Tickles (SouRin)
Fandom: Free! Characters: Rin Matsuoka | Sousuke Yamazaki Lee!Sousuke Ler!Rin Summary: Rin just wanted to help Sousuke with the tension in his shoulder after surgery. What he didn't expect was to discover something capable of dismantling even his boyfriend's most serious facade and transforming a simple massage into a fun game of affection and care. [Read also on Ao3]
(The art doesn't belong to me, I found it on Pinterest)
Rin's apartment was quiet that night. The open window let in a warm summer breeze, bringing the distant scent of chlorine from the pool across the street.
Sousuke sat on the couch, his shirt half-open, a cooler bag forgotten beside him, his shoulders tense as ever. His post-surgery recovery was going well, slowly but steadily, and Rin had been following every step, sometimes more closely than Sousuke cared to admit.
Rin emerged from the kitchen with two bottles of water and tossed one to his friend, or rather, boyfriend, though they still stumbled a bit over the words. "You're tense again" He commented, his eyes fixed on his operated shoulder as he sat down beside him. "I bet you didn't do your stretches today"
Sousuke took the bottle, opened it, and took a sip without answering. "I'm fine" He said finally, without much conviction. "You don't have to worry all the time, Rin"
"I don't worry all the time!" Rin retorted, resting his elbows on his knees, leaning forward slightly. "I just think I can help. I can massage it to relieve the tension. It'll help with circulation, right? The physical therapist said that the other day"
Sousuke arched an eyebrow and let out a dry laugh. "You listening to the physical therapist's advice? That's new"
Rin grimaced and punched him lightly in the thigh. "Shut up and turn around"
Sousuke hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting to the side, but finally sighed and complied, pulling his shirt off his shoulders and turning back onto the couch. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees, while Rin positioned himself behind him.
With steady hands, Rin began to gently press the muscles around Sousuke's injured shoulder, avoiding the surgical site. He used his thumbs carefully, feeling the tension building beneath Sousuke's warm, still slightly stiff skin. "You're stiff as a rock, man" He murmured, focused. "You should let me do that more often"
Sousuke didn't respond immediately. His breathing was a little heavier, and the muscles beneath Rin's fingers twitched slightly with each deeper touch.
Rin lessened the pressure, sliding his fingers down to the base of his neck. That's when he noticed something curious. Sousuke gave a slight start, imperceptible to those unfamiliar with him, but he noticed. And most interestingly, he immediately held his breath, as if trying to avoid or disguise any reaction.
"Hm?" Rin narrowed his eyes, repeating the movement with his fingers, this time on purpose. "What was that?"
"Nothing" Sousuke replied, too quickly.
Rin stopped the massage for a moment, leaning in slightly to look sideways at him, the corner of his mouth lifting in a treacherous smile. "Wait a minute, Sousuke... You tensed up in a different way just now, that's not pain..." He tested another touch, very lightly, with his fingertips on his neck and the base of his neck, making Sousuke stiffen again. "That's ticklish"
"Rin..." His voice was low and hard, almost threatening, but the tone was more embarrassed than intimidating.
"I can't believe it..." Rin let out a low, almost incredulous laugh. "You, the guy who faces shoulder pain without complaint, who doesn't even wince with a needle, are sensitive to a touch here?"
Sousuke turned his face slightly, not looking at Rin, his ears starting to turn red. "It's not sensitive, it was just... unexpected" He murmured defensively.
"Oh, sure. Totally unexpected that you turned as red as a bell pepper" Rin gave him a light, teasing touch behind his ear, just to confirm the theory.
Sousuke shrugged and let out a muffled sound, half laughter, half frustration. "Rin, if you keep going, I swear..."
"Swear what? Are you going to threaten me with laughter?" Rin backed away, still smiling. "But I'll stop. I just wanted to confirm a scientific theory"
Sousuke turned back to him slightly, giving him a sharp look. "Scientific, huh?"
"Of course, field research" Rin rested his chin on his crossed arms on the back of the sofa, staring at him with an amused glint in his eyes. "And I discovered that even you have your weaknesses"
Sousuke rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide the small smile that crept into the corner of his mouth. "Just because you're helping me with my shoulder, I'll let this one slide"
Rin leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, smiling sincerely now. "Oh, okay... So, next time you refuse to rest, I have a secret weapon" He said, a victorious smile on his lips, his face still leaning against the back of the sofa.
Sousuke, despite his usual menacing air, let out a resigned sigh, one that, coming from him, meant something close to "you win for today." "You're insufferable" He murmured, the corner of his mouth still curling up in a rare genuine smile.
Rin straightened, settling behind him. His eyes still held that curious gleam of someone who hasn't finished the experiment. He placed a firm hand on Sousuke's good shoulder, the other slowly sliding down the side of his neck. "Just one more thing, for the sake of science"
Sousuke frowned, but didn't have time to react. Rin let his fingers run from his collarbone to the center of his chest, where they glided lightly, almost as if measuring the terrain.
Sousuke just pressed his lips together firmly. But Rin didn't give up, his fingers traced his chest, stopping at his ribs, and there came the reaction.
Sousuke gave a slight jolt, his back stiffening immediately, as if a shock had run down his spine. A muffled noise escaped his throat, it wasn't exactly a laugh, but a frustrated attempt to stifle one. "Ahh-hahaha! Stop it!"
Rin smiled triumphantly. "I knew it!"
"Rin..." His voice deepened, firmer, but still failed to sound convincing. "J-Just stohohohohohop"
"You can say it's just unexpected," He said, his fingers playing along his ribs and the side of his stomach. "But your body gives you away completely"
Sousuke tried to grab his wrist with both hands, but Rin had already pulled back, just enough to escape, moving nimbly and taking advantage of every hesitation. A hesitation that left his other side free, and in an unexpected movement, Rin's fingers found and plunged into his armpit. "AHAHAHAHAHAHA! NO!"
"Ahh, look, that was a laugh" Rin smiled, moving the fingers of both hands up to there, amused by the way Sousuke flinched and tried to grab them.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA! PLEASE! ENOUGHAHAHAHAHA!" Sousuke spoke, louder now, finally looking at him with a look of genuine warning, but even that was tinged with embarrassment, both in his expression and in the red on his cheeks.
"Ohh, who knew I'd hear you begging for a little tickling..." Rin scoffed, backing away.
"I just didn't expect you to be so childish" He gasped, trying to regain his composure.
Rin let out a light laugh, leaning back on the couch. "Not childish at all, this is high-level strategy. If you think I'm going to let that kind of information slip by, you're wrong. You'd better sleep with your eyes open"
Sousuke rubbed his face with a hand, as if trying to hide the stubborn blush that still lingered there. "You're a disaster"
"A disaster who knows your weak spot now"
There was a silence, the kind where the laughter has faded, but the heat still lingers in the air. Rin approached again, this time without tricks or provocations. He placed one hand on Sousuke's good shoulder and the other rested lightly on his thigh. His eyes were calm, but still amused. "You know I'm only doing this because you never let me take care of yourself" He said, his tone softer. "You always handle everything on your own, but now you can, I don't know, relax with me"
Sousuke finally turned fully, looking at Rin with a more sincere look. There was gratitude there, hidden beneath the layers of pride and reserve. "I know, I'm just not used to it"
"Then get used to it. Because if it's not a massage, it'll be a tickle" He moved his fingers in the air, as if about to attack him again.
Sousuke took a deep breath and pulled Rin by the collar of his shirt, pressing their foreheads together for a brief, intense second. "Do that again and see what happens"
Rin laughed, but then calmed down, snuggling against his chest, content. At least for now.
