Just your bratty, sadistic neighbourhood switch

Xiao had just crossed the threshold of his shared living quarters at Wangshu Inn when the noise caught his attention. Laughter - cheerful, happy laughter. His amber eyes narrowed as he pushed open the door to the living-room… and what he saw made him stop him in his tracks as he took in the scene in front of him.

There, sprawled on the couch, was Aether, squirming and giggling uncontrollably as Albedo leaned over him - What was he even doing here? - his fingers mercilessly tickling up and down the blonde’s sides, a playful expression on his face. “A-AhahAhlbehehEhdo, stoHOhop it! Ahahaha! NoHohoho moHohore!”

Aether’s voice was breathless, his cheeks flushed pink as he tried- and failed to push Albedo’s hands away. The alchemist however simply smiled down at him. “Just a few more seconds, Aether. I need to observe your reaction for my experiment,” he mused and squeezed his lower sides, earning a high-pitched squeal from him.

The Traveler’s laughter continued to fill the room, his golden hair splayed messily against the couch cushions as he twisted beneath Albedo’s playful attack, unaware of the new presence. “Y-YoHohuhu caHAhll thiHihs an ehEhxperimeHehent?!” The other blonde grinned and nodded, giving his flanks another effectful squeeze.

It was at this point that Xiao’s patience ran thin. Clearing his throat loudly, he stepped into the room with a scowl. “What’s going on here?” he demanded, his arms crossing over his chest. Both Aether and Albedo paused, turning to face Xiao. Aether’s eyes widened in surprise and his laughter died down to nervous chuckles.

“X-Xiao! I didn’t hear you come in.” He tried to sit up, but Albedo’s grip on his waist kept him pinned. The Yaksha’s eyes narrowed further as he approached the couch, his gaze fixed on the way Albedo’s hands were still resting on Aether’s sides. “I asked a question,” he said, his tone low and dangerously calm. Albedo just smiled politely at him.

“I was merely conducting an experiment on human sensitivity. Aether was kind enough to volunteer.” Aether nodded rapidly, his face even redder now. “Yeah! I-It’s just an experiment, I swear. Albedo wanted to test some pressure points to see how people react to different stimuli. I’m not... uh... cheating on you or anything!”

Xiao’s stern expression softened slightly at his earnest explanation, but a mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. “An experiment, huh?” he mused, stepping closer to the couch. “If that’s the case, then you wouldn’t mind if I... assist, would you? To be honest, I’m curious about yo- ahem human sensitivity as well…” the green-haired mumbled.

His comment made Aether’s eyes widened in panic as he fought to free himself from Albedo’s hold. “W-Wait, Xiao! That’s not necessary-” But it was too late, Xiao had already settled himself on his other side, trapping the blonde Traveler between him and Albedo.

“…What’s wrong, don’t you want me to help?” he asked, acting all innocent. “Albedo is allowed to touch you but not me… and here I thought you love me…” he said, obviously exaggerating, knowing how to get him. “That’s not what-” Aether began but stopped mid-sentence, letting out a long sigh. Xiao had him cornered… and he loved it.

The Yaksha wasn't normally someone to initiate skinship, still feeling somehow shy about these "human affections" Aether loved so much, so it was usually him who hugged, caressed or tickled him first. It took him two months to hold hands and almost double as long to share their first kiss.

…Yet, when there was an opportunity, Xiao could become even more eager or teasing than him, which was kinda scary in its own way, well not that Aether really disliked it. “If this is for science,” Xiao continued with that a rare, teasing smirk in his lips, wiggling his fingers at him, “then we should be thorough, right?”

Before Aether could protest further, Xiao’s hand made a claw and found his bare stomach, digging in with precision. The surprised blonde let out a startled shriek, his body arching off the couch as fresh laughter erupted from him.

“AhhAhahh! Xiao, no! NoHohot you toHohoho! PleHehease it- iHihit tiHIhikckles!” he begged, his voice high-pitched and desperate as he tried to squirm away from the onslaught, right into the arms of the alchemist whom he had almost forgotten about. Albedo chuckled softly, clearly pleased to have Xiao’s help.

“Aether, you really are quite sensitive here~ Indeed the perfect Subject~” He punctuated his words with another series of light pinches to the blonde’s waist, drawing even more laughter from their trapped companion. Xiao’s eyes flicked to Albedo, a competitive smile playing at his lips. “I think I found an even better spot.” Since when was this a competition?

He shifted his hands upward, fingers brushing against Aether’s exposed armpits, eliciting a squeal of surprise from the blonde. “Aaaah! Xiao, Albedo, stoHohop! ThaAht- ahAhah That’s noHoto a coOHohntest!” Aether wailed, thrashing helplessly between the two of them. His face was bright red now, tears of mirth gathering at the corners of his eyes.

“I-I caHahahn’t take it!” “Interesting,” Albedo murmured, fascinated by the perception he just made. “Your reactions are stronger when Xiao applies pressure here. Fascinating.” “F-FahAhscinatiHihihihing for you maybe! Ahahaha!” Aether protested, his laughter bordering on hysterical as Xiao’s fingers trailed down his sides to squeeze his hips.

“That’s because he loves me~” “P-Please, ahHahaha!” The teasing didn’t make it better and Xiao wasn’t done yet. He leaned in closer, his hot breath ghosting over his ear, tickling along its edge. “What’s the matter, Aether? I thought you were helping with Albedo’s research,” he teased, his fingers changing spots once more as thy began to dance over his neck and ears.

Aether’s laughter hit a fever pitch, his body writhing so much that the couch cushions shifted beneath him. “AHaHaha! Xiao, noHohoht there! HahHaha, pleHehease! I g-giHihive up! Uhunucle, UHUnCLEHE!” Albedo raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips as he continued his own assault on Aether’s sensitive sides, meticulously taking notes in his mind.

“Giving up so soon? But we’re just getting to the most interesting part.” He leaned over, brushing his fingers under Aether’s chin, where the skin was soft and delicate. “EhEHehhe I’m noHohot your cahHat!~ StoHop, X-XiahoHOho, h-h-hEhehlp!”

By now, the blonde was completely lost to the laughter, his limbs flailing weakly as he tried to fend off their relentless tickling, ineffectively. The Yaksha watched the change in his facial expressions, a feast for the eyes and he couldn’t help but wiggle a hand under his chin as well, while the other kept the squirming body in place.

“NgHGh, noHOhoHo. YoHohu’re noHohot hehlpiHihing! CoOHome oHOhne! EhehhEHeh! Okay, okay! HahHaha! I caHahn’t take anymore! FoHhohor reHeal, guUHhuys!” Aether gasped, his voice hoarse from laughing so hard as he tilted his head, the ticklish sensation giving his goosebumps. “Please, I’m begging you two!”

The duo exchanged a glance and a few seconds later the tickling came to an end. Xiao was the first who finally relented, pulling his hands away and sitting back with a satisfied smirk. “Alright, I think we’ve gathered enough data.” Albedo nodded, not wanting to exhaust the poor blonde, he had suffered enough tickles for today.

“Indeed. Thank you for your cooperation, Aether. Your responses were... most informative.” Aether lay sprawled on the couch, panting heavily as he tried to catch his breath, glad that the tickling had stopped. His golden hair was a mess, sticking to his forehead with sweat, and his cheeks were still flushed a deep red.

“Y-You two are evil,” he muttered, though the fond smile on his lips betrayed any real annoyance, “I’m never gonna help you again,” he said, puffing out his cheeks. Xiao chuckled, reaching over to ruffle Aether’s hair. “You were the one who volunteered, remember? Besides, you’re cute when you’re all flustered like this.”

Aether’s face turned an even darker shade of red at his lovers’ words and he buried his face into the soft cushion beneath him. “I-I wasn’t trying to be cute,” he grumbled, though the small smile he gave Xiao showed that he wasn’t entirely displeased by the compliment.

Meanwhile, Albedo was already jotting down notes in a small journal he’d pulled from his pocket. “I must say, this experiment turned out to be more successful than I anticipated. I’ll have to include these findings in my next report.” “Please don’t,” Aether groaned, covering his face with his hands, “I’ll never live it down if the others find out.”

Xiao smirked, leaning in to press a quick kiss to Aether’s temple. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone else read it. It’s our little secret, right?” Albedo nodded in agreement, tucking his notebook away.

“Your secret is safe with us Aether, I’ll make sure to conceal your identity, after all… I don’t want to anger your-” he finished the sentence in his head and just gave the duo another smile. Aether sighed in relief, relaxing into the couch cushions. “Thank Archons for that…” He looked up at the two of them with a tired but genuine smile.

“You guys are the worst, you know that?” “We do,” Albedo began, “but that’s only because,” Xiao continued, “you’re so ticklish,” the duo finished in unison, both of them chuckling, as they gave their poor friend one last squeeze on each side, earning another laugh from their beloved Traveler.

The blonde squealed but joined in soon after, pulling both their heads down next to his. "I'm warning you two... I know your weaknesses~" he proclaimed and both boys gulped slightly. Aether grinned but didn't say anything further, enjoying their closeness.