“At Your Grown Age…”
This is that other thing the dude had requested so im tossing this out here as well. GODDDD I LOVE OMAM SO MUCH ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY
Fandom: Of Mice and Men
Summary: (Lee!Lennie, Ler!George) George notices that Lennie is acting antsy, and while he at first assumes that Lennie has snuck in another puppy or mouse, it’s actually something else…
Excited shouts and laughter from the guys could be heard from outside. The sound of metal clinking against metal and cheering gave away the fact that they were playing horseshoes like they do every evening, and as George assumed, Crooks was winning again. He’d be willing to bet his entire paycheck on it. The guy was really good at that game.
George was laying on his bunk, leafing through the pages of the magazine that had been on the apple box beside his bed since the day he came to the ranch. It really was silly, full of misinformation and shit, but it was interesting. And it was better than sitting and doing nothing.
He was on his own in the bunkhouse because he just didn’t want to hang out in a large group tonight and because Lennie was off in one of the barns playing with Slim’s puppies. And it wasn’t too bad, being all alone. George hardly ever got moments to himself since he had to take care of Lennie, so he appreciated the peace and quiet.
Which didn’t last long.
The door to the bunkhouse opened, and in stepped Lennie, who had a strange wide-eyed look. George sighed. Here we go again, he thought.
“Lennie.” George said, putting the magazine down beside him and sitting up. The larger man just stared in his direction, but George noticed that he wasn’t making eye contact. “Damnit Lennie, what did ya do now? Did’ja sneak in that pup again? You know what I said about bringing it in here.”
Lennie closed the door behind him and looked down at his hands. “I didn’t sneak no pup, George. Honest.”
George believed him, since it didn’t look like he was holding anything. But that meant that something worse could have happened, and he felt his stomach lurch at the idea. “You didn’t kill one of those damn puppies, did you?”
Lennie gasped and finally looked up, actually making eye contact with George this time. “No George! I promise I didn’t! I didn’t do nothin’ wrong.”
“Then why do you look so timid all of a sudden?” George really really hoped that Lennie hadn’t fucked up again and made another mistake that would cost them their job. He felt his heart pounding in his chest. But instead of over explaining a misunderstanding, Lennie walked over to his bunk across from George and sat down.
“I promise I didn’t do nothin’. I really really do. I just… I was holdin’ my pup in my lap and pettin’ ‘um…” He seemed to be struggling with saying what he wanted to say, but George could see that Lennie’s cheeks were turning pink. Was this what he thought it was..?
“Go on.” He urged. Lennie stifled a smile.
“He was nuzzlin’ my hand and his whiskers were ticklin’ me and… oh man-“ He put his face in his hands, positively flustered, but George heard all he needed to hear (which was also a HUGE relief, since it meant that the two of them were not in danger). He grinned.
“That pup put you into one of them moods, didn’t he?”
Lennie peeked through his fingers at George. George laughed.
“You want me to tickle you?” He asked with a warm smile, to which Lennie responded with a small nod. George shook his head in amusement and stood up. “Awright, make room. And try not to make too much of a ruckus, don’t want the guys findin’ out…”
It took them a moment, but eventually they ended up with Lennie laying on his back and George beside him, closer to the wall. They were practically cuddling, not that George would ever not deny it, though. But they had done this plenty of times so neither of them felt awkward or anything.
“Y’know, you’re kinda like a puppy yourself. Silly little thing.” He raised his hands and wiggled his fingers playfully. Lennie squirmed in anticipation. Instead of being merciful and giving Lennie a moment to process what was about to happen, or at least starting slowly, George went to town with poking and squeezing and scritching at Lennie’s belly, causing the bigger guy to erupt into loud giggles, kicking his legs and curling up a bit. George laughed with him, delighted to see his close friend so happy.
“Geohohohorge!”
“What’s wrong, Lennie? Ya want me to stop?”
Lennie shook his head, happy stimming by flapping his hands.
“Then what’re you sayin’ my name for?”
“Ihit tihihihickles!” Lennie managed to say through his laughter, making George chuckle.
“Wehell no shit! It’s supposed to.” His heart warmed at Lennie’s goofy smile. “It’s funny how much you enjoy this”
His hands dropped to Lennie’s sides, and as expected, the lee’s belly laughs became giddy giggles. The main reason George did that was because he was petrified of someone outside hearing the commotion and coming in. He did also love when Lennie laughed like that, though.
He almost envied how oblivious Lennie was. Sure, the crazy bastard was stupid, but the way he was so childish- cooing over small animals, shamelessly expressing his emotions, loving being tickled- it was charming, in a way. And George almost wished he could enjoy life that way.
If only things were simple enough for him to just be unserious like this. At least he can wreck his best friend from time to time.
“At your grown age…” he muttered, though he subtly went back to tickling Lennie’s belly, not caring how loud his laugh got. George no longer cared whether anyone heard him.
Just then, the bunkhouse door opened.
And in stepped Slim, of all people.
Shit- maybe George actually did care. He very much cared, in fact.
George instantly stopped and scrambled to sit up. Lennie did the same, except he wasn’t nearly as humiliated as George. In fact, he didn’t seem upset at all.
Slim chuckled with a baffled grin. “What on earth are the two of ya doin’? Havin’ some kinda tickle fight?”
George’s face flushed. “W-well- ya see- h-he asked me to!” He pointed an accusing finger at Lennie, who was still smiling from the tickles.
Slim shook his head. “I really don’t care, if that’s what you’re worried about. We do hard work out here. It’s nice to have a good laugh from time to time.” He reached into the apple box that was beside his own bunk and retrieved a pack of cigarettes. “You ticklish, Milton?”
George was nearly speechless at the sudden question. “Uh- no. Not at all. I ain’t no child-“
“Neither is Small over there. What’s your point?”
Well damn. There was no backing out of this, was there? George felt his face get hotter, and Slim just chuckled again.
“You don’t have to answer that. I’m just jokin’ around.” And with that, he turned and left, nodding in farewell.
Lennie’s flustered smile was now an amused one. George turned to him, still speechless, and blinked.
“At your grown age,” Lennie said, and George seemed to find his voice, playfully smacking Lennie’s arm.
“Oh, hush it.”