Omg... can I please beg for a tickle fic/ headcannons *anything* with Bg3 Raphael and tav? Him being a devil and all, I'm sure he would tease you relentlessly if he discovered how much tav enjoyed tickling... oh please oh please!
Secrets
Haarlep has been letting Tav in on some of Raphael’s dirty little secrets. Some of these secrets have come from what should have been Raphael’s private diary. When Raphael finds out, he’s less than enthused, and order must be restored to his House by any means necessary. By doing so, Raphael uncovers a not-quite secret about Tav.
Warnings- Mentions of sex but nothing explicit. Also MDNI!
Pairing- Starts with Haarlep x Tav, ends with Raphael x Tav.
WC: ~3400.
Read on Ao3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/63870748
A/N: I hope you like this anon! I wasn't sure what direction I wanted to go in, but I had fun writing this.
“He isn’t?”
Tav, fully clothed and perched on Haarlep’s lap, stared up at the cambion in bewilderment. Haarlep loved how they looked up at them; there was such wonder, such innocence, in those pretty eyes.
They could definitely see why this one was Raphael’s favorite client.
“He is not,” The cambion chuckled. “Raphael is always below me, never on top. And he never looks so beautiful when he is on his back for me. The sight could bring a tear to the eye.”
Tav snickered. “Surely you are exaggerating. With his poise and theatrics, Raphael seems like he would be a better lover.”
“All an act, little one,” Haarlep sighed wistfully. “Raphael loves only Raphael. He cares only for his own pleasure. I am tasked with bringing him that pleasure. And he, darling brat that he is, lays there and takes it beautifully.”
Tav tried to picture this in their head. The magnetic, dangerous, and poetic archdevil Raphael, a bonafide pillow prince? Not that there was anything wrong with that, nothing at all. But they couldn’t imagine—
“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?” Haarlep’s deep purr reached their ears, and Tav jolted forward with a squeak.
“No!” Tav answered quickly, too quickly, their cheeks flushed. Haarlep laughed and pulled them back flush against their body.
“You were, naughty thing. I had no idea that you were interested in hearing about our bedroom activities.” Their hands curled around Tav’s waist, where they squeezed and pinched over their skin. “Are you wondering how he sounds? If his eyes roll back in ecstasy?”
Tav squealed and tried to lurch forward again, but Haarlep wouldn’t let them. They squirmed and giggled as Haarlep kept squeezing and kneading their waist.
“NahHAHAha! I wahahahahasn’t!” They argued, still lying, while trying to fold in on themselves. Haarlep dropped their hands lower to knead their thumbs into the adventurer’s hips.
“Oh, darling, you cannot lie to me.” Haarlep smirked as Tav’s giggling jumped to startled laughter. “I can see right through you. I’d bet you wish it were Raphael’s hands all over you instead of mine.”
“HAahahrlehep!” Tav bucked and uselessly kicked around the bed, head tilted back in laughter. Haarlep snickered and, showing mercy, stopped. They kept them pinned against their body and rubbed their large hands over their hips.
“You are adorable,” Haarlep chuckled. They leaned in to press a chaste kiss to their forehead and cheeks. “I can see why he likes you. Perhaps you will soften his selfish heart..”
Tav exhaled and laid their head back on the cambion’s shoulder. They lightly pursed their lips. “I think I should get two extra secrets for that, sneaky devil.”
Again, Haarlep laughed. “Why stop there?” They pointed a red finger towards shelving on the wall opposite the bed. “Raphael keeps all of his diaries just on that shelf. The shelf is, of course, protected by magic. But, with the right incantation, anything is bound to happen..”
Tav followed their gaze over to the shelf. Then, they looked back up at them, eyes alit with curiosity. “And, you know this incantation?”
“Hmmmm,” The cambion hummed thoughtfully, leaning back into the bed with Tav still in their lap. “It isn’t fresh in my mind, but I could try and remember if something could jog my memory..”
They tapped their own cheek with their claw, smirking broadly. Tav grinned and, rolling their eyes, leaned in to kiss the cambion’s cheek. Then, Haarlep tapped their other cheek.
“What was it again?” They mused out loud. “Something that started with an ‘a’? No. ‘C’ perhaps?”
“You’re pushing your luck, Haarlep.” Tav chuckled and went to kiss their other cheek. Before they made contact, Haarlep caught their chin and held it in a gentle grip.
“Listen closely,” Haarlep felt Tav’s cheeks heat up as they leaned in. Hells, if he wasn’t keen on stirring up some trouble for Raphael, Haarlep would’ve wanted to keep this one all to himself. They whispered the incantation into their ear, and then released them. “Go now, bring us that diary..”
Haarlep kept his eyes on Tav’s hips as they hurried over to the shelf. When they returned, he patted his lap, and they retook their place back on his lap. “There we are. Let’s see what he’s been thinking.”
Raphael’s handwriting was impeccable, no surprise there. There were poetic musings about his fascination with mortals, and his burning determination to seize the Crown of Karsus. But besides that, Tav was mentioned by name more than once, and their name didn’t just come up when he wrote about business. Tav felt the cambion’s head slink down onto their shoulder.
“Anything interesting, my dear?” Haarlep nuzzled into the crook of their neck, bright eyes scanning the page from behind. Tav’s finger traced over their name on the page.
“He’s been writing about me..” They murmured, smiling a soft smile as they traced the cursive. Haarlep made a big show of ‘awwing’ and cooing in their ear.
“So it is true then. You are more than a means to an end to our dear Raphael. How sweet.” He pressed his head against Tav’s, giving a little pout. “I hope this doesn’t mean you’ll forget about me.”
“Of course not,” Tav nuzzled back into them and pecked his nose. “How could I forget about my favorite partner in crime?”
Then, there was a rattle at the door. Both looked towards the sound.
“Speak of the devil,” Haarlep chuckled and sat up straight. “He’s home.”
Tav’s face fell. They slammed the diary closed. “You said he was miles away—”
“It appears he’s cut his trip short,” Haarlep wound an arm around their waist. “Stay calm, pet. I will distract him so you can excuse yourself. He will be none the wiser.”
Somehow, Tav doubted that, but they didn’t have time to question them. Tav also didn’t have enough time to run and put the diary back. So, they threw it into their pack. The door opened, and Raphael strode in the room.
“Welcome home, master..” Haarlep threw open an arm in greeting, his other arm still around Tav’s waist. “You’ve returned early. You must have missed me, hmm?”
“Your opinion of yourself is unreasonably high, Haarlep. I have spent more than enough of my time with you. And I would have spent more time away had the client I pursued been worth the headache.” Raphael grumbled and swapped into his more comfortable cambion form. His eyes flickered over to the adventurer in his lap. “Oh, little Mouse. This is a surprise.”
Tav’s heartbeat quickened as he regarded them. A small, nervous smile tugged at their lips. He was going to find out about their snooping. The jig was up. The jig was—
Haarlep pulled them out of their thoughts by snuggling them. “Well, I had to find my own entertainment while you were away,” he chuckled. “And your mouse here is so enticing…”
“Y-Yehes, well. I was actually just leaving.” Tav palmed the cambion’s cheek and wriggled out of their arms. “It was good seeing you Raphael.”
“Oh? You are leaving so soon?” Raphael hummed curiously, eyebrow arched. “I am wounded. You would grace Haarlep with your illustrious presence, but not myself?”
“I-”
“Jealous, master?” Haarlep grinned and climbed off the bed, approaching him with a sultry strut. He put a hand on each shoulder from behind, pressing kisses into his neck. By doing so, he was acting as a barrier between Raphael and the door. Tav had to be quick. “Don’t be. You know you’re my favorite..”
Tav gathered their pack from the floor and scurried towards the door. But Raphael would not be easily seduced. He shrunk away from the affection and pushed the other cambion away with a grunt.
“I haven’t the time for your games tonight, Haarlep. I must draft a new contract to pursue another deal.” Raphael stepped away, moving towards his bookshelf. Korilla helped with keeping tabs on his clients, but he had his personal records that even she didn’t see. Tav heard him call for them over his shoulder. “A moment, Mouse. Surely you can spare me a moment of your time before you rush back to saving the world.”
“N-No, I really should be going.” Tav finally stepped into what they believed was the safety of the hallway. They pushed the door shut before hurrying down the corridor. But, when Raphael’s booming voice followed them, their heart sank to their knees.
“Where. Is. My. Journal?”
Uh oh.
There was a war of words between Raphael and Haarlep before the door slammed open. It thudded against the wall and made Tav jump.
“MOUSE!”
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. He’s gonna kill me. Tav broke out into a run, but it was useless. Raphael materialized at the end of the hallway in a fiery blaze. They nearly tripped over themselves as they skidded to a stop.
“I read a play during my last trip to the Material Plane..” Raphael stalked up to them like a predator approaching prey. Tav continued to backpedal. “Shakespeare’s Othello. ‘Guiltiness will speak, though tongues were out of use.’ You seemed rattled when I returned— not because I interrupted a rendezvous. No… it was something else.”
“I- don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tav played dumb, staring up at him with big, innocent looking eyes. They, however, radiated with giddy, nervous energy, and they fought back a smile more than once. Raphael’s eyes narrowed.
“You are lying,” Raphael growled. “And it is a poor attempt at a lie at that. You, a guest in my home, would rifle through my things and believe I wouldn’t notice? How foolish..”
Tav opened their mouth to speak, to explain. Raphael ignored them, snapped his fingers, and teleported them to his private quarters. The room was adorned with crimson and golden decor that mirrored the rest of his house, but the air was calmer. Still. This was a place that even Haarlep knew not to visit unannounced.
Tav found themselves on another bed, but this one was bigger. It had darker, redder sheets.
And this time, they had a vexed archdevil looming over them.
“Wahait, Raphael. I can explain--”
Tav made an ‘oof’ sound as Raphael pushed them down. They scrambled to sit up, to get away, but this little mouse wouldn’t be escaping. He made sure of it by pinning them down at the waist with his legs. Restraining their wrists would soon follow.
“Spare me your explanations,” Raphael sneered. “I wrested the details from Haarlep, and they will be dealt with accordingly. Now if you have any last words, Mouse, make them quick. It will only take a moment to finish you.”
Tav didn’t need to dig themselves into a deeper hole. But, against all logic, they did.
That small, impish smile returned. They remembered what they gossiped about with Haarlep.
“You know, that’s twice as long as Haarlep said it takes to finish you.”
Now they’ve done it. Raphael bristled and raised his hands, poised to strike.
“You contemptuous creature!”
If Raphael hadn’t been fond of Tav in his way, he would’ve had them flayed. And that would’ve been the merciful option. But, he’d learned so much about them and, by extension, mortals. How they expressed fortitude in the face of danger. How they rallied together to fight evils.
How ticklish some of them were. And the Little Mouse was no exception.
Raphael went for their ribs first, hands curling around them and fingernails skittering along the bones. Tav screamed and arched their back, descending into a giggling fit. Their hands blindly chased after his, but they were soon pulled up and over their head, bound by some Infernal magic. The ticklish panic weighed on them, and they bucked and squirmed as he kneaded between the bones.
“NAhahahahahaha! Raph, dohohohohn’t!”
“You’ve brought this upon yourself, dear,” Raphael scoffed. His hands dropped down, kneading his thumbs into their sides, and smirking when they giggled harder. “My home is a place of order and decorum, not thieves and mischief. I thought you were better than this, Tav. But it seems I was mistaken. You and your accomplice will be corrected.”
“Nononohohohoho! Ahahaha! I’m sohohohohorry!” Tav pleaded. Their wrists strained against the magic holding them above their head. Suddenly, the devil dug into their stomach, and their scream was probably loud enough to hear in the Material Plane. They arched off of the bed, laughing loudly as his large hands scampered up and down their tummy. Their shirt didn’t really protect them from the tickles; it was decoration if nothing else.
“You’re sorry?” Raphael echoed them in a mocking, pitying tone. “Another lie. You don’t know the meaning of the word. In fact you are only ‘sorry’ that I returned at a most inopportune time and caught you in the act.”
Tav pinched their eyes shut, thrashing and laughing as the tickles continued, gradually getting faster. Much to their surprise, Raphael paused abruptly, walking two fingers up their side and back towards their ribs.
“Although,” he mused. “I don’t believe this is much of a punishment for you, judging from what I observed amongst you and your companions..”
Tav’s eyes snapped back open. They squealed as he repeatedly pinched their lowermost rib, kneading it between his fingers. “Whahahaht?!”
“Do not be coy with me,” Raphael dragged his fingernails in between the ribs, earning deep, desperate giggles. “I have learned a great deal about you during this perilous journey. Mortals and devils are as different as night and day. We crave similar things at times, and yet we still do not hold the same eccentricities. We do not seek out the touch of another in order to laugh. And yet, you do.”
Tav’s cheeks burned with realization. Still, they opted for playing dumb. Their heart was doing somersaults in their chest. How in the hell did he know? “I dohoho nohohoht—”
“I have kept my eye on you. I’ve seen how easily you crumble should Astarion merely rest a hand on your waist,” Raphael toyed with their ribs like a piano, alternating between kneading in between one rib and pinching another. Tav bucked their hips again and tried to curl in on themselves. “Or when Karlach gathers you in her arms, you make a show of kicking and squealing, only to give little resistance when she finally has her hands on you. There is still the matter of addressing your thievery, but as for this?”
His hands shot up suddenly and buried into their exposed armpits. Instead of continuing to try and curl inwards, Tav bucked their hips, their giggles jumping in both pitch and volume. They tugged against the magic keeping their arms up, but their arms didn’t budge. Raphael had free range to dig deep into the hollows, scritching away.
“You enjoy being tickled,” he asserted, his lips curling into a knowing grin. “And since I do not want to harm you, I am satisfied with correcting your behavior through this…unorthodox method. In fact, this begets the question of poking your nose in my belongings. Were you simply curious, or did you want my attention?”
By the hells. If Tav’s face got any hotter, they were gonna ignite. They were giggling too hard to give a coherent answer, and the only thought swimming in their mind was how much they wanted to bring their arms down. That thought was quickly replaced by another surge of ticklish panic as his hands worked back down their torso.
“Waitwaitwait!” They gasped, “I’ll give it bahahack! It’s in my pahahahck! Nohohoho!”
Their pleading fell on deaf ears, and Raphael’s nails skimmed over their waistline. Tav jolted upwards and let out panicked giggles. Not there, not there.
“Alas, it should still be in my bookshelf, along with my other books.” Raphael hummed. “You have only succeeded in further implicating yourself. Though that is not what I asked. Why did you rifle through my private journal?”
Tav wheezed as he dragged two fingers across their waist in a slow, slow line. Their head tilted back as they struggled to say something at least partially coherent. “I-I dihihdn’t—Haarlep—”
“Will be appropriately dealt with, as are you,” he reminded. “In truth, I expect this sort of misbehavior from them, but not from you. And I grow tired of this back and forth, this endless web that we weave..”
Raphael rested a thumb on each of their hips. Tav shrieked, further sealing their fate, and giggled for no other reason than pure anticipation.
“Why?”
He would not ask them again. That was clear enough from his tone. His thumbs tapped, tapped, tapped over their hip bones, and the poor adventurer jumped from each one.
“Curiosity!” They panted, giggling loudly. “I was curious! Plehehease, not there-”
The archdevil’s fingers stilled. He hummed; whether that was from satisfaction, amusement, or both, Tav was not sure.
“Where, Mouse?” He suddenly started squeezing their hips, and Tav immediately fell into a fit of deep laughter. “Here?”
“NAHAHA! RAHAHAPHEHEL!” Tav shrieked, bucked, and cackled as he pinched over their hip bones. Somewhere amidst their laughter, they heard Raphael chuckle.
“My my, you are a sensitive one,” he mused. “I can certainly see the appeal your companions have towards tickling you. Their brave, selfless leader, reduced to a state of laughter with just the right touch.”
Raphael was gonna be the death of them, they were sure of it. He slowed his assault to a crawl, with two fingers skittering from hip bone to hip bone. This touch mirrored Astarion’s light, nimble fingers.
“Do you have a preference, I wonder?” He raked his nails just a hair above the bone as he thought out loud. Tav hiccuped and laughed harder. “Do you prefer the rogue’s dexterous hand? Careful and assured, able to pick apart even the most iron-clad lock. Or..”
His hands jumped back to their hips, squeezing with a fervor that fell in line with Karlach’s enthusiasm. “Is the barbarian’s style more enjoyable to you? A hand touched by the Hells, her touch mirroring its flames by how eagerly it engulfs you, and yet provides a warmth that you can get from no other.”
As if he cast the fire bolt cantrip, Tav cheeks flushed deeply. They were laughing too hard to answer, their mind swimming between how right Raphael was, and how much it tickled. Raphael slowed the tickling down just enough to leave them gasping and giggling.
“I would like an answer, my dear.”
“I dohohohn’t hahave ohohne!” They squeaked, not quite lying. They enjoyed the closeness and silliness that came from tickling, and didn’t care who had them on them on the receiving end.
And yet, being at this archdevil’s mercy started to tell them a different story…
“Oh no?” Raphael suddenly squeezed their sides, and they let out a surprised shriek. “They will be gutted. Surely you must have a way that you enjoy being tickled..”
Raphael, halting the tickling altogether, waved his hands over Tav’s wrists. The magic that had been holding them up dissipated, and they were free to bring their arms down. Tav blinked, confused.
“I don’t-”
That confusion only lasted for a second. Raphael’s hands found their waist again, where he scribbled and tickled with fervor. Tav yelped and scrambled to grab his hands, succeeding only in palming his knuckles, and noticing that they weren’t trying that hard to push him away.
Raphael noticed that too.
“RAHAHAHPH!”
“Ah, I see…” Raphael purred and easily shook their hands away, reaching behind him to squeeze just above their knees. Their breath hitched for a moment before they fell back into a laughing fit. Their legs kicked against the bed as they squirmed, but even then, they weren’t making much of an effort to flee. “It would seem you prefer my way.”
Yes.. The word was on the tip of their tongue, but they weren’t going to give him the satisfaction of proving him right. Again, Raphael paused, giving them a chance to breathe.
“I am flattered. Though you should know that there is no need to give in to Haarlep’s antics to get my attention. It does, as with most things, come with a price.”
Tav tilted their head up, unsure of what he’d ask of them. Did they bite off more than they could chew? Raphael held his hands above their torso, smirking.
“If you want me to tickle you, you must ask. So be a good mouse and ask.”
