Hidden Desire
BG3 - Tav x Astarion
Summary: A telepathic enemy informs Astarion that his partner that he trusts oh so dearly is hiding something from him. The truth behind it is surprising to say the least [THIS IS A TICKLE FIC]
can you say... wish fulfillment? also wanna say thank you to everyone who comments on fics yall are like 50% of the reason i keep writing
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Astarion had come a long way since first getting his tadpole. Sure, he saved the world and defeated an Elder Brain, but more importantly he was learning to love again. Truly love, not sex and manipulation wearing the skin of what was once love.
At the center of it all was Tav. Astarion never would've given someone like Tav a second though. They were a strong paladin, a goody two shoes type. They charged into combat fearlessly and would stop their day to help a child tie their shoes or whatever they thought was an injustice of the world.
Astarion used to hate those types of people. But this journey he had been on for the past however many months had changed him. Now whenever Tav helped a child find their parent or gave some food to a beggar, Astarion would just smile knowing that they were his. That giant marshmallow chose him.
Tav was big, strong, and a fearless leader. They always had an answer to everything even when they honestly shouldn't.
So why oh why was he doubting his partner?
Well it started on the party's last battle. Astarion didn't pay attention to specifics but they were up against some humanoid with telepathic powers. Astarion might've gotten along with it in years past as it was very happy to engage in psychological warfare, taunting them with visions and words in their minds. It begrudgingly reminded him of their many escapades with mind flayers.
"You mean a great deal to the paladin, pale one." Words like honey oozed into his mind. "Yet they don't trust you. How sad."
Astarion's tempers flared. "You're lying." He said under his breath, knowing his thoughts alone would reach the creature.
Karlach swung her axe at the thing but it continued taunting while it dodged.
"I just visited your companion's mind and they were guarding something in the back of their mind very deeply, even from you. I wonder. What could be so big a secret that a leader doesn't even tell their partner?"
The creature was quickly slain by the weapon of the very person being doubted. Tav shot a victorious grin to Astarion who instinctively returned it, though the back of his mind was now awash in anxiety and doubt.
They've bore their souls to each other. Astarion told Tav things he's never spoken aloud before.
It was probably nothing. Everyone has their secrets.
But Tav? What could Tav be hiding?
...
Astarion was sipping wine on his bedspread when Tav entered his tent.
"Hey, Star. How you doing?"
Astarion hesitated. "I'm doing alright, Darling."
Tav clocked it immediately. They had always been perceptive.
"You okay?" They seemed a little panicked which was odd.
"I'm fine. I'm just... thinking about our little skirmish earlier."
Astarion raised an eyebrow. They looked like a deer in headlights.
"What did it tell you?" Their voice was soaked in anxiety.
"Why do you ask? Is there some big secret you've been keeping from me? Bigger than anything I've told you in our time together?" Astarion didn't hide the bitterness in his voice.
"I mean... define 'big'"
"So it was telling the truth. There is something you've been keeping from me."
Tav held up their hands with wide eyes. "It's nothing huge, I promise."
"Then why? Why do you feel the need to hide it? Tell me, Tav."
"Cause it's embarrassing!" Tav shouted. Astarion was a bit caught off guard.
That wasn't the direction he was expecting this to go. He had assumed it was something big and notable. Something that could change their relationship. Why else would the creature taunt something like that?
Maybe it was just scrambling to sew discord amongst the party attacking it. Maybe it found something small and was grasping at straws to save its life.
Either way, a reason to make Tav squirm was a welcome one. Tav was, of course, strong and fearless... with everything aside from their relationship.
It was honestly an immense treat watching Tav first succumb to their obvious crush, going from confident and brave to flustered and blushing. It was disgustingly adorable.
Even now so much as holding their hand never failed to shade their cheeks a lovely pink hue.
Astarion's whole demeanor shifted in that tent from defensive to intrigued.
"Embarrassing you say?" Astarion leaned forward and swirled the wine in his goblet. "Do tell."
Oh how he loved the way Tav went pink in the face and rubbed their neck.
"Um..." They looked to the floor. "You can't tell anyone this."
Astarion's smile grew to show his fangs. "Not a soul."
"S-something I find, uh, appealing with a romantic partner..."
Astarion could feel the gleam in his eye. "Go on."
"It's, um... I, uh-" Tav took a deep breath. "I really like, uh..."
"Oh for Gods' sake just spit it out."
"I really like tickling. Like.. a lot."
There was silence in the tent. Mostly because Astarion didn't know what to make of it.
"Tickling... When you mean a lot-?"
Tav inhaled and quickly spat out their words so as not to lose their nerve. "I want to be tickled so bad. A-and I want to tickle you too if you don't mind."
After a lengthy pause Astarion snorted and broke into amused laughter. Honestly, how could he not? Tickling?! He laughed and laughed and laughed. When he wiped a tear from his eye he saw Tav looking more dejected than he'd ever seen them.
Realizing his massive fuck-up he quickly scrambled. "I didn't mean anything negative by that, love. It's just... I had all these scary ideas in my head of what that secret could be and it's as simple and harmless as you wanting me to tickle you?"
"I know it's weird."
"I'm not going to lie. It's definitely unusual. Is this a kink?"
"I don't think so. It's not really sexual. It's more of a fixation."
The vampire waved his hand. "Well whatever you want to call it, I'm sure I can have some fun with it." He placed his goblet on the chest by his bed and stood. "So, tell me dearest. What exactly do you yearn from me?"
Tav bore a shy shaky smile and avoided eye contact at all costs. Astarion could get used to this.
"You're the one who always insists we need open communication, and after all this secrecy I believe I deserve the entire truth. If you're too embarrassed to give me a straight answer I guess you'll never indulge in this hidden desire."
"I want to be, um... tickled. And-" Tav lowered their voice for a moment. "-teased. I don't mind like... being a little embarrassed. It's, uh, kind of... fun and flirty, I don't know. I want to laugh and b-be helpless. With you."
Astarion was beyond delighted with how the day was going. "Ticklish. Bashful. My dear, blushing Tav. I think I can make this work."
He had to hold back a chuckle when he watched Tav pretend to itch their face when clearly it was an excuse to attempt to cover up their flushed appearance and growing smile.
"Red is a gorgeous color on you, my sweet. Now... come here." Astarion beckoned Tav close with a single teasing finger. They stiffened and their smile grew the slightest bit, still shaky and shy as ever. They slowly approached, eyeing the ground.
"Look at me." Astarion sang in his sweetest teasiest voice.
Tav looked up through their eyelashes. They not so subtly covered their smile with their hand.
Astarion closed the distance and gently held their chin with his thumb and index finger. "We're going to have so much fun tonight, you and me." He leaned in for a kiss. Tav lowered their hand and accepted. As they kissed, Astarion started gently tickling under Tav's chin with his finger. He enjoyed feeling Tav's smile grow. Eventually they pulled back and scrunched up like a turtle.
"Do me a favor, darling and lay on my bed spread. I need full access for tonight's activities."
Tav obeyed, though a tad hesitantly. They laid on the bed spread with their hands resting on their stomach.
"Now, love... do you happen to know where exactly you're the most sensitive?"
Astarion chuckled when Tav, seemingly unknowingly, shifted one foot in front of the other, as if protecting one from an oncoming onslaught. There was one spot.
"Um, not really."
"Is that so? Well, just a hunch, but I believe you to be lying. What do you say to that?"
"I'm not really... that ticklish. Just a little bit."
Astarion knew what they were doing. They were digging theirself a giant hole. They said it theirself... they liked a little teasing and embarrassment. They wanted to be proven wrong.
Who was Astarion to turn down this little game?
"Two for two with the little fibs. I know you, Darling. I can see right through you. Maybe I just have to search for all your most ticklish spots myself, hm?"
Tav flinched at a very specific word and covered their wobbly smile with their hand.
"Whatever is the matter? Feeling ticklish?" Astarion tested out the word again, smirking as he heard their heart skip a beat. Vampire abilities had their uses but in this moment, his ability to hear every beat and skip of their heart and rush of blood in their face was a valued one.
Tav let out a few stutters and stammers. They were so clearly embarrassed and flustered and it was definitely doing something for Astarion. This wouldn't be one-sided fun for Tav. Astarion dared to guess they would both be enjoying this evening equally.
He placed his index and middle finger on Tav's side and slowly walked them up their ribs. "I guess I just have to figure out all your deliciously sensitive spots for myself. So sad. I bet you'll just hate that."
Tav's eyes were transfixed on his fingers and their eyes were wide as the smile decorating their face grew. The twitched at each 'step' his fingers took.
"Where should I go first?" Astarion used his other hand to stroke his chin as if in deep thought while he used his index finger to lightly draw little circles and swirls across Tav's ribs. He felt his own grin grow at the little hitches and gasps in their breathing. He could hear their heart going a mile a minute.
"I should try and find a spot right off that bat that's the most... ticklish." He accentuated that word and and couldn't help but snicker at the little squeak it elicited from his partner. "My, my. Do we have a little mouse in our tent?"
Tav avoided eye contact as if Astarion's eyes were the sun. They looked to the side and covered their blushing face with one of their hands.
"You know... I don't think I've ever heard you laugh before. Really laugh, I mean. I suppose this is my chance. Handed to me on a silver platter." Astarion quickly let his fingers flutter across Tav's bicep just above their underarm.
Tav let out a small stream of high-pitched giggles and slammed their arm to their side.
Oh. Those giggles along with the smile, the blush, the shyness... Oh this was definitely doing something for Astarion.
Maybe he liked this tickling thing too.
Astarion felt he gave plenty of build up. He began skittering the fingers of one hand across Tav's torso. The paladin began flinching from side to side, away from wherever his fingers hit a particularly sensitive spot. They covered their mouth with their hands and curled in on theirself, shaking with concealed giggles.
"And now you're trying to keep from laughing. What's this about?" Astarion asked, genuinely confused... until he saw Tav's eyes gazing up at him with excitement and challenge. "Oh, I see. You want to resist so that I can break you." He said slowly, as if explaining to a child. Tav throwing theirself back with eyes squeezed shut graced his face with a smug smirk.
Astarion could hear grunts mixed with giggles as Tav desperately fought their already growing instincts to give in and laugh. He almost felt just as desperate to hear and see them laugh
Unluckily, or luckily for Tav, their partner had been scanning every jolt, flinch, and cringe, letting him make a pretty accurate map of where Tav was most ticklish.
Astarion was pretty good at finding weak spots on enemies and precisely attacking right at what will do the most damage. Let's see if that carried over to tickling.
Astarion began rapidly wiggling two fingers riiiight at one specific little spot right under Tav's ribs at their right side.
Tav exploded in happy laughter immediately, back arched and hands balled into fists at their sides.
"S-Stahahahahar, nohohohahaha- Dahahahamnit!"
Surprisingly, Astarion didn't make a quip right away. Maybe it was because his undead heart was being warmed by the frankly adorable and hearty laughter of his lover.
He could only imagine how sappy he looked. Luckily, Tav was far too distracted to notice.
Tav, seemingly unable to take it, turned onto their right side, blocking it from the tickling. They curled up in a ball, still giggling all giddy and shy, even though Astarion had ceased his onslaught.
"I hope you don't think we're done, darling."
That elicited a few more giggles.
"Ihihi-it's soho much more intense than I imagined."
"That? That was intense?" Astarion snickered. "Love, you are not ready for what I have planned."
Tav looked up at them from their fetal position. "I-I can take it. Just yesterday I got half-mauled by a worg."
"True, you're quite familiar with pain and danger. Yet you can't seem to handle tickling of all things."
Again, Tav covered their face with their hand at that word.
"How about this," Astarion held up his hands with his fingers in a 'claw' position. "Imagine these are the terrifying talons of an owlbear. That should be more familiar, hm? They're coming for you, darling."
Tav giggled nervously and curled up more. That wouldn't stop their partner though who so lovingly wanted to tickle them to pieces.
He brought those wiggling claws down on Tav's left side and partially exposed belly. Instantly Tav was thrashing side to side and tittering endlessly as the claws followed them every which way.
The vampire got a marvelously mischievous idea and lowered their head to Tav's neck, lightly nibbling the sensitive skin with his fangs. Not enough to puncture skin, but enough to tickle like crazy.
They honest to Gods squealed and their giggling kicked up an octave.
"The mouse returns." Astarion chuckled into their skin. Tav's shoulder's were up to protect the new tickle spot and hands lightly pushing at their partner. Definitely not enough to actually push him away. Tav was strong. They could easily escape if they wanted, but everyone in that tent knew Tav didn't want it to end yet.
With their hand and shoulders up, Astarion's true target was valunerable. He quickly shot his wiggling fingers to their armpits and tickled with as much speed as he could muster.
The rogue flinched back in surprise when Tav shrieked and exploded into deep belly laughter. Their feet were stomping on the bedroll as they threw their head side to side and tears of mirth flicked through the air.
"Well now, it seems we've found a tickle spot. Ticklish pits? This must be torturous, My delicately manicured nails teasing and tickling what seems to be a horribly sensitive area. If your hyena cackling is anything to go by, I'd say you were hit by Tasha's hideous laughter. But alas, no spell is needed to turn you into this helpless ball of laughs, only wiggling fingers."
Astarion's grin grew along with Tav's scorching hot blush. So much delicious blood sent to their face due to sheer embarrassment and laughter.
He could hear their heart pounding as if they'd been running from a horde of monstrosities.
But no.
Just tickling.
Even in such a small spot as underarms there were weak points. His attention to detail was being worked tonight, allowing him to locate every fragile nerve to toy with.
The vampire began firmly pinching the flesh between the chest and the underarms, hearing and seeing the desperate howls of laughter it drew forth and wanting more. Within two seconds of honing in on this spot Tav flung theirself half across the tent with a mix between a cackle and a shriek.
They collapsed on their belly with their hands protecting their pits and continued laughing, now face first in their lover's rug.
Astarion watched their lover undone awash with adoration and sadism. Only because of their immense level of trust did he allow himself to crack up into giggles of his own at the silliness of it all.
"Gods you're adorable." He purred. He didn't know if Tav heard him or not. Usually they blushed at any comment like that but their face was already ten different shades of ruby so who's to say.
Tav curled on their side facing towards him. "You're unnaturally good at this."
"Or maybe you're just unnaturally ticklish."
"That just may be the case." Tav sighed and put a hand over their eyes and face, though Astarion could tell that smile wasn't dropping anytime soon.
Oh, Tav. Putting theirself in such a vulnerable position and covering their eyes? Was Astarion NOT supposed to attack them in that state?
Quietly, Astarion darted to their legs and ripped off their boot.
"Wait a minu-" Tav started as they felt the cool air hit their sock. As soon as Astarion swiped a few nimble fingers over their sole they were cut of by a loud snort followed by a hiccup.
Astarion let out a genuine string of amused chuckling at his partners expense. He laughed even harder when Tav groaned and collapsed on their back with their arms over their face.
"Just forget you ever heard that." They moaned pitifully.
"Never gonna happen, my sweet." He raised Tav's leg and held their calf under his arm with a hand at their ankle for good measure.
"Oh, gods, nohohohoho." They began giggling. Mind you, Astarion wasn't even touching their sole.
"What now, darling?" He said with nothing but the sappiest of love.
"It's gonna be sohoho bahahahad."
"It's going to... what so bad?" Astarion wasn't bothering to hide his shit-eating grin. Tav had their eyes covered. Even if they didn't, he'd still be taunting them with an expression.
"Yohohou KNOW whahahat."
"Is it going to... tickle? It's going to tickle really bad?"
Tav shifted their arms to their mouth to muffle the growing giggles, though their eyes were still squeezed shut.
"Don't think I haven't noticed your response to that word and any of its variations, my dear. I think we need to use the word more often, though. Tickle. It's perfect to describe you. Ticklish. I'll have to say it all the time now. Tickle... Tickle... Tickle..."
"Ehehehenough!" They half-shouted, their laughter growing.
"Goodness. Do you think you're in any position to be making demands? When I have the key to your demise resting at my fingertips?" He quickly skittered five fingers up the arch and nearly fell backwards at the yank of the foot it elicited, though he beamed at the loud forceful stream of laughter he heard.
He could hear them struggling through some deep breathing to stop laughing, though their breaths were stuttering and shaky the whole time.
"This may tickle," Astarion spoke slowly and delicately, "just... a... BIT!" Without a moment more hesitation Astarion furiously scribbled his fingers up and down the sole in his grip.
And, oh, the scream that came out of his partner... he'd never forget it.
Said scream was quickly overcome with laughter, truly hysteric and desperate. It took all of Astarion's strength to not only keep the foot in tickling range, but out of face-kicking range.
"DAHAHAHAMMIT- STOHOHAHAHAHAP!" Between each long stream of cackling was a period of silent laughter, their stomach seized up and face beaming bright as tears fell across their scorching red cheeks. After each silence Astarion would hear a stuttery wheeze and a return to helpless laughter.
"PLEHEHEHEASE-" They gasped between bouts of cackling "STAHAHAHAR!"
Astarion let go and clutched his stomach as he fell into a laughing fit of his own. It was just so... ridiculous! Usually he would never let himself lose him composure like that, but with Tav practically dying of mirth, his own amused chortles were stoic hums in comparison.
The vampire recovered from his tittering far sooner than Tav who had assumed a fetal position while rubbing at their soles, still giggling through tired panting. They fell into a small coughing fit and Astarion gently rubbed their back with a firm palm while they rode it out.
"So..." Astarion cooed. "How'd that feel?"
Tav's grin grew shy and they rolled onto their back with their elbows covering their face. He could hear a muffled word from behind their arm barrier but couldn't make it out.
"Speak up, dearest. I know you can. Your cries of ticklish hysteria were certainly loud enough."
Tav raised their arm barrier to cover their eyes alone, showing their bashful smile for a moment. "It was amazing."
Astarion tried and failed to smother an amused chuckle. "I'm glad. Because this certainly won't be the last time I toy with this weakness of yours."
There was a pause. And then a muffled 'Good.'
The vampire sat beside his lover and rubbed their back, gazing down at them with adoration and care.
He could get used to this.
