A/N: I really hope you like this, Mia ( @ticklygiggles ) :blushy:. I wanted to make something to make it up for missing your bday and for thanking you for all the time we spent together this past months, but it was really hard figuring something "new" out
So... maybe you favs fighting might do the trick? Heheh. Anyway, hope you enjoy it!
Summary: You leave Sylus and Zayne unattended to go buy some groceries... surely they would get along, right?
Word count: 1368 words
[Also on Ao3]
The door had barely closed and the smile on both men’s faces had already faded without a single trace left. There was no need to put up the act if you weren’t around, anyway.
Sylus sighed lazily, laying back into your couch and kicking his feet up. With one ankle crossed over the other and his legs resting on top of the armrest, Sylus closed his eyes behind his shade glasses - there was nothing else worth of his attention left in your place, anyway, so he might as well use this time to get some rest.
“Tsk, unbelievable,” Zayne muttered under his breath, but loud enough to let Sylus hear it from the small distance between them.
It wasn’t like he was happy about the company you left him with, but Sylus thought this one would have the decency to keep his mouth from running. “Anything wrong, doctor?”
How you managed to get them to meet each other was still a mystery - to you and to them as well. From growing up next to Zayne and Caleb, to working with Xavier and Rafayel and meeting Sylus during a mission… Some could say it was fate, but would fate really let you in such a tangled mess?
While they seemed to live each on their own world, you couldn’t help but grow close to them as time went by - especially to Sylus and Zayne, in this matter. Part of you wish they, too, would get along with each other. It would be much easier if they did, honestly. But, at the same time, another part of you couldn’t help but feel a little… happy to see how they would bicker and have little fights over you.
Now, since one shouldn’t really encourage violence or fights - and since neither Zayne nor Sylus had officially made their move - why not try to get along, you thought? And, then, against all the odds, here they were.
Akso Hospital’s most renowned doctor and Onychidus’ boss, both in your living room, waiting for you to come back from a trip to the nearby store to buy some snacks.
“I’m just contemplating,” Zayne snapped, trying to keep himself as the bigger person and not let his feelings get the best of him. “Trying to figure something out.”
“Oh? My mistake, then,” Sylus hummed with a chuckle, folding an arm behind his head while using his other hand to gesticulate, “I didn’t take you for the kind that speaks by yourself and thought it was related to me.”
Zayne felt like a vein in his temple would burst at any moment now. “Surprisingly, you’re not half-wrong this time,” he retorted, the passive-aggressiveness in his tone growing worse by the second, “it does concern you, to some degree.”
Sylus sighed out loud, highlighting his lack of interest for whatever was about to come his way. This was going to be a long afternoon, he thought. “Is that so?” He groaned softly, his shades tilting to the tip of his nose as he looked over to Zayne’s direction, “and why?”
“I just can’t help but wonder what she sees in you,” Zayne smirked slightly, trying to mask his annoyance. “The more I think, the more I assume that, at this point, you could only impress me, Sylus.”
“Hah,” Sylus scoffed, coiling his long legs before turning around, sitting up as he faced Zayne with a defiant look, “I must occupy quite the space in that handsome head of yours. Flattering, I do say.”
Their eyes locked, the tension enough to stop time itself. If this wasn’t your place, if they weren’t waiting for you, who could guess how bad it would go?
“A difficult personality, to say the least, terrible history and don’t even let me get started with your field of ‘work’, Sylus,” Zayne shook his head, showing the full glory of his contempt. He wouldn’t let this side of him out anywhere near you, but Sylus? That was a different story. “You’re a menace, to her and to society, if you ask me.”
Still, the more words Zayne threw at him, the large Sylus’ grin seemed to grow. “What else, doctor? Are you going to say I don’t look good enough for her, too? I think I’m going to cry,” he chuckled.
Zayne knew it was no use to keep talking, that it wouldn’t do him any good to play Sylus’ games and that it could even backfire - but the thought of that guy hanging around you made him sick, feeling like his blood was boiling inside his body. “You-”
“Now, if you ask me,” Sylus started, looking at his hands, “maybe she looked for someone like me because you’re lacking.”
!!!
“You are always frowning and nagging at her, don’t you think she is ge-”
“Enough!” Zayne hissed, clenching his hand and swinging the back of his fist towards Sylus’ face.
“Careful there, doctor,” Sylus hummed, holding Zayne’s wrist as he blocked the hit, “you might get yourself another patient at this rate. You need to relax.”
“L-let go, you ruffian- agh!” Zayne groaned, unable to stop Sylus from pulling him off his seat and into the couch, next to him. Charging at someone who was, clearly, physically stronger and more experienced in fights was a mistake. “U-unhand me, you- aghahaha!”
“So you do know how to smile, huh?” Sylus teased, holding Zayne’s hand out of his way while tickling his now exposed side. His fingers pressed and tweaked at the doctor’s stomach and lower ribs, making annoyed giggles spill from Zayne’s lip one after the other. “You’d be much more charming if you smiled like this more often, for starts.”
That man was quickly becoming one of the worst things that happened in his life, Zayne’s thought. As much as he wanted to hiss and roar with annoyance, all he could do was flash Sylus a crooked smile, baring his gritted teeth. “S-shuhut it!! I dohon’t neeheed to hehear it frohohom you!”
“Do you have any other option right now?” Sylus mocked, letting out a quiet smile when Zayne’s back arched as soon as he moved his hand up to tickle his ribs, “might as well make the best of this situation and learn a thing or two, doctor.”
“S-StoHOhohop it, yohohou bahahastaha- AHAhah!”
“That wasn’t very nice, now, was it?” Sylus shook his head, clicking his lips as if he was reprimanding a child, “ask me nicely and I might stop before you embarrass yourself.”
Zayne felt his face burning, the bloodrush making his cheeks warm up quickly. He used his free hand to paw and swat at Sylus’, trying to stop it from tickling him, from climbing his body any higher. “A-as ihihif! I d-dohohon’t make deheheals with peheople lik- aHAHAha, l-lihike yohohou!”
“Suit yourself,” Sylus shrugged, making Zayne interrupt himself with his own laughter as he managed to sneak his fingers under the doctor’s arm, prodding at that sensitive spot. “Maybe this way I can teach you who is the boss around her-”
Click.
Despite the mess the two had themselves into, the sound of the door’s lock opening echoed through the living room loud and clear. Sylus and Zayne looked at each other, both suddenly squirming to push the other away.
“Sorry for the delay,” you hummed, holding the groceries’ bag in your other hand as you closed the door behind you, “the store was packed and my phone died on my wa…”
You stared at the scene, Sylus and Zayne sitting at each of the couch’s edges, their backs turned to one another. Zayne’s face was red and his hair disheveled while Sylus’ clothes were all wrinkled up.
“What were you guys doing?” You asked, suspicious, slowly walking inside your home.
“Nothing,” Sylus hummed, looking at Zayne with the corner of his eyes while hiding his shit-eating grin behind his hand, “right, doctor?”
“...Yes,” Zayne huffed, furrowing his brows as he focused on ignoring that annoying, insufferable man, “nothing at all.”
“Sure,” you sighed, deciding that it would be better to not pry into it, even if you didn’t buy that half-assed explanation, “I will get the snacks ready and then we can start our movie, alright? Wait for me ~”
Summary: You pick Zayne up from work and relax in your apartment together. Unfortunately for Zayne, your mischievous tendencies can be a bit distracting.
Word Count: 4,098
A/N: Hello, @ticklygiggles!! I was your @squealing-santa this year. :) I hope you enjoy this silly little fic.
This is a tickle fic btw!
~🍓~
As you stood near the front entrance of Akso Hospital, you stared at your phone, spamming your favorite doctor with several text messages to announce your presence. You knew Zayne wouldn’t answer your messages for a while, even though his shift ended a few minutes ago. He was a hard worker, which you admired about him.
A cold breeze cut through the air, and you shivered, drawing your coat closer to your body. Tiny snow flurries scattered throughout the air, dusting your wool hat with white snowflakes. Some of them caught onto your eyelashes. You blinked them away.
Downtown was quite pretty during this time of year. Fairy lights were strung along the buildings, emitting a warm, yellow glow. Some were multi-colored, and others had lights that changed color each second. Red, green, and white banners and garlands wrapped around the light poles.
It was quiet out here save for the occasional sound of a car passing through. You supposed most people didn’t want to be outside when it was so cold. Another breeze passed through. You didn’t blame them.
Your phone buzzed.
You didn’t even get to read the notification before a soft, deep voice sighed behind you.
“You could have waited inside of the lobby, you know?” Zayne shook his head as he stepped closer to you. Snow crunched under his shoes. “Or my office.” He wore a large, brown jacket over his outfit. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets.
You laughed. “Yeah, but this is more romantic, isn’t it?” You held out your arms to your sides. “The snow. The lights. It’s so pretty out here. I couldn’t help it.”
Zayne puckered his lips. If you didn’t know better, you would have said it almost looked like he was pouting. “I don’t want you to catch a cold.” He readjusted your hat, making sure it covered your ears. “I can’t believe the Hunters Association is forcing you to work during the holidays.”
“I could say the same thing for you,” you said, pulling at his scarf. Not expecting you to do that, Zayne took an awkward step forward. You evened out the ends before forming a loop and tying it up, so it held closer against his neck. You smiled at his surprised expression and pinched his cheek.
“I chose to work this week,” he said quietly.
“Me too.”
Zayne shot you a quiet smile. You both were workaholics, practically married to your respective jobs. Despite the surface-level differences, you and Zayne were very much alike–at least in that regard.
“Come,” he said, jerking his head to the side. “I’ll drive you home.”
You took his hand as he led you to his car. Zayne always parked in the same spot, so you didn’t need him to lead you, but you just wanted an excuse to hold his hand. He wasn’t wearing gloves, but his hands were still surprisingly warm. How did he manage that?
“Home?” you repeated with a snort. “Do you mean yours or mine?”
Zayne hummed as he opened the passenger side of the door. You sat inside, shivering when your body came in contact with the leather seats. “Your choice,” he said. He closed the door and entered the driver’s side, swiftly starting the car.
You tapped your index finger against your lip. “Mine,” you answered after a while. “I want you to stay the night.”
“Sounds good,” Zayne said as he drove out of the parking lot.
A few minutes into the drive, you rested your chin against your palm. The colorful lights seemed to blur into one as you passed by. You were tempted to press your cheek against the window, but you knew it would be freezing, so you held yourself back.
“How was work?” you asked, simply wanting to fill the air with something. It didn’t matter what you and Zayne talked about. You just liked being with him.
Zayne took a moment to respond, as though he was recalling what happened today. “It was fine,” he finally said.
You waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. “That’s it?”
Zayne shrugged. “Not every day can be as interesting as yours.” The hint of a laugh tinged the end of his sentence. “How was work for you?”
“Oh, you know, nothing much,” you said while straightening your posture. “I just saved a mother and daughter from a Wanderer attack.” You flexed your muscles. “No biggie.”
“My hero,” Zayne said. For a second, you thought he was being sarcastic, but his tone sounded strangely sincere.
Unsure what to do with this change in atmosphere, you stared at your lap. “I like waiting for you when you’re done with work,” you said quietly, changing the subject. You knew it was a sudden shift, but you didn’t know what else to say. “It’s the favorite part of my day.”
“Mine too,” Zayne answered.
“Really?” you asked with a slight chuckle.
Zayne spared you a singular glance. Your heart skipped a beat. “Yes, really,” he said. You smiled warmly. You were about to say something else when Zayne interrupted. “We’re here.”
You perked up. “We are?” You looked around and, indeed, you and Zayne were in the parking lot of your apartment complex. “Wow, that was fast.”
Zayne laughed in response. “How time flies.” He stepped out of the car.
Before he could open the passenger door for you, you stepped out and slammed the door shut. Zayne didn’t respond but you did catch him frowning slightly. You stopped his chance to be a gentleman. Hopefully, he didn’t mind too much. You skipped over to him and grabbed his arm as you walked over to your apartment.
There wasn’t any snow or ice on the pavement. The road crew must have come earlier to salt the streets and parking lots. That was good. You wouldn’t have to worry about Zayne slipping and falling. You knew his fancy dress shoes weren’t built for this weather unlike your sturdy boots.
The heat hit you at full blast the second you entered the lobby. It felt comforting–like someone wrapping a large, fluffy blanket around your body.
“I have some spare pajamas in the guest room,” you explained, making your way over to the elevator. “You can take those.” The doors opened with a ding and you stepped inside.
Zayne smiled as he pressed the button to your floor. “They’re my size?”
“Of course,” you said. “It’s always good to be prepared.” You shook your shoulders. “I learned that from a certain doctor.” When the elevator opened, you stepped out and walked over to your room.
The moment you unlocked it and stepped inside, Zayne leaned over and hugged you. You nestled your nose into the crook of his neck, taking in his scent. He smelled like peppermint, and his skin felt smooth to the touch. You kissed his jaw, and Zayne pressed his lips against your cheek. While you wouldn’t call Zayne shy per se, he was definitely the type to be reserved when it came to public displays of affection. It was cute.
“I missed you,” he muttered against your skin.
You giggled and tried to pull away. He pulled you back into his embrace for a few more seconds until he finally let you go. His hands lingered on your upper arms as his thumbs softly caressed you.
“Me too,” you said. With a split second of hesitation, Zayne pulled back to start unbuttoning his jacket. You tugged his sleeve. “Wait, let me get that for you.” He stilled, and you helped him peel off his jacket. You hung it on the coat rack next to the front door with a short flourish.
Taking a quick peek in his pockets, you noticed he had one of those hand-warming packets in there. That sneaky doctor. No wonder his hands were so warm earlier. You wondered if he did that on purpose, knowing you would try to hold his hand. Zayne’s thoughtfulness always made your lips curve into a small, appreciative grin. He tried to be subtle with these things, but you knew how much he truly cared for you.
“Thank you,” Zayne said as he untied his scarf and placed it next to his jacket on the rack.
“Go get changed,” you said. “I’ll make us some hot chocolate.”
Zayne nodded and went to the guest room. You stepped into your bedroom to change into your nightwear before heading to the kitchen and opening the last cabinet on the right. Way in the back was the matching snowman mugs you got for the both of you last year. They were meant to be used for special occasions, and sharing a warm drink in your abode counted, at least, in your opinion.
A part of you wanted to make hot chocolate from scratch, but after the long day of work you had, the mere thought of it made you want to pass out. You had to settle for the instant packet stuff instead.
It didn’t take long for you to prepare the mugs of hot chocolate considering how all you had to do was microwave some milk and stir in the powder. Zayne came up from behind you while you were in the middle of stirring. He had changed fairly quickly. The light blue pajama set suited him. He placed his hands on your shoulders, squeezing them.
“You should add a pinch of sugar in mine,” Zayne said. He pressed the side of his head against your ear. You could hear him swallow at the end of his sentence.
“Sugar?” you repeated. “This is the powder stuff. It’s already sweet,” you clarified, thinking that Zayne would see the error in his ways.
Zayne glanced at the open box of instant hot chocolate on the counter. “I know,” he said. “It’s just a pinch.”
You should have known. Zayne’s proclivity for sweets had no bounds. Just as he asked, you added a spoonful of sugar to his mug (and then another when he gave you puppy dog eyes). He would have denied it if asked directly, but you knew what he was like.
With your mugs of hot chocolate, you and Zayne sat in the living room. “Do you have any preferences?” you asked as you picked up the remote. You turned on the television and scrolled through the wide array of movies.
“Not particularly,” he said, sipping on his drink.
“Alright.”
You played a random holiday movie that was featured on the front page of the streaming platform. From its summary, it seemed like a decent watch: a meet-cute romance between a hunter and a businessman. Apparently, the hunter teaches the businessman about the magic of the holidays. You settled next to Zayne once the music began to play. He lazily laid his arm around your back.
The beginning of the movie was cute, but your mind began to wander halfway through. As the movie droned on, your eyelids started to droop down. All your hours spent awake working and saving the day were beginning to catch up to you. You were almost finished with your drink by now.
Placing your mug on the coffee table, you leaned into Zayne’s side. He hummed and set down his mug next to yours before wrapping his arm around your shoulder and lying down, dragging you down with him.
“What?” you asked as you awkwardly fell over him. You shuffled around until you were lying down on his side, pressed against him and the back pillow of the couch.
Zayne kissed the top of your head. “You’re feeling tired, are you not?” The gentle drum of his heartbeat almost lulled you directly to sleep. He lowered his voice, so it was barely above a whisper. “You can sleep. Don’t worry.”
You turned your head to the side, nuzzling your nose against his chest. “Okay,” you said with a yawn. “Tell me how the movie ends.”
You hugged his side, your arm worming underneath the small of his back. You sighed as the movie became nothing more than background noise. The rise and fall of Zayne’s chest kept you steady. Every so often, his breath tickled your cheeks. You smiled, your fingers flexing against his back.
Zayne stiffened, and you raised your head slightly. “What’s wrong?” you asked.
“Nothing,” Zayne said, petting the top of your head. “Go back to sleep,” he whispered into your ear.
“Are you sure?” you asked. You didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. You tried to pull your arm from underneath him, but it was stuck–pinned against the couch by his weight.
Zayne squirmed, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Yes, I’m sure. It’s just…” Zayne stopped when he saw your expression. You weren’t going to let this go, and he knew it. Zayne bit his lip, his ears suddenly flushing red. “It just tickles. A bit.”
You propped yourself up on your other arm. “Does it?” Experimentally, you curled your fingers, watching in awe as Zayne arched his back. That allowed you to pry your arm from under him. He gave you a pleading expression–like he was begging you to drop your discovery, but how could you?
“Please–” Zayne said, cutting himself off when you clasped his side and squeezed it. “I’m not th–that ticklish…” He bit his bottom lip as you dragged your nails over his stomach. His abs tensed under your feather-light touch. “…so you caha–!!”
Zayne gasped as you suddenly launched your attack across his stomach just above his belly button. He scrunched up his nose, refusing to laugh. He was always so stubborn. You moved over, so you were now sitting on his lap.
“I think you’re more than ‘a bit’ ticklish,” you said.
His lips were caught in an awkward half-smile that he was desperately trying to keep at bay. Zayne grabbed your wrists, temporarily stopping your pursuits. “Don’t you want to finish the movie?” he asked with the tiniest bit of desperation at the edge of his voice. His fingertips quivered against your skin. Even though you weren’t tickling him anymore, he was still trembling.
“This is much more interesting than some movie.” You pulled your hands out of his grip and latched onto his hips. Zayne bucked up on instinct, and you laughed as he almost bounced you into the air. “Wouldn’t you agree?” You massaged the skin, taking care to dig deeper at the spots that made him jerk especially hard.
His eyebrows furrowed together as he tried to stop himself from succumbing to your touch, but you were far, far too powerful. “I–ehehehmhm…” Zayne giggled breathily. It was satisfying to see him break albeit a little. He seemed to be at a loss for words, his cheeks dusting a light pink. His smile, now much wider, wobbled slightly.
Zayne was still trying to half-heartedly stop your devious hands, but it felt more like a kitten pawing at your arms than anything else. You wondered if that was his way of allowing you to keep going. Surely if he genuinely wanted you to stop, he would have put his foot down by now. Alas, Zayne was putty in your hands. You were one of his few weaknesses.
Your fingers slowly wandered up his torso as they made their way to his ribs. Zayne jumped, clamping his arms to his sides. This seemed to be a much more sensitive area, which you took to your full advantage. “Is this a bad spot, Dr. Zayne?” you asked in a light-hearted tone. “Are you too ticklish for your own good?” You clawed at the soft skin in between the grooves of his ribs.
If you were particularly evil, you might have even tried to tickle him underneath his shirt, but you were feeling a little merciful today.
Zayne squeezed his eyes shut, seemingly no longer able to look at you. “Behehe quiehehet!” he suddenly cackled. “Dohohon’t tickle me there! Eheheh!” He grabbed at your upper arms but didn’t try too much to stop you. Even though you were nowhere near his hips, they still jerked and flinched with every new spot you explored.
“So I can tickle you somewhere else, then?” you teased.
“Nohoho!” he gasped out. Zayne turned his head from side to side as he attempted to wiggle out from underneath you. It was no use, however. You were simply too determined. “Stahahap!”
His laughter was deep and almost husky, peppered with the occasional gasp or winded yelp. It was beautiful. Zayne twitched and jumped with each poke and prod. He was so sensitive. It enamored you. You wished Zayne would laugh like this more often. The sound needed to be captured in a bottle and tossed out to the sea for everyone to have a chance to hear.
“You’re so beautiful, Zayne,” you said softly.
You wondered what Zayne would have said if you weren’t tickling the life out of him. He tossed his head back and cackled when you started digging your fingers deep into the soft fleshy parts of his sides. “Ahahahaha! I–I cahahan’t–!” He squealed, squirming from side to side. “I cahan’t tahahahahake it anymore!” Zayne tried to curl up into a ball, but he couldn’t do that with you sitting on his legs.
“Do that again!” you said, trying to elicit that same squeaky squeal. You dragged your nails up and down his sides, but you weren’t as lucky this time. Oh well.
“This ihihihis too muhuhuch!” Zayne managed to giggle out. He kicked his legs out from underneath you, but you held yourself steady. “Hhh…ehehey!” His shirt rode up a bit, revealing a sliver of rosy pale skin. A slight sheen of sweat glistened against his toned stomach, and you realized that you were, indeed, evil. Very evil.
You targeted his exposed skin. Your fingertips immediately latched onto his bare stomach, tickling him there. His muscles flexed instinctively underneath your touch. You dug your thumbs into his soft warm skin, and he jumped. The way his stomach shuddered with each gasp of breath in between wild laughter made you want him more. You could simply devour him.
Not wanting to go too far, you slowed down. Now, you were lightly dragging your fingers up and down the sides of his stomach. “I like hearing your laughter,” you said quietly, “It’s lovely.” You were barely speaking above a murmur, so you weren’t sure if he could hear you much less understand your words.
“Hehehmmhmm…” Tiny droplets of tears clung to Zayne’s eyelashes, sparkling under the soft overhead light. It took him a moment to realize what you just said, but when he did, Zayne flushed a nice shade of red. His cheeks twitched as residual snickers spilled past his lips. “Thank you,” he mumbled awkwardly. You didn’t blame him. It was an odd compliment considering the circumstances. It was nice seeing him all embarrassed. Zayne shifted slightly, staring off to the side. “I uhahahAHAHA!”
Unfortunately, that little moment of peace had to come to an end because you were once again overcome with the same ruthless mood that started this mess. You began tickling his armpits. He flinched–hard. It didn’t take long for you to find a spot at the very center of his underarms that made him cackle. Your thumbs drilled directly into his armpits, and you snickered at the way he jolted.
“Whoa,” you said in between your own giggles.
“WAHAHAIT!” he practically screamed. “Not thehehehere! Nohot thehereee…!” Zayne managed to flip himself over on his side even though you had been sitting on his legs. Huh. You sat on your knees, hovering over his lower body. He crossed his arms to his chest, effectively blocking you from tickling him. “Ehehehe,” he giggled.
“Come on, please, Zayne?” you asked. “Just five more minutes?” You tried to lift his arm, but he wouldn’t budge.
“No,” Zayne said, slightly out of breath.
You puckered your lips. “What? You can’t handle a little bit of tickling?” You poked down the length of his arm with each word. “Are you too ticklish?”
He shivered. “I’m not–” Zayne began to protest before he thought better of it. He puffed out his cheeks and corrected himself. “I’m not that ticklish.”
You pressed your index finger into his cheek. “I beg to differ.”
“Be quiet.”
You chuckled lightly. “Don’t worry. I think it’s cute.”
“Cute,” Zayne repeated under his breath. “That isn’t a word most people would use to describe me.”
“Well, most people don’t know you the way I do.”
Brushing his bangs out of the way, you leaned down and kissed his temple. His forehead was a bit damp. Probably from sweat. Oops.
Zayne closed his eyes and nodded. Then, to your surprise, he lifted his arm. “Five more minutes,” he said quietly. He glanced at you for a brief second before diverting his attention elsewhere. His ears were redder than you had ever seen them.
You blinked. You blinked again. You were tempted to scoop Zayne in a hug and kiss him repeatedly, but you couldn’t waste this opportunity. Your heart pounded in your chest. Who knew when you would get this chance again?
You reached over and–
Zayne flinched, bringing his arm down before you got close to his underarm. “Sorry, sorry,” he muttered under his breath. He repositioned himself, so he was lying down on his back, again.
“I’m surprised most people don’t call you cute,” you said, pinning his arm above his head. “They’re really missing out on this side of you.”
You lightly dragged the tips of your nails around his underarm, and Zayne’s body went rigid. He bit the inside of his cheek to probably stop himself from breaking into laughter right away, but the way he puckered his lips and scrunched up his face told you everything you needed to know.
Zayne let out an odd, strangled hum, and you knew he was done for. “Aha–ahAHAhaha!” He hiccuped before his laughter softened into sweet giggles.
“Aw, you’re so–”
You weren’t able to finish your sentence because of Zayne’s abrupt cackle when you started clawing at his armpit. “Eeehehahh…HAHA!”
“That was a weird noise,” you said. You prodded at his sensitive skin, wiggling and swirling your thumbs against it as much as you could.
“Shhhehehahaha…shut uhuhuhp!” His free arm lightly batted away at you, but you didn’t let that deter you.
You puckered your lips into a fake pout. “Seriously, Zayne? How rude.” You dug your fingers into his armpit.
You loosened your grip on Zayne’s arm, and it immediately came crashing down, pressing it up against himself. You took this as an opportunity to tickle his other underarm, as well. You quickly spidered your fingers, targeting any spot you could manage.
“AHAHA! Wahahait! Wahait!” The corners of Zayne’s eyes crinkled as he tossed his head to the side, filling the room with the melodious sound of his laughter. “St-stahaHAHAP! I cahahan’t take it! I’m seriOUS! Hahaha!”
Zayne grabbed your hands, prying you off of him. Deciding to be nice, you stopped. You stole a quick kiss from his lips, which was still quirked up in a wide, sappy grin. He sighed as his chest heaved up and down. His chest trembled while he tried to catch his breath.
“You good?” you asked.
Zayne nodded breathlessly. His fingers twitched at his sides. For a moment, you thought he was going to exact his revenge before he grabbed your shoulders. He pulled you down, and you clumsily fell on him with a soft gasp. He liked doing this to you, didn’t he?
“Don’t tease me anymore,” he said into your ear. His voice was slightly weak with just a hint of a pant. He pulled you into a hug, embracing you with two strong arms. “I don’t think I will be able to handle it tonight.” His warm breath brushed against the shell of your ear. You shivered.
You smiled against his collarbone. “I’ll try not to,” you said, cuddling him. “No promises, though.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“Hmm…love you, Zayne,” you whispered into his shirt.
“I love you, too.” He kissed your forehead.
You closed your eyes with a small, content sigh. Zayne’s warmth and peppermint fragrance soothed you. His steady breathing slowed down into long, deep exhales. His chest rose and fell against you, bringing your head up and down with him. You hummed. The witty reply in the back of your mind soon dissipated into nothing but flurries and fairy lights.
Somewhere in the background, the movie finished with the two romantic leads caught in a passionate kiss outside in the snow.
A/N: My former coworker once told me that her boyfriend used to ask her why didn't she let him tickle and kiss her armpit like other couples (apparently) do; so I decided to write a silly little drabble with my beloved Zayne just bc I can hehehehehe~ ofc we're having lee!Zayne because that's my favorite thing dkfnfkfnndf
Also, if you feel like you'll be uncomfortable reading this, then refrain from doing so! ❤️ I think with my lil description you have an idea of what this is going to be about hehe.
He didn't even seem surprised by your proposal. Sitting on the bed, fresh from the shower, on his matching pajamas set with yours, and with his hair still a little wet, he listened to you attentively, nodding and rubbing his chin.
"Yes. Makes sense," he said softly, letting you push him back against the bed and sit on his hips. "It could be something related to pheromones." He obediently raised his arm above his head. "Humans prefer genetically dissimilar partners based on sce-"
He jolted, feeling your nose suddenly pressing against his clothed armpit and you smiled.
Earlier that day, you had heard some co-workers talking about how their partners really liked to do just that. Tara had almost broken a rib laughing so hard, but it didn't sound as weird to you, thinking about Zayne.
He always smelled heavenly. It wasn't unusual for your nose to be pressed against the crook of his neck or that sensitive spot behind his ear. His scent, a combination of his cologne and his own body odor, was addictive to your nostrils.
"Ah, I can see the appeal," you mumbled, taking a deep breath, burying your face more into his armpit. "It does smell good. Ah, that body wash I gave you smells really good on you. I like this."
Zayne was awfully quiet. You thought he'd be talking some more about pheromones and such, but he simply suddenly stopped talking. Taking one more breath, you lifted your face from his armpit and looked at him curiously only to feel your cheeks redden and your heart swell at the sight.
Your boyfriend was covering his mouth with his other hand, trying to hide the silly little smile that was starting to curve his lips. His eyes were closed tightly and his nose was slightly scrunched up.
He wanted to laugh.
You chuckled to yourself as your nose pressed back into his armpit, making him arch a little.
"So, do you think this is normal, Dr. Zayne?"
You nuzzled your nose into his warmth, taking in his delicious scent and Zayne's arm trembled as he let out a shaky breath.
"I... think it's... not uncommon. Like... I s-said, the pheromones- pfft- wahahahait!"
His body tried to jerk away from you as you started to nibble his sensitive skin. His laughter filled your ears and tingles filled your heart. A heavenly scent and a heavenly sound, Zayne was truly an angel?
"What about the pheromones, Dr. Zayne? What's so funny?"
"I think thahat's e-enough! Stahahop!"
"Huh? But I really like your scent! Stop trying to move away!"
Zayne laughed into his hand, trying to pull his arm down, but your hunter strength was no joke. He squirmed and arched off the bed and you giggled along him, pulling away only after torturing him for a few more couple of minutes.
"Did that tickle?" You asked with a smirk, laying on top of him, your face milliliters away from his.
"Ihit d-dihidn't."
You stared at him and after a second, you both broke into giggles, holding each other and rolling around the bed, trying to tickle each other.
Thinking of making a little series with this plot with all four lis huhu
Summary: One night, you come home from a long day at work to make a new discovery: The loving partner you've always known to walk with his head high and hide all emotions beneath an icy-cold demeanor seems to be feeling more than just a bit down. But don't you fear, Dr. Zayne! Your beloved knows exactly what you need to feel better and return to your normal, healthy, self again, both mentally and physically!
CW: SFW, tickling & pure fluff
Word Count: 2,960 (lol im so sry if its way too looong)
A/N: Hey, nice to meet you! I'm sure no one knows me yet, but my name is Violet. New in the tickle community (and LaDs community in general although ive been playing for a long time now). Practically live for LaDS. I hope to get along with all the other authors in this community❤️❤️. Sorry for just barging in like this unannounced! I'll apologize in advance because I know my first ff won't be the best, please feel free to give suggestions since I know everyone has much more experience than me! I will work to improve and try to start posting at least once in a week😅! With this fic about Zayne officially being my first work, I decided to make it more centered on my own personal life. I'm a loner, an extremely introverted quiet homebody. I suffer from depression that leads me into endless holes of emptiness and sadness for no specific reasons. That part of me is kind of what came to shape my fondness for tickling! I hope anyone else going through this can find solace in this fic! Here's to a great future with our boys! (even if LaDS isn't your fave fandom) 🌠❄️🐦⬛🐣🍎
P.S. The people I've tagged are just some authors I really look up to cause I admire your works! Thx!
This is a tickle fic btw!
~₊˚｡⋆❆⋆｡˚₊~
You've just come back from a long and exhausting day at work at the Hunter's Association. You step into you and Zayne's shared apartment, tiredly walking down the hall towards the bedroom. Pushing open the door, you see Zayne lying on the bed, his face turned towards the large window as he looks out at Linkon City's nightscape. His expression is somewhat empty, emotionless. Something seems wrong. You take a step forward.
Zayne can sense your presence, the atmosphere in the room shifting slightly. He doesn't turn to look at you, not right away. Instead, he continues staring out the window, the silence hanging heavily in the air, broken only by the sound of the soft rain outside.
Eventually, he speaks, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're back late."
You walk over, putting your purse on the nightstand as you stand by the foot of the bed. "How was your day?"
Zayne finally turns his head, his gaze moving to fix on you. There's a weariness in his eyes, a tiredness that he usually hides behind his usual cool facade. He takes a moment before replying, his voice low and quiet.
"Long. Busy. The hospital, the same as always. And yours?"
You take off your coat and hang it on the nearby chair where Zayne's white doctor's scrubs already sway in the occasional warm breeze coming from the heater on the floor, getting into the bed. You lie down next to him, both of you just staring up at the ceiling. The room hangs in dullness, a monotonous feeling you don't usually experience when you're with Zayne. "The same. Missions, assigned one after another. Fighting, maybe around seventy Wanderers today."
Zayne turns onto his side, facing you. He says nothing for a few moments, just studying your face in the dim light. There's a faint scent of the outside clinging to your skin. He reaches out, his fingers gently tracing a drop of rain on your cheek.
"You're damp." His gaze falls on your hunter's uniform, the black and red leather soaked.
You nod. With nothing else to say, you decide on just stating the obvious. "It was raining. A little too much."
Zayne's fingers continue their path down your cheek, lingering for a moment on the soft skin of your jawline before they move to a strand of your wet hair.
"You could've just avoided the downpour, you know. Why do you never use the umbrella I gave you for your birthday last year, the one with the snowflakes on it? Instead, you chose to come in like this. You'll catch a cold, Y/N."
You turn from the ceiling to look at him. You crack a half-smile, a lousy attempt at lifting the mood a bit. "Of course. Of course you know that I would run through the rain like a maniac any day than be a sane person and use an umbrella. No matter how long the distance from the Hunter's Association to the bus station."
Zayne can't help but chuckle back softly at your lighthearted comment, his eyes softening as he looks at you. His hand wanders back to your cheek, his touch tender.
"That I do. How could I ever forget my lover's bold and wild personality? How admirable."
His gaze roams over you, his eyes taking in the sight of you in your work outfit. It's a sight he's lucky enough to be able to witness every day. One he's become quite fond of over the years.
You finally bring a hand to gently caress his cheek with the tips of your fingers. Concern and softness line your face and voice. "What is it, Zayne? Why the long face tonight?" There. You've broached the topic.
He leans into your touch, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment. It's as if he's savoring the feel of your fingers on his skin, grounding him in the moment.
"It's nothing, dear. Just a long day."
But even as the words leave his mouth, Zayne knows that's only partly true. There's something lingering beneath the surface, something that's been troubling him all day. "Just... work. The usual. Nothing I can't handle."
He shifts a little on the bed, turning onto his back. He's still looking up at the ceiling, the lines on his forehead deepening as his thoughts seem to weigh heavily on his mind.
Your eyes watch Zayne turn away, a soft smile appearing on your lips. Then the smile fades into an indifferent expression as you suddenly push yourself onto your palms and move swiftly, gently straddling him. You look down at him with a teasing yet nonchalant look in your eyes. One hand resting on one side of Zayne's head, your other hand comes down to gently prod at his side. Your voice comes out low but affectionate, teasing him with a poker face. "Oh, is that so?"
Zayne's eyebrows raise in surprise as you suddenly move to hover over him. It's definitely not something he was expecting, though he can't say he's complaining. He doesn't resist, allowing you to get comfortable on top of him. A hint of curiosity flickers in his eyes as he looks up at you, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement.
"Y/N? What are you doing, l-love?"
You lean down just a bit to look into his eyes with a fond but mocking gaze, your hand continuing to gently tickle his side. The hint of a teasing smile ghosts your lips. "You used my shampoo again, didn't you?"
Zayne can't seem to grasp what you're trying to do, what relevance this has with the situation at hand.
His forehead wrinkles in confusion, looking up at you with a sense of bewilderment and curiosity. But the feather-like touches very quickly start to get the best of him. A little too quickly. Zayne can feel the corners of his lips twitching, a slight grin breaking through despite his best efforts to hold it back.
"Wh-at? Your shahampoo? Wh-whahahat does thahat-"
His body involuntarily twitches a little in response to your tickling. Zayne's lips purse, trying to suppress his smile as he looks up at you with a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"A-ahahnd whaht i-if I dahaiid?"
A hint of defensiveness sneaks into his voice. He doesn't deny it, but he's not exactly confessing either. Zayne's eyes narrow slightly as he tries to figure out where this is going.
The nonchalant smile tugging at the corners of your lips grows just a bit as you continue to poke and prod at the skin from the outside of the soft material of his cardigan . "After I constantly told you not to?"
Zayne's eyes flicker with a hint of guilt. He's caught, he can't deny it. Your insistence had clearly fallen on deaf ears, but he wasn't expecting you to call him out on it.
"Al-alright. I…m-miahaight have- aha- uused it a t-time or- ahah- two. N-now lehet m-me-"
Zayne's eyes stare up at you. Although his expression is sheepish, teeth briskly biting down on his lower lip in a desperate attempt to suppress his growing smile, he's really trying to find clues in your stoic demeanor, trying to decipher the meaning behind all this.
Your poker face doesn't budge, but the slightly amused look in your eye hints that you could chuckle a bit just about now at Zayne's broken and flustered confession. Your hand delivering another swift poke to his stomach cuts him off. "Would you remind me, Zayne, how many times have we gone through this?"
Zayne flinches slightly at the poke, a small frown forming on his lips. He knows he's in trouble now, but he's still trying to play it cool. He stutters, his tone becoming slightly defensive.
"A f-few t-tahahiimes, I- ahaha!- g-guess! Y-Y/N! Wh-What aahare y-you-"
You can't keep yourself from letting out the low chuckle that finally leaves you as you look down at Zayne's confused and giggling expression as he struggles to give in to the temptation to laugh full-on. He really thinks he can just get away like that. You're not going anywhere anytime soon, Dr. Zayne.
Your hand quickens a bit, traveling to his chest with teasing touches. "Hmm, is that so?" You hum in a low voice.
Zayne tries his best to maintain his composure, he really does. But the look in your eyes, the way you're straddling him, your hand still gently tickling his sensitive spots…it's all too much. He can't quite hide the hint of embarrassment in his voice as he giggles, his body jerking sharply underneath you. He glances away, his face flushed.
It's becoming increasingly difficult for Zayne to maintain his stoic demeanor. You bite back a smile of your own. How cute. Looking into his confused and panicked eyes, your bring your hand lower to his stomach, slipping your hand under his cardigan to drag slow, maddening circles around his navel. The corners of your lips almost begin to curl as you watch his hands immediately grab at yours in desperation. "Zayne, dear, would you care to answer a question for me? Would you count stealing as a crime?"
Zayne blinks. He definitely wasn't expecting that. Yet at the same time he's wearily aware of where this is all going, and he doesn't like it. He tilts his head a little, eyes flickering curiously amidst his helpless laughter.
"U-uahahm, yes! Y-yes, I w-wahahaould s-say that steahahealing c-could be c-cahahonsidered a c-crime!"
You hum. "Then would you consider yourself an offender? Of course, if the stolen item was my shampoo."
Zayne's expression flickers for a moment, but as much as he hates to admit it, he has no choice but to submit to his deeds. Just any means by which he can get himself out of this situation. He glances away for a moment, trying to bury his face into the sheets underneath in an attempt of desperation to hide the very rapidly rising blush on his cheeks, his lips parted as sweet giggles pour out.
You tilt your head to the side, your hand rising higher towards his ribs. "Is that so? Then Zayne, darling, would you kindly tell me what all offenders require?"
Zayne swallows thickly, his eyes darting down to your hand as it moves higher towards his ribs, the touch sending a shiver down his spine. You giggle to yourself. Oh, if only everyone was to see you now, Dr. Zayne. They wouldn't be able to recognize you if they tried! Zayne's eyes widen with alarm, body squirming and jerking sharply under your touch, hands flying everywhere, but it's too late. There's no escape now.
His arms immediately flail, his hands coming up, desperately grabbing, pushing, pulling, doing anything in a hopeless attempt to take hold of your skilled fingers in his. You watch Zayne's face contort, unable to hold back the involuntary spasms of giggles and laughter that overtake him as he struggles underneath you. You can't help the smile that tugs at your own lips at the beautiful sight. No matter how much Zayne might lift in the gym or how sharp-witted he may be at the hospital, he's helpless right now. Completely helpless. And the best part is, he knows it. Too well.
You're quick to pin one of his arms under your knee and the other down against the bed with one hand as your free hand taunts at the exposed skin of his underarms. You lock eyes with Zayne, his own widening in surprise and panic amidst the helpless giggles that bubble from his mouth. They sparkle with mischief. Your voice drops to a note even lower. "That's right. Punishment." You speak as you watch him go crazy, shaking and laughing helplessly the moment your hands come into contact with the sensitive skin.
Zayne's body falls into involuntary spasms. He laughs uncontrollably, his body squirming and twisting on the bed as he desperately tries to free himself, but your hold is too strong.
You simply tilt your head, looking down at him. "Hmm? Not here, you say?"
Sweet, strangled laughter flows from Zayne's mouth, his body jerking and twitching beneath you. His arms twist and pull desperately, but you've got him completely immobilized. You know he would never bring his Evol out on you, no matter how "severe" situations might get. At least, in this position, he's too weak to do even a single thing to stop you.
"N-nOhahAhah! S-sToAhahP, pl-plAHehHshese-ahA!"
Something similar to flowers blooms in your chest as you look down at Zayne's brightly lit face. His lips part in the most adorable heart-shaped smile, his eyes shut tight and crinkled with joy. A rosy pink blush stains his cheeks, his hair scattered across the bedsheets as his head shakes back and forth, almost as if trying to get rid of the feather-like but torturous sensation. As your fingers dance along the tender skin, you open your mouth to speak, voice changing as if you're interrogating him.
"I'll let you go. On one condition. That you answer my last question."
Zayne writhes under you, going insane at your gentle touch. As your words fall upon his ears, he nods vigorously.
Your hand travels from his right to his left underarm. "Would you care to tell me, Zayne, why you are so keen on using only my shampoo to wash your hair? There are so many types we buy whenever we go out shopping. Why, then, does only the soap that I use for my hair fall into your hands every time?"
Zayne shrieks, his body jerking and twitching involuntarily. He tries to reply, but all that falls out is more helpless laughter.
"HAahahaAha…! I- I L-liiaHahAke t-the smAheEhell!"
He tries to squirm away, his back arching slightly as he tries to escape your touch, but it's absolutely no use. You hum.
"The smell? Hmm, is that so? And are you implying that your shampoo doesn't have a fragrance?"
Zayne nods vigorously, tiny droplets of pure joy beginning to form in the corners of his closed eyes. His voice comes out labored, chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath between fits of laughter.
"Y-yEAs! N-nOt tHe s-sSAmAhamE! hAhaHaAa…"
"Not the same? Would you care to elaborate for me?"
Zayne's eyes water slightly with mirth, completely at your mercy.
"I- b-bECahAuSe it m-mAHahaKes me th-ThIHink of y-yOuo! HaAHha! I-it remiEhEinds m-mE of y-Ahaoyou every t-time I UuhSese i-iT!"
As quickly as it had started, Zayne's playful torture comes to an end, with you bringing your hands to rest on either side of his head as you look down at him. Your eyes soften a little, just enough not to lose the teasing element in your demeanor. Finally letting the tender smile you had been holding back curl up at the corners of your lips, you let out a soft chuckle, holding his gaze. Bending down until your head is just a few inches from Zayne's ear as you take a soft inhale, you speak in a low but fond voice.
"Keep using it. It smells better on you."
You lift your head up for a moment to hold Zayne's eyes with a gaze of affectionate teasing, the nonchalance never leaving your expression. Then you gently push yourself off him, rolling over to the other end of the bed and pulling the blanket over yourself to look out the window at the lit up city below in one swift move, your back turned towards him.
Zayne blinks, completely breathless and dumbfounded. His heaving body relaxing against the bedsheet as he tries to recover from the tickle attack, his mouth falls open slightly, the surprise, shock, and disbelief reflected on his face as he processes what you've just said. Slowly, a small smile appears on his lips, his eyes softening as he turns to look at your back.
A few moments later, you hear the soft rustling of the sheets, and then finally the familiar warmth and comfort of Zayne's body behind yours.
"Is that why you chose this topic? Because you knew it would get me feeling all fuzzy and loved for on the inside? Because you knew it would help me recover from whatever I was feeling down about? Hmm?"
You don't turn around or say anything, letting his words settle in and the silence to give him his answer. Zayne slowly presses his chest up against your back, his arm wrapping around your waist, pulling you closer to him. He gently nuzzles against your soft hair, inhaling deeply, savoring the familiar scent of your— no, our— shampoo. The rise and fall of our breaths slowly fall into rhythm. For a moment, Zayne just stays there.
Finally, he speaks in a quiet voice.
"You always know just what to say. How do you do it?"
You finally turn around to look up at him. A soft smile ghosts your lips. You lock eyes with him, tenderness and affection taking over your features. Your voice comes out laced with a sense of care, barely a soft whisper. "How do you feel, Zayne?"
Zayne looks down at you, his expression a mixture of tenderness and gratitude. His eyes hold your gaze with a mirrored fondness. His lips part just enough to release a small sigh, his hand coming up to gently caress your cheek.
"Better. So much better."
He pulls you closer, his other hand wrapping around to draw soothing circles on your side, holding you against him. You let his face nuzzle into your silky tendrils again, leaning into his warm embrace. "Much better?"
Zayne nods, his eyes fluttering closed. He feels completely at ease.
"Much better. I don't know how you do it, but you always seem to know exactly what I need to hear in the moment. Exactly what brings me out of the darkness that pulls me in, in a time of need."
Zayne feels a lump form in his throat. He looks down at you with a mix of gratitude and tenderness, as if he never wants to let go. A silent vow to protect you from anything and everything that may ever hurt you, ever dare to try and blow out your candle. Silently thanking the universe for bringing you into his life. He swallows. There's a small pause before he speaks again, his voice barely a whisper.
"Y/N. I love you."
You melt into Zayne's embrace when you see the former tears of laughter turn into those of tender love, bringing a hand to gently brush them away from his eyes. "I love you too, Zayne. Very, very much."
He looks down at you, his eyes tracing over your face, taking in every detail as if it's the first time he's seen you. Then he leans forward, pressing a tender kiss to your forehead.
"Stay with me tonight? I find it easier to sleep when you're by my side and not rushing off to some emergency midnight mission."
Your fingers gently brush across his face, drying Zayne's tears with a tender smile on your own lips. "Always, my love. Always."
Gonna be honest, this one and the next one stumped me for a bit. It took me a good while to come up with the concept and even longer to figure out what characters I was gonna use. Luckily, Silver came to my rescue and picked out Cackle and Zayne for me! Turned out pretty good too of you ask me~ :)
All you gotta do is fess up there, Zayne~ Think you can beat the doctor themself?
"Wait! WAHAhait!" Zayne gasped, his shoulders twisting left and right as much as they were allowed to inside the restrains. "I cahan— I can give you m-more!"
"How much more?" You asked calmly, holding your hand in the air above his chest. Your fingers were curled, poised to strike and tickle every inch of skin you could possibly touch.
"Ahanother g-grahand! I can get it for you right nohOHOHAHA!"
"Doctor," you purred, tickling his armpit for an extra second before stopping again. You watched his chest wave and his back fall down and hit the mattress again, relaxing after he was nearly pushed into hysterics. Nearly, as you couldn't negotiate with a madman, after all.
"I'm sure you understand how important is to have a decent outfit for such a important event, right?" You continued, caressing Zayne's cheek to help him calm down, even when you had your other hand resting against such a terribly ticklish spot. "You're a stylish gentleman, after all, and have your share of tailored suits and a pretty large collection of suits and ti—"
"T-Those ahaharen't all mihine!" Zayne protested, feeling the cold of the damp bedsheet under his warm, nearly boiling-hot body. He knew where you're going with that speech, he remembered you saying something similar before tickling him restlessly for a good, long while. "My p-parents gahave so— ohohokay! Okahay! I'm sohorry!!"
"Good," you chuckled, seeing how easily he folded at the threat of a single feather held near his face. "As I was saying, a good outfit is really important. And that alone isn't enough. You know that too, right?"
"I— hngh… I-I do," he sighed, his heart pounding hard and fast as if it was about to burst out of his chest. He felt his pulse ringing near his ear and his blood flowing and pumping to all places — especially the one it shouldn't be going to right now.
"I see we are finally getting to the same page," you continued, putting the feather down and resting your hand on his stretched shoulders. You looked down at his face and Zayne flashed back at your confident, daring smirk with a panicked, nervous smile. "So I guess you are also realizing how expensive a good outfit, accompanied by good shoes, makeup, jewelry, and an appointment at a competent hairdresser, can be, right?"
"Y-yes, I do," Zayne nodded hurriedly, his lips dry as he pressed them into a thin, tense line. He had finally caught some of his breath and his cheeks had just started to return to their natural color — losing that intense, burning shade of pink from just now. You could see how he was trying to come up with the right words. "A-and I, ahm… c-can help you with some of the funds for—"
"'Some' of the funds, Dr. Li?" You narrowed your eyes.
"I m-mean, three a-and a half thousand gold sound p-pretty reasonable for a whole set, no? I can help you sho— w-wait, I-I'm not dohone talking!"
"Yes," you sighed, reaching for a nearby bottle of massage oil and popping it open. You could see the dread in Zayne's face with the corner of your eye as you poured it in your hands, "but I'm not interested in some pocket change. I know we can get into a much more interesting deal."
"F-fine! Fihihive thousand gold, then! I-is that better?" Zayne gasped, pushing his head back and kicking his feet behind you as he saw your hands approaching his body. "N-no? Thehen how about t-ten? Lohove, p-plehease, I wihihill go brohohOHOH— AHAHAH PLEHEHEASE!"
"I'm sure you will," you grinned, "broke or broken, Zayne. You name it."
A/N: Before Zayne's protection squad comes for my throat for the mistreating, do know that Zayne's wife herself ( @ticklygiggles ) approved this for today's prompt. Ehe.
Fabi fabiii~ may I request ZAYNE x reader (I'll block you if you write Caleb), please~?
Lee!Zayne hehehehehe maybeeeee he's a little drunk and a little giggly? 🥺🥺🥺 But whatever is fine honestly!
Also, feel free to ignore this if it doesn't inspire you! Thank you! I love you MWAAAH 💕
[Requests open]
Hello my dearest dear! I'm glad you decided to stop by and I hope you like this little crooked drabble, ehe
You giggled as Zayne tripped over his own feet. He probably would have fallen face first if it weren’t for you supporting him. “Zayne, I think you’re drunk,” you teased, his arm wrapped around your shoulder as you slowly guided him towards his car.
“I’m- …not,” Zayne narrowed his eyes, trying to get his sight to work again while the world seemed to spin around you and him. “I’m fine, but I- I appreciate the concern. You can let me go-”
“I can not, you’ll fall,” you retorted, stopping by the side of his car and letting him lean against. “Where are the keys?”
“...what?”
“Sigh, the car keys, Zayne. How am I supposed to drive without them?” You chuckled, you couldn’t even get mad at him. It was so fun to see him so lethargic - so unlike him.
“You will… drive my car?” He asked, blinking slowly like some sort of lizard, “but I can drive, I’m fi-iHih- w-wait, whahat are you dohoing?”
“There is no way I’m letting you drive us home. I should get you a fine just for thinking of doing it right now,” you scolded, understanding you’d be getting nowhere before sunrise if you were going to wait for him to take action. You reached for his pockets, palming and poking around his waist, hips and even up to his ribs.
Of course, you knew the car keys wouldn’t be there, but since you were already at it, what’s the harm? “C’mon, where did you put them?”
“I-I dohohon’t remember! A-Ahah, let meheh think,” Zayne giggled, leaning against the car and turning his face away as he laughed, his face getting even redder.
“You don’t know where you left your own car keys? And you wanted me to let you-”
“Ah!”
“Found them,” you smirked, your hand groping his asscheek. You squeezed it a couple times before sliding your hand into the pocket on the back of his pants.
“...was that necessary?”
“I don’t know, think about it when you’re sober. Now get in, let me take you home, yes? ~”
Summary: It's time to take some cute pictures at the photo booth! But wait...Zayne isn't smiling. Good thing you have a solution.
Word Count: 1,788
This is a tickle fic btw!
~🍓~
You trekked around the mall with a penguin plushie in one hand and Zayne’s hand in the other. His fingers were quite cold, which you would have normally assumed was due to his Evol, but you knew it was because he had only just thrown away the extra-large slushie he had bought earlier. It was cute how Zayne couldn’t resist sweets, but dang, couldn’t he have bought a piece of candy or a treat that was a little warmer?
Zayne absentmindedly brushed his thumb against your hand, only stopping when you halted in the middle of the mall. “What’s wrong?” he asked, scanning the area in front of you. There wasn’t anything of note except for the department stores, a couple of kiosks selling jewelry, and one other thing.
You pointed toward the far side of the wall near where a couple of shoppers were milling about. “Photo booth,” you said dreamily. It was honestly a pretty small thing, but the glittery lights and the cutesy polka dots that decorated the small pink and blue box told you everything you needed to know.
“Ah, is that all?”
“What do you mean?” You wagged an index finger in front of his face. “This is a Twinkle Photo Booth! I heard the mall was getting one, but I didn’t know it was going to be this soon.” You tugged on Zayne’s arm. “Do you want to take a photo with me?”
Zayne sighed. A helpless look briefly crossed his face. You knew that he was incapable of saying no to you. You could be very persuasive when you wanted to be.
He nodded, allowing you to drag him across the mall. “Fine, let’s take a couple of photos.”
You laughed victoriously and slipped inside the photo booth with Zayne trailing behind you. You placed your penguin plushie on one side of the bench so that Zayne could sit on your other side. When he settled next to you, he reached over and dragged the curtain closed to give you two some privacy. Before you could get your wallet out, Zayne had already fed the money into the machine. He paid for a standard four-photo set.
You pretended to pout. “I was going to pay.”
“Too bad. I already did,” he said.
“So cold.” You shook your head playfully and turned to face the camera in front of you. The screen below it lit up, and you could see you and Zayne staring back at yourselves. Unfortunately, your plushie was a bit too short to be properly seen, so you picked it up and pressed it against your chest. A countdown was displayed on the screen, and you pulled out your patented peace sign—the perfect photo booth pose. Although your smile was dazzling and took up half of your face, Zayne’s expression looked like he had just seen a car crash. His eyebrows were furrowed, with his lips stuck perpetually in a straight line.
The camera flashed. It had taken your first photo.
You wrinkled your nose. “Zayne? Why aren’t you smiling?”
He tilted his head to the side, seemingly genuinely puzzled. “What do you mean? I am smiling.” Zayne pointed to his lips, which had not budged a centimeter.
“No, you’re not,” you said. “You look so serious.” You placed your penguin plush to the side. “We’re not in the hospital right now, Dr. Zayne. You can afford to relax.” You waggled your shoulders playfully, which only seemed to confuse Zayne even more.
“Not everyone can have your bubbly demeanor,” he teased, brushing a lock of hair across your forehead.
“Maybe not,” you reluctantly agreed, “but everyone can smile.” You leaned closer to Zayne and pinched his torso.
He jolted, his back straightening up. “What are you doing?” he asked. His words came out slightly rushed, and if you listened closely, you could hear the smallest wobble at the end of his sentence.
You squeezed the area just above his hip, and Zayne lurched away from your touch. “What does it look like? I’m just trying to help.”
Your fingers danced up his sides, causing Zayne to push himself against the back of the wall. “Stahap that–!” he giggled. His cheeks turned red at the sound of his own laughter.
Another flash! Second photo down.
You spidered your fingertips up and down his ribs, which made Zayne choke on his spit. “But you have such a pretty smile,” you said.
It was true. Sunlight seemed to beam directly on Zayne’s face as his laughter danced in the air. It was alluring—almost impossible to look away from. His lips curled up shakily as though his body wasn’t used to doing something that seemed second nature to you.
“Waihihit, plehease!” He curled in on himself, but that didn’t stop you from pivoting to tickle his thighs. “Ahahah!” Zayne kicked out in surprise, but you dodged him. You had years of hunter training to thank for that. “Someone wihihill hear us!” He bit his lips to try to muffle the sounds of his own giggling, but it wasn’t particularly effective.
“I think that’s…” You stopped when you felt something awkwardly grasping at your stomach. Zayne had managed to fight back from your so-called tickle torture. His fingers flexed against your shirt once and then twice when you didn’t react. Zayne’s face scrunched up slightly—the same way it did when he was dealing with a difficult case. “Ah, sorry, Zayne, but I’m not very ticklish myself.”
A third flash. One more to go.
He perked up in surprise, but kept trying to tickle you, and you had to admire how persistent he was being. Although Zayne didn’t look like it at first glance, he could be quite stubborn. While that personality trait was effective when researching potential treatments for his patients, he was only locked in a losing battle right now.
Zayne tried clawing at your sides and then your hips, but all you did was shrug. “But you used to be.” He was referring to the tickle fights you would have as children. They were admittedly few and far between (Zayne seemed reluctant to touch you as children), but you vaguely recalled that the two of you seemed to be on a somewhat equal playing field whenever you did fight.
“I suppose I grew out of it.” Your eyes twinkled mischievously. “And you didn’t.”
Zayne frowned. It almost looked like he was pouting. You weren’t sure if that or his smile was cuter. “I don’t understand.” He half-heartedly drilled his thumbs into your underarms. “You are the most vivacious, lively person I know. You find humor in everything, and I can rarely find you without a smile or a joke up your sleeve.” He squeezed your sides in defeat. “How are you not ticklish?”
You laughed, but only at how surprisingly childish Zayne was being. You didn’t expect him to be so hung up on what was practically nothing. You took this opportunity to sneak in another attack. Your fingertips glided up his lower back, and Zayne gasped. He tried to push you away, but you latched onto his armpits. He managed to fight off his laughter for just a few seconds before breaking into a light, airy sort of giggle. His voice was deep but surprisingly carefree, or as carefree as he could have been with you being a little shit.
“Honestly, I’m more surprised about you, Dr. Zayne.” You prodded at his armpits, which seemed to drive Zayne up the wall. He trembled and twitched in a desperate attempt to get away from you.
“Yoohoohou…!” he whined.
“I mean,” you continued, ignoring him, “you are always so quiet and reserved. Who would have known that you would still be so ticklish all these years later?”
Zayne flushed from his ears all the way to his neck from your teasing. Dang, you barely even said anything. He jumped this way and that. “Noooo!” he hiccuped. “Stohop tihihihckling me!”
Yet another flash.
Oh! “That was the last photo!” you called out.
You leaped up from the bench and tossed open the curtain just in time to see the photo booth print out your four snapshots on two strips of paper. You swiped the pictures and turned around to see that Zayne had collapsed on the bench.
His cheeks were still a bright shade of reddish pink, and his sweater was disheveled and wrinkled in ways you didn’t think were possible. His collared shirt underneath didn’t fare any better as one side of his collar had popped out of the neckline, and the other one was seemingly lost in the expanse of his sweater. He placed his hands over his chest, and you could see how quickly it was rising and falling with each labored breath.
What was even worse was that your penguin plush had somehow ended up on the floor during the kerfuffle.
You might have gone just a bit too far this time.
“Oops, sorry,” you said, scratching the back of your head. “Are you okay, Zayne?”
He nodded and sat up. “I’m fine.” He straightened out his sweater. “You are quite…” he paused for a moment. “...tenacious, aren’t you?” He cleared his throat.
You smiled awkwardly.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “It’s one of the many things I like about you.”
Zayne stood up and held out his hand expectantly.
You hadn’t even looked at your photos yet. You glanced down and saw that, while the first photo looked pretty normal (albeit with a straight-faced Zayne), the second and fourth ones featured Zayne’s features all contorted into hysterical laughter, complete with red cheeks and tiny pricks of tears in his eyes.
The third picture was your favorite as it captured a rare disappointed Zayne—furrowed eyebrows and all. Honestly, that was even rarer than a grinning Zayne. Perhaps Zayne didn’t need to smile to capture a great photo, after all.
You giggled before tearing paper in half to give Zayne one of the strips. The corners of his eyes crinkled slightly, and he let out a soft chuckle as he took in each individual photo. “These are perfect. I will have to take your advice more often.”
“Really?” you said, your face lighting up. You grabbed your penguin plushie before heading out of the photo booth. Zayne grabbed your hand, and you two continued your walk around the mall. “Does that mean I can tickle you whenever I want?”
Zayne shook his head. His eyebrows did that adorable furrowing thing that you had grown to like. “I wouldn’t take it that far, but…” he hesitated when he saw you wilt. “...ah…maybe. Some other time, though.”
You cheered and tugged on his arm in delight. Zayne knew just how to make you smile.
