New Beginnings- Everett × River (ocs)
a/n: just for context, this is set in the stardew valley universe! ev and river were good friends (maybe more??) in high school and now river has moved to the valley to room with everett :)
warnings: cursing, implied transphobia, this is a tickle fic!
pairing: everett × river (platonic or romantic, either works 😌)
Everett was finally getting used to his life in the valley. Befriending the neighbors, growing some crops, raising a few animals, he even learned the best spots to find forageable food around town. But before too long, another factor came into the picture.
Everett had been living on the farm for just over half of a year. One sunny fall afternoon, as Everett was returning from a quick run down to the merchant's cart near Marnie's farm, he was surprised to see a familiar face on his porch. Holy shit, was that-? No, that couldn't be....
The person in question jumped. He must not have noticed Everett approaching. A relieved yet exhausted smile spread across his face. "Hey, Ev..."
"Riv, what's going on, why do you have a suitcase? Did something happen"
"Heh, yeah I guess you could say that. Dad kicked me out."
"Oh my god, River.... are you alright?"
"Yeah, I knew it was gonna happen. When I came home for the first time since college started last year with a deep voice and a flat chest, I figured it was only a matter of time."
"You know you're welcome to stay as long as you would like."
The boys were quiet Everett helped River unpack the few things he had managed to toss into his suitcase. A few changes of clothes, an old plushie from his childhood for comfort, and a few hygienic items made up the majority of his belongings.
Everett wasn't sure how to feel. He hadn't seen his friend since their high school graduation, and he was happy to finally see him again, but this reunion was a somber one. As he went to the bedroom to put a small stack of River's shirts into the mostly empty dresser, Everett found another issue. Only one bed. And he knew, no matter how hard he tried, that River would insist on Everett staying in his own bed.
He sighed. "Hey, River..."
The rest of the day went by smoothly. Everett gave River a quick tour of the town and surrounding areas, pointing out as many people as he could so River could start putting names to faces. They stopped by Marnie's ranch to feed a few of the cows, picked up a few shells on the beach, and stopped by the saloon for some dinner. He had actually made a few jokes that cracked the smallest of smiles on River's face, which felt great knowing how much he was going though. One specific joke even prompted a sharp exhale, just on the borderline of a laugh. Oh... There's an idea...
The walk home from the saloon was peaceful as the two boys sipped hot tea from to-go cups. It was just warm enough that you could be relatively comfortable without a jacket as long as you didn't stay in one place for too long. The sounds of crickets and the gentle rustling of leaves filled the air.
Ev had been right about the bed thing. As soon as they got inside, the first words out of River's mouth were, "I'll take the couch." The argument was pretty much nonexistent. Both sides argued, "Either you're taking the bed and I sleep on the couch, or we're sharing the bed." And that is precisely what they did.
As Everett sat down on the side of the bed to tug off his boots, he looked over at River. He was sitting at the foot of the bed, staring down at the floor, looking sadder than ever.
"Riv... you know you didn't do anything wrong, right?"
"I know..." He sniffled. "I just don't understand how somebody could be so horrible to their own child."
They were both silent for a moment, before Everett finally decided to put his plan into action. "Wellll, I think I might know a way to cheer you up a little? It'll certainly take your mind off things for a little while, at least."
River looked unconvinced but curious. "Alright, do what you gotta do."
Everett patted the space next to himself, prompting River to lay down on his back once he was positioned next to him. "So, River... I seem to have a vague memory in the back of my brain... that you just so happen to be very ticklish."
River's eyes widened. "Wait-"
Everett shushed him and grabbed one of his hands in a gentle but firm hold. "But not only are you very ticklish, but you even like it."
River cursed the wobbly grin slowly overtaking his features as Everett slowly lifted one arm above his head, before taking hold of the other arm to do the same. "Keep those arms up there for me, m'kay?"
River nodded nervously. He wasn't sure how laughing would feel right now, but he wanted to give this quote unquote "method" a try. "I- I'm ready."
Everett smirked down at him. "Good! Now.... laugh for me!"
And with that, ten teasing fingers made their way under River's shirt, dancing along his tummy and sides just lightly enough to tickle, but not so much that it was overwhelming. Of course Everett, of all people, would know exactly what kind of cheering up he needed.
Watching River's eyes squeeze shut as one of Everett's fingers inched its way closer to the boy's belly button prompted a smirk from the other. "Hmm... We're just getting warmed up, so we'll save that one for later."
The tickling gradually increased in speed and intensity from there, and River was struggling with the challenge of staying sad in such a goofy situation. His shoulders shook with contained giggles bouncing around in his chest.
Everett knew this game. River could be a tough nut to crack, but once the dam was broken, it was broken. That was the goal. "What's the matter Riv? Hmm?" Everett pulled out his best teasey voice as he skittered his fingers up and down the boy's ribs. "I know you're just so ticka-ticka-ticklish, so where is that sweet laughter?"
River scrunched up his face and shook his head, refusing to break so easily. They had played this "game" before, but River would be lying if he claimed it was easy to keep his laughter in.
"Come onnnnn, River~" Everett cooed, circling one finger around the boy's navel. "Gimme those giggles! Or else~"
After a few more moments of River refusing to crack, Everett sighed. "You leave me no choice..." He leaned down, face mere inches above River's tummy, just above the belly button. "Drastic times call for drastic measures~"
"WAIT-" River's sudden plea fell on deaf ears as Everett started nuzzling all over his tummy, throwing in a couple raspberries and quick kisses here and there to keep him on his toes. "GahAH- Eheheverehehett!" The dam was broken.
Everett sat back up and grinned, spidering his fingers all over the area where his face was positioned just moments before. "There it is! I'm gonna need to hear a whole lot more of that, you hear me, mister?"
River squeaked as Everett punctuated his question with a quick poke to his navel, arching his back out of instinct. "Ohohokahay!"
Everett grinned, quickly slipping a pillow under his friend's arched back. "Gotta keep that tummy pulled taut now, don't we?"
River squealed as his sensitivity increased, quickly falling into hysterics as Everett continued to poke and prod at the soft skin.
Sensing that his friend had nearly had enough, he let up for a moment, switching to softly rubbing up and down his tummy with one hand. River's loud laughter quickly dissolved into soft giggles. Everett looked down at River with a fond smile. "Almost finished, I promise."
"Wahait- what do you mehean alm-Eep!" River's half hearted protests were cut off by a squeak as Everett returned to circling one finger around his belly button.
Everett flashed him a grin. "Ready for the grand finale?"
River's steadily increasing giggles gave him all the answer he needed. He leaned down again, before slipping one finger into River's belly button, wiggling it around as he peppered small kisses all over the rest of his tummy.
"GAHAHAHA- EhehEVErehett!" River's laughter soon turned silent, prompting Everett to cease the tickly onslaught.
Everett sat up, rubbing River's tummy gently as the boy returned from his giggle-drunk state. He smiled down at River as he opened his eyes. "Hehe~ feeling better?"
Everett giggled, planting a kiss on the tip of River's nose. "I know."
