Fic Length: Tangerine
Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives
Ler: Charles
Lee: Edwin
August’s Daily Tickletober Day 1 (2 days late): ANTICIPATION
~ ONE OF THESE DECADES ~
“Come on mate, you need to learn how to defend yourself.”
“Charles, give it a rest. I don’t throw punches, and you don’t know how to properly teach a man to box anyhow.”
“Ay - I’m getting better at it. I told you, one of these decades -“
“You’d get me to defend myself, yes yes, you said.”
Charles lifted his palm, raising his eyebrows in invitation.
“You look stupid.”
“Says the man wearing boxing gloves from 1899.”
Edwin pouted, holding his gloved hands close to his chest. “…They’re gentlemanly. But at least you got the time period right - mostly.”
Edwin flinches as Charles goes in for a fake punch, dancing around him again.
“Would you stand still? You’re making me dizzy.”
“And you’re making me bored, so let’s up the ante, shall we?”
Charles reaches out, tazing Edwin side. The lanky boy recoils, bending at an odd angle to get away from the sensation. “Charles!”
“Ed.” Charles says cheekily, jutting his lip out teasingly.
“You’re being ridicuhuhlous.” Edwin’s statement is broken by giggles, as Charles darts in, skittering his fingers across Edwin’s stomach. “Stop.”
Charles grinned, dancing around like a goddamn twinkle toes once more. Edwin fought a smile. “Make me. Defend yourself from the tickle monster.”
“Dohoho not call yourself that.” Edwin admonished, grinning in earnest, the gloves coming up to hide it.
Charles furrowed his brows. “Tsk. So serious.” He drove a flurry of pokes into Edwins side. The gloves came back down to protect himself.
“Chahaharles!”
“Ehehed!” Charles mocks, darting around him, those devilish hands squeezing at his hips for a moment and then they were gone again.
It was driving Edwin insane. His face was hot, but his chest was light and fluttery, almost giddy.
Charles barely needed to touch him, Edwin was giggling so much on his own, and his laughter jumped as Charles made a move to attack again. He tested it a few more times - each time he would move in quickly and fake out Edwin, Edwin would twitch violently and giggle. Charles was having the time of his life!
“Ehehehnough already! If you’re going to do it, just dohohoho it!”
“Fight back!” Charles pinched at his shoulder blades, and Edwin positively squawked, whipping around red faced, and shoving Charles back a step.
“Better!” Charles laughed, keeping on his feet. “Honestly, if I had known a little tickling,” He said moving again to scratch at Charles’ stomach. “-Would get you to finally defend yourself, I would’ve started this shit earlier!”
Edwin folded, his back hitting the shelves, as he sunk to the floor. “Chahahahrles!”
Charles just grinned, attacking him in earnest now, training forgotten.
“Shihihihihit! Nohohohoh!”
“It’s refreshing to see you smile and loosen up like this you know, you’re always so tense!”
“We dohohon’t have the luxury of - gAH - of relahahahaxing! Merherherhecy! Please Charles!”
Charles slowed his hands, rubbing over Edwin’s side to chase away the last of the maddening sensations as the older caught his breath.
Edwin shook his head in mirth. “You absolute, buffoon…”
“Ah you love me, really - ” Charles said, finishing his ministrations before patting Edwin’s arm and standing.
And as Edwin took the hand that was offered and was pulled up to Charles’ shining face, adorable dimples and sparkling eyes, he found himself thinking that yeah, he really did.
FIN