Closeted Laughter
A/N: I really wanted to write something with this year as well. Number 23 - “Be Quiet!” - of @vqler's Tickletober prompt list of 2025 ft. Zen and Obi from Akagami no Shirayuki-hime.
Words: 1,135 words under the cut
The corridors of the castle bustled with quiet footsteps and the soft murmurs of courtiers attending to their duties. Zen Wistaria however was not in his usual princely attire today. Clad once again in the humble garb of a palace guard, he leaned against a stone wall near the herbalist’s wing, arms crossed and eyes scanning the area for a certain redhead.
The ruse was meant to be low-profile - just like the time during Open Castle Day, when he slipped unnoticed among the guests to observe Shirayuki. He wasn’t hiding out of distrust. No, it was more a quiet form of admiration. Watching her work, speaking with patients and instructing rookie herbalists always made his heart feel oddly grounded.
But he would never admit that he was just watching her from the shadows again. “Well, well,” came a sudden voice from beside him, making Zen nearly jump, “if it isn’t my beloved Master playing bodyguard again.” Zen turned his head to see Obi smirking at him, arms folded behind his head in his usual leisurely stance.
“Keep your voice down,” he whispered, shifting uncomfortably, “what are you even doing here?” “I could ask you the same Master,” Obi replied with a grin, walking a slow circle around the other. “You realize how obvious you look standing around pretending you’re just a regular guard, right?”
Zen opened his mouth to respond, but the faint echo of approaching footsteps and voices made both men freeze. “That’s the Little Miss’s voice,” Obi whispered, tilting his head, “and Ryuu. They’re coming this way.” The white-haired glanced around quickly, searching for a place to hide. “There!” he pointed to a narrow storage closet tucked at the end of the hall.
Without another word, he pulled the ravenhead along and both of them ducked in, closing the door softly behind them just as Shirayuki and Ryuu’s voices became clearer. The closet was cramped, narrow, dusty and filled with linens and old herbal equipment. Zen's back was pressed to the wall, his breathing shallow as he listened to the muffled sounds outside.
Obi however, was barely suppressing a laugh beside him. “Why am I even hiding?” Zen said quietly, casting a sideways glance at Obi in the dim light that filtered through the door slats. “Oh, I don’t know,” Obi said with mock thoughtfulness, “maybe because you’re adorably shy and didn’t want the Little Miss to know you were creeping in her shadow again?”
Zen narrowed his eyes. “I was not-” “Shhhh,” Obi leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a whisper, “be quite! We don’t want them to catch us, right?” A sly grin stretched across his face, his eyes gleaming mischievously in the dark. “Or maybe… you're embarrassed. Aw, how cute Master~” Zen rolled his eyes and huffed quietly, “Shut it Obi.”
“I would, but you’re too fun when you’re flustered.” With that, the ravenhead reached forward and poked Zen right in the side, making him jerk. “Obi!” he warned. But the former assassin had found his target. “Careful Master, otherwise you’ll be caught~” With a wide grin, he attacked the prince’s sides with light fingers.
The confined space made it almost impossible to squirm away and Zen had to bite down hard on his lip to suppress the bubbling giggles rising in his throat. “StoHop it,” he hissed between shaky breaths, trying to keep quiet, “you’ll get us caught!” Ironically, his laughter was the loudest thing right now, not that Obi would say it out loud though.
Zen could already feel his face heating up and his pulse risen, all because of his stupid sensitivity, and Obi. “That’s kind of the thrill,” the other whispered wickedly, continuing his teasing, “I wonder… how ticklish you really are… under the ribs? Or maybe lower?” Zen's body jerked again as Obi’s fingers skittered along his lower back.
He slapped a hand over his mouth to muffle the laughter now spilling out. Despite all his strength and training, Obi was still far too agile for him. “Pfftt noOHot theHEre!” His quick fingers slipped under the hem of his shirt, dancing lightly over his sensitive sides.
“Does it tickle Master?~” “BeheHe quiet!” Zen hissed, but it was futile - the command came out breathy and high-pitched, followed by a very undignified snort, that made Obi chuckle softly. “Oh no, was that a giggle-snort? Master, you’re full of surprises.”
“ScrEheew yoHou!” Zen tried to shove him off, but there was no room to maneuver. His limbs flailed weakly, swatting at the other’s wrists, but it only made Obi chuckle harder. “Obi, stoHop I’m gonna loHose it,” he laughed, tears of mirth forming in his eyes. “Lose what? Your dignity?” Obi teased. “Bit late for that.”
“YoHou-!” Zen finally gave up swatting, opting instead to crumple into the corner of the closet, shoulders shaking with laughter he was desperately trying to silence. Obi watched him with genuine amusement, eyes warm in the shadowed room. There was something rare and wonderful about seeing Zen like this - unguarded, flushed, laughing, not-so-princely.
Eventually, the footsteps outside faded. A moment later, Shirayuki and Ryuu’s voices grew distant again, signaling they had passed through the corridor. Obi finally relented, sitting back against the opposite wall, a satisfied grin on his face. “Too bad you could keep silent, still well done Master~” Zen wiped his eyes, catching his breath.
“That… was unnecessary.” “Oh, but so worth it,” Obi said, his eyes gleaming, “you laugh like a child when you’re tickled. Who knew?” The white-haired groaned at that, flustered, dragging his fingers through his hair. “You’re ridiculous.” The ravenhead sighed contentedly, letting the silence settle for a moment.
“Looks like the coast is clear.” Zen reached out to turn the knob… only to find it stuck. He rattled it again. Nothing. “Obi,” he said slowly, “it’s locked.” “What?” “We’re stuck.” There was a beat of silence.
Then, Obi chuckled under his breath. “So… let me get this straight. You dragged me into this closet, let me tickle you until you cried of laughter, and now we’re trapped in here?” “I dragged you?” Zen shot back. “You’re the reason why we’re in here in the first place!” “Details, details,” Obi replied, leaning back and crossing his arms behind his head, grinning.
“Guess we’ll be here a while.” The prince let out a long sigh, sinking back against the wall. “Unbelievable.” “Could be worse,” Obi said after a moment. Zen side-eyed him. “How?” “We could be stuck in here with Lord Haruka giving us a lecture about proper court etiquette.”
Zen barked a laugh before quickly stifling it again, though the mood was undeniably lighter now. They sat in silence for another minute. “…You know I’m going to get you back for that,” Zen said without looking at him. “Looking forward to it Master.”