Tickletober Day 15- “Are You Ticklish?”
The question caught Pomni off guard, considering who it came from.
Kinger blinked at the jester girl whom he’d pretty much adopted as his daughter in the circus.
“Was my question unclear? Sorry, let me repeat that.”
Kinger inhaled as if he was about to ask the question at the top of his lungs. Pomni was quick to stop him before the entire circus heard him.
“No! No, I heard you, Kinger. I just- well, it caught me a little off guard.”
Kinger exhaled the breath he’d been holding, no doubt to scream his question.
Pomni was torn between answering truthfully or denying the fact the she was in fact, extremely ticklish.
Kinger seemed to pick up on her hesitation.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable, Pomni. I’m just curious, that’s all.”
Kinger laced his fingers together in front of him, patiently waiting to hear Pomni’s response.
Pomni was quiet for a bit longer. Kinger seemed genuinely curious. And it was rare for her to see the more lucid side of the chess piece character like this. What harm could telling him do?
“Eh, yeah, I’m pretty ticklish, but please don’t tell anyone! Especially Jax.”
Kinger blinked his bug like eyes at Pomni and didn’t respond immeasurably, causing the young jester girl to wonder if he had gone back into his less sane state again.
Just when Pomni was about to ask if Kinger was okay, he spoke.
“Queenie and I used to have tickle fights, y’know. Although I usually came out on the losing side.”
Pomni found herself leaning towards Kinger as she always did when he’d talk about his wife. He reminded her of an old grandpa who had dementia, but once and awhile, when it was just the two of them, jester and chess piece, he would have a lucid moment, often about his wife.
“Really? No offense, but I didn’t think you were ticklish, Kinger.”
Kinger chuckled fondly, shaking his head.
“No offense taken, you’re the only one besides my wife and probably Caine who knows. But boy, Queenie and I would have fun.”
Pomni watched as a wistful, melancholy expression crossed her friends face.
“You must miss her a lot.”
“I miss her terribly. Every single day.”
Pomni hated how down Kinger looked, so she decided to do something bold (hah, she could be brave an assertive! Take that Jax.)
“Kinger…. Erm… would you, like to be tickled? By me?”
Kinger looked a bit surprised.
“Are you sure? You don’t have to.”
Pomni smiles. Normally she’d be on the receiving end of tickles, but right now she wanted to make her friend smile.
“I don’t mind if you don’t.”
Kinger thought for a moment or two before saying,
“Alright. What harm could a little tickling do? But I must warn you, I’m very ticklish.”
Pomni giggled and scooted closer as Kinger spoke.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
She waited for Kinger to lift his hands bed she carefully poked his side. She hadn’t expected much of a reaction considering he had a very thick robe, but almost instantly Kinger jumped back with a laugh.
Pomni said, waiting for Kinger to give her the okay to continue.
“It’s alright. I’m just not used to it anymore.”
Kinger scooted back into place and nodded at Pomni.
“Go ahead, I’m ready this time.”
Pomni smiled at him and tickled him again.
This time, Kinger laughed and squirmed, but he didn’t pull away this time.
She kept this up for a few minutes, laughing along with Kinger. A real, genuine laugh echoed through both of them until they both collapsed into the pillow fort, gasping and chuckling.
“Thank you. You made me feel like my old self again.”
“No problem Kinger. I’m glad you had fun.”
“Where did you say you were ticklish?”
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