Another ticklish Vox for my people out there *sends a beam*
Worth It?
Ler: Alastor
Lee: Vox
Summary: Box Vox and Al! Vox just needs to find some things out the hard way! Fluff from the old days :)
Content warnings:
suggestive mentions
light bondage
"Shit, shit—!"
Vox gasped as he barrelled into his apartment, slamming the door behind him and shakily throwing the key into the hole, manhandling it into a lock.
He was breathing hard but that didn't slow his pace as he went through the sitting room, knocking into the coffee table as he went, heading straight for the room on the other side.
When he got there, he slammed that door too, though if he'd stopped for a second to think he'd have realised how pointless that was. His gills felt warm under his sweater-vest where they had been puffing all the way along the streets home. Vox's eyes darted round the room, as if checking all possible vulnerabilities, making sure everything was safe. The curtains were thankfully still drawn, but the lights from outside ensured the interior was well-lit, though a lamp might have been nice. At this moment however, he was just grateful to be here, and the lower he could lay, the better.
As his muscles finally started to relax, he let out a brief exhale. He almost finished it too.
At that moment, he heard a strange yet increasingly familiar sound, like a cavern of whispering echoes opening up. He whipped round, and rising from the patch of gloom now on his bedroom floor was his old drinking buddy, Alastor. Sometimes they would take down other overlords and demons together, but he had a distinct feeling that's not how tonight would play out.
There was that sharp smile, the one that Vox respected so much for its sheer consistency to be there no matter what else was happening, but with it there was a mean quirk in the brow that doused any good-feeling he would normally have associated with it.
As Alastor rose fully and the shadowy hole disappeared, Vox put himself on the far side of his double bed, near the wardrobe and window in the corner.
"Hey, Al," he said as normally as he could.
"You didn't honestly forget that I could get in here, did you?" Alastor taunted, with that air of joviality that had Vox even more worried. He stepped forwards towards the nearest side of the bed.
Vox flinched, knowing how stupid it had been. On seeing Al move, he gripped the bedside and shifted his feet, eyes trained for their next moves.
"N-now, Al—" He cautioned.
"Yes, Vincent?" Alastor asked sweetly, merely standing straight at his full height across the expanse of the bed from him.
Vox hadn't come up with an excuse yet. He'd have to blag it.
"Well, I, uh— I was just having a little fun, Al. It's not a big deal—"
And did you have fun?Alastor cut in, still poised.
Vox smiled momentarily, remembering it. "Well, yeah, it was."
He was arrested back from his thoughts by the crackle and whine of Al's radio interference. Oh. He wasn't meant to answer honestly.
He laughed sheepishly and raised his hands a little to placate. "Come on, it was funny!"
The electric sound intensified, and Vox saw Alastor's eyes take on that dangerous manic glow they sometimes did when he was really pissed. He was getting ready to run his mouth again when Alastor replied.
"Would you like to find out if your moment of fun was worth it?"
Vox's smirk vanished as soon as he realised Al's shadow-arms were emerging from behind the other sinner.
"N-no, no! There's no need for that!" He eyed them cautiously as they paused. "Your secret's safe with me, Al."
The static whine again.
"No secret then! It never happened. I don't even have to bring it up again."
Alastor considered it with a skeptical quirk. Vox was feeling quite pleased with himself.
"Fine. Shake on it."
Vox burst into big laughs at that. "Come on, do you think I'm stupid enough for that? I'm not gonna make a deal with you, Al."
"Hm. Fine." Al looked off and grumbled, knowing the logic he himself would use. It was worth a shot. "But you are not to do that again, understood?"
That one however caught Vox by surprise. He looked torn.
"Well~" Vox sang thoughtfully, and at that the tentacle shadows were advancing again rapidly. "Ok, ok! I won't."
Alastor unbristled once more, looking a little more dishevelled than usual.
However, unable to fully concede, Vox rolled his eyes in an arc towards the ceiling, adding innocently under his breath, "At least for now. No promises~"
There was an honest-to-god growl and Alastor had whipped round to look at the noisy little idiot with the big mouth.
"That's it, I've had it with you."
Vox jumped from his reverie back to the present and saw the advancing shape of Alastor moving in.
"Huh!" He gasped, moving from one side to the other. Wherever he went, Alastor followed. It took only seconds before Alastor grew tired of the pointless chase, and he threw a leg up to clamber straight over the bed.
Vox was frankly shocked to see Alastor with such bad house manners, but there was no time to think about it, because he had to scramble.
As fast as his legs would move he started running round the corner of the bed to make for the door, but he'd only gone two steps before he was grasped by Al's tentacles and lunged back towards the bed. He had recently discovered he had something similar of his own, and he set his to work to try to fight back, but he knew it wasn't very strong, not like Al's. His one wire was quickly accosted by several of Al's, all tied up like he was.
"Wait— wait— Al!" Vox struggled as the tentacles dragged him over the bed, to where Al was now waiting with a much more satisfied smile. "This is— completely uncalled for!"
Vox was now laid in the centre of the bed, the tentacles having shoved him unceremoniously against the pillows, holding his arms and legs firmly against the surface.
"I must say! You've convinced me. The way you go on about it, it does sound like fun. I want to find out for myself."
He wanted to say he'd put up more of a fight. He really did. But the giggles were coming out of him already at the sheer notion of it. He tried to pull his limbs in to cover his core, but they were held fast. And here now Alastor was shuffling over the covers on his knees towards him, and now Vox was blushing, too.
"Oh dear, is that a laugh?" Alastor said, delighted but not sounding surprised.
"Ahahaal—!" Vox complained through giggles, still struggling to get out and trying desperately not to look at whatever Alastor was doing.
Alastor raised his claws in the air and gave them one experimental flex.
That caught Vox's attention, who now couldn't take his eyes away from whatever Al was doing. His whole body spasmed at the action.
Alastor's eyes narrowed playfully and he let out a high, satisfied laugh.
"Hm! Quite the live wire, aren't you?" He wiggled his claws closer to Vox's open abdomen.
"Heeh! Heh! Hah!" Vox nearly hyperventilated. His eyes were glued to the claws as he squirmed forcefully, dissolving into giggles. "Heheheee! A-Ahaal, stohopihit!"
"Ohoh now you're playing my tune! Alastor said approvingly. "I suppose I could stop this... And do this."
"Hahahaha— pffff— he! HAhahaha—!!!" The short giggles were gone, replaced with loud, full-bellied laughter that seemed to escape Vox's lungs, leaving him chasing for air. Alastor's claws had only gone for the first place he could think of, digging in with synchronised movements on the front of Vincent's body - which happened to be just the upper edge of his stomach. Momentarily surprised, Alastor's eyes widened at the thrashing form of his friend out of his wits below him. It stirred that sadistic urge inside him. His eyes narrowed meanly and he resolved to explore.
Meanwhile, Vox was moving through more wild refrains of laughter, almost as if he would eventually land on the one that would make this whole thing better. His eyes were screwed tight but his smile was wide and carefree. As soon as Alastor's claws started moving though, he escalated into something a little more desperate.
"Hehehehaha Al! Ahal!! BWA— HAHahaha!!!"
Alastor's claws were moving gently around the top edge of his tummy, fanning out to either side until they were grazing those bottom ribs with every wiggle. At the sound of Vox's evolving laughter, Al hummed to himself with a mean grin and experimentally fluttered those claws directly on to the ribs (which were surprisingly easy to find on Vox, despite the layers of clothing).
"Ah!" Vox let slip a little squeal of surprise, before firing right back into even more frantic laughs than before, them coming out just as loud and even more quickly. "BAHAHAHA— AHAHAAHALHAHAHAHA! EEEHEHE!!"
Alastor was near toppled by the bouncing of the mattress caused by Vox's new struggles, and had to steady himself with a hand, which gave Vincent a moment.
He gasped for air, eventually peeking out to watch Alastor with a mistrustful but exhausted look. Al caught it.
"Don't think that you're through yet, old boy. You were right about one thing - this is fun, and now I'm hungry for more."
He advanced again, the terrifying look back as his claws wiggled eldritchly.
Vox was grinning and giggling again.
"Shit— shit— hehehehaha—"
When the claws made contact again, it was in a different place to where Vox expected. They were further down now, still ghosting the top of his tummy, but skittering and pinching at his sides.
He wiggled from side to side, letting out goofy giggles of various descript, seemingly melting under his own laughter. His feet pushed into the covers below for some more power to wiggle, but that was all he could achieve.
It was mildly amusing, but Alastor was more interested in those big laughs from before. Just as Vox might have been getting comfortable (and forming some kind of thought to plea) Alastor dragged his claws marginally lower, to the soft, fleshy hips. Now there wasn't a great deal of meat on Vincent's bones, but enough to target them softly without quite going for the bones underneath.
"WAHAHAHA—!!!"
Alastor paused at the cry that ripped out of Vincent. Vox had to wind his way down among waves of giggles before he could begin to open his eyes and look at Al. When he did, Alastor was looking at him with a dreadfully nice expression. Vincent's blush would not come down.
"Well, I'm sure you know what's about to happen now."
"Oho gohod nooo," Vox's wobbly smile and gentle squirms gave away how futile he already knew this to be.
"Hm hm hm..!" Al laughed to himself as his eyes narrowed, leaning in with wiggling claws.
As soon as they made contact the bed was alive with the will to survive, a screeching, messy, instinctual energy. Alastor was at eye-level with his claws, working at close range with great passion and focus.
After shaking futilely for a while, Vincent finally began pleading, if in such a way as to still not appear to 'lose'. Alastor internally rolled his eyes - 'come now Vincent, we can do better than that.'
"Hehehehe!! HAHA— N—OO!! HAHA— hic!— I— CAHAHA— I CAHAN'T!! Hehehe!! A—AHAL!!"
The last word was said in such a way as though he thought he could trust Al to come to his rescue. Oh, this sweet summer fool.
Alastor moved his claws along to the lower edge of the tummy, being careful to stay above the waistline, as he was keenly aware he didn't want to get into risqué territory, though the question did occur to him whether Vincent was ticklish anywhere in that direction too. Hm, interesting. Vincent's hips wiggled all the more and his legs squirmed at the scritching below his navel, his laugh coming in hiccups and quick bursts of bubbly giggles. It was less desperate, but still so irresistible as to not make much allowances for speech.
"A— hic!— Ahahahal! Hic!— w-wahahahait— hic!"
Sparks were flying between the TV sinner's antennae, his face glowing with that soft cyan light, and his features seemed rather distorted, as if there was a touch of static interference.
Alastor did not wait. He continued to play Vincent's middle like a fiddle (or more, a piano), revisiting all the spots he'd found to keep him jumping through different reactions. Alastor was now laughing too, a high, airy laugh that arose from knowing you couldn't be bested.
Eventually, Alastor let his hands come to a still. In all the struggling he had gravitated over and was now kneeling between Vincent's legs. Vox gasped for air in the middle of the bed with tears in his eyes.
Alastor's thoughts were already elsewhere. His eyes were bright with the possibilities of where this little discovery could yet go.
"I must say Vincent, this is very enjoyable for me. I haven't had scarcely this much fun for a good deal of time!"
Vox jumped internally and his blush grew brighter. He didn't know whether to be concerned or flattered. Al looked so happy right now. He collected himself, rolling his eyes and grumbling.
"Pshh, yeah? Well it hardly seems fair to me. What - I get a three second tickle, and you get - well - all of this?" He gestured to their situation vaguely, face shrinking under his faint blush.
"Ah, ah! No complaining now, Vincent! You know me well enough to know my consequences are always steep. Otherwise you wouldn't learn your lesson now, would you?" He tapped the glass of his friend's screen.
"Well I'm still gonna get you back."
"What?" Alastor's head tilted to an unnatural degree.
Vox was concerned, still bound, but emboldened by his desire to come out of this with something to show.
"Heh, yeah." Vox scoffed. "I mean, you can't tickle me forever. And you've really put me through it. Now it's personal."
He was enjoying the range of expressions on Al's face, and the fact he was getting so far without interruption.
"Yep! Sooooon as I'm outta here, you're in for it~ It might only have been three seconds, but I saw that little reaction."
That was Al's tipping point. The static had been slowly rising until Vox said what he needed to say, and then it caught abruptly.
Alastor closed his eyes, his ears giving one momentary flick.
"Fine. Here's a deal you might like."
Vox was beyond surprised. His mouth hung open, waiting for the next part.
"And believe this - if you don't accept, then it's war, old chum. You may tickle me, when you see fit - not around other people - and you will be safe from any other consequences. But - each and every time you do so, I will tickle you for ten times that time."
"T-ten times?!" Vox's brows hit the roof and his blush grew by several lumens. "Th- th- that's hardly fair!"
"Take it or leave it! I've already gone further than that today, so you know what I'm willing to do. It could be so much worse~"
Vox thought on this. He hadn't considered it in those terms, but that much was true. Al had probably been giving him hell for the last ten minutes or so over his couple of seconds. But saying that, that meant if he even wanted to tickle Al for one minute, it would equate to ten for him. Vox bit his lip. If he did five, it would be fifty. Surely Al wouldn't though, right? He'd get bored way before that. And... it wouldn't be so bad to have Al's hands all over him for all that time anyway. Giggling. Squirming. Vox felt his face hotter than before.
"Why's it always got to be transactional for you?" He made a show of deliberating, though he was much more excited than he'd like to admit at the prospect. "Deal."
"Takes one to know one." Al smiled wider than usual.
Vox only half-understood his meaning by that, but he was too distracted by the conversation to care. Al held out his hand again.
"Pfff— haha! Al, I told you I'm not shaking on it! I'll take your word for it if you take mine. Besides, it's me who's getting the raw deal here."
Alastor quirked an eyebrow at that.
"I suppose that's true. Now," he stood up suddenly off the bed and straightened down his clothes. You've quite tired me out for one night. I think I'll turn in."
Vincent's shoulders dropped in disappointment, for some ungodly reason. Then he realised he was still tentacled to the bed.
"Uh, wait— uh— A-Al? Al I need to um, I need—"
But Alastor was already sinking into the floor the way he'd arrived.
"Goodnight, Vincent!"
"W-wait, Al!"
And with that, Al, and his dark shadow portal, were gone. Vincent was left spread out on the bed, clothes dishevelled and riding up at parts. His glow continued to illuminate.
"Shit."
Then the tentacles went up in a puff of smoke. He stayed exactly where he was, and stared at the ceiling.
~~~~~~~~~~
As Alastor rose into his own apartment from the street outside, his thoughts were on the unexpected events of the night. He only hoped Vincent got brave again soon. He had some other spots he'd like to try.
