The fae HD makes a deal with the demon 4K. HD will be the demons personal tickle toy for all eternity, as long as 4K leaves humans alone. But eternity is a long long time MINORS DO NOT INTERACT
This blog will only be used for posting up my AU fic The Knot to Tie a Fae and a Demon and any other stuff to do with it if that ever happens(art, short one-shots).
This is an AU fic using the characters Sapnap4K and GeorgeHD, godly counterparts of Sapnap and George from the dream team. The AU has nothing to do with the dream team or dsmp but if you don’t like either of those things best to give this blog a miss. The characters will only be referred to as 4K and HD.
This fic is romantic and very heavily about tickling.
This fic is not safe for work. I don’t want minors or any sfw blogs reading or interacting. If any minors follow/like/reblog it’s an instant block. If any sfw blogs reblog or like when their likes are public, it's an instant block.
Hello. Thought I'd do an update here finally. I honestly thought I had but apparently not. Oops.
As is probably obvious this story is on hiatus and probably cancelled. I still adore this story and have two chapters finished (with the third half done) but I am just really uncomfortable posting them up here.
The fic becomes full nsfw and I'm just so uncomfortable with this account being tied to my sfw one. There was no way around it as it's obvious it would be me. I've tried to set boundaries and clear warnings, and stated I don't want any new chapters being reblogged but even with all that in place I'm not comfortable posting it here.
Sorry it's not a good update. I will be finishing the story but it's probably not going to be posted. I'm not saying never and maybe one day I'll wake up and all the doubt I had will be gone, but that won't be any time soon.
I'm sorry to disappoint you all. I'd love to share this story and it's ending with you all so you can all see the ending the boys deserve but it's just not happening right now. Sorry.
Take all the time you need to feel comfortable with your story Coven. This is your story, tell it how you want to. I’m fine to wait for it, because if you’re not having fun then it’s no good. 😊🩷
If I could pick you up and kiss you on your sweet head I would
There has been absolutely no work done on the story due to irl stuff. Now things have somewhat calmed down I'm hoping to finish chapter 7 soon and then make a start on chapter 8 before I post chapter 6
sorry for the silence everyone. other things came up and took priority over the fic. Chapter 6 is done, chapter 7 is still halfway. I've not been working on it much due to other stuff and just unsure how to release the future chapters. But now I've thought of a solution.
I no longer want any chapters of this fic reblogged. The fic is now classed as full nsfw and chapter 7 forward it will feature nsfw scenes. I'd rather it just not be reblogged anymore than constantly worrying. There isn't anything I can do for the chapters previously that have been reblogged but future posts I don't want reblogged at all. Even if your blog is nsfw.
Each new chapter will have warnings on them not to reblog it. If you really want to show support you can just like or give a reply.
thank you all for your patience and sorry for long stretch of no content. hopefully when things quiet down i can work on this story again.
Do you have any updates on when the next chapter will be out?
No pressure 🤍
The next chapter is done, just needs art. Chapter after that is about half-way. But I'm still unsure how I want to post the story going forward so no clear update or promise. Sorry.
Chapter 6 is done but it will be a while before it gets released. I want to have at least 2 chapters done before I release it (as well as work on other things) and I honestly don't know how I'm going to release the story from then on.
I've got the next chapters all planned out and starting from chapter 7 onwards, the fics are just nsfw. Like full on scenes of nsfw not just mentions. I've thought censoring the fics somewhat like just "fading to black" on those scenes but I'm not happy with that and it cuts out a bunch of stuff. Yet I'm uncomfortable posting the scenes here so neither option is helpful lol
I've got a while to think of a solution since the chapters and art will take a while to make but just wanted to throw this out there in case the blog goes quiet for a long time
thanks again for everyones support. every like, comment and reblog mean the world to me
4K isn't the only demon in the world. Another demon wants to challenge 4K and take the mountain for themselves and despite HD's instance to help, 4K won't let him. HD isn't going to let this rival demon ruin his deal, or hurt his 4K.
Chapter 5 finally here and it is a LONG one. I mean it, I think this was one of my longest fics ever for this site. Regretably there isn't a lot of tickling in it but the tickling that is in it is worth it I would say. There's more a focus on 4K and HD's feelings and their backstories on this one but please do enjoy it.
4K was a demon who wore his expressions so easily. He had his heart on his sleeve and said whatever he was thinking. It was always easy to see what mood he was in because the demon had the worst poker face. HD had kept his guard up that 4K’s constant smiling and positive attitude were just a front for something, but after months of living together he could only believe that it was just truly how 4K was.
So when 4K woke up that day with a down turned lip and no shine in his eyes, HD knew something must have been very wrong.
The sunlight streamed in tiny beams through HD’s thicket, shining on him and slowly drawing him awake. It was past noon and he was alone. Usually 4K would wake HD or he’d be somewhere close by in the glade, waiting for him to wake up. It was the first time in a while HD woke up and the demon was nowhere around, but he tried to quell any worries as he shimmied himself out the thicket and walked into the cave.
It was a warm day outside but the cave felt cold and darker than usual. HD drew his grass cloak more around himself as 4K walked out from the deeper cavern.
It was clear to see something was off with the demon. His smile and bright personality was gone, but even the way he stood and walked seemed slow. His shoulders slumped and his steps were hesitant. It even seemed like his wild hair, kept in its tie, had lost it’s lustre.
4K didn’t even notice HD at first until he stepped closer. He seemed lost in some sort of trance, snapped out as he looked over to HD. “Oh…h-hello.”
His voice was cold and distant, such a turn from his usually upbeat tone that HD’s concern turned to full out worry.
“There’s fruit for breakfast in-”
“Is everything okay?”
HD cut in, too on edge to wait for 4K to finish, but it seemed to snap 4K more out of his trance to be interrupted. His eyes had more life in them as he blinked to HD. His jaw hung slack and open before he quickly shut it, taking in a slow breath through his nose.
“There’s a dead body in the mountain…”
Out of the long anxiety list that HD made up in his head, he didn’t have this on it at all. Of course it was a worrying situation but it was so far out of HD’s possibility. “Oh…” He kept the hesitation out of his voice, trying instead to sound sorrowful. “Do you know when or…how?”
“It was sometime last night, they weren’t there before I went to sleep. A-And…” 4K hesitated with an uncertainty HD had never seen the demon have. He pursed his lips, a part of it catching on his snag tooth and drawing blood. HD opened his mouth to mention it when 4K continued. “They were put there by another demon.”
“O-Oh…”
Oh.
Despite only knowing 4K for a few months, it never really occurred to HD that the other demons wouldn’t be like 4K. But of course demons weren’t just good natured and kind usually. His whole point of striking up the partnership with 4K was specifically because he knew that reason. His gentle time with 4K seemed to make him forget.
“I need to take care of it.” 4K’s voice was sure, but heavy with his resistance.
The offer came so easily, HD didn’t need to think about it. “Do you want help?”
4K looked almost shocked HD even offered. “You… You don’t have to.”
“I want to help.”
4K’s dim eyes glowed for just a moment, and a grateful smile finally lifted his face. “Th-Thank you.” He sighed. “If it’s alright, could we deal with it now? I just… I don’t like knowing they’re there.”
“Of course. Lead on.”
The two went down the cavern, venturing deeper into the tunnel than HD had ever gone. There were still a few candles lit and lanterns hanging from the walls, but the deeper in the went, the fewer there were, until eventually the caves slowly became rougher and the only light was from the occasional crystal peeking out the stones. It got colder the further they travelled in, enough for HD’s skin to prickle with goosebumps and he wished he’d taken his cloak with him.
HD always thought he had good eyesight for the dark but that was always under a night sky. In a cave he was practically blind, yet 4K took such confident steps ahead of him. It was only when HD started to slow down did 4K reach back and link his hand with HD’s.
“Stay close. The caves open up and have some holes to the surface further in. Just a little bit more to go and we can get our bearings.”
4K’s hand was warm, and his calloused palms were a grounding comfort in the darkness. HD held on tight and followed each step. “Where is the body exactly?”
“I… I don’t know.” 4K admitted.
“You don’t? I thought you knew everything on this mountain?”
“I do. I’m supposed to. It’s tricky with other demons, they can hide themselves from me if I’m not paying attention. But this body… I should be able to know where they are but I don’t.”
It was clear it worried 4K. If not from the mood he was in then from how concerned his voice was. Or…was it mournful?
Eventually the caves did open up, as 4K said. The tunnel lead out to a wide open cavern. The ceiling was impossibly high, with stalactites dripping water down to the jagged rocky floor and small speckles of sunlight shining in. There were a few pools of water flowing into an unsteady stream further in the cave.
“Do you have an idea where to look?” HD asked hopefully. Of course he offered his help and would gladly do it, but he could see the caves inside the mountains were bigger than he thought and there were more tunnels he could just about make out in the darkness. He was starting to doubt if they could find the body today.
“They’re close.” 4K sounded sure, which HD was thankful for. “I can’t explain it but I can feel them. They’re… There they are!”
Some morbid relief swept through HD until he saw the body. Then he felt sick.
The body was stuck between some sharp rocks in the stream, but it was bloated and pale, having been in the water probably all night. Even from a distance across the cavern, HD could see the lashes and tears all over the body, though their skin was a muted grey from the water and the wounds were a pale white. They had been torn a part before placed or thrown into the mountain.
There was an easy enough path to get to the body, though the closer they got the more 4K’s steps faltered until he had stopped altogether. He wasn’t far from the body, but he kept a few feet between him and the water’s edge while HD carefully stepped further. The ground was jagged and uncomfortable, but HD was too focused to care.
The injuries all over the body weren’t random as HD had thought before. While there were deep cuts and slashes along the body, there was also symbols carefully marked out along the bloated skin. They seemed like runes though not any HD recognised.
“They’re demonic scripts.” 4K answered the unasked question. HD looked up and saw the demon still hadn’t moved any closer. “That’s how I couldn’t see them.” He mumbled.
“This ones covered in them.” HD pointed out. It seemed any space of skin not marked with a wound was given the mark. The scripts seemed old compared to the other cuts. They looked more like old scars, paler and more raised up against the skin with a slight shimmer to them. Though it was hard to judge from the state of the body.
“Just one of them would be needed. The demon is trying to send a message.” 4K concluded grimly.
HD gave a quickly look up and around the caves. The stream the body was on split further down, one leading off to one of the pools which lead deeper into the cave and another that went towards and under the mountain walls. “Does that stream lead out?” He asked with a point.
“Y…Yes…” 4K answered unsure, but HD trusted it. He knew the mountain best.
“If we move the body out, let it float down and lead it down that stream, we can get them out of the mountain.” He explained. HD quickly looked around and saw an opening on a platform further up that could take them out the mountain. It wouldn’t be too far a climb down and it should be close to the stream.
“I-I…” 4K’s voice shook and HD turned towards him. “I… I can’t touch…”
HD understood. “I’ll handle it.” He quickly stood up, trying to look around for something to help.
“I’m sorry. I…”
“Don’t worry about it.” HD kept his voice soft. “Just keep watch.”
There was a slim stone broken off from a boulder that HD quickly grabbed. It was sturdy enough for what it needed as he manoeuvred the body away from the rocks. He managed to use the stone to keep the body slow down the stream, leading it down the right path and out. The two quickly climbed out then, heading out to a small ledge at the side of the mountain that was an easy enough climb down.
This side of the mountain was thick with shrubbery and low trees. There was no marked path but there was some elephant path through the trees that they followed. There was a bridge over a river the two followed it towards the mountain to find the stream leading out of it, and the body slowly floating down.
It was the part HD wasn’t looking forward to, but he gathered what strength he had and reached down to the body. The skin felt slimy and awful. Every part of HD wanted to gag and wash himself of the feeling, but his thoughts of this poor victim kept him still. How awful to be used as a warning. They deserved a proper burial at least.
Even as the body was hoisted out of the water, HD couldn’t even tell if it was a male or female. They’d been mutilated so horribly and their bloated skin hid all of their features.
“I’m going to make a small grave for them.” 4K spoke. The first time in a while since HD started dealing with the body. “Just for now. I just need to grab a shovel.”
“No it’s fine.” HD said and quickly looked around. “Let me just…find somewhere.”
“A-Are you sure? You’ve done enough.”
“No no, I can get it. Just…”
There was a spot not far from the stream where the thickets thinned just enough space. With effort HD dragged the body closer and held out his hand over the earth.
It had been so long since he had to use his magic but just like with making the deal it came so naturally. He was a fair folk and the earth responded to him; the soil shifting to his call and slowly crawling out of the way to make a small grave.
“Wha… What is…” 4K marvelled and slowly stepped behind HD.
“Faes have magic.” HD explained, almost amused by 4K’s interest if not for the situation they were. “I’ve never had to use it much. Never thought it would come in handy for…this.”
The dirt moved to the side, creating a makeshift grave. HD rolled the body in, having the dirt cover over them. It was deep enough for the body, but the grave would be noticed from the road.
HD stood and wiped his hands off on his tunic. He’d still need to wash to get the feeling truly off his skin, but it would do for now.
“Thank you for that.” 4K spoke as the two made their way back to the mountain. It was quicker back through the caves than walking around. 4K hoisted HD up to the ledge and climbed up after him. Only then he spoke. “I didn’t mean to make you deal with all that.”
“No, it’s alright.” HD quickly soothed. “I’m just…upset something like that happened. Due to another demon, you said?”
“Yes.” 4K voice was grim again. “That will need dealt with soon.”
They made their way back to the dark tunnels, walking slowly to avoid the sharp stones.
“What’s going to happen?” HD asked. He was trying to keep slow and watch for the rough ground, but he tried to keep up with 4K, only being about to make out a vague shadow. “Why would another demon do…that?”
“It’s a warning.” 4K replied. “They mean to challenge me.”
The light of the lanterns came just into view. HD had never been so relieved to see them. His steps were more confident and the tunnel opened up enough he could walk beside 4K.
“The runes all over the body were a message.” 4K continued. “This demon wants to challenge me for the mountain I’m assuming.”
“But…why leave a message? Why not just attack you outright?”
“It’s not how it’s usually done. If it was a pack coming for my territory they would have as they have the numbers. If it’s a lone demon they’re probably trying to scope it out and finding the best way to attack.”
The tunnel finally opened up to the first cavern of the cave. It felt like the first breath of fresh air HD had for a while. Safe, but still unclean. They kept their hands tense and far away from their body, something that 4K took notice when he turned to look at HD.
“Sorry. You probably want to wash. I didn’t think.”
“Don’t worry about it.” HD resisted the urge to shake his hands. “Let me quickly wash at the waterfall.”
“I’ll get you soap.”
4K returned with one of HD’s favourite soap - the rose scented one - and despite HD’s assurance he’d only be washing his arms, 4K left for HD to bathe under the waterfall. While he’d give himself a full wash later, HD quickly got to work lathering up his arms and washing the suds off. It took a few tries for the slimy feeling to really go away, but HD worked fast. 4K was so unusually uncertain, HD worried at any moment he could close himself off when the threat of this demon was clearly bothering him. Even if he was curious, HD was also sympathetic. He wanted to help 4K anyway he could.
Luckily, his fears seem unfounded. As he washed off his arms for the last time and returned back into the cave, 4K was waiting with a towel at the ready at the nest of furs by the wall. HD’s heart was elated, but he didn’t let it show as he settled down in the blankets beside 4K. Before he could talk though, 4K took one of his arms into the towel and began to dry him.
“You don’t have to…” HD’s cheeks flushed. He felt almost bashful to the soft attention.
“It feels like this is the least I could do to help.” 4K laughed softly. He gently worked his way down HD’s arm, careful around his wrist and finally going to his hands.
“Almost feels like I’m being pampered.” HD pointed out as 4K seemed to take great care with his hand. It felt like a massage as 4K’s thumb pressed into his palm and soothed out over his thumb. HD had to suppress a moan when the towel ticklishly traced down each of his fingers.
“You deserve to be pampered. Especially after helping me.”
HD gave a careful look up to 4K, who was focused on HD’s other arm now. “The runes… Do they make it so you can’t touch the body?”
4K’s lip twitched and his hands faltered. HD wanted to take it back, but 4K spoke. “No. I just… I can’t handle dead things. It’s like a phobia I guess.”
“Oh. I’m sorry…” HD quickly apologised. “I didn’t realise.”
“No it’s fine.” 4K finished drying and set the towel down. He ran his hand over HD’s arm as a sort of last check that made the fae shiver, but 4K ever mentioned it. “I have to thank you properly, I really don’t know what I would have done.”
He pulled his hand back from HD’s arm and he looked up to the fae with a bright smile. “How can I make it up to you?” He asked but then was struck by an idea and quickly added. “How about you can ask any questions you want today? No tickling required.”
That was an offer HD was more than happy to accept. He pushed aside the small part disappointment that he refused to acknowledge and clarified. “You sure you want it to be any amount of questions? What if I run out for the future?”
“Aw, well…” 4K hummed. “Okay. three questions then.”
Three. HD could manage three and still find more to ask. Three was good. Especially after today, he had a lot of questions.
“The rune on the body, what did it mean? I thought it might be a spell but I couldn’t feel anything. Is it a language?”
4K gave a half shrug. “Yes and no. It’s like a specific language to each demon. A rune for us is a mark of ownership. Each demon is born knowing a symbol. That’s your rune. Demons use it to mark…” 4K looked at HD and bit his lip slightly. The words caught in his throat, and he cleared it to speak. “It can be used to mark any thralls. Sometimes demons take servants and mark them. The mark shields them from being tracked by other demons and it means they can always know where their servants are.”
It wasn’t news to HD that demons took people to serve them, but the rune system he hadn’t even the slightest idea about. “Do you have a rune?” He asked, and 4K nodded. “Can you show me?”
4K looked around as if he’d suddenly find ink and paper, until he turned to the wall and settled there. He half turned his body, bringing his claw up to scratch a mark in.
It was almost like an ‘X’ shape but not quite. There were two lines running parallel to one another from top right to bottom left. The line above had a hook, connecting to the other line. The line going left to right was also slightly off. The tip of it had a hook shape as well, and when it touched the second line it split into two. One went down, the other carried on the path.
It was a nonsensical symbol, nothing HD had ever seen. It looked like an almost X but then when he blinked it could almost look like an ‘M’ shape, and then almost like an ‘A’.
“Mine couldn’t just be simple, huh?” 4K chuckled and drew his claw back. He was admiring the symbol like he hadn’t seen it in so long. Maybe he hadn’t.
“I’ve never seen this before… Do you mark the mountain with it? Do you keep it hidden?”
4K gave an awkward shrug. “No. Most demons don’t use the ruin for territories. Living in a pack means there will be many runes. And marking as a lone demon makes you a target. Plus I wouldn’t be opposed to sharing. Don’t get me wrong, the mountain is mine, but if another demon needed shelter, or even if they wanted just the caves inside I wouldn’t mind that arrangement.”
HD studied the mark some more. He opened his mouth but was quickly cut off as 4K spoke again.
“That is all I will answer about runes.” He said and quickly added when he saw HD’s panicked expression. “You still have two questions. Of course I’ll answer any small follow up questions and they won’t count. But if you want to talk about the rune anymore, it counts.”
HD pouted in an expression he could only hope was cute as he asked. “Can I just have one more about the rune? Please?”
4K tried to look stern, but it was useless. It was so lucky HD knew how cute he was. He knew just how far to push it. The demon sighed. “Fine. One more.”
“How come you never…put the rune on me?”
4K’s face twisted as HD expected it would. “You are not my slave, or thrall. You don’t belong to me.”
“I mean…technically I do.” HD pointed out. “I’m your tickle toy for as long as our deal lasts.”
“It sounds almost like you want the rune.”
“I’m just curious.” HD quickly defended. “Did you ever think of use it on me? Even for just a split second?”
4K paused before he answered. “Yes. I did. When you first offered up the deal. I thought for one moment maybe I should have it as safety, so you couldn’t just cancel the deal at any time. But our marks are permanent. They cannot fade, or be removed unless the demon dies. It was an extreme thought and your deal was fairer, were we both agree.” He looked over at HD with a softness that moved the fae’s heart. “I’d never want to trap you where you don’t want to be. I’d never want to force you to stay with me. A rune would have been too much to ask.”
HD suddenly realised that if 4K had been a crueller demon, had just offered the rune and not explained everything then there was a chance HD would have been stuck with it. He would like to believe he would be wary and question and refuse if it happened but he couldn’t be sure. For now he was just grateful 4K had the heart he had.
“Now, that’s your last question of the rune gone. You’ve got two more left.”
HD accepted that. He had more questions at the ready anyway. “You said there you’d be fine with a demon living on the mountain, or under it I guess, but you said demons were territorial, only being allowed in packs. Have you ever been in a pack before? With other demons?”
“Nope.” 4K shook his head. “Never.”
“Is that common? For demons to go without a pack?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say common. It’s…situational.” 4K struggled to find the right words. He had been slowly leaning back against the wall, getting himself comfy now as he answered. “Packs are only made up of family. Siblings specifically. Demon parents aren’t uh…well nature wise they aren’t great at raising the kid. They’ll look out for them until they reach a certain age, but then they’re on their own. If they have another child, it becomes the oldest’s responsibility to take care and look after them. It all depends on how many kids the parent has.”
HD blinked rapidly, his mind processing the information. “So you’re packless because…your parents didn’t have another child?” He asked.
“Pretty much.” 4K shrugged. “I mean, they could have and just couldn’t find me so sent the kid out. Personally I think that’s more likely.”
“Have you ever seen your parents since going out on your own?”
“No, and I don’t really want to.” 4K’s voice was colder. “They weren’t great when I was with them. Dad only showed up every once in a while to throw food at us. Mom was…well lets just say when they told me I was on my own I wasn’t upset. That’s the last I saw of them.”
The concept was so alien to HD but understandable. It wasn’t like he was even in contact to any of his own now, but in the beginning HD was as close to his kin as any fae was. Blood or found, a family was important to a fae. It was ingrained into the fairie folks being to adore, love and seek out family.
Well not so much now he was the kin killer, but before that HD was never far from any of his siblings. The idea of a small family also seemed so alien. HD’s own family had countless half-siblings to him.
“Some lone siblings do try and make a pack together but it never works out. And I was never really interested in that. But those in a pack usually stay until they find a mate, then they go off as a couple.”
HD eyed 4K warily because they knew how he was take the question. But still HD took in a quiet breath to ask. “Do demons mate for life?”
4K’s eyes were on them and even as HD tried to brace themselves for the tease, the normal question threw him off.
“I’d say that counts as a new question.”
“Wha-No!” HD snapped. “That still counts to the last one!”
“I don’t think so. Last one was about packs now it’s about mates. Different topic.”
HD huffed, letting out a little whine of annoyance but he relented. “Fine.” He pouted. “Last question. Do demons mate for life?”
“Hmm. We can, but I’ve honestly never seen any actually do it.” 4K explained. “Our runes can also be used on other demons. On anyone else it’s a mark of ownership but if it’s placed on another demon, and they also place their mark on you, it’s an equal showing of love. The mark isn’t coming off unless one of them dies and demons live for a long, long time.”
HD filed that information away, but he had so many more thoughts on the nature of runes to demons. They were more important than HD had thought, but that was also useful information should he ever need to hunt a demon down. If he could find anyone marked, or if a territory had these runes it could give him an advantage.
“I’m personally not a fan of it.” 4K continued on. “As romantic as it might seem in theory, I like the idea of a partner choosing to be with me. Not locked in through a ritual or something binding them. If I’m with someone I want them to know I’m choosing to be by their side.”
HD could understand that, though he’d honestly never given much thought to the idea of mates. The faes were free and experimental with their love. It was encouraged to follow your heart, a sentiment HD never really took on. Of course he had partners and people close enough but none of them ever jumped out at the idea of a mate to him. Nothing serious.
“Do faes mate for life?”
The question pulled HD out from his thought. He gave a look over to 4K lounging back on the furs. He had one arm resting up behind his head, the other lazily lay over his stomach. His legs crossed at the ankles. He looked calm and relaxed, not at all like he’d gone through the trouble this morning. It was tempting for HD to lay down with him, but he kept himself up.
“Some do. We don’t have any sort of ritual or marks but there are some fae who keep a partner for life. Or lose a partner and never take another. Faes are very open when it comes to love an relationships so there's a mix.”
4K’s eyes were half lidded when he spoke next. “Have you ever taken a partner before?”
HD’s heart thumped in his chest. “In the past, yes. Not for years.”
4K hummed in thought and HD studied his face for anything. Though he wasn’t even sure what he was looking for.
“Have you ever taken one?” HD asked, excusing it was only fair to ask it back.
“In the past.” 4K responded with a smirk. “Only a couple that were serious. Demons I’ve met haven’t been the nicest so not a lot of options there. And no-one else wants to really get close to a demon.”
While HD would have loved to explore that more, he was suddenly reminded to the situation this morning. The other demon who had threatened and challenged 4K for his mountain. A sour mood took HD and he knew he wouldn’t be able to shake it off.
“Speaking of other demons…”
The smirk fell from 4K’s lips. He knew where this was going.
“The demon that did that…what now? What’s their plans now?”
“I really don’t know… They’re crafty and sneaky. I assume they’re trying to scope out the mountain more.”
“Can you not get them then?” HD asked hopefully. “They would have had to come on the mountain sometime if they’re scoping it out.”
“Not exactly. I can only see demons on the mountain if they’ve been on it a while. If they’re smart they’ll keep themselves hidden as long as possible. I suspect they’re trying to figure me out. My patterns. When I leave. If…”
4K’s eyes wandered to HD, then an uncommon bashfulness pulled his eyes away and turned his cheeks a light red.
“Wh-What?” HD blinked to the sight. It was unexpectedly adorable to see the usually boastful demon so shy.
“They’re…just p-probably…” 4K drew in a breath of fresh air and regained some courage to look back at HD. “Kind of funny we were just talking about this… They’re probably trying to figure out if you’re my mate. Or…maybe they already assume you are.”
“W… Wh-What?!”
Now HD’s face flushed red and they were sure it was already brighter than 4K’s. They kept opening and closing their mouth, thinking of anything they could say but nothing was coming to mind.
“I can’t tell how long this demons been tracking or scouting out, but even if it’s only been for a few days they probably saw you here, all the time. Since they see you here so much they might assume you’re my mate.”
“But they’d know I’m not a demon!”
4K shrugged. “Demons take mates from anywhere. Human, fae, another demon. We don’t really care about that.”
HD’s face was hot and he turned away. Technically it could be possible to believe they were mates. Even the fae HD had gone to deal with had made the assumption just on the scent of 4K on him. The two were affectionate with one another constantly even between the tickling. Oh dear gods the tickling. HD wondered if the demon had saw any of it. It was an embarrassing thought, one HD let himself think of for a moment and shove away. He couldn’t focus on it now.
“Okay s-so…” HD cleared his throat. “They think I’m your mate. Then what?”
“Well they’ll use you against me. Or kill you, if they can.” 4K voice sounded calm, but HD could see the worry in his eyes. He looked down at the furs, biting his lip slightly in thought before looking back to HD “You have your time away coming up, right?”
HD hadn’t even thought of that. It had been the furthest thought from his mind at that moment, but he saw the idea spark in 4K’s eyes. “I can hold it off.”
“The deal was you would have a minimum of a week off. In a couple of days there’s only one week left of this month.”
The time line was muddled in HD’s head when he usually kept such a good count. “We can change the deal.” He quickly thought. “I can change it, you just have to agree.”
“No.” 4K quickly shut down and pushed himself to sit up. “Its better if you aren’t here.”
“Aren’t here?!” HD almost gasped at the suggestion. “You’re in danger! I’m not leaving you if there’s a demon who wants to kill you.”
“You’re in danger if you’re here, especially after that warning. If you’re gone I can deal with this without putting you in harms way.”
“I can help you.”
“I don’t want your help, I want you safe!”
The argument was going nowhere, which worked against HD. He couldn’t change the deal without 4K agreeing and the demon wasn’t budging. He had not outright said it, but HD couldn’t help but worry. 4K meant to deal with this demon alone.
“Please just…promise me, while I’m gone, you won’t go fighting the demon.”
4K didn’t want to agree. His lips pulled into a tight line, but his eyes softened as he looked to HD again. A conflict of wanting to keep him happy, and wanting to deal with this as soon as he could.
“I promise… I will not start the fight.”
It was the best HD could hope for, so he agreed to that for the time being. It was nothing official, but he trusted 4K to keep his word. At least he wouldn’t be throwing himself into danger, and now he could defend himself if the demon tried anything.
“Now, lets take back the day at hand.” 4K’s tone quickly shifted. He lay back down over the furs, stretching his arms up and legs out. As he relaxed, with his hair flayed out on either side of him, he looked inviting.
“You up for a nap?”
HD felt too frazzled for a nap, but at the same time the offer was too tempting to refuse. He slowly crawled his way down by 4K’s side, pressing his back to his side as the demon turned over and wrapped his arms around them. They had cuddled before in their naps but this felt…protective. 4K’s arms were tight around him, holding him so close HD could barely move.
It was comforting in that moment but worrying. Worrying that 4K had to hold them tight enough.
“I think I have enough to make us some pancakes when we get up.” 4K’s voice was soft against HD’s ear. His beard tickled in the spot just under HD’s ear, making them squirm. “Just sleep for now.”
It took a while for HD to fall asleep. He kept listening out for any signs that 4K had fallen asleep, but eventually couldn’t keep himself awake and fell into and uneasy slumber.
When the two awoke they found out it there was not enough mix to make pancakes. At least not full sized ones. 4K instead made each of them small pancakes in fun, wonky shapes. He tried to make all of HD’s flower shapes, to varying degrees of success and HD couldn’t help but laugh and smile and for that one moment he felt normal again. Everything felt right.
The next couple of days blurred together with the same feelings. There were no more warnings, or none that HD could pick up and while 4K kept up his cheerful attitude, it was a front. During the first night, 4K asked HD to sleep in his bed with him, as a just in case and HD agreed. It carried on like that for the next night as well. HD slept close but nothing happened.
HD had been around the demon enough to know that while 4K was all smiles and warm, it was a front. He was never relaxed and never allowed himself to just rest in the moment. He hadn’t even asked to tickle HD at all, or even tickled him in small moments. No squeezing of his sides or skittering on his ribs. He wasn’t exactly himself but whenever HD offered to talk or help, 4K would brush it off. He’d say it wasn’t for HD to worry about and refuse to talk. All HD could do was just be by 4K’s side.
And finally the day came for HD to leave. He had never felt so nervous, not even for his first time away. Of course his first time away didn’t have a demon trying to kill 4K.
“Have you got everything you need for your trip?” 4K asked.
HD was sitting outside their thicket, looking over their pack. They usually packed specifically, but now they practically had nothing. They threw a few clothes into their pack and that was all. “Yes.” They lied.
Usually HD left early on the day but it was coming to noon and he was dragging his feet. He just pulled his pack on when 4K started speaking.
“Hey, if its not too much trouble…” 4K asked. “Could you ask in the town if anyone was missing? Just if there’s a chance that body is from the the town I’d like them to have a proper burial.”
HD’s heart warmed and sank at the same time. He gave a slow nod. “Of course.”
“Thanks again.” 4K sighed softly. He drew HD into a side hug. “I’m going to miss you…”
HD’s heart thumped uncomfortably in his chest. “I can come back early. We can still change the deal.”
“No.” 4K said firmly and still held HD tightly into his chest. “You have a minimum of a week away. I assume you don’t want to take the next week off right away.”
“No!” HD quickly responded. “I’ll be back after seven days.”
4K chuckled, his arm fully falling away. A little spark of hope rose in HD as he offered. “You could come with me.”
He watched the temptation rise in 4K’s eyes, but he gave a sad smile and shook his head. “I can’t leave the mountain with this going on. If they mean to take over I can’t let them.”
HD knew that would be the answer, yet he couldn’t help but keep that hope. He knew this mountain meant more to 4K than anything. “Please just…keep your promise.” HD begged. “Just don’t go after them.”
“I promise, I will only fight to defend myself.”
It was as good as HD was going to get and he kept reminding himself that seven days wouldn’t be that long as he left the mountain. It was the only thought that could keep him even slightly calm.
The first stop HD took was to the town, as 4K asked. He wasn’t looking forward, especially since the last time he had to speak with them their distant for him was clearly evident, despite the fact he technically took care of the problem.
As soon as he stepped in and the people saw him, their faces twisted to distaste. They were already thinking “why are you here” before he had a chance to talk to anyone. The town only had elders that acted as the official “leaders”, but even as HD went to speak to them he was followed by half the town. HD didn’t fear them, but he couldn’t lie it put him on edge.
HD asked if anyone from the town was missing, and the crowd spoke in hushed whispers between them.
“No-one has gone missing. A few have gone out for trading but we have confirmation they’ve made it to the city.” One of the elders answered.
“When was that?” HD asked.
“The letter came yesterday. They’re not expected to travel back for another week.”
It was safe to assume it was none of them. Unless the demon had really committed and set up the mail system somehow. But then that meant it was some random traveller.
“Why do you ask?” Someone in the crowd asked.
It was no use to lie, especially when they already suspected so much. Anything but the truth they probably wouldn’t believe.
“There’s a body buried off the main path, close to the river. They were killed.”
An uneasy murmur worked through the crowd till eventually someone asked. “Was it that demon who killed them?”
A spike of anger shot through HD. He controlled his voice while he spoke. “A demon killed them.” He corrected. If they were going to find the body, the markings on it would be evident enough the murder was demonic.
“There’s another demon?!” Someone shouted and the crowd erupted into panic whispers.
“It’s not bad enough we have that monster on the mountain!”
“How do you know it wasn’t that demon?”
“You were supposed to deal with him!”
His frustration boiled up. HD whipped his head round. He didn’t know who had spoken, so he addressed all of them. “When was the last time someone else was taken by him!” HD almost demanded though he knew the answer. The crowd knew it as well as they all averted his eyes.
“But he still lives.” One of the elders pointed out and HD turned back around.
“I never said I’d kill him! I said I would take care of the problem and I have! He’s not taken any of you since.”
He could feel the energy of the crowd around him swelling. Distrust and suspicion were in their whispers, along with unkind names. Killing 4K wasn’t a solution HD wanted, though he knew it might have been a possibility. But he had never discussed that with anyone from the village.
“But he’s brought the attention of another demon. A demon who does kill.” The elder who spoke before continued. He had a cross scar on his chin.
“Even if I hadn’t stopped him, this other demon would still be an issue. You can’t blame everything on 4K!”
“He knows the demon’s name!”
It was a slip up HD couldn’t catch in time and he cursed at himself for being so careless.
“Are you with the demon now?” Cross-scar asked.
“I have an arrangement with him and he leaves you alone.” HD defended himself before the absolute absurdity of it hit him. “This isn’t about him! I’m telling you there is another demon prowling around and has already killed someone, and you all look for any excuse to blame 4K!”
“He’s a demon!”
“He tickled a few of you! There’s a demon out there actually killing people so 4K seems like a saint in comparison!”
There was no reasoning with them. There was nothing he could say or do to make them not see 4K as the problem. In fairness to them they were right to be wary even if he was just kidnapping them to tickle them. But HD still hadn’t forgotten his talk with 4K months ago. The lies the village had told about being taken away for longer. 4K was used as an excuse. For what, HD didn’t care to know. These people weren’t his problem.
There was nothing more he could do for them.
“The body is close to the bridge over the stream. Take care of it or don’t.” HD said.
The elders looked puzzled at him before sharing a look between them.
“You can’t just leave!” Someone shouted.
“This demon is our problem too!”
“You have to deal with it!”
A bile of anger gathered in HD and he spat out before he could calm himself. “You’re welcome to try and make me.” He challenged. He almost wanted them to try but even with the mob mentality running, none of them were stupid enough. The crowd slowly broke off, avoiding looking at HD as he left the town.
He could not help them. He didn’t want to help them. Whatever he did would never be enough. HD’s only focus now was to help 4K, but that seemed impossible.
HD had never felt so helpless as he had in that week. While usually he’d travel and try and get as much done as he could, he instead stayed by the mountain for the five days he was out. Five days of keeping himself by the mountains path, wandering it up and down till he knew the position of every piece of grass and rock.
Sometime between those five days, the body had been taken from their shallow grave and HD only hoped it was put to proper rest.
The first thing HD did on the first day was grab his obsidian dagger. His stuff was still hidden under the rocky slope and he was careful to place it all back perfectly. The dagger fit nicely into his pocket and with his cloak over his shoulders it was completely hidden. Next was to try tracking.
There was very little to track around the mountain which HD couldn’t be sure if that was a good or bad sign. Animal tracks were common yet there were some unknown that lead nowhere. HD’s frustration grew and it irked him more that he didn’t even know if it was the demon he was tracking.
Helpless. The mountain so close, and HD could do nothing. The glade and 4K so close and HD had no power to help. Not until the two days were up. For five days HD roamed the mountain path, taking quick naps between the grass and then he was up to roam again. Every day he found nothing, until the night of the fifth day.
HD was awoken on the fifth night by a roar. It was dark when HD jolted up from the grass. The sky was thick with clouds threatening to burst into rain. His cloak hung awkwardly off him as he quickly stood up and as he righted it as there was another roar.
It couldn’t be. It wasn’t. Surely it was far off thunder, or some tree blown by the wind somehow making the noise. It wasn’t…
A scream this time. High pitched, vicious and scared. And then another scream. It was deeper, more in raged. It was a scream HD knew.
He’d never heard it before, but he knew who it was. He’d heard the voice so many times laugh and tease him. Even without ever hearing it before, he knew that scream. It was 4K’s. It was a fight.
HD sprinted off to the path around the mountain. He wasn’t close to the path up to the glade, but he could make it there quick. He constantly kept looking up for any sign of movement but it was dark and the moon completely covered.
Another scream, louder and closer but not 4K’s. He continued running the path, coming to the turn that would take him up the mountain when he spotted them. Both of them.
The demons.
4K stood on the rocky slope, higher than the demon who was half slipping down the mountain side, holding onto a small cluster of loose stones and thin tree growing out between them.
It was not 4K as HD had ever seen him. He was much bigger. Tall and thicker with muscle. He was a shadow against a clouded moon with only his orange eyes truly visible.
The other demon might have been the same height, but they kept themselves on all fours. They were spindly, but their hands elongated into powerful claws. A mop of deep black hair draped down their back.
They were about twenty feet above HD. Or maybe more. Neither of them saw him, giving HD enough time to get closer under and hear them speak.
“Last chance…” 4K’s voice growled with a deep rumble HD had never heard. It felt like his bones shook from it. “Walk away or I kill you. Leave the mountain or you die here!”
The other demon hissed with their words. A poisoned honey voice that made HD’s skin crawl. “Where’s your pretty mate? Where’d you hide it?” The demon taunted. “Was going to kill it as the last warning. Keep its pretty head as a trophy and give you its body to use one last time.”
4K lunged faster than HD could keep up with. One moment was on his ledge and the next he was tackling into the demon and sending them both tumbling. 4K tried digging his claws into the side of the mountain to slow the drop. He almost stopped until one of the demons claws dug into his chest. It ripped into his flesh and 4K screamed as he fell.
HD’s heart leapt into his throat, yet as the demons tumbled down the idea struck him. If they fell off the mountain, HD could help.
The demons fell from the mountain, knocking off some loose stone and rocks that HD had to press right into the side of the mountain to avoid being hit by. By the time the rocks had fallen the demons were fighting again.
4K had the demon grappled. They were trapped, struggling uselessly against 4K’s arms. Perhaps HD didn’t even need to help; yet despite having the demon trapped, 4K didn’t end it. The demon’s neck was perfectly in his grasp but 4K hesitated. The demon did not.
They twisted enough to get their claws in 4K’s shoulder. He roared again in pain, his arms loosened enough for the demon to slip out. They pulled 4K forward from his shoulder, flipping him onto his back. HD heard 4K grunt with pain, and saw the demon’s claws rise to strike for 4K’s neck. That’s when HD grabbed a rock and threw it.
It struck the demon’s head. It wasn’t a lot of damage but it was enough to distract them. Their focus snapped up to HD. Small yellow eyes gleamed from the shadows and a matching yellow set of razor teeth grinned.
“The pretty mate…”
The demon stepped over the dazed 4K. They were just a bit shorter than 4K, but their limbs were elongated. Spindly arms that lead to claws and legs that seemed more like an animals than humanoid. Their skin looked thin and stretched over a frail body that was covered in rags. Their claws dripped with some kind of liquid that shimmered even in the dark. A silverish shine that HD could see over 4K’s chest and shoulder.
HD already had the dagger out and ready, but he ran on adrenaline as the demon lunged at him. Or…tried to lunge for him.
They took one quick step and suddenly they were on the ground. It took HD a second and quick blink to realise that 4K had grabbed the demon’s ankle.
The demon screeched, managing to twist enough to drag their claws along 4K’s side. 4K screamed again, and let go but by then HD was at the demon’s side and the dagger was in their throat.
Their long mouth stretched out into a scream, but there was no sound other than a horrid wet gurgling sound.They reached their claw up in some weak attempt of a slash but HD pulled out and stabbed the dagger in again and again. In their shoulder, their chest and finally back to their neck. The damage from the obsidian burned them, making the skin bubble and melt. There was a hiss, HD couldn’t be sure if it was from the demon or from their skin burning but HD pulled out his dagger for the last time, and the demon fell limp on the ground. They gave one twitch and then went still.
Dead.
Relief flooded HD so intensely that his legs turned weak and he fell on his knees. He felt like laughing and crying all at once. His first kill on a demon, not as clean as he would have liked but the job was done. But instead of celebrating his attention was pulled to 4K who rose himself up.
This 4K before him was a demon. He was much taller, with HD barely reaching his chest. His skin wasn’t shadowed by the clouds at all, it was like molten ground. Black cooled lava but whenever he moved it would glow like magma in motion, rippling thorough his body and settling again. His horns were longer in his fire hair and his fangs seemed almost too big for his mouth. He still had his right fang just a little longer than his left. The sight of it warmed HD’s heart, but that feeling quickly dropped when he saw 4K’s glowing eyes were staring at the dagger in his hand.
4K flicked his eyes up to HD’s and his voice growled. “HD…”
“4K.” HD lowered the dagger, and put his other hand up. “Just…let me explain.”
“HD…” He growled again and he tried to take a step forward but pain surged through him. He gave a shout in pain and collapsed.
“4K!”
The dagger was forgotten and dropped as HD rushed to 4K’s side. He was a behemoth compared to HD but the fae still tried to help keep him up, letting the demon lean on him. The slashes on 4K’s chest, shoulder and side shimmered with the silvery fluid.
“Your wounds need looked at. We need to…” HD looked up the mountain, the situation hitting him. “I… I can’t go on the mountain. I…”
“Tea…house…” 4K rumbled. “There’s a tea house…abandoned…on the road.”
HD had seen the tea house. It was not far from the path and while it was abandoned it was still good for shelter. HD had checked it during his patrols around the path but there was no sign of anyone there.
“I know where it is.” HD nodded. “Can you walk a little? You can lean on me…”
It was awkward with 4K’s size but he was able to hunch over and lean on HD’s shoulder. Every step towards the hut made 4K hiss in pain, but he never complained and kept up pace as they made their way to the hut. HD kept the pace slow, until tea house came into view.
It was a very small hut, with four walls and just one room. Some of the wooden walls had holes in them but they still stayed standing and kept the half rotted roof staying up. The path to it had been overgrown but it was an easy divert off and they were there.
During the walk HD could feel 4K slowly shrink, feeling lighter and lighter with every step. Just as they reached the door of the hut, 4K had shank back to his original size. When they stumbled inside and towards the mat which was half covered in moss, the magma sheen of his skin was gone and the fire in his hair settled to the jet black.
4K lowered to his knees, or more like he collapsed as soon as he could. While the mat seemed okay, and the moss wasn’t old exactly, HD still hesitated to lay 4K down. “Hold on.” HD worked out from under 4K’s arm and shrugged off his cloak. He laid it out over the mat, and helped 4K lay down.
Blood mixed with the silver oozed from the wounds. HD felt his hands shaking, but kept his voice steady as he could. Which wasn’t much. “I-I need to g-get my things. I’ve got supplies. J-J-Just stay here, I’ll be right back.”
It wasn’t like 4K could go anywhere, but still he nodded as HD quickly ran out the hut and made his way back on the path. It was the dead of night with no-one around, yet HD panicked and over thought every panicked thought his mind wouldn’t let him escape. He thought of anyone finding 4K so helpless and his heart thundered uncomfortably in his chest.
The demons body was still lain on the path, as HD should have expected. It still came as a small scare when he saw it again but the demon was certainly dead. It would have to be dealt with sooner or later but HD didn’t even want to think about it in that moment.
By some miracle his dagger still lay on the side of the path from where he’d dropped it. Or thrown it. He had been so scared when 4K saw it, his voice unsure and careful like a warning. HD just needed to explain, but he couldn’t now. His focus was on making sure 4K could live through the night.
HD sheathed away the knife, leapt over the demon’s body blocking the path and quickly made it to the rocky slope where his stuff was hidden. He had no care for tact as he yanked the rocks and stones away, quickly gathering what he needed and then just placing the stones back, hoping they’d hide it enough.
When he returned to the hut, he could hear 4K grunt of pain. HD came through the door to see 4K half way on his side, and HD rushed over.
“Don’t move! You’re going to make them worse!” HD tried to pull 4K to lay on his back. He was fighting it but his strength waned with his wounds and he was rolled on his back.
“Sides…hurtssss…” 4K hissed. One hand clutched to the four slashes along his right side.
“I need to clean the wound on your chest first. Then you can roll over.” HD promised, though looking to the wound on 4K’s chest that would take time.
It was almost a perfect slash right down the centre of 4K’s chest. It wasn’t long, only going half way down but the wound was deep and the blood mixed with the silver fluid like they were oil and water.
“The silver… It was on the demons claws. Is…”
“Venom.” 4K grunted, and HD felt the panic rise in him. “Don’t-ngh…w-worry.” The demon quickly assured. “It won’t kill me, but you need to be careful.”
At the assurance 4K wouldn’t die, HD sighed in relief, and the worry for his own safety was touching but unneeded. “I can’t be poisoned.” He said.
Even though the fog of pain, 4K gave an unsure look to HD. “Are you…sure? This is demon venom.”
“I’m fine, I promise.” HD nodded, getting his supplies ready. “Faes blood is pure. Blessed. Some dumb legend.” He shrugged. “We can’t be poisoned. I’ll be fine.”
While 4K would live, it would probably help to clean the wound of the poison as much as he could. HD readied a cloth with herbal mix, his face twisting as he looked to 4K. “This is going to hurt, but it’s going to help.”
“Just…do it.” 4K’s already grit his teeth in preparation for it the pain. “Please just make it quick.”
It was easy to say he would, but as soon as HD placed the cloth onto the wound 4K screamed. His back arched and HD could see his body start to thrash, but he controlled himself, trying to keep himself as still as possible for HD to work.
“Fuck! That…hurts!” 4K screamed.
“I’m sorry…” HD’s hands shook but he worked fast as he could. The wound was as clean as he could get it. He mixed up a separate herb, something to keep the wound clean and numb the pain, and laid the cloth over the wound before wrapping it in bandages. It was awkward as 4K could only lift his left arm up, but the wound was covered. One less to go.
“There, you can roll over now.” HD said softly, readying the next mix on the new cloth. “Although…it’s still going to hurt.”
“I can handle it.” 4K grunted as he turned over on his side. He gave a slight hiss as he settled but his body was tense. “It’s best to get it over with.”
HD agreed, no matter how much his heart ached for 4K. He tried to be quick, yet when the cloth pressed to the wound in 4K’s shoulder he flinched again, letting out a low growl.
“Fuuuck! FUCK!” The pained shouts came through breathless gasps. His fists beat on the wooden floors. “Fuck-fuck….t-talk…”
“T-Talk?” HD’s hands faltered as he wiped away the blood. “About what?”
“Something-Anything!” 4K grunted again. “How…what did you do on your time away?”
HD cleaned around the edge of the slash, as he spoke. “I was just staying around the mountain.” He admitted. “Just in case…well, just in case this happened.”
“Kind of a blessing you were here.” 4K’s voice had an almost lift to it. His grimace of pain faded for a moment, and turned into a smile as he looked up to HD.
“Wh-What?” HD paused mid cleaning of the wound.
“You like me.” 4K’s voice teased. Almost like a sing-song he carried on. “You like me more than the humans~”
“Oh shut up!” HD would have smacked his arm if not for the wounds. Instead he got back to cleaning while 4K gave a breathy chuckle.
But then there was a silence. Not even a wince of pain as HD covered the wound on his shoulder and began to wrap it up.
“HD…the…” 4K’s voice came out carefully. “That dagger.”
The same worried feeling swept over HD again, but he had a better chance to explain himself now. He could think rationally and the words came out calmly. “I know what it looks like, but the dagger was never to be used against you, 4K.”
4K gave a little snort, which HD almost did a double take to. “Believe me, Starlight, I wasn’t thinking that.”
HD blinked, but kept to the task at hand, readying another mix to clean the slashes on his sides. “No?”
“No. Well,” 4K’s voice was thoughtful. “At first. When we first made the deal and you said one of your conditions was to know more about demons I thought for sure it was to find out how to kill me. But I thought ‘fuck it, let’s see how long this goes on’. Just seeing how much fun I could get out of it. If your plan really was to kill or harm me then I’d deal with it then. For the time being it was kind of funny I was tickling my would be murderer silly.
“But then you…” 4K’s voice became soft. “You began to…let your guard down. Maybe it was a big act, that’s what I thought. But you were kind, and thoughtful and gentle with me. You’d say the sweetest things, you’d fall asleep in my lap. I thought if you really wanted to kill me you were being awfully cuddly about it.”
4K spoke without a wince or hiss of pain. HD looked down to the first slash on 4K’s side that he had just cleaned. Only three more to go and it seemed if 4K was the one talking, the pain wasn’t an issue.
“When did you stop thinking I’d kill you?” HD asked, readying another cloth.
“I don’t know honestly. I think it was a collection of moments I guess. I think the first time I thought it was when you told me you didn’t want to sleep in the caves. You were so worried I’d be upset or offended. Made no sense you’d care about that if you wanted to kill me.
“We had taken a few naps together. Perfect time to kill me in my sleep, yet I’d wake with no wounds and you curled in my arms. There was no act while you were asleep. You’d hold onto my like I was a lifeline.”
HD’s cheeks burned. Thankfully 4K couldn’t see him, but it wasn’t like HD could deny it. He was drawn to 4K physically. He was never more calm than when he was in the demon’s arms.
“Did you ever plan to kill me?” 4K asked.
HD shook his head and pressed the cleaning mix to the third cut. “No. I knew and prepared myself it might be a possibility but I never went with the intent to kill you.”
“Well, lucky for me-NGH!” 4K’s words cut off with a grunt, and HD quickly thought of a question. One he was actually burning to ask.
“4K, when you grappled with the demon you had their throat in your hands. You could have killed them there but…you hesitated.”
4K went tense and HD knew it wasn’t from the pain. “Suppose if I hadn’t I wouldn’t be so cut up…and you wouldn’t have had to finish the job.” His voice was ashamed and HD quickly cut in.
“I’m not upset. I would have killed them ten times over. I just want to know why. What stopped you? Did you know them?”
“No.” 4K shook his head. “Never seen them before. I just…” He sighed. “I hate touching dead things. That extends to making them dead too. I hate killing. And fighting in general.”
HD’s hand hesitated in surprise. Of course it wasn’t like 4K was ever out looking for a fight, but HD had always assumed from the size of his muscles and his strength that he was well versed in fighting.
“Well…” HD was slow wiping the cloth away from the wound. “I’ve seen you hunt for our meals, so it’s not a complete no killing rule.”
“Yes, okay, you got me there.” 4K gave a light huff, but HD could see his lips turned up to a smile. “I hunt for food. And I have fought and killed when I’ve needed in the past. My time as a young demon, trying to make it on his own, wasn’t exactly a pacifists path. There wasn’t a day I wasn’t fighting for survival.”
“Is that why you’re so fond of tickling?” HD asked as he wiped the last cut. The wounds had hardly any of the venom in it and would heal alright. HD readied the cloth to place over them and got the bandages for the last time.
4K chuckled. “Yeah… Sort of. I just…” He hesitated and HD waited in the silence. He would not push 4K to talk on such a tender subject for him, but would be here to listen if he needed. “Every day, since I could remember, I just had to fight. My parents never hit me or anything but mom took me out on hunts specifically to get into fights. Other demons. Humans. Anything bigger than me I had to fight it. And I couldn’t just beat them, I had to kill them. She said it would make stronger. All it did was make me feel horrible. When I went out on my own I thought it would change. But no matter where I went or who I found, they wanted a fight. Humans feared me and demons took me for a challenge. I couldn’t just exist.”
4K moved without prompting as HD wrapped the last of the bandages around his side. When he could lay back down he sighed gratefully, slowly rolling on his back.
“It was not long after I made the mountain my home when I started my…obsession lets call it.” He continued. “No other demon took the mountain because it was so close to town. A lot of them didn’t see the hassle worth it. I had no intention of taking the town so just moved in. But a human did come up to the mountain. I think they were a hunter, I just remember they had a knife and when they saw me they were just…they already hated me!
“I tried to explain I wasn’t going to hurt him, that he could sleep on the mountain for the night if he needed it but he came at me and refused to listen. I got so mad. I know I should have killed him, every lesson my parents taught me was to kill him but I was tired of that. I didn’t want to kill, I just wanted to be left alone. So I grappled thee human and then I…” 4K shrugged. “I just started tickling.”
It was not the backstory HD was expecting, though honestly he couldn’t think of one that made more sense. HD could sympathise with the treatment. No matter what 4K did or how he came across, people saw a demon and already made up their minds. HD was no stranger to that.
“How did you even know about tickling?” HD asked curiously.
“I don’t know. It was so long ago I couldn’t remember. Honestly I think I just squeezed his side or something to try get him to stop or just in frustration and he laughed. I carried it on from there until he was weak enough not to fight back, and he just bolted as soon as I let him go. It was fun and weird but in the moment I felt a strange joy. That I could deal with something like that without killing.
“More people came to the mountain and I avoided them when I could. When the odd one or two did find me and try anything I just tickled them till they stopped. Eventually the rumours started that a terrifying demon lived at the mountain and people avoided me. But I craved it in a way. To tickle someone. It was like I was taking control back, from those years of being forced to kill. It made me feel good to have a power over someone and not harm them. Of course it was wrong, but it started with only going after smugglers and bandits on the road. Got a few of the townsfolk too on accident and then – well you’ve went to them, you know.”
Yes. Then the rumour of the terrifying demon who stalked the town and took people back to his mountain to tickle them for days on end started. Then HD had climbed the mountain to strike a deal with the terrifying tickler.
And now he was here, tending to the wounds of that tickle demon and letting said demon cosy up to his side.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to just unload all that.” 4K apologised. His laugh was sheepish and slow. “I blame the venom. It’s made me all loopy.”
“Is that all with the venom?” HD asked, his worry coming back. Of course 4K said he wouldn’t die, but surely it would effect him somehow.
“Well yeah.” 4K’s face fell. “I won’t die, but it’s not going to be pleasant. I’ll just be really weak and feverish for a few days.”
“Well, that medicine on your cuts will probably make you sleepy. Hopefully you can sleep through the worst of the fevers.”
While HD spoke, 4K slowly shuffled over till his cheek rested on HD’s thigh. HD’s hand sought out his hair without thought, stroking through the inky black locks and twirling them around his finger. He could feel 4K melt against him.
“Didn’t mean to badmouth humans in front of you.” 4K mumbled.
HD gave a snort. “Go ahead. They’re not my favourites either.”
“No?” 4K asked, sounding actually surprised. “Thought they were special to you. I thought they’d love you as a hero.”
HD gave another laugh, this one more cruel. “Gods no.” The two had spoken just in passing about what HD did on his time away before. It was no use hiding it and HD was honest in saying how he helped humans or any towns and villages under fae influence. The demon never commented on it, good or bad, but he gave a questioning look at first. He never asked more, and HD never told him more. Now with the sharp words of the town still in his head, it came boiling over.
“I think they hate me more than any other fae. Having to live with the fact another fae solved their problems. They hate it.”
4K slowly blinked. His eyes were unfocused but still aware enough. He frowned in thought. “You went to the town about the body. Did they…give you trouble?”
HD pursed his lips. “…yes.”
“Does every town and village you help treat you this way?” HD hesitated to admit it, but he nodded. “Then why do you help them? Why put yourself through this?” 4K asked.
“It…” HD’s eyes averted 4K’s. The painful look squeezed at his heart. “It’s not a good story.”
“If you don’t want to say it, I won’t push.” 4K offered, though HD could hear the soft tone in his voice. The tone that was pleading to be trusted and let in. And HD found he wasn’t shying away from that thought as he usually would. He wanted 4K to know.
“Some…fae…some fae leave their children to be raised by humans. Sometimes they’ll swap out their child for a human one. Other times they just leave their child to be found. I was left as the latter. My fae parents left me to a village who raised me without question. They thought I was one of their own.” HD’s voice already felt heavy. “I thought I was one of their own…”
4K said nothing and just watched HD with intense eyes. As intense as they could be as he fought off a drowsy sleep.
“I was raised by them for years. I was an adult when the faes…when my birth family came for me. Told me who I was and told my parents too. The people who I thought were my parents. And everything I knew crumbled. My fae family wanted me to go back with them and call them family; but they were strangers to me. No matter how much I tried I wasn’t going to fit in. So whenever I could I ran off, back to my real family. But even they…they hated me.”
HD’s voice was rough. “They looked at me like I was a monster. Like I was the liar. The faes who left me claimed I wasn’t swapped out for a child but they didn’t believe it. Honestly I didn’t either. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for the faes to miscare for a human child and the just wipe the parents memories. My family couldn’t be sure I wasn’t just replaced. They’d never love me again. But I loved them. I loved humans. I was raised by them and suddenly I was expected to forget all of that.
“It hurt, but I didn’t care that my family hated me. I loved them still. I just wanted them safe. I’d watch them whenever I could. Even if I couldn’t be in their lives anymore, I just wanted to see them live it. That would be enough.”
“B-But…” A choke almost leapt in HD’s throat. He stopped and swallowed it down. Not now. Not yet. “The faes didn’t like that. They told me no fae ever went back to their human lives. It was an insult to the faes that their own child would reject them, and prefer the humans. I didn’t care. When they asked me to choose I chose my real family. No hesitation. And they…hated that. Enough that they killed them. My real family.”
It was fast and monotone. That’s how HD always had to say it. How he always had to think it. He didn’t risk looking down and seeing 4K’s expression. He didn’t trust himself not to crumble.
“They slaughtered them. My parents. Grandparents. Siblings. Aunts, uncles and cousins; any close bloodline to them, they were dead. The faes said this human fascination would pass. I’d get over them. But in that moment it didn’t feel like I’d ever get over it. I’d never felt such a rage. Every drop of blood and cell in my body was white hot with hate and pain. I didn’t realise what I had done until I felt the blood on my hands.
“My fae father, the one who lead the slaughter, was dead. Half my siblings who followed him, who helped destroy my family were dead too. I don’t know how I did it. A moment of rage they were unprepared for. The siblings who lived fled and told stories of what happened. Kin-killer they called me. A name meant to shame me, and I wore it like a badge of honour. Faes feared me and avoided me. I was basically banished.
“So I used my time to protect humans from them. And so another fae child wasn’t raised in a lie. I gave back fae children and returned human ones when I could. I hunted and chased away faes who went after humans and killed them if I had to. I’d make sure I could limit the amount of hurt they could cause.”
4K had not moved through the whole story, and now he shuffled and tried to push himself up. His arms were weak and wobbly and he could barely push himself up before HD placed a hand on his chest.
“Careful!” HD warned. He could hold down the demon so easily, the strength from him all gone.
“That’s why you help humans…” 4K’s words slurred. His eyes were focusing and unfocusing. The medicine was kicking in and 4K was fighting it.
“HD…” 4K slurred again.
“You need sleep, 4K.” HD tried to reason, though he had feeling 4K wasn’t up for listening. He still couldn’t tell what got 4K so worked up. Was it in sympathy from the tale, or was it anger for saving humans? HD didn’t even want to think of that now. He just focused on trying to keep 4K laying down.
4K was powerless to fight, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try. Like a child refusing sleep he fought every step of the way to keep his eyes open.
“4K you’re going to sleep whether you fight it or not.” HD huffed. “You might as well make it easy for-”
It was one last attempt. A last burst of energy from 4K. His arm shot up, grabbing onto HD’s collar and pulling him down until their noses touched and their lips just a breath away. HD was stunned as he felt 4K’s words.
“You don’t have to save them all.” 4K’s voice was quiet and soft. “You aren’t to blame.”
It felt like a cannon ball launched into HD’s heart. It winded them, made their mind turn blank. “I… I…”
“Not all fae are those monsters. Not every human is your family.” The grip on HD’s top loosened, but they were still stunned there. “It’s…not…”
The medicine was getting too strong for 4K to fight it. His eyes struggled to stay open and HD was grounded again.
“You need sleep, 4K.” HD’s voice was calm, despite his hands shaking as he lead 4K’s own hands back down. “You will recover faster if you sleep.
“He…mmm…” 4K tried to speak again, but the words faded to a soft sigh and finally his eyes fell shut. HD tried to move him to a comfortable laying position. He didn’t know how strong the venom would affect him, but for now the least HD could do was make sure 4K was safe while he slumbered.
He’d keep watch and protect 4K for the days to come. But for that night, HD let out a flurry of tears and wails that had been locked inside for years. For that night, for the first time in centuries, he cried for his family.
The night passed by slowly, but uneventfully. HD didn’t dare let himself sleep. He was too frazzled with everything to settle down and now the sun was rising; the threat of them being found was higher.
There was not much HD could do to hide the old tea house from the view of the path without moving literal trees, so all he could do was make it look so destroyed and undisturbed as possible. Any tracks made from himself or 4K were covered, and he could use some of his magic to sway the bushes more to keep the path blocked. Enough to hide, but not enough of a change in the forest to be noticed.
While HD kept himself awake, 4K slept through the night and well into the next morning. That was fine for HD. Sleep was probably good for him, working the venom through his system. He’d make small noises in his sleep, just huffs and whimpers through the night and by morning his skin was hot and sweaty. HD tried not to panic as he wiped the sweat off and kept the demon comfortable as possible. 4K said he’d be feverish. This was normal.
All they had to do was get through this night and at midnight tomorrow they could make it back up the mountain.
The paths weren’t too busy during the day. Due to 4K’s reputation very little would actually use the path, instead going the long way. HD was over alert, making sure no footsteps came close but so far there was only a few people who walked by.
The sun started to set and HD let himself relax. He wouldn’t sleep but at least he didn’t have to stay alert. He let himself lean back, just closing his eyes for a moment when 4K screamed.
He didn’t just scream; his body jolted like a rush of electricity surged through him and his arms flailed in a panic.
HD ducked to avoid getting smacked by a stray arm. He was trying to grab 4K’s arms when he could hear the words between the screams. 4K was shouting for him.
“HD!” 4K yelled in complete panic.
“Shhh! I’m here, 4K!” Once HD got control of the flailing limbs, he pushed himself forward. His hand gently touching 4K’s face to wake him. “4K! Wake up!”
4K roused from his sleep slowly. It took a moment for his eyes to open, and then a moment more for him to blink the sleep from his eyes and realise where he was. As soon as his vision focused on HD, his expression swept up into teary-eyed relief.
“I’m here.” HD’s voice soothed. “It was just a nightmare.” They brought themself in closer to 4K’s side. Their thumb still soothingly rubbing over 4K’s cheek.
“I… I’m sorry…” 4K’s words were slow. His eyes were still hazy and unfocused. “I had a nightmare. It was horrible. The demon was still…i-it--”
“Shhh, calm down.” HD hushed the demons rapid words. “You’re safe.”
“I-It-It got you…” 4K brought a hand up to HD’s. With little strength he had he pulled the fae down to lay by him. His warm arms wrapping around HD’s waist. “It got you… I was so scared. I’d never felt so…”
“I’m okay, I’m right here.” HD assured him. “The other demon is dead. You’re safe.” He reached a hand up, touching 4K’s forehead. “It must be the venom effecting you. You’re still really warm.”
“Can…can you stay with me?” 4K mumbled. “Until I fall asleep…”
“Of course.”
The sigh 4K let out was so soft, HD wouldn’t have known it if he hadn’t felt the soft breath on his shoulder. The two rearranged on the mat, shifting over slightly so HD could fit on. 4K rested his head over HD’s shoulder, another soft sigh escaping him as he pressed himself in further. His tightened around HD’s waist and his lips pressed into the nook between HD’s neck and shoulder.
HD shuddered as 4K whispered against his skin.
“My little star…” His voice was soft, sleepy. “I can’t lose you.”
His lips pressed against the soft skin in front of him. It only lasted for a moment, but it was too long to be an accident. It was purposeful. A kiss.
4K had been affectionate before. He’d pressed kisses over HD’s head, and teased him by kissing his hand. But he’d never kissed somewhere so intimate and close.
“4K…?”
There was no response and the soft snore a second later confirmed he was asleep.
HD relaxed then. Honestly he wasn’t sure what he would have said if 4K hadn’t fallen asleep. The kiss wasn’t unwelcome but it felt sudden and being in this situation HD didn’t have the mental will to think of it right now.
He stayed with 4K for a while longer. His fingers played with 4K’s black hair, but he shuffled himself out of the demon’s arms when it reached night. He could feel the want of sleep trying to pull him back, to lay at 4K’s side and cuddle again but HD wouldn’t risk it. He’d protect 4K until they were safe in the mountain.
The night passed without incident again, and so did the next day. 4K was still in the process of recovery. His skin was clammy but he woke up more and more, this time not from nightmares. By the time the sun was setting, 4K was staying awake more often though the pain still racked through him. HD tried to keep him comfortable until, finally, it hit midnight.
The path was completely empty and the sky was clear to show the crescent moon. By the moon’s light and the twinkle of the stars, the two made their way to the mountain’s path. 4K still struggled to walk so it was a slow climb, leaning over HD’s shoulder like how they made their way to the hut.
HD took notice that as they walked the path, the demons body was completely gone. There were some drag marks along the path, along with heavy footprints so HD could only assume they had been removed by someone, and not taken off by some feral animal.
The walk up the mountain took most of the night. Every step was taken slowly, and sometimes the pain made 4K immovable. Despite how much he insisted to go on, HD kept him still until the pain had passed and they continued on.
As they came up and could see the familiar glade and trees, the relief almost floored them. It was like a breath of fresh air as they made their way around the pond to and into the cave. After the final climb up the slope, 4K slumped into his own bed, with a sigh of relief so long it must have expelled all the air from his lungs.
HD didn’t want to spoil the moment, but he couldn’t stop looking at the bandages, all worn and yellowing. “Your wounds will need rebandaged.” He softly brought up.
4K gave a noise half way between a scoff and groan. “Nooo… It’s fine.” He mumbled into his pillows before rolling over.
“It’s not fine, they’ll need cleaned.” HD said, thankful now they were in the mountain and had proper medical supplies.
“They’re probably healed by now.” 4K responded casually and lifted his arm. He winced as his shoulder twinged and pulled it back down. “I-It’s just the venom now…”
HD opened his mouth to argue, but 4K’s eyes were on him like properly seeing him for the first time.
“Wh-What?” HD asked, self-conscious.
“Have you slept?”
HD could only imagine how he must have looked for 4K to notice. His eyelids were heavy and he was exhausted, but 4K’s safety was his first thought. He shook his head, surprised by the almost worried expression on 4K’s face. “I needed to keep you safe.”
“Have you not slept at all?”
HD shook his head. He could not allow himself even a moments rest, fearing he’d sleep too long. Now there was no doubt bags under his eyes, and his skin paler.
4K reached out, softly petting the back of his fingers over HD’s cheek. “You must be exhausted.”
He was. Sleep was not needed the same it was for humans, but staying up near three days in a row was still a stretch even for faes.
“You need sleep. We are safe in the mountain. The demon is dead, and I will know if anyone comes.”
It made sense, and 4K’s voice was so so soft. HD could already feel his body leaning, and finally falling into the furs at 4K’s side. 4K reached his hand up, softly stroking through HD’s hair and scratching over his scalp. HD was out, but not before he could hear 4K whisper.
“Sleep, my Starlight. I will keep you safe now.”
HD wasn’t sure how long he slept for. Judging by the sun it was just coming to noon, though it felt like he’d slept for longer than a day. 4K was up as HD awoke, unwrapping what he could of his bandages and checking on the wounds.
As 4K had said, there were no wounds left. The cuts had been completely healed without even a scar. The only noticeable mark left of the wound was…
“I’m afraid it’s taken some of your chest hair.” HD pointed out. His fingers ghosted over the patchy smooth spots laid over 4K’s chest.
4K chuckled and pushed HD’s hand away before he looked down himself. “Aww…was proud of that hair.” He pouted. “Well, it’ll grow back.”
“What if it doesn’t?” HD pointed out, giving a dramatic gasp. “What if the venom makes it so you can’t grow hair where it stuck!”
“Don’t say that!” 4K gasped, and covered his chest. “My whole charm is in my chest hair! You couldn’t stop staring at it the first night we met!”
HD’s face burned red. 4K laughed at it till a pillow smacked in his face. He still laughed after that as the pillow smacked and smacked against him and even HD was laughing as his cheeks were red.
Things almost felt normal again. So carefree and playful. But HD couldn’t shake the feeling not everything was right.
Something was off but he couldn’t quite place it. Most of normality had slipped back into place, though most days was spent in 4K’s bed. The demon still need a few days rest though neither of them complained. 4K was happy to be given a few bed days. HD was happy to keep 4K still for them to readjust their deal.
Being kept away from the mountain for a week as too close a call. If the demons hadn’t fought on that side of the mountain, or if they’d just been sneakier in their attack; HD didn’t even want to think of the outcome.
“A week is too long to be away.” HD was half mumbling mostly to himself.
“It was you who wanted a week.”
“But it was you who wanted a week minimum.”
“That’s cause I didn’t want whatever curse this thing would put on me if you were late coming back!”
It wasn’t a serious argument. In fact it was barely a conversation. Majority of it had been HD talking his thoughts out loud and 4K nodding with a hum. They were lounging on 4K’s bed. 4K was on his back, as he said it was better for his pain and he wanted to watch his chest hair grow back (which it was starting to fill in). HD lay on his front, leaning on his elbows to keep himself up and laying beside 4K.
“Two days minimum is better.” HD decided.
“Fine.” 4K gave a half shrug. His other arm stretched up with a yawn.
“Though…actually!” HD second guessed, missing 4K rolling his eyes. “What if a demon attacks you on those two days.”
“No demon has attacked me for years. That one there was a chancer.”
HD knew they were being paranoid, but in their defence it was a perfectly reasonable thing to be paranoid about. Their friend being in trouble would make them worry, but they also wanted to keep the deal fair for both of them.
“Maybe just one day. A minimum of one day.”
“How about…” 4K started and turned over on his side towards HD. He propped up his elbow so his head leaned on his hand. “You come and go on the mountain as you please? You no longer need a time frame.”
The offer stunned HD to a moment of silence. “Is that…okay?”
“I don’t see why not.” 4K shrugged.
“But…that could be any amount of time I’m away.”
“I’m aware.”
“What if I never come back?”
“Do you want to leave?”
The question was instant, and just as instant HD answered.
“No.”
“Then what’s the problem? You’ll come back, that’s all I need to know.”
“But what if something takes me away for a long time? Like months?”
It was just the worst case scenario HD could think of. His mind working in a panic over everything he could think of, though now under 4K’s stare he wish he’d kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t that 4K looked upset but he looked deeply thoughtful at HD, like he was searching for something.
“Are you still going to help humans?”
The question wasn’t judgemental, yet HD still felt unsure with the intention. “I don’t…know.” He answered honestly. The night with 4K made him wary of his help to the humans. It reminded he would never win their favour or avenge his family. Yet HD wasn’t sure he could stop helping them, if just to get back at the fae.
And he was also questioning 4K’s whole view on it. While he was soft in that moment a petty voice in HD’s head was telling him he was just being soft because of the venom. What if it really was in anger, or frustration, and 4K was too weak to show it.
4K just watched HD for a moment, before he answered. “Well even if you’re far apart, we can still communicate through the bond thing.” 4K pointed to his chest. HD had almost completely forgotten about it. The little knot around his heart just felt so normal to him now. Another part of him. “So let’s say you just tug on the heart when you’re coming home. Then I’ll know.”
It was an agreement on complete trust, and it set HD’s skin on edge.
“Okay.” HD kept their voice steady. “Then the new agreement. No time frame on when or how long I’m away for. I can come and go on the mountain as I please. Do you agree?”
4K nodded. “Sure. Yes. I agree. Considering it was my id-” His words caught in his throat as he could feel the tie around his heart shift just ever so slightly.
It wasn’t anything like a tug or squeeze. Just like the knot was readjusting and then it settled back.
“Your powers keep surprising me.” 4K marvelled and pushed himself up. HD followed him up. “So that’s it done? I’m not gonna… I dunno, turn into a frog if you come home early?”
HD snorted. “No. My curses are a little more powerful than that.”
“Well, I’m never going to find out.”
It wasn’t said like a boast, or challenge. 4K said it so naturally like it was common knowledge. The words settled like a warm flame in HD’s heart. Something comforting about it.
And yet the anxiety of it all still ebbed away at the fae. Because even as things returned back to normality, and 4K healed from his injuries and regained his strength, things weren’t the same.
It had been over a week now, and HD hadn’t been tickled.
It was wild how normal tickling was to HD now that to go without it left him almost feeling crazy. His skin felt overly sensitive and he craved that soft touch to just ghost over him. It felt like 4K could just look at his sides, or feet, or armpits and HD would be giggling. Yet 4K made no such move.
After the wounds had healed, 4K’s chest hair had grown back in and the demon flaunted his achievement by keeping his shirt off. It wasn’t that different from his usual attire. He always had his kimonos half off or the ties done so loosely his chest was just out in the open; but before that was just 4K how he usually was. Now he flaunted his chest.
He had caught HD watching his chest and teased them over it. HD blushed, but they defended their actions. It was a flimsy lie of trying to spot which hairs were the new grown in ones, but rather than the usual following of teasing, leading to playful pokes and finally tickles - 4K just laughed. He laughed it off and continued what he was doing and HD felt…empty.
HD never brought the issue up. It was embarrassing to ask why they weren’t being tickled and honestly they were afraid of the answer. They were scared 4K had just grown bored, or maybe he hadn’t even noticed the issue. No matter how hard they shook their head, HD couldn’t escape the thoughts that maybe all this was marking the end of their deal.
A pang of cold sorrow settled in HD’s chest and he wrapped himself in his grass cloak and moss covers to chase it away. It didn’t work.
HD had returned to his thicket bed a couple days after they returned. As nice and relaxing as it was to finally sleep in his own bed, HD could only now think of how far away he was from 4K. He was only mere steps away, yet the distance felt like miles to him. He couldn’t know what the demon thought anymore. Usually he would have thought the smile 4K would give him was honest but now he couldn’t help but think it hid something more. It was like a show the demon was putting on. Keeping up the appearance that everything was okay. It wasn’t.
“You need to speak to him…” HD whispered into the moss under him. Holding it off wasn’t doing any of them any good. Tomorrow, as soon as he’d wake up, HD would find 4K and discuss everything he could. Tomorrow they would sort it all out.
Or…perhaps sooner.
HD heard the footsteps approach. He had heard them as soon as 4K had stepped out of the cave and onto the grass. The demon made his way over to the thicket, but then he stopped. Curiosity took HD before nerves could and he picked himself up to turn around. He could just see 4K out of the small thickets opening. He had knelt down peeking in and almost looked surprised to see HD.
“S-Sorry…” He quickly said. His voice was soft, like he had to keep quiet. “I wasn’t sure if you were still up. Or…if I woke you.”
HD shook his head. “No, I’m up. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. It’s just…” 4K scratched at his other arm. He was nervous. The boisterous tickle demon was nervous. “I-Is it alright if I sleep here with you tonight?”
“S-Sure.” HD replied. He could never have expected 4K to be nervous of something like this. They had slept in the same bed loads of times before. “Do you want me to come in, to the caves? If you’d rather sleep in your own bed tonight.”
“No, no. It’s fine. The fresh air might do me some good, honestly.”
“Well…okay, sure.”
HD shuffled himself forward and 4K slipped into the thicket. It was intensely cramped with the two of them. 4K’s chest pressed up against HD’s back but the fae didn’t mind. He did notice 4K’s arm hesitate before he asked.
“Is it alright if we cuddle?”
4K had never asked before and HD was stunned into a moment of silence before he nodded. 4K’s arms wrapped around him slowly. He was hesitant yet HD couldn’t help but sigh. This was good. This felt familiar, but he couldn’t ignore 4K’s hesitance.
“Is everything alright? Do you want to talk or just…sleep?”
4K didn’t answer for a while. The arm wrapped around HD’s waist held him in close, as the other softly traced lines down HD’s arm.
“I’m…afraid.” 4K gave an almost laugh. “And I can’t even face you when I say this, so I’m a coward too.”
HD wished they were facing one another so he could give some comfort, but he wanted 4K to feel comfortable enough to speak. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m… I’m scared…” 4K spoke slowly, trying to find the words. “I’m scared that I’ve made you afraid of me.”
“Wh-What?” HD couldn’t help the question blurting out.
“You saw me. My…true form. You looked afraid.”
“What?” HD was puzzled. He tried to search his memory, imaging 4K in his tall imposing form again. Skin black as coal and glowing hot as magma. Horns and fangs sharp and hair blazing like fire. HD wasn’t afraid of him at all. He was in awe of him. But in that memory he could also remember the fear.
“I was scared when you saw the dagger. I was afraid you thought I was going to hurt you. Or thought I was ever planning to.” HD brought his hand to 4K’s, lacing their fingers together loosely. “If you had just asked I would have explained.”
“Was a little busy with that whole venom stuff.” 4K’s huff laugh hit the back of HD’s neck. “Then afterwards I was scared of the answer.”
It was ironic how HD was worrying himself over the days, 4K was also worrying just as much. Or maybe even more.
“I worried you were scared of me.” 4K continued. “When you didn’t sleep around me and only slept because you were exhausted, I thought you were being protective but I couldn’t shake that doubt. I didn’t want you to feel trapped. I-I really do want you to see this mountain as your home. I want you to come and go as you please but I admit I offered it as a test. To see if you would take the time away but the more days that passed the more scared I got it would be true.”
His arms tightened around HD’s waist and his lips mumbled into HD’s neck. “I’m terrified you’ll leave me…”
The hand holding 4K’s squeezed tightly and then HD unlaced their hands. “Let me turn around.”
4K was hesitant, but his arms loosened and allowed HD enough room to slip forward and turn himself around to face the demon. 4K looked so unsure. His eyes were soft and pleading, his lips pulled down to a worried frown. He looked so frail and HD couldn’t help but take cup both hands around 4K’s face and hold him softly.
“I could never leave you.” HD admitted. His heart thumped awkwardly in his chest. The small voice of doubt worried to lay himself so open but 4K was reaching out with that same vulnerability. They were equal, and honest. “Nothing could make me leave you, or this mountain.”
Hope flittered across 4K’s eyes, but it wouldn’t draw a smile to his lips or even ease his worried brows. “Really?” He asked softly. “Y-You are bound here with the deal…”
“I offered the deal. And even with the freedom to leave, I am still here.” HD swiped their thumb under 4K’s eyes. “These months with you, they are the happiness I’ve ever been in all my years of living.”
His eyes lit up then and he leaned into HD’s hand. “You are…important to me.”
HD was reminded of the kiss to his neck, and the whispered words when 4K was delirious with sleep and sickness. His skin tingled just to the memory. “I’ve never cared for anyone as much as I care for you.”
4K’s arms around HD’s waist pulled him in close to a tight hug. His chin rested over HD’s shoulder and he gave a breathy laugh. “You don’t know how long I spent trying to work up the courage to come out here. How long I worried if everything was still good between us.”
HD smiled, relief easing his tension at 4K’s laugh. “If it makes you feel any better, I was planning to talk with you tomorrow if you didn’t come out here tonight.”
“Damn.” 4K joked. “Crumbled too soon.”
“Well I’m glad you did.”
The arms tightened around HD’s waist, and he could feel 4K’s tail softly curl around his leg in an attempt to hold him closer. It made HD’s heart flutter. He stroked a hand through 4K’s thick hair. “Do you want to sleep?”
“Honestly, I’m tired but I’m so relieved it’s turned into excitement! Think I’m too buzzed to sleep.”
HD felt a similar way. His heart beat happily in his chest and a buzz worked through his nerves. Usually in a mood like this, HD would subtly offer himself up for tickles. He’d only ever done it a handful of times, wearing an outfit that showed off more of his skin or stretching out in front of 4K. It always worked, yet just as fast as the thought for tickles came into his head another thought took it’s place.
An interesting thought.
HD pet through the wild mane of hair again. “4K…” The demon hummed against HD’s shoulder in response. “Are you ticklish?”
The tail that had been so happily flicking away stilled to the question. He could feel 4K tense up for a that one second. A second of silence that felt much longer until 4K coughed and answered.
“I uh… I don’t know.” He replied, his voice unusually shaky.
“You don’t?”
“No. W-Well…” He pulled back just slightly as he answered, but he kept his arms around HD. He wore a sheepish grin and a light pink blush as he spoke. “I’ve been tickled by things before. Like if I walk out and the grass is covered in dew it tickles my feet. Sometimes if cloth or something brushes against me it feels tickly.”
“But you’ve never actually been tickled?” HD pushed.
“No. Not a lot of people really think to tickle the demon tickling them.” 4K gave a laugh. Nervous, but giddy.
“Would you like to be?”
4K’s eyes widened just ever so slightly and HD could feel his tail start its twitching again. He pursed his lips, catching it on his snagged tooth before his sheepish smile came back and he nodded.
The thicket was much too cramped for what was planned so the two shuffled out to the glade. The night was warm and the grass was dry as 4K splayed out. He laid on his back, stretching out his limbs. HD took position straddling over 4K’s waist.
He couldn’t help but stop for a moment, and just stare at 4K’s body as he lay out so trustingly for him. 4K was bulky but not overly muscular. He didn’t have defined abs but his arms and legs were strong. His kimono top was tied so loosely it was showing off his chest so proudly. Ever since his hairs had grown back he’d been happily going topless or keeping his robes open to show off.
“See something you like?”
4K’s voice snapped HD out of his thoughts. He looked up to 4K’s grinning face.
“I was just deciding where I should start first.” HD quickly responded, and watched 4K’s grin drop. “I think your chest maybe.”
4K tongue poked out just slightly between his lips. “Y-Yeah?”
“Yes. I noticed it a few days ago when I was touching over your chest. Tracing over the smooth skin. You laughed and pushed my hand away.”
4K shuffled uneasily. Clearly a detail he hadn’t noticed or he hoped HD hadn’t.
“Or maybe your armpits. Actually…” HD watched the demon’s arms in thought. Laid at his side, but his hands nervously playing with the grass. “It’s best you keep your arms up. So I can get at all the spots.”
“Right.” 4K slowly raised his arms up over his head. “I-I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep them up. Thrashing around, you know?”
“Yes you will.” HD said confidently. His hands poised over 4K’s sides and he could feel the skin under his hand jump. A rush of power overwhelming him. “You’ll keep them up because you want to be good and do what I tell you.”
4K’s eyes widened as his cheeks became pink a pinkish hue. The colour fluttered down over his neck and chest and reached the tip of his ears. Yet still his arms went up and his hands clasped together.
“Good boy…” HD praised and he could feel 4K’s tail whip back and forth behind him. “Now…where to start? Do you have any preferences?”
“Mmm...a…” 4K almost sounded breathless. HD watched his Adams apple bob as he swallowed to regain his sense. “I…I… What about my sides? They drive you mad, and I always wondered how it feels.” He teased. HD’s could feel his cheeks blush, but he smiled widely and the confidence wavered in 4K’s eyes.
“You can tease all you want, but it’s going to be you laughing.” HD pointed out. His hands pushed up 4K’s top and found a place right at the demon’s sides. Fingers digging ever so slightly. It wasn’t enough to fully tickle him, yet 4K still jumped with a a soft yelp. “Until you’re begging for mercy.”
4K still had enough confidence in him to boast. Even flashing a cocky smile as he spoke. “Begging? Me? I think you’re jumping ahead of yourself a little. I get you begging because I’m a seasoned tickler. Takes years.”
“Yeah?” HD cocked his head. “You want to wager that? I bet I can get you begging me to stop.”
“Oh?” 4K’s tail flicked with interest, curling around HD’s ankle. “What do I get if I win? Just to remind you, you’re already my tickle toy for eternity.”
“You can have…a full day of tickling me. No trade or questions required.” HD offered, and lay it on thick as 4K raised an eyebrow. “That means a whole day of whatever kind of tickles you want. Trying out all your brushes. Tying me down. Hell, even blindfolding me and going at me with all those feathers while I’m tied to that chair. Whatever you want.”
That got 4K interested. His face went red once again as the tip of his tail flicked back and forth against HD’s ankle. It tickled only slightly but HD could put up with it.
“Yes. Instantly agree, yes.” 4K quickly nodded.
“You’ve not even heard what I’ll get.” HD pointed out.
“Doesn’t matter.” 4K smirked. “You won’t win to get it.”
“How cocky! I’ll make sure you regret that.”
4K opened his mouth to give another quip, but any words he had were caught in his throat. A sharp gasp as HD pressed his fingers into 4K’s side, kneading up and down just slightly and the response was fireworks.
His hips bucked as the a laughter took him by surprise. “PHGN! F-F…Fuck! WAIT! HAHA! Thahahat! That! That tickles!” His arms shook and almost fell down to protect him but HD could see him focus and forced himself to kept them up.
“Well you are ticklish.” HD took note. His hands didn’t stop their tickling, but he switched from kneading to skittering, letting the tips of his fingers and nails just lightly brush over the sensitive sides.
The struggling changed from bucking to gently wiggling. 4K swayed his hips side to side, not really trying to knock HD’s hands away but enough to let out the pent up energy coursing through him.
“I think you might be more ticklish than me!” HD teased, clearly a lie but it worked at well, riling 4K up so.
“NAaaha-HAHA! N-No I’m n-no-nohohot! Y-You are the-EEEEEEEEEEHEHEHEAHAHA!”
HD dug in again, fingers dancing into the nerves of his sides. “Hard to tease me when you’re laughing, isn’t it?” He cooed, noticing how 4K’s laugh hitched up higher in pitch. “Are you more ticklish when you’re teased? How very fitting! You tease me all the time yet you’re so sensitive to it yourself.”
“Not! Not more…! AAhahaa!”
He spoke out in little gasps. His words breathless between the spouts of laughter. He still kept his arms up, which HD had to admire. Though maybe he hadn’t found the right spot to bring them down. While the main point of the challenge was to get 4K begging, HD couldn’t help but set himself his own challenge. Get 4K to bring his arms down.
Best place to start then would be right at the source. HD shuffled himself up slightly and dug into 4K’s pits. He had a patch of black hair in his pits, but it wasn’t so course HD couldn’t skitter his claws through; each of his fingers moving on their own, never finding a rhythm.
4K gasped out a wheeze, then his laugh returned in little giggles. Like hiccups, each giggle surprised him and made his voice squeak. “Weehehe…! H-Heh! My-My pits aharen’t that t-tihicklish!”
“Still ticklish though.” HD quickly said. It wasn’t exactly disappointment in finding out his armpits weren’t ticklish, but they glared at the arms staying defiantly up. Stretching out the skin as if to ask for more tickles.
This might have been harder than HD thought. Not only was 4K a tickling fiend, it seems he also loved being tickled as well.
They weren’t going to let that stop them though. HD still had a wide expanse of the demon to tickle, there would be plenty of spots to try. He pulled his hands back from 4K’s underarms, letting the demon’s giggles fade out before he spoke again. “I’m going to tickle your chest.”
4K gave another high giggle, though HD suspected it wasn’t from the ghostly tickles left behind. “O-Oh…?”
“Yes. Your stupidly buff chest which you flaunt in my face every day.” HD almost huffed with his words, but his hands roamed over 4K’s chest, pushing away his robe to show it off. “I’d say you’re asking for it to be tickled.”
“Maybe I’m just trying to subconsciously influence you to show yours off more. Your chest is quite tickly if I remember.”
HD’s face burned remembering when they discovered that. 4K was quick to test out all the feathers and tease him. HD thought now though he could just tickle him back and an idea sprung to mind. Each of them tickling each others chest to see who would give up first.
“I think you know your chest is ticklish.” HD said. The idea of 4K gasping and begging for the chest tickling to stop subdued the blush on his cheeks.
4K gulped again. The bravado lost. “M-M-Maybe…”
“Maybe?” HD coaxed. He shifted his hands just to rest over 4K’s pecs and watched in delight as the demon wouldn’t take his eyes off HD’s hands.
“W-We-Well…” 4K cleared his throat. “I do keep my chest exposed for a reason… Especially the centre of my chest. It’s very…sensitive.”
It was what HD hoped for, yet he felt almost dizzy with the possibilities. He watched his hands move like he was possessed and carefully trace feather light touches down the centre of 4K’s chest.
4K sucked in a breath as though to hold in his laughter, but it was no use. HD hadn’t even traced a full line down before he was sputtering with laughter.
HD moved quickly. He skittered, kneaded and fluttered his fingers all over 4K’s chest, picking up every different sounding squeak and giggle, focusing on those spots for a a second more before moving on.
HD waited for any words to stop. His ears perked for any signs of 4K voice changing or any sign he wasn’t enjoying it, but there was nothing. 4K’s voice was hysterical, but not distressed. So HD continued.
4K’s arms shook now with the effort to keep them up and HD was sure he could get them down. His nails skittered down till he dug in under the pecs, right where 4K’s ribs met his chest, and kneaded in.
The laugh that came from the demon was more like a howl. He arched his back, trying in vain to knock HD off but it felt like nothing could take his hands from that spot.
“HEHEEHEEEDEEEHEHEHE!”
“Do you give up? Are you begging me to stop?”
A wheeze, and a whimper, then 4K shook his head vehemently.
His arms were struggling to stay up; half way pulled down but keeping strong. But for how long.
He kneaded up and down 4K’s ribs, skittering over each bone and 4K howled.
Like a shock coursing through his body, 4K glitched. His arms came down in an instant protecting the one spot that undone all of his will. His laugh was so sudden it was a silent scream. He bucked hard enough to knock HD slightly off and half turn himself away. Luckily HD caught himself before he could fall, but the two stared at each other in silence.
4K hands cupped around his rib. His lowest rib on the right side.
4K’s eyes were wide. HD’s eyes were wide. Then he grinned.
“Arms up.”
A nervous smile broke out over 4K’s face. “Be-Be reasonable, HD.”
“Up.” HD repeated and 4K still hesitated. “Arms. Up. Or I count that as a forfeit.”
4K giggled nervously and hesitated to move his arms. HD was almost sure he wouldn’t move, yet very slowly 4K began to lift his arms up again. As soon as the rib was unguarded, HD launched his hands in and tickled right away.
Even knowing it was coming, 4K screamed. He bucked his hips again but HD was prepared this time. He quickly slipped off 4K’s side, kneeling beside him as he wrecked that one rib.
“AAHA! UGHGHAHAA! PLEASE PLEASE! MERCY!”
“You know how to make it stop!” HD had to almost shout over the screaming laughter. Between the screams 4K was making silent laughs and deep gasps. He was absolutely at his limit. His arms went back down, trying in vein to protect himself but HD was too prepared to let himself be pushed away.
“I GIHI-AAHAHAHA! I GIVE UP! OOOOHOHOHO STOP STOP!”
HD stopped tickling right away. A part of him didn’t want to stop which he felt a deep guilt for, but he saw 4K curl up into himself. His hair was a mess, not only was it wildly laying out over the grass it was stuck to his skin which was slick with sweat. He was panting, trying to gasp for air and between his small giggles.
The want to tickle 4K more was suddenly overpowered by the utter need to comfort him. HD scooted himself up more to 4K’s head, running his hand through his hair and scratching over his scalp. 4K sighed softly to the touch, leaning in more to HD’s legs.
Was this was 4K felt whenever he’d stop tickling? Just an urge to comfort and cuddle.
“You okay?” HD asked. “That wasn’t too much was it?”
“That was… intense.” 4K’s gave tiny pants between words. His eyes finally opened, though half lidded. Tired, but bright. “But I liked it. I really liked it.” He smiled. “Just that rib. God damn that tickled so much. It was like a button straight to my nerves.”
4K shifted, his hand still half patting over his rib and half protecting it.
“But I really did like it.”
HD’s eyes travelled up, away from the rib to see 4K was staring up at him. The urge to coddle him was intense and HD pet through his hair. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t mind being tickled again.” He thought about it. “Maybe not tonight. That…took it out of me.”
HD knew that feeling well. Of being utterly overloaded with tickles to a bliss, softness. 4K always took the time to make HD comfortable then, to get him whatever he could ask for and keep him comfy. HD felt the same instinct to make sure 4K was taken care of.
“Do you want to sleep?” He offered, running his fingers through 4K’s hair again. “Or do you need anything? I can run and grab you a drink if you need it.”
“No, no…honestly I could sleep.” He made a point to stretch out his legs and softly sigh into HD’s lap again. “I’m not sleeping in your thicket though. I’m far too big.”
Yes, it was a rather tight squeeze with both of them in it. But… “Well that just means we have to cuddle real close.”
“We can technically cuddle anywhere.” 4K pointed out. “Here…”
4K raised his arm, wrapping it around HD’s waist and pulling the fae down. HD squeaked, but they relaxed and let themself be moved as 4K got comfy. He turned on his side, facing HD and bringing the fae in close to his chest. He tucked HD’s head under his chin, sighing contently as he rested over it. His arms wrapped around HD’s back and one leg lay over HD’s.
It was warm and comforting. It lulled HD to relax, almost melting into to 4K’s chest.
“See? We can cuddle anywhere.” 4K’s voice rumbled, HD feeling the vibration of his chest on his cheek.
“I see…” HD responded, watching as 4K’s tail lazily lay over HD’s hip. “You want to sleep here? Outside where it can rain?”
It did feel warm enough, though HD was sure that was from 4K’s body pressed so close to him. He could hear the demon’s strong heartbeat, lulling him to sleep as 4K’s tail trailed further around his waist, as though trying to tie the two together.
“Sleep.” 4K purred and following his command, HD did.
Just as their luck would happen, it actually did start to rain just before sunrise. 4K woke up as soon as the first drop was on him, like a cat hissing to the water. The rain wasn’t heavy and it was actually rather pleasant to HD but he still followed 4K to the cave and was thankful that as 4K laid out over his bed, he pat his chest and drew HD forward to lay down on top of him.
4K fell asleep first this time. His face looked so soft as he slept. No big grins or a put on of bravado. He was just…4K.
I’m going to keep you safe. HD promised. For as long as I breathe, as long as you are with me, I’m going to keep you safe from all of them.
He gave a small kiss to 4K’s cheek, and then he fell asleep.
Do you have any guesses when chapter 5 will be out!?
Love this series sm btw you’re such a talented writer 🙃🙃
Thank you so much for the kind words <3
I'm actually working on the art for chapter 5 just now so i'm hoping it can be out after the weekend, hopefully tues or wed but no promises on an exact time
The date is approaching for HD's time away from the mountain, and he's shocked to learn that he feels...sad to leave. For two weeks he'll be travelling alone, and he'll miss 4K. But it seems 4K will miss him too.
Sorry this was late tumblr would not let me post anything for days but it seems to be fixed now. Anyway, here is my favourite chapter so far. Please enjoy.
The closer and closer the date came for HD’s time away, the more nervous he became. He had only been with 4K for such a short while, but he was already adjusted to life on the mountain. He could say he and the demon were friends, or at least they were heading towards it. Really, it was hard to put a name to a relationship that began with a deal to be tickled for eternity. But HD thought – hoped – that their time together was making them closer.
4K never seemed to notice the time approaching, or he never showed that he did. It was hard to tell the mood of the demon sometimes. In the quiet moments, HD couldn’t tell if he was just enjoying the comfortable silence or he was restless. When he’d tease and smile at HD, he couldn’t be sure if it was just the demons usual flirting to make him blush or if 4K actually meant those words.
Even the tickling HD had become accustom to. He would absolutely not admit that he liked it but it was a sort of settled in routine for the two. HD was getting enough questions answered to get an idea on demonology.
He had asked what the signs were for a demon taking territory and his payment for the answer of ‘none’ was to have 4K kneeling on his arms raised above his head, and his armpits and ribs absolutely wrecked.
He had asked if there was any reasons for demons to attack humans. The answer was complicated because of course it would be different for every demon. Some demons avoided humans to live undetected while others could despise having to share the world with mortals and do something about it. They were similar to fae in a sense where if a human trespassed or took something from a demon, they would be haunted until the item was returned, or the mortal made up for it in some other way.
HD’s payment for that answer were to be tickled with feathers. All different kinds of terrible feathers. 4K had came up to him excited to show them off. Some were long, fluffy and light, others short and firm and a few others in a mix or in-between. They had solved the rope issue by using silk to tie HD’s hands together, so the fae found himself with his arms tied behind his back, at the mercy of those feathers.
4K loved exploring HD’s tickle spots with each feather, seeing which ones would make him laugh and giggle and snort. They did not tickle as badly as the brushes. The worst one of them all was the stiff white feather that 4K brought to his feet. He pulled back HD’s toes, flicking it just at the very top of the ball of his foot and watched with a grin as HD struggled and laughed and pleaded.
All of his spots were mapped out and noted on, with each kind of feather. Also turns out his chest was ticklish. A new fun discovery 4K absolutely enjoyed giving quick tickles to during the day.
Still in all the tickling sessions, HD had never uttered the safeword. He couldn’t even remember a time he was close to saying it, though when he was pushed to the edge of his sanity with tickles he couldn’t remember much. He’d pondered if that was a bad thing to let himself get to that point, but quickly disagreed with himself. He was never uncomfortable and he never felt weird or bad when he’d regain his senses again or woke up. He just felt that warm soft feeling that wanted to be coddled and taken care of which 4K was always happy to do.
In their head, HD knew they should keep some sense of distance between themselves and 4K but that was sort of hard to do. They had so willingly agreed to be his tickle toy, it was hard to not form a bond.
But bonds are dangerous for faes. HD reminded themselves.
Fae’s are creatures of feelings. They want comfort, safety and merriment. They seek out companionship of others. They would love hard and when the love wasn’t returned, or betrayed, they’d destroy.
HD was confident in himself he wouldn’t succumb to the excuses his kin had. All of his actions would be his own, not blamed on his nature. He was friends with 4K, and while it might not have been what others could consider a friendship, it didn’t matter because it worked for them. He had agreed to be with 4K for eternity, but eternity was a long long time. In the worrying nights HD couldn’t help but wonder if 4K would ever grow bored of him. He was bound to the deal as well but 4K could just as easily ask for the deal to be broken. HD surprised himself as his concern wasn’t for if 4K would go after someone else. His concern was in his sadness from losing 4K. He’d miss the demon.
They were just thoughts of “what-ifs” that did nothing but make HD worry. If 4K got bored or wanted the deal broken in the future, that was for them to deal with in the future. They were not the same fae and demon they were the night they met. They’d grown close and they could talk things out. HD was sure of it.
Instead of focusing on useless what-ifs, HD busied himself packing for his time away. He never needed a lot when travelling before and he wouldn’t need anything more now. Clothes and a map really, which he was looking over now.
HD lay on his front, over the moss bed in his thicket. The map of the land lay in front of him, marked in ways only he knew. Towns, cities and villages marked down that he had visited before. The circled ones were marking fae activity. Either a group or one lone fae was active but not yet causing trouble. Just causing fear. The places with a single strike through them were fae marked, were the activity was strong but HD had dealt with it to drive them out.
Now he’d need to expand his marking method. He had demons he could look out for now, though even with 4K’s information he wasn’t confident if he could really take one on or drive out out. Still, having the knowledge for it already helped out more than enough.
He was trying to plan out his travels for the two weeks when the thicket bush rustled and 4K was leaning down, looking through.
“I knew you’d be out here.” 4K said as he laid down.
“There’s not many places for me to go.” HD pointed out, but he was smiling as 4K shuffled in. “And I thought you knew everything going on, on the mountain.”
“If it’s something new on the mountain.” 4K corrected and settled in. He was crawled in to his waist, his head close to HD’s. “You are a regular on this mountain now.”
HD’s heart warmed to the words. He distracted himself with looking over the map again, which 4K was also interested in.
“What’s all this?” He asked. “Are these places you’re planning to go?”
“No, not exactly.” HD shook his head. “At least not in these two weeks. These are places of interest. I’ve already been to the places marked, but some I will go back to.”
“You’re quite the traveller.” 4K commented, his eyes never leaving the map. He was looking over each mark like he was studying them.
“I used to travel before I settled here.” HD pointed out. “Though settling is quite nice. A home to nest in is comforting.”
4K hummed in thought. His eyes flicked over the map but his attention seemed to drift off.
“What?” HD asked.
“I’m...going to miss you.” The demon admitted and looked up to HD. “And not just for tickling you. I’m going to miss you.”
If HD’s heart had warmed from 4K’s words before, now it was on fire. It thumped so loudly in his chest he was sure 4K could hear it. “I won’t be gone for long.”
“Two weeks will seem like a lifetime without you.” 4K sighed. He sunk his head down to rest in his folded arms. “Though I suppose, I can use all that time to plan all the tickles you’ll be getting when you get home.”
That thought had crossed 4K’s mind as well. Two weeks for 4K to plan, for his mind to run wild with a ll kinds of ideas. And HD would be stuck with two weeks of imagining all the ways he’d be getting wrecked when he get home.
“The time will fly by.” HD quickly excused. “You won’t even know I’m gone.”
“Of course I will! Who am I going to talk with over breakfast? Who’s humming am I going to listen to while you read?”
“I hum when I read?”
“Yes. The softest hums when you read. My favourite thing to listen to.”
The flutter in HD’s heart only settled as he forced himself to focus on 4K’s words.
“I mean, next to your laughs of course.”
“You’ve survived without me before. You will again.”
“It won’t be as fun…”
The conversation felt too close and HD quickly came up with the excuse he needed to pack. He asked 4K if he could take some of the bandages and ointment on his travels for a just in case and luckily 4K offered to help him pack the last of his stuff, leading them both to shuffle out of the thicket.
HD honestly expected he’d be tickled the night before he left. He expected 4K to come at him, asking him to get a question ready and he’d be wrecked. But that moment never came. They ate dinner together, HD assuring 4K he could be home in the two week time frame and 4K reminded him about the extension to the deal. They went to bed separately and in the morning HD was off.
He had done well to ignore the pang of loneliness in his heart on his last night, but now it would be a challenge. HD only hoped he could keep himself busy to ignore it.
And busy he was.
HD planned for his first week to check up on the villages he had been to before. He had warned them of fae activity, giving them iron and telling them to avoid the forests close to them. Especially the large lake. It seemed in his absence the fae grew bolder, and the villagers ignored his warnings. Each night human after human walked to the forest and only half of them were found alive. Babbling horrors but alive.
Somehow that was HD’s fault. Somehow the humans blamed him for not dealing with their problem. Somehow no matter how much HD helped and kept them safe for as long as he could, one wrong move on their part and he was just like all the other fae.
A huge part of HD wanted to leave them to their fate, but his hate for his own kin outweighed his pettiness. It helped when he drowned out the villagers yelling, instead imaging he was relaying the story to 4K. They had never spoken much on 4K’s opinion of humans, and HD had not even tried to ask why 4K was doing what he did, but he could guess from the few conversations he had he wasn’t fond of them. He could imagine 4K scoffing over the humans blame and cursing them. HD knew the demon would absolutely be trying to talk him out of walking into the woods at night and helping these people, but HD would persist and push on. He could not let a fae’s actions go unpunished.
The walk through the forest was made much harder by the iron HD carried out with him. It was heavy and even wrapped in two layers of thick cloth, he could still feel it burning his hands ever so slightly. It was nothing like the warmth of 4K. This heat stung, like tiny bites against his skin.
The lake was not hard to find as a clearly well used path had been worn into the forest floor, bringing HD to the lake’s edge. It was sad how beautiful the lake was. The trees thinned out the closer it got to the lakes edge. The patches of grass were long and soft and the water was so still and calm. So inviting. The only thing ruining it was the smell. The rotten smell of death hung over the water, clinging to it.
How many humans had this fae taken? How many bodies were still drowning down at the bottom of the lake?
The smell was going to make him throw up, so HD quickly tried to untie the cloth for the iron. He tried to imagine the pond on the mountain. How calm it was. How it smelt so sweet. He would be back there soon, away from this horror. But something pulled HD out of those thoughts. A voice. A raspy, dead voice.
“Kin killer…”
Somehow having the fae know him made HD feel better. The could skip all the boring ‘why’ and ‘how’.
“Heard you were dead.” The fae continued. HD looked around, finally spotting them. They were perched on a branch on a tree around HD’s right. The tree was close to the water’s edge, the branch low. Their skin was the colour of swamp water, a murky green. Their hair was like grass water, slimy looking and wet. They looked completely drenched, like they’d just come out the water. Their hair covered most of their body and hung over the branch. Their eyes were pure black and looking dead at HD.
“Well I’m not.” HD spoke carefully. He could fight, but he never liked to. It was a risk he’d rather not take. He very slowly moved his arm holding the iron, trying to keep it out of view. He studied the fae a little more. A water nymph perhaps? Or some sort of selkie? “Which Court do you belong to?”
“It doesn’t matter.” The fae’s voice warbled angrily. “Are you here for the humans?”
“If you mean the ones you’ve no doubt drowned. No. If you mean I’m here on behalf of the humans...maybe.”
The fae hissed, climbing onto another branch of the tree as if to come closer. “Kin killer… Human lover! Have you no shame for what you do?!”
“You’re killing humans.” HD said calmly. His hand out of sight was trying to untie the cloth slowly, but it was hard when the iron was burning his skin and shaking his bones. “This is their world.”
“It was ours!” It almost sounded like the fae was weeping. Maybe they were. Their face was already wet it was hard to tell if it was from tears or water. “This place was ours! We had dances here. Parties. Then humans came and took it. They trampled all of our rings. They dumped their filth into the water. Ruined it!”
“We already have a world. We have our forests. Our lakes and ponds more beautiful than anything here. You came to their land.”
It was no use trying to talk sense into them but it kept him distracted long enough. HD had almost undone the cloths. He’d have to move fast and throw the iron in before it could burn him too badly.
The water fae sniffed. HD first thought it was in some sort of huff, until they did it again. And then again. HD worried they had smelt the iron, until they spoke. “You stink…”
He was relieved, though insulted. It was a common thing he was told. “Yes. Being around humans would—”
“No. Demon. You stink of demons.”
HD froze. It was unexpected and yet seemed to obvious. HD had been around 4K so often he never noticed the demon scent anymore. Of course it would be his own now.
“Do you love humans so much you’d protect them from even demons?” Their voice a mix between a taunting hiss and a genuine question. “Or…do you hate your kin so much you’d jump into a demon’s bed?”
He took in a sharp breath through his nose, which probably gave the fae their answer. Or what they believed was the answer. HD felt it rather pointless if he tried to explain himself and how could it really be explained.
‘No, I’m not sleeping with a demon. But I did make a deal with one to be his tickle toy to learn more about them.’
“Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!” The fae sneered. “How many of us have you killed with no remorse, while the humans kill and take our land! How many demons have you lain with to spite us!”
That irked HD more than the fae thinking he and 4K were sleeping together. “I don’t do anything for you!” HD hissed back. He felt the last tie of the cloth pull free. The iron almost fell out of it, but he caught it with his hand. Only one cloth lay between him and the iron. It burned only for a second because in the next second HD used all his strength and threw it into the lake. As soon as the iron touched it, the water bubbled like a boiling cauldron and the iron sank down to the bottom.
The shriek from the fae almost deafened HD. It shook the birds from the trees and probably woke up the village, if they weren’t awake already. The fae crawled to the end of a branch to pounce but they weren’t going for HD. Instead they pounced out the tree and crashed into the water. Their body disappeared into the bubbling water and HD was too stunned to move. He had not expected it and couldn’t imagine a scenario in which they lived from it.
The water bubbled over, simmering as though the entire lake was about to burst and then the water calmed. The bubbling all dispersed at once, leaving the waters calm and still again. The smell of death was gone, leaving behind a rich earthly scent. HD knew then the fae was dead. Perhaps they could have crossed over to the Otherworld but if they had they’d be on the edge of death and most likely wouldn’t have survived.
There was no way the fae would have left peacefully with the lake’s connection destroyed. It was best this way, HD convinced himself. Though he had already made the choice not to return to the village. They could live in fear for a bit until they were brave enough to investigate. That would be his revenge.
HD walked passed the lake and deeper into the forest. He walked until the sky was just about to burst with the morning sunrise and then he found a bed of grass to settle in under a tree and slept.
The start of his week had already soured HD’s mood for the rest of it. He visited the other villages marked on his map but he kept his distance this time and tried to sneak in to pick up gossip or anyone talking about fae activity. Nothing as bad as the first village. It would need looked into later but it seems people here were keeping themselves safer.
His first week passed by and HD had so far killed one fae and warned off three others. He knew the warned off faes would be back later but he had done his part for now. HD forced himself not to care for now. However, he did learn that the rumour had spread around that he was dead. Apparently a three week absence was enough for the faes to assume he was gone for good. That put a small dent in the power he once had. Before the faes feared him for daring to kill one of their own, but now they assumed he had some kind of weakness. HD convinced himself it didn’t matter. The news of the fae he killed would reach the others soon and he’d be treated cautiously again.
For the second week, HD put 4K’s information to good use. He had a few hidden spots around the place, just outside of towns or deep in marshes. The one was hidden under a pile of rocks by a stony hill. Spare clothes, some money he had ‘just happened’ to come into possession of and importantly of all his grass cloak.
It was one of HD’s most prized possession, even though it absolutely gave away he was a fae. Sometimes he could pass himself off as just a traveller, but people were more suspicious. He had hidden it before going to the town under the mountain to give him the best chance and it was too far out to retrieve before.
It was like a comfort blanket to put it on again. Cool but warming. His tension for the week before was already melting off his shoulders, and HD was off to make a plan.
There were a few shops HD knew of that could sell him what he needed. Magic shops with talismans, trinkets and crystals that could ward of evil. With the money he collected, HD had enough for a few talisman papers. There was a book on different demons and the blessing that could ward them off, which HD got as well. The last one HD didn’t think he’d be able to get for a while, but his search through the shops were lucky.
An obsidian dagger. It was small, the blade probably only a bit bigger than his hand, but it curved slightly at the top. Small white runes were carved into the blade, some HD knew as protection and he had to assume it did more damage. It took the remainder of HD’s money he had, but he purchased the blade and a small sheath for it.
It was a lot more than HD expected to get but it helped jump-start his plans. He could expand beyond keeping faes away from humans, and keep demons away as well. Though he had a feeling driving off a demon would be harder than a fae.
Faes used tricks and deals to work around fighting. They’d charm or placate their targets. Demons seemed to go for the straightforward battles. At least 4K did…in a sense. In their first meeting 4K had tried to go straight for him, and it was only with HD’s bluff they got into the deal. He imagined other demons would be similar. Though their methods would involve something a bit rough than tickling.
But still, this week was a success. Now HD wouldn’t feel so helpless, coming across a cursed town he knew wasn’t from a fae. He didn’t have all the knowledge, but he would be prepared. He could help.
Not that they will ever thank you for it.
HD shook off the dark thoughts. This was a positive week. They had saved humans. They’d found an obsidian dagger. They got their grass cloak back.
They were lonely…
Work could keep them busy with planning and occupying their mind, but when they laid down to sleep and their mind wandered. They missed the mountain. It had become their home and comfort. While they settled under an old tree, wrapped in their cloak, they imagined their thicket bed, warm and cosy. They thought of the beautiful pond, a clear reflection of the night sky. And they thought of 4K.
Never had HD imagined he would be friends with the demon when he made the deal but it was hard not to like 4K. His warmth and endless positivity were infectious. He was also kind, and soft when he needed; even though his body was pure muscle.
HD didn’t know if it was blessing or pure luck the demon he was bond to was 4K, but he was thankful for it either way.
Sleep was slowly pulling HD’s eyes closed, but with the last of his energy he reached out to the bond around his heart. He could feel the knot woven around it. It gave him a sense of comfort knowing it was always there. And yet as he shut his eyes to sleep, he could feel the knot again.
A soft tug on the bond. Not like something trying to undo it, but instead like a gentle pull as though softly reaching out.
“I… Can feel that.”
4K’s words rang in his head when HD had first reach out to the bond. 4K could feel whenever HD touched upon it...so HD could feel whenever 4K reached back.
His heart warmed and he gently reached out again. After a few seconds he felt the tug again on his bond again, and HD was practically giggling into his arm. Giddy with glee.
4K was thinking of him. Enough that he responded to the touch upon his own heart. Enough to tell HD that he was always there.
HD didn’t think he could sleep, excitedly thinking of returning home – his real and true home – but his thoughts of the mountain lulled and calmed him enough that he finally fell to a restful sleep.
It came upon the last day of the two weeks away. HD had already made his way back to the mountain, after finishing up some last minute things. He couldn’t find any signs of demon activity but he had some places to keep an eye on for next time.
As soon as the mountain came into view, HD’s heart fluttered and they quickened his steps. The deal was to allow him two weeks from the mountain, and he wasn’t going to risk breaking it by setting foot on the path up. Instead he kept to the dirt path around the mountain for now. There was a rocky slope just off the path behind the mountain. It was hard to spot with the mossy forest floor covering over majority of the stone, but HD carefully slipped down it till he was under a small overhang of stone. It shadowed over the cluster of rocks and kept them out of sight. Perfect for hiding his things.
He had a box for the talisman papers which he also wrapped up in a thick piece of cloth. Along with his blade and the book on demons. He had spent a second considering taking the book with him to read, but quickly decided against it. He wasn’t going to risk breaking the deal and since the book was literally telling him how to harm demons he wasn’t going to chance it. Instead he wrapped up his stuff and placed the rocks back around it. A few ferns grew close by which HD moved just ever so slightly and the spot was out of sight. Perfect.
It was late afternoon and HD found a tree root to rest under just a little ways off the path. His plan was to sleep now, wake up close to midnight and as soon as the new day hit he’d return to the mountain as soon as he could. It had taken him only a couple of hours to reach the top the first climb, now it felt like he could sprint up there in seconds.
HD didn’t know how he was suppose to fall asleep. His giddiness from a few nights ago felt like nothing to to excitement of today. Sleep felt like it would never come, yet as HD opened his eyes, blinking a few times, the night had come. The moon was high in the sky and a new day had started.
It was past midnight.
HD nearly tripped over himself when he got up and quickly set off for the mountain path. He could not wait to crawl up into his thicket bed and listen to the crash of the waterfall. He couldn’t wait to get back to the cave again, and see what more goods 4K had managed to swipe from the humans.
He couldn’t wait to see 4K again.
The closer the top of the mountain approached, the more HD debated with himself over what to do. Every cell in his body wanted to run into the cave and wake 4K up, but a more sensible part of him reasoned that wouldn’t be fair. 4K would be sleeping since the demon was always an early riser. HD could wait by the pond and surprise him in the morning.
Yet when HD came upon the picturesque scene of his home, he couldn’t help himself. The pond was perfectly still, reflecting the night sky. The waterfall looked almost glowing with the moons light. A wash of joy overcame him and HD decided he couldn’t wait.
So he wouldn’t wake up 4K but right now he just had to be inside the cave. Being close to 4K would be good enough, and he’d be a nice surprise for the demon when he woke up.
HD carefully stepped past the waterfall, slipping into the cave. His eyes took a second to adjust, but it was a second too late to see the hand quickly reach out and grab his arm.
He was pulled further into the cave, but his steps didn’t stumble for long before arms wrapped around him and he was lifted up into the air. Before HD had even a moment to get a sense of his bearings he was being spun around like a sort of princess, while 4K’s voice squeaked happily.
“You’re back! You’re back!”
HD was giggling as he tried to speak, but it was hard not to. 4K’s voice was too joyful. “Stohop! You’re making me dizzyyyy…” His arms braced onto 4K’s shoulders as the demon still spun them around and around.
“But you’re back!” 4K squeaked with joy. He stopped his spinning slowly, grinning up to HD with soft eyes. “You can’t expect me not to be excited.”
HD’s heart fluttered, but he ignored it as he saw 4K’s attention draw to his cloak. “What’s this?”
“My cloak.” HD said almost proudly. A giggle still in his voice from the spin. “I left it behind before I came here. Picked it up.”
“It’s nice.” 4K complimented as one of his hands ran over the grass. “Soft.” He turned the grass inward, brushing it along HD’s arm and the fae giggle and pulled away. “Tickly.” 4K grinned.
“Wh-What are you doing up?” HD quickly asked to distract from the moment.
“You think I was gonna sleep when you’re coming home?” 4K almost scoffed. He gently lowered HD down, his hands still roaming over the grass cloak. “I nearly raced down that mountain as soon as you took your first step here.”
HD’s cheeks felt warm, and his head was floaty. 4K was an early riser, almost always rising with the sun. He’d always go to bed before HD, who preferred the night, but now he was keeping himself awake. Just for the chance that HD would have came back.
HD felt a rush of affection for the demon before him. He wanted to swept up in 4K’s arms again. He wanted to jump into 4K’s arms and never let go. But all of these wants fizzled out when 4K spoke. His hand came up to HD’s face and the fae leaned into the palm without thinking.
“Do you want to sleep?” 4K’s voice was soft and his thumb trailed just under his eyes. Gods his hands were so big and warm. “Are you tired?”
HD slowly shook his head. “I slept in the afternoon.” He half lied. But only because he couldn’t really know. He didn’t remember ever falling asleep but he was certainly not tired. “Are you tired?”
“Not at all.” 4K’s soft smile morphed into a grin. His head leaned just a little closer to HD, like he was whispering a secret. “Do you have a question ready?”
The words prickled over HD’s skin with a new kind of excitement as 4K quickly added.
“Don’t feel like you have to agree, especially if you’re tired from travelling here. If you’d rather chill I’m fine to do that as well. We can sit outside, and watch the-”
“I have a question.” HD quickly cut in. The tingles of excitement still ran through him; growing even more as 4K’s grin grew wider. Suddenly he was lifted up into 4K’s arms again. His time the demon’s arms were under his knees and back, lifting him like a sort of princess.
“4K!” HD squeaked and quickly wrapped his arms around 4K’s shoulders.
“You better ask your question now while you can.” 4K’s voice held a low growl. HD could feel the excitement radiate off him as he walked further into the cave. Past the kitchen and his old room. “In fact, I’ll let you have two. Because this will be intense.”
HD could feel his heart flutter with a warmth he was so unused to. It made him squirm a little which 4K probably took to be he was nervous as the hand on his back made a soothing motion. In truth he was nervous, but he was still swept up into feelings of affection he couldn’t concentrate.
It took HD a few moments to get the question right in his head.
“Are deals common with demons? Between other mythical creatures, or mortals?”
“No. At least not compared to faes.” 4K hummed, almost sounding actually thoughtful. “A lot of more peaceful and docile natured demons will just try to avoid mortals rather than strike a deal. Most demons probably don’t see worth in it, and the ones that do are probably in it more for their own gain.”
HD supposed that was the nature of all deals. Trying to make sure you had more than the person you made it with, or at least keep it even.
He never really had a second question to ask, but there was something like venom in his heart, ruining his warm, fuzzy mood. It struck just for a second, but HD knew what he wanted to ask.
“Have you ever made a deal like this with anyone before?”
4K’s steps halted for just a second. He paused mid-step before carrying on like nothing happened. Instead of facing forward, he turned his head to HD, and kept eye contact with the fae as he answered.
“No. You’re the only one I’ve made a deal with, little star.”
The venom in his heart fizzled out, and the warm fuzzy feeling came back tenfold. HD wanted to blush and hide away in 4K’s neck, but the demon took them into another cavern and his attention was taken away.
HD had never seen the cavern before, but then he’d never explored much of the cave from 4K’s warnings. The walls weren’t so rough as the others, and were smoothed out to almost look like a normal room. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, bathing the room in a soft orange glow. The cavern could almost be called nice, but HD’s attention was so fixed to the centre of the room.
There was only one thing in the room, and it sat so calmly against the stone floor. HD thought it was just a chair at first, and to be fair it was. A soft looking cushioned chair that had some...features. Past the cushion, the seat still stretched out, leading to rather ornate looking set of stocks. HD didn’t need to measure to know it was the perfect distance for his feet to be locked into. Quickly looking away, he saw the back of the chair was also much taller than needed. The top of it reached passed where HD’s head would sit, and each end stretched out slightly, with straps hanging off them.
It was quite clear what the chairs intention was for, and yet HD’s mind was racing with so many thoughts and questions. The only thing to come out of his mouth was. “When… Wh-Where did you get this?!”
“I made it.” 4K boasted proudly as he lowered HD down. HD never took his eyes off the chair, hardly noticing he was standing now. “Well… Okay I had some help.” 4K seemed huffy to admit it. “I had to get the stocks specially made. But the chair was all me.”
“You had someone make stocks for you!” It wasn’t a question at all but the absolute absurdity of it had HD reeling. So many scenarios played in his head.
“Of course. I wanted something perfectly made to make sure it wouldn’t hurt your ankles. Got it all perfectly made to your measurements.”
“When did you measure me?!” That HD had to ask because he would have absolutely remembered if 4K ever came at him with a measuring tape. Or, funnier to think, that 4K had somehow measured him while the fae was asleep. In the times between 4K’s early rising and HD snoozing until noon, he’d tried in vain to measure a sleeping, tossing and turning HD.
The thought was so funny HD gave a small snort of laughter.
“I didn’t have to measure you I can look at you, and know your height and measurements perfectly.” 4K’s voice dropped low, and he leaned in a little just so his lips were grazing over HD’s ear. “I know your body perfectly.”
HD wanted to rush as say that wasn’t true, but he thought better of it. He could only imagine the teasing questions 4K would have to follow that. “Is that a demon thing, or just a 4K thing?”
“That sounds like another question.” 4K’s voice rumbled, with a mixed up purr and growl. “You want to make this more intense than it already is?”
HD’s cheeks went red and his head was floaty but he was tethered to earth by 4K’s chuckle. “I think it’s just a me thing. Though I didn’t ask anyone.”
The attention came back to the chair, because how could it not. It was ominously waiting for use. HD hadn’t realised he stepped closer till he could see the details in the wood. Very fine details of flowering vines around the curved corners of the stocks. The insides where his ankles would sit were cushioned for comfort and – the most pressing detail of all – there were small ties just above the holes, which were no doubt perfect distance to keep his toes tied up.
“How… How-How the hell did you ask someone to make this?”
“There’s a nice little carpenter a few villages away. He didn’t ask too many questions either.” 4K mused like he was relaying some sort of fond memory. “I mean he could probably guess it was for some torture but he didn’t ask. I made myself look important enough that maybe he thought I was an interrogator for some royal.”
“How did you convince anyone you were human?” That also implied that 4K had been travelling. While HD had of course, he just assumed 4K was some sort of hermit, that all demons had to stay at their territory at all times.
“I can hide these very well.” 4K whipped his tail and pointed up to his horns. Even still, HD couldn’t believe anyone could look at 4K and think he was mortal. He was just so...otherworldly. “And I dressed up real nice.”
HD wondered what ‘dressed up nice’ meant to 4K. The most HD had seen him in was some casual robes or a thin top and shorts. It wouldn’t be unbelievable that 4K would have ‘found’ some nice or important looking clothes.
“You can still back out now.” 4K’s voice had dropped his playful lilt and he was looking at HD with a serious look. “I understand I sprung this on you. I was planning on waiting to talk to you about this and show you it in a gentler way so if you want to call it off now that’s fine.”
HD was so focused on the circumstances of 4K going through the trouble of making this thing he had not really considered how it would be used. And it was absolutely going to be used on him. Maybe if not tonight, but for sure in the future.
“I’m fine…” HD said, tearing his eyes from the chair for a moment to look up at 4K. “I still want to.” HD meant it.
4K looked like he could burst with giddiness, but he was keeping himself in check as HD approached the chair. Very slowly he pulled himself up to sit on it. It really was made to his measurements. It was the perfect size to lock his ankles in place.
4K had opened the stocks and HD tested out the feel of the cushion before he allowed the demon to place them back down and lock them in place.
“I want you to use your safeword if it really gets too much.” 4K spoke seriously. “This will be intense.”
“You say that every time.” HD rolled his eyes. “I am aware I can use the safeword at each time.”
“And each time you never use it.”
“Isn’t that a good thing for you?”
4K looked up to HD after he was done checking the lock for the stocks. It was a simple latch that came over, connecting the top half to the bottom. Nothing complicated. “I don’t want you pushing yourself.” 4K softly admitted.
HD’s heart thumped. “I never am. I trust you.”
4K came to a full stop. His body froze, arm mid way pulled back and then he turned to HD with soft eyes and an almost lopsided smile.
“How do you do that?” He asked, and came up to HD’s side before the fae could answer. “Why is it whenever you’re tied up, that’s when you’re most honest?”
Goosebumps prickled all over HD’s skin. 4K suddenly felt too close and yet not close enough. Conflicting emotions raged in HD but he tried to focus on the words. Focus on speaking. “I tell you these things all the time.” He spoke slowly. “Without...b-being tied up.”
“No. You roll your eyes and wave it off while you say you understand.” 4K leaned in just a bit closer, leaning by HD’s legs. “But when you’re like this you let out soft words. Let things slip out you wouldn’t normally.”
Had he? HD had only been tied up a few times during their time together. A lot less than he thought but it seemed 4K much preferred wrestling and actually manhandling HD around. But there was something...intimate about letting himself be tied down. Letting himself submit. Maybe he had been a little softer in those moment because it was a soft thing.
4K took HD’s silence for panic. He placed a hand over the fae’s knee. Firm and grounding. “Want to stop?”
“No…” HD shook his head. If he was tickled, then he didn’t have to think. “I want to keep going.”
“So eager.” 4K’s voice so easily dropped back into a teasing purr and he moved himself off the chair. “You have been two weeks without being tickled, you must be going absolutely crazy.”
He took a step down, back to the stocks, and HD felt an almost impulsive urge, rush up his throat and out his mouth. The words were spoken before he even realised what he was saying. “Who says I’ve not been tickled?”
4K stopped mid-step. HD watched the words hit his brain. The muscles on his back tensed and he turned his head to look at HD over his shoulder. “Have you…?”
The demons orange eyes were inquisitive, but intense. Staring with curiosity and...anger?
Jealous. He’s jealous.
“Maybe.” HD shrugged. “You keep telling me I’m so irresistibly ticklish. Maybe someone else saw that too.”
4K’s jaw tightened. He swallowed slowly, his Adams apple bobbing as he gave a slow, dangerous grin. “I want a new rule.” He quickly stepped round to the end of the stocks, right by HD’s feet which suddenly felt more vulnerable. “No-one else gets to tickle you.”
“What if I don’t agree to that?” HD asked, trying his hardest not to curl his toes or bend his foot. He was not going to let 4K know how hard his heart was beating.
“Then I’ll just have to remind you how good I can tickle you. No-one else will ever compare.”
His left foot was grabbed and HD had no time to stop the whimper. 4K hadn’t started tickling, but he did slowly push HD’s big toe up and looped the small strap around it. Trapped. There was no time to get used to it as 4K moved onto the next toe. Eventually all five of his toes were tied up, his foot helplessly stretched out.
HD’s other foot tingled slightly, preparing for the same, but 4K actually stepped back and began walking around the side of the chair.
“Wha… Aren’t you going to tie the others?”
“It will be more maddening for you if one foot is so helplessly tied and the other free to struggle and shake as much as it wants. But it can’t do anything.” 4K flashed a grin to HD as he passed. “Just like when you were tied to the tree. Your free foot couldn’t do anything but stomp and shake.”
HD remembered that so vividly. The shiver ran through him while 4K positioned behind the chair and simply said “Arms.” and HD raised them without a fight. And then his arms were secured up as well. HD tugged on the straps just to confirm it. Trapped.
He knew the tickling would start then but 4K was deliberately keeping himself out of sight. Still stood behind the chair, the demon didn’t move and HD could feel himself start to wriggle. His nerves were failing him and it didn’t at all help when 4K came into view.
It was just his hands that HD could just make out. Lowering from above, getting closer and closer to his armpits.
“N-Nohoho!” The giggling started before 4K had even touched him. It was humiliating how much his body responded even without touch. Just knowing the tickling was coming, having the memory of it in his mind, was enough to make him laugh.
They reached HD’s armpits, and instead of the all out assault HD was expecting, 4K just stretched out his pointer finger on each hand, and tickled the armpits with one finger. Slowly dragging his claw up the hollow pit, reaching the top, and then going back down to repeat the same motion. Again and again.
“N-Naha-AHAHA! Noo-oohohoho! That-ngh! That-That tihickles! THAT TICKLES!”
His ankles and wrists were held in place, but it didn’t stop his waist wriggling from side to side, trying his hardest to pull away.
“Hmm… That won’t do.”
The tickling stopped then and HD barely had time to catch his breath before another strap was wrapped around his waist. He was pulled back against the chair, tightly bound. Trapped again.
“Much better.” 4K admired before his hands came around again. He ran his knuckles up and down HD’s ribs, watching with delight as the fae laughed and tried to howl out his pleas between them.
“THAHAT TICKLES! Tha-haha...o-ohohoho! That-That tickles so much! PLEASE! HA-NAAAAHAHAHAHA! PLEASE!”
4K’s hands travelled down. Skittering along HD’s sides. Thankfully they never stayed on the worst spot for long, moving quickly down to HD’s hips and kneading into the bones. HD swore his skin tingled more from his waist now locked in place. He could barely move his hips at all and even if he could, 4K was a master tickler by now. Knowing each way HD would move and follow it without mercy.
It took a moment for HD to realise the tickling had stopped. His chest heaved and laughter still teetered on while 4K came around to the end of the stocks again. HD curled one foot.
“You ready?” 4K’s voice rumbled in HD’s mind, pulling him from the brink of madness and into sense.
“Wh...For what?” HD gasped.
“The intense stuff. I told you it would be intense.”
4K leaned down, grabbing something from a pile beside the stocks HD hadn’t noticed. Though to be fair his whole attention couldn’t be on anything else but the chair. He could see a few of the brushes he’d been tickled with before, as well as the feathers and a small container HD hadn’t seen before.
It was the container 4K grabbed, bringing up and presenting it with a grin. “You know what this is?” He twisted the container around just a little.
HD shook his head. The container wasn’t too big, about the size of his palm and about an inch or two tall. It reminded HD of makeup compacts but he knew 4K wouldn’t have something as simple as makeup in there.
“Itching powder.” 4K finally revealed as he carefully lifted the lid.
The mention of the word made HD’s skin crawl, and his feet shook slightly in their holds. His left could do nothing but give a slight wriggle and his right cowered.
From what HD could see of the powder it was a deep orange colour. A bit of a darker shade than 4K’s eyes. Even the colour of the powder seemed like it would itch. That powder was going to itch. That powder was going to be put on HD’s feet.
It was the first time the safeword became a thought in HD’s head. It wasn’t on his tongue or caught in his throat. It remained in his mind, planted there as a reminder. A reassurance that no matter what, he had an out. Just one word and it would stop.
HD said nothing as 4K raised one of the round brushes that had attacked his armpits once before. The demon coated a lavish amount of the powder on the brush, wiggling it slightly in front of the fae as a taunt. HD giggled then, but the word never touched his tongue. It was kept, folded away in his head as 4K lowered the brush closer and close to his left foot and finally made contact.
The feeling was immediate on the first brush over. Tingly. Mind shatteringly tingly that spread over the entirety of HD’s foot with each swipe of the brush. It only took a few go overs before HD’s foot was covered, shaking in their bonds, unable to move or provide any relief from the unbearable itch.
“I-It-It...mmMMMMMM! ...Oh-ohohohoho! It’s so-It’s s-so i-itchyyyy….” HD gasped.
Itchy couldn’t even begin to describe what it felt like. The feeling of a thousand tiny feathers brushing over every inch of his foot. It was sometimes too light to be tickly, but it made his skin jump; and then other times it tickled so madly it was the only thing HD could think of. Rewriting his entire brain to only focus on his left foot.
The fact his right was itch free was somehow worse. It was free to move and shake but it did nothing to quell the tingling.
“I-I’ll… It-It tickles so...n-ngh! I’ll-I’ll die! It tickles!”
“How can it tickle? I’m not even touching you.”
4K pulled up another chair, settling by HD’s feet. Another thing HD just hadn’t noticed. He leaned down again, this time picking up one of the feathers. A long, stiff blue feather. HD recognised that feather as the one that had tortured his ribs before. Now it was waving ever so close to his tortured sole.
“Pleee...ehehase. Please not-not that! If-If you ti-ihickle me softly I’ll dieeeee…” His voice came out in whiny cries and HD couldn’t find any part of himself that cared in that moment.
“Well we won’t know till we try.”
The feather flicked over HD’s arch. It was barely touching his skin, like it was just testing out the waters and there was no words in any language that would ever describe how much it fucking tickled.
It didn’t feel like a laugh that tore out of their throat. It was more like a high pitch scream from deep within their chest. It hiccuped in their throat, coming out as a whine and then a deep hysterical laugh even as 4K pulled the feather back. It was like some cruel left over ripple effect. The tickly tingles still ran over their skin and their voice broken up by giggles and laughs.
“Ah...Ahahaha…! N-Noho! Not-Not thahat...ngh…!”
The feather returned, this time over the ball of his foot. 4K flipped the feather on it’s side so the edges ran along HD’s skin. Then he flicked the feather up so the soft edges got at all of the fae’s toes. 4K sawed the feather back and forth, up and down the length of HD’s toes; just lightly brushing over that spot where toes met his foot and HD was seeing stars.
“Well, you’ll die laughing.” 4K purred. In his mercy he did pull the feather away, bringing it back so just the tip of it licked over each of HD’s toes. “Is that not a good way to go?”
“NOHO! NOOHOHOHOHOHO! IT ITCHEEEEES! IT’S-IT’S TOO MAAAAAHAHAHAHA!”
4K dipped the feather between each of HD’s toes. Flicking just once and moving onto the next space.
“PLEHEHEASE PLEASE PLEASE! DOHON’T-DON’T TICKLE ME GENTLY!”
“No? How do you want me to tickle you?”
He pulled the feather back, letting HD have a moment to regain his senses. His chest heaved with each breath, his foot still maddeningly tingly.
“PLEASE! P-Plehease… Scratch… Scratch my f-foot. Please-Please. I-I’m begging yohou!”
“Is that all? Well of course.”
The elated hope that swelled in HD’s chest burst almost instantly as 4K did scratch over HD’s foot. The foot not covered in itching powder. He pushed back the free foot, scratching over the ball and down the arch while his thumb scratched along HD’s heel.
“EEEEEEEHEHE! PLEASE NO! PLEEHEEEEEEEEEASE!”
The feather returned again, slowly brushing up and down the length of his poor trapped foot. It could do nothing but shake in its hold, forever at the mercy of 4K and his terrible feather.
“NOT THAAAAAAAT! NOT THA – Ahaha… Not THAHAT ONE! I’M BEGGING YOU! I’M BEGGING YOU! PLEASE STOP!”
“Beg more…” 4K’s voice sounded lower, the purr mixing into a deep growl. “Tell me how much it tickles.”
“IT TICKLES!” There was no sense or logic to HD’s words. His one compreheniable thought was if he listened to 4K, the itching would stop. “IT TIHIHICKLES! I CA – AHAHAHAHA! I CAN’T THINK!”
“You can laugh.” 4K taunted, flicking the feather back and forth over HD’s itchy heel. His other hand scratching up and down his free foot.
HD couldn’t believe it could get worse, but somehow having his non itchy foot being scratched and tickled just made the itch more unbearable. It was a constant taunt to his other foot. Experiencing the sweet relief it could be having.
“PLEASE! MERCY! Oh-Ohohoaaahahaaha! St-OP! STOP! MAKE IT STOP!”
“Could anyone else ever tickle you like this?”
There was the growl again; the jealousy. HD’s head was too far up in orbit to pick up on it. The only two thoughts running through his mind were ‘IT TICKLES IT ITCHES’ and ‘Make 4K happy and he’ll stop the itching’.
“NOHOHO! NONONONO! NEVER!”
“Would you ever let anyone tickle you like this?”
“NO! NOHOHOHOHO!”
“So no-one tickled you while you were away?” The growl had lessened in his voice, taking on a more taunting lilt that HD couldn’t pick up on. His mind was too focused onto the feather not running up and down the length of his foot.
“NOOOOO! N-NO-ONE! NO-ONE! Ah...AAAHAHAHAHA! No-one could! I w-wohohouldn’t lehehet them! Just-JUAAHAHAHAHA! JUST YOU! ONLY YOOHOHOU!”
HD rambled, only half aware of the words he was really saying as the feather explored over every inch of his slender sole. It returned up to his toes, the spot that made the colours dance in his eyes and his laugh screech like he was being tortured. His voice had left him. All reasoning and senses beyond the feeling of his poor itching sole was gone. He was nothing but a true tickle toy in that moment. At the whims of 4K’s every demand as he orchestrated the laughter he wanted with that awful awful feather.
But there was some relief from the itching. Something in the words HD rambled out gave 4K mercy. He abandoned the feather with the other tools. HD only heard the slightly sounds of rummaging before 4K’s attention returned and HD screamed.
A hairbrush. A hairbrush that could almost cover the entirety of HD’s foot, raked mercilessly along the trapped sole. It tickled madly but it scratched that forever itch, swirling into a confusing sensation of relief and torture. It felt like he’d died, and gone to divine bliss all in one motion.
“EEHEHEEHEHEEEEEEE! IT’S TIHIHIHICKLING MEEEE! IT TIHIHICKLES! STOP TIIHICKLING MEEEEEE!”
“Doesn’t this feel good?” 4K had to raise his voice over HD’s screaming, but his words forever had a constant route, right to HD’s ears.
“Y-Y-YEEEEES YEHEHEHES! MY…! MY FOOOOOOT!”
“What about your foot?”
The brushing continued. Scrubbing away HD’s sanity again and again.
“IT TICKLES! IT TICKLE!”
“Huh… Why does it tickle?”
“YOU’RE TICKLING YOU’RE TICKLING! MY FEEEHEHEHEHEHET ARE SO TIHIHICKLISH! AAAAHAHAHAHAEEEHEHEHEHE! STOHOP! MAHAHAKE IT STOHOHOHOP! I’LL DO ANYTHIHIHIHING JUST STOOOOHOHOHOP!”
“Anything? Well… I want you to laugh.”
The brushing continued.
Minutes. Hours. HD couldn’t be sure. He’d never be free. He’d never know anything but this. The blissful torture of his itchy foot being scratched and tickled again and again.
Time pressed on. Their pleading and begging was mixed with praise and affirmations whenever the brush passed over a particularly itchy spot. Small flashes of relief from the itch kept them aware. Their body refused to let them pass out.
All the while 4K’s words continued.
“You beg me to scratch your foot and now you beg me to stop. You’ve giving me mixed messages here, little star. I should tickle this foot for eternity over that. I should do nothing but tickle this little foot right here. I wonder how long until you go mad. Until you can only think of tickles. Until you can think of nothing else but me tickling this little ticklish foot.”
HD couldn’t respond. He could only laugh, and howl, and scream.
The safeword had never been said, but the brush was finally pulled away from their feet. HD’s mind still scrambled for sense, as they continued breathlessly laughing. They could vaguely feel their toes loosen for their ties. The stretched and curled instinctively to the newfound freedom.
The small remnants of the itching powder over his left foot were calmed and wiped away with a cold wet rag. Even though the touch was firm and so soothing, HD couldn’t help but giggle hysterically to the softness.
Finally, his foot was free of the itch. It still lingered as a memory of course and HD’s foot would be twitching for a while, but his skin felt like it could breathe again.
The ties on his wrists were undone but his arms were caught before they could uselessly fall at his sides. 4K brought them down gently as he undone the strap around HD’s waist and gathered the fae up in his arms.
“You did so good.” His voice whispered so softly against HD’s ear. It flicked a little, but twitched to hear more. “You were amazing. Still never said the word that would make it all stop. You’re amazing.”
4K’s thumb swiped under his eye and down his cheek. HD could feel now they were stained with tears. Even as he tried to blink, his vision hazy, he could feel the last few teardrops slide down his cheek.
He was brought out of the room, though he could only tell because the orange glow of the lanterns had faded and the silver light of the moon took their place. HD thought they’d went outside, but he was lowered to the nest of furs that was 4K’s bed. He had no shame to cloud his wants and he nuzzled into them right away, drawing them up around himself as he felt another fur being pulled over him.
“So cute. You’re so cute.” 4K’s voice rumbled, and HD could vaguely feel a kiss press to the side of his head.
A warmth slid up behind HD and pushed against his back. Warm and firm but also softly comforting. It wrapped around his waist as well, pulling him tighter against the warmth on his back.
4K was holding him. Holding him so softly and affectionately that even in his blissed out state, HD swooned.
“Sleep, Starlight.” 4K purred and another kiss pressed to HD’s head. “Have the softest dreams.”
Like a command HD had no choice but to follow, he fell asleep into a blissful darkness.
It was still warm when HD woke up. He could feel the sun’s warmth creeping just ever closer over the opening through the top of the mountain. The furs were a mix of being wrapped around him and kicked away during the night.
The memories of last night came sweeping into HD all at once. It wouldn’t be one he could so easily shake off, even if he wasn’t lucid for all of it. It was a rather abrupt way to wake up. His cheeks were red and he giggled to the memory that felt just a little too real. Like he could still feel the tingling shocks of ticklishness coursing through him but...no, he could.
Something was tickling him.
It as just a light scratching on his sides, barely even a touch but it made HD squirm and giggle all the same. He blinked the last of the sleep from his eyes, coming fully into reality as he tried to inch just a little bit away and gather his surroundings. The warmth around him decided it did not like that very much and effortlessly pulled HD right back in, the tickling continued.
4K pressed up as close as he could against HD’s back. His arms wrapped around the fae’s waist with his hand lazily lounging by the fae’s sides. His fingers were twitching but the motion was too precise to be random. Yet even so, 4K was still deep asleep, snoring happily into HD’s hair while his claws brushed along the oversensitive skin.
“Eheheven in your sleep yohour a tickle fiend.” HD whisper giggled. He tried to move forward again and the grip was tightened. The snoring was broken up by a soft whine and the tickling just ever so slightly pressed in further, kneading a little into the soft sides. “H-Hehey! Stohop. Stop that.”
HD grabbed 4K’s hands and moved them off his waist. The demon disagreed with this move, grumbling sleepily but he settled again when HD turned around to face him and slowly drew him in. 4K shuffled forward, till his face leaned against HD’s chest and he sighed happily. HD kept the tickling hands far from his sides, instead placing them on his back so he could still be wrapped up in the demons arms. The scratching tickled a little, but it was more calming than tickling, so HD let himself relax.
Judging by the position of the sun above it was just coming to noon. HD still felt the tugs of sleepiness and it would have been so easy to slip right back into his peaceful slumber, but his attention was pulled to the demon curling up in his chest.
4K’s expressions were vastly different when he was asleep. His lips usually so stretched out into a grin were softly parted with his slow breaths. His intense eyebrows relaxed, smoothing out his face overall. HD had seen 4K asleep before, but he seemed so vulnerable and soft in this moment. A vast difference from the merciless tickler just a few hours ago.
“Of course I’d never let anyone else tickle me…” HD whispered to the top of 4K’s wild hair. His horns just poked out of the wild mane and HD gently ran his fingers over one of them. Smoother than what HD expected to feel. His other arm wrapped around 4K’s neck, cradling him into the fae’s chest. “You think I’d trust anyone like I do you?”
4K couldn’t hear the words. It was the equivalent of whispering them into a brick wall. Yet HD meant it. He had trust in 4K that he had never had with anyone else. Maybe long ago, the days before he was labelled ‘kin killer’ he had a couple friends he could trust, but never to the level he had with 4K. Never to the extend he would have willingly gone into a chair with straps on them.
HD could feel the knot around his heart shift with the beating of it. It wasn’t a strange pressure like before but it felt almost like a blossoming flower. A soft warmth growing from his chest, making his face red and his heart beat faster.
He had so willingly gone into the chair and let his feet be held in stocks for this demon. And he would probably do it again if the demon asked. This wasn’t just trust. This was affection.
A groan stopped HD’s thoughts wandering any further. Rather thankfully, though he pushed those thoughts and feelings aside for now as 4K awoke.
Usually 4K rose with the sun and he was always so annoyingly energetic. Now the demon seemed groggy. He whined and stretched his arms out. He pulled back from HD and rolled onto his back, landing in a spot of the bed where the sun beamed directly in and he groaned again as he threw his arm over his eyes.
“Too bright…”
HD opened his mouth to speak, but he watched instead as 4K lazily pulled up his other arm. He gave a lazy wave and the opening at the top slowly began to close. Like stone growing, the opening shrunk and shrunk till it was just a tiny sliver. Enough light was coming through to see, but the beam disturbing 4K was gone.
“Much better…” 4K sighed.
“This is-a…!” HD tried to speak, shocked to the sound of his own voice. HD already had a deep voice other didn’t expect, but now it was somehow deeper and gravelly. It didn’t hurt to speak but he could feel how rough his throat was with each word.
“Seems that little session did a number on your voice there.” 4K teased with a chuckle.
HD gave a slight smack to 4K’s arm. “No...wonder.” He said. His voice wasn’t sore, but it still felt weird to talk.
“Honestly surprised you have a voice at all after that. I do fully believe the town must have heard you screaming. If not, then the Gods must have.” 4K teased again, but his eyes were soft as he looked to HD. “How are you, by the way? Aside from the voice. All good?”
The hand that had waved the mountain closed now reached over to HD, softly rubbing over his arm. His skin prickled with goosebumps as he answered. “Y-Yes… why?”
4K rolled his shoulders in not quite a shrug. “Wanted to check in on you last night but you were kind of...far out, shall we say. And sleepy. Just wanted to make sure everything was good.”
“Is that because I never said the safeword?”
The sheepish smile told HD he’d hit the nail on his head.
“If I didn’t say the word, then it’s all good.” HD affirmed again. He tired not to sound annoyed, though really he couldn’t tell what his voice truly sounded like at the moment. 4K’s constant checking in was out of concern and HD appreciated it no matter how many times he had to assure him.
“I know you know that now. I just want to make sure it’s all good then. You were pretty out of it last night I couldn’t even be sure if you could have remembered the word.” 4K rolled onto his side facing HD. He propped himself up on his elbow, lazily leaning his head on his hand. “Maybe we should have another tell when you get like that...something physical – Ah! But you probably won’t remember the action either.”
While HD felt touched to the suggestion, he quickly cut into 4K’s wandering thoughts. “I don’t need anything else. The word is enough, I just...never felt like I needed to use it.”
4K raised an eyebrow. More curious than unbelievable. “Really?”
“Yes. It’s like…” HD stopped and pursed his lips as tried to find the right words. “Like… I know last night I was...w-well my mind was fried. But like I could still know it was there. Just a word that stops it all. I don’t think I see it as word at that point it’s like...It’s an off switch. That no matter how intense it gets I always have that out. That I know I can be pushed further because I have an out if I ever needed it. I guess that’s why I never use it because I know I can.”
He risked looking to 4K who just stared back at him, and HD’s words suddenly felt stupid in his gravelly throat. “Just forget it. That’s dumb.”
“No, it’s not dumb.” 4K quickly shook his head. “I get it. Well, I kind of get it. And whatever makes sense for you is fine with me. I just wanna make sure you’re all good with it. After I stop you’re always sort of spaced out, like it takes a bit for you to come back. Just wanna be sure there’s no bad thoughts after or anything uncomfortable.”
HD shook his head. “No it’s… It’s not like I pass out or anything but things feel sort of...fuzzier. I’m not all there but I slowly come around. And I never feel bad when I do I just feel...like soft? And I’m not worried about any time lost or when I wasn’t all there because I know you’re there. I’d be different if it wasn’t with you.”
HD risked a look over, to see 4K grinning like an idiot and expected some sort of taunting remark. Instead, 4K voice was surprisingly soft as he nodded. “Then we’re good.”
4K rolled over onto his back again, and stretched his arms up while HD’s thoughts wandered a little. “Just hypothetically…” He started. “If I did ever safeword...what would you do?”
“Well stop, of course.” 4K said like it was obvious and lowered his arms. He put one behind his head, the other lazy over his chest. “Then if you were tied or pinned I’d let you up. Then check-in. Like, did you safeword because it was too much, or did I trigger something, and we work from there.”
There was no need to ever worry, but HD was pleased to know his out was soft and comfortable.
“Ugh...hate waking up late.” 4K groaned and brought his hand up to wipe over his face.
“I was going to say. This is a little late for you.” HD pointed out.
“Well I was up late.” 4K chuckled. “Was tickling you for hours.”
“Hours?!” HD almost gasped. Of course he didn’t really have a concept of time as he was screaming.
“Well your foot needed attention. It was itchy. And you were begging me to scratch it. Had to do something.”
HD’s face flushed to the memory. They were sprinkled about little memories in his mind but he absolutely was begging for his foot to be scratched. More than once.
4K groaned again. His hand came up to wipe his face again, as though that could get rid of the fatigue. “Too tired. That’s it! Today is a bed day.”
“Bed day?” HD asked as 4K seemed to lounge himself further on the bed and taking up more space.
“Bed day.” 4K confirmed. “I’m not leaving this bed…” He hesitated a bit, his eyes flicking back and forth with some thought. “Well… Okay, I need to leave to get snacks and water and some stuff but after that, I am not moving.”
HD gave a half hearted scoff, but he could feel 4K’s tail tap lightly over his legs, and 4K looked at him again.
“You could join me… The bed is big enough for both of us to have a bed day if you want.”
It was a very tempting offer that HD was swayed to right away. “Oh, how could I refuse?” He slipped down to lie on the bed, ignoring the way 4K’s tail curled around his leg as he sank down. “A bed day sounds nice to rest my throat.”
“Perfect.” 4K’s voice purred and he quickly pushed himself up and off the bed.
HD fell back down into the furs and the demon returned less than a few minutes later with his promised items. He brought food and a jug of water for them, as well as some books and paper with sketching charcoal.
It was a perfect first day back on the mountain. Spent napping between eating and reading to pass the time. The two would talk in passing the time, or they’d share a book together before dozing off. HD would wake up wrapped in 4K’s arms, listening to the demon softly snoring and lulling him back to sleep.
There was no word to describe it other than bliss. It was like a missing piece of himself finally fit into place. The mountain was home. And 4K was a part of that.
The date is approaching for HD's time away from the mountain, and he's shocked to learn that he feels...sad to leave. For two weeks he'll be travelling alone, and he'll miss 4K. But it seems 4K will miss him too.
Sorry this was late tumblr would not let me post anything for days but it seems to be fixed now. Anyway, here is my favourite chapter so far. Please enjoy.
The closer and closer the date came for HD’s time away, the more nervous he became. He had only been with 4K for such a short while, but he was already adjusted to life on the mountain. He could say he and the demon were friends, or at least they were heading towards it. Really, it was hard to put a name to a relationship that began with a deal to be tickled for eternity. But HD thought – hoped – that their time together was making them closer.
4K never seemed to notice the time approaching, or he never showed that he did. It was hard to tell the mood of the demon sometimes. In the quiet moments, HD couldn’t tell if he was just enjoying the comfortable silence or he was restless. When he’d tease and smile at HD, he couldn’t be sure if it was just the demons usual flirting to make him blush or if 4K actually meant those words.
Even the tickling HD had become accustom to. He would absolutely not admit that he liked it but it was a sort of settled in routine for the two. HD was getting enough questions answered to get an idea on demonology.
He had asked what the signs were for a demon taking territory and his payment for the answer of ‘none’ was to have 4K kneeling on his arms raised above his head, and his armpits and ribs absolutely wrecked.
He had asked if there was any reasons for demons to attack humans. The answer was complicated because of course it would be different for every demon. Some demons avoided humans to live undetected while others could despise having to share the world with mortals and do something about it. They were similar to fae in a sense where if a human trespassed or took something from a demon, they would be haunted until the item was returned, or the mortal made up for it in some other way.
HD’s payment for that answer were to be tickled with feathers. All different kinds of terrible feathers. 4K had came up to him excited to show them off. Some were long, fluffy and light, others short and firm and a few others in a mix or in-between. They had solved the rope issue by using silk to tie HD’s hands together, so the fae found himself with his arms tied behind his back, at the mercy of those feathers.
4K loved exploring HD’s tickle spots with each feather, seeing which ones would make him laugh and giggle and snort. They did not tickle as badly as the brushes. The worst one of them all was the stiff white feather that 4K brought to his feet. He pulled back HD’s toes, flicking it just at the very top of the ball of his foot and watched with a grin as HD struggled and laughed and pleaded.
All of his spots were mapped out and noted on, with each kind of feather. Also turns out his chest was ticklish. A new fun discovery 4K absolutely enjoyed giving quick tickles to during the day.
Still in all the tickling sessions, HD had never uttered the safeword. He couldn’t even remember a time he was close to saying it, though when he was pushed to the edge of his sanity with tickles he couldn’t remember much. He’d pondered if that was a bad thing to let himself get to that point, but quickly disagreed with himself. He was never uncomfortable and he never felt weird or bad when he’d regain his senses again or woke up. He just felt that warm soft feeling that wanted to be coddled and taken care of which 4K was always happy to do.
In their head, HD knew they should keep some sense of distance between themselves and 4K but that was sort of hard to do. They had so willingly agreed to be his tickle toy, it was hard to not form a bond.
But bonds are dangerous for faes. HD reminded themselves.
Fae’s are creatures of feelings. They want comfort, safety and merriment. They seek out companionship of others. They would love hard and when the love wasn’t returned, or betrayed, they’d destroy.
HD was confident in himself he wouldn’t succumb to the excuses his kin had. All of his actions would be his own, not blamed on his nature. He was friends with 4K, and while it might not have been what others could consider a friendship, it didn’t matter because it worked for them. He had agreed to be with 4K for eternity, but eternity was a long long time. In the worrying nights HD couldn’t help but wonder if 4K would ever grow bored of him. He was bound to the deal as well but 4K could just as easily ask for the deal to be broken. HD surprised himself as his concern wasn’t for if 4K would go after someone else. His concern was in his sadness from losing 4K. He’d miss the demon.
They were just thoughts of “what-ifs” that did nothing but make HD worry. If 4K got bored or wanted the deal broken in the future, that was for them to deal with in the future. They were not the same fae and demon they were the night they met. They’d grown close and they could talk things out. HD was sure of it.
Instead of focusing on useless what-ifs, HD busied himself packing for his time away. He never needed a lot when travelling before and he wouldn’t need anything more now. Clothes and a map really, which he was looking over now.
HD lay on his front, over the moss bed in his thicket. The map of the land lay in front of him, marked in ways only he knew. Towns, cities and villages marked down that he had visited before. The circled ones were marking fae activity. Either a group or one lone fae was active but not yet causing trouble. Just causing fear. The places with a single strike through them were fae marked, were the activity was strong but HD had dealt with it to drive them out.
Now he’d need to expand his marking method. He had demons he could look out for now, though even with 4K’s information he wasn’t confident if he could really take one on or drive out out. Still, having the knowledge for it already helped out more than enough.
He was trying to plan out his travels for the two weeks when the thicket bush rustled and 4K was leaning down, looking through.
“I knew you’d be out here.” 4K said as he laid down.
“There’s not many places for me to go.” HD pointed out, but he was smiling as 4K shuffled in. “And I thought you knew everything going on, on the mountain.”
“If it’s something new on the mountain.” 4K corrected and settled in. He was crawled in to his waist, his head close to HD’s. “You are a regular on this mountain now.”
HD’s heart warmed to the words. He distracted himself with looking over the map again, which 4K was also interested in.
“What’s all this?” He asked. “Are these places you’re planning to go?”
“No, not exactly.” HD shook his head. “At least not in these two weeks. These are places of interest. I’ve already been to the places marked, but some I will go back to.”
“You’re quite the traveller.” 4K commented, his eyes never leaving the map. He was looking over each mark like he was studying them.
“I used to travel before I settled here.” HD pointed out. “Though settling is quite nice. A home to nest in is comforting.”
4K hummed in thought. His eyes flicked over the map but his attention seemed to drift off.
“What?” HD asked.
“I’m...going to miss you.” The demon admitted and looked up to HD. “And not just for tickling you. I’m going to miss you.”
If HD’s heart had warmed from 4K’s words before, now it was on fire. It thumped so loudly in his chest he was sure 4K could hear it. “I won’t be gone for long.”
“Two weeks will seem like a lifetime without you.” 4K sighed. He sunk his head down to rest in his folded arms. “Though I suppose, I can use all that time to plan all the tickles you’ll be getting when you get home.”
That thought had crossed 4K’s mind as well. Two weeks for 4K to plan, for his mind to run wild with a ll kinds of ideas. And HD would be stuck with two weeks of imagining all the ways he’d be getting wrecked when he get home.
“The time will fly by.” HD quickly excused. “You won’t even know I’m gone.”
“Of course I will! Who am I going to talk with over breakfast? Who’s humming am I going to listen to while you read?”
“I hum when I read?”
“Yes. The softest hums when you read. My favourite thing to listen to.”
The flutter in HD’s heart only settled as he forced himself to focus on 4K’s words.
“I mean, next to your laughs of course.”
“You’ve survived without me before. You will again.”
“It won’t be as fun…”
The conversation felt too close and HD quickly came up with the excuse he needed to pack. He asked 4K if he could take some of the bandages and ointment on his travels for a just in case and luckily 4K offered to help him pack the last of his stuff, leading them both to shuffle out of the thicket.
HD honestly expected he’d be tickled the night before he left. He expected 4K to come at him, asking him to get a question ready and he’d be wrecked. But that moment never came. They ate dinner together, HD assuring 4K he could be home in the two week time frame and 4K reminded him about the extension to the deal. They went to bed separately and in the morning HD was off.
He had done well to ignore the pang of loneliness in his heart on his last night, but now it would be a challenge. HD only hoped he could keep himself busy to ignore it.
And busy he was.
HD planned for his first week to check up on the villages he had been to before. He had warned them of fae activity, giving them iron and telling them to avoid the forests close to them. Especially the large lake. It seemed in his absence the fae grew bolder, and the villagers ignored his warnings. Each night human after human walked to the forest and only half of them were found alive. Babbling horrors but alive.
Somehow that was HD’s fault. Somehow the humans blamed him for not dealing with their problem. Somehow no matter how much HD helped and kept them safe for as long as he could, one wrong move on their part and he was just like all the other fae.
A huge part of HD wanted to leave them to their fate, but his hate for his own kin outweighed his pettiness. It helped when he drowned out the villagers yelling, instead imaging he was relaying the story to 4K. They had never spoken much on 4K’s opinion of humans, and HD had not even tried to ask why 4K was doing what he did, but he could guess from the few conversations he had he wasn’t fond of them. He could imagine 4K scoffing over the humans blame and cursing them. HD knew the demon would absolutely be trying to talk him out of walking into the woods at night and helping these people, but HD would persist and push on. He could not let a fae’s actions go unpunished.
The walk through the forest was made much harder by the iron HD carried out with him. It was heavy and even wrapped in two layers of thick cloth, he could still feel it burning his hands ever so slightly. It was nothing like the warmth of 4K. This heat stung, like tiny bites against his skin.
The lake was not hard to find as a clearly well used path had been worn into the forest floor, bringing HD to the lake’s edge. It was sad how beautiful the lake was. The trees thinned out the closer it got to the lakes edge. The patches of grass were long and soft and the water was so still and calm. So inviting. The only thing ruining it was the smell. The rotten smell of death hung over the water, clinging to it.
How many humans had this fae taken? How many bodies were still drowning down at the bottom of the lake?
The smell was going to make him throw up, so HD quickly tried to untie the cloth for the iron. He tried to imagine the pond on the mountain. How calm it was. How it smelt so sweet. He would be back there soon, away from this horror. But something pulled HD out of those thoughts. A voice. A raspy, dead voice.
“Kin killer…”
Somehow having the fae know him made HD feel better. The could skip all the boring ‘why’ and ‘how’.
“Heard you were dead.” The fae continued. HD looked around, finally spotting them. They were perched on a branch on a tree around HD’s right. The tree was close to the water’s edge, the branch low. Their skin was the colour of swamp water, a murky green. Their hair was like grass water, slimy looking and wet. They looked completely drenched, like they’d just come out the water. Their hair covered most of their body and hung over the branch. Their eyes were pure black and looking dead at HD.
“Well I’m not.” HD spoke carefully. He could fight, but he never liked to. It was a risk he’d rather not take. He very slowly moved his arm holding the iron, trying to keep it out of view. He studied the fae a little more. A water nymph perhaps? Or some sort of selkie? “Which Court do you belong to?”
“It doesn’t matter.” The fae’s voice warbled angrily. “Are you here for the humans?”
“If you mean the ones you’ve no doubt drowned. No. If you mean I’m here on behalf of the humans...maybe.”
The fae hissed, climbing onto another branch of the tree as if to come closer. “Kin killer… Human lover! Have you no shame for what you do?!”
“You’re killing humans.” HD said calmly. His hand out of sight was trying to untie the cloth slowly, but it was hard when the iron was burning his skin and shaking his bones. “This is their world.”
“It was ours!” It almost sounded like the fae was weeping. Maybe they were. Their face was already wet it was hard to tell if it was from tears or water. “This place was ours! We had dances here. Parties. Then humans came and took it. They trampled all of our rings. They dumped their filth into the water. Ruined it!”
“We already have a world. We have our forests. Our lakes and ponds more beautiful than anything here. You came to their land.”
It was no use trying to talk sense into them but it kept him distracted long enough. HD had almost undone the cloths. He’d have to move fast and throw the iron in before it could burn him too badly.
The water fae sniffed. HD first thought it was in some sort of huff, until they did it again. And then again. HD worried they had smelt the iron, until they spoke. “You stink…”
He was relieved, though insulted. It was a common thing he was told. “Yes. Being around humans would—”
“No. Demon. You stink of demons.”
HD froze. It was unexpected and yet seemed to obvious. HD had been around 4K so often he never noticed the demon scent anymore. Of course it would be his own now.
“Do you love humans so much you’d protect them from even demons?” Their voice a mix between a taunting hiss and a genuine question. “Or…do you hate your kin so much you’d jump into a demon’s bed?”
He took in a sharp breath through his nose, which probably gave the fae their answer. Or what they believed was the answer. HD felt it rather pointless if he tried to explain himself and how could it really be explained.
‘No, I’m not sleeping with a demon. But I did make a deal with one to be his tickle toy to learn more about them.’
“Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!” The fae sneered. “How many of us have you killed with no remorse, while the humans kill and take our land! How many demons have you lain with to spite us!”
That irked HD more than the fae thinking he and 4K were sleeping together. “I don’t do anything for you!” HD hissed back. He felt the last tie of the cloth pull free. The iron almost fell out of it, but he caught it with his hand. Only one cloth lay between him and the iron. It burned only for a second because in the next second HD used all his strength and threw it into the lake. As soon as the iron touched it, the water bubbled like a boiling cauldron and the iron sank down to the bottom.
The shriek from the fae almost deafened HD. It shook the birds from the trees and probably woke up the village, if they weren’t awake already. The fae crawled to the end of a branch to pounce but they weren’t going for HD. Instead they pounced out the tree and crashed into the water. Their body disappeared into the bubbling water and HD was too stunned to move. He had not expected it and couldn’t imagine a scenario in which they lived from it.
The water bubbled over, simmering as though the entire lake was about to burst and then the water calmed. The bubbling all dispersed at once, leaving the waters calm and still again. The smell of death was gone, leaving behind a rich earthly scent. HD knew then the fae was dead. Perhaps they could have crossed over to the Otherworld but if they had they’d be on the edge of death and most likely wouldn’t have survived.
There was no way the fae would have left peacefully with the lake’s connection destroyed. It was best this way, HD convinced himself. Though he had already made the choice not to return to the village. They could live in fear for a bit until they were brave enough to investigate. That would be his revenge.
HD walked passed the lake and deeper into the forest. He walked until the sky was just about to burst with the morning sunrise and then he found a bed of grass to settle in under a tree and slept.
The start of his week had already soured HD’s mood for the rest of it. He visited the other villages marked on his map but he kept his distance this time and tried to sneak in to pick up gossip or anyone talking about fae activity. Nothing as bad as the first village. It would need looked into later but it seems people here were keeping themselves safer.
His first week passed by and HD had so far killed one fae and warned off three others. He knew the warned off faes would be back later but he had done his part for now. HD forced himself not to care for now. However, he did learn that the rumour had spread around that he was dead. Apparently a three week absence was enough for the faes to assume he was gone for good. That put a small dent in the power he once had. Before the faes feared him for daring to kill one of their own, but now they assumed he had some kind of weakness. HD convinced himself it didn’t matter. The news of the fae he killed would reach the others soon and he’d be treated cautiously again.
For the second week, HD put 4K’s information to good use. He had a few hidden spots around the place, just outside of towns or deep in marshes. The one was hidden under a pile of rocks by a stony hill. Spare clothes, some money he had ‘just happened’ to come into possession of and importantly of all his grass cloak.
It was one of HD’s most prized possession, even though it absolutely gave away he was a fae. Sometimes he could pass himself off as just a traveller, but people were more suspicious. He had hidden it before going to the town under the mountain to give him the best chance and it was too far out to retrieve before.
It was like a comfort blanket to put it on again. Cool but warming. His tension for the week before was already melting off his shoulders, and HD was off to make a plan.
There were a few shops HD knew of that could sell him what he needed. Magic shops with talismans, trinkets and crystals that could ward of evil. With the money he collected, HD had enough for a few talisman papers. There was a book on different demons and the blessing that could ward them off, which HD got as well. The last one HD didn’t think he’d be able to get for a while, but his search through the shops were lucky.
An obsidian dagger. It was small, the blade probably only a bit bigger than his hand, but it curved slightly at the top. Small white runes were carved into the blade, some HD knew as protection and he had to assume it did more damage. It took the remainder of HD’s money he had, but he purchased the blade and a small sheath for it.
It was a lot more than HD expected to get but it helped jump-start his plans. He could expand beyond keeping faes away from humans, and keep demons away as well. Though he had a feeling driving off a demon would be harder than a fae.
Faes used tricks and deals to work around fighting. They’d charm or placate their targets. Demons seemed to go for the straightforward battles. At least 4K did…in a sense. In their first meeting 4K had tried to go straight for him, and it was only with HD’s bluff they got into the deal. He imagined other demons would be similar. Though their methods would involve something a bit rough than tickling.
But still, this week was a success. Now HD wouldn’t feel so helpless, coming across a cursed town he knew wasn’t from a fae. He didn’t have all the knowledge, but he would be prepared. He could help.
Not that they will ever thank you for it.
HD shook off the dark thoughts. This was a positive week. They had saved humans. They’d found an obsidian dagger. They got their grass cloak back.
They were lonely…
Work could keep them busy with planning and occupying their mind, but when they laid down to sleep and their mind wandered. They missed the mountain. It had become their home and comfort. While they settled under an old tree, wrapped in their cloak, they imagined their thicket bed, warm and cosy. They thought of the beautiful pond, a clear reflection of the night sky. And they thought of 4K.
Never had HD imagined he would be friends with the demon when he made the deal but it was hard not to like 4K. His warmth and endless positivity were infectious. He was also kind, and soft when he needed; even though his body was pure muscle.
HD didn’t know if it was blessing or pure luck the demon he was bond to was 4K, but he was thankful for it either way.
Sleep was slowly pulling HD’s eyes closed, but with the last of his energy he reached out to the bond around his heart. He could feel the knot woven around it. It gave him a sense of comfort knowing it was always there. And yet as he shut his eyes to sleep, he could feel the knot again.
A soft tug on the bond. Not like something trying to undo it, but instead like a gentle pull as though softly reaching out.
“I… Can feel that.”
4K’s words rang in his head when HD had first reach out to the bond. 4K could feel whenever HD touched upon it...so HD could feel whenever 4K reached back.
His heart warmed and he gently reached out again. After a few seconds he felt the tug again on his bond again, and HD was practically giggling into his arm. Giddy with glee.
4K was thinking of him. Enough that he responded to the touch upon his own heart. Enough to tell HD that he was always there.
HD didn’t think he could sleep, excitedly thinking of returning home – his real and true home – but his thoughts of the mountain lulled and calmed him enough that he finally fell to a restful sleep.
It came upon the last day of the two weeks away. HD had already made his way back to the mountain, after finishing up some last minute things. He couldn’t find any signs of demon activity but he had some places to keep an eye on for next time.
As soon as the mountain came into view, HD’s heart fluttered and they quickened his steps. The deal was to allow him two weeks from the mountain, and he wasn’t going to risk breaking it by setting foot on the path up. Instead he kept to the dirt path around the mountain for now. There was a rocky slope just off the path behind the mountain. It was hard to spot with the mossy forest floor covering over majority of the stone, but HD carefully slipped down it till he was under a small overhang of stone. It shadowed over the cluster of rocks and kept them out of sight. Perfect for hiding his things.
He had a box for the talisman papers which he also wrapped up in a thick piece of cloth. Along with his blade and the book on demons. He had spent a second considering taking the book with him to read, but quickly decided against it. He wasn’t going to risk breaking the deal and since the book was literally telling him how to harm demons he wasn’t going to chance it. Instead he wrapped up his stuff and placed the rocks back around it. A few ferns grew close by which HD moved just ever so slightly and the spot was out of sight. Perfect.
It was late afternoon and HD found a tree root to rest under just a little ways off the path. His plan was to sleep now, wake up close to midnight and as soon as the new day hit he’d return to the mountain as soon as he could. It had taken him only a couple of hours to reach the top the first climb, now it felt like he could sprint up there in seconds.
HD didn’t know how he was suppose to fall asleep. His giddiness from a few nights ago felt like nothing to to excitement of today. Sleep felt like it would never come, yet as HD opened his eyes, blinking a few times, the night had come. The moon was high in the sky and a new day had started.
It was past midnight.
HD nearly tripped over himself when he got up and quickly set off for the mountain path. He could not wait to crawl up into his thicket bed and listen to the crash of the waterfall. He couldn’t wait to get back to the cave again, and see what more goods 4K had managed to swipe from the humans.
He couldn’t wait to see 4K again.
The closer the top of the mountain approached, the more HD debated with himself over what to do. Every cell in his body wanted to run into the cave and wake 4K up, but a more sensible part of him reasoned that wouldn’t be fair. 4K would be sleeping since the demon was always an early riser. HD could wait by the pond and surprise him in the morning.
Yet when HD came upon the picturesque scene of his home, he couldn’t help himself. The pond was perfectly still, reflecting the night sky. The waterfall looked almost glowing with the moons light. A wash of joy overcame him and HD decided he couldn’t wait.
So he wouldn’t wake up 4K but right now he just had to be inside the cave. Being close to 4K would be good enough, and he’d be a nice surprise for the demon when he woke up.
HD carefully stepped past the waterfall, slipping into the cave. His eyes took a second to adjust, but it was a second too late to see the hand quickly reach out and grab his arm.
He was pulled further into the cave, but his steps didn’t stumble for long before arms wrapped around him and he was lifted up into the air. Before HD had even a moment to get a sense of his bearings he was being spun around like a sort of princess, while 4K’s voice squeaked happily.
“You’re back! You’re back!”
HD was giggling as he tried to speak, but it was hard not to. 4K’s voice was too joyful. “Stohop! You’re making me dizzyyyy…” His arms braced onto 4K’s shoulders as the demon still spun them around and around.
“But you’re back!” 4K squeaked with joy. He stopped his spinning slowly, grinning up to HD with soft eyes. “You can’t expect me not to be excited.”
HD’s heart fluttered, but he ignored it as he saw 4K’s attention draw to his cloak. “What’s this?”
“My cloak.” HD said almost proudly. A giggle still in his voice from the spin. “I left it behind before I came here. Picked it up.”
“It’s nice.” 4K complimented as one of his hands ran over the grass. “Soft.” He turned the grass inward, brushing it along HD’s arm and the fae giggle and pulled away. “Tickly.” 4K grinned.
“Wh-What are you doing up?” HD quickly asked to distract from the moment.
“You think I was gonna sleep when you’re coming home?” 4K almost scoffed. He gently lowered HD down, his hands still roaming over the grass cloak. “I nearly raced down that mountain as soon as you took your first step here.”
HD’s cheeks felt warm, and his head was floaty. 4K was an early riser, almost always rising with the sun. He’d always go to bed before HD, who preferred the night, but now he was keeping himself awake. Just for the chance that HD would have came back.
HD felt a rush of affection for the demon before him. He wanted to swept up in 4K’s arms again. He wanted to jump into 4K’s arms and never let go. But all of these wants fizzled out when 4K spoke. His hand came up to HD’s face and the fae leaned into the palm without thinking.
“Do you want to sleep?” 4K’s voice was soft and his thumb trailed just under his eyes. Gods his hands were so big and warm. “Are you tired?”
HD slowly shook his head. “I slept in the afternoon.” He half lied. But only because he couldn’t really know. He didn’t remember ever falling asleep but he was certainly not tired. “Are you tired?”
“Not at all.” 4K’s soft smile morphed into a grin. His head leaned just a little closer to HD, like he was whispering a secret. “Do you have a question ready?”
The words prickled over HD’s skin with a new kind of excitement as 4K quickly added.
“Don’t feel like you have to agree, especially if you’re tired from travelling here. If you’d rather chill I’m fine to do that as well. We can sit outside, and watch the-”
“I have a question.” HD quickly cut in. The tingles of excitement still ran through him; growing even more as 4K’s grin grew wider. Suddenly he was lifted up into 4K’s arms again. His time the demon’s arms were under his knees and back, lifting him like a sort of princess.
“4K!” HD squeaked and quickly wrapped his arms around 4K’s shoulders.
“You better ask your question now while you can.” 4K’s voice held a low growl. HD could feel the excitement radiate off him as he walked further into the cave. Past the kitchen and his old room. “In fact, I’ll let you have two. Because this will be intense.”
HD could feel his heart flutter with a warmth he was so unused to. It made him squirm a little which 4K probably took to be he was nervous as the hand on his back made a soothing motion. In truth he was nervous, but he was still swept up into feelings of affection he couldn’t concentrate.
It took HD a few moments to get the question right in his head.
“Are deals common with demons? Between other mythical creatures, or mortals?”
“No. At least not compared to faes.” 4K hummed, almost sounding actually thoughtful. “A lot of more peaceful and docile natured demons will just try to avoid mortals rather than strike a deal. Most demons probably don’t see worth in it, and the ones that do are probably in it more for their own gain.”
HD supposed that was the nature of all deals. Trying to make sure you had more than the person you made it with, or at least keep it even.
He never really had a second question to ask, but there was something like venom in his heart, ruining his warm, fuzzy mood. It struck just for a second, but HD knew what he wanted to ask.
“Have you ever made a deal like this with anyone before?”
4K’s steps halted for just a second. He paused mid-step before carrying on like nothing happened. Instead of facing forward, he turned his head to HD, and kept eye contact with the fae as he answered.
“No. You’re the only one I’ve made a deal with, little star.”
The venom in his heart fizzled out, and the warm fuzzy feeling came back tenfold. HD wanted to blush and hide away in 4K’s neck, but the demon took them into another cavern and his attention was taken away.
HD had never seen the cavern before, but then he’d never explored much of the cave from 4K’s warnings. The walls weren’t so rough as the others, and were smoothed out to almost look like a normal room. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, bathing the room in a soft orange glow. The cavern could almost be called nice, but HD’s attention was so fixed to the centre of the room.
There was only one thing in the room, and it sat so calmly against the stone floor. HD thought it was just a chair at first, and to be fair it was. A soft looking cushioned chair that had some...features. Past the cushion, the seat still stretched out, leading to rather ornate looking set of stocks. HD didn’t need to measure to know it was the perfect distance for his feet to be locked into. Quickly looking away, he saw the back of the chair was also much taller than needed. The top of it reached passed where HD’s head would sit, and each end stretched out slightly, with straps hanging off them.
It was quite clear what the chairs intention was for, and yet HD’s mind was racing with so many thoughts and questions. The only thing to come out of his mouth was. “When… Wh-Where did you get this?!”
“I made it.” 4K boasted proudly as he lowered HD down. HD never took his eyes off the chair, hardly noticing he was standing now. “Well… Okay I had some help.” 4K seemed huffy to admit it. “I had to get the stocks specially made. But the chair was all me.”
“You had someone make stocks for you!” It wasn’t a question at all but the absolute absurdity of it had HD reeling. So many scenarios played in his head.
“Of course. I wanted something perfectly made to make sure it wouldn’t hurt your ankles. Got it all perfectly made to your measurements.”
“When did you measure me?!” That HD had to ask because he would have absolutely remembered if 4K ever came at him with a measuring tape. Or, funnier to think, that 4K had somehow measured him while the fae was asleep. In the times between 4K’s early rising and HD snoozing until noon, he’d tried in vain to measure a sleeping, tossing and turning HD.
The thought was so funny HD gave a small snort of laughter.
“I didn’t have to measure you I can look at you, and know your height and measurements perfectly.” 4K’s voice dropped low, and he leaned in a little just so his lips were grazing over HD’s ear. “I know your body perfectly.”
HD wanted to rush as say that wasn’t true, but he thought better of it. He could only imagine the teasing questions 4K would have to follow that. “Is that a demon thing, or just a 4K thing?”
“That sounds like another question.” 4K’s voice rumbled, with a mixed up purr and growl. “You want to make this more intense than it already is?”
HD’s cheeks went red and his head was floaty but he was tethered to earth by 4K’s chuckle. “I think it’s just a me thing. Though I didn’t ask anyone.”
The attention came back to the chair, because how could it not. It was ominously waiting for use. HD hadn’t realised he stepped closer till he could see the details in the wood. Very fine details of flowering vines around the curved corners of the stocks. The insides where his ankles would sit were cushioned for comfort and – the most pressing detail of all – there were small ties just above the holes, which were no doubt perfect distance to keep his toes tied up.
“How… How-How the hell did you ask someone to make this?”
“There’s a nice little carpenter a few villages away. He didn’t ask too many questions either.” 4K mused like he was relaying some sort of fond memory. “I mean he could probably guess it was for some torture but he didn’t ask. I made myself look important enough that maybe he thought I was an interrogator for some royal.”
“How did you convince anyone you were human?” That also implied that 4K had been travelling. While HD had of course, he just assumed 4K was some sort of hermit, that all demons had to stay at their territory at all times.
“I can hide these very well.” 4K whipped his tail and pointed up to his horns. Even still, HD couldn’t believe anyone could look at 4K and think he was mortal. He was just so...otherworldly. “And I dressed up real nice.”
HD wondered what ‘dressed up nice’ meant to 4K. The most HD had seen him in was some casual robes or a thin top and shorts. It wouldn’t be unbelievable that 4K would have ‘found’ some nice or important looking clothes.
“You can still back out now.” 4K’s voice had dropped his playful lilt and he was looking at HD with a serious look. “I understand I sprung this on you. I was planning on waiting to talk to you about this and show you it in a gentler way so if you want to call it off now that’s fine.”
HD was so focused on the circumstances of 4K going through the trouble of making this thing he had not really considered how it would be used. And it was absolutely going to be used on him. Maybe if not tonight, but for sure in the future.
“I’m fine…” HD said, tearing his eyes from the chair for a moment to look up at 4K. “I still want to.” HD meant it.
4K looked like he could burst with giddiness, but he was keeping himself in check as HD approached the chair. Very slowly he pulled himself up to sit on it. It really was made to his measurements. It was the perfect size to lock his ankles in place.
4K had opened the stocks and HD tested out the feel of the cushion before he allowed the demon to place them back down and lock them in place.
“I want you to use your safeword if it really gets too much.” 4K spoke seriously. “This will be intense.”
“You say that every time.” HD rolled his eyes. “I am aware I can use the safeword at each time.”
“And each time you never use it.”
“Isn’t that a good thing for you?”
4K looked up to HD after he was done checking the lock for the stocks. It was a simple latch that came over, connecting the top half to the bottom. Nothing complicated. “I don’t want you pushing yourself.” 4K softly admitted.
HD’s heart thumped. “I never am. I trust you.”
4K came to a full stop. His body froze, arm mid way pulled back and then he turned to HD with soft eyes and an almost lopsided smile.
“How do you do that?” He asked, and came up to HD’s side before the fae could answer. “Why is it whenever you’re tied up, that’s when you’re most honest?”
Goosebumps prickled all over HD’s skin. 4K suddenly felt too close and yet not close enough. Conflicting emotions raged in HD but he tried to focus on the words. Focus on speaking. “I tell you these things all the time.” He spoke slowly. “Without...b-being tied up.”
“No. You roll your eyes and wave it off while you say you understand.” 4K leaned in just a bit closer, leaning by HD’s legs. “But when you’re like this you let out soft words. Let things slip out you wouldn’t normally.”
Had he? HD had only been tied up a few times during their time together. A lot less than he thought but it seemed 4K much preferred wrestling and actually manhandling HD around. But there was something...intimate about letting himself be tied down. Letting himself submit. Maybe he had been a little softer in those moment because it was a soft thing.
4K took HD’s silence for panic. He placed a hand over the fae’s knee. Firm and grounding. “Want to stop?”
“No…” HD shook his head. If he was tickled, then he didn’t have to think. “I want to keep going.”
“So eager.” 4K’s voice so easily dropped back into a teasing purr and he moved himself off the chair. “You have been two weeks without being tickled, you must be going absolutely crazy.”
He took a step down, back to the stocks, and HD felt an almost impulsive urge, rush up his throat and out his mouth. The words were spoken before he even realised what he was saying. “Who says I’ve not been tickled?”
4K stopped mid-step. HD watched the words hit his brain. The muscles on his back tensed and he turned his head to look at HD over his shoulder. “Have you…?”
The demons orange eyes were inquisitive, but intense. Staring with curiosity and...anger?
Jealous. He’s jealous.
“Maybe.” HD shrugged. “You keep telling me I’m so irresistibly ticklish. Maybe someone else saw that too.”
4K’s jaw tightened. He swallowed slowly, his Adams apple bobbing as he gave a slow, dangerous grin. “I want a new rule.” He quickly stepped round to the end of the stocks, right by HD’s feet which suddenly felt more vulnerable. “No-one else gets to tickle you.”
“What if I don’t agree to that?” HD asked, trying his hardest not to curl his toes or bend his foot. He was not going to let 4K know how hard his heart was beating.
“Then I’ll just have to remind you how good I can tickle you. No-one else will ever compare.”
His left foot was grabbed and HD had no time to stop the whimper. 4K hadn’t started tickling, but he did slowly push HD’s big toe up and looped the small strap around it. Trapped. There was no time to get used to it as 4K moved onto the next toe. Eventually all five of his toes were tied up, his foot helplessly stretched out.
HD’s other foot tingled slightly, preparing for the same, but 4K actually stepped back and began walking around the side of the chair.
“Wha… Aren’t you going to tie the others?”
“It will be more maddening for you if one foot is so helplessly tied and the other free to struggle and shake as much as it wants. But it can’t do anything.” 4K flashed a grin to HD as he passed. “Just like when you were tied to the tree. Your free foot couldn’t do anything but stomp and shake.”
HD remembered that so vividly. The shiver ran through him while 4K positioned behind the chair and simply said “Arms.” and HD raised them without a fight. And then his arms were secured up as well. HD tugged on the straps just to confirm it. Trapped.
He knew the tickling would start then but 4K was deliberately keeping himself out of sight. Still stood behind the chair, the demon didn’t move and HD could feel himself start to wriggle. His nerves were failing him and it didn’t at all help when 4K came into view.
It was just his hands that HD could just make out. Lowering from above, getting closer and closer to his armpits.
“N-Nohoho!” The giggling started before 4K had even touched him. It was humiliating how much his body responded even without touch. Just knowing the tickling was coming, having the memory of it in his mind, was enough to make him laugh.
They reached HD’s armpits, and instead of the all out assault HD was expecting, 4K just stretched out his pointer finger on each hand, and tickled the armpits with one finger. Slowly dragging his claw up the hollow pit, reaching the top, and then going back down to repeat the same motion. Again and again.
“N-Naha-AHAHA! Noo-oohohoho! That-ngh! That-That tihickles! THAT TICKLES!”
His ankles and wrists were held in place, but it didn’t stop his waist wriggling from side to side, trying his hardest to pull away.
“Hmm… That won’t do.”
The tickling stopped then and HD barely had time to catch his breath before another strap was wrapped around his waist. He was pulled back against the chair, tightly bound. Trapped again.
“Much better.” 4K admired before his hands came around again. He ran his knuckles up and down HD’s ribs, watching with delight as the fae laughed and tried to howl out his pleas between them.
“THAHAT TICKLES! Tha-haha...o-ohohoho! That-That tickles so much! PLEASE! HA-NAAAAHAHAHAHA! PLEASE!”
4K’s hands travelled down. Skittering along HD’s sides. Thankfully they never stayed on the worst spot for long, moving quickly down to HD’s hips and kneading into the bones. HD swore his skin tingled more from his waist now locked in place. He could barely move his hips at all and even if he could, 4K was a master tickler by now. Knowing each way HD would move and follow it without mercy.
It took a moment for HD to realise the tickling had stopped. His chest heaved and laughter still teetered on while 4K came around to the end of the stocks again. HD curled one foot.
“You ready?” 4K’s voice rumbled in HD’s mind, pulling him from the brink of madness and into sense.
“Wh...For what?” HD gasped.
“The intense stuff. I told you it would be intense.”
4K leaned down, grabbing something from a pile beside the stocks HD hadn’t noticed. Though to be fair his whole attention couldn’t be on anything else but the chair. He could see a few of the brushes he’d been tickled with before, as well as the feathers and a small container HD hadn’t seen before.
It was the container 4K grabbed, bringing up and presenting it with a grin. “You know what this is?” He twisted the container around just a little.
HD shook his head. The container wasn’t too big, about the size of his palm and about an inch or two tall. It reminded HD of makeup compacts but he knew 4K wouldn’t have something as simple as makeup in there.
“Itching powder.” 4K finally revealed as he carefully lifted the lid.
The mention of the word made HD’s skin crawl, and his feet shook slightly in their holds. His left could do nothing but give a slight wriggle and his right cowered.
From what HD could see of the powder it was a deep orange colour. A bit of a darker shade than 4K’s eyes. Even the colour of the powder seemed like it would itch. That powder was going to itch. That powder was going to be put on HD’s feet.
It was the first time the safeword became a thought in HD’s head. It wasn’t on his tongue or caught in his throat. It remained in his mind, planted there as a reminder. A reassurance that no matter what, he had an out. Just one word and it would stop.
HD said nothing as 4K raised one of the round brushes that had attacked his armpits once before. The demon coated a lavish amount of the powder on the brush, wiggling it slightly in front of the fae as a taunt. HD giggled then, but the word never touched his tongue. It was kept, folded away in his head as 4K lowered the brush closer and close to his left foot and finally made contact.
The feeling was immediate on the first brush over. Tingly. Mind shatteringly tingly that spread over the entirety of HD’s foot with each swipe of the brush. It only took a few go overs before HD’s foot was covered, shaking in their bonds, unable to move or provide any relief from the unbearable itch.
“I-It-It...mmMMMMMM! ...Oh-ohohohoho! It’s so-It’s s-so i-itchyyyy….” HD gasped.
Itchy couldn’t even begin to describe what it felt like. The feeling of a thousand tiny feathers brushing over every inch of his foot. It was sometimes too light to be tickly, but it made his skin jump; and then other times it tickled so madly it was the only thing HD could think of. Rewriting his entire brain to only focus on his left foot.
The fact his right was itch free was somehow worse. It was free to move and shake but it did nothing to quell the tingling.
“I-I’ll… It-It tickles so...n-ngh! I’ll-I’ll die! It tickles!”
“How can it tickle? I’m not even touching you.”
4K pulled up another chair, settling by HD’s feet. Another thing HD just hadn’t noticed. He leaned down again, this time picking up one of the feathers. A long, stiff blue feather. HD recognised that feather as the one that had tortured his ribs before. Now it was waving ever so close to his tortured sole.
“Pleee...ehehase. Please not-not that! If-If you ti-ihickle me softly I’ll dieeeee…” His voice came out in whiny cries and HD couldn’t find any part of himself that cared in that moment.
“Well we won’t know till we try.”
The feather flicked over HD’s arch. It was barely touching his skin, like it was just testing out the waters and there was no words in any language that would ever describe how much it fucking tickled.
It didn’t feel like a laugh that tore out of their throat. It was more like a high pitch scream from deep within their chest. It hiccuped in their throat, coming out as a whine and then a deep hysterical laugh even as 4K pulled the feather back. It was like some cruel left over ripple effect. The tickly tingles still ran over their skin and their voice broken up by giggles and laughs.
“Ah...Ahahaha…! N-Noho! Not-Not thahat...ngh…!”
The feather returned, this time over the ball of his foot. 4K flipped the feather on it’s side so the edges ran along HD’s skin. Then he flicked the feather up so the soft edges got at all of the fae’s toes. 4K sawed the feather back and forth, up and down the length of HD’s toes; just lightly brushing over that spot where toes met his foot and HD was seeing stars.
“Well, you’ll die laughing.” 4K purred. In his mercy he did pull the feather away, bringing it back so just the tip of it licked over each of HD’s toes. “Is that not a good way to go?”
“NOHO! NOOHOHOHOHOHO! IT ITCHEEEEES! IT’S-IT’S TOO MAAAAAHAHAHAHA!”
4K dipped the feather between each of HD’s toes. Flicking just once and moving onto the next space.
“PLEHEHEASE PLEASE PLEASE! DOHON’T-DON’T TICKLE ME GENTLY!”
“No? How do you want me to tickle you?”
He pulled the feather back, letting HD have a moment to regain his senses. His chest heaved with each breath, his foot still maddeningly tingly.
“PLEASE! P-Plehease… Scratch… Scratch my f-foot. Please-Please. I-I’m begging yohou!”
“Is that all? Well of course.”
The elated hope that swelled in HD’s chest burst almost instantly as 4K did scratch over HD’s foot. The foot not covered in itching powder. He pushed back the free foot, scratching over the ball and down the arch while his thumb scratched along HD’s heel.
“EEEEEEEHEHE! PLEASE NO! PLEEHEEEEEEEEEASE!”
The feather returned again, slowly brushing up and down the length of his poor trapped foot. It could do nothing but shake in its hold, forever at the mercy of 4K and his terrible feather.
“NOT THAAAAAAAT! NOT THA – Ahaha… Not THAHAT ONE! I’M BEGGING YOU! I’M BEGGING YOU! PLEASE STOP!”
“Beg more…” 4K’s voice sounded lower, the purr mixing into a deep growl. “Tell me how much it tickles.”
“IT TICKLES!” There was no sense or logic to HD’s words. His one compreheniable thought was if he listened to 4K, the itching would stop. “IT TIHIHICKLES! I CA – AHAHAHAHA! I CAN’T THINK!”
“You can laugh.” 4K taunted, flicking the feather back and forth over HD’s itchy heel. His other hand scratching up and down his free foot.
HD couldn’t believe it could get worse, but somehow having his non itchy foot being scratched and tickled just made the itch more unbearable. It was a constant taunt to his other foot. Experiencing the sweet relief it could be having.
“PLEASE! MERCY! Oh-Ohohoaaahahaaha! St-OP! STOP! MAKE IT STOP!”
“Could anyone else ever tickle you like this?”
There was the growl again; the jealousy. HD’s head was too far up in orbit to pick up on it. The only two thoughts running through his mind were ‘IT TICKLES IT ITCHES’ and ‘Make 4K happy and he’ll stop the itching’.
“NOHOHO! NONONONO! NEVER!”
“Would you ever let anyone tickle you like this?”
“NO! NOHOHOHOHO!”
“So no-one tickled you while you were away?” The growl had lessened in his voice, taking on a more taunting lilt that HD couldn’t pick up on. His mind was too focused onto the feather not running up and down the length of his foot.
“NOOOOO! N-NO-ONE! NO-ONE! Ah...AAAHAHAHAHA! No-one could! I w-wohohouldn’t lehehet them! Just-JUAAHAHAHAHA! JUST YOU! ONLY YOOHOHOU!”
HD rambled, only half aware of the words he was really saying as the feather explored over every inch of his slender sole. It returned up to his toes, the spot that made the colours dance in his eyes and his laugh screech like he was being tortured. His voice had left him. All reasoning and senses beyond the feeling of his poor itching sole was gone. He was nothing but a true tickle toy in that moment. At the whims of 4K’s every demand as he orchestrated the laughter he wanted with that awful awful feather.
But there was some relief from the itching. Something in the words HD rambled out gave 4K mercy. He abandoned the feather with the other tools. HD only heard the slightly sounds of rummaging before 4K’s attention returned and HD screamed.
A hairbrush. A hairbrush that could almost cover the entirety of HD’s foot, raked mercilessly along the trapped sole. It tickled madly but it scratched that forever itch, swirling into a confusing sensation of relief and torture. It felt like he’d died, and gone to divine bliss all in one motion.
“EEHEHEEHEHEEEEEEE! IT’S TIHIHIHICKLING MEEEE! IT TIHIHICKLES! STOP TIIHICKLING MEEEEEE!”
“Doesn’t this feel good?” 4K had to raise his voice over HD’s screaming, but his words forever had a constant route, right to HD’s ears.
“Y-Y-YEEEEES YEHEHEHES! MY…! MY FOOOOOOT!”
“What about your foot?”
The brushing continued. Scrubbing away HD’s sanity again and again.
“IT TICKLES! IT TICKLE!”
“Huh… Why does it tickle?”
“YOU’RE TICKLING YOU’RE TICKLING! MY FEEEHEHEHEHEHET ARE SO TIHIHICKLISH! AAAAHAHAHAHAEEEHEHEHEHE! STOHOP! MAHAHAKE IT STOHOHOHOP! I’LL DO ANYTHIHIHIHING JUST STOOOOHOHOHOP!”
“Anything? Well… I want you to laugh.”
The brushing continued.
Minutes. Hours. HD couldn’t be sure. He’d never be free. He’d never know anything but this. The blissful torture of his itchy foot being scratched and tickled again and again.
Time pressed on. Their pleading and begging was mixed with praise and affirmations whenever the brush passed over a particularly itchy spot. Small flashes of relief from the itch kept them aware. Their body refused to let them pass out.
All the while 4K’s words continued.
“You beg me to scratch your foot and now you beg me to stop. You’ve giving me mixed messages here, little star. I should tickle this foot for eternity over that. I should do nothing but tickle this little foot right here. I wonder how long until you go mad. Until you can only think of tickles. Until you can think of nothing else but me tickling this little ticklish foot.”
HD couldn’t respond. He could only laugh, and howl, and scream.
The safeword had never been said, but the brush was finally pulled away from their feet. HD’s mind still scrambled for sense, as they continued breathlessly laughing. They could vaguely feel their toes loosen for their ties. The stretched and curled instinctively to the newfound freedom.
The small remnants of the itching powder over his left foot were calmed and wiped away with a cold wet rag. Even though the touch was firm and so soothing, HD couldn’t help but giggle hysterically to the softness.
Finally, his foot was free of the itch. It still lingered as a memory of course and HD’s foot would be twitching for a while, but his skin felt like it could breathe again.
The ties on his wrists were undone but his arms were caught before they could uselessly fall at his sides. 4K brought them down gently as he undone the strap around HD’s waist and gathered the fae up in his arms.
“You did so good.” His voice whispered so softly against HD’s ear. It flicked a little, but twitched to hear more. “You were amazing. Still never said the word that would make it all stop. You’re amazing.”
4K’s thumb swiped under his eye and down his cheek. HD could feel now they were stained with tears. Even as he tried to blink, his vision hazy, he could feel the last few teardrops slide down his cheek.
He was brought out of the room, though he could only tell because the orange glow of the lanterns had faded and the silver light of the moon took their place. HD thought they’d went outside, but he was lowered to the nest of furs that was 4K’s bed. He had no shame to cloud his wants and he nuzzled into them right away, drawing them up around himself as he felt another fur being pulled over him.
“So cute. You’re so cute.” 4K’s voice rumbled, and HD could vaguely feel a kiss press to the side of his head.
A warmth slid up behind HD and pushed against his back. Warm and firm but also softly comforting. It wrapped around his waist as well, pulling him tighter against the warmth on his back.
4K was holding him. Holding him so softly and affectionately that even in his blissed out state, HD swooned.
“Sleep, Starlight.” 4K purred and another kiss pressed to HD’s head. “Have the softest dreams.”
Like a command HD had no choice but to follow, he fell asleep into a blissful darkness.
It was still warm when HD woke up. He could feel the sun’s warmth creeping just ever closer over the opening through the top of the mountain. The furs were a mix of being wrapped around him and kicked away during the night.
The memories of last night came sweeping into HD all at once. It wouldn’t be one he could so easily shake off, even if he wasn’t lucid for all of it. It was a rather abrupt way to wake up. His cheeks were red and he giggled to the memory that felt just a little too real. Like he could still feel the tingling shocks of ticklishness coursing through him but...no, he could.
Something was tickling him.
It as just a light scratching on his sides, barely even a touch but it made HD squirm and giggle all the same. He blinked the last of the sleep from his eyes, coming fully into reality as he tried to inch just a little bit away and gather his surroundings. The warmth around him decided it did not like that very much and effortlessly pulled HD right back in, the tickling continued.
4K pressed up as close as he could against HD’s back. His arms wrapped around the fae’s waist with his hand lazily lounging by the fae’s sides. His fingers were twitching but the motion was too precise to be random. Yet even so, 4K was still deep asleep, snoring happily into HD’s hair while his claws brushed along the oversensitive skin.
“Eheheven in your sleep yohour a tickle fiend.” HD whisper giggled. He tried to move forward again and the grip was tightened. The snoring was broken up by a soft whine and the tickling just ever so slightly pressed in further, kneading a little into the soft sides. “H-Hehey! Stohop. Stop that.”
HD grabbed 4K’s hands and moved them off his waist. The demon disagreed with this move, grumbling sleepily but he settled again when HD turned around to face him and slowly drew him in. 4K shuffled forward, till his face leaned against HD’s chest and he sighed happily. HD kept the tickling hands far from his sides, instead placing them on his back so he could still be wrapped up in the demons arms. The scratching tickled a little, but it was more calming than tickling, so HD let himself relax.
Judging by the position of the sun above it was just coming to noon. HD still felt the tugs of sleepiness and it would have been so easy to slip right back into his peaceful slumber, but his attention was pulled to the demon curling up in his chest.
4K’s expressions were vastly different when he was asleep. His lips usually so stretched out into a grin were softly parted with his slow breaths. His intense eyebrows relaxed, smoothing out his face overall. HD had seen 4K asleep before, but he seemed so vulnerable and soft in this moment. A vast difference from the merciless tickler just a few hours ago.
“Of course I’d never let anyone else tickle me…” HD whispered to the top of 4K’s wild hair. His horns just poked out of the wild mane and HD gently ran his fingers over one of them. Smoother than what HD expected to feel. His other arm wrapped around 4K’s neck, cradling him into the fae’s chest. “You think I’d trust anyone like I do you?”
4K couldn’t hear the words. It was the equivalent of whispering them into a brick wall. Yet HD meant it. He had trust in 4K that he had never had with anyone else. Maybe long ago, the days before he was labelled ‘kin killer’ he had a couple friends he could trust, but never to the level he had with 4K. Never to the extend he would have willingly gone into a chair with straps on them.
HD could feel the knot around his heart shift with the beating of it. It wasn’t a strange pressure like before but it felt almost like a blossoming flower. A soft warmth growing from his chest, making his face red and his heart beat faster.
He had so willingly gone into the chair and let his feet be held in stocks for this demon. And he would probably do it again if the demon asked. This wasn’t just trust. This was affection.
A groan stopped HD’s thoughts wandering any further. Rather thankfully, though he pushed those thoughts and feelings aside for now as 4K awoke.
Usually 4K rose with the sun and he was always so annoyingly energetic. Now the demon seemed groggy. He whined and stretched his arms out. He pulled back from HD and rolled onto his back, landing in a spot of the bed where the sun beamed directly in and he groaned again as he threw his arm over his eyes.
“Too bright…”
HD opened his mouth to speak, but he watched instead as 4K lazily pulled up his other arm. He gave a lazy wave and the opening at the top slowly began to close. Like stone growing, the opening shrunk and shrunk till it was just a tiny sliver. Enough light was coming through to see, but the beam disturbing 4K was gone.
“Much better…” 4K sighed.
“This is-a…!” HD tried to speak, shocked to the sound of his own voice. HD already had a deep voice other didn’t expect, but now it was somehow deeper and gravelly. It didn’t hurt to speak but he could feel how rough his throat was with each word.
“Seems that little session did a number on your voice there.” 4K teased with a chuckle.
HD gave a slight smack to 4K’s arm. “No...wonder.” He said. His voice wasn’t sore, but it still felt weird to talk.
“Honestly surprised you have a voice at all after that. I do fully believe the town must have heard you screaming. If not, then the Gods must have.” 4K teased again, but his eyes were soft as he looked to HD. “How are you, by the way? Aside from the voice. All good?”
The hand that had waved the mountain closed now reached over to HD, softly rubbing over his arm. His skin prickled with goosebumps as he answered. “Y-Yes… why?”
4K rolled his shoulders in not quite a shrug. “Wanted to check in on you last night but you were kind of...far out, shall we say. And sleepy. Just wanted to make sure everything was good.”
“Is that because I never said the safeword?”
The sheepish smile told HD he’d hit the nail on his head.
“If I didn’t say the word, then it’s all good.” HD affirmed again. He tired not to sound annoyed, though really he couldn’t tell what his voice truly sounded like at the moment. 4K’s constant checking in was out of concern and HD appreciated it no matter how many times he had to assure him.
“I know you know that now. I just want to make sure it’s all good then. You were pretty out of it last night I couldn’t even be sure if you could have remembered the word.” 4K rolled onto his side facing HD. He propped himself up on his elbow, lazily leaning his head on his hand. “Maybe we should have another tell when you get like that...something physical – Ah! But you probably won’t remember the action either.”
While HD felt touched to the suggestion, he quickly cut into 4K’s wandering thoughts. “I don’t need anything else. The word is enough, I just...never felt like I needed to use it.”
4K raised an eyebrow. More curious than unbelievable. “Really?”
“Yes. It’s like…” HD stopped and pursed his lips as tried to find the right words. “Like… I know last night I was...w-well my mind was fried. But like I could still know it was there. Just a word that stops it all. I don’t think I see it as word at that point it’s like...It’s an off switch. That no matter how intense it gets I always have that out. That I know I can be pushed further because I have an out if I ever needed it. I guess that’s why I never use it because I know I can.”
He risked looking to 4K who just stared back at him, and HD’s words suddenly felt stupid in his gravelly throat. “Just forget it. That’s dumb.”
“No, it’s not dumb.” 4K quickly shook his head. “I get it. Well, I kind of get it. And whatever makes sense for you is fine with me. I just wanna make sure you’re all good with it. After I stop you’re always sort of spaced out, like it takes a bit for you to come back. Just wanna be sure there’s no bad thoughts after or anything uncomfortable.”
HD shook his head. “No it’s… It’s not like I pass out or anything but things feel sort of...fuzzier. I’m not all there but I slowly come around. And I never feel bad when I do I just feel...like soft? And I’m not worried about any time lost or when I wasn’t all there because I know you’re there. I’d be different if it wasn’t with you.”
HD risked a look over, to see 4K grinning like an idiot and expected some sort of taunting remark. Instead, 4K voice was surprisingly soft as he nodded. “Then we’re good.”
4K rolled over onto his back again, and stretched his arms up while HD’s thoughts wandered a little. “Just hypothetically…” He started. “If I did ever safeword...what would you do?”
“Well stop, of course.” 4K said like it was obvious and lowered his arms. He put one behind his head, the other lazy over his chest. “Then if you were tied or pinned I’d let you up. Then check-in. Like, did you safeword because it was too much, or did I trigger something, and we work from there.”
There was no need to ever worry, but HD was pleased to know his out was soft and comfortable.
“Ugh...hate waking up late.” 4K groaned and brought his hand up to wipe over his face.
“I was going to say. This is a little late for you.” HD pointed out.
“Well I was up late.” 4K chuckled. “Was tickling you for hours.”
“Hours?!” HD almost gasped. Of course he didn’t really have a concept of time as he was screaming.
“Well your foot needed attention. It was itchy. And you were begging me to scratch it. Had to do something.”
HD’s face flushed to the memory. They were sprinkled about little memories in his mind but he absolutely was begging for his foot to be scratched. More than once.
4K groaned again. His hand came up to wipe his face again, as though that could get rid of the fatigue. “Too tired. That’s it! Today is a bed day.”
“Bed day?” HD asked as 4K seemed to lounge himself further on the bed and taking up more space.
“Bed day.” 4K confirmed. “I’m not leaving this bed…” He hesitated a bit, his eyes flicking back and forth with some thought. “Well… Okay, I need to leave to get snacks and water and some stuff but after that, I am not moving.”
HD gave a half hearted scoff, but he could feel 4K’s tail tap lightly over his legs, and 4K looked at him again.
“You could join me… The bed is big enough for both of us to have a bed day if you want.”
It was a very tempting offer that HD was swayed to right away. “Oh, how could I refuse?” He slipped down to lie on the bed, ignoring the way 4K’s tail curled around his leg as he sank down. “A bed day sounds nice to rest my throat.”
“Perfect.” 4K’s voice purred and he quickly pushed himself up and off the bed.
HD fell back down into the furs and the demon returned less than a few minutes later with his promised items. He brought food and a jug of water for them, as well as some books and paper with sketching charcoal.
It was a perfect first day back on the mountain. Spent napping between eating and reading to pass the time. The two would talk in passing the time, or they’d share a book together before dozing off. HD would wake up wrapped in 4K’s arms, listening to the demon softly snoring and lulling him back to sleep.
There was no word to describe it other than bliss. It was like a missing piece of himself finally fit into place. The mountain was home. And 4K was a part of that.