Tiburón!

i ran down the stairs, shriekin as he followed meeee my gosh!!! there were butterflies in my tummy ;w;

…he would grab me, sometimes pick me up eeeee (not painfully!) and pull me into his lap (or onto the floor) and just- wreck me (sometimes usin the same feather that i tickled him with EEEEE!!)

i dont rlly remember what he said but it was still AAAAHHHH!!!

…i wasn’t bored anymore

She showed up without fanfare. Rumi didn't drift, didn't sneak. She came striding down the path with the same confidence that had made him nervous the first time they'd met. A demon hunter walking openly to meet a demon... something about that still felt like they were tempting fate.

Jinu tilted his head, smiling despite himself. "Did they give you any trouble?" he asked, nodding toward her ankles as though his bird and tiger might still be hiding somewhere nearby.

Rumi's lips quirked. "No. I came right away."

"Yeah, I bet." His giggle slipped out too easily, betraying both his relief that she came and the odd giddiness that always came over him around her.

They sat. At first, the conversation was mundane: trading updates, feigning disinterest in the war both their sides were waging, letting their words circle closer to the dangerous truth that they enjoyed each other's company. Jinu's bird was off in some tree, preening silently, and his tiger lay stretched in the grass like a bored cat, giving them the illusion of privacy.

It was almost too peaceful. Which, Jinu would realize too late, was exactly the setup for Rumi's trap.

"So," she said after a lull, her tone innocent enough to raise alarm bells in his head. "About a few nights ago."

He froze mid-shift on the bench. "What about it?"

"You tickled me."

Jinu blinked, trying not to grin. "Uh... yeah?"

"You think I forgot?" Her voice carried the same seriousness she used when talking about sword training or something.

He laughed nervously. "Come on, that was just... like, a moment. You laughed! You had fun!"

"Oh, I had fun." Her smile spread, sharp but playful. "But now it's your turn."

Before Jinu could process that, she lunged.

Her fingers caught him in the ribs, quick and merciless, and his entire body jolted off the bench like she'd sent a spark through him. "WoahwoahWohohah- W-wahahahaitwahahaitwahahait!!" he yelped, collapsing back against the wood, laughter bursting from his throat in uneven gasps. "HehehehehEEHeee!! RuHUhuhumi, RuhUHUMi!!! Okahahayokayokahahahay!!"

She didn't relent. She had her hunter's focus, her hands quick and precise, skittering along the spots she'd already guessed would be sensitive: his sides, his ribs, the base of his neck. Every touch made him fold, wheezing laughter escaping in a rhythm she didn't let him catch.

"See?" she teased, leaning close like she was interrogating him. "Not so fun when it's happening to you, huh~?"

"HEEEheehee- w-wahahahait!! Nohoho, stohohohop-!! Ruhuhumi, Ihihihi c-caAhahHAHHAn't!!" His words tumbled out, breaking apart with giggles. He tried to wriggle sideways, only for her to follow, pinning him lightly against the arm of the bench.

The tiger raised its head in mild interest, then yawned and went back to dozing.

Jinu's demonic tattoos, usually glowing faintly across his collar and arms, flickered, dimmed, and then vanished altogether when her fingers traced over them. He barely noticed. All he could register was the raw sensation, the way her touches erased Gwi-Ma's ever-present voice in his skull: no commands, no whispering cruelty or shame, just laughter, spilling out of him unrestrained.

"Ughuhuhgh—ohohOHOHohkayokayokaAHAHAYay!!" Jinu wheezed, repeating himself like a broken record. "WohOHahwahahait- waAAHAHAhait!!!" He doubled over, knees bouncing, hoodie riding up to expose the pale stretch of his stomach that she immediately zeroed in on.

Her grin widened. "Oh, so this is worse~?"

"NOHOHOHO! DOhoHOn't- Hehehehhee- DohoHON't youhUhUHUu DahhahahAAAHARE-!!"

She dared.

Her fingers swirled in his belly button, and he nearly folded in half, laughter pitching into desperate squeaks. His bird flapped down from its perch with a sharp cry, landing on the back of the bench as though to protest his torment, but it didn't intervene. Even his familiars knew he'd sort of brought this on himself.

Minutes (or maybe seconds, time blurred) passed before she finally leaned back, hands withdrawing. Jinu slumped instantly, gasping for air, his hoodie clutched around his middle like it might shield him from another attack. His cheeks were flushed, his hair stuck to his forehead, and he couldn't stop giggling even as he tried to compose himself.

"Y-youhuhu-" he panted, pointing weakly at her, "youhuhu ahahare ehehevil."

"Funny, I said that to you last time. And it's revenge," Rumi corrected, brushing her hands together like one just finishing a chore. "Fair's far."

"Not fair at all," he muttered, still huccuping soft laughter. "Youhuhu're, like, way toohoo good at thahat."

Her smirk softened into something fonder. "I didn't think demons could be ticklish."

"Guess I'm full of surprises." He tugged his hoodie down, still smiling despite himself. "D-don't tell anyone, okay? If the others find out..."

"They'll what? Gang up on you?" She leaned back, crossing her arms smugly. "You'd probably like it." (Foreshadowing is a literary device in whi-)

He sputtered, face heating. "Wh- no, I- I wouldn't- shuhuhut uhup!"

Her laugh rang out bright in the empty park, and though he wanted to argue, Jinu let it linger. For the first time in what felt like forever, the darkness inside him was silent, replaced by something lighter, stranger. Unknown, but not unwelcome.

Eventually, the moment stretched thin, and he knew he had to leave before someone noticed his absence. Rising shakily from the bench, he stuffed his hands back in his hoodie pocket. "You... win this round," he admitted.

"Of course I do," Rumi replied. "But don't think I won't do it again~."

"O-ohoh... I bet," he said, laughing under his breath.

And with that, he turned down the path, his tiger slinking after him and his bird fluttering overhead. He didn't dare look back, but he didn't need to. Rumi's laughter still echoed behind him, a sound so bright it carried him all the way home.

Jinu slipped into the apartment as quietly as possible, hoodie pulled low, sneakers squeaking faintly against the polished wood floor. He told himself he'd just breeze past the living room, disappear into his room, and no one would notice.

Well, that plan shattered the second Mystery's voice drifted from the couch. "You're late."

Jinu flinched. Mystery sat cross-legged, periwinkle hair shrouding half his face. Across the room, Abby was sprawled on the carpet with a dumbbell in one hand, doing lazy reps, while Romance leaned against the counter, scrolling through his phone. Baby was perched on a beanbag, silent, watching a drama on the flat-screen.

Every head turned when Jinu froze mid-step. In the awkward silence, Jinu's tiger brushed past him and lay down on a beanbag next to Baby to snooze.

"Uh," Jinu said, trying to look casual. "Hey. What's up?"

Abby grinned, setting the dumbbell aside. "'What's up' is you sneaking out again. What, you think we don't notice?"

Romance slid his phone into his pocket, a smile playing at his lips. "Don't tell me, don't tell me- you were off infiltrating Huntr/x, hm? Whispering sweet nothings to the enemy~?"

Jinu's ears burned. "N-no! I was just-"

"Spill it," Mystery interrupted, his tone as calm as ever, though the corner of his mouth twitched. "You've been disappearing a lot."

Jinu fumbled for an excuse, but the silence stretched too long, and his stupid, nervous laugh bubbled out. "Heehee- I- It wasn't anything like that, I just... Rumi and I were..."

Romance's eyes sharpened. "Oh, this is good. You're glowing, Jinu. Don't think we can't see it."

"Glowing?" Abby sat up, eyes widening in recognition and pointing at him. "He's right! Totally, look at his face! That's not demon work, that's... what, did you two go on a date or something?"

Jinu threw his hands up. "No, no, it wasn't a date! I just-"

Baby, quiet until now, finally looked up from the TV. "Then what happened? What, exactly, did you and Rumi-from-Huntr/x do?" His tone was flat, but everyone leaned in like he'd just issued a command.

Jinu opened his mouth. Closed it. Tried again. "I... g-got tickled."

A beat of silence followed, so heavy he wondered if he'd accidentally said something in another language.

Then Romance doubled over, laughter spilling out like music. "Tickled? Thahat's what this is about!?"

Mystery's stoic façade cracked into a grin. "Unbelievable."

Abby howled, actually falling back onto the carpet and clutching his stomach. "THEHehE MIHIGHT DEMOHON JIHINU, TIHIHICKLED!"

"Oh, stop it!" Jinu shouted, face blazing, taking off his hoodie and throwing it in the corner. "It's not funny!"

"It's hilarious!" Romance countered, wiping tears from his eyes. "Tell me, tell me! Did you beg? Did you squeal?"

"N-nohoho-!" Jinu sputtered, the giggle betraying him instantly.

They roared even harder.

Even Baby's lips twitched, just barely, before he looked back at the screen with forced indifference.

Jinu flopped onto the nearest chair, burying his face in his hands. "I hate all of you."

"Ahaww, don't be mad~!" Abby teased, crawling closer to nudge his shoulder. "We're just surprised. Ticklish demons! That's new lore, bro!"

Romance leaned in with mock seriousness. "Maybe the Demon King's greatest weakness is feather dusters. We should report this!"

Mystery's smirk softened as he studied Jinu, who still shook with leftover laughter he couldn't entirely suppress. "You really don't look miserable, though. You look... lighter."

The comment hushed the group just a fraction. Abby glanced away, Romance pocketed his grin, and even Baby seemed to be listening now.

Jinu lowered his hands, blinking at Mystery. "... So what if I do?"

Romance exhaled, suddenly thoughtful. "It's just... been a while, you know? Since any of us..." He trailed off, gesturing vaguely. "...felt something like that."

Abby nodded, quieter than usual. "We fight, we train. We obey. But laughing like that? Haven't done that since..." He exhaled, staring off into space. "...since before."

The word 'before' hung heavy... before they'd been bound to the Demon King, before their humanity had been scrubbed away.

For a long moment, no one spoke. The faint sound of Baby's drama played in the background, oddly poignant.

Finally, Baby broke the silence with his low, even tone, turning to look at Jinu. "So. Tickling." He didn't smile, but his voice carried the slightest hint of curiosity. "That's what made you feel human again?"

Jinu swallowed, hesitant but honest. "Y-yeah. It... it shut everything else out. Just laughing, just being there. No... Gwi-Ma. No orders, no shame. Just... me."

His voice cracked on the last word, and suddenly the room felt fragile, like one wrong move would shatter the unspoken truth between them.

Romance leaned back, softer now. "Well. Maybe we should all try it."

That earned him a round of incredulous looks.

"You're joking," Abby said.

But Mystery's smirk returned, sly this time as if he were squinting underneath his hair. "Are you?"

Romance shrugged, but his eyes glinted. "Well, maybe not. We could use a little... experimentation."

Jinu groaned, already sensing the disaster brewing. "Guys, please- don't get any ideas-"

But that spark was there, that seed planted. And judging by the grins spreading across their faces, it was only a matter of time before this apartment descended into chaos. It was a powder keg.

The quiet didn't last long.

Romance was the first to move, like always, walking forward to lean on the back of the couch with that lazy, mischievous grin of his. "You know," he said, stretching his arm dramatically, "we're idols. We might get asked to do this on some variety show someday."

Abby snorted. "What, tickle each other?"

Romance wiggled his fingers teasingly in the air. "You know those challenges. They're weird, like that hot sauce challenge."

Wordlessly, everyone looked at Baby, who just smirked proudly.

Romance continued, "Anyways, it wouldn't be the strangest thing they threw at us."

Mystery raised an unimpressed brow from his seat on the couch. "Why do humans want us to debase ourselves for their amusement? Tickling would be absurd."

"Is it?" Romance leaned down casually and, before Mystery could react, jabbed two fingers into his side.

Instantly, Mystery, the ever-composed, brooding figure, jolted like he'd been electrocuted. A sharp yelp escaped him, followed by a burst of helpless giggles that shattered his entire mystique in two seconds flat.

"HEHEHEe- WhahAHAHhat-?!" Mystery twisted away, clutching his ribs, laughter bubbling up uncontrollably. His sweater slipped as he curled, and he desperately tried to smother his own giggles with his sleeve as he rubbed at the spot Romance had poked him.

The room exploded.

"NO WAY!!" Abby cried, crawling toward the couch and sitting beside his bandmate. "Mystery?! You're that ticklish!?"

Romance looked smug, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder. "Ah, what can I say? I have a gift for finding weak spots."

Mystery glared through his hair, but the blush on his neck betrayed him. "D-dohon't- dohohon't make a bihihig deheal-!" His protest was cut off in another squeak when Abby poked his ribs experimentally. Mystery folded instantly, crumbling sideways into Abby's lap, giggling like a kid. "HehehehHEEhee-!! N-nohoHohOo, StohOhohohOp!!"

Abby's jaw dropped. "Oh, this is golden." He wiggled his fingers across Mystery's sides just to prove it, and Mystery writhed helplessly, clutching at his wrists. "He really can't take it, guys!"

Romance chuckled. "Forget the Demon King, all they need to do is poke Mystery, and the war's over."

Jinu leaned forward from the armchair, still flushed from his earlier humiliation, but unable to resist the grin spreading on his face. "See? It's not so bad once you get used to it."

Mystery shot him a betrayed expression between hiccupping giggles. "N-NohOhoHot- fuhuHuHUhUhunny-!!"

"It kinda ihis," Jinu teased, his own giggle slipping through. "Besides, I told you guys. Ticklish demons. It's a thing."

Abby grinned wider. "Well, then we've gotta find out who's the most ticklish, right?"

"Oh, no," Jinu groaned, already feeling dread pool in his stomach. "Don't even start-"

But it was too late. Romance clasped his hands together dramatically. "Gentlemen, I propose a challenge. A noble experiment in the name of science... and fanservice."

Baby, still on the beanbag, finally turned his head from the TV. His expression didn't change, but his tone carried dry amusement. "You're actually suggesting a tickle competition."

Romance's smirk widened, enunciating with his hands as he explained. "Why not? Think about it. If a variety show does spring it on us, wouldn't it be better to train for it? Build immunity, I guess?"

"Build immunity?" Abby barked a laugh. "Dude, that's not how tickling works!"

Jinu buried his face in his hands, chuckling despite himself. "Youhu guys are insane..."

"Insane," Romance echoed, eyes glittering, "or visionary?" He wiggled his eyebrows goofily.

Mystery sat up finally, still giggling under his breath as he shoved Abby away. His cheeks were pink, his composure in tatters. "Ihihi refuhuhuse," he muttered, though his voice cracked halfway through.

...which only made the others laugh harder.

"See, he's scared already," Abby teased. "That's how you know he's doomed."

Baby exhaled through his nose, almost a laugh. "Fine. But if we're doing this, it has to be fair. Everyone gets tested."

Jinu peeked through his fingers, groaning. "This is going to end badly..."

Romance leaned closer, his grin positively wicked. "End badly for you, maybe. End gloriously for the rest of us."

The challenge was sealed, and it didn't take long to escalate.

"Alright," Abby said, rolling his shoulders, trying to play it cool. "If we're really doing this experiment, then bring it on. I'm not scared."

That bravado lasted all of... thirty seconds.

Romance smirked and pounced first, fingers clawing into Abby's sides from behind the couch. Abby flinched but managed to grit his teeth, shoving him off. "Hah- nice try, playboy. You're gonna have to do better than-"

Hungry for vengeance, Mystery swooped in without a word, jabbing Abby's ribs, and that's when the façade shattered. Abby's laugh burst out like a gunshot, sharp and wild. "bAHAhahAHAHA-!! NoHOHO WhAHahAIT-!!"

"Those abs won't protect you now," Romance teased, already grabbing the hem of Abby's shirt. "Let's see what's hiding under here."

"NoOhOHoHO, DOhohon't youhUhu- dohoHon't youhuHU DahahahARe!!" Abby thrashed, but Jinu, sitting beside him, joined in, tugging his shirt up until his sculpted stomach was exposed. The sight alone made the group chuckle.

"Just look at that target," Mystery mused, grinning softly. "Wide open."

Abby didn't even have time to curse before all three of them attacked. Fingers dove straight for his belly, and especially his belly button, which turned out to be devastating. Abby's deep voice dissolved into shrieking laughter, bouncing around the apartment.

"StaaHAHHAHAHAHA- NOHoHOHO, NOOOhOOHO!! N-NOHoHoHOT THEHEHEHERE!!!" he howled, twisting so hard he nearly flipped the coffee table. "IHIHI-IHiHIHI CAhahaHAN'T- AHhAHAHAHA!! OhOhOHOH MYyHYHY GOHoHOHHD!!"

Romance, merciless, traced slow circles around Abby's belly button, cooing, "Ohhh, this is the spot, isn't it~? Your strength is useless here~!"

"SHUHUHUHUT UhUhUHUP!!" Abby cried, tears in his eyes from laughing. His arms flailed weakly, but with Mystery pinning his wrists and Jinu digging into his sides, he was doomed.

The spectacle left Baby and the tiger both staring impassively from their beanbags, but Jinu caught Baby's almost-smile out of the corner of his eye, which only encouraged him further.

Finally, Abby collapsed forward, flat onto the carpet, wheezing, sweat beading on his brow. "OhOHOHOKAhahAY!! Y-YohUhUHU WIHIHIN!!"

The others fell back, triumphant.

"Science says," Romance announced smugly, "that Abby is extremely ticklish."

"Sh-ShuHUt it!!" Abby groaned, curling protectively around his stomach.

But Romance wasn't safe for long.

"Your turn, loverboy," Mystery said smoothly, lunging forward and making to grab Romance.

Romance yelped, scrambling backward. "Woah, woah, woah- gentlemen, careful-!" He raised his hands in mock surrender, grinning like he could talk his way out. "Y-you're touching dangerous territory. We wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea~!"

"Flirt all you want," Abby growled, already recovered enough to grab him by the ankle. "You're not wriggling out of this."

"Waitwaitwait-!! Think of the optics-!!" Romance laughed nervously as they dragged him down onto the couch. "T-The fans will kill you for ruining my perfect image-!!"

Mystery cut him off by digging into his ribs, and Romance's composure shattered instantly. His laughter rang out bright and melodic, spilling over the room.

"GAHhahAHHAHA-! OkaHAHAyokaahahya-!! M-mYHHYStery, youHUhu TraahAHAITOR!!!" He kicked his legs, twisting in their grip, still trying to flirt his way through it. "I-IihIhif youHuhu keehEHep touHUhuching me LihiHike thihihis, IhiHIHI'll hahahave toho BuuHUhUy youHuhu dihihiNner fiHiHIhiRST-!"

Jinu snorted, joining in to scribble over his sides. "Well, you are ticklish!"

"SToHohoHOahp-!! N-NoHoHO!! IhiHihi'm sTIhIhill- stiHIhIll chahahAhArming-!!" Romance wheezed, his words tripping over laughter. "Y-YouHuhU cahHAhan't tahHAHahake thahahAHt froHohOm MeHEhehE- HAhaAHAH!! NoHoHOHo, NOhOHOT MyHYHy RiHIHIBS!!"

Abby leaned up with wicked glee, slipping his fingers under Romance's shirt to poke at his stomach. "Dangerous territory, huh? Feels like pretty weak territory to me, dude~."

Romance shrieked and tried to twist away, laughter bubbling out in frantic waves. Even while he begged, he still tossed out desperate, half-flirty lines. "S-SOhOho RouhuHUgh WIhIHIhIth mEheHHee-!! YoUHuHu'll RuHuHUIN MyHyHy RehHEHEHEPUhUhUTAHAHATION!"

Mystery smirked down at him. "Oh, it's pretty ruined already."

The apartment dissolved into pure chaos after that.

Abby let go of Romance, only for Romance to lunge at Jinu, pinning him against the couch and scribbling mercilessly over his ribs. Jinu squealed, kicking his legs, his giggles echoing high-pitched and wheezy.

"NoHoHOT mEHehHEE AagAHAhaHAIN!!! NOhOhOHoHOEhEHEHE!!"

Mystery took the distraction to pounce on Abby, returning the favor by digging into his exposed stomach. Abby bellowed, thrashing so hard he almost knocked Mystery into the wall.

"VEhEHEHNEhEHHEANCE!!!" Abby roared with helpless laughter.

The couch tipped, cushions flying as Jinu and Romance squealed with surprise. The coffee table skidded half an inch across the floor from the impact of Abby's foot. Someone's shoe flew off, landing in the kitchen.

The room was a battlefield, alliances forming and crumbling in seconds. Jinu and Mystery briefly teamed up against Romance again, only for Abby to betray them both and tackle Jinu back onto the carpet. Romance seized the moment to tickle Mystery's knees, and Mystery folded instantly, laughing so hard he lost all strength in his limbs.

"T-TrHAhahHAAHAHAITOHOhORS!!! AHhahHAHAALL oHoHOHOF YOuHUHUHU!!!" he cried, giggling uncontrollably.

Even Baby wasn't safe. A stray hand brushed his socked foot when Jinu tried to crawl away, and Baby kicked him square in the shoulder back into the pile, not hard, but enough to remind them he was there.

"Don't," Baby warned, his voice flat as ever. But Jinu caught the faintest flicker of amusement in his eyes.

The laughter filled the apartment like a storm, blending with shouts, squeals, and cries for mercy. It was reckless, it was ridiculous, but for the first time in years, they all sounded alive.

Finally, the storm slowed, the bows strewn across the carpet and couch like casualties of war. Everyone was panting, flushed, eyes glassy with tears, except for one.

Baby sat upright on his beanbag, arms crossed, completely unscathed. The others had been reckless, wild, and undone, but Baby still looked like a statue.

Jinu, cheeks burning, pushed himself up on trembling arms. "HEehEHehehe... youuhuhu've just been sihihitting there. Nohohot fahair."

Baby tilted his head. "Yeah, someone had to stay in control."

"Yeah?" Jinu said, grinning through his breathlessness. "Let's see how long that lasts."

Mystery perked up immediately. "Ohh, I like where this is going."

Abby, still sprawled out, wheezed, "You guys ahahare insahahane. Hehehe's... hehe's not tihicklish."

"We'll find out," Jinu replied, already stumbling toward the beanbag.

At first, Baby didn't even react. Jinu jabbed experimentally at his ribs. Romance leaned forward, fascinated. Nothing. Mystery poked his side.

"Hey, stay down." Baby scribbled under Mystery's underarm, sending him back to the floor in squealing laughter. "You guys are wasting your breath," he said flatly, eyes half-lidded.

But Jinu wasn't backing down. With a sharp grin, he dropped low and dug into Baby's stomach, fingers scabbling with purpose. Romance joined instantly, hands doubling the assault.

For a moment, it seemed hopeless. Baby's jaw clenched, his face blank as stone. And then...

"...mmmMhhffhfhfhff- pfftaahahahaha!!"

The laugh erupted deep and rumbly, startlingly rich. The room froze for a second, jaws dropping, before the boys dissolved into stunned giggles of their own.

"Ohoh my god! Baby's laughing~!" Romance cried.

"It's real!!" Abby barked out, wide-eyed.

Baby twisted, struggling to regain control, but Jinu and Romance pressed harder, circling his belly button and pinching at his sides. The stoic façade crumbled, his face flushed, his lips trembling with sound he clearly didn't want to give.

"Ghhhuhuhuhh- stohohOhohahap- n-nohohohohoho-!"

It wasn't just laughter. There was a slip, a crack into something softer, almost babbling, before Baby snapped his mouth shut again, furious with himself.

The boys went silent at the sound, blinking at him in shock.

Then, with sudden force, Baby surged upright. "Okay, fihine." In a single sweep, he knocked both Jinu and Romance backward, his calm restored in an instant.

"I won't take shit from you..." Baby scribbled over Abby's belly, making him cackle.

"...or you..." Baby squeezed Jinu's ribs, causing the demon to giggle helplessly.

"...or you..." Baby grabbed Romance's foot and scribbled over his sole, making him shriek and flail around.

"...and especially... not you." Baby shot his hands back down under Mystery's underarms, who kicked his feet as he squealed with laughter.

Irrefutably, Baby was the one looming victorious, as the other four, defeated, panted for breath. Jinu and Mystery were tangled on the carpet, Abby was groaning against the couch, and Romance was wheezing into one of the couch cushions. Only Baby sat tall, unruffled, as if the outburst had never happened.

The room buzzed with aftershocks of laughter, heavy breathing, and hearts pounding. For a long moment, no one spoke.

Though, it wasn’t like he didn’t have his own struggles. The torture of The Capitol still picked at his mind occasionally, and he wasn’t always stable. Because of this, they played the ‘Real or not real’ game every night, to help sort out his mind and memories when he couldn’t do it himself.

“...You killed Rue. Real or not real?” Peeta asked quietly. He was sat on the floor with his back against the couch, head leaned back and looking up at Katniss. 

As for her, she was actually sitting on the couch, her legs crossed. The question didn’t surprise her, even though he’d previously known the answer to it. Sometimes, even once he was told the answer, reality and fiction still blurred together.

“Not real,” she responded.

He nodded slightly, as if he’d expected the answer but still hadn’t been 100% sure. “You were trying to save me when I was in the Capitol.”

“Real.” That was the only word she said, but there was so much more to it. The nights where she wished he could be there, the guilt that coiled around her heart as she watched him slowly deteriorate, the way she sobbed into Haymitch’s arms when she thought she lost Peeta. She’d wanted him out more than anything. 

He nodded again, his thumb rubbing up and down on his knee as a means to self-soothe. Katniss knew he wasn’t the biggest fan of admitting when he didn’t know if something was real or not, but she was glad he was willing to ask.

“What is it?” Katniss asked when a hint of a smile ghosted Peeta’s lips.

“Nothing.”

“Tell me,” she said, half a plea, half a command.

“...You used to tickle me after our first Hunger Games.”

Katniss huffed out a laugh. “Real.”

“Really?” Peeta looked up at her with a smile.

“Yeah.” She remembered when she found out about it. He’d had a nightmare, and it was her comforting him. Turns out that drawing circles on his side was less comforting than it was ticklish.

“I mean, I didn’t think The Capitol would put that in my head, but it almost seemed too…”

“Ridiculous?” Katniss finished.

“Yeah.” 

“Well, believe it.” To further her point, she swiped her finger behind his ear, grinning when he yelped and sat up.

He turned to face her, rubbing behind his ear. “What was that for??”

“Proving a point,” she smiled and scooted closer to him. She’d forgotten just how fun tickling him was, and she wasn’t planning on forgetting again anytime soon. 

“Katniss, what are you— Katniss!” he yelled when she suddenly pounced on him.

“I think I have to prove that it’s real,” she said as she wrestled him.

“No! No, I believe you! I believe you— Kahahahahahatnihihihihihiss!” he laughed. Katniss had successfully worked past his flailing hands and vibrated her fingers against his stomach. 

“Good to know that this is still the same,” she said fondly as she continued to wreck him. Being a big sister, she had plenty of experience when it came to tickling. Her smile dampened when she remembered that she would never make her sister laugh again, but she was quickly snapped out of it when Peeta shrieked like a dork. 

Her fingers had found their way up to his armpits, which was making his laughter high-pitched and squeaky. His face was scrunched up in the most adorable smile, and his cheeks and ears were gradually growing pink. 

“KAHAHAHAhahat— KAHAHAHAHATNIHIHIHIHIHIS!” he managed, failing to escape her. 

“It’s my turn to play. You’re ticklish… here.” She leaned down and blew into his ear. He screeched and flinched violently, shoving his ear into his shoulder. “Real or not real?” she whispered into his other ear, which seemed to be just as effective. 

“Reheheheheheahahahal!” he giggled frantically. 

“Okay, you’re also ticklish here.” Her hands wandered to his ribs. Her nails, which had been pedicured by Effie—she insisted that she needed practice, but Katniss didn’t let her do very much. She was allowed to trim, file, and use a clear nail polish, but that was it—scratched in between the bones, making him arch his back and grab onto her forearms. 

“Real or not real?”

“Re— reheheheheahahahahal! It’s rehehehehehahahahal!”

“Hm… you’re the most ticklish person in all of the Districts,” she said with a grin as she traced patterns on his stomach, which drew the cutest giggles out from him. 

“Nohohohohohot— rehehehehehehahahahal!” he insisted. 

“Not real? I beg to differ.” Just to emphasize, she used her thumbs to rub circles into his hipbones, making him try to buck her off as he giggled helplessly. 

“I sweheHEHEHAHAhahar, it’s— nohohahahaHAHAHAHAT KAHAHAHAHATNIHIHIHIHISS!!” he shrieked again when her fingers found themselves back in his armpits. He pushed on her shoulders futilely—despite his true strength, he was soft with her. That, and he couldn’t exactly do much while he was having the living daylights tickled out of him. 

“You’re actively proving me right,” she said with a grin that hadn’t graced her face in what felt like years. Her face almost felt stretched unnaturally, unused to really, truly smiling, and certainly not for this long. 

“KAT— KAHAHAHAHATNIHIHIHISS PLEHEHEHEHEAHAHAHASE!” Peeta laughed, his face a lovely shade of pink and his eyes and smile equally bright. 

She decided to have mercy on him and stilled her fingers, though she made no move to get off of him. “One last one.”

Peeta’s face turned from one of relief from finally getting a beat of reprieve to suspicion. “What is it?”

“Raspberries are really ticklish. Real or not real?” 

The look of horror that fell upon his face was priceless, and he began scrambling underneath her. “Not real! Not real! Not real!” he cried, a nervous grin already settling back onto his face. 

“Really? I don’t know. You weren’t telling the truth last time, how do I know you’re telling me the truth now? I think I should just figure it out for myself.”

“No, no, Katniss! Katniss— WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAIT!” His pleas fell on deaf ears as she buried her face into his lean stomach (too lean for her liking—they were still getting him back to a state where he was well-nourished) and blew an extended raspberry. She felt his hands pushing at her head in a desperate attempt to escape the ticklish sensations, but it was no use. 

Once she ran out of air, she sat up, panting slightly with that same joyful grin on her face. Peeta had one arm wrapped around his stomach, the other bent over his eyes. He was still giggling softly; his attempts to swallow them were useless. 

“So. Real?”

Peeta reluctantly nodded. “…Real.” His voice was slightly shaky. 

When he revealed his eyes, Katniss could see the mirth in them, not just the kind that was forced by tickling, but the kind that presented itself only when it sensed pure joy in the air. She couldn’t help her smile when it softened at the sight. 

She finally got off of him, helping him up.

“…One last one,” Peeta said as he sat down next to her. 

“What is it?”

“You’re ticklish. Real or not real?” He said with a slight smirk. 

She tensed slightly, her eyebrows creasing. “Not real.” Lies, lies, and more lies. 

“Not real?” Peeta questioned, obviously not believing her. “You sure?”

“I’m sure,” she affirmed, trying to sound more confident than she felt. As his hand bravely reached out to her, she quickly halted that endeavor by scratching at his exposed armpit once more. He barked out a laugh and clamped his arm down, twisting away from her.

“Not real,” she repeated in a warning.

“Okay! Okahahahay, not reheheheal!” he nodded.

“Good.” Finally, she retracted her hand for now good. Her eyes lingered on his face, admiring the true smile and blush on his face. The sight could heal even Haymitch’s heart. 

“What?” he asked once he caught her staring. But even then, she couldn’t force herself to pry her eyes away.

“Nothing,” she said softly, mischievousness melting away into fondness. She scooted closer to him, nestling into his side with her head on his shoulder. As he always did, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer.