oooh how about 5. “I’m just… sensitive” with Percy/Vax 👀👀👀
Prompt 5 - "No- I'm just- uh- sensitive."
A/N: yessssssssSSSSSSSS. the boys are flirting.
,,,
“What’s wrong?” Vax asked, drawing back the arm he’d draped around his companion’s neck as he’d flinched away at the contact. He smirked. “Nervous being so close to–”
“No.” Percival pressed, cutting him off. Then, he let out a nervous breath. “I’m just- uh- sensitive… there.” He said quietly.
“‘Sensitive’, Freddy, really?” Vax's smirk widened at him.
Percy gave him the most annoyed glare he could muster at the moment, but Vax wasn’t buying into it in the slightest.
“Where? Here?” Vax’s arm was back, hand grasping toward his neck.
“Vax! Leave me alone!” Percy squawked, reeling backwards. “Stop it!” He swatted at the half-elf’s hands and scrambled back a few more steps before he knocked into a chair and nearly tipped over it. “Vax.”
Vax was beaming, that curious gleam of mischief in his eyes. “Percy…” He sang, then caught him around the shoulders with one arm. It looped tightly, while his other arm scribbled swiftly up to his neck to scamper about for sensitive spots. He smiled jovially as Percy began to squirm, tugging uselessly at his arm. “Did you tell Vex? Kiki? They’re going to love this.”
“Stahop!” Percy hissed, gritting his teeth. “This is undignified!”
“No, not yet. But you’re about to be!” Vax teased. “Once I find that spot again…”
Percival screwed his eyes shut, trying to tug his chin down to his chest to no avail. Vax caught a particularly sensitive spot near the nape of his neck that had him squirming madly, butterflies rising in his chest. His knees buckled as he wheezed out a short laugh, and Vax brought them both down to the floor, clamoring over the gunslinger.
“Dohohon’t!” Percy cried, his face contorting into a smile he desperately sought to avoid.
Potential Triggers: Nothing comes to mind, but let me know if you think something should go here!
Pairing: Vax/F!Reader (Can be read as romantic or platonic!)
Length: 2.2k+
Summary: Vax's observant nature helps him discover you're hiding a few juicy secrets, and he helps encourage you to be more honest in the future.
A/N: So, new fandom, who dis? Yes, I'm now binging Critical Role Campaign 1, and completely whipped for Vax and Percy both. I'm up to the beginning of Episode 40, so no spoilers please but I have quite a few tword fic ideas. Also, I know Silence doesn't work in DND like this, but shhh fic liberties-
Vax was what many would call observant. Used to lingering in the shadows as he was, he found it almost comforting to look over his friends and family both if they lingered where he could see them. He sipped on his ale, watching as you chatted with Vex and Keyleth about something or other. Percy was tinkering with his machine’s as usual, paying the conversations around him no mind, and Scanlan had found himself a friend for the night. Grog had no such luck but he was no less happy to be enjoying ale by the mug full. Pike had also retired early, claiming tiredness and needing to work in a quiet environment unlike Percy. Vax himself was situated just by the bar, debating if teasing Percy or his sister would be more fun when he spotted something interesting.
You’d quirked up and seemed to be waving your hands in a sheepish refusal. He couldn’t hear it from here what about, and opted to drift closer, expertly maneuvering the crowds of dwarves before he leaned against the wall by the stairs.
“Really Grog, I appreciate the offer but it already feels better, I promise!”
“Do you doubt Grog’s masseuse skills?”
Vax felt a smile twitch at his lips, eyes narrowing perceptively as you refused again.
“Not at all! All the others rave about how great they are, I just genuinely don’t need one. It was just a spasm! Besides, Percy looks way more tense than I do, look at how the poor guy is hunched over!”
Grog lit up at that and grinned, whacking you on the shoulder cheerfully before moving to attend to Percy.
“Grog can help with that! Great idea!”
You let out a sigh the moment the goliath turned his back to you, after ensuring the others were occupied. Vex had gone with Keyleth to grab more drinks and they were talking to the bartender, and you didn’t spot him, all but melded into the shadow of the stairs as he was. He saw the way you rolled not one, but both of your shoulders and winced, fingers pressing into and attempting to release the tension stored there.
He smirked darkly.
You were a clever little thing, weren’t you? Redirecting Grog, lying so he wouldn’t worry, feigning. You had a secret and if there was one thing Vax enjoyed? It was finding out that which should not be known.
…and maybe punishing you, just a little, in the process for trying to pretend everything was fine when it wasn’t and being a naughty little liar. He'd warned you before, as had the others, it wasn't his fault you didn't listen. You had a nasty habit of trying to take on everyone else's burdens while denying your own.
He figured you’d be retreating to your room sooner rather than later and after a gentle tap and a whisper to Vex telling her not to wait up, he found himself surprised as his sister grabbed his wrist before he could slip away.
“Take care of her, will you? She’s been rubbing her shoulder anytime she thinks we’re not watching. If you hadn’t come over, I was going to press the issue. Shall I inform Pike?”
He cleared his throat in embarrassment, smiling sheepishly. Of course his sister had seen right through him, and you both.
“Aye. You know I will. I’ll tell her, depending on how bad it is.”
His eyes moved from her to where you were watching Percy try to escape Grog with fondness in your eyes.
“...I have a feeling there’s a reason she’s dodging Grog’s attempts. Something she’s flustered about, if I had to guess.”
A smirk tugged at his lips as his mischievous eyes returned to his sister’s.
“A shame, that. For her I mean.”
Vex’s look turned scolding.
“Try and go easy on her, brother.”
He shrugged, amusement flooding him.
“Depends how quickly she folds, I suppose. If she’s stubborn, even I can't help but have a limit to my patience, you know. Besides, she may even enjoy my methods of persuasion. You certainly did~”
A flash of teeth and he dodged her playful slap with a laugh as she blushed.
“Shut up, Vax! Honestly, I asked once, why can’t you just let it go?”
“Are you actually whining? Heh, does Percy know? Maybe I should-”
Vax couldn’t dodge fast enough this time as Vex tugged him down to hiss in his ear.
“Breathe a word and Trinket will have your head.”
“Alright, alright, you win! Always so violent to your dear brother aren’t you?”
He brushed off his clothes before looking back over towards you.
“Alright, I’m off. Wish me luck, hm? And be a dear and cast Silence for me, won’t you?”
Vex’ahlia sighed and with a moment of focus and a mumble it was done.
“Doing that for her, not you!”
Was called after but Vax waved her off.
Now all he had to do was hang out; he was sure you’d follow shortly.
------
You cracked your neck and barely stifled a wince as your shoulder seized again. You hadn’t injured it, but thanks to holding all of your tension in them, and your neck; you were really feeling the effects.
You felt bad redirecting Grog like that, but you’d seen the way Percy had grasped his shoulder too, and knew he wouldn’t crumple like you would. Lesser of two evils. He gave in eventually, and lucky for him, he probably wasn’t in pain anymore. It was early in the night, but you bid your remaining party goodnight and retired to your room. You jumped at the sight of Vax on your bed before relaxing, rolling your eyes.
“You could’ve asked and I would’ve just given you the key to my room you know.”
He shot a boyish grin your way.
“Where’s the fun in that? Besides, it’s good practice for my fingers. Got to keep them loose and limber, you know.”
“Mmhmm.”
You brushed him off as you flitted about your room and got changed for the night behind the folding screen. It had been a pleasant surprise the inn had one as many didn’t.
You emerged in your nightgown and crossed your arms as you raised an eyebrow at him.
“So…what’s up? Did you need something?”
He pretended to be stabbed in overdramatic fashion.
“Oh, you wound me! Can’t I come check on my favorite party member without ulterior motives?”
“Sure, you can and have before. But you’re typically chatty, and occasionally tipsy. You seem barely buzzed and you’ve been oddly quiet for you in general, let alone if this was one of your typical calls. You can tell me if I’m wrong but…I don’t like that look in your eye.”
He smiled, and moved to sit up from where he’d been laying on your bed, tossing his dagger carelessly. He placed it on the bedside table. He was already changed, you noted. In black two piece pajamas, and you’d spotted his black robe behind the curtain. Was he planning on staying overnight? You didn’t mind, of course but again…this was too meticulous. He was planning something, you just weren’t sure what.
“What look might that be, darling?”
You hesitated and then swallowed, something giddy and nervous at once stirring in you as you felt heat in your cheeks and it made you look away.
“Anticipation. You look not unlike the cat who got the cream. You almost look…predatory, if I had to pick the right word.”
“How frightening~ It’s nothing so serious as all that! “
He moved to stand and you stood your ground as he approached you, finally returning your gaze to his hazel eyes.
“How’re your shoulders?”
He placed his hands on your shoulders and he felt the way you tensed, racking your brain for an excuse.
“Oh, you heard my conversation with Grog earlier, huh? Like I said, it was just a spasm. I’m fine now-”
His smile widened a tad and then he squeezed, with just the right amount of pressure to get the reaction he guessed at.
“For reheHEal!”
You tried to play it off as a cough, bending over and shoving at him to try to get him to release you. He did, backing up a step or two as he observed you.
“Sorry about that. Worst time to get a cough.”
You mustered an apologetic smile, shaky though it was and Vax let his eyes narrow.
“...Do you think I’m an idiot? You’re lying again? This is starting to become quite the habit. C’mon, lemme see.”
The expression you made was priceless but Vax kept his unamused expression as he grabbed you by the arm and dragged you over to the bed, gently sitting you down and then looking at you expectantly. Poor thing. You were clearly having an inner debate in your mind over what to do. Shame he wouldn't give you any more time. He motioned to the bed as he moved to stand.
“Well? Go on, lay down. Let me see how bad it is.”
“It’s really nothing Vax, I swear! Just drop it!”
“Oh right, because you jolting like a scared gob’ was so subtle. If there’s truly nothing wrong then let me see.”
Gods he was such an asshole. Why did your reactions have to be so damn entertaining? …Still, he was absolutely going to Hell for leading you on like this.
You reluctantly laid down face down and he situated himself at your hips, ensuring you weren’t in pain before continuing.
“Alright, now you better tell me if anything hurts. I’ll know if you lie again. Got it?”
You nodded and he couldn’t help his smirk now that you couldn't see him, though his voice kept that concerned, slightly hard edge as he dug into your shoulders at once.
You damn near about seized and your hand rushed to cover your mouth.
“Did that hurt?”
You shook your head and he growled.
“You must really think I’m blind or something! You can’t even talk!”
Oh, yeah. Definitely going to Hell.
Now that he was feeling your shoulders, though, it was obvious you had a lot of tension. No wonder you’d been rubbing them earlier. He let his thumbs do most of the work digging in and though he heard you squeak, now and again, every time he asked if you were in pain you denied. It was when his index and middle finger found a knot of tension on the cusp of your neck and shoulder that you finally broke, and tried to reach back to tap his leg, laughing.
“Fhuhuhuck Vax please! It doesn’t huhuhurt it-it thihihihihckles!!”
He giggled himself and stopped for a moment to crack his fingers before he answered, all casual nonchalance.
“About time you admitted it.”
You whimpered in embarrassment and he would bet money you were beyond grateful he couldn't see your expression as you hid your face in your pillow.
“You knew?! Why didn’t you say anything then!?”
“As payback. For lying, both to Grog and most especially, to me. Next time, tell the truth and I won’t have to be so…”
He spidered fingertips over your shoulders to hear you laugh before pulling back again.
“Willfully ignorant.”
You groaned.
“You’re the worst.”
“I hope you know I’ve just started. All joking aside, your shoulder and neck are wrecked, love. Ticklish or not, you’ll feel leagues better if I work these out.”
“You can’t!”
Your instant response gave him pause.
“What are you so worried about? Surely you must know I’d never judge you for something as paltry as being ticklish.”
“It’s…not that. Gods, Vax, I swear if you tell anyone else-”
You whirled to look at him and he met your eyes unflinchingly.
“I won’t. I swear it.”
You hesitated and then hid your face again after deeming him to be telling the truth.
“I…I don’t entirely hate it. Truth be told, it’s the opposite. I really…enjoy it.”
He couldn’t help snickering, but he was quick to clarify at how silent you got, to reassure you.
“I-hehe. Oh, shit. I’m not laughing at you. I promise. Just, oh Lord, give me a second.”
He finally collected himself, running a hand through his hair and sighed.
“You’re not the first person to tell me that. It’s too cute for me not to laugh. If you ever want to be tickled you know all you have to do is ask.”
“You say that like it’s easy but-”
“But you’d prefer to be a brat to get me to tickle you instead because it’s easier, hm? In character for you. I’m fine with that. For now.”
“For now?”
“Yes. For now. If you keep hiding things from us for what you believe is our benefit, and putting yourself down- now I have the perfect way to punish you. Maybe then the lesson will stick that you are anything but less than.”
“Vax…”
He brushed off the vulnerability with ease, returning to his playful affect, as if he hadn't said anything.
“As I said for tonight, however, I’m more than happy to put you in your place when you act up but…”
You squeaked as he dragged his index finger down your spine, making you shiver.
“There’s still the matter of all this tension you’re holding. Do I have your permission to deal with it, even if it tickles?”
“Mm…mmhmm.”
“Heh. Good. I’m not going to go easy on you now that I know you like this, I hope you know.”
He leaned down to blow air into your ear before whispering.
“We’ve got quite a lot of lost time to make up for~”
So recently I finished Vox Machina and if you haven't seen I highly recommend it!! SUCH a good show oh my lord. Can't wait for the third season to drop :D
You can view the relationships however you like, I don't mind ^^ (except Vex and Vax, they're siblings, don't be weird :/)
Word Count: 3,138
Warnings: Kinda spoils a plot line in season one but nothing major ^^
This is a SFW tickle fic, if you don’t like that then don’t read :)
It isn’t a secret that Percy is a bit of a stick in the mud.
Rarely did he let his walls down and simply be. Too caught up in his world of smoking guns and exploding inventions. A lifetime of heartache shutting his heart away in a cast iron keep that very few had a key to access. This also meant emotions such as joy, love, and contentment were rare to be exposed from behind those defensive gates.
That was before Vox Machina.
A chaotic, rambunctious group of outcast individuals working with the skills they had to make it through another day. A ragtag family doing its best to survive in a world that would spit at their feet and tell them to fuck off.
However, this family knew how to tell the world right back to fuck off too.
Percy honestly couldn’t imagine his life with these people a few years ago, but now he simply could not fathom a reality without them. Tight-knit and stupid and loving, never faulting in their care. It was something Percy told himself to never take for granted, no matter how much they tested his patience.
Much like tonight, where he was being subjected to the most irritating forces known to man: Vex and Vax when they were on the hunt for entertainment.
Percy is sitting near the fire, sketchbook in hand with rough charcoal drawings of new inventions scattering the pages. Vex and Vax have boxed him in by sitting on either side, peering at his notes and asking such incomprehensibly odd questions Percy wanted to know who the hell tutored these two monsters.
Honestly Vax, why would a pistol need a compartment for snacks?
It took almost fifteen minutes before Percy's patience gave in and the notebook snapped shut with a dull thud. “Are you two quite finished?” Percy demands, staring at the duo with a narrow gaze.
Vex grins, raising a hand in surrender. “We’re curious about your new inventions, love. Is there something wrong with that?”
Percy huffs, tucking his book into the folds of his jacket that is laid not too far from the flames, warming up for the night ahead. “Only when you keep badgering me to make a glove that turns whatever it touches into gold.”
“It would be quite helpful, dear.”
“And far out of my current capabilities, I’m not a wizard.”
“Oh, give yourself some credit, Freddy,” Vax grins. “Grow a beard and I’d say you’re plenty wizard-like. With your lifespan, you’ll need a cane before you know it, and it could act as your staff.”
Percy glares at him under half-lidded eyes. “Thank you, Vax’ildan,” he says sarcastically. “Remind me that I will die much sooner than the rest of you, just what I needed to hear tonight.”
Vex snickers, gently bumping his shoulder with her own so those green eyes look at her. “Oh come on, we’re just messing with you, Percival. What’s got you so grumpy this time?”
Percy gave her a mildly incredulous look. “I’m not grumpy.”
“He says while glaring, and with a bitter tone of voice,” Vax murmurs with a grin.
Percy shoots him a dry look which the male elf only laughs at. “See? That’s exactly what I mean, man!”
Vex’ahlia laughs, dropping her arms over her bent legs and cocking her head to the side. “What is it gonna take to make you loosen up, Percy?”
“A good bottle of wine, some peace and quiet, and a book.”
“We have two silver to our name and a bear,” Vax counters. “Can’t quite match your aristocrat taste, but Trinket tells great stories.”
Trinket, nestled comfortably at the edge of the cave where the other party members are conversing, does not indicate that he knows, nor cares that his owners are talking about him. Percy envied that damn bear, able to go to sleep and easily block out the surrounding sounds. What a dream life.
“Trinket is busy sleeping,” Percy tells them, “his stories will have to wait.”
Vex isn’t dissuaded by Percy’s bristling attitude, instead leaning more into his personal space just because she can. “Darling,” she says, “We just want to help you relax, is this such a big ask?”
“...Yes.”
“Aeugh, the drama of this man,” Vax chuckles through an exasperated breath, elbowing Percy’s side gently.
The white-haired human flinches away from the contact with a start, his hand shooting down to rub the area. “Yes, yes, you’ve stated I am a dramatic piece of shit more than once, Vax. I believe your point is made.”
The twins aren’t listening to Percy’s grumbles. The second he flinched, they’d locked eyes, a conversation played out with expression alone.
Vex narrows her gaze. Hurt?
No. Healed by Pike from the last mission.
Just startled, then?
Seemed more than that. He knew we were right there.
So what are you thinking?
Perhaps…
Vex perks a brow at her brother when his expression suddenly brightens in some kind of realization. Her eyes flit over to Percy who was unaware of their silent musings, still resolutely crossing his arms with a scowl that the fire did not deserve to be subjected to. She looks back to her sibling who is grinning now. Vax gives a small flex of his fingers, his eyebrows jumping up and down. Understanding hits Vex and her smile turns evil, nodding minutely. They wink at each other, the excitement for a game making them giddy though they contained it. Couldn’t let Percy catch on too early after all.
“Percy~” Vex coos in her sultry voice, not missing the slight twitch in his face from her tone. The sight makes her all the more eager to extract the plan she and her brother had silently communicated. She lifts her fingernails to her eyes to examine them. “You sure we can’t convince you to loosen up at least a little?”
There was a scoff. “I’d like to see you try,” Percy muttered.
Oh excellent, an invitation.
“Well, if the man insists, Stubby, who are we to ignore him?” Vax leaps for the opportunity with a grin that’s all charm and Cheshire-like.
“I agree,” Vex smirks. “Shall we?”
Simultaneously, the two half-elves grab one of Percy’s wrists each and fling him onto his back, his arms being pinned by his head. A startled yelp leaps out of the human, the sudden gravity shift leaving him to stare up at the pair of matching grins. He tugs at his arms. They won’t budge.
“What the hell are you doing?” Percy asks, bewildered and slightly on edge.
“You said we could try and loosen you up,” Vex answers.
“By wrestling me to the dirt and pinning me down?”
“Oh no, we just had to get you in a better position, dear heart,” Vax smirks.
“A better pos- for what?”
The bemused and exasperated question only delights his captors further, and this is where Percival Fredrickson de Rolo the Third realizes a very fatal error. He had been encouraging the chaotic force that was the Elf Twins. He'd practically been asking for trouble. This realization only sinks in further when Vax’s free hand comes down to rest on Percy’s clothed stomach.
“Percy, you wouldn’t happen to be ticklish would you?”
Oh.
Oh gods, no.
Memories spring to Percy’s mind of laughing himself hoarse while dogpiled under his siblings from the silly battles. The sensations scuttling everywhere, unstoppable and unbearable. His realization shows up in his face in the form of a pink flush and the beginnings of a wobbly grin that he desperately tries to keep under control.
“Oh, I see a smile trying to come out there!” Vex leers keenly, lowering her own hands to wiggle her fingers close to Percy’s side, delighting in his immediate response to wriggle away despite his efforts to seem indifferent to his dilemma.
“V-Vex, this is ludicrous-” Percy splutters, his grin becoming wider by the second, his resolution foiled from years of inexperience in this game.
“So you are ticklish, then?” Vax questions, his fingers gently pressing from where they are resting atop Percy’s lean stomach.
The flinch and sharp intake of breath was answering enough. Percy’s ears were starting to burn from the attention, torn between wanting to wrench away and escape this playful teasing, or staying and trying to muscle through in a show of defiance.
“I’m- it’s been a very long time since someone has tried,” Percy answers stiffly.
The way the twins lit up made him cringe back, instantly knowing that was the worst thing he could’ve said.
“Well now we have to tickle you,” Vex exclaims like her word is law. Though, with her role in the group, it may as well be.
Percy is most definitely blushing now. It was honestly adorable. “N-No you don’t!” He protests, his boots now shuffling into the dirt in hopes of dislodging his sudden capture. “I’m not even tihicklish!” Damn it.
“Was that a laugh?” Vax coos, delighting in a sound so rare from Percy who barely even grins on a good day. Percy is doing his best to try and become an ostrich with how far he’s turning his flushed face into the ground, stumbling refusals not quite managing to leave his lips coherently.
“Why my dear brother, I think it was,” Vex chuckles. ‘Shall we see what else we can pull from our resident sour puss?”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
Electricity crackles through Percy’s sides and stomach in a split second, a strangled sound being pulled from a forgotten section of his vocal cords. His whole body instantly jack-knifes, legs trying to pull to his stomach to protect the sensitive areas suddenly under attack. Stubbornness makes him clamp his lips shut and bite his tongue, not wanting to give the twins the satisfaction of hearing him laugh again. He refused.
“Hmm, seems we’ve got a stubborn one in our hands, Vex,” tuts Vax, his fingers probing up and down Percy’s ribcage, noting every flinch and muffled grunt let out by the human.
“Oh don’t worry, he’ll crack eventually.” Her eyes meet Percy’s and her smile makes his stomach twist in anticipation. She winks. “They all do.”
Her hand starts to slink down to his hip bones and- Nope. Nope. Nope. Not gonna happen, he’d rather get possessed by a demon again. Percy’s struggling kicks up, trying to find momentum with his legs to dislodge the grip pinning his wrists to the cave floor, still fighting not to crack as Vax’s fingers deftly squeeze his sides. He almost manages to heave himself to sit up, but a well-placed scratch at his lower back sends him crashing back down. His legs fly up to his stomach again, desperate to protect some part of his sensitive body while his chest shakes with restrained laughter.
“Uh uh, not yet mister, we’re not done with you until you laugh~” says Vex, her hand dropping to lightly scuttle behind Percy’s knee that was right beside her.
Percy yelps, immediately kicking his legs back out, and scrunches into himself in a fast motion. The reaction made the twins pause, and he knew he was royally screwed.
“Interesting, he might be like you. I think the gentler stuff works better on him,” Vex says to her brother, her hand dropping to Percy’s hips once more and scuttling her nails featherlight across the man’s skin.
“NoHAHaha!” Percy protests, his yelp swimming between stolen laughter that tries vainly to escape his throat, his head being tossed back against the floor as his body tries to do an emergency lockdown on his vocal cords.
“Brilliant, sister,” Vax chuckles, and before Percy can prepare himself, he spiders his claws up along Percy’s stretched torso with a softened touch.
Immediately, Percy sputters, and the dam finally cracks. “S-Shihihihit! Vehehex! Vahahax! Ohoho gohohod!” Percy gasps out through fits of boyish laughter, a sound so out of character for the gunslinger that it takes the twins aback in surprise.
His cheeks are flushed a rosy pink, standing out against his pale complexion and white hair. A wide, mirthful smile cracked out against his brooding face, nose scrunching in a way that couldn’t be described as anything but endearing. His body didn’t know whether to fight or fold, the long-forgotten instinct of childhood leaving him withering and laughing from the soft fingertips spidering along sensitive skin.
“Well, how about that,” Vax murmured, something gentle in his voice despite the mean wiggling of his nails on a particularly sensitive rib. “He can laugh.”
“Oh much more than that, dear brother,” Vex smiled fondly. “He isn’t grumpy now.”
Experimentally, her fingers swirl up Percy’s unprotected ribs to dance gently under his arm to see if it would have much effect. Oh, and it does. Percy practically squeals. High-pitched and panicked and childlike, his struggles for his pinned arms make a reappearance as the sensitive hollows are attacked by softly brushing nails.
“Nononononohohoho VEHEehehex!” He pleads, scuffing the heels of his shoes into the floor in a half-baked bid for relief. “Fuhuhucks sahahake!”
“That is utterly adorable,” Vax laughs, his own hand coming up to stroke deftly down Percy’s arm from wrist to armpit in a maddening pattern of soft touch. The strokes only elicit more half-bitten squeals and squeaks of protest, most noises swallowed up or blended into Percy’s laughter.
He knew he should feel embarrassed, his pride shattered into pieces from a few measly fingers and well-picked words to crack his defenses, but Percy couldn’t recall a time he’d last been in the middle of a play fight such as this. The sensations are foreign but not forgotten, too much and yet not enough at the same time. It was a conflicting state of escape or endure.
However, when Vax slipped a hand under his buttoned shirt to ghost gentle nails on his bare lower back, he was pretty sure his body got struck by lightning.
Vex and Vax pause in their movements and watch with awed amusement as Percy laughs himself mad from the briefest touch to his back, his full-bodied laughter quickly melting down into rich, honey-sweet giggles that shake his entire body. It didn’t seem real, that a sound so adorably childish could come from Percy’s mouth, and yet here he was, half curled on the ground, giggling up a storm.
Vex and Vax share a fond, endeared smile and let go of Percy’s wrists, leaning away so he could have space to collect himself. The human wheezes through his tumbling giggles, his arms shifting to wrap around his middle as he slowly calms down. His eyes, which had been tightly closed, flutter open to show mirthful tears at the edges.
“F-Fuhucking hehehell,” he gasps, “I thohought I wahas gohohing to dihie.”
“Oh relax, we like you too much to kill you,” Vex snickers, offering her hand to Percy. She has to hold back a snort when he flinches mildly at her fingers, eyeing them distrustfully. “We’re done,” she promises.
After a suspicious look, Percy grasps her hand and allows her to tug him into a sitting position. One of his arms is still wrapped protectively around his stomach, his hand reaching far enough to rub that damn spot Vax had tickled for three seconds which caused him to fall apart.
“Remind me to never piss you off,” Percy rasps, taking off his glasses to rub the tears in his eyes away.
Vax leans over to his supplies to snatch up his water skin, offering it to Percy who took it gratefully. “So,” Vax starts, watching Percy drink water like he hadn’t had it in years. “Soft touch and bad back, huh?”
Percy almost chokes. With a rough swallow, he recorks the water skin and clears his throat, stubbornly not looking at either of the twins. “Like I said, it’s been a long time. I didn’t think I still even was… well, you know.”
“What? Ticklish?’
Vex’s gentle tease makes Percy’s face burn for what felt like the millionth time that evening. He shoves his glasses back on his face despite the heat in his cheeks making them fog up mildly. The reaction makes the twins chuckle.
“You don’t have to be embarrassed, Percy dear,” Vex soothes, an arm wrapping around his shoulders and rubbing gently at the nape of his neck - tension knotting the area from hours of leaning over a workbench while inventing. Percy winced at the attention, both from the anticipation of another attack and the ache of his tense muscles.
“It’s embarrassing,” Percy grumbles without much heat, sounding like a petulant kid. “My siblings always ganged up on me because of it.”
“You have a nice laugh, I can see why they would,” Vax hums, tucking his water skin back into his nearby cloak.
The surprised look on Percy’s face almost made Vex tackle him back to the floor and tickle him again just so he could hear how precious his laugh was. She held herself back though, he’d had enough for tonight anyway. He hadn’t been tickled in years, he’d need to be introduced back to the game slowly. Tonight was an excellent first lesson.
“So, Percy’s ticklish then?”
The sudden voice made the trio jump and look up to the other side of the cave where the rest of Vox Machina were watching them with grins. Scanlan, who’d asked the question, chuckled at the human’s sudden flush. “Yeah no, we saw the whole thing, de Rolo. Don’t expect this to be the last time, that was cute as fuck.”
Grog chuckled deeply. “Very cute,” he agreed in that rumbling voice of his. Pike, who was sat atop his shoulder nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
“Had no idea you could laugh like that, Perce,” she chirped, glancing at Keyleth who giggled softly.
“It was quite sweet,” the Air Ashari tacked on.
Percy stared at the group of people he called family, his eyelid twitching slightly and cheeks flushed a rosy pink. His gloved hands come up to press over his face, knocking his head into his bent knees, wishing the floor would just cave in and murder him quickly.
“Aww, I think we’re embarrassing him,” Vax cooed, his hand resting atop Percy’s head and gently ruffling his hair in a brotherly fashion. “It’s alright, Giggles, you know we do it out of love.”
“F’ck off and die,” came the muffled grumble buried into Percy’s hands.
The twins cackled, pleased that they not only thoroughly shattered Percy’s indifferent demeanor, but got him flustered beyond repair from simple, playful affection and loving words. They were gonna have fun with this new information. It was their right as a family to carry on the de Rolo tradition of making Percival Fredrickson de Rolo the Third laugh, they wouldn’t let Percy’s late siblings down on that front.
I did some sketch art to go along with my story "Bard's Song" on AO3! I couldn't decide exactly which bit I wanted to illustrate but then I remembered how perfect Vax's shit-eating grin is.
Was nervous to post art as I usually do stories but here we are! Hope le art is satisfactory to thine eyes!
Prompted for Critical Role: Vox Machina – "I'd love to see ler Vax, lee Taryon. Maybe someone is insecure and needs a giggle from his roguish friend?"
Words: 1,900
(Publishing today in honor of TickleTober day 12: Stuck.)
—
“Now, see, you’ve almost got it,” Vax encourages. His eyes track the figure making their way hastily to the tavern door. “That was… so close.”
Taryon thumps his elbows on the table and rubs his hands over his face with a lamenting sigh. “Don’t patronize me,” he says. “That was awful. I’m awful.”
“...It was pretty awful, yeah.” Vax takes another sip of his wine, hums around it and gulps it down. “But listen, you’re on the right path. We just need to get you focused on what the other person wants to hear, rather than what you want to hear about yourself.”
“But don’t they want to hear about me? How else will they decide that I’m– I’m…” He sighs again, and finishes quietly, “Worth it.”
Vax slings an arm around his shoulders. “Hey. You are worth it. We all decided that, didn’t we? The whole group of us. You’re part of Vox Machina now.”
A hesitant smile hints on Taryon’s lips. “Yes, I suppose you did. But still, that’s not the same as–”
“Being desirable?” Vax cuts in. He sits back, thumbing the edge of his cup as his eyes wander – mostly teasing, but not entirely disinterested if he’s honest with himself – over Taryon’s form. He says after a moment, “Could stand a haircut, but that’s just me.”
“Hey! My hair is my glory–”
Vax waves a hand. “It’s all floppy–”
“Bouncy.”
“–and gets helmet-head–”
“Like your windblown rat’s nest is any better,” Taryon sniffs.
“–and it’s– hey now. Rule number one, don’t insult the one you’re trying to impress, dumbass.”
Taryon slaps at Vax’s reproving finger jabbing at his shoulder. One less cup of wine and he’d probably have succeeded, Vax presumes; as it is, he tips a little too far backwards on the bench and flails for balance before Vax catches his arm. Taryon grunts in annoyance.
“Didn’t know I was practicing on you next.”
“No, I’m the counsel here, not the target.” Vax takes both Taryon’s upper arms and sets him upright. An idea comes to him. “But yeah, let’s try a more controlled scenario. Hey, Perce,” he calls over his shoulder.
Taryon begins to flush. “Wait, don’t–”
But the bespectacled object of Taryon’s quiet little infatuation is already approaching the table, his own drink in hand. “Yes?”
“Have a seat,” Vax offers. “We need you for a moment.”
“No, we don’t,” Taryon says quickly. “I don’t. I, ah…”
Percy sits down and sips his drink with one brow raised curiously while the two of them have a quiet battle of hissed words and batting hands. It ends with Vax pressed up behind Taryon on the bench, firm hands gripping his shoulders to keep him facing Percy.
“Now,” Vax says, leaning in to coach at Taryon’s ear, “you’ve invited him to join you and he’s graciously accepted. What’s the first thing you’ll say to pique his attention?”
A look of realization comes over Percy’s face. With a coloring of amusement, he says, “Oh, this ought to be fun.” Bless him for being game.
“I… um…” Taryon stammers. “H-have you heard of the Darrington name?”
“Wrong.” Vax gives him a little shake. “Try again.”
“I’ve… I’ve slain beholders and rakshasas, but I’d love to add you to my list of accomplishments–”
“No, no, and no,” Vax sighs, while Percy hides his mouth behind a fist. “New rule number two: your first sentence cannot use the word ‘I.’”
“But…!”
Percy interrupts, “If I may – perhaps we reverse it for a moment. Let’s say I’ve just invited you to sit. Now…” He clears his throat and settles himself into character, tilts his shoulder slightly toward Taryon in an interested lean. He holds his cup in front of his lips for an extended moment while his gaze explores Taryon’s flushing face.
“I don’t mean to stare,” he says, as his timbre falls to a low, intimate level between them, “but the gems in your armor set off your eyes handsomely. And I’ve seen your companion there.” Percy gestures his cup gently toward the corner, where the automaton Doty stands vigilant. “He seems quite loyal. Did you animate him yourself?”
Taryon opens his mouth with a small, pitched sound that doesn’t quite make a word as Percy holds eye contact and slowly takes a sip.
Vax gives the moment a chance to resolve… but it doesn’t, so he pokes at the back of Taryon’s neck. “This is the part where you answer.”
Taryon squeaks and hunches his shoulders, which – hmm – bears noting. He turns his head to glare, but Vax sets a palm on his cheek and turns him back toward his conversation partner.
“I, uh,” Taryon stammers. “I did. I built him, too, you know, which requires incredible skill that few possess–”
He breaks off with another squeak when Vax pinches his side. Yes, this method will do nicely. Like spritzing a wayward cat.
“No bragging,” Vax advises.
Taryon groans miserably. “This makes no sense. And why am I even trying to take advice from you? I’ve never seen you pick up anyone.”
“Because I’m taken, fartface.”
Percy, unwavering from his chosen role, ignores their exchange and leans forward eagerly. “You built him? Oh, you must tell me more about that. What was that process even like?”
Taryon tenses in anticipation before he even begins. “Um. I. I’m very good at– ehee!”
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that,” Percy says, while Vax keeps his fingers pressed on Taryon’s sides behind the open edges of his breastplate.
Taryon turns again to look imploringly over his shoulder. There’s a glint of dismay in his eyes, which Vax might read as please don’t embarrass me in front of my crush like the lovable idiot I am. But, oh dear, Vax seems to have misplaced his reading comprehension. What a shame. He’s sure he’ll find it in the morning.
He worms his fingers two inches further under the plate. “The attractive man asked you a question, potential suitor.”
Taryon chokes on a sound.
“Tell you what,” Percy declares, slapping the table. “How about I go and get us another drink, and then you can ravish me with tales of your brilliance.”
Taryon goes utterly still. Vax is quite sure the young man has short-circuited like his automaton, until he sees Percy pause in pushing himself up from the table. The charmingly rare de Rolo smile holds for a beat, then slips a little into something more foxlike.
“Oh,” Percy observes. He sinks back into his seat, eyes sharp behind the round lenses of his spectacles. “But, perhaps,” he purrs, “you’d prefer me to ravish you. Is that it?”
Honestly, Vax almost feels bad for the kid – almost. But there’s still no response coming from him, and that just won’t do.
“Do you not know how to speak apart from boasting?” Vax asks at the shell of Taryon’s ear, and begins tickling in earnest beneath the breastplate edges.
In a delightful twist on Vax’s expectations, Taryon doesn’t just yelp; he crumbles with a ringing laugh as golden as his armor. He folds over his own lap with arms clamping uselessly over the plate. Vax hugs tight to his back, having no qualms about curling over him to keep a close grip on the spots that appear dreadfully ticklish – especially when Vax scribbles like so, or squeezes just there. Oh yes, this is fun.
Vax shows a sporting bit of mercy, mostly for the sake of pulling out one hand so he can wrap it across Taryon’s chest and lever him upright again.
“So you can speak. Go on, then.” Vax keeps his remaining set of fingers rippling slowly into that soft flesh that’s never seen a day of hunger. Taryon wriggles against him, halfway breathless with half-formed pleas and half-swallowed giggles.
“I ca– I can’t– I, hee…”
“Well, that’s adorable,” says Percy, who then downs the last of his cup and smoothly slides forward on the bench. To Taryon’s palpable distress, he only stops once their knees are touching and Percy’s face is mere inches from his.
“Something you may not yet know about me,” Percy says secretively, “is that when something so very interesting presents itself, I can’t help but poke at it. As a fellow tinkerer, I’m sure you understand. And when I recognize a susceptibility to be pressed… well. As someone accustomed to money, you must understand that, too. So do forgive me, but…”
Percy’s hand rises between them and alights on Taryon’s jaw with a soft, lifting touch. The rest of Taryon’s body, pressing back against Vax’s chest, continues to squirm in response to the gently unrepentant tickle crawling under his armor, but his head stills in a moment of spellbound suspension. His breathing is so shallow Vax is certain he’ll stop altogether.
Then Percy’s fingertips skitter under his chin, and Taryon crumples into a squeaking laugh that sets both Vax and Percy chuckling.
They block him in, hind and front, and by unspoken agreement begin delightedly tickling him senseless.
Vax quickly concurs with Percy’s judgement of adorable. Taryon loses every ounce of bluster and defensiveness when tickled, becoming a squishy ball of rich giggles. Vax imagines it must be quite the warring feeling for one’s puppy love to be both witness and participant in such a stripping. Though it can’t be too terrible, curling helplessly into a lap that has likely been the setting of much fantasy.
No, Vax doesn’t feel bad in the slightest.
He keeps to his territory of Taryon’s flanks while Percy more thoroughly explores the neck and ears. The golden helmet that normally protects them sits serenely on the table, glinting in the chandelier torchlight, perfectly useless just now. There’s something there, some lesson Vax cannot bother synthesizing for his chosen charge; something about being pretty yet unpurposed, capable yet untapped. Maybe it’ll come together after the wine has worked its way out of their systems.
Percy must discover an interesting spot, because he suddenly says, “Oh, right there?”
Vax can hear it, then: the sucking, wheezing inhales that are growing in volume the longer Percy persists at wherever-the-spot-is. The noise is somewhat reminiscent of a donkey, or– no, a zebra. How fantastic. Vax laughs, too, and god it’s all such a reprieve from the long-accumulated tension of… well, everything.
He revels a moment longer before catching Percy’s eye and nodding them both off. Percy takes half a scoot back in order to reach his cup, and Vax would be fairly confident in saying he looks just as gratified as Vax feels.
“Alright, alright,” Vax murmurs, as he’s left holding Taryon around the middle to keep him from liquefying straight onto the floor. “Over now. You’re okay. C’mon, sit up. There you go.”
“I dare say, if you do that,” Percy says, gesturing vaguely at the gold and pink disarray that is Taryon, “you’ll endear yourself to just about anybody. Keep up the good work.”
Taryon mewls some abashed little sound and swivels to bury his face in his arms on the table.
Vax nods as he reclaims his drink. “Mhmm. This is progress.” He rubs a reassuring hand over Taryon’s back a few times before clapping his shoulder. “We’ll just have to keep practicing.”
Hi! I was wondering if you might do 86 for a lee!scanlan pretty please? I don't mind about the ler! Pike or Vax might be good but just do whatever you feel! Thank you I love him your honour
Absolutely loving reading all your summer prompt starter fics, you have a gift 🥹
Prompt 86 - “Crap. Wait. I didn’t mean that.”
A/N: I went with ler!Vax and lee!Scanlan and them being silly annoyances to each other, hope you enjoy! Hehe.
…
“You have a better chance of turning into a dragon than you do of making me laugh.” Scanlan rolled his eyes, stepping ahead of Vax on the road as they headed to meet their friends back at the tavern inn.
“Seriously, you gonna be all butthurt just because you’re not funny?”
“Really don’t think I can make you laugh?” Vax stared him down, then wiggled his fingers menacingly.
“Crap. Wait- wait! I didn’t mean that!” Scanlan yelped, realization dawning on him. “No! Get away! Shitshitshitshitshitshit!”
He sprinted into the inn and straight up the stairs to his room, ignoring his friends where they sat at a table enjoying fresh brews.
Panting as he slammed the door shut behind him, Scanlan shrank down against the door. “Crap. That’s not good.”
“You’re right it’s not.” Vax’s voice came out of the shadows as Scanlan only now noticed the open window to the room.
“No! Spare me!” Scanlan pleaded, sliding against the wall away from his partymate. “I-I take it back! You’re hilarious! Funniest guy I know!”
“How about we prove it, hm?” Vax snickered, lunging forward to grab for Scanlan’s side.
The gnome was quick, but not quick enough. Vax managed to grab hold of his ankle and drag him up upside down. “Fuck! Dohohohon’t!”
“Laughing already are we?”
“Fuck yohohohou!” He flailed, trying to conjure up a spell to get him out of here.
His hope was short lived as Vax pulled off one of his boots and plucked a feather from the wings he still had at his back. The damn, soft, black feather twirled easily between his toes as Vax tormented him with ease.
Scanlan pleaded, attempted to bribe and bargain, and shrieked his little heart out before Vax finally stopped, setting him back down on the floor of the inn room.
“So you take it back, right? You think I’m funny?” Vax sneered.
“Yes, yes, you’re hilarious- you fucking monster.” Scanlan waved a hand dismissively, panting for breath on the ground beneath him.
“Well, when you’ve calmed down, come get a beer with us, hm?” Vax suggested, sliding his way into the doorway. “Maybe I’ll tell you another joke.”
