(olivia’s note: hey y’all! this is a submission from an anon called Popcorn, they submitted this fic to me and i absolutely love it! thank you so much for allowing me to post this on my blog! in general, i do ask that people ask me before submitting things, but it happens very rarely so i don’t blame you at all and i’m not mad, don’t worry <3 for the fic, warnings for Character Thomas, but everything else is all good!)
(popcorn’s note: Wanted to submit something. I don’t write enough to justify having a tumblr lol. Feel free to ignore if you don’t like character!Thomas. Love your work!)
Thomas had recently received a large package in the mail, which, of course, meant there was a very large box now sitting in Thomas’ living room that he hadn’t decided what to do with yet.
“Thomas,” Logan started from his seat on the couch. “You need to move this box somewhere. It takes up figuratively half your living room!”
“I know, I know,” Thomas sighed from the kitchen. He placed the last dish he was washing in the cabinet and walked out of the room towards the couch. “I’ve just been busy, and I don’t even know what to do with it. I don’t know if I should keep it or throw it away.”
“Either way, you’ll need to decide soon,” Logan said. “Before something happens.”
Thomas raised an eyebrow. “Something like what?”
‘Something’ came sooner that either of them would have thought. Thomas’ foot caught on one of the feet of the couch and he tripped. He fell forward and while one of his arms was outstretched to catch himself, the other wasn’t quick enough to protect his side from slamming into the corner of the box. Hard. And no one could tell Thomas that cardboard wasn’t sturdy now, because it hurt.
Thomas fell the rest of the way to the floor, arms wrapping around his middle as he groaned in pain on his knees.
“Thomas!” Logan cried out in alarm. He rushed to Thomas and kneeled beside him, placing a hand on his back. “Ugh, I told you to put that box away, Thomas.” The short lecture was said with far more concern than irritation. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Thomas said, straightening up a bit, still holding a hand to his side. “It’ll probably bruise but it’s just cardboard. I’ll be okay.”
There was still a tightness to Thomas’ expression that made Logan believe that he wasn’t being completely honest. “Thomas, if you’re worried I’ll be more upset with you if you’re more hurt, I am not upset. I just want to know if you’re in any major pain.”
Thomas gave Logan a reassuring smile. “I promise I’m fine, Lo.”
“Will you let me examine your side myself, just to check?” Logan asked. He was just taking precautions; an ignored injury could only get worse.
Thomas sighed, smiling. “If it’ll make you feel better. Where do you want me to..?”
“Just lay down on your back,” Logan said. “It’ll make it easier to examine you.”
Thomas nodded and laid down on the floor. He felt Logan shift his shirt up to just under his chest to look at his side. Logan could see a light red spot where the box had hit, just to the left of his stomach, but no bruising yet. He gently placed his hands on Thomas’ side.
“Let me know if any of this hurts,” Logan said. He gently pressed on the edge of the mark.
Thomas winced minutely. “A little.”
“Alright, how about this?” Logan pressed in between edge and the center of the mark.
“Little more. A two and a half or a three.”
“Here?” He pressed the middle of the red spot.
Thomas winced again. “Mm. Three. But not bad. Like I said, I’m fine.”
Logan squinted a bit at Thomas. He didn’t seem to be faking his reactions, which was reassuring. Logan moved his hands again to press on the opposite edge of the mark, closer to Thomas’ side. “How about—“
Logan’s voice was cut off by a short huff of laughter and Thomas’ flinching. Logan raised an eyebrow to see Thomas trying to smother a smile. “Sorry. That tickled a bit. It didn’t hurt, though.”
Logan hummed. Thomas did seem to be fine, but all the same…Logan wanted to remind him not to leave large objects lying around.
“How about…” Logan said slowly, before quickly shifting his hands to Thomas’ opposite side to wiggle his fingers into the skin. “…this!”
Thomas jumped before dissolving into laughter. “AH! Lohohohohohogahahan! Nohohohohoho!” He tried to squirm away from his logical Side’s hands, but Logan wouldn’t be deterred.
“Answer the question, Thomas,” Logan said, keeping his voice level but not being able to resist a smile. “Does this hurt at all?”
“Nohoho!” Thomas laughed, rocking from side to side under Logan’s hands. “Ihihihit tihihihihickles!”
“It tickles?” Logan said with fake confusion. “Thomas, you need to take this seriously. I’m trying to give you an examination.”
“Nohohoho you’re nohohohot!” Thomas said in between his cackling. “Yohohohohou’re tihihihihihickling mehehehehe!”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Logan deadpanned, shifting one hand to scribble over Thomas’ stomach as well. Thomas attempted to protect his torso with his arms, but it did next to nothing. “Well, if it teaches you not to leave your stuff lying around, then I guess it’s helping.”
Thomas groaned in annoyance through his laughter, desperately trying to roll away from Logan’s hands, but Logan kept pressing down on his stomach to keep him pinned. The hand still on Thomas’ side moved up to a spot just under Thomas’ ribs and Thomas squealed.
“NOHOHohohohot thehehehehere! Nohohot thehehehehere!” Thomas cried. “It’s sohohohoho bahahaha—aaAAHHH!”
Logan’s hands moved to that sweet spot on either side of Thomas’ lower ribs, the hand on the left far enough above the red mark to not cause any pain. Thomas laughter grew in volume and pitch as he half-heartedly tried to push Logan’s hands away. But he couldn’t deny he was having fun; it wasn’t often Logan opted to join in on what he would call ‘ridiculous shenanigans’. And all on his own!
All the same, Thomas was running out of air.
“OKAHAHAHAHAHAY OHOHOHOKAHAHAY!” Thomas wailed. “YOU’VE MAHAHAHADE YOHOHOHOHOU’RE POHOHOHOHOINT! STOHOHOHOP!”
Logan stopped immediately and Thomas rolled onto his unmarked side. Logan chuckled and gently rubbed Thomas’ back to calm him down.
“Evil,” Thomas panted out, the statement dampened by the loopy grin still on his face. “Absolutely evil.”
Logan’s smirked. “No, evil would have been going for your neck as well.”
Thomas instinctively covered his neck with his hands, giving Logan a half-alarmed, half-excited look. Logan chuckled.
“Relax, I am not going to do so. Today, anyway.” Logan finished his threat by wiggling a finger in Thomas’ ribs. Thomas let out a yelp and giggle before batting Logan’s hand away. “You’re sure you’re alright?”
Thomas rolled his eyes fondly. “Yes, I’m fine, Logan. And I promise I won’t leave my stuff lying around the living room any more, okay?”
Logan nodded, smiling. “Good.” He turned his head to look at the box. “Now, the question is on what to do with it. It’s much too large to store without breaking it down first, but I suppose—AH!”
Logan’s musing were interrupted by his own yelp as he felt hands taze his sides. Logan turned to see Thomas sitting up, grinning evilly at him.
“What?” Thomas said innocently. “You didn’t think I’d get revenge?”
“T—Thomas, wait a minute, I—I—wait! Ahahahahahahahaha!”
