The 8th Sibling
You smiled slightly at the sight of Vanya hanging out with not just Klaus and Allison, but Luther and Diego as well in the living room. It warmed your heart to see your so often neglected sibling get the love she deserved.
You ignored the pang telling you to go join them and opted to hang in the shadows as you usually did. It wasn't that you were flat out ignored by the others; instead your ability just..wasn't helpful in combat. Until everything with Vanya happened. Luther wouldn't talk to you for 3 weeks after you refused to force Vanya into a manufactured calm.
You'd always been closer to her than the others, save maybe Five at the time; like Hell were you going to betray her trust and manipulate her like that just because their neglect had forced her to such a frenzied state. Yours too though you tried to be there.
You straightened a bit, and looked away nervously as Klaus brushed his fingers over Vanya's neck causing her to squeal. Your cheeks already starting to burn, you ducked your head and dissapeared as quietly as you had arrived, completely unaware of the perceptive eyes keeping watch of your every move.
The next time it happened was family movie night. No getting out of that, typically squeezed between Klaus and Diego as you were but luckily the popcorn bowl was empty and you all but yelped as much as you swiped the bowl and were gone, your tiny frame letting you slip away as Allison scribbled at Luther's ear.
A pop followed by a flash of blue you knew all too well and you willed your face to cool as you turned your back so you wouldn't have to face Five.
"Why do you keep doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"...You know what. I'll spell it out if I have to but I guarantee you won't like it if your current state is any indication."
You barely held back your shiver at Five's smug tone but put your love of acting to good use as you put the kettle on. You'd need some sugary milk tea to get you through this shit and calm you down afterwards you could feel it.
"I've got no idea what you're talking about."
You claimed innocently, and Five hummed from behind you as you grabbed a bag of microwavable popcorn and moved to cook it.
"Oh you don't?"
Five stood in your path and you fought the urge to squirm under his scrutinizing stare. He'd always been closer with Vanya so why was he taking such an interest in you now? The defensive voice in you wanted to ask but the kindness you typically felt made you instantly tell it to shut up instead. You pasted on a vaguely confused smile.
"Nope! I just need to put this in...one sec okay?"
You gently maneuvered your small frame around his and were relieved when he let you pass silently. You put the bag in and set the time without incident for 3 minutes and 30 seconds and when you went to walk past him again, squealed and hopped away as his nimble fingers squeezed your waist. Suddenly, as if by magic, you were red again.
A smirk bloomed across his face as he seemingly got the reaction he wanted.
"It is the tickling isn't it? I thought it was the bonding in general and I think that may be it to a lesser extent...but it's definitely the tickling itself that makes you so jumpy and flustered."
You went silent and refused to meet his gaze, leading to him prodding you verbally.
"I'll be more direct. Why do you run away the second any kind of tickling-"
He blinked as you suddenly covered his mouth and you finally met his gaze, your own with a wild glint.
"I'll tell you if you just please stop saying it!"
You squeaked as you realized what you'd done and scrambled away much to his amusement to where your tea was being made, pouring the hot water into your waiting cup and loading it with sugar to distract yourself.
"Even the word gets you? Are you like Klaus where it's a kink for you or...?"
The way your cheeks reddened further gave him his answer as did the way your shoulders slumped. Ah. That was why then. You were terrified they'd judge you. He barely withheld his laughter at the thought. As if. Every one of them had kinks or little flaws or insecurities. It was what made them all Human.
He paused as you looked at him in hesitant curiosity.
"K-Klaus has it too?"
He saw the question in your eyes and answered it, his smirk widening at the equally surprised and mortified look on your face.
"Yup; he's a 50/50 Switch I'd say. I'm surprised I know that and you don't. Some days he's full ler, others full lee and most of the time he's happy to have either and gives as good as he gets."
He snatched the popcorn from the microwave as it finished beeping, opening it and starting to munch on it absentmindedly in amusement at how funny your reaction was to him.
"Well...I wasn't exactly the closest with everyone. That didn't magically change when you left, y'know. But- why do you know all the lingo!?"
He quirked an eyebrow.
"...Klaus confided in me one day. He was pretty high, probably doesn't remember it. He's always been a rambler though. Guess it's not too surprising."
He looked you up and down and smirked as he noticed you shiver in response.
"Even if I didn't know the language- you're a 100% lee aren't you? You wouldn't get that flustered seeing others getting messed with if you weren't. You want to be the one getting tickled-" He placed special emphasis on the word now that he knew it bothered you and relished your flinch. "But you're too scared to ask for it. It's quite cute actually. Very in line with how you were when we were still kids. You never could ask for the things you wanted, or speak up. So…" He hopped off the counter with a flourish after putting the now empty bag aside. "I'm going to be a good big brother and help you out. Come with me."
He grabbed your hand after ensuring you weren't holding your tea mug and gently shoved you in front of the screen most of the others weren't watching anyway, mighty strong despite his younger appearance.
"Listen up idiots. ______'s got something she wants to say."
He turned to you expectantly with a mocking smile as you looked between him and your other siblings with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Oh no way in fuck this was happening.
Your eyes moved to both the stairs and the front door, weighing your chances but Five's clicking tongue made you stiffen and move your gaze towards him.
"I wouldn't try it. I'll just teleport before you get far enough and then I'll show them. And I know you don't want that. Or...maybe you do. Either way; I'm not the kindest of our siblings in that regard so you may want to think twice before trying to get on my nerves. Just tell them."
"Okay will one of you please just say what's going on!?"
Predictably, Diego was the first to snap, but the flinch you gave in response to his raised voice made him wince in sympathy. Whoops.
Allison tried next, ever the mediator.
"Whatever it is this is… I'm sure it's nothing bad right?"
You couldn't meet anyone's gaze now; Diego's loud proclamation had made you too cagey but you mumbled.
"Define bad. It...d-depends on your perspective, I guess."
You risked a pleading glance towards Five, wishing a hole would appear to make you disappear.
"Five, please you're literally killing me right now; this doesn't even matter okay? Can I please just go?"
At your whining tone and childish reaction Five gritted his teeth in annoyance before he shrugged and nodded.
"Yeah, alright fine you can go."
Your expression visibly relaxed but just as you took your first step, Five continued.
"All she can't seem to say is that she has a tickle kink like Klaus and likes to constantly be on the receiving end instead of both like him."
You whirled to look at him with your mouth dropped open in shock, filter gone as betrayal fueled you.
"Five no-! You fucking little-"
You gritted your own teeth as he smiled in smug satisfaction up at you and clenched your fists with an upset huff, hating the way your eyes burned in humiliation.
"Y'know what? Whatever. It's not even fucking worth it. I'll be gone by tomorro-AGH!"
You shouted in surprise not having any time to wallow or finish your self deprecating words because suddenly Klaus was digging into your hips like a madman after tackling you to the floor and making you burst into giggles as you tried to weakly push him away in shock.
"Wh-Whahahahay!?"
He rolled his eyes like it was obvious as he moved up to squeeze experimentally at your sides.
"You may be the actress of the family; but I'm the only drama queen thank you very much. You're not going anywhere till I'm done with you!!"
He cooed with a giggle of his own.
"It's good to know anytime I'm in a ler mood I'll always have a cute little lee to wreck to oblivion."
"You always go red so easily…"
Diego's fond voice could be heard above you and you moved your eyes up a bit to see him crouching above your head as he traced feather light patterns into your underarms with his free hand as he held your hands down with the other.
"To think you hid this from us for so long. Tsk tsk. Now we've got so much time to make up on...at least an hour a day."
Your eyes widened at that.
"N-No whahahay! I'd dhihihie!!"
He pretended to think before he smirked and traded out his hand for his knees letting both hands scribble into your exposed underarms.
"Fine. A half hour a day then. Minimum. Final offer. Better hurry it's going fast...20 more seconds and it goes for 45 minutes…"
At his threat you cracked, reluctantly.
"Okay okhahahay!! 30 minutes!"
He smirked in satisfaction and his eyes lit up at the way you squealed when his fingertip accidentally brushed over your ear, focusing his attention there with manic glee.
"Well now I know why you were always running away every time tickles came up."
Vanya's sweet voice greeted you and you looked to your right to see her kneeling, Allison doing the same at your left.
"You'd always run off, even when we were kids. I always thought it was too painful for you and it was probably that too but it also must've made you too shy to stand it."
She noticed your cute little pout at her vocalizing the word and her eyes glittered as she began ever so gently dancing her nails over your sides and ribs, Allison quickly mirroring her, though she didn't directly say anything to voice her approval; her actions spoke much louder anyway and you were sure you'd talk later. She wasn't as big on voicing her intimate feelings unless alone with the other person. Vanya had always been the merciful type and kept her knowledge to herself instead of tormenting you with it.
And speaking of merciful…
You barely mustered a weak glare through your laughter and giggles as Five took Klaus' place straddling your waist, Luther easily holding your legs still with a single hand and scratching tentatively at your feet, clearly scared of hurting you while Klaus moved to your knees.
Five's face screamed I told you so but you still managed to flip him off and stick your tongue out at him which made his eyebrows rise to his hairline before he made a show of rolling up his sleeves.
"Aww you wanna be a little brat do you? After helping you confess your little secret and be accepted? Fine. But just consider I've y'know...done actual tickle torture to people. And gotten the info I wanted every time, might I add. So maybe think twice next time. Unfortunately… you've already sealed you fate for this session but hey; there's always tomorrow's thanks to Diego right?"
And then you were screaming in laughter as he dug right into your hips, nailing every ticklish nerve possible and sending your body alight at the sensations combined from everyone.
And eventually of course they pulled away at a stern look from Allison even as Diego patted you on the back and said he'd add the 15 minutes of time to tomorrow for you.
It looked like you would be getting 45 minutes after all and as you were smothered in affection from your adoring siblings, each who loved and showed that love in different ways...you had to say you didn't mind nearly as much as you pretended to.
