Just Vibes & Tickles

Cardinal (Todobaku)

“Eeh!” Todoroki jumped out of his skin at the high pitched cry from above. It spooked him so badly he nearly dropped his slushy- a truly capital offense. “What was that?”

“Huh? The hell should I…Whoa.” Bakugou had looked up with a glare, but his face softened instantly at the sight. “Look at that.”

When Todoroki followed his gaze, he found a rather dumb looking bird on a branch.

Okay- it wasn’t that dumb. Really, it was rather beautiful- with a distinct red head and gray and white body. What was it? He never had much interest in bird watching.

“A cardinal.” Bakugou filled in like he could read his mind. “Heh, it looks like you.”

“Huh?” Todoroki turned with raised brows. “No it doesn’t!”

As if equally offended, the cardinal made an indignant squawk, stomping its feet on the branch. Bakugou visibly struggled not to laugh. “Yeah, it does actually. Look, it’s red and white- just like you! You’re even wearing grey today!”

“It’s a grey day!” Todoroki cried back, cheeks pinkening. The Cardinal looked back at itself, as if comparing their bodies. Then it flapped its wings and stomped again with another call, like it was declaring it looked better.

“Ehehehhehe! The bird’s mocking you!” Bakugou wheezed, shoulders shaking with laughter. Todoroki blushed more as he glared, twisting around to glare at the bird.

“Would you get out of here!” He waved his free hand at it, but of course the bird was too far up to care, and Todoroki wasn’t heartless enough to actually attack the creature- annoying as it was. In response, the bird chirped at him condescendantly. He gaped in shock.

“Did you just hear what that thing called me?” He turned to Bakugou, who had doubled over at the waist in hysterics. “That thing is a menace! It should have stayed in Angry Birds!”

The bird squawked at him, and he turned around. “Oh screw you, too!”

Bakugou threw his head back with a guffaw, laughing so hard he could barely stand. “Shoohohoto! Shohohohto pleahhahashe! Ehahahhahahha! It’s juhuhust a bihihihrd!” “An annoying bird.” Todoroki pouted, folding his arms while Bakugou wheezed. It was hard to stay mad when his boyfriend choked on a snort, lips twitching despite himself. “Got it out of your system, yet?”

“Oohohoh, okay grumpy. Lihihgthen up!” Bakugou threw an arm around his waist, pulling Todoroki close before planting a kiss on his cheek. It warmed Todoroki’s face and softened his defense marginally. “It’s just a bird. So what if you two are twins? You’re both adorable-”

“Hm.” Todoroki fumed, and the bird chirped in reply. Bakugou bit his lip to keep from laughing again.

“You are- and you both sound so sweet when you sing.” In response, Bakugou wiggled his fingers, making Todoroki twitch. “Or in your case, laugh.”

“Kahahhatsuki! Wahhahait, wahhahait, hoohohld ohohohn!” His best efforts were in vain- Bakugou knew just where to get him to have him giggling instantly. “Noohohot in frohohont of theheheh bihihihird!”

Said cardinal stomped on the branch and mocked him, chirping a happy tune. “I don’t think it minds.”

“Ihiihihi mihihihnd! Ehahhahahaha! Bahahahkugohohohu, pleahahhahase!” Todoroki giggled out, cheeks red as half his hair as he tried gently prying the blonde off. “Leheheht me ghoohohooho!”

“Heh, alright, since you asked so nicely.” Bakugou finally stopped, still holding his boyfriend’s waist as he caught his breath. “There, see? Was it so hard to laugh?”

Another sound caught their attention. They looked up to see a bright yellow bird land next to the cardinal. It had a black markings on its eyes, much like a mask.

“Wow, an oriole. You don’t see that everyday.” Bakugou mused, and Todoroki finally had to ask.

“Do you…bird watch?” His question made Bakugou blush.

“My dad does. He sometimes brings me with him. It’s…relaxing.” He confessed, and Todoroki fell in love all over again. They watched the two birds perch together on the branch, much like how they stood side by side below.

“Do you think we’re together in every universe?” It was such a dumb question to ask, but Bakugou answered truthfully.

“If that up there isn’t an indicator that we do, I don’t know what it.” He smiled, turning to look at Todoroki, only to find lips against his instead. He melted instantly.

Up high, the birds turned away so they were looking out at the skyline instead.

Thanks for reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Narrator (ShinDeku)

The sound of rain drops against the roof was a comforting white noise. Shinsou struggled not to yawn as his eyes followed racing droplets, picking what he thought to be the best one and rooting for it to win. It never did- the droplet would get mixed into another and disappear from his view. He’d switch over to another soon after.

“Are you racing water again?” Deku called from his spot in bed, a laugh in his voice. Shinsou turned to smile at him, taking a moment to drink in the sight.

His boyfriend looked so cozy. Dressed in a worn in All Might hoodie and sweats, he laid half buried in a blanket, his back propped up with pillows. In his hands was a book- the spine cracked and cover faded, various page corners dog eared. Shinsou didn’t need to look inside to know the margins were filled with small notes and thoughts, the occasional quote underlined and little arrows pointing to paragraphs that really stood out.

Deku loved good books the way one loved a skateboard; beat to death and graffetied. Shinsou found it absolutely endearing.

“I was, but it looks like it’ll be another tie.” He got up and walked over, crawling into the open space against Deku and wrapping himself around him. “How about you? What’s going on in your world?”

“Oh you know, the same old story. Sophie just got to Howl’s castle, fell asleep right before the fireplace. Of course Calcifer is not having it-” Deku rambled on about his book, a story he’d read over and over and over again. Shinsou nodded along, half paying attention, half watching the way Deku’s lips curved and smoothed with each pronunciation of the words. He couldn’t read lips, but he’d gladly learn if Deku was his teacher.

“So?” Oh- right. He checked back in to find Deku holding said book up to him, an adorable puppy dog look in his eyes. “Read to me?”

Oh. Oh no. Shinsou felt himself sweat a little, eyes flicking to the book and then Deku. He started to decline, but then his boyfriend jutted out his lower lip the tiniest bit. Cheater.

“Okay.” He took the book, and Deku made a small sound of victory before getting cozy against his chest. It made his heart rate accelerate. Everything Deku did made his heart race. “Ready?”

“Ready.” He really wasn’t. Still, he took a breath and began to read.

Now- Shinsou wasn’t a bad reader. He could pronounce words just fine, and was told by teachers and classmates alike he had a soothing reading voice. Maybe it came with his brainwashing quirk? No matter- he was clearly good at this.

And yet- when he did read outloud, especially before Deku, he couldn’t help but get shy. Something about the way he watched him while he read made his heart skip, and he couldn’t help but notice how warm his face got, or the occasional tremor in his voice.

By god- they’ve been dating for nearly six years now. He shouldn’t be this nervous about his reading ability before his freaking boyfriend!

“...Sorry, hang on.” Shinsou covered up his embarrassment with a nervous laugh, turning away to hide his red face. Deku snuggled closer, unwilling to let him go. “This is…I mean..”

“Hehe, it’s fine. You’re doing great.”

“You’re laughing at me.”

“No, I’m laughing because you make me happy.” Deku corrected gently, giving him a squeeze. His hand placement tickled, making Shinsou squirm. “I can’t help but laugh when someone makes me happy. You bring me joy.”

Oof. right in the heartstrings, this one. Shinsou turned to look at him, but the second he made eye contact, Deku’s hands began squeezing at his sides some more. “Ehehee! Hhehhehaay! Hehehey!”

“Read to me more, please.” Deku asked, keeping his tickles gentle so Shinsou could focus. “Everytime you get nervous, I’m gonna tickle you. That should help.”

“Suhuhch a great mohohove! Ehahha, you shhohohuld be a tehahahcher!” Shinsou teased, jumping with a proper laugh when Deku dug in. “Ohoohaky, ohohokay. Where was Ihihiihi?”

The chapter went by. Shinsou read fine for the most part, but when the nerves began to creep in, he was quickly redirected by Deku’s fingers. It was so silly- he was starting to make mistakes intentionally just so his boyfriend would play with him more. Eventually he got through it, finishing the last page of their most recent chapter before dropping the book, gathering his laughing boyfriend up and kissing his face all over. “That’s enough of that.” He said between pecks, leaving Deku as red as he was.

“Aww, but we only read one chapter!” He fake pouted, melting when Shinsou lifted his chin and kissed him properly. “I suppose we can take a break..”

“No way. Your turn.” He gave Deku the book, getting comfy once more. “Now you have to read it without messing up.”

“Ooo, scary! Reviewing the lesson, are we? Alright then.”

Of course Deku read it perfectly. Shinsou had plans of tickling him to mess him up, but instead, he rested his chin against his shoulders, smiling at the way Deku painted the scene before their eyes.

He fell asleep at one point. In his dream, he was wearing an extravagant coat, and Deku a sunhat from his father’s hat shop. They waltzed across the skies together, hand in hand.