ABRAÇOS GRÁTIS

“Brother! It wasn’t my fault, it wasn’t my fault!” He jumped to the side and scrambled when a large hand swiped to his right, his voice getting quicker and hysterical the more he got tired from the exercise. “Please, brother! Have pity, have mercy! It wasn’t my fault, I didn’t do anything!”

“Then who did?!” Came the roar.

Huaisang squeaked loudly, screaming more as another hand almost gripped his shoulder. 

“I don’t know! I really don’t, brother!” Where was Meng Yao with his always trustful back where he could hide behind? But no one but Mingjue and the stars heard his cries. “Maybe it was someone good! Someone who was worried about how much later you go to bed! Maybe they’re annoyed from dealing with your cranky mood from lack of sleep. Maybe they just want to help, brother!”

“HELP?! You locked me in my personal chambers after dinner where I had to spend an entire SICHEN to get free and had to call my guards to help me!!” Oh no, he was embarrassed. It took everything from the younger one to not snicker as he remembered the talisman he commissioned from his good friend Wei Wuxian for this sole purpose. “Do you think I have nothing to do, not a sect to run? Or do you think I also have all the time in the world to lay lazily around the house and ignore my chores?”

Ouch. Huaisang didn’t even have time to pretend offense as he was bodily crashed on the ground, screaming cutting off into grunts as he tried to squirm and free himself enough to scutter around and win a few more minutes of life. Being unsuccessful, he did what he does best.

He looked at his brother straight in his eyes and made his shine with glistering tears, hands holding Mingjue’s sleeves and hands before they could cuff him on the head. 

“Brother…” he whimpered.

Mingjue, knowing him since he was a kid and therefore plenty aware of his every tactic to escape trouble, looked entirely unimpressed and unwavered by one his best acts, face contorted in an angry sneer. “Where are those ridiculous books and fans of yours? I am going to lock them on my chambers and see how you like it when I throw them all into the fire.”

“No, brother, please!” As the older made a move as if to get up, Huaisang threw his arms around him in a hug, body completely slack like a dead weight to at least discourage him. Mingjue complained, but didn’t let him fall.

“Maybe they really did want the best for you. Maybe they just worried.” There was enough truth on it to make Mingjue deflate and huff, still annoyed, but less so.

“Then you should’ve come to me and said it, not run around with your schemes and expect me to suddenly understand it. Use your words, Huaisang. I know you have them.”

Huaisang didn’t hum in acknowledgement, simply continued with attentive eyes. “You’re going to sleep now?”

He saw the deny before it even existed, in the furrow of his brother’s eyebrows and the way his body twitched an inch away, mouth twisting downwards. When he opened his mouth, though, there was hesitation. 

“I still have paperwork to finish today. But tomorrow I will.” Huaisang still pouted, but his efforts weren’t really in it and the older one could see the smugness clear as water in his eyes. In a blink he sent his knuckles to rub on the top of his head. “And when I go to my quarters, tomorrow, I better not find any other talismans, am I clear?”

Huaisang quickly nodded, shouting and whining in despair. For the tune of his voice, one could think that Mingjue was full on throttling him. “You are, da-ge, you are! Stop, stop, you’re hurting me!”

He kept trying to squirm away from his hold, being as unsuccessful as the first time. It was Mingjue’s turn to feel smug. If his little brother ever bothered training or even showing up with his saber to his classes he would have enough strength to put up a fight. 

Wait.

Nie Mingjue stopped and Huaisang quickly pushed his hand away, protecting his head with his palms as he turned to the other, about to complain. 

When he saw the other’s calculating eyes, he froze, mind running. 

He noticed it, he noticed it. Shit, shit, shit-

“What are you doing awake, Huaisang?! You have saber practice right earlier in the morning!” At the younger’s wide stare, Mingjue only scolded further, irritation flaring hot in his veins. His words grew louder, quicker. “Or are you planning on running away from it again? Should I go to your room to drag you by your robes in the morning to it and watch the class myself to make sure you won’t run? That you even will be there for once?”

“I am going to the practice, brother, I really will! I just need to find my saber first…”

“You lost it again? We are warriors, your saber is a part of you. It should be by your side all the time-”

“But it’s so heavy! I just need to find where I put it before class, nothing more.”

It was their same fight. Like every day.

Mingjue took a breath and prepared to shout his thoughts and…

And he deflated, tired. Suddenly very, very tired. 

Maybe those days without sleep really were getting to him. He pictured Xichen’s calming songs and Meng Yao’s kind smile and thought twice, shallowed the words, gritted his teeth and tried.

(You have your words, A-Jue, use and mean them.)

“I won’t always be here for you, Huaisang. We were in a war. If that didn’t convince you how much you need to make your core stronger I don’t know how I can-”

Huaisang squeaked, then gasped, then pressed his hands firmly on his mouth. Mingjue looked down, to his finger that was poking the other’s stomach, right above where his golden core should be.

Then he remembered.

“Brother…”

That is right. His didi was horribly ticklish. Memories of their childhood began running across his mind and he could help but smirk. It’s been so long. He really had forgotten.

Their eyes found each other and Huaisang felt a bolt of electricity run across his spine, hands automatically coming in a poor attempt of covering his torso, his traitor mouth already trying to curl up in a wobbly smile. It was too late for him.

“Da-ge! Please, da-ge!” Mingjue simply smirked bigger, a clawing hand slowly descending towards his belly. “You can’t, please da-ge! I will train! I will strengthen my core! It’s true, da-ge, I really will!” His words were coming out faster, stumbling on each other as his brain spit every card in his hand, anything that could lead to him getting out of this tickle attack. The giddy sensation inside was too strong for him to even think before more and more words just kept falling. “It will be the strongest golden core you’ve ever seen! Our tutors will be out of things to teach me. I will cultivate straight to immortality if only you don’t kill me right now, it’s true! Please, please, da-GEEE!”

“I am not even touching you yet!” 

“You’re going to!” Nie Huaisang felt his face prickle with heat, but his hands were the only thing between Mingjue’s offending wiggling fingers and his poor unprotected tummy. And he was plenty aware that his “protection” was simply an illusion, one that at any time that his brother decided that he wanted to go straight to the point he would, no matter the obstacle. Besides, Mingjue wasn’t known for his infinite patience, or procrastinating. So, yes, he was already giggling. “And you know I can’t stand it, I really can’t. Please, brother, I won't survive this attack! I am dying, I am dying!”

Mingjue snorted, then scoffed to hide it. “You love being tickled, stop being so dramatic! Don’t you remember running after me everywhere, pulling on my hands when I was heading training or laying on my lap when I had to take care of the sect correspondence and asking to play tickle fight every single time?”

Why must Mingjue torture him like this with all the memories of his childhood? His brother was really merciless, just as ruthless as everyone painted him to be. To remind him of when he would throw himself in his arms and get tickled only to shriek “again! again!” as the older complained about needing to work! Nie Huaisang couldn’t even hide his face from this embarrassment.

Thankfully (or not), before he could turn himself into a bird and fly directly into the sun by the sheer will of his mind, his wrists were snatched away and the hand collided on his belly. Everything else exploded in a white light, unimportant and infinitesimal in the face of the feeling of those clawing fingers, scribbling and skittering anywhere they could reach, sneaking to his sides and drumming on them, spidering to his hips and squeezing until there was not even a hint of hope of Huaisang holding back any of his reactions, much less his laughter.

“NAHAHAHAHA B-BROHOHTHER! LEHEHET GO!”

“Not until your golden core gets stronger. Since you’re not going to practice, let’s see if this training interests you better.”

Nie Huaisang shook his head, trashing and curling to his side only for those offending hands to keep spidering and finding his back, running tickles across his spine and drilling on his back ribs until he was arching and crackling, unable to turn back and protect the new attacked ticklish spots. Laughter rang loud and strident across the yard, childish screeches and squeaks escaping from his mouth every time a wave of pokes hit his skin or wiggling fingers found a good spot to focus on. 

It was interesting, really, how much he looked like Mingjue when he was being tickled. His voice was loud and unashamed, clear in his words, thoughts getting out from their usual place behind his fans and spilling from him in an honest message, arms, legs and entire body gesturing, flailing around, not caring about how much attention or space it would claim. It was endearing to see. Maybe Mingjue really had spent too much time without properly tormenting his little brother, to feel so fond of seeing it again. He should catch up.

“IHIHIHIHI CAN’T BRHEHEATHE!” A hand scrambled to take over the opportunity and pinch and scratch at the skin behind his knee, pulling a loud snort that would’ve mortified the smaller if he had a clearer mind. HIs laughter slowed from a loud shrieking to a hysterical snickering, legs kicking in protest, as if demanding attention. At this, Mingjue chuckled. Well, no one could really blame him as he stopped scribbling his fingers over his shoulderblades (his didi was truly ticklish everywhere) and held one of them so he could focus on squeezing and clawing all the way from his calves to his kneecaps over and over again. 

“I ahahahaham DYIHIHIHIHING, brohohohother! You’rehehehehe kiliHIHIHIHIING MEHEHEHEHE, you reheheheahahahaha arehEHEHEHEHE! STOHOHOHOHOP going theHEHERE!”

Ah, there was the squeals, he was starting to wonder when they would come. 

“Tickling Here? Right here?” He kneaded the thigh with energy at the last word, huffing in amusement when Huaisang threw his head back, laughter rising once again uncontrollably only to dim into never-ending, high pitched giggles when he went back to spidering his hands under his knee. “No moving. If you can still be dramatic, then I can still tickle you even more.”

Huaisang seemed to have registered only half of his words, shaking his head, squeaks and snorts mingling with his words. “Gehehehet out of theheheREHEHEHE, GEHEHHEHET ohohut!” A hand came and began swatting down on his. Mingjue grabbed it and pulled until it was above the other’s head. Wide, teary eyes and a giant, wobbling smile found his face. He drummed on his unprotected armpit before Huaisang could protest.

“There! Should I stay here, then?”

Huaisang felt like his every nerve was under attack, shaking and sending tiny ticklish shocks all across his skin, following each touch, tingling in ghost sensations where he already had been tickled, where he was currently being tickled and even where he thought his brother would attack next, his mind running on top speed, squirming with all his might to escape the wiggling fingers and the silly sensation only to be completely overtaken by it, freeing all his most childish reactions and sounds straight to the wild. There was laughter, there were yelps, shrieks, snorts, squeals and giggles running and escaping everywhere.

Tears fell from his eyes and hiccups began taking over his cracking when Mingjue finally decided to stop. 

Huaisang continued laying there, hugging himself and almost becoming a ball with this, the rest of his giggling coming muffled as his big, way too telling smile was hidden in a pretense of hidding. Mingjue laid a firm hand on his head, fondly, and looked up at the sky, watching the stars twinkling as if they were sharing the same amusement, the same joy between them, and the high point the moon was currently at.

“Perhaps I will actually head over to my bed, when we get inside. It’s already way too late to work.”

And the betrayed, absolutely in disbelief expression that Huaisang sent in his direction made him snort, then fall in loud, booming laughter.

"What can those dreams even do to you now, brat?" He scoffed, and maybe it was the sleepness of being woken in the middle of the night, of having his entire family in his arms, but his words were softer, the memories of his sister much less hurting than the usual. "Can they hurt you here? Is there anywhere safer than Lotus Pier?"

Jin Ling sniffed and bright, teary eyes turning to look at him, getting away from his chest just enough to do so. "But what if they get in, jiujiu?"

Jiang Cheng grinned and let Zidian send unharming and bright purple sparkles across his arms, in the exact same way that would make A-Ling as a baby squeal and try to chew the ring. Nowadays there was no chewing, but the growing young still stared at it reluctantly amazed. "Let them come, A-Ling, and they will be the example why no one dares to challenge the Yunmeng Jiang Clan nor my family."

With his sleeve (the robe was already ruined anyway) he cleaned the tears and snot, pinching Jin Ling's nose lightly, putting him immediately back to the scowling and trying to push him away with a whine.

"Jiujiu! Weren't you just talking about protecting me?" A knee found a way to the bottom of his ribs and Jiang Cheng very much gracefully did not send the boy back to his room for the disrespect. "Don't complain when I decide to not come here if I need you again!"

Jiang Cheng scowled.

"It's that so? See if I'll try to protect you from the monsters next time you come banging at my door in the middle of the night."

Jin Ling harrumphed exactly like his father used to when they're both teenagers and went back to lay on his chest, burrowing in the warmth as the adult rolled his eyes and laid a hand on his back, rubbing it softly, making him melt even more on the embrace. Both knew he would never have the heart to send him away, night, morning or any other moment.

Sleepness began taking over them, laying as an extra cover over them and Jiang Cheng barely heard his next words, even with his enhanced hearing.

"Jiujiu, is there a monster you've never been able to defeat?"

Way too many memories flashed in his eyes, of darker times and too many battles he could've never won and suddenly a spark of anger flashed in him, wishing nothing more than to push it and them all  the away from him. Wasn’t his efforts enough? What did Jin Ling begging doubting him now? 

But then there was a memory, that only exhaustion could bring with so much softness and so little grief. 

Yanli smiling, a hint of mischievousness in her eyes that only made his curiosity burn brighter as she let go of his bandaged hand and got closer to his ear, whispering: "There is a monster here in Lotus Pier, A-Cheng, one that not even A-Niang or A-Die could win against."

At the time, he gasped and widened his eyes, appalled by this very idea. Their parents were giants, with unending power that was above anything, untouchables, undefeatables. "Not even with Zidian?"

"Not even with Zidian, until today, no one can even approach it in combat without getting caught by its claws."

Jiang Cheng gasped and held her hand, trying to pull her closer, behind him. "I will get him, jiejie! You don't need to worry because I will win. I will."

There was a chuckle behind him, both fond and playful. "You're very brave, A-Cheng. Do you really want to face it?"

"I want! I will protect us, jiejie!"

And his voice, as it always did, was already leaving his mouth before he could even think about it. "There is one."

Jin Ling froze in his arms, face quickly turning up to face him, eyes wide. Jiang Cheng simply stared impassively back. "There is?!"

"Yes. It's an old monster that wanders across the humans and lands, with the power to possess people. Many families have been attacked by it and many other will fallen victims in the future. There isn't a single disciple from the biggest or tiniest sects or villagers and towns in the cultivation world that haven't heard about it." He stopped, narrowed his eyes and frowned in a thoughtful expression. "Maybe the Lans, living all the way up in the mountains with their thousands of rules."

(Somewhere, in Gusu Lan, Wangji sneezed, stopping momentarily his meditation and using the opportunity of distraction to help his son keep being awake for the lesson, softening at those bright giggles he continued to let out.)

"It can be here in Lotus Pier, too?"

"It already is."

"What?! Right now?!"

"Yes, I said. Are you becoming deaf at such a young age?"

"More like you're becoming crazy with old age! You're making no sense! How can a monster be here and no one is doing anything about it?"

"I truly must be getting crazy. I just now imagined that my waisheng decided to be disrespectful, forgetting the education I gave him and is asking for me to break his legs."

Said waisheng scowled at him, as if he was being unreasonable. "Jiujiu, there is no time to joke. If Lotus Pier is being targeted then I can help, I will grab Suihua and-"

"It's here." Before the younger could move, Jiang Cheng locked his arms around him, words grave. "It just got into the room."

"It WHAT?" Jin Ling clued on him, voice high and scared, hands gripping his robes so tightly that for a ke Jiang Cheng almost lost his façade by snorting, only being saved by Jin Ling who kept staring at every wall and object with growing alarm.

"Yes." And before anything else could be said, Jiang Cheng burrowed his hands on the back of the boy's ribs, wincing at the shriek it resulted. In a neutral voice, he continued. "Oh no, A-Ling, it got you."

"Wha-! J-J-JIHIHIHIUJIHIU!" Jiang Cheng began tazing his ribcage and he squealed, falling into an uncontrollable giggling fit as those dancing fingers scribbled over each bone and poked the space in between them, focusing on those awfully ticklish spots that always made his giggles higher and louder. "W-whahahahahaha-ack! Whahahat is thihihihis!"

"The tickle monster, obviously." Jiang Cheng was helpless for the grin that suddenly pulled on his lips at the sound of that laughter, strident and unstoppable, chasing away any cold from the night. Jin Ling began shaking his head and flailing around like a fish, squirming for freedom. Instead of that, however, he only managed to lift his arms enough for the other to start attacking it with scratches and prodding, snorts taking over the laughter as he decided to lightly dig on it. “Didn’t I just tell you? That is the only monster I can’t save you from.”

“NohohohohoHOHOHOT-” The loud giggling became a shrill when Jiang Cheng started to drum the center of his armpit restlessly with his thumbs, the other free fingers lightly wiggling on his ribs once more. “NOHOHOHOHOT A MONSTER! Eek!! JIUJIU!”

“It is.” Freeing his hands he began spidering and skittering his fingers all across his back, increasing all his squirming and wiggling around tenfold, the cackling laughter giving space to a snickering, giggly and squeaky chuckle, better for breathing. “What do you think then, A-Ling? You offered to help, do you think you can defeat it?”

“Ihihihihihihit’s yohohohohu! Snk! Yohohohou!!”

There was a spot on the back, right next to his sides, that would make Jin Ling squeal and guffaw like crazy, leaving even his ears as red as his vermillion mark with how much he was laughing. Jiang Cheng wasted no time before concentrating in scribbling and squeezing every single inch of that spot over and over and over again, summoning the laughter to fill the air with mirth.

“Is it?”

At the answering nods from the kid - his smile so big and bright and so, so similar to his jiejie that Jiang Cheng almost teared up - Jiang Cheng stopped his tickles, letting his hands rest on his sides. For the way Jin Ling kept snickering and jolting from side to side every time his fingers did much as lightly, just barely, almost not touching, claw at it, the ghost tickles were probably running wild at his nerves. 

He let him get enough gulps of air, those shiny eyes looking back at him with a mix of anticipation and joy, so much different from half shichen ago. 

“So it is me, then. I might as well change my question in this case.” Jiang Cheng let out an evil smirk, chuckling slowly and lowly. “Do you think you can defeat your jiujiu, A-Ling?”

With a sudden move, lifted the boy (lately he had been claiming to be ‘too old’ for this and the sect leader was secretly happy at the opportunity) who screamed bloody murder (what a dramatic brat) and immediately began kicking and throwing himself in high pitched crackles as Jiang Cheng decided to actually claw at his sides, actually getting hit on his chest twice (the disrespect) before shoving his head on his stomach and blowing a raspberry at it.

“EEEEEEEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHE NOOOOOHOHOHO! GEHEHEHET OOHOHOHOHOHOUT!” Jin Ling felt his eyes close, entire body buzzing with the tickles, snorts, squeals and screech falling from his mouth with no hope of being held back, head throwing backward with the force of his laughter, trashing and squirming around by instinct while holding his jiujiu’s hands in a firm grip. He shrieked when he was moved again, now resting on his lap, almost not listening to the (so rare and delightful) playful voice making his smile grow even bigger. “YOHOHOHOU’RE BEING MEHEHEHEAN! BAHAHAHAHAD JIUJIHIHIHIHIU!!”

Jiang Cheng scoffed in unbelief. “What am I now, Fairy?” Suddenly he grinned again and Jin Ling squealed again in anticipation, trashing more. “The nerve. Actually, I should warn the servants to not bring me my breakfast this morning. Tiny brats who refuse to show any respect are my favorite meal.”

“BAHAHAHAHAHAD JIUJIU! BAHAHAHAHAD!”

The raspberries stopped and Jin Ling took a few giggling breaths before he felt one of the hands on his grip moving.

“Nohohohoho,” he snickered, eyes still closed, trying to pull those hands back into a hug or anything that would stop it from going to the next target. A wiggling finger lightly tickling his armpit quickly weakened his hold, however, and soon that hand was snatching his ankle, making him do a half spin on Jiang Cheng’s legs. “Thihihihihis not ahahahaha fair fihight!” 

“Oh, so if it was a fair fight you think you would win?”

“I would!” Especially because his jiujiu would never try to hurt him, so he was technically right. “Yohohu’re getting ohold!”

“You-!” There came the affronted voice that made him snicker for another unrelated to tickly reasons. “You’re literally begging me to go for the legs.”

And suddenly everything made sense. Unfortunately it was already too late, before Jin Ling could struggle enough to tear his ankle away from the grip there was already raspberries shaking and tickling with an awfully unbearable feeling every single nerve on his sole. He could only shriek when a ‘nomnomnom’ sound began following little nibbles on his toes, everything else in the word disappearing except the tickles and how much he was losing himself in laughter, every muscle finally going limp and tears appearing in the corner of his eyes.

Jiang Cheng gave him a last raspberry and huffed fondly, almost snickering when he realized the kid lightly pushing him away with a frown that didn’t last at all in the face of the remanescent giggles and smiles as he adjusted the younger back on his chest and brought them both back to laying on the bed, kissing his forehead and combing his hair softly.

“I’m getting revenge, tomorrow.” Without opening his eyes, he snuggled more in the embrace. “You’re too silly, jiujiu.” 

Jiang Cheng actually snorted. He was pretty sure that was an opinion that no one else would agree with his waisheng, but it didn’t matter. For once, he thought that they both would be able to go back to sleep again and find no nightmares. “Go to sleep, A-Ling.”

Clearly had been planned in advance, it came in the very moment Bruce acquiesced with his ward’s pleas and moved to follow the little pup on the plush ground, already feeling the phantom soreness his back would hold in the morning.

He barely had enough time to adjust himself on the thrown pillows before a triumphant thrill broke the air and a young boy with black hair and shiny, vivid blue eyes threw himself at him, taking over his lap with self-satisfied purrs so loud they almost shook the younger’s chest with their strength.

Bruce lifted one eyebrow when those electric eyes stared at him in challenge, the corner of his lip twitching to tilt upwards in amusement when Dick considered his lack of protest a victory for itself and chirped once smugly.

His movements were enthusiastic as he began to pull the thrown blanked from the couch to Bruce’s lap and he started maneuvering himself to be able wave the soft fabric across and under Bruce’s leg without getting up in the fear of losing his upper hand.

The mystery of Dick’s previous run to his room right after the dinner and fashion decision to use a large hoodie in the middle of summer was finally solved as he began pulling a black shirt that Bruce had “lost” a few days ago and a couple of Alfred’s gloves from under it, scents mingling in a way that made Bruce’s inner omega preen and rumble approvingly at his smart pup’s choices.

As he perched himself on one of his legs, Dick began to organize his stolen goods across the pillows that formed the base of his mock nest on Bruce’s lap, one or two concentrated chitters flying here and there as he adjusted the fabric at his liking, leaving the middle bare for himself and the clothes closest to the edge, a clear instinct to show anyone who dared to approach that the puppy was clearly well watched and protected by a pack.

Here and there, a puppish growl filled the air as a clothe didn’t fold or spread quickly enough for his liking, promptly answered by Bruce’s soothing rumble.

When Bruce tried to help by pulling a pillow closer, however Dick nipped his hand indignantly and the omega wisely crooned once in an amused apology, wisely deciding to sat back and rest his back on the cushion of the couch staying vigilant as the (his) pup was free to organize the nest as he liked.

It didn’t take long for it to be finished and soon enough Dick was laying himself on the dip of Bruce’s lap, his constant purrs hitching louder when old omega’s arms came down around the mock nest in a mimicry of a hug, subtly pushing the borders closer and the boy closer to him, which made the soft walls higher and appeased the natural instinct of every puppy to stay low and hidden from the world.

Dick squawked once when a fond kiss was laid on the crown of his head, mind rapidly getting over the surprise to push his head back under Bruce’s chin, happy to soak every hint of affection from the usually closed omega, scents of protective-pup-love mingling with happy-safe-loved as stray youngish yips called older gruffier chitters.

The quiet click of a camera going off only made Bruce’s content rumble stronger, already calculating where the new photo would fit better on his desk and which angle was best for the frame so he could stare at it at his most boring meetings.

When he was satisfied with the scenting, Dick turned himself back to the TV and pressed play. They were doing a movie marathon in celebration of Dick’s good grades and the success of his first solo patrol.

They were very late for it, unfortunately emergencies tied to both their night work and Wayne Enterprises did not care for plans, and Dick young one had been growing more impatient and brooding as the last few days were piled with interruptions.

Today Bruce had made sure that they would have a completely free night and the pup had been adamant to start as soon as possible before something else came up and obliged them to push the celebration to another day, even hoping Alfred into an earlier dinner, although the butler had drawn a line at unhealthy store-bought snacks.

(Both him and Dick had smuggled a couple from their last patrol and would be sharing it as soon as Alfred was distracted, of course.)

Call it his soft, bleeding heart or the novelty of parenthood clouding momentarily his judgement, but Bruce only realized the depth of the trap he fell when Alfred stepped in the room with two large bowls of popcorn and baked sweets. Just as he projected himself to grab them all he actually received was a fierce growl that made him freeze on the spot instinctively, watching was Dick instead tilted in the direction of the snacks.

Alfred watched the interaction with an unconcealed amused glint in his eyes and perfect posture as he handed Dick the bowls, successfully pulling his attention from where he stared Bruce down with a frown.

The omega analyzed. In the end, Bruce hummed.

“It seems like I am stuck, Alfred.”

“So, it does, Master Bruce. I suggest you proceed with caution if you wish to be allowed to leave.”

“Nope!” Dick happily interrupted, munching on the popcorn and giving Alfred a tiny apologetic smile when the older tsked in soft admonishing at him talking while eating. Then he turned around and gave Bruce the largest, proudest, most mischievous grin that made his eyes crinkle unapologetically with its width. “Now you can’t leave! You’re stuck here forever until we finish the movies.”

“All of them?”

“All of them!”

“Oh my.”

Dick chirped once, pleased and snuggled further on the nest as Bruce cautiously adjusted his position to get more comfortable, sneaking a sturdy pillow to support his lower back. Without further interruption, they turned their attention to the movie, happy to enjoy the calm moment.

Until, his work phone began to ring.

Even before he could turn his attention to it, Bruce felt Dick stiffen instinctively, weight heavier as he fully sprawled himself even further on his lap, limbs going to every direction and becoming completely boneless. He ignored the ringtone.

“Dick.”

Silence.

Only a growl answered him, the end pitching into a whine when Bruce made an attempt to move. “No.”

“Dick, I need to see my phone.”

Dick didn’t answer him.

The omega sighed as his pup very pointedly focused on the television, purrs becoming purposely louder each time Bruce chuffed to call his attention again.

Bruce pondered. Of course, this was not the ringtone he had sat for emergencies – for both his day nighttime jobs – which, independent their previous commitments, was so deeply ingrained on their training that it would automatically have him and Dick rushing to the Batcave to prepare themselves for the fight that it was to come. Yet, the fact that it had a ringtone set was telling enough that it was not a purely ignorable matter.

Then he watched the way his pup (the pup, otherwise his inner omega might melt into a possessive scenting here and there and it would take hours to pry Dick from his arms and wouldn’t that be utterly embarrassing, Batman himself falling so easily out of control) kept stealing glances at him, not quite wiggling uncontrollably as small puppies ought to do when they were enthusiastic, but with a restlessness twitch in his movements that he always got when there was too much pent-up energy to stay still for long.

Ah.

Something Bruce didn’t even know was tight in his chest relaxed, the puzzles pieces finally forming an image in his mind.

The pup simply wanted to play, push his pack caretaker around a little, poke a few buttons, test a little and see where this all would take him.

Of course, Bruce would oblige.

Years of practice allowed him to move faster than the boy could hope to dodge and not even a second later there was a light pinch on his side. Dick jumped with a squeak, limps suddenly finding their strength again and mind running wild as he became aware of the fate he sealed to himself.

Dick tried to roll away, but before he could do more than fall on his back there were two large hands latching on his sides and masterfully covering every single ticklish inch of it with a series of squeezes and pinches that had him immediately shouting with giddy laughter.

“B! Don’t you da-ahare!”

Bruce only hummed. “Oh no, chum, it looks like you’re stuck here. Forever.”

Dick growled at the unfairness of having his words mirrored right back at him, but it held no heat with the chuckles that were already building up his chest. Each time Bruce’s skilled, pinching fingers found a new weak spot and latched it with a calm kind of precise tickles a piece of his barrier broke with louder, gigglier yelps.

It began downing on him just how much trapped he was in the nest of his own making.

“Gohohohoho away!” Dick kicked and a loud squeal of joy escaped his lips when Bruce suddenly pivoted him and dragged his back to his chest so he out be out of the kicking zone.

(Ha! As if Dick wasn’t able to maneuver just enough to hit him if he really wanted! … Not that he would do it now, of course, contrary to some old people he wasn’t a cheating cheater who used dirty tricks to win!)

“Gohohoho hahahahahave yohohohour stupid phone ca-AHAHAHAHALL!” Dick threw his head back with the force of his loud crackles, which may or may not be associated with the fact that Bruce decided to worm his hands to the top of his ribs and drill his fingers there. Huh, wonder how did that happen.

“But I can’t, remember, chum? We can only get out of here when we finish watching every single movie produced since the beginnings of time. That’s the rule.”

“IHIHIHIHIT’S NOHOHOT!”

Bruce sighed in profound sympathy. “I am afraid it is.”

Before Dick could reply with another protest (or threat), Bruce decided to torment him a little bit with the most terrible, horrible, absolutely illegal move where he rapidly dragged his fingers down his ribs to his hips, scratching around his hipbones and kneading his sides in sudden bouts that felt like electricity teasing his nerves only to so, so very slowly crawl his hands back to the top of his ribs, careful to dutifully give each bone their very fair share of prodding and tasering.

It never failed to make his pup absolutely lose his mind, his laughter jumping between excited thrills mixed with loud chortles and unstoppable anticipatory snickers as Dick scrambled and squirmed around in a poor imitation of a worm, clumsily enough to only escape from one squeezing tickle hand and fall immediately on ten scribbling fingers.

Poor lad.

Dick shrieked with a new round of crackles as the cycle repeated over and over again. His hands shoot to hold onto Bruce’s wrists and try to push them away. It was not unlike trying to move a mountain.

“BRUHUHUHUHUCE!”

The omega chuffed once in question, amusement laced in the tilt of his tune. Dick instinctively answered with a calling chirp that would be annoyed if it weren’t for the giggles that painted every mirthful hue of his sounds. Besides, the pup was too much preoccupied in becoming a mess of squeals and chortles to hide the pure bouts of bright sparkles on his scent.

The best way to describe Dick’s scent was light, in every sense. It felt like the spotlights that would follow a spectacle or the airy breeze that caressed your face after a successful maneuver. It was energy, it felt alive. It could grow heavy and electric as a thunderstorm when he was angry or popcorn buttery in popping like fireworks in excitement when he was happy, always followed by the undercut of powdered chalk, his primary scent, unchanged no matter what.

At this moment, the air was almost overtaking by the playful joy emanating from his scent.

It only grew stronger when Dick opened his bright eyes and shouted a bark of laugh in protest when Bruce, pretending his hand was a claw, began to slowly descend his wiggling fingers in the direction of the pup’s stomach. The pup began to squirm and kick even more, hiccup giggles being intertwined with puppish growls as Bruce let the anticipation grow and simmer amidst fake lunges.

“S-stohohop!” Another fake lunge and another giddy shout. Dick mocked a bite in his direction, then immediately snorted as Bruce used the advantage to nuzzle his unprotected neck. “Bruce! Thihihihis is unfahahahair!”

“I’m sorry, lad.” Bruce lowered his voice into a gruffy pitch he knew it made Dick automatically feel like there were zings of energy running across his every tickle spot and making 1000% more ticklish. The omega huffed and puffed on his ears, playfully growling in a manner that only fed the high pitched, fast-paced snickering. “But Bruce is no longer here. There is only…”

His hand hovered above his belly and he clawed the air. Once. Twice.

“The Tickle Monster!”

Then he attacked. A shrill squeal was took over by belly laughter, that loud kind that made your entire body shake with the force of it. It was Bruce’s most dear prize. He clawed and squeezed everywhere around his belly until crackles and snorts chased each other across the room.

Dick laughed, he shrieked and squirmed around as Bruce kept up the playful attack for a couple more of minutes, just enough for the phone call to end and they both fall on the quiet while stray snickers fell in squeaky bouts from the younger’s mouth.

His touch soon lost the tickly playfulness and became soothing, rubbing the shaking stomach firmly enough to only chase the ghost tickles away as his pup got his breath back in between remaining jumpy giggles.

As time passed with his delightful, excited pup, Bruce found easier and easier to fall in those precious, playful moments of him, full of care and pack. Whatever the call had been about he was sure Lucius could take care of it for a couple more of hours.

He grunted with surprise, however, when Dick abruptly sprang into a vicious attack of the previous offending hand. He curled around the limb, letting out fierce growls and light puppy bites as he nipped at his hand, one or two bunny kicks to the adult’s arm sealing the true ferocity of his revenge.

Bruce stared at Alfred, who had just arrived in the room with cups and a jar of refreshing lemonade, perfect to help young pups stay hydrated after playing around.

His voice was serious as he stared the old butler. “It looks like I am being eaten.”

“Oh dear.” Alfred remarked drily, not even looking up from his task. The corner of his eyes crinkled, however, with a hint of mischief that shone in fondness across their old bond. “As long as no food is spilled on the carpet. We wouldn’t want a repeat of the Raspberry Incident, would we, Master Bruce?”

The omega hummed in agreement, the corner of his mouth tilting up in a conspiring grin.

It was only when his free arm sneaked under the pup and pulled him closer to his face that Dick’s mind caught the trap expertly hidden in the old butler’s words, a loud chirp of betrayal mixing in his words.

“Alfred!! How could you- NO!”

Tickling little pups is so easy nowadays. Before you had to chase them all around a mansion and deal with broken chandeliers and jumping chums. Here all Bruce had to do was to take an exaggeratedly big breath and Dick was already shrieking high and loud in delight, body contorting impossibly as he tried to both push his face away and wiggle out of his grip but he was already tickled out and uncoordinated enough to do neither.

Bruce took his time taking out increasingly larger breathes only to let them go and start anew again. At each time, without fail, his puppy would screech and kick in his direction, both due the energy of anticipation that grew stronger and stronger which each waiting second and the mix of squeaking laughter that marked just how flustered and loopy he was getting with all the teasing.

“STOHOHOP PLAYING AROHOHOUND! ARG, WHY AREHEHEHE YOHOHOU SO-”

Bruce didn’t answer, yet his hands calmly sneaked a little skittering at Dick’s sides, successfully fishing another loud shriek and even more breathless giggling. The pup growled, adorably weak in between the snickers and yips, and tried to give his hand another pretend puppy bite, blissfully distracted.

An error one should never make around Batman

Bruce shoved his face on Dick’s belly.

The screaming laughter cut up the air was loud enough that it made the omega glad their closest neighbors were still yards away or else it wouldn’t have taken long for GCPD to knock on their door.

The strident sound was fast to blossom into silent laughter as Bruce made sure to press smaller, yet equally deadly, raspberries around his bellybutton, humming softly with each one and trying to not have his heart melt completely from his chest at how it made the silent crackles be interrupted by joyful squeals each time.

So, he gave him another, and another, then another raspberry, shrieks and silent laughter masterfully danced around the room in a playful song full of light, mirth and an energetic exhilaration.

“YOHOHOHOHOHOU SSSSUCK!”

Bruce crooned sadly, pulling another wheeze from Dick as he continued to nuzzle his stomach, being sure to tease every inch of the ticklish skin with the stubble he didn’t have time to shave this morning, lips twitching to keep another smirk concealed. He honed on that extra sensitive spot right under Dick’s bellybutton, giving it an extra tickly nuzzle and chuffing innocently as more and more high pitched, hiccupy titters shot across the room.

“You don’t want me to scent you anymore?” Another sad chuff, now slightly muffled as Dick valiantly tried to worm himself away from his arms while pushing his face away. “Now, is my puppy already too old for a pack scenting?”

His entire face exploded in red, almost as vibrant as the scent of popping popcorn and roasted peanuts that left the pup, both embarrassed and loved. His giggles became garbled with protesting squeals. “’M NOHOHO P-PUPPY!”

Dick kicked and wiggled more on the hold, which ended up with the upper part of his body falling from Bruce’s arms and his stomach pushed even closer to the killer nuzzles, something Bruce took full advantage.

“This can’t be right. Let’s check it over, hm?”

“NONONO”

A quick raspberry on an extremely ticklish bellybutton, followed by a squealing shriek.

“One puppy squeal. Check.”

Some nibbles on a couple of extremely ticklish lower ribs and a loud, mirthful high-pitched laughter. Important note: The nibbles must always be accompanied by plenty of growls of ‘onomnomnom’ sounds for maximum tickly effect.

“One puppy thrill. Check.”

Lots of gruff huffs mixed artfully with lots of nuzzles on every inch of a very ticklish neck until purring squeaks and chirps are tittered on your ears.

“This sound awfully like some puppy squeaks to me, chum. Lastly…”

Bruce snuggled the younger one under his chin, his rumbles so loud and fond they shook his entire ribcage, encouraging his pup’s answering purring, much to Dick’s chagrin. Especially since Bruce kept attacking his back with fluttering, wiggling fingers that had him burrowing even more on his chest with titters.

(And if he kept pressing the top of his head under his chin until the omega was scenting his head with fond-love-care-pack it’s the least Bruce owns him after being such a cheater.)

“One very ticklish, very squeaky young puppy. Check.”

His inner omega was preening with pride at his pup (the one made a mock nest in his lap, who trusted him to keep him safe, who let himself be the child that he was around him and play-) smelling like him, completely melted in the safety of his embrace.

He crooned once, satisfied.

That, of course, was the moment Dick decided to nip him on the shoulder and jump away from his arms. His smile was bright and fierce when he called Bruce with a challenging thrill, immediately dashing away with loud, childish laughter.

The omega huffed fondly, then turned to the old butler who was still calmly crocheting on the armchair, movie dutifully paused right in the middle, a scene after the whole tickly shenanigans started. With a muffled groan, Bruce got up, carefully transferring the mock nest to the couch.

(And if a content, soft chuff escaped him as he adjusted the fabric carefully to keep the structure intact, even if it would be probably be destroyed amidst the chase that was bound to happen, it was no matter. Alfred would, as always, keep his secret to the grave.)

“Who would say.” He remarked, amused, as he cracked his back, stretching his stiff muscles from staying too long sitting on the floor, cataloging the most likely hiding places Dick would follow. “It seems like I am no longer stuck, Alfred.”

“Seems like a true miracle, sir.”

[~*~]

Fun Facts, Notes and Etc!

Dick: Very affectionate, lots of sounds, lots of possessive growls. Gets easily annoyed when family want to step away from his cuddling/nest/affections ect ect.

LOTS OF PLUSHIES.

Sometimes he gets extra sensitive to scents when he is Deep In The Sauce which makes him Not Want That Scent Close of Him at All but still keen loud and sadly every time the person walks away because that is his FAMILY that is his PACK why are they leaving him :((( COME BACK.

Bruce spent lots of nights sleeping on the border of his son’s nest with just his arm inside the nest being fiercely cuddled by Dick because of this, growled every time he tried to get in and whined sadly every time he tried to leave.

Pls imagine once again Dick with bunny kicks absolutely KILLING the tickle hands DEAD <3 MANGLING BITING DESTROYING <3 <3 <3

Someday in the future:

“Oh Dick how did you become such a good tickle monster?”

Dick: *war flashbacks*

Dick: I was born this way ofc ;)

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