BERRIES
⚠️ DISCLAIMER ⚠️: This is a SFW tickling fic, so if that’s not your bread and butter, then feel free to look away! I understand not everyone will get it, and some may even find it repulsive, but please keep in mind that we’re all different people with unique experiences, traumas and even DNA that can lead to many different weird interests, so be respectful- I won’t tolerate any hate speech because this is a safe space.
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Meditation had always been Narinder’s only escape. Even when he was a couple of millennia younger and still living comfortably with his siblings, it was the only thing that could ever ground him- the deep connection to the earth that coursed through him like a river, a constant source of strength as old as he was.
He leaned against the tree, taking a moment to close his eyes and feel the connection, to allow the earth to soak into his being. It was a bond that came easily to him. Of course, this only ever lasted as long as Leshy would allow it.
“I smell berries on you,” the youngest of the old faith had announced his presence in the form of a demand- at the sound of his voice, Narinder slowly opened all three his eyes with a deep, low breath. Typical, but he was used to it, really. “I want some!!”
“Ever observant you are,” He lifted his head, looking to the side with a hint of irritation… he didn’t bother hiding it, it wasn’t like Leshy could see. “But, these are mine, little brother.”
“Sharing is caring, Narinder!!” Leshy retorted in a matter-of-fact tone, but it was more of a whine than anything. Though annoyed, there was still a pang of guilt that Narinder couldn’t deny- Leshy was the only one who would talk to him. “I know you have them!! Where are they?!”
He smiled when Leshy began searching his robes for the berries, despite the immature, infantile nature of the action- he couldn’t deny that he’d missed this. When Leshy squeezed somewhere sensitive, he flinched halfway between a startle and a giggle, before gently pulling his youngest brother into his lap.
“You are persistent Leshy,” He knew Leshy was taken by surprise by the sudden change of position, but he was quickly regaining his confidence, “act ignorantly and you may become enlightened.”
Leshy wriggled in his grip, groaning indignantly. “I didn’t do anything!! You can’t fault me for being hungry!!”
Narinder hummed at that, suddenly getting an idea when he remembered a game they used to play- Leshy had always been so persistent, even as a young child, Narinder had lost count of the number of times he’d finally settled for some mediation, only to have his little brother burrow to him; to bug him. Though, Narinder decided it would be unfair to just ambush the worm- so, to give him a hint, he gently squeezed at his sides, immediately pulling out some giggles from him.
“No- No!! That’s cheating!!” Leshy protested immediately, his laughter quickly taking over. Narinder smiled- Leshy had always sounded as if he were a wounded animal whenever he laughed, there had been many times when Shamura had come running, only to find Leshy perfectly fine and simply giggling to himself.
“I am merely humouring you, brother.”
“Nohohohohoooo!!” Leshy shrieked, his arms flailing. He tried curling up in an attempt to avoid it, but it was in vein.
“Hmm, if I recall…” He trailed off, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. Narinder took careful note of Leshy’s reactions- not wanting to hurt his brother, he was a little more delicate in his playful attack, but if his memory served him well, he recalled how Leshy would leave once he had his fill “…I hope I’m not killing you here.”
“Shuhuhut u-up!! Ahahaheheheh!!” Leshy squirmed around as much as he could- he was so light, he had nearly rolled him out of Narinder’s lap entirely. Every time he managed to squirm loose, Narinder would simply tug him back in.
“Now, now, where were you most ticklish…?” Narinder pondered aloud. They were both well aware of the fact that Narinder remembered, and yet, he couldn’t help but ponder mockingly, merely to hold a sense of impending doom over the worm’s head. “Was it here…?”
His hasty fingers wriggled their way under Leshy’s arms, even if the worm’s arms were glued tightly to his side in a protective position. That earned the cat an immediate shriek of laughter.
“T-Thahahahat is nohohohot f-fair, at ahahahall…!”
“Life is hardly fair, little brother.” Narinder's ears twitched ever so slightly, perhaps in amusement, as he expertly avoided Leshy's flailing limbs with little effort. He shifted his attack to scribble fingers along Leshy's ribs. "Just like how it wasn't fair when you my hearty meat broth last week, behind my back no less!"
Leshy squealed involuntarily at that, his tail wagging wildly. It was as if the memory of his mischievous act was now somehow increasing his sensitivity tenfold, but he was not making any serious attempts to escape.
“I see you haven’t burrowed away, nor bitten me yet, I assume you’re still enjoying yourself?” Narinder’s arms were wrapped around him in a secure, almost protective hold. It was a strange feeling, to be back in the hold of his older brother.
It was all good fun, he was sure Leshy could think back to the thousands of times before where Narinder had him like this.
“I-I cohohohohould bite you if I wanted to!!” There was no threat in Leshy’s words, it was nothing but a childish response, meant more to illicit a reaction. The feeling was familiar to both of them, one that brought back years upon years of playful squabbling.
“Oh, I’m sure you could,” teasing a previous bishop was hardly a good idea, and almost anyone would have thrust their fist between Narinder’s eyes to shut him up, maybe for good, but Leshy didn’t see it fit to react with such violence. He took notice of how Leshy’s fur felt like moss- it was dotted with the occasional flower or leaf that Leshy picked up during his many walks through the surrounding flora, left there for him to brush out in the near future whenever he got the opportunity to do so; it made Narinder’s claws twitch with the need to pick them free. “Just look at you- you’re filthy!!”
“Nohohohooo!!” Even as he spoke the words, Leshy made no attempt to pull away, and he shrieked as Narinder's fingers went from his hips to his stomach. Eventually, he stopped wiggling around and slumped in defeat… it was like he was a little kid once again, in awe of the elder brother he adored. “O-Ohohohohokay, I’ve had ehehehenough!!”
Narinder nodded, his fingers slowing to a halt- as that was his cue to stop, Leshy panted as the torment finally eased, his head lying against Narinder’s arm, though his breathing was still nothing but giggles; his body gradually relaxing again.
Narinder took the chance to carefully pick out a stray flower, gently untangling some of the leaves from the soft, mossy fur. Every flower that was picked loose, Leshy felt around sightlessly for- only to start chewing on it whenever he’d found what he was searching for. An odd habit, but one that Narinder recognized. “…You still like the taste of camellias?”
“Mhm!!” The younger brother nodded vigorously in approval. Camellias, they had always been one of his favourites- even if the taste was bitter. “…but I like berries more!”
Narinder sighed- he tried to play it off as exasperated, but truthfully, he was more entertained than anything, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Leshy really had a one track mind. “Mmm, I suppose I owe you after tormenting you like that, right?”
“I’m definitely due some payment!” he agreed, “you can’t just torture me like that and except me to walk away without the spoils!!”
“Fair enough,” Narinder confirmed Leshy’s request, his free hand reaching for his pocket, to retrieve the spoils of war- but, Leshy was quicker, his claws diving into the small, manufactured nook of the fabric with little uncertainty. “…you knew where they were this whole time?”
“Maybe,” there wasn’t a thread of restraint in his body as he’d ripped open the pouch he’d stole from his brother with his sharp teeth, “I just wanted an excuse to annoy you! And besides, they taste better after I’ve earned them!”
Narinder smiled- Leshy’s knack for swiping things meant that he was always the first to be blamed for anything in the cult going missing, despite the perfectly valid reason, as he’d explained it multiple times before, of ‘finders keepers.’
“You don’t need an excuse to talk to me,” Narinder muttered sheepishly, poking Leshy in the side with a wry but playful smile. It felt wrong to say- the guilt of what he’d done to his family centuries ago was still oh so fresh, old wounds being reopened after the staged coup- Leshy was the only one who wouldn’t go out of his way to avoid him. “I hope you know that…”
It was a rare, tender moment for the both of them. Narinder was grateful Leshy had never shielded away from conversation with him, even when the rest of their siblings avoided him like the plague.
“…can I sleep here? On you? L-Like, how I used to when I was a grub?”
“…I’d like that,” He nodded at Leshy’s question. It was a childish request, the same that he’d make in the past to the same effect- and this time was no different.
Leshy wiggled around to get comfortable, curling up against Narinder. The sensation of his moving claws on Leshy’s back did wonders to lull him to sleep, smoothing the spots of fur that sat disheveled, tickling the skin beneath in a pleasant way and there were a few giggles that escaped. It was a familiar comfort that he’d thought he’d lost forever many centuries ago, yet had been desperately seeking ever since.
Leshy was not a light sleeper nor picky about his bedding, which meant it took only a few minutes for him to fall fast asleep in the grassy fields… and in the company of his older brother, the ex-god of death.
