Important Question
Vanitas/Noé/Roland
a/n: I've recently gotten into the Vanitas no Carte series and I had to write this small one shot idea that was in my mind. I hope you enjoy!
★・・・★・・・★・・・★
“Vanitas?”
“Shh!”
“But Vanitas-”
“I said shush! We need to be silent.”
“I get that, but why are we hiding in the closet to begin with?”
Vanitas groaned at Noé’s persistence as they crouched unbearably close together in the cramped space.
“Because that imbecile Chasseur has been chasing me all afternoon and this seemed like the best place to escape his advances.”
“I see.”
There was a blissful silence between them which unfortunately for Vanitas, did not last long.
“Why is he chasing you?”
“Noé!”
“I’m just curious! And besides, you dragged me in here as well so- mmph!”
Vanitas was quick to cover Noé’s mouth as soon as muffled footsteps outside of the closet were heard. He held his gloved index finger to his own lips, an extra precaution for Noé to remain silent, even with his mouth covered.
“Oh, Vanitaaaas?”
The unmistakeable voice of Roland sang not far from the closet door where they hid. Noé could almost feel Vanitas cringing at the sing song way his named was called.
“You’re not hiding from me, are you? Oh, come now, it was just a simple question! There’s no need to hide,” Roland’s voice sounded sickly sweet, the same way that always gets Vanitas’ skin crawling. “Come out, come out, wherever you are~”
As soon as it sounded like his footsteps were getting further away, Noé decided to take a chance to speak up.
“I don’t understand. What was the question and why are you hiding away from it?”
“It’s none of your business,” Vanitas hissed.
“Well actually, I think it is my business. As I said, you dragged me here with you, so now I’m involved. I have a right to know what’s going on.”
“Keep your voice down, will you?! He might still come-”
The closet doors flung opened with a sudden violent motion, light flooding the small space and nearly blinding Vanitas and Noé as they blinked up at Roland's imposing figure looming over them with a triumphant smile.
“-back.”
“Ah, there you are!” Roland cheered, his bright smile almost as blinding as the light that lit the closet space. “What on earth could you be doing in here, hm?”
“We were just discussing our next curse bearer case, weren’t we, Noé?” Vanitas addressed; his nervous demeanour not very concealed at all. His expression begged Noé to play along.
“Oh… yes.”
“In the closet, of all places? My, you both are full of surprises. Though Vanitas, I still haven’t received your answer to my question!” Roland pressed, causing Vanitas to visibly flinch.
“Roland,” Noé managed to talk first, gaining the attention to both males. “What was the question you asked Vanitas?”
“Nothing!”
“Why, I asked him if he was ticklish.”
There was a moment of awkward silence at the reveal before Noé cast an unamused expression towards Vanitas, who only scowled back.
“That’s the reason we’re hiding away in this dark, cramped closet? Because he asked you such a simple question as that?” Noé raised his voice.
“Don’t act like you wouldn’t do the exact same thing!” Vanitas yelled back, using his foot to push Noé out of his hiding spot, despite it already being compromised. “You know how overly touchy he gets, there’s no way I would have come away from a question like that unscathed!”
“You could have just said no!” the white-haired vamp argued.
“No one ever just accepts no!”
“So, Vanitas,” Roland’s decided to interrupt the duo’s bickering. “Am I correct in assuming that means the answer is yes?”
Vanitas cringed at the mischievous look in Roland’s eyes, knowing that this meant trouble for him, especially since he was backed into a corner.
“Is it a yes?” Noé also asked, much to Vanitas’s pain. It would appear that he was also curious to know the real answer to the question at hand.
“I refuse to answer your ridiculous questioning,” the raven folded his arms across his chest. “We’re all adults here, so let’s try and act like it, shall we?”
“Oh, Vanitas,” Roland chuckled, already way too close to his side, uncomfortably so that it even startles him. “There’s nothing wrong with a little fun, now is there?”
Before Vanitas could protest, or even create space between them, Roland’s fingers were pressing into his sides, forcing a startled yelp from the doctor.
“ARE YOU INSANE?” Vanitas shrieked, trying to pull away only to be pulled back into Roland’s annoyingly strong embrace. “Let go of me!”
“Not yet, I want to hear you laugh!” Roland showed no mercy as he let his hands tickle up and down Vanitas’s sides, forcing cackles out of the younger male.
Noé couldn’t help but become entranced at the sight.
“Noé! Don’t – just stand there!” Vanitas then howled with laughter when Roland moved up to his ribs. “HELP ME!”
“Wow, you really are ticklish here, aren’t you?” Roland teased, that beaming smile still in place. Vanitas kicked and bucked in Roland’s hold, but the tickling had rendered him weak.
Noé whined, conflicted on what he must do, but was overcome by the desire to try out this new discovery for himself. He wanted to be the one to make Vanitas laugh in such a way. Without a moment’s hesitation he dove into the mix, placing his hands at Vanitas’s sides.
“Noé?!” Vanitas squealed, hearing the vampire chuckle softly over his laughter as he took advantage of the situation. “Ahaha! – stop! I’ll kill both of you!”
The small, flustered blush upon his face, the laughter and the tears of mirth appearing in his eyes, they were simply beautiful to Noé. This was a side of Vanitas that he didn’t know he needed to see.
Vanitas on the other hand, felt like he was in Hell, being tormented by the tickling fingers that dug into his tickle spots. If he was honest with himself, he wasn’t even aware just how ticklish he was, but now thanks to these two idiots, something told him he would not forget any time soon.