The Tiger’s Laugh
A/N: Almost finished… This anime is still in my head and it’s a shame that the movie had been canceled - yeah, I’m still talking about it. So, I had to write a little something from this show as well. Number 30 - Giving in - of @vqler's Tickletober prompt list of 2025 ft. Yuri and Otabek from Yuri!!! on Ice.
Words: 1,070 words under the cut
“Please Yuri… just once…” The quiet yet oddly persistent tone in Otabek’s voice made Yuri whip his head around instantly. The Kazakh skater was leaning against the back of the couch, eyes focused intently on him in a way that sent a strange, prickly heat up his neck.
Just a few hours ago they’d been hanging out with Victor and Yuuri - nothing unusual. But of course, Victor couldn’t just keep his mouth shut. No, Victor Nikiforov, master of unnecessary oversharing, had casually dropped the fact that Yuri was “super ticklish” in front of everyone.
At the time Yuri had snapped back, cheeks burning, claiming Victor didn’t know what he was talking about, but clearly Otabek had been listening and thinking and plotting. Now here they were - back in their shared apartment - and the guy hadn’t stopped bringing it up. Yuri narrowed his eyes. “What the hell does ‘just once’ even mean?”
Otabek’s lips curved slightly, almost imperceptibly. “You know what it means.” Yuri huffed, crossing his arms and sinking into the couch cushions. “No way I’m letting you-” “Where are you ticklish?” Otabek asked, leaning forward, clearly enjoying himself far too much.
“I’m not,” Yuri shot back instantly. The other tilted his head, his expression calm but undeniably amused. “Then it shouldn’t be a problem if I try, right?” The blonde glared at him, jaw tightening. “You’re annoying.” “I’m curious,” Otabek replied, unbothered. “Just once... That’s all I’m asking.”
The back-and-forth continued for several long minutes. Every time Yuri tried to change the subject, Otabek would circle back, his steady gaze making it impossible to ignore him. It was like being trapped in a staring contest he couldn’t win. Finally, with an exasperated groan, Yuri threw his hands up. “Fine! Just once, okay? And my armpits are off-limits!”
Otabek’s eyes softened and a warm smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Deal.” Before Yuri could overthink what he’d just agreed to, Otabek stepped forward and pulled him into a brief hug, a surprisingly tender gesture that caught him off guard. “H-Hey what the-”
But the moment ended quickly - Otabek gently pushed him back, so that he was lying against the couch cushions, hovering above him with that unreadable, faintly mischievous expression. “Ready?” “No-!” Yuri began, but his protest cut off in a startled yelp as Otabek’s fingers landed on his sides. It wasn’t an all-out attack - at least, not yet.
Otabek’s touch was light, almost experimental, as if he was mapping out exactly how Yuri would react. Yuri’s shoulders instantly hunched, his legs curling slightly as he pressed a hand over his mouth, trying so hard to keep it together. Otabek noticed. Oh, he definitely noticed.
“Don’t hide it,” he murmured as he gently took Yuri’s hand and moved it away from his mouth, “you promised.” Yuri’s cheeks burned. He glared up at him, about to fire off a retort, but Otabek’s fingers gave a deliberate squeeze at his waist, and the sound that escaped was anything but dignified.
“Ah-! DaHahmn it! NohoHOHOHO!” Yuri twisted, the beginnings of laughter spilling out. His hands instinctively clung to Otabek’s shirt, gripping the fabric as if that would somehow stop the tickling. It didn’t.
Otabek’s smile deepened just a fraction and he continued in smooth, deliberate movements - sliding his fingers up and down Yuri’s sides, sometimes pressing in with a bit more pressure, other times barely grazing him at all. The unpredictable rhythm made it impossible for Yuri to brace himself. The touch was still light, but that lightness alone already tickled so bad.
“Still think you’re not ticklish?” Otabek asked quietly, the calm tone only making Yuri flush harder. “S-ShuHUhut up!” The blonde’s voice cracked as laughter tumbled out, bright and unrestrained now that the initial resistance had broken. His head tilted back against the cushion, and for a moment, he hated that it actually felt… kind of nice.
“DahAhhmn iHihitit…. nghHoHoH aAhhAHAHAh,” he laughed when the other hit an especially sensitive spot near his lowest ribs and continued to explore his newfound discovery, wiggling his fingers into said spot all while smiling down at him with this knowing grin. “Tickles a lot, hm~ I should’ve tried this much sooner,” he laughed, tickling him more.
Despite his teasing, Otabek didn’t push the limit. He kept his promise about the armpits, never straying higher than Yuri’s ribs, though his hands occasionally wandered to his stomach. The light kneading there made Yuri’s laugh pitch up several octaves, his legs kicking weakly against the couch. “WAAhh B-BeHeka fuHhuHuck,” Yuri cursed.
The black-haired smirked as he slid his fingers over his stomach, feeling it vibrate under him as he pressed them softly against it, not daring to slip under the other’s shirt - at least not for today. However, he noticed that the entire time - despite his so-called “protests” - Yuri had never tried to stop him and it somehow made him smile innerly.
“You’re actually enjoying this,” Otabek remarked, amusement flickering in his eyes. “In your- hahHA! dreHehams!” Yuri shot back between bursts of laughter, wriggling helplessly. “…Of course, Yurio, of course~” he teased back, but decided to leave it at that, wanting to savor these moments of tickling the other as long as he could, and the other allowed.
The tickling felt like forever, but eventually, Otabek eased up, letting his fingers slow to a stop before withdrawing them completely. Yuri lay there catching his breath, cheeks flushed pink, hair mussed from all his squirming.
“Thanks,” the ravenhead said softly, and before Yuri could question why he was thanking him, the older boy leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. Yuri froze. His eyes widened, a rush of heat flooding his face that had nothing to do with the tickling. “You- What-” he stammered, pushing at Otabek’s chest weakly. “Idiot.”
Otabek’s smile was small but steady. “I’ll take that as a yes.” A long pause hung between them, and then - barely above a whisper - Yuri muttered, “You can… do it again.” Otabek’s brows lifted slightly. “The kiss or the tickling?”
Yuri’s blush deepened instantly. “Idiot,” he repeated, glaring to the side - but there was no real bite to it this time. Otabek chuckled quietly, his gaze warm as he sat back. “I’ll keep you guessing.” The blonde scowled in response, but his lips twitched like he was fighting a smile.















