A/N: I wanted to make some domestic shuake, but it got so domestic akechi got into his wife beater tickler era aaaa
Summary: Akechi arrives at Leblanc a tad too late and they are already "out of service". Or so Ren thought.
Word count: 1492 words
[Also on Ao3]
Was it anxiety? Stress? Burnout? Or was it something else entirely? Akechi didn't know. He couldn't really think about it, even if he tried really hard to. He was tired.
Work, media, studies, repeat. He was trapped in this cycle for god-knows-how-long and it was really starting to get to him. If it wasn't for a thing here or there, he'd have lost it quite a while ago at this point. Thankfully, Akechi's favorite coping method was just around the corner: a nice meal, a warm cup of coffee and his favorite companion. Just walk down another quarter and call it a day, Akechi repeated inside his head.
For most of his path towards the cafe, the young man was on his own. The streets were surprisingly empty — not that it was unexpected by this hour, but it still didn't feel like the usual amount for a Friday night. Maybe the cold was to blame for the lack of life in the streets, the deduction crossed his mind.
Akechi burrowed his hands deeper into his pockets, trying to shield himself from the gusts of wind in the last bits of his walk. The more he thought about it, the more excited and eager he seemed to get. He wasn't usually the one to shower Ren with compliments and praises, but he could kill for a plate of his curry right now.
Akechi sighed, he couldn't wait to arrive and —
…
"Sigh," Akechi shook his head, pushing the door. It was open, unlike the eyes of the staff currently in charge of the place. "Hey."
"Ah!" Ren sat back up, nearly jumping off the seat with the startle. "S-sorry, we are c-clos— G-Goro?!"
"Mr. Sojiro must have a lot of faith in the neighborhood, hm?" He teased, a confident grin in his lips as he made himself at home. He had already been at the Leblanc far too many times, he deserved some special treatment from the house. "You should at least lock up the place if you're going to be this reckless on duty."
Ren rolled his eyes, then watched Akechi take the seat next to his. He shifted slightly, resting his head on his hand. "No one comes here at this hour, not even thieves," he muttered, giving Akechi an once-over. "Even if they did, I know someone who can catch—"
"Well," Akechi interrupted, tilting head up a little, avoiding making eye contact with Ren. "That someone isn't working right now. I came here for dinner," 'since you won't ask me out', he wanted to say, but finished the sentence only inside his head. "Aren't you going to offer me anything?"
Ren chuckled softly, crossing his arms over the counter before laying his head on top of them. His eyes were still fixed at Akechi, admiring the slightly flushed skin, bitten by the cold outside; the way the detective's gaze was filled with expectancy; and how his lips curved into a small pout. Ren inhaled deeply, waking himself up from the daze.
"So?" Akechi insisted.
"I'm not working either. We're closed."
"The door was open," Akechi answered fast, a bit too fast. "And the lights are on."
Ren's smile grew bigger. If he let the silence settle in for long enough, he probably would hear Akechi's stomach growling. "I was about to go upstairs, actually. You can come along if you want," Ren purred, daring to reach for Akechi's hand.
"…I would rather have you cooking me something first, then I can think of it."
"Mhm, right," Ren's hand stopped moving, knowing better than poking around a hungry beast. "I think we still have some microwave—"
"Ren," Akechi sighed, seemingly more impatient than before, "I want you to cook something for me. If I were to eat microwaved food, I'd go home after work."
There was a shift in his tone. A slight, subtle one, but one that Ren learned to tell apart from his usual way of speaking. Akechi wasn't requesting it. That was an order disguised as a request. Still, Ren couldn't just go back on his word, could he? What if he got in trouble for using the kitchen past Leblanc's closing hour?
"It's… too late for me to cook you something," Ren repeated, a little quieter this time. He wanted to pull his hand back, but Akechi reached for it and held it by his wrist. "That's why I suggested the—"
"Ren," Akechi interrupted and shifted in his seat, getting back on his feet and cornering Ren against the counter. Ren tried to follow Akechi around, but only ended with his back pressed against the wood as the detective inched closer. A predatory, hungry gaze lingered in Akechi's eyes. "Are you sure you can't? As an exception? For me?"
"Goro, y-you… you're scaring me," Ren chirped, swallowing whatever other words were left inside his throat.
"Why?" Akechi hummed sweetly, too sweet. Sickeningly. "I just want my favorite cook to prepare me a meal after a hard, exhaustive and tiresome day of work. What's wrong with that?"
"That it's also past my working houhAHA—!" Ren widened his eyes, his free hand immediately reaching for Akechi's and trying to dislodge it from his side. "G-Gohohoro, dohohon't! A-AHahah, i-it tihihickles!"
Akechi arched his eyebrows at the statement, barely feigning surprise. Of course it did, he knew it would. He pressed his fingers down, kneading gently just below Ren's lowest rib. It didn't take a lot of effort to tickle Ren, a fact that Akechi learned quite soon after they started getting… close.
"Gohoro! S-stop it, g-gehehet off meheh!" Ren protested, squeezing Akechi's body with his legs in the renewed laughing fit. He pulled at his pinned hand and tugged harder at Akechi's clothes, but none were fruitful. "I-I dohon't want to wohohork!"
"Then I don't want to stop," Akechi answered, his tone cold and sharp, while he clawed at Ren's stomach. "The kitchen is right there and I bet you're not out of ingredients. I'm not even asking for it for free, but I might as well at this rate."
"THAHAT'S WOHOHORSE!" Ren squealed, wrapping his free arm around his torso when Akechi suddenly targeted his ribs. He pressed his elbow against his side as much as he could, hoping it would make it tickle any less, that it would help him bear it just long enough so Akechi grew tired of tickling him. "T-thahat's theheft!"
"It's not," Akechi shook his head, granting Ren a brief moment to catch his breath, "if anything, it's closer to a robbery," he wiggled his trapped fingers, prodding at Ren's ribs to emphasize his point.
Ren groaned, his body stiffened up with tension. Just having Akechi's hand so dangerously close was enough to make him giggle and feel ticklish, he felt like all of his nerves were on their edge. "Y-yohou ahare so mean! Agh, let me go!"
"That depends, are you going back to the kitchen?" Akechi grinned, finally meeting Ren's gaze again, his eyes glaring at Akechi over the glasses that had tipped down his nose. "Or are you planning to run away?"
Ren opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again before saying anything. He felt his jaw tightening, knowing very well where this conversation would take him. Ren felt his quickened pulse and the heat starting to gather around his cheeks. Damn it, it was always hard to think properly when Akechi was around, he thought.
"I-I'm gohAHAH— w-wahAHAit, I dihihdn't ahahanswer!"
"You hesitated long enough," Akechi chuckled, now with both hands latched onto Ren's body, tickling him again. "I know you were going to lie."
Whether Ren was actually going to try to deceive the young detective or not wasn't at question anymore. He needed to bail himself out of that situation before Akechi turned the Leblanc into a murder case scene.
He held onto Akechi's shoulders, thrashing his head with laughter as fingers dug into the soft spots between his ribs. His feet kicked and he nearly fell off the seat twice, but none of that was enough to convince Akechi or appeal to him.
Ren whined, tugging at Akechi's clothes as hard as his weakened hands could. "F-FIHihihine! Fihihin, I-I'll dohoho it!"
"Really?" Akechi said, barely audible through the cackling and barely able to hide back his own excitement. "But aren't you tired as well? I'll understand if you are ~" Akechi giggled, his fingers still slowly moving along with each word just to make Ren squirm.
"Alright, since you insist," Akechi nodded, managing to move his hand to help Ren adjust his glasses back in place. "Then… about that offer you made earlier."
"O-offer..? Oh, you mean going upstairs?" Ren sighed, already standing on his own feet next to Akechi and tying the apron behind his waist again. "What about it?"
The detective smiled, taking back his seat. "I'll accept it as well — once you're done, I mean."
A/N: @ppystkposts someone admires you from afar and wanted me to write this little fic with a favorite pairing of yours! I hope you like it, cutie! I'm so so so so sorry in advance if they're a bit too ooc, I promise I did my best! I hope you enjoy this and also, big thanks to your admirer that commissioned this! ❤️
Summary: just two roommates, (or something else?), having fun.
Words: 2k+
For some reason, Masato couldn't take his eyes off Ren.
He watched his roommate walk into the bathroom with a towel and his pajama hanging from one arm. He came out only a few minutes later in only his pants; small droplets of water trickled from his soaked hair all the way to the muscles of his stomach. Masato followed the path of the drops until his cheeks became a little hot and he looked away just as Ren threw himself face down on the bed. Ren groaned tiredly, snuggling into his pillow and making Masato cringe a bit, seeing how wet the fabric was getting.
It had been a normal day, but Ren seemed exceptionally tired, even though he had spent most of the morning fast asleep, barely aware of the noise Masato made as he moved around the room. Night had fallen once again, perhaps a little too quickly, and Masato felt that his day had not been productive at all; even after he had taken a shower as well, he felt a heaviness in his body that made him feel uncomfortable.
His eyes left his phone to fall on Ren's back, it moved slowly up and down with each breath, but he was not asleep, as he was looking at Masato with a smile on his face. Masato felt his face redden and looked away once again, making Ren chuckle.
“What are you doing, Hijirikawa?” Ren asked lazily.
“I was just checking social media– you're gonna get sick with your hair wet like that,” he said, looking at Ren again, his hair still dripping.
“Hmm? It'll be fine. Unless you want to help me dry it?” He teased with a bright grin and Masato rolled his eyes, but then his eyes landed on Ren's. Masato wasn't doing anything in particular at that moment and he thought that maybe helping Ren dry his hair would help him get rid of that unpleasant feeling of a wasted day.
He stood up and Ren jumped a little, surprised. “W-Wait, are you actually going to do it?!”
“N-No, it's alright, I guess. It's just that- ack!”
Masato grabbed the towel around Ren's neck and pulled it over his head, roughly rubbing his strawberry blonde hair. He wasn't being truly rough, his touch was light, yet quite fast, and he expected Ren to whine about it some more, but after saying Masato's name once, he simply melted undee his hands. Masato felt something inside his chest, a tingle that made him smile softly as he dried Ren's hair, rubbing the top of his head, the back and the long strands sticking to the skin of his neck.
“That feels nice,” Ren mumbled, and Masato could hear the smile on his lips under the towel. “Although you're gonna mess up my hair.”
Masato chuckled. “I can also brush it, if you want.”
“... Yeah… that'd be nice.”
Masato was not someone who showed his feelings so easily. Years and years of a strict life had taught him how to keep his feelings within and he refused to share them for fear of not being reciprocated, but with Ren… with Ren everything was different, somehow. With Ren, he felt like he could show a little more; it gave him freedom that he didn't usually feel with almost anyone and he knew that Ren was the same. When they were together, responsibilities, expectations, fears, everything disappeared and they could enjoy moments of peace, without pressure, finding comfort in each other’s embrace.
However, their relationship still didn't have a name. Were they roommates? Of course. Were they lovers? Well... Masato would say yes for sure, but he wasn't sure how or when it had happened and he thought maybe it was too lame to ask Ren ‘what I am to you?’ or ‘what are we?’, besides it wasn't completely necessary to label what they had, especially when you were in the eye of the public, but-
“Hehehe, what are you doing?”
Masato blinked, his hands had moved down to pat Ren's back dry. The ginger squirmed softly, giggling quietly as Masato brushed too close to his sides with the towel. Ah, of course, Ren was so ridiculously ticklish.
He chuckled, his touch a bit more firm. “I'm just drying your back too, do you even dry yourself after showering?”
“I do! I was just… too lazy to do it today.”
“Mhmm. Of course you were.”
Ren's back was broad and Masato could see the little bumps his muscles created and the little dips between each rib. His eyes quickly scanned every detail of Ren's back, his honey skin made a pretty contrast with Masato's milky one… yeah, they really didn't need to label their relationship, but…
“Are you tired?” Masato asked gently, throwing the towel aside once he thought he was completely dry.
“Hmm, you could say so. I feel a little tense.”
Masato was glad Ren couldn't see him perking up like a little dog. “Then, would you like me to give you a massage?”
“Eh~?” Ren turned his head back to look at Masato with a bright smile. “Would you do that?! Don't even worry about brushing my hair, I do want a massage!”
Masato chuckled, nodding once. “Fine. Let me get some lotion first.”
He gracefully unclimbed off Ren and opened one of his drawers to put out a bottle of lavender scented lotion he used at night to help him relax. Ren took the opportunity to settle in better; he laid down right in the center of the single bed, his head resting on one of his pillows and his hands were lost under it. He was looking at Masato curiously, his feet moving a little with excitement.
Masato chuckled as he took a seat on Ren's lower back again. “Let me warm the lotion a little bit. It will not only feel better on the skin, but also it won't be annoying. Don't worry,” he said, pouring the lotion on the palm of his left hand, “my hands are warm.”
“It's okay, Masa,” Ren said with a laugh in his voice and Masato felt a little shy. “I'm sure it'll feel good.”
Masato vigorously rubbed his palms together to warm up the lotion and spread it all over his hands and fingers, once ready, he placed his palms firmly against Ren's shoulders and squeezed. Ren sighed pleasantly and relaxed immediately as Masato's fingers worked on his shoulders. Thumbs pressed at the base of his neck, rubbing the nape and surprisingly finding some knots that he gladly dissolved.
“Haaaaaah, that feels so good, Hijirikawa,” Ren mumbled, his words slurring a bit and his mouth salivating a bit too much.
Masato laughed softly as he continued working Ren's neck and shoulders, gently kneading and rubbing the muscles. Ren seemed to be falling asleep, his breathing was becoming even and his legs would twitch lightly every now and then. Masato was very good at massages, it was a skill he was proud of, even though he didn't often say it.
Once he thought Ren's shoulders had had enough, he poured more lotion into his hands and brushed his fingertips down the other's back and Masato jumped out of his skin when the silence was suddenly filled with a bright, surprised giggle.
“Th-Thahahat tihickles!” Ren giggled, squirming slightly as Masato's fingers rested at the base of his spine.
Masato rolled his eyes affectionately. He couldn't believe, after all this time, Ren was still so painfully ticklish. He remembered a few tickle fights they both had in the past and he chuckled to himself remembering not losing a single one to an extremely ticklish Ren that would give up with just a poke to his side.
Masato couldn't lie, he had a blast tickling Ren back then. Hearing his high-pitched laughter, slightly different from even his voice as a kid, always made him smile and giggle himself. It was so bright and sweet, Masato couldn't get enough of it. Ren ticklishness was, simply put, adorable.
“You're always so ticklish.”
Ren giggled, his cheeks flushing. “I cahan't help it, I guess one just doesn't grow out of- ahahaha! M-Mahahasahaha!”
Masato brushed his blunt nails up Ren's spine. The skin broke into goosebumps and Ren giggled, squirming and jolting as the soft touch spread towards that soft spot near his sides. Ren pressed his arms against his sides, laughing like a child and squirming like a fish out of water.
“Hihihi- Hihiji- ahaha! Wahahait uhuhup!” His legs kicked behind Masato as he desperately tried to squirm away.
“Would you stop moving? In trying to give you a massage here,” Masato teased, his fingers starting to knead at Ren's sides, making his laughter increase in volume and pitch. “I can see you have a lot of knots here. Let me get rid of them for you, okay?”
It wasn't common for Masato to behave like this, but he couldn't help it. How could he resist Ren's laughter once it had escaped his lips? That was not possible. His fingers easily found all those super sensitive spots on Ren's sides and all the techniques that he had learned about in their childhood. Rapid pokes up his sides would make him kick his legs and cackle loudly, soft scribbling and pinching would make him let out bubbly giggles that made him hiccup, but no matter what spot he touched, Masato would always get a reaction from Ren.
“I think you're very ticklish for a massage,” Masato said, chuckling to himself and Ren shook his head.
“Y-You ahahare tihihicklihing m- no! Not there! Nohohot thehere! N-Nohohot my r-rihihibs!”
Taking advantage of how easily his fingers slid over Ren's skin thanks to the lotion, Masato sneaked his hands between Ren's body and the bed and he easily found the front of his ribcage, right under his pectoral area. He clawed at the sensitive skin, knowing perfectly well that that spot was one of the most ticklish in his body, if not the number one.
“I think your ribs also need a little massage,” Masato said, leaning closer to Ren's head. “Let me just make sure you don't- oh!”
Ren used his hands to lift his torso, and Masato took the chance to tickle the whole length of Ren's ribcage, causing him to fall back down against the bed, twisting from side to side as he tried to push Masato's hands away, loud, cackling laughter erupting from his lips nonstop.
“That was wild,” Masato teased with a chuckle, his blunt nail skittering across Ren's ribcage. “You should be careful, you almost hit my head.”
“Masatogetoffmepleaseahahaha!”
“That doesn't make any sense, why don't you- ack!”
He should have known. As soon as his fingers brushed Ren's lower ribs, he finally was able to stand up in ticklish desperation, making Masato fall from his back onto the bed. Masato was a little dazed, so he couldn't do anything when Ren grabbed both of his wrists in one of his hands and raised his arms above his head. Masato gasped, but before any words could come out of his mouth, Ren was tickling his armpits, making him throw his head back in hysterical laughter.
“Hehe,” Ren chuckled, still breathless after the tickle attack Masato had made him go through. “Did you think I didn't remember how ticklish you are here, Hijirikawa? Now die!”
“J-Jinguji!” Masato gasped out before he fell into loud laughter again. “Jihihinguhuhuji! S-Stohohop thihis instahant or ehehelse I- AHAHA! Ren! RenRenRehehen, plehehase!”
“Oh you want me to stop? Let me think, did you stop when I asked you to?”
“You dihihidn't ahahask me t-to s-stohohop!”
Masato could hear Ren's cheeks turning pink as the tickling only worsened. Ren's fingers scribbled against his right armpit briefly before jumping to the left one, there he poked the barely protected skin, making Masato shriek, before he jumped back to the right one, provoking a cacophony of laughter and shrieks as Masato danced from left to right.
His own cheeks were starting to heat up. He tried to hide his face against the inside of his arm, but the tickling forced his head back to let the laughter flow out from his very core. He was going insane. He wasn't as ticklish as Ren, but he was not used to the sensation, especially not like this. Tears of laughter quickly started to run the sides of Masato's face and with an embarrassingly loud snort, he started to beg again.
“I'm s-sohohorry! I'm sohohohorry, REHEN! P-Plehehease, no m-mohOHOre! Not thehehehere, plehehase!”
“Hmm, you won't try anything funny again?” Masato couldn't see, but Ren had a huge smile on his face. He shook his head desperately. “You promise?”
“Dahahammit, Jihihinguhuhuji, I'm- ack! Nono! In sohohohorry! I prohohomise! I PROHOHOMISE!”
The tickling stopped and as he caught his breath, Masato felt the bed sinking beside him as Ren laid down as well, their shoulders touching. The only sound filling the room was their rapid breathing, and after a moment, complete silence enveloped them.
“Hey,” Ren said softly, his pinky curling around Masato's. “That was fun.”
Masato looked at their intertwined fingers and then up at Ren's face, he was smiling sweetly at him and something in Masato's tummy fluttered. He smiled back, letting out a chuckle through his nose.
“Yeah, I guess it was,” he said and they both chuckled, staring at each other’s eyes.
Yeah… it really didn't matter what their relationship was, Masato simply didn't want it to end.
“Ack! N-No! Masa- ahahahaha! Not ahahagahahain!”
“You can keep having some more fun, Ren.”
In the end, being together like this was more than enough for him and he hoped, in the bottom of his heart, that Ren felt the same way towards him.
Yes, I am severely late. No, I will not be taking comments on it at this time. I would rather post something I'm satisfied with late than something half-assed on time. You all and I both deserve the best <3
Ryuji is tasked with leading the next Phantom Thieves' training session. Leave it to him to work in time to pick on his favorite Joker and teach something worthwhile!
Warning: Of course, tickles, and some curses.
“Joker, watch out!” Skull cried, deflecting an oncoming attack toward his leader, who had been occupied with another enemy. The attack was directed back toward the Shadow that cast it, defeating it instantly.
“Nice job, Skull,” Joker praised, finishing off his own target. The Phantom Thieves were surrounded, but not critically so; a group of lower-level Shadows had managed to get the jump on the gang. Even so, this was far from the Thieves’ first rodeo, having made several trips to Mementos, both in search of their favorite non-feline’s past and to help the citizens of Tokyo whose Shadows have become too strong.
“Truly art in motion,” Yusuke, aka Fox, commented. He, Skull, and Joker have been tasked to search a section of Mementos while Panther, Queen, and Mona search another section, having Oracle be the go-between for communications.
“Skull, your form and approach have quite changed for the better. Perhaps I can attend your and Joker’s next training session? Surely there’s much I can learn,” he asked sincerely. Skull snickered, throwing a knowing glare at his leader.
“I’m cool with you tagging along, but it’s up to the mighty leader over here. Not sure if he could handle both of us.” Joker rolled his eyes as his friend hinted at the mischief that unfolded last time.
“Yes, Fox, I think that’s a good call. And since Skull is so eager for you to join he shouldn’t mind planning our next training session.” That wiped Ryuji’s grin away.
“What?”
“Yeah, you did really well last time. And it would be beneficial for someone else to be able to lead training sessions, just in case.” Ryuji thought for a minute before nodding slowly.
“...Yeah, I can do it, no worries.” Ren smiled.
“Good, can’t wait to see what you come up with.”
“Nor can I,” Fox chimed in, “I’m looking forward to it.”
They agreed on meeting in a week’s time, when the field and track would be free and clear again. It seemed like the dialogue in Ryuji’s head went from “I’ve got a week, no big deal” to “CRAP, I have to have this ready in a few hours!” in the blink of an eye, and he still had no idea on how to lead a training session. He sat alone in the library, which was a rare sight in itself, but he knew he needed to step up.
“Come on,” he mentally prompted, “just plan training time. An hour, maybe ninety minutes. You can do this.”
“Ryuji?” The electric blonde jumped out of his skin with a shrill noise of surprise, earning him a “Shh!” from the other students. He turned quickly and saw his student council president and Queen to Mementos. Makoto sat across from him.
“I’m surprised to see you here. You looked like you were struggling, though. Anything I can help with?”
“Uh… Yeah, actually. But I really can’t talk about it here. It’s about practice,” Ryuji emphasized and gave her a look, hoping she’d take the hint. She stood, as if to say “received,” but actually said, “Of course. We can use the student council room. Our meeting just ended, so no one’s in there right now.”
They walked to the now empty classroom where student council meetings are held, and Ryuji explained the situation to Makoto. She listened intently, already forming several solutions but not wanting to miss any details.
“He just sprung it on me. And in front of Fox, how could I say “no”?” Her strategizing mind realized he was venting now, and she smiled at him.
“He trusts you, Ryuji. And he wouldn’t have asked you if he didn’t think you could handle it.”
“...you think so?”
“Absolutely! You’re his best friend, you don’t need me to tell you that.” Ryuji reflected on it and smiled, but in an instant grew panicked again.
“Wait! Aren’t you and Ann going too?!”
“Shhh! Ren and I already discussed that,” she started, keeping her voice low despite the privacy of the classroom, “it might be best to keep up appearances as much as possible. Meaning getting together in a big group all of a sudden might seem suspicious. She and I have separate training days until we figure out something else.”
“Oh… yeah, that makes sense. That’s why he’s the Leader, I guess.” Ryuji couldn’t help but be relieved; he enjoyed having Ann and Makoto on the team, but the less people at his first led training session, the better.
“So, as for your session,” Makoto started, “Always start any physical training with a warm up. It’ll help keep you from getting sore, and will help with performance during the training.” Ryuji was scribbling madly in his notebook, as if she were sharing answers to a final exam.
“Next, you need to pick the focus of your session. What did Ren do during your last session?” Ryuji shrugged.
“Ran and sparred, mostly.” Makoto looked blankly for a moment, and as if on cue Ryuji added, “Oh! He went over “observing and adapting,” saying stuff like how just charging at Shadows wasn’t always going to work. Which I still don’t know if I buy it, but his way worked, too.” Makoto sighed at his impulsivity, but continued.
“So he focused on refining a skill. You can do that. Or, you can try teaching something that you specialize in.”
“Well…” Ryuji thought, “I am pretty good at knocking down some Shadows with one hit.”
“So you’re good at finding their weakest points, and using them to your advantage?” Makoto asked. Ryuji’s eyes started to light up.
“Yeah… I can show them how I do that! Thank you, Makoto!” He suddenly stood and hugged her, running out of the classroom and not stopping until he reached the track field.
“How the heck am I supposed to teach this?!” Ryuji exclaimed in his head, pacing the track while waiting on his two trainees. He didn’t have to wait long though, as he could see Ren leading Yusuke in his direction, both changed in athletic wear and ready to start.
“Hello, leader-for-today,” Ren started, “I’ve been wondering what you’ve come up with.”
“As have I,” Yusuke chimed in, “I hope to be better equipped to handle Shadows, and to gain some artistic inspiration. Seeing Joker take the lead is inspiring in itself, but you surely will offer a unique perspective,” Though Yusuke’s intentions were pure, Ryuji took this as “the pressure’s on,” and became a bit more visibly nervous.
“Uh… Yeah… totally… WARM UP!” he shouted, suddenly remembering Makoto’s advice and recognizing a way to dodge the inevitable for at least a few more minutes.
“Right! We can’t train well without a warm up! Let’s jog a few laps and stretch!” The two looked a bit confused, but did as they were told while Ryuji led the jog and stretches.
“Ryuji, are we ready to get started on the lesson?” Ren asked gently, starting to realize the task had given his second-in-command much more stress than he thought. Ryuji finally sighed.
“Okay, I wanted to show you guys how I land critical hits on Shadows, but we aren’t in Mementos and I know we don’t usually go without the others just in case something happens and I couldn’t think of anything else to do and-”
“Ryuji,” Ren put a hand on his shoulder, and it worked as if it functioned as a “pause” button.
“That’s a great skill to learn! And we don’t have to be in Mementos; I’ll be the Shadow so Yusuke can observe.”
“O-Oh, okay… Yeah! Thanks, dude!” Ryuji regained every bit of his energy and excitement, causing Ren to chuckle fondly and Yusuke to wonder how Ryuji functions so well against enemies while his train of thought was all over the place.
“I suppose that’s what I’m here to learn” he thought, watching Ryuiji and Ren take opposing stances.
“Okay, um… Ren?” his ravenette friend smiled at him.
“Just do what comes naturally when you’re fighting. Try to narrate it.”
“So,” Ryuji started, “There’s a Shadow in front of you, Yusuke. What do you notice about his stance?”
“Well, he’s grounded. And he has one arm toward his face, and the other at his torso.”
“Right. And that’s pretty normal for us: to protect our faces and middles, where our organs are,” Ryuji explained. Ren and Yusuke were shocked at Ryuji’s knowledge on the subject, and how well he was teaching it. Ryuji was even surprising himself, although he was only doing as Ren said, narrating his instincts.
“Every Shadow is going to have different areas they want to protect. They don’t have organs and some might not even have faces, who knows. But they’re weak somewhere, and their defensive stance will usually tell you where.”
“What about our Personas?” Yusuke asked, “They seem to have abilities that work well against certain Shadows, and not with others.” Ryuji blanked, he hadn’t really thought about that part.
“Excellent question, but let’s focus on the basics for now,” Ren saved, “Queen and I were actually discussing this earlier, and are working with Oracle on compiling a list of Shadow’s we’ve faced and what their strengths and weaknesses are.” Though it appeared to just be the three here, Ren wanted to remain vigilant in keeping the other members’ identities safe.
“I see, thank you. My apologies, Ryuji, please continue.”
“Yeah dude, totally ask questions!” He faced Ren again. “Now, come at me like you’re going to attack. Slow-mo, though.” Ren nodded, seeing where Ryuji was taking this part. He motioned a running start, and a punch with his right hand, the one originally blocking his torso.
“Stop,” Ryuji instructed. Ren froze in his position, right arm extended in a mock blow to Ryuji’s jaw.
“Now, I can do three things. Since I was in my own defensive stance, I can block with this arm,” motioning his left, protecting his face, “I can take his wrist and fling him behind me using his own force,” again, the both of them demonstrating what that would look like, “or, what I’m showing you guys, I can take this as an opportunity. Yusuke, what’s changed about his position?”
“Well, in order to make an attack, he was forced to uncover a weak point he was previously protecting.” Ryuji beamed.
“Exactly! You can’t do both. See,” Ryuji demonstrated, taking his pointer finger and tracing from Ren’s ribs to his hip bones. “His weak points are wide open now.” Ren inhaled sharply and winced. Ryuji looked to him, suddenly smug.
“And I do mean his weak points.” As a leader, he was proud that Ryuji picked up on small cues that could give him an edge. However, he wasn’t the acting leader right now, so as his friend he’d hoped it would go unnoticed. Yusuke hadn’t paid the brief interaction any mind, as he was more focused on the lesson at hand. Ryuji returned to his original position, to the moment just before he would have been struck by his opponent.
“So,” he continued nonchalantly, “since we decided to attack, I see him coming toward me with this opening, I’m going to dodge, and strike.” Ryuji swerved his body under Ren’s extended arm, and instead of a mock strike, latched onto Ren’s side and squeezed. Yusuke would have had to be blind and deaf to miss Ren’s reaction this time, as he squealed and recoiled from the surprise attack.
“AH! Ryuhohoji!”
“...What’s going on?” Yusuke asked, as much confused as he was amused.
“Just a demonstration,” Ryuji replied with a snicker before releasing Ren. “I think you should give it a try. Ren, you’re the Shadow again.”
“Greheat,” he replied as Ryuji and Yusuke switched places. Yusuke had a gleam in his eyes too similar to Ryuji’s to be considered “comfortable” to the Joker.
“All right, Ren, slowly. Yusuke, get ready.” Ryuji prompted. Ren exhaled, moving slowly for Yusuke’s sake. It was his job, after all, to teach his team. And surely Yusuke is serious about his training, as to not be tempted by such juvenile tactics-
“BWAH! Hehehehey! YUSUKEHEHEHE!” Yusuke did appear very serious in his training; so much so he adopted two strategies. As Joker came with his slow swing, Yusuke grabbed his wrist with his right hand. With his left, Yusuke latched onto the Joker’s ribs, noticing a much stronger reaction to his grip than Ryuji’s.
“Lehehehet go, Yusuke! Yohohou got me!” However, the artist chuckled and held firm to his “opponent’s” wrist.
“Have I done it correctly, Ryuji?” The blonde couldn’t believe what he was witnessing, and in the best way. He cackled wickedly.
“I couldn’t have done better myself. But he doesn’t look totally defeated.” Ren, still giggling against Yusuke’s ticklish grip, noticed Ryuji approaching.
“Stahahahay awahehey, Ryuji!” Ren threatened, trying with more desperation to break himself free from Yusuke. However, in response Ryuji snatched his other wrist. His giggles were already becoming more frantic, knowing how screwed he was with both of them playing this game.
“I’ve never seen you like this, Ren,” Yusuke noted, “It’s like witnessing a whole other part of you.”
“You are, dude. This, you see, is “nearly defeated” Ren.” Ryuji explained as if we were now the expert in Ren’s weaknesses. Which, in the context of which tickle spots can get Ren to buckle, he just might be the expert, Sojiro being a close second.
“I see. Are you telling me he has weaker points?” Yusuke said, still sounding like a student but adopted the smug smirk and mischievous gleam of a tormentor.
“Juuhuhust get ohohon with it!” Ren pleaded. Why were they taking so long? And talking about him like he wasn’t even there?
“Quiet, you, I’m teaching, just like you asked,” With that, Ryuji swiped his fingers along Ren’s collarbone and neck with his free hand. The raven-haired boy scrunched his shoulders up and sweet giggles bubbled forward. Yusuke would not have believed this boy, adorable in his mirthful state, was in charge of the vengeful Phantom Thieves, if he were not there in the flesh to see for himself.
“Such a sweet sound, and a precious expression to accompany it. I had not expected to find such inspiration from mere child’s play.”
Ren didn’t really have a response; he didn’t think he would serve as inspiration in this state either. Other than inspiration for Ryuji to continue leading him to his ticklish demise.
“Yeah yeah, he’s cute, we get it,” Ryuji said, and blushed himself a bit at the remark. “Here, give me that.” He took Ren’s other wrist from Yusuke and pinned both over his head.
“Now see, you’ve found your target’s weaker areas. Deliver a critical hit.” His instructions came out malicious, and Yusuke’s look of adoration turned back to sinister.
“Y-Yusuke! You don’t have to do it! You already got me, and you picked it up really quick!”
“Yusuke, you remember when we fight Shadows how they sometimes beg to be spared?” Ryuji intervened, “Well, this is one of those times. Since Ren’s right and you did get it on the first try, it’s your call. Mercy, or finish him?” Yusuke looked at his now pitiful leader, and almost felt bad for him. However, he realized this was an effect Ren tended to have on people. He comes off pretty innocent or unassuming, but Yusuke has seen first hand what he’s actually capable of.
“How will I know if he’s “defeated”?
“Yusuke!”
“Oho, trust me, he’ll tell you!” Ryuji said. Ren felt his grip tighten on his wrists as he helplessly watched Yusuke approach him, claws formed with his hands.
“Y-Yusukehehe, nohoho, dohohon’t-NAHAHAHA!” Ren begged, but it fell on deaf ears as Yusuke descended his claw-like fingers into the hollows of Ren’s underarms, skittering up and down his tricep. Ren tried vehemently, but failed to bring his arms down and out of Ryuji’s grip, who he could hear snickering under his own cackling.
“RYUJIHEHEHE you JERK!” he spat.
“You know, we don’t take crap from Shadows, do we, Yusuke?”
“Definitely not. This heathen needs to learn his manners.” Ryuji was absolutely ecstatic that Yusuke was seamlessly playing along as he shifted gears, drumming on Ren’s ribs like he would a piano.
“Do you know how many ribs you have, Joker?”
“YEHEHES!”
“How many?”
“TWEHEHENTY-FFFFAHAHA!”
“PFFT!” He might have been trying to say twenty-four, if not for Ryuji throwing in a raspberry to the crook of the Joker’s neck. He could (barely) handle Yusuke prodding at his ribs or Ryuji’s raspberries to the neck, but both?
“Well, if you don’t know, I’ll have to show you.” Yusuke stated simply, starting with his bottom two.
“THAHAHAT’S NOT FAHAHAHAIR! YUSUKE!”
Ryuji laughed wickedly at his best friend’s expense, unknowing beforehand that Yusuke could be so cruel. He wasn’t sure if Yusuke could tell, but amongst the loud belly laughter and rib-counting, Ren was starting to buckle the farther up his ribs Yusuke’s wiggling fingers traveled.
“Hey, Yusuke,” Ryuji said. He almost had to raise his voice to be heard over the ravenette’s boisterous laughter. He halted immediately, and Ren took the gracious opportunity to catch his breath.
“Be ready when you get to twenty-three and twenty-four. That’s our Joker’s weakest spot.”
“I started to believe he himself was a weak spot.”
“Screhehew you bohohoth,” Ren replied, bracing himself.
“Is that really any way to talk to your pupils?” Yusuke asked, catching Ren off-guard by kneading into his belly. It was firm from consistent training, but still was quaking from all the giggle fits it helped produce. Ren threw his head back onto Ryuji’s shoulder in a surprised guffaw, nearly head-butting his nose.
“H-hey, easy dude!”
“I-ihihi’m sorrihehehe!” Ren cried, putting in more effort to hold himself up.
“Here, Yusuke, follow me,” Ryuji instructed. They led Ren to the ground, Ryuji still holding his wrists but allowing his head to rest in his lap rather than the ground. Yusuke straddled his waist.
“I suppose this Shadow’s had quite the battle,” Yusuke observed, noticing the streaks of mirthful tears on his leader’s pink face. “I’ll waste no more time then!”
“Any last words, Shadow?” Ryuji teased. Ren offered one more futile tug to his wrists and took a deep breath.
“Do your worst. Because you two are dead.”
“Tch, as if,” Ryuji played off, ignoring the slight chill down his spine.
“Bold words in the face of your demise,” Yusuke noted, also feeling a tinge of nervousness, but wasted no more time and drilled his thumbs in the topmost ribs on either side. The same leader daring enough to make such a claim in his position positively howled as his most ticklish spot was exploited.
“YUSUKEHEHEHE!” Ren bucked and kicked at the space behind them, but to no avail as far as stopping the maddening sensations playing at his ribs.
“This Shadow’s done for!” Ryuji exclaimed, then laughing along as if Ren’s giggles were truly contagious.
“It’s almost as if, once you know how to deliver a critical hit, the Shadow is not as menacing,” Yusuke teased, switching from drilling to vibrating his fingertips along the length of ribs twenty-three and twenty four.
“JUHUHUHUST YOHOU WAIHIHIT! BWAHAHAHA!” Joker cackled, somehow still delivering threats. His booming laughter soon grew silent, and he became too weak to struggle.
“All right, all right, I think he’s had enough,” Ryuji warned. As cruel of a tickler as he was (which Ryuji made a mental note of), Yusuke stopped within the same second he was asked to do so, not wanting to abuse the trust he’d been given. Ryuji released Ren’s wrists, though his arms remained limp above his head while he caught his breath, which occasionally hitched in leftover chuckles.
“Are you all right, Ren?” Yusuke asked, now concerned. But Ren chuckled, of his own accord this time.
“Yeah, heh, I’m okay.” Ren looked up at Ryuji, since his head was still in his lap.
“If this is how you plan on leading training sessions, you’re fired.”
“What?! No! At least, not every time,” he grinned, still full of mischief, “Gotta keep you on your toes, Joker.”
“And I yours. Yours too, Yusuke. You won’t know when, you won’t know where-”
“Yeah, yeah, we get it, fearful leader, so scary,” Ryuji brushed off.
“...Let’s instead get some water and continue training? Actually training this time?” Yusuke suggested, as he and his eccentric blonde partner in crime helped their leader up. While the rest of the training went as planned with no more antics, Yusuke and Ryuji couldn’t help the nagging feeling their Joker was not about to forget this any time soon.
I had a dream last night, and it was like, the cutest thing.
So, team JNPR was away in a mission, this was like, in the middle of volume 2 maybe, and there was this weird drug, no one knew its effects, not even the creator who looked like a total freak. So they were chasing him, Nora and Jaune behind while Ren and Phyrra waited to ambush him, the guy aproaches, they stop him, Nora and Jaune still a little behind, and then the guy goes "poof", his pockets explode and a white dust fills the air.
They still catch him, but Ren and Phyrra got affected by that weird dust, they just can't get a hold of its effects. The next day Ren feels dizzy and weird, a little grumpy, he doesn't know what exactly he craves but he needs it now.
Nora wakes up, sees her not "together together" friend struggling and approaches him wanting to help. Ren is not a man of many words, but Nora has known him since their childhood, she knows something is going on and can guess a little based on Ren's twitchy reaction when she hugs him while asking what's wrong. And she tickles him, discovering that in the midst of his desperate happy laugh, Ren won't let go of her waist, whining a little when she stops, giggling freely and kicking cutely every time she scraps her nails a little and wiggles her fingers over his not-so-covered at the moment belly (I headcanon that he doesn't have an atrociously ticklish tummy but he loves being tickled in that spot specifically, other parts of his body are too much or too little for him to enjoy)
Ren understands perfectly what's happening and is a blushing mess, but mentally begs Nora to not stop, and she only does when he is struggling too much to breath. He feels giddy and warm inside when Nora stops, his smile cannot leave his face in a while and a few giggles still escape his mouth while he's trying to catch his breath.
A few days later they discover that because of the drug, Phyrra and him will get that weird disgusting feeling everyday if not tickled silly, and that Nora and Jaune are the only choice to stop their grumpy selves from leaving the shared bedroom.
Ren feels exactly the same after 5 days, he doesn't know when exactly the drug is going to wear off, but he's learned to enjoy a lot Nora's savage but delicate touch while scribing her fingers over his sides and belly, or the wet little tickly kisses she leaves from time to time over his exposed skin when she feels like it. He wakes up frustrated and grumpy, moves around his bed feeling like wanting to throw up, but then, Nora aproaches and jumps him, straddling him with her thighs for her to start her morning torture, making him giggle and snort loud enough to wake the other two, that watch the whole ordeal with a fond smile before joining from time to time.
After a week, the effects of the drug pass, but everytime Ren wakes up to Nora tickling him silly, he hugs her until she feels like stopping, not really wanting her to stop this ordeal, his friends don't really catch on it until after half a week, when Phyrra mentions that she doesn't feel the effects of the drug anymore, and asks Ren if he still does, his answer only being a huge nervous sad look and a blush on his cheeks. They all notice but he won't say a thing when they ask, looking a little antsy, Nora wiggles her fingers a little in front of him and his blush darkens, and the two not completely involved, smile when they see what is really affecting their friend. Ren doesn't wake up grumpy anymore, but that won't stop Nora from waking him up with tickles every chance she gets, and if she teases him for it, is not because of the cute blush that adorns his cheeks every time.
(If someone talented reads this, please write a fic)(English is not my first language)
