Kakashi and Gai, giggling and solving a crossword in the newspaper together:
Mirai, grumbling: I'm a ninja. I am supposed to be a highly skilled ninja on an escort mission for a former kage, and they're acting like an old couple on vacation again!
Tatsumi: I can't wait to be old with you solving crosswords together.
Mirai: What
Tatsumi: What
A/N: It was kinda hard to choose this one. At first, I thought about something with an octopus, but decided to go for this option in the end. Number 08 - Sea Creature - of @vqler's Tickletober prompt list of 2025 ft. Tatsumi and Wakasa from Orenchi no Furo Jijo.
Words: 1,096 words under the cut
The bathwater steamed gently in the quiet air, little ripples dancing across the surface as the two unlikely roommates shared yet another evening soak.
Tatsumi leaned back against the smooth edge of the tub, his arms resting on either side, trying to keep his composure. His cheeks were already lightly pink from the heat, but also from the fact that, this time Wakasa had insisted they both bathe properly, which meant… Tatsumi was completely naked.
Across from him, Wakasa gave a sultry stretch. His golden hair clung damply to his pale shoulders and his tail lazily waved through the water, glittering like a living jewel, a beautiful one. He was perfectly comfortable. Tatsumi on the other hand? Well, not so much.
“Y’know Tatsumi,” Wakasa chirped, watching his flustered roommate turn his back, “you’re super red right now. Are you okay? You look like you’re boiling.” “I am boiling,” Tatsumi mumbled, hugging his knees to his chest and trying not to acknowledge how vulnerable he felt with everything out in the open. “Why did I agree to this again?”
“Because I asked nicely?~” Wakasa grinned, his fin flicking up behind Tatsumi. “Besides, we’re both guys and I don’t even have legs! What are you so embarrassed about?” “That… doesn’t help,” Tatsumi muttered, ears bright pink, not daring to speak out what was on his mind. Wakasa floated closer, narrowing his eyes with amusement.
“Oho? You’re hiding? Come on, at least let me see that adorable pout.” Tatsumi didn’t move, determined to stare resolutely at the opposite wall. But the blonde had other plans. With a mischievous hum, he raised the end of his tail and the broad fin began to wiggle. “Guess I’ll have to coax a reaction out of you~” he said in a teasing voice.
The fin flopped gently against Tatsumi’s hair. Once. Twice. A few damp strands flopped over his forehead. The motion was playful, barely noticeable - except for the tickly sensation of the wet fin dragging across his scalp. “Wakasa,” Tatsumi said flatly, “what are you doing?” “Me? Nothing~ Just… admiring how squishy your hair is!”
The fin wiggled again, this time brushing across Tatsumi’s neck. The sensation made him jerk. “H-Hehey, quit it!” “But you’re so stiff and serious all the time,” Wakasa cooed, “you could use a little relaxation. C’mon, smile for me~” The fin slapped playfully at the back of his ear now, sending a tiny shiver down the ravenhead’s spine.
With a huff of annoyance - and something dangerously close to a squeak - Tatsumi suddenly turned, arm shooting out to grab the offending fin in a wet slap. “Got you.” Wakasa blinked in surprise. “Eh?” “You’re so annoying,” Tatsumi said quietly, the corner of his lip twitching.
Then, without a warning, a mischief glow appeared behind his flustered expression and he began to run his fingers along the edge of blonde’s fin. “WAH!!” The merman jolted so hard he splashed water onto the floor. “T-Tatsumi?! WhahaHahat are you-?” “Payback,” Tatsumi muttered, but his tone wasn’t angry, it was mischievous - almost smug.
He gripped the fin gently with one arm like a makeshift armlock and used the fingers of his other hand to scratch lightly along the base of the scales. Wakasa let out a high-pitched giggle, twisting in the water. “NOHOHO! TA-HAHA-TATSUMI! TH-THAT TICKLES!!” Tatsumi raised an eyebrow. “Wait… you’re ticklish here?” he said, fake-gasping.
“DOHOHON’T!!” the other squealed, tail thrashing and slapping against the water, sending geysers splashing over the rim of the tub. “THAHAHAHAT’S ILLEGAL!!” “I didn’t know mermen could be ticklish,” Tatsumi muttered as he moved his fingers again, sliding them in slow, teasing zig-zags over the slippery fin.
“You always act like you’re the flirty one… but you’re this sensitive?” “IHIHI’M GOHOHONNA D-DROWN!” “You literally live in water,” the ravenhead giggled, not stopping his ticklish attack. Wakasa wailed with laughter, flailing backward and nearly knocking over the bath caddy.
Bottles of shampoo clattered to the tile floor and water sloshed everywhere - it practically turned into a little monsoon in the bathroom. Tatsumi held on firmly, not pushing too hard, just enough to draw out Wakasa’s breathy laughter and shrieks. “H-HEY! STOP!! NAHAHAT THEHERE!”
“Oh? You mean… here?” Tatsumi’s fingers skated up the slick ridges near the top of the fin, where the shimmering scales turned iridescent and thinner. “NOHOHOHO! YOU JERK!!” Wakasa gasped, squirming uncontrollably. Tatsumi finally paused, sighing with a small, crooked grin. “You’re the one who started it.”
He let go and gently pushed the fin back into the water. It floated there limply as Wakasa clung to the edge of the tub, breathing heavily, face flushed and wet with both bathwater and laughter-induced tears. “You’re evil,” Wakasa gasped, chest heaving, “you’re an actual demon.” Tatsumi smirked, folding his arms and sitting back against the side of the tub again.
“…Pervert,” Wakasa added, turning his head just enough to give him an accusing glare. That made Tatsumi flinch. “Wha-?! I-I wasn’t being-! It’s your fault for flapping that stupid fin all over my face!” he stuttered. “You had me in a hold and you were laughing! I’ve never seen you laugh like that! You were totally enjoying it!” Wakasa grumbled.
“I was not laughing,” Tatsumi whined, sinking lower into the bath to hide his red face, “and besides, you kept teasing me first!” “You’re still red!” Wakasa teased. “You looked like a lobster when you were holding my tail-” “SHUT UP.” The merman let out a tired snort-laugh, then stretched out in the tub again, his tail gently flicking against the surface.
“Still… you got me good. Haven’t laughed that hard since I swam into a jellyfish.” Tatsumi blinked. “That’s not… That’s not something to laugh about.” “Well, you try getting tangled in seaweed and then zapped in the butt,” Wakasa replied dryly. “Anyway, thanks, I guess. For reminding me I’m still ticklish. Jerk.” Tatsumi sighed and slowly stood, reaching for a towel.
He stepped out of the tub and took a moment to survey the floor. “…Are you kidding me,” he sighed. The tile was soaked, towels were half-drenched, the bathmat had floated halfway across the room and droplets clung to every cabinet. Tatsumi ran a hand through his hair.
“We flooded the entire floor.” “We?” Wakasa blinked innocently. “I was being attacked. Blame yourself.” Tatsumi looked over his shoulder, his blush still lingering. “Next time I’m bathing alone.” “But you like it when we bath together~” Tatsumi groaned into the towel and started mopping up the mess, trying to hide the soft smile tugging at his lips.
