Take care, dear! Don’t let any anonym tumblr person, without manners or tact, get you. Take a break, take deep breathes! And always share and tell us, when you feel like it, if something or someone is bothering you.
Hey sorry to pop in to your ask box randomly like this but your post popped up on my dash and I just wanted to say I hope the next few weeks are full of rest for you ❤️
You've had a real rough time of it lately so sending you the best vibes possible. All of my support is with you
Thank you so much, I seriously appreciate it! A break would be nice!
I'm so sorry to hear that you are dealing with all these stressful things. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend and for all the difficult things going on right now. I have a pet cat who has frequent seizures, too, and they can be incredibly scary. Currently thinking of you and praying for your son to have a successful surgery and easy recovery, for the health of your student, for your personal relationships, and the wellbeing of your dog, and for the comfort and healing for you regarding the loss of your friend. I hope you are able to find time to take care of yourself and know that the community will always be here for you. Don't listen to the rude and inconsiderate cowards who wouldn't know basic empathy if it bit them on the arse.
I'm sorry your cat has seizures! That's the worst! And yeah, we're hoping the surgery may show why he won't eat. His entire nutritional value comes from supplements, and that's just not good. And I'm not worried about any anona, I promise. As I told them, they can fuck off, lol! You're lovely, though, and I appreciate the love ❤️
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. 😞 Cancer really, really sucks. It took my aunt last year.
You’re definitely in my thoughts and prayers as you navigate this difficult chapter. Take all the time you need to grieve, to process things, and to heal. Sending you all the good vibes and hoping for a great year for you.
The community will be here, whenever you feel you are ready to return. I’m sure I speak for us all when I say that we are here for you and understand that you need time. Take all the time you need.
Hey y'all, so sorry for the long absence. My friend died very suddenly. My son is going it have to have surgery for food issues (he literally won't eat) and then attend a feeding program in a city three hours away. My dog has a Grand Mal seizure (thankfully he's ok). One of my students' is dealing with cancer. My husband and I almost divorced....it's been a lot. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things as soon as possible, but please be patient. It's be such a stressful past couple of months. Love you all!
Kourtni, I, amongst many others love your fics so much. But right now they are the least important thing. *You* are. You, your healing, your grieving and your coping are the number one priority. We don’t care about any fics, as long as you’re okay. Take all the time you need, we’ll always await you with open arms and loving thoughts. Take care 🩷
Sorry I haven't posted part 3 of my RWRB fic yet. A friend of mine recently passed away due to colon cancer, and things just suck. I'm also about to start working again as the school year starts next week. Please bear with me. I swear it'll be out within the next few weeks. Send all the prayers and good vibes to his family and friends.
i just want to make my stance and boundaries clear after it has been proven time and time again in this community that people can be creeps.
my blog is mostly “safe for work” meaning that the majority of my content is not sexual in nature, and when things are, they are tagged properly.
i, personally, do not bother going through my followers and blocking anyone who is under eighteen because i frankly don’t have the time or energy to do so, and when i was younger, blogs like my own brought me a lot of joy.
i am a fanfiction blog, not a porn blog. i would rather minors read my safe for work, fluffy fanfiction than be on porn blogs. yes, tickling can be a sexual thing for me, but that aspect of it is rarely showcased on this blog.
i don’t purposefully befriend and interact with people who are under eighteen. i don’t discuss sexual headcanons with minors, and i don’t discuss personal sexual things with anyone.
if the fact that i don’t block minors bothers you, that’s fine and valid!! i know some people feel very strongly about not letting minors on their accounts and i understand and respect that. i just know that my blog is a safer place for them than a lot of other accounts, and am completely neutral towards their presence in my notifications.
i have had this blog for a long time, so i can’t promise that i have never, ever crossed a single person’s boundary or done anything less than perfect, but i try very hard to mind my own business and just let everyone vibe. i just want to write my silly little fics and communicate with my small group of good friends i’ve made.
A/N: I wrote a similar story years ago, but I seriously can’t find it ANYWHERE. This is my attempt at not exactly rewriting it but doing something equally as fun. So, enjoy sleep-deprived Timmy Drake-Wayne.
Listen, Tim is well aware that he is not exactly the most forthcoming when it comes to information about his general well-being. He knows that he's technically lying. However, everyone lies, right? Like, Dick lies about having free time so he can help whoever needs it when his shoulders can't possibly hold any more weight. Jason lies about hating everyone when he loves the hardest. Damian lies about never caring about feelings when he feels the most. Duke lies about not feeling like an outsider even though everyone knows he still hasn't accepted his position in the family. Cass lies about… okay, well, Cass doesn't lie. But Bruce! Bruce lies about freaking everything. So…Tim lying about sicknesses, injuries, and sleep isn't like…out of the ordinary in Tim's family. So he doesn't really feel bad about lying to Alfred about getting a full night's sleep the previous night.
Well, he doesn't feel too bad.
Tim had, at one point in his life, gotten a full night's sleep. It just wasn't last night. Or the night before that…and so on and so forth. Now that Tim was thinking about it, he'd been up for a full three days. Not his longest record, but the longest in at least six months. Tim is currently working on three cases for Batman Inc., multiple marketing packages for Wayne Enterprises, and two school reports. The cases are what's taking most of his time.
The first case has to do with Scarecrow. Tim believes Crane is working with a new supplier, someone outside of Gotham. He hasn't been able to find out who it is, but he's at least narrowed it down to either Star City or Metropolis. The second case concerns Ivy, which really sucks because she's been relatively quiet ever since she and Harley got together. Honestly, Tim isn't really sure it is Ivy, but it's got to do with these weird plants popping up around the city that shoot some kind of ichor at anyone who gets near. It wouldn't be that big of a deal if it weren't for the fact that the ichor causes blindness for up to two weeks. Tim's been working on a cure, but so far, he hasn't had much luck. Hence, he really needs to talk to Ivy. The third case deals with Victor Zsasz…or, at least, Tim thinks it does. There's been a string of near murders of sex workers in Crime Alley. Jason has been working on it for two weeks, but he's never caught anyone in the action. Jason came to Tim four nights ago to ask for help, which is very usual for Jason. Usually, he sends files and assumes Tim will help. Jason's case is Tim's number one priority. Zsasz is toying with people at the moment. It's only a matter of time before it turns into actual murder.
So, that is why he's currently working on his third night of no sleep. The importance of these cases, Jason's in particular, is also why Tim just lied (again) to Alfred and Bruce about his overall well-being. Again, Tim's not stupid. He knows Alfred and Bruce can see the bags under his eyes, the slump in his shoulders, and the copious amounts of empty energy drink cans and coffee mugs that littered his room. They didn't call him out on it, so they must believe it's not as bad as it really is. Alfred and Bruce leave the Cave, and Tim continues his work on the Batcomputer.
"Hey, any news on my case?"
Tim looks up and sees Jason sauntering in, his hood under his arm.
"Not much. I have some hunches," says Tim. "But nothing concrete yet."
Jason sighs.
"I'm trying, Jay." Tim mutters, feeling guilty.
Jason rolls his eyes. "I'm not mad at you, Timberly. The sigh is in general of the fucking suckiness of the situation, not directed at you."
"Still…I can't seem to crack this the way I want."
"Welcome to my world. Why do you think I asked for your help? You look like shit by the way."
Tim flips him off and then yawns, large and long.
"The fuck was that?" Jason asks.
Tim rolls his eyes. "A yawn, Jason. Surely you've experienced one."
Jason walks to Tim and smacks the back of his head. "Ass."
"You're the ass…ass." Tim replies.
"Now I know you're outta sorts. That was the lamest comeback." Jason says. "When's the last time you slept?"
"Yesterday." Tim lies.
Jason squints at him. "Yeah…and Alfred is the Queen of England."
"I'm fine."
Jason snorts and places his hand on Tim's forehead.
"I don't have a fever, Jason." says Tim, swatting at Jason's hands. Jason reaches down and tweaks Tim's left side. Tim immediately folds inward with a laugh.
"Too easy." Jason smirks as he continues scribbling his fingers along Tim's ribs and sides.
"Screw youhu!" Tim laughs, trying to catch Jason's hands as he squirms in the seat.
"I dunno, this seems like a good way to tire you out."
"Plehehease!" Tim is defenseless when it comes to tickling. It's like his brain decides to stop working, and all he can do is curl up and beg for mercy.
Jason spends a few more seconds poking and prodding along Tim's ribcage before he finally ceases his attack.
"I swear, you're the most ticklish person on the fuckin' planet." Jason is grinning smugly.
Tim knows he's got a goofy grin on his face, but he musters up a scowl regardless. "And I swear you're the biggest prick on the planet."
"Go to sleep, Tim. I know you're on at least day two of no sleep."
"As soon as I get some solid info on your case and finish my crap from WE, I will."
Jason squints at him. Tim thinks for a moment that his older brother is going to argue with him more. However, Jason shrugs his shoulders, waves a dismissive hand toward Tim, and then walks out of the Cave. Tim sighs in relief and turns back to the computer. He knows he's close to proving it's Zsasz behind the attacks. He'll definitely sleep once he proves it.
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
Tim proves it's Zsasz, but he does not sleep. There's no time. Bruce will be the one to help Jason with the takedown of Zsasz because he's a Tier-One Villain, and Batman isn't going to allow Red Hood to do it on his own nor allow Red Robin to be Hood's only backup. Tim put up a fight, arguing that he could at least help, especially considering it was Tim that figured it all out. He’s overruled by a simple ‘Hn’ from Bruce and a smirk from Jason. Tim spends the next day tracking down Ivy. Turns out, she was working the case as well. Tim corners her at a greenhouse in downtown Gotham.
"Of course, you're the one working this." Pamela says without taking her eyes off the plant, she's currently cultivating.
"Should I be offended by that statement?" Tim asks. Tim thinks that, although he's had a direct hand in a few of her arrests, they've at least worked together a few times in the past year to develop a good rapport.
Pam turns to look at him and rolls her eyes. "No. I was just hoping that perhaps the Bat would be here instead."
"He's finishing up with that Zsasz situation." Tim tells her. "So, you're stuck with me."
"Any leads?" She asks.
That's confirmation for Tim that Ivy isn't behind the plants.
"None." Tim replies.
Ivy hums in response.
"It's not any plant I've seen. I don't think it's even from Earth."
"Fan-freaking-tastic…" Tim sighs. This is just what he needs, a freaking alien plant. "Should probably get the Justice League on this if you think it's extraterrestrial."
Ivy doesn't look convinced. "Must we?"
"I think it's best, Dr. Isley. They're better equipped to find its origin and an antidote. I've been trying to make one myself, but it hasn't been as effective as I want."
Ivy sighs. "Fine. Can I ask you to keep me posted on how this shakes up? I've had a few too many dirty looks in my direction."
Tim nods. "Of course."
"Thanks, Little Bird."
Tom rolls his eyes. "I'm 17 now, you know."
Pam smiles at him with a bit of fondness in her eyes and walks away. "Yes, but you'll always be a Little Bird to me."
"Dr. Isley!" Tim calls. Pam halts and turns to look at him. "Don't let anyone look down on you, okay? Gothamites don't have the moral high ground most of the time."
Ivy simply smiles softly at him and leaves.
"Time to get a sample to JL." Tim mutters to himself as he harvests a few of the plants.
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
It's day six of less than four hours of sleep total, and it's actually starting to bother Tim. He's still so busy, though. The Justice League is taking care of the plant situation, Zsasz is in Arkham (with Jason nursing three broken ribs and a sprained wrist), and two of the three WE marketing packages are complete. However, not a single one of Tim's assignments is done, and Tim has two more cases to add to his workload. He's slumping over the desk in Bruce's office. He was kicked out of the Cave about an hour ago by Bruce, who apparently needed to have a meeting with Superman and Flash. Tim hopes it's about the plants, but he's unable to spy as he really needs to finish his schoolwork so he can start writing the reports from his previous cases. He's still trying to find the supplier for Cane, too. He’s minutes away from a full-blown migraine and typing mindlessly on the computer when he hears a knock on the door.
"Tim? You in there?" Dick's voice comes from the other side of the door.
Tim grunts in response.
Dick opens the door. "What're you doing in Bruce's office?"
"M'workin'." Tim winces at how slurred his speech is.
"On what?" Dick asks; he's behind Tim now, leaning over him and staring at the computer Tim's working on.
"School crap, some WE stuff, and a case or two."
"How’s it going?"
Tim shrugs.
"So, I’ve heard from a few birds you’re not sleeping much."
Tim lets his head fall to the desk as he groans. "Tell Jason to mind his own business."
Tim can hear the soft smile on Dick’s face. "It wasn’t just Jason."
Tim looks up at his older brother. "M’fine. I’ve gotten a few hours here and there."
Dick smiles that sad smile of his, which makes Tim feel like absolute shit.
"I’m fine Dick; I promise."
"I wish I could believe you," says Dick. "But you’ve got the worst truth-telling record in this family."
"What?! No way! Bruce holds that title, c’mon!" Tim practically shouts.
Dick seems to consider what Tim says. "Okay, second worst."
Tim scowls at him.
"Grayson, I--oh." Damian is suddenly in the room, scowling at Tim immediately. "Drake, you look terrible."
"No one asked for your opinion, Demon Brat." Tim responds, barely stopping himself from sticking his tongue out.
"Tt. Drake, this isn’t an insult. I do truly mean that you look terrible. When was the last time you slept? Also, are you ill?"
"You’re sick?" Dick’s voice is even more full of concern now.
"I’m not sick! I’m just a little tired." Tim sighs, rubbing his temples. The headache he’s been trying to stave off the last three days is significantly closer than just a few minutes ago.
"Headache, too?" Dick asks kindly.
"Yes, because you and the Baby Assassin are bothering me." Tim mumbles. There’s no real heat behind it.
"I loathe that name." Damian says.
Dick ruffles his hair, garnering a squawk from Damian. "It’s a term of endearment Dee. It means Timmy loves you."
Both Tim and Damian snort at the same time.
"Can I please finish my work?" Tim asks tiredly. He can feel a full-blown migraine coming on, and he thinks that he may be overdoing it somewhat.
"Uh…Tim? You’re not exactly making sense with your…work." Dick winces as he shows Tim the computer screen.
"Oh."
On the screen are just a bunch of letters and numbers all over the place.
Okay…maybe he really has pushed it too far.
"Will you please go to sleep?" Dick asks. He bends down in front of Tim, making himself eye level. Dick places a hand on Tim’s forehead, checking for a fever.
"I will as soon as I finish my school assignments." Tim semi-promises. Sleep doesn’t come as easy to Tim as it does to most people, especially once he’s this far gone.
Dick sighs, but stands and motions for Damian to follow him out.
"Drake…honestly." Damian sighs as he takes a look at Tim.
"Damian, I’m okay."
"Tt."
The door closes and Tim grabs another energy drink from the minifridge and downs it. With a shake of his aching head, Tim focuses on the work in front of him.
Three hours later, Tim’s completely engrossed on the last page of his paper for his English class when Bruce comes in. He looks surprised to see Tim.
"Oh, hey Tim. I didn’t know you were in here." Bruce says.
"You kicked me outta the Cave," Tim replies. "And I wanted to use your two monitors. I can leave if you need me to." Tim is rising as he says this, he stumbles a bit and Bruce is by his side with Tim’s elbow in his hand.
"Easy there, kiddo." Bruce soothes, helping Tim to sit back down. "I don’t mind you using my office. It’s free for you to use when you want. However, I do mind you almost falling for simply standing up. Are you injured?"
"No…I-I’m fine. Just been up a little longer than I should’ve, probably."
"He’s been up for six days." A, quite frankly, livid, voice says from the doorway. Tim’s head whips up and he sees Damian standing there, hands clenched into tight fists, and one of the angriest expressions Tim has ever seen gracing his face. Dick is behind him, and so is Jason, both looking angry and sad and exasperated all at the same time. Bruce looks shocked, which is saying something. He turns to look down at Tim.
"Is this true?"
Tim gulps, but isn’t able to say anything because Damian cuts across him. "Do not even attempt to lie. I looked at the security footage. You haven’t spent more than two hours at a time in any one room in this house, excluding the Cave. However, you haven’t slept there either because the Cave security footage hasn’t shown you sleeping at any point!"
"Damian…I-"
Damian raises a hand to stop Tim. "I don’t want to hear it. You may have no forethought to your health and wellbeing, but others do. And if you are going to insist on attempting to take yourself away from us earlier than what is the normal lifespan of an adult male in America, then you’re going to do so fighting me. And with the current state you’re in, it’d be an even more pathetic fight than when you’re in full form."
Jason places a hand on Damian’s shoulder, which Tim expects him to throw off. However, Damian doesn’t. In fact, it looks like it anchors their youngest sibling.
"Honestly Tim, six days? Even for you that’s excessive." Jason says.
"Bed." Bruce demands. It’s not his Batman voice. It’s not even his angry voice. It’s the voice he uses when he won’t budge. It’s the voice he uses when he’s in meetings and flexing his full CEO authority. It’s the voice he learned from Alfred. It’s the voice he uses when there’s no room for argument.
Tim tries anyway, though, because he has no sense of self-preservation. "Bruce I need to finish my homework, I--"
"You have a death wish, Timmy." Dick sighs.
"You can go to sleep on your own, or I can administer something to help. That is the only choice you’re going to receive for the next several days." Bruce states. Now he sounds (and looks) angry. Tim knows he’s pushing it…has pushed it. He does. He just…there’s so much he needs to do. And Bruce can’t seriously be trying to ground him.
"You can’t ground me, Bruce, I’m 17-"
"You can go to sleep on your own or I can administer something to help." Bruce says it quietly, but Tim hears and sees the fury simmering there.
Tim swallows again; he looks to his two older siblings and knows there will be no help. Jason looks exasperated beyond all reason. Dick looks like Tim just kicked his dog and then set his house on fire. He doesn’t have to look at Damian to know he looks exactly like Bruce.
He’s lost. He knows he’s lost.
"I…I may need some help." Tim admits quietly, feeling his face heat up extensively.
Bruce’s fury melts a bit at that. "I’ll have Alfred make the tea."
"He’s got a headache, too. Add some acetaminophen. We’ll get him to bed, Bruce." Dick says. He reaches for Tim and helps steer him out of the room and to the stairs. Jason and Damian follow.
"You don’t have to follow me; I’m seriously going to go to my room." Tim tells them.
"Tt. Your word on this matter means very little."
"Sorry, Baby Bird. I agree with Baby Bat." Jason tells Tim. "You’ve seriously crossed the line this time."
Tim hangs his head in shame.
"Not now guys." Dick retorts rather sharply. Tim doesn’t deserve Dick’s kindness.
"M’sorry." Tim tells them as they reach his room. "I didn’t mean for it to go on this long. Honestly."
Dick shushes him as he looks for some pajamas.
"No. Seriously. I didn’t…I don’t mean to…" Tim can feel the tears welling in his eyes. It’s frustrating beyond reason.
"Get dressed, and get in bed, Timmers." Dick presses a kiss to the top of his head as he and the others walk out.
Tim does as he’s told. The tears spill onto his cheeks. He knows he’s truly screwed everything up. Everyone is furious with him. He can only imagine the lecture he’s going to get from Alfred. He’s not just going to be grounded; he’s going to be benched permanently. If he can’t be trusted to sleep like a normal human being, he definitely can’t be trusted out in the field. His head starts pounding even harder, and he stumbles into his bed with his knees curled into his stomach.
"Tim?" Bruce is walking in, but Tim is trying really hard to get air into his lungs. He feels Bruce grab his shoulders and set him into a sitting position. One of Bruce’s hands grabs his and places it on the older man’s chest, right over his heart. The other hand grabs the back of Tim’s neck, resting there lightly.
"Breathe with me, kiddo."
Tim tries his hardest to focus on the beating of Bruce’s heart, of the movement of his chest rising and falling. Bruce squeezes his hand very exhale, trying to anchor him, Tim assumes. It takes some time, but eventually Tim’s breathing slows and returns to normal. It has been almost a year since Tim last had a panic attack. He forgot how much they suck.
"Whatever you’re thinking," says Bruce. "I promise isn’t true. No one is going to kick you out, no one is going to fire you, and no one hates you or is mad at you."
"Damian is both of those last things. And you’re all mad. I get it." Tim replies.
Bruce hands him the steaming mug of drugged tea. If Tim knows Alfred as well as he thinks he does, there’s definitely a high dose of sleeping aid in the tea. Tim sips it at first, but downs it quickly, feeling it burn his throat.
"Slow down there, Tim." Bruce chastises. "You don’t need to punish yourself."
"I just wanna go to bed." Tim tells his adopted father. Bruce looks at him with those sad eyes of his, making Tim feel a million times worse, which is really saying something because he feels like dog shit.
"Sweetheart, c’mere." Bruce climbs into the bed and lifts up his arm, offering Tim to snuggle in, which the boy does. "We’re mad, yes. We’re mad that you seem to be unable to take care of yourself properly. We’re mad that you always push yourself too far. We’re mad that we don’t catch it quick enough to help. But we’re not mad at you in the sense that is going through your head. We all love you."
Tim wants to believe it.
"Not even Damian doesn’t hate you."
Tim snorts.
"He doesn’t." Bruce insists, digging his fingers into Tim’s ribs. Tim gasps and laughs as Bruce doesn’t let up.
"Stahap!" Tim begs. Tim is seriously ticklish on his ribs; it’s one of his worst spots, and Bruce knows it.
Bruce chuckles fondly as he brings both hands to Tim’s ribcage. Tim is letting out some serious giggles now. He’s trying to fight against Bruce, but the tea is setting in, and Tim’s not the most coordinated person when tickled.
"Promise to sleep and not stay up for six days straight ever again?" Bruce asks, not ceasing his tickle attack. He digs his fingers in between the bones of Tim’s ribs.
"Yehehes! I-I prohohomise!" Tim gets out, squirming madly. It tickles so damn much!
Bruce finally stops tickling. Tim sags into Bruce’s side while he rubs his ribs to get rid of the residual tickly feelings.
"You’re too good at that." Tim tells him.
Bruce kisses the top of his head. "You’re too easy. I think you may be more ticklish than Damian."
Now that was interesting information.
"Damian is ticklish?!"
Bruce winces. "I don’t think I was supposed to mention that."
"Oh th-thaaaat--" Tim cuts himself off with a loud yawn.
"Bed." Bruce says, pressing another kiss against the top of Tim’s head. "No worrying either, we can talk tomorrow about better ways to keep yourself healthy."
"G’night, dad." Tim whispers, already falling asleep.
"Good night, son."
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
When Tim wakes up, he’s dazed and confused. The sun is gone and his clock tells him it’s nine at night.
"It’s been 18 hours, Drake."
Tim whips his head and sees Damian sketching in the armchair next to his bed.
"What?"
"You slept for 18 hours," Damian repeats, sounding thoroughly annoyed. "Pennyworth has a plate of dinner waiting for you when you are ready to eat."
Tim scrubs a hand down his face. "Eighteen hours, huh?"
"With the amount of stress you put on your body, I am shocked you didn’t sleep longer."
"Yeah…wasn’t my best plan I guess."
"Tt. Consider it your worst. That is saying something, too, as you usually have terrible plans." There’s no real heat behind Damian’s words. The two of them have grown a lot since Damian first came. They respect one another now. They work pretty well together, too. Their form of communication may look especially harsh to an outsider, but to them, it’s brotherly banter.
Tim rolls his eyes. "Pretty sure I was the one who took down Zsasz earlier this week."
Damian looks at him. "Father and Todd took him down."
"Physically, maybe. But it was me who found out everything. So, if you think about it, it was all of my plans that took him down."
"Tt. In your dreams, Drake."
Tim moves to sit on the side of his bed. "Hey."
Damian looks at him once more. "What?"
"I’m sorry for scaring you," Tim apologizes. "I didn’t mean to."
Damian replies stiffly, "I was not scared. I was mad at your stupidity."
"I’m sorry for making you mad, then."
Damian scowls deeply at him. "Do you realize the stress you put on others when you pull these types of stunts? We have enough stress without others adding to it with idiotic decisions. You need to better care for yourself. You aren’t a machine, Drake, and you’re not alone. There are others in this family that could’ve taken a case or two. Furthermore, you hate school, so I do not understand your need to finish assignments you don’t care about."
Tim feels really bad.
"I didn’t do it on purpose, if that helps." Tim tells his little brother. "I get…focused, I guess. I know you guys can help me, I just…I dunno. I feel like I can do it better, I suppose. That’s really narcissistic of me, I know."
Damian only scowls further. "You aren’t a narcissist; you’re an idiot. There’s a difference."
"How many more times are you going to call me an idiot?" Tim asks, a wry smile on his face.
"As many times as it takes." Damian smirks.
Tim rolls his eyes this time. He stands and squats in front of the chair so he’s eye level with Damian. "I won’t do it again."
"Tt."
Tim places a hand on Damian’s shoulder. "I promise, Damian."
Damian looks at Tim now. "You…you are important to this family."
"Does that include you?" Tim teases.
Damian shoves Tim’s hand off his shoulders. "Ugh. I’m finished with this sappy moment. I’m leaving."
Domain tries to stand to leave, but Tim is feeling much better after his sleep, and he’s in a mischievous mood, so he grabs Damian around the waist and pulls him into a hug.
"Drake! Unhand me!"
"We have to hug, Demon," says Tim. "Dickie will be upset if we don’t."
Damian is squirming furiously as he attempts to free himself from Tim’s grip. "Grayson isn’t even here!"
"He could walk in any minute, though. I wanna make sure we do him proud!" Tim squeezes tighter, causing Damian to yelp. It reminds Tim of what Bruce told him before he fell asleep.
Tim smiles deviously. "I heard some interesting information about you from Bruce." Tim places his hands on Damian’s sides with his fingers curled in, an evil grin growing as he feels Damian instantly still.
"Drake…" It’s a warning, but Tim isn’t concerned.
"Damian."
"Whatever Father told you, h-he was clearly lying!" Damian still doesn’t move, and Tim knows it’s because every movement would tickle with the way Tim’s hands are positioned.
"Bruce lies at times," Tim concedes. "But I don’t think he was lying about this. Tell me, Dee, are you ticklish?"
Damian’s eyes go wide. "N-No! Of c-course not!"
"Bruce said you were."
"He lied!"
Tim shrugs his shoulders, pretending to give up. However, the moment Damian relaxes, Tim tosses the smaller boy on the bed and pounces, immediately tickling Damian’s stomach.
"DRAKE!" Damian absolutely screeches. Tim knows he’s going to die after this, but he’s okay with it. Damian succumbs to laughter rather quickly. He has such a cute laugh, sounding and looking like the 12-year-old he is.
"Bruce was right!" Tim crows. He scrabbles all 10 of his fingers all around Damian’s belly. The closer he gets to Damian’s sides and ribs, the louder his laughter gets, and the more he squirms. Damian seems to be like Tim, though, and super uncoordinated when tickled because Tim is still alive and breathing. Damian is swearing like a sailor at him, but that’s about it.
"What the fuck is going on in--oh…now this is good."
Tim looks at the doorway, not pausing his tickly assault on Damian’s torso, and sees Jason with the biggest grin on his face that Tim’s ever seen.
"T-Tohohodd! I r-require assISTANCE!" Damian squeals out the last part of the word as Tim shoots his arms to Damian’s underarms.
"I think Timmy requires my assistance," Jason’s grin turns more shark-like. "How did I not know you were ticklish, Baby Bat?"
Damian doesn’t answer. He’s too busy holding his middle as best he can, laughter pouring out of his mouth. His heels are drumming against the bed, and Tim is grinning widely himself. He’s never heard Damian laugh like this before.
"Are you guys killing Damian?" Dick enters the room next. "Oh…you’re just tickling him. Try his neck next, Timmy. That’s his death spot."
"GRAYHAYSON!" Damian shrieks as Tim lightly pinches at the back of Damian’s neck. Damian’s laughter goes high pitched. "T-TIM, pleheHEASE!"
It went on for two more minutes before Dick rescues Damian by telling Tim to stop. Tim moves off Damian and grins down at the panting boy. "You called me by my name."
Damian pants for another few seconds, a silly grin on his face. It doesn’t last long, though, because he soon scowls fiercer than Tim’s ever seen and then jumps at Tim. Dick catches him around the middle and holds Damian away from Tim.
"Let me go, Grayson! I will have my revenge!"
"Sorry Dames, but Tim needs to eat. He needs to sleep after that, again--don’t look at me like that, Tim--and you need to get ready for patrol."
Damian flips Tim off but stops struggling against Dick’s hold. Dick sets him down and grins. "Everyone’s ticklish, Damian. If you can imagine it, Tim’s probably more ticklish than you."
"Dick!" Tim throws his oldest brother a betrayed look.
"Oh definitely. The kid’s ribs are like a 10 on the Richter scale," Jason adds. "One poke to his ribs has him swearing his first born to you. He’s deathly ticklish on his ribs."
"Jason!" Tim throws the same betrayed look to his immediate older brother.
"Sorry, little brother. It’s true." Dick laughs.
Tim looks at Damian and gulps. Damian looks smug. No, he looks worse than smug. He looks like he’s plotting.
"Damian…I-I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again!" Tim has his hands up.
"Oh, I know it won’t. I’ll ensure the lesson you learn will keep you from making that mistake ever again."
"Oh! Are we going to tickle Tim next?" Dick asks. "It’s been a while!"
"You asshats are gonna leave me alone!" Tim warns. "Remember, I have lots of pictures that I can release on the internet at a moment’s notice."
"He’s bluffing." Jason snorts. "He won’t post them on the internet, Bruce would kill him."
Damian’s smirk grows.
"I’m totally in on this plan, though," Jason continues. "Tickling Tim till he forgets his own damn name sounds like fun."
Tim feels his stomach flip flop with excitement and trepidation. He’s never been teamed up against like that and has no clue what it’ll feel like, but he has a feeling he’s about to find out.
"What about you, Grayon? Will you join in my revenge?" Damian asks.
Tim sends a pleading look to Dick.
"Well…he really needs to eat." Dick says. Tim sighs in relief. "But I suppose he can wait another half hour or so."
"Half hour?! The fu-NO! Nohoho!"
Tim doesn’t do much more than laugh for quite some time.
Anonymous said: Maybe one where Alex and Henry make out during their friends with benefits phase and one of them strokes their hand over a sensitive area.
Warnings: Non-graphic foreplay of some sort. Also me not being able to read because I changed the hand part of the prompt to mouth lmao
Words: 830 ish
Henry wasn’t used to there being a bed involved. He’d started associating cupping Alex’s face with a broom sticking into his shoulder blade, Alex kissing down his chest with a hand pressed tightly over his mouth. He almost felt as if he wasn’t sure what to do lying down, although there wasn’t much time to think anyway. Alex was shirtless beneath him and was trying very hard to get his pants off too, although it seemed difficult if his frustrated grunting was anything to go by.
“Need help?” he asked, laughing when he shot him a glare. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Henry hovered over his thighs, fingertips hooking onto the waistband of Alex’s jeans. “Stop squirming.”
“Stop taking so long.”
“Why, do you have somewhere to be?” It was mostly a joke. Henry knew they only had barely half an hour.
Alex pointed at Henry’s belly, then slowly lowered his finger. “I have somewhere to be, all right.”
A surprised laugh bubbled out of him and he started pulling the pants down. “Aren’t you crude.”
“Just being honest.” Alex was smiling. Henry adored his smile.
He pulled the jeans down past Alex’s hips, pausing just before he could slide them entirely off. “Hmm, I think you need to learn how to slow down a bit. Hey hey, no whining,” he added when Alex did just that. “I’ll make it feel good.”
Alex’s cheeks were now tinted a lovely shade of pink. Henry found himself grinning as he lowered his head, blinking up at him through his eyelashes with his mouth ghosting over the skin of Alex’s hip bone.
“Is this okay?” he asked, barely touching skin and yet Alex was moaning anyway.
“Yes. God, yes.”
Henry kissed the bone. “Told you.” He enjoyed the sounds Alex was making and kissed it again, and again. “Now be good and keep still for me, okay?” He trailed his lips over his lower belly as he moved to the other bone, intending on giving it the same treatment, but Alex had decided to do the opposite of what he’d asked and was squirming like crazy. The only thing more fun than making Alex squirm with pleasure was making him squirm with impatience.
Henry glanced up, a playful reprimand at the tip of his tongue. “Now what did I just say?”
But instead of huffing or rolling his eyes Alex’s blush seemed to deepen, which was interesting since he didn’t tend to blush much to begin with. From what Henry had seen anyway. He suddenly felt uncertain, although it made no sense. But maybe he’d crossed a line, had acted too impulsively, not given Alex a chance to protest. But what was there to blush about, if Henry had toyed with his trust?
He sat up, heart suddenly hammering. “What is it?”
“N-nothing.”
“Alex.”
Alex covered his face with his hands, groaning so suddenly and loudly that Henry jumped. “It’s stupid, don’t worry about it.”
“Alex.”
“Seriously, please just go back to doing what you were doing, only-”
“Only?”
Alex dropped his hands with a sigh. “Make it tickle less.”
“Oh my god.” Henry sunk down again, pressing his face to Alex’s belly. “You scared the everloving shit out of me. I thought I had offended you! And all this time you were just ticklish. Which I will take advantage of, by the way, once I’ve recovered from this heart attack.”
“Uh, you will do no such thing.” Alex poked his head. “I’m a kicker, better be careful.”
“You can’t kick me if I’ve got you pinned.” Henry looked up. “But since I promised I will make you feel good, who am I to go back on my promises? Be still.”
He caught Alex’s eyes widening before he went back down, lips tracing skin in a much more determined way now. Softly, slowly, making sure to kiss every inch of skin between his hip bones. Alex started squirming immediately, his breath becoming heavier, before he was finally laughing. Henry had never heard this laugh before. It was choppy, panicked, nearly a giggle. He couldn’t get enough of it.
“You’re not still,” he mumbled, looking up to grin at him. Alex had covered his face again, although he seemed to be alternating between that and gripping at his hair, the pillow, the headboard. Henry had never been so grateful for a bed.
“I can’t help it,” Alex said, peeking out at him. “You’re so fucking mean.”
“I barely hear you protesting though.” He decided to be bold and dragged a finger lightly over his lower belly, making Alex jump. “And you’re not stopping me.”
He huffed, reaching out to grab Henry’s wrist. He let him. “Kiss me.”
“What, are you done giggling?”
“Do I have to remind you of how little time we have?”
Henry sighed dramatically. “Fine. But I’ll remember this.”
“Of course you will,” Alex muttered before pulling him closer. Had Henry had a response he forgot it immediately.
A/N: Here’s the second part to the Too Good to Be series! There’s one more installment, which I’ll probably post within the next week or so. Part 3 is the longest of all, but I’m tinkering with it still. Hope you enjoy part 2! Also, only seven more days until the movie!!!!!
There is only one week left of their two-week vacation, and Alex was dreading not seeing Henry every day. Living in two different countries…two different continents, really fucking sucked. Alex wants to make the most of the last seven days he has with Henry. Currently, they’re lounging in a hammock not far from the shore of the lake; Cash not too far from them, but allowing them to have privacy. June and Nora are in the cabin. Alex’s dad is getting more groceries. They’re planning on steaks and potatoes tonight for supper. They’re lounging in the hammock, Henry’s reading a book while idly playing with the hair at the nape of Alex’s neck. Alex tries his hardest to suppress the shivers with each passing stroke. It’s hard, though. And Alex knows that Henry knows because Henry, the dick, is smirking.
“Something wrong?” Henry asks, looking down at Alex.
“You’re a dick.” Alex tells him.
Henry chuckles, a low sound in his throat that makes Alex want to bring out more of those noises…just not at his own expense.
“It’s only fair I get a little revenge.” Henry replies. “You tortured me a few nights ago.”
“You loved it.”
Henry says nothing, but Alex looks up at him and can see him blushing prettily.
“Can’t even deny it, can you?” Alex teases.
He gets a sharp, ticklish pinch to the nape of his neck for that.
“HENry!” Alex let out a yelp, his shoulders scrunching up.
“Be nice, or else there’s more where that came from.” Henry says.
“You don’t wanna start this with me.” Alex warns as he tries to wriggle out of the hammock.
“You’re disturbing my reading!” Henry shouts, trying to stay in the hammock. However, Alex has it spinning, and the men fall out, hitting the grass below. Alex fell on top of Henry with an ‘oof’.
Henry looks stunned for all of three seconds before he narrows his eyes. “You’re in serious trouble.”
Alex scrambles away and starts running. Cash barely glances his way. He looks utterly bored as Alex runs up to him.
"Aren't you going to do something?"
"I am paid to protect you from outside threats, not your own stupidity." Cash yawns as he turns a page in the book he’s reading.
"You're the worst bodyguard ever."
“He’s right behind you.” Cash tells him.
Alex turns around, and, sure enough, Henry is standing there, looking down at him (damn those extra four inches).
“Alex.” Henry greets.
“Dick Head.” Alex returns.
Henry tilts his head. “You really have no self-preservation, do you?”
“I’ve been told that a time or two,” says Alex. “I’ve also been told I’m extremely attractive as well.”
Henry rolls his eyes, but then grabs Alex by the waist and tackles him to the ground.
“I’m heading to the porch,” says Cash. “Don’t kill him.”
“Dude! Do your duty to your country and help me from this foreign threat!” Alex is grappling with Henry now, but he’s at a disadvantage as he’s underneath Henry. And Henry plays Polo regularly. He trains for it. And Alex…well, he hits the gym, but it seems like that’s not enough because his hands are pinned with one of Henry’s and despite his tugging, Henry isn’t budging.
“I know your neck isn’t your only ticklish spot,” Henry says casually. “But I’m unsure of what your other ticklish spots are.”
“Baby, please!”
“Pet names will, how did you put it last week, get you nowhere.” Henry responds, but he’s blushing.
“You’re blushing.” Alex tells him, hoping to distract him somewhat.
“And you’re about to be laughing.” And with that, Henry is tickling the left side of Alex’s ribs.
Alex can’t even hold anything in. His ribs are easily his most ticklish spot. He bucks sharply, laughter immediately pouring from his mouth.
“Hehehenry!”
“Oh my lord, I had no idea you were this ticklish. Are your ribs your worst spot or something?”
“Yehes!” Alex laughs, big belly laughter pouring out. He’s tugging furiously on his arms now, trying to protect his ribs as his shirt does nothing to help protect him from the ticklish jolts shooting through his body. Henry is kind of really good at tickling. It’s disconcerting for Alex because he knows his boyfriend isn’t going to be stopping any time soon.
“This is brilliant.” Henry grins.
Alex opens his mouth to curse at him again, but Henry hits this spot on his higher ribs that’s right underneath his underarm, and Alex lets out a very high-pitched (and slightly embarrassing) laugh. Alex finally frees his arms and crashes them down to his sides. Henry is undeterred; however, and just worms his other hand to mirror the one currently destroying Alex’s dignity.
“Shihit!” Alex is laughing hysterically and trying to squirm away. Henry is wiggling a finger or two in between each rib as he concentrates on that awful spot on both sides of his ribs now. The tickling is intense yet gentle. Henry’s not digging in terribly, there’s no pain to it, which can happen with tickling sometimes. Instead, he’s all fingers and scritches and absolute destruction as he works his way up and down Alex’s ribs.
“How were you able to hide this from me for so long?” Henry asks. “You’re a tickling menace, and my attempts at retaliation usually go sour.”
Alex is trying to gain the upperhand, but he’s losing. Every time he raises his arms to grab Henry’s, the stupidly attractive prince scrabbles his fingers into Alex’s underarms. Henry hasn’t moved away from Alex’s ribs except to hit his underarms. It’s wholly unbearable, and Alex is ready to beg for mercy. Having his most ticklish spot unceasingly wrecked for almost four minutes now (it seems like an hour), is getting to him.
“Plehehehease! Enough with the rihihibs!” Alex begs. Henry slows his hands, but doesn’t stop tickling.
“I’ve half a mind to completely ignore that request,” Henry tells him. “However, you saying ‘please’ is something I could get used to.” Henry’s hands move to Alex’s stomach, clawing lightly at the soft spot beneath his belly button.
“Th-That’s nohot much better!” Alex gets out through his giggles. He’s trying to curl up and protect his stomach, but Henry simply readjusts himself on top of Alex each time.
“I’m not trying to make it better.” Henry retorts. Alex glances up at him, eyes full of tears of laughter, and even though he’s being tortured, he can’t help but get a trill in his stomach (not due to the tickling) as he views at the gorgeousness that is His Royal Highness. It still shocks Alex that Henry is here...that he fought for Alex...fought for each other.
"Henry, baby, please!"
"You haven't asked me to stop...maybe someone else enjoys this." Henry tells him, still lightly tickling Alex's stomach.
"Sohoho what?" Alex retorts. "T-Tihihickling's fun!"
And it is. Alex isn't shy about it. He loves to tickle people, and he loves to be tickled. He and June had epic tickle fights when they were growing up. Nora wasn't super ticklish, but when they were together (and when they weren't) they, too, had tickle fights. June and Nora often teamed up on Alex, but he didn't mind.
Henry blushes when Alex says the word 'tickling'. His boyfriend enjoyed tickling even more so than Alex, but there was something that held him hostage to slight embarrassment. He was also just a super easy person to fluster. Flustering Henry was Alex's number one job.
Henry finally stops his attack, leans down, and kisses Alex. It's a soft kiss, a slow one. It makes Alex reach up for Henry's head to hold him against his lips. He feels Henry grin before the prince wiggles fingers on his ribs again. Alex barks out a laugh and grabs at Henry's waist, digging his fingers into Henry's hips. Henry immediately falls backwards and laughs.
"Don't forget, you're more ticklish than I am." Alex tells him as he offers his hand to lift Henry to his feet.
"You never let me forget, so I've no doubt I won't." Henry tells him wryly.
Alex pecks Henry's cheeks right as Alex's dad pulls in. "C'mon, let's help the old man with the groceries."
Henry nods and grabs Alex's hand as they walk towards the car.
"By the way, Cash, I'm totally going to get you fired." Alex throws to the Secret Serviceman.
"Don't threaten me with a good time, kid."
Henry laughs, and Alex flips Cash off. There's no heat behind the gesture. And once more, Alex is so thankful for the life he's living.
A/N: Here’s the second part to the Too Good to Be series! There’s one more installment, which I’ll probably post within the next week or so. Part 3 is the longest of all, but I’m tinkering with it still. Hope you enjoy part 2! Also, only seven more days until the movie!!!!!
There is only one week left of their two-week vacation, and Alex was dreading not seeing Henry every day. Living in two different countries…two different continents, really fucking sucked. Alex wants to make the most of the last seven days he has with Henry. Currently, they’re lounging in a hammock not far from the shore of the lake; Cash not too far from them, but allowing them to have privacy. June and Nora are in the cabin. Alex’s dad is getting more groceries. They’re planning on steaks and potatoes tonight for supper. They’re lounging in the hammock, Henry’s reading a book while idly playing with the hair at the nape of Alex’s neck. Alex tries his hardest to suppress the shivers with each passing stroke. It’s hard, though. And Alex knows that Henry knows because Henry, the dick, is smirking.
“Something wrong?” Henry asks, looking down at Alex.
“You’re a dick.” Alex tells him.
Henry chuckles, a low sound in his throat that makes Alex want to bring out more of those noises…just not at his own expense.
“It’s only fair I get a little revenge.” Henry replies. “You tortured me a few nights ago.”
“You loved it.”
Henry says nothing, but Alex looks up at him and can see him blushing prettily.
“Can’t even deny it, can you?” Alex teases.
He gets a sharp, ticklish pinch to the nape of his neck for that.
“HENry!” Alex let out a yelp, his shoulders scrunching up.
“Be nice, or else there’s more where that came from.” Henry says.
“You don’t wanna start this with me.” Alex warns as he tries to wriggle out of the hammock.
“You’re disturbing my reading!” Henry shouts, trying to stay in the hammock. However, Alex has it spinning, and the men fall out, hitting the grass below. Alex fell on top of Henry with an ‘oof’.
Henry looks stunned for all of three seconds before he narrows his eyes. “You’re in serious trouble.”
Alex scrambles away and starts running. Cash barely glances his way. He looks utterly bored as Alex runs up to him.
"Aren't you going to do something?"
"I am paid to protect you from outside threats, not your own stupidity." Cash yawns as he turns a page in the book he’s reading.
"You're the worst bodyguard ever."
“He’s right behind you.” Cash tells him.
Alex turns around, and, sure enough, Henry is standing there, looking down at him (damn those extra four inches).
“Alex.” Henry greets.
“Dick Head.” Alex returns.
Henry tilts his head. “You really have no self-preservation, do you?”
“I’ve been told that a time or two,” says Alex. “I’ve also been told I’m extremely attractive as well.”
Henry rolls his eyes, but then grabs Alex by the waist and tackles him to the ground.
“I’m heading to the porch,” says Cash. “Don’t kill him.”
“Dude! Do your duty to your country and help me from this foreign threat!” Alex is grappling with Henry now, but he’s at a disadvantage as he’s underneath Henry. And Henry plays Polo regularly. He trains for it. And Alex…well, he hits the gym, but it seems like that’s not enough because his hands are pinned with one of Henry’s and despite his tugging, Henry isn’t budging.
“I know your neck isn’t your only ticklish spot,” Henry says casually. “But I’m unsure of what your other ticklish spots are.”
“Baby, please!”
“Pet names will, how did you put it last week, get you nowhere.” Henry responds, but he’s blushing.
“You’re blushing.” Alex tells him, hoping to distract him somewhat.
“And you’re about to be laughing.” And with that, Henry is tickling the left side of Alex’s ribs.
Alex can’t even hold anything in. His ribs are easily his most ticklish spot. He bucks sharply, laughter immediately pouring from his mouth.
“Hehehenry!”
“Oh my lord, I had no idea you were this ticklish. Are your ribs your worst spot or something?”
“Yehes!” Alex laughs, big belly laughter pouring out. He’s tugging furiously on his arms now, trying to protect his ribs as his shirt does nothing to help protect him from the ticklish jolts shooting through his body. Henry is kind of really good at tickling. It’s disconcerting for Alex because he knows his boyfriend isn’t going to be stopping any time soon.
“This is brilliant.” Henry grins.
Alex opens his mouth to curse at him again, but Henry hits this spot on his higher ribs that’s right underneath his underarm, and Alex lets out a very high-pitched (and slightly embarrassing) laugh. Alex finally frees his arms and crashes them down to his sides. Henry is undeterred; however, and just worms his other hand to mirror the one currently destroying Alex’s dignity.
“Shihit!” Alex is laughing hysterically and trying to squirm away. Henry is wiggling a finger or two in between each rib as he concentrates on that awful spot on both sides of his ribs now. The tickling is intense yet gentle. Henry’s not digging in terribly, there’s no pain to it, which can happen with tickling sometimes. Instead, he’s all fingers and scritches and absolute destruction as he works his way up and down Alex’s ribs.
“How were you able to hide this from me for so long?” Henry asks. “You’re a tickling menace, and my attempts at retaliation usually go sour.”
Alex is trying to gain the upperhand, but he’s losing. Every time he raises his arms to grab Henry’s, the stupidly attractive prince scrabbles his fingers into Alex’s underarms. Henry hasn’t moved away from Alex’s ribs except to hit his underarms. It’s wholly unbearable, and Alex is ready to beg for mercy. Having his most ticklish spot unceasingly wrecked for almost four minutes now (it seems like an hour), is getting to him.
“Plehehehease! Enough with the rihihibs!” Alex begs. Henry slows his hands, but doesn’t stop tickling.
“I’ve half a mind to completely ignore that request,” Henry tells him. “However, you saying ‘please’ is something I could get used to.” Henry’s hands move to Alex’s stomach, clawing lightly at the soft spot beneath his belly button.
“Th-That’s nohot much better!” Alex gets out through his giggles. He’s trying to curl up and protect his stomach, but Henry simply readjusts himself on top of Alex each time.
“I’m not trying to make it better.” Henry retorts. Alex glances up at him, eyes full of tears of laughter, and even though he’s being tortured, he can’t help but get a trill in his stomach (not due to the tickling) as he views at the gorgeousness that is His Royal Highness. It still shocks Alex that Henry is here...that he fought for Alex...fought for each other.
"Henry, baby, please!"
"You haven't asked me to stop...maybe someone else enjoys this." Henry tells him, still lightly tickling Alex's stomach.
"Sohoho what?" Alex retorts. "T-Tihihickling's fun!"
And it is. Alex isn't shy about it. He loves to tickle people, and he loves to be tickled. He and June had epic tickle fights when they were growing up. Nora wasn't super ticklish, but when they were together (and when they weren't) they, too, had tickle fights. June and Nora often teamed up on Alex, but he didn't mind.
Henry blushes when Alex says the word 'tickling'. His boyfriend enjoyed tickling even more so than Alex, but there was something that held him hostage to slight embarrassment. He was also just a super easy person to fluster. Flustering Henry was Alex's number one job.
Henry finally stops his attack, leans down, and kisses Alex. It's a soft kiss, a slow one. It makes Alex reach up for Henry's head to hold him against his lips. He feels Henry grin before the prince wiggles fingers on his ribs again. Alex barks out a laugh and grabs at Henry's waist, digging his fingers into Henry's hips. Henry immediately falls backwards and laughs.
"Don't forget, you're more ticklish than I am." Alex tells him as he offers his hand to lift Henry to his feet.
"You never let me forget, so I've no doubt I won't." Henry tells him wryly.
Alex pecks Henry's cheeks right as Alex's dad pulls in. "C'mon, let's help the old man with the groceries."
Henry nods and grabs Alex's hand as they walk towards the car.
"By the way, Cash, I'm totally going to get you fired." Alex throws to the Secret Serviceman.
"Don't threaten me with a good time, kid."
Henry laughs, and Alex flips Cash off. There's no heat behind the gesture. And once more, Alex is so thankful for the life he's living.
