd! You meahahahn’t it! Ehehahhahaha!”
“S-Shut up and tickle me already!” She shouted back at him, then flushed at her own words. “Wait, wait wait I didn’t mean IT-”
“Oo, asking for it directly, are you now? Okay!” He did as his lady wanted, tickling her sides with quick fluttering fingers while she squirmed and shrieked in his arms. “Tickle tickle tickle, Teuta! Hehehe.”
“EEE! Ehehahahahahaha! L-Liiihihimbo, you soohohon of a- geahhahahahah! I’m goohohonna gehhehet you bahahack so bahahahd!” She howled, dancing in his arms as he poked along her lower ribs. His face returned to her neck, nuzzling and kissing along her sensitive skin and worsening her situation. “Mahhahark my wohoohohohrds! Ihhihihill hahahahve my rehehehehvehehehnge!”
“Oo, someone’s in her supervillain era. How precious!” The attorney grinned as he scooted them towards their bed, falling backwards into the soft sheets while he continued tickling. “Looks like it’s up to me to save the word from such an evil being! I got you now!”
“Ahhahahahhaa! Eheheheheek, nohohoohoho!” He shoved a hand up her sweater, clawing at her belly and making her kick so much her shoe flew off. Her hands clung to his, trying and failing to push them off. “Nohohohoht thehehehere! Nohohoht thehehere, it tihihickles to muhuuhch! Ehahhahahaha!”
“You know- I really love your laugh, Teuta.” Limbo cooed from behind, voice nearly lost from her shrieks and squeals. “I love your giggles, your silly snorts and sounds. I love the way you scream my name, and I love how you’re having fun. I should tickle you more.”
“Say what? Oh, I forgot about that.” He giggled softly, pausing his tickles briefly to give her a much needed break. “Say it.”
“Nhoohohho!”
“You know I’m gonna tickle you until you do, right?”
“I cahahahn mahaha-AHHAH!” He didn’t let her finish, blowing a loud raspberry into her neck. His hands resumed their skittery ascent across her belly, making her flail like a fish out of water. “LIHIHIHIMBO!”
“Sorry, that’s not my name anymore. It’s darling. Say it and it’ll all be over.”
“YOOHOHU CAHAHN’T CHAHAHNGE THE RUHUUHLES LIKE THAHAHT!” Her voice was so pitchy he was sure Max could hear it. Could cats hear pitches that high? Or were those dogs? “LIHIIHMBO! LIHIIHMBO PLEAHHAHAASE!”
“Who’s Limbo? I'm going to Dawr-ling now.” He said it with an exaggerated southern twang for fun, laughing half way through. He moved his fingers back to her ribs, easing down her intense giggle fits. “Go on now- say my name!”
“Ehehahahahhahha! Hehehehheahhaha! Fihihihine, fihihihihne! I’ll sahhahahahy it! I’ll shahahahy it!” She tapped out, slapping his arm rapidly. Satisfied, Limbo paused his tickling, rolling them over so they were face to face in the bed together. Her face was flushed, hair a mess and eyes wet with unshed tears. Part of him felt bad for making her cry- even if it was through silly means.
“You okay?” He asked, gently brushing her bangs back. Relief crashed into his chest when she nodded.
“Yeehahhah..I’m okay.” She took a breath, focusing her gaze right on him. She looked so serious he almost started laughing again. “....Darling.”
His heart skipped, and his cheeks warmed. Even though he wanted her to say it- tickled it out of her really, it still did funny things to his chest. “Yes?” He tried for confidence. Instead, it came out breathless and soft.
She smiled, just as flustered. “You really like that, don’t you?”
“I mean..yeah.” He confessed, and she giggled. Oh, the sweetest of sounds. “I do. I really like being your darling.”
Her eyes widened some, and she flushed even more than before. Was he just as red? He felt like his face was made of lava. Pushing through, he ran his fingers along her cheek, tucking her amber hair behind her ear. “We need to decide what to call you. I don’t think ‘Villainous’ is that fitting.”
“I think so! I can be quite evil when I want to be!” She tried to pull a scary look, making him chuckle. “We can come up with my nickname later. For now, I want revenge!”
“Good luck with that.” He grinned at her shocked look. “I’m not ticklish.”
“Yes he is.” A new voice made them both shoot up, finding Shu leaning on the open door frame of their bedroom. He was smoking, not a care in the world. “Stupidly so.”
“What-when-how long have you been standing there!” Limbo cried out, godsmacked. How much did he hear??
“I came by when I heard Teuta scream. Then I heard you two making love so I left again. Now I’m back.” He grinned around his cigarette at their matching blushes. “Go for his neck- it’s his weak spot.”
“DON’T TELL HER THAT!” The attorney shouted, mortified. Teuta’s hand had already found its mark, making him squeal and fall backwards in the bed. “Nahahhaha! Don’t you dahahhahare! TEUTAHAHA!”
“Oh, he’s so ticklish! Thanks, Shu!” She called after the hitman, a trail of smoke the only thing remaining as he wandered off once more. “Aww, I was hoping he’d stay to help! Allwell.” She grinned down at her giggling boyfriend, relishing his little kicks and squeals. “Means I get your reaction all to myself!”
Taking into account that Tenna can remember the shows that people have watched on him… i can only imagine the games he’d cook up if he noticed that the watcher would often replay certain types of scenes….
(This one in particular from Underdog- where there was a whole episode dedicated to the subject…)
But i drew this before i started nailing down his design, so he might look a little wonky x3
I'm here for the fluff, dude @hereforthefluff - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
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