Noriko

If you asked Peter about what happens in the Stark Tower over the weekend he truly wouldn't be able to give you a straight answer. It's not that he wouldn't like to give someone an answer, it was just that the weekend was always a surpise package. Sometimes he would train with the other Avengers, other days he wasn't there to whitness the happenings, somedays he would work with Tony on projects and every now and again it was a pure game and chill weekend...

This weekend wasn't supposed to be any of that but..

He had been working on a new formula for his web fluids, seated on the couch with both legs tucked to his body. His hands were flying over the keyboard with unpracticed ease as he ignored his surroundings. He didn't mind Sam bickering with Bucky, or Steve cutting in every now again to scold them for not watching the movie they had picked out together. Nor did he mind the occasinal side eye from Clint who leaned over to silently check out his progress like a curious hamster. And he certianly didn't mind Fridays announcement.

Wait

His head snapped up when everyone looked at him „Uh.. sorry what was that Friday?“ he asked, craining his head to the ceiling and tearing his eyes from his screen for the first time the past hour.

„The Boss requests your assistance in the lab“ Friday repeated steadily but Peter could've sworn if the Ai could sound amused she definitely would be. It wasn't every day that he just wouldn't pay attention to anything and zone out into his work.. With his senses dialled to 11 it was a task almost impossible to accomplish, still sometimes miracles like today happened.

Peter saved his work, promptly jumping to his feet „Coming“ .. he sent a short wave to the others before vanishing in the hall.

The elevator ride was silent, but his thoughts were everything but.

Tony had cancelled their weekly lab time after school a few days ago because he was moving things around a little to „fit a new adittion“ to it. Whatever his mentor had meant by that..

A chime and his feet automatically moved into the forespace that parted the lab from the outside. Through the glass he could see Tony standing over a display of a new spidersuit and a spark of exitement shot through him. He sped up and jogged a little way before walking through the door „Mister Stark“ he greeted lightly as he announced his presence to his Mentor. „Hey Pete“ Tony greeted and his eyes fell to him ever so shortly before he took a step backwards from his work space and made the small hologarmm bigger.

„what do you think?“ he asked with a cheeky smile.

Peter grinned, a twinkle in his eyes already speaking for him before he had even opened his mouth „Looks great Mister Stark.“ „Glad you like it kid, though i've ran into a few issues that we need to look into“ Peter raised an eyebrow, watching as Tony moved a few screens out of the way. „We already talked about this a few days ago, but your stickiness only works if the material is thin enough.“ „so we need to test how thick the material can be?“ Peter finished for his mentor who gave an affirmative nod. „How are we going to do that?“ „hm, come sit Pete.“ Tony said as he walked past a table, tapping it's surface with two fingers. The younger followed the order, eyeing the table. It was huge, he could lay down on it and roll around without issue, sure his legs would be hanging off partly, but still..

His eyes moved to a box almsot overflowing with different fabrics.

„We'll use the differnt fabrics and place them between your fingers and this metal sheet.“ Tony said, catching the attention of his trainee as he walked back with the thin sheet in hand. The sheet was shimmering in the lab lights as its smooth surface refelcted it ever so slightly. Peter took it as Tony handed it to him „I want to test both your hands and your feet, just in case they end up having differencies we don't know about“ Peter nodded, that sounded logical. His feet would obviously always have more tracktion but who knew if the hairs there worked just like the ones on his hands..

„Do you think we could see that under a microscope?“

The question had tumbled out of his mouth before he had even properly registered the thought. Tony stared at him, the bafflement on his face made Peter recoil sligthly „I-I meant like hypothetically! N-not like- y'know- gosh that- i..“ an amused chuckle cut Peters fumbling off and Tony moved closer to him with a chair.

„We could, yes“ Tony mused, looking up ever so slightly to see Peters full face. „But I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be comfortable for you.“ Peter grimaced.. yeah laying under a microscope was probably not the nicest place to lay down under. „Plus, I seriously doubt it'll be of any major importance“ „hmm..“ „Of course if you're curious I can-“ „nOOooo!“ Peter interrupted, shaking his hands in front of him and his head violently to make his position incredibly clear to his mentor who seemed all too amused with his outburst. „It's fine, you're right! Plus it's not that interesting“ He laughed nervously, as he held the back of his head.

Tony tilted his head, „No? You sounded pretty interested a minute ago.“ „mister staaaark..“ „heh, okay, alright“ his mentor soothed and leaned over to grab a piece of fabric. „Let's start from the thinnest and work our way up.“ he offered the cloth to Peter who held his hand out to grab it. „so i just put it over it?“ he asked, referencing to the metal sheet in his other hand. „Pretty much, yes.“

Peter nodded, doing as told. He fit the fabric perfectly over the metal before placing his hand onto it and letting go with the other. Tony hummed, „try shaking your hand a little.“ he urged, eyes fixated on the connection between his fingers and the two items. When he shook it, a tingle of cold rushed down his palm and through his lower arm but it didn't drop. „That felt weird..“ Peter commented and took the sheets away. „Oh? How so?“ his mentor asked, his eyes locking on Peter. „Well.. it was like.. I just felt the air flow a lot better?“ he fumbled out and frowned „I guess it was like ice went down one of my nerves?“

Tony nodded „That'd make sense, your senses are dialled up significantly and the airflow is getting condensed through the gaps between your fingers“ he murmured before turning to a screen, „We'll definitely need a fabric that's warm enough for you to swing in.“ Peter eyed the fabrics next to them, that probably already divided the number of fabrics tested by two if they left out the cooler ones.

Peter grabbed the next fabric, prepping it as his mentor murmured to himself about possible improvements.

Slowly they made two piles, one that definitely didn't work and one that worked just fine.

„Alright, that was the last one. Do you need a break or can we continue?“ Tony asked as he dotted down the last few notes on his screen. Peter shook his head „We can continue“ „Then take off one of your shoes and socks please.“

Once Peter had gotten to that he found himself wrangling the fabric and the metal sheet under his foot. Tony sniggered at the sight of his trainee's rather clumsy attempts „what?“ Peter huffed, his supposedly annoyed tone getting overshadowed by his tale telling smile. „Here, let me help“ Tony offered and slid over, letting Peter drop the fabric and the metal sheet into his hands. „Ugh, I can't believe this..“ Peter groaned dramatically which gained a soft grin from his mentor. „stick to it webs.“ Tony huffed and squeezed the ankle slightly when Peter didn't latch onto the items right away „alright alright!“ the boy barked a laugh and let the experiments continue. He shook his foot and hummed „It feels like I can stick to them a lot better“ he commented, looking at Tony who nodded „that's good to know“ he said and caught peters foot again, trying to take the items from the foot, raising an eyebrow when Peter didn't let go.

„Pete?“ he asked and looked up at his trainee. The male looked at him with an almost too innocent face „what?“ „Let go.“ „I'm not holding anything.“ the teen mused, raising his hands. Tony raised an eyebrow but a smile etched itself onto his features „Sure kid, let go.“ he urged again, this time emphasised by a soft scribble to the top of the foot.

Peter gasped and flinched back with a panicked giggle „Hey!“

Tony's head snapped up at the reaction, not out of fear that he had hurt him but more out of the curiosity on why his trainee had reacted that way. „What was that?“ Peter shrugged „what was what?“

Smooth.

Tony squinted at him. „This..“ Peter squeaked and moved his leg underneath himself before Tony could even touch him and surprised by the reaction he studied the boy's features. Redded cheeks.. giddy smile and an anxious shimmer in his eyes. Tony hummed in amusement and Peter could only watch as a mischievious grin formed on his mentors face. „Right, let's continue.“

With noticable hesitation did the boy place his foot back into his mentors lap and Tony continued as usual until Peter felt himself in the clear... that's when he struck. „Ned told me something interesting yesTEHEHheHE-!“ Peter curled up in a heap at the sudden scribbles under his soles, tugging at his leg. „MIHiHIHIsTER STAHARK!“ he screeched through his hysterical laughter, shaking his head. Tony hummed „Would you like to tell me something Peter?“ he let up and let his trainee catch his breath. The male giggled loopsidedly and shook his head „Nohot reheally..“ Tony sniggered and rolled his eyes while patting the boys shin „You're aware that we'll need to test this right?“

Even to Tony himself he didn't sound serious and Peter clearly clocked it as well as his shocked glance was replaced with a playful one in an instant. „Oh yeah?“ he mused and tilted his head „Maybe if you can catch me!“ he exclaimed but yelped when Tony almost immediately grabbed him by his leg and pushed his chest to the table, followed by his hand squeezing his tigh while the other pinned the boys shoudler firmly to the table. „WohOhah! Mister- STAHARK!“ the boy yelped and kicked. Tony shook his head „Careful there! Don't kick me!“ he mused and looked at the boy who was flailing around with his hands, unsure if he wanted to fight and sit up, cover his face, try grabbing at his mentor or hit the table. „My, my Pete, don't tell me you're this ticklish everywhere“ The boy in question whined, cheeks blossoming in a red hue. Tony clearly seemed to notice as the grin turned to a smirk „I don't believe that... what would you rate this spot?“ „NoHohothing!“

„Nothing?“ Tony echoed curiously and hummed in mock ignorance „I don't know.. you're reacting quite a bit for it to be nothing..“ he shurgged „Well, guess i'll have to take measures into my own hands.“ „Ahactually mihister staHARK! HEHEY!“ the boy bucked when the hand moved to his hips, one squeeze there, then a squeeze on the other side, then a scribble on his waist. Peter squeaked at the last one and squeezed his eyes shut „MOHoHOhohove Spohots!“ he called out. Gosh he may only have been giggling but the touch at his waist had him reeling back at how much it tickled. „What? Why? I rather like this spot..“ Tony said, emphasising his statement with soft scriblles there „I don't think i've ever heard you giggle like this, you should do it more often“. Peter's ears flushed, not ony at what Tony had just said but also at his own giggles. They were highpitched and all over the place until the first hiccup preppred into them. „What was that? Think you can do that again?“ he sniggerd which earned antoher whine from the boy „Okay, okay haha“

Peter's body jumped again, the hands slowly trailed over his sides and his stomach, the distance they made was impeccably slow but the movement was quick, sending aftershocks through his spine. The funny feeling had him continously writher under Tony's fingers, and then they lifted.

Nothing happened for a good few seconds and Peter opened his eyes, regretting it immediately as the hands hovered over him „mihihister stahahark cohome on, we arent even through the farbics yehet“ he tried to reason but all reason seemed to just bounce off of the other. „hmm, we aren't through this test yet either.“ he mused and tilted his head „It'd be pretty bad if someone found out about this“ he shook his head dramtically with an almost comical worried expression.

Peter growled playfully „As if someone ever would.“ Tony raised an eyebrow „I did,“ he said as he let his hands drop. Peter screeched and sat up slightly, grabbing onto both hands... when had Tony let him go? Didn't matter! The older smirked, hands having faked the teen out and were now hovering even closer. Anticipating giggles left Peters lips and he groaned, falling back „Just do it!“ he squeaked „Your wish is my command“ „WAIT NO-HA!“

Peter bucked and kicked out, Tony that bastard hadn't gone back to his stomach, no. He had buried his hands in the hollows of Peters poor armpits. The boy threw his head back, hysterical, bubbly laughter filled the lab. Tony sniggered as he watched Peter flail and buck like a fish out of water, „You're way too ticklish for your own good bambino.“ The Peter wheezed followed by a wave of loud laughter „AHAM NOHOT!“ „Sure are, here look, if I do this..“ the hand scribbled at his waist, „NahahHAO!“ „You start giggling... or If i go here..:“ he squeezed his thigh making peter kick out like a puppy „You start getting violent“ Tony said, his voice practically dripping with playfulness. „ThAHAt'S YouHUhuHUR FAHAULT!“ Peter exclaimed which gained him a 'scolding' glance „Don't patronize the tickle monster Peter“ The boy barked a laugh and shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut for a second which proved to be a mistake as tony used it to get back to his unportected armpits „And here you turn into a fish out of water!“ Tony grinned, he wondered if the boy had even heard him under his boistrous laughter but he figured the boy knew what he'd say..

„OHOHOKAY! OHOKAY! MIHISTER STAHARK!“ The male sniggered and finally let up „you okay Pete?“ the boy in question curled up and groaned „Youhu're ruthless!“ a snort broke through Peters giggles, making him look at Tony who had a shimmer of adoration in his eyes „Didn't go too far though did I?“ Peter shook his head „I'm fineee. If I had wanted to I could've stopped you.“

Tony stared at him for a second „So you liked it?“ „WHAT?!“ Peter exclaimed and sat up in a frenzy „I never said that!“ he squeaked and Tony raised an unbelieving eyebrow „Right, and your ears are totally agreeing to your claim.“ Peter spluttered and covered them „they have nothing to do with this!“ „Heh, sure.“ „Mister Stark!“ Peter yelped and jumped form the table to follow the genius „Mhm, let's dot some things down and then take a break.“ Peter huffed at the statement and crossed his arms. Tony, without looking poked his side, making him giggle and flinch „Stop“ Tony sniggerd „Alright one more thing“ he mused and looked at Peter, waiting for permission.

Peter huffed, „Fine.“ Tony lit up and hugged Peter close „You can be so adorable“ „I am no such thiHiHihehehe!“ Peter broke down in hightpitched giggles, shoulders jumping to protect his ears and neck from the nuzzle. Tony smirked down at him „sure whatever you say...“

Midnight struck twelve and golden eyes were watching the stars. A relatively old habit of the traveler from afar. He sighed, by now he was more unsure then ever about what Lumine was doing.. his darling little sister, the princess of Khanriah..

He swallowed, would he reunite with her one day..? Without her running off the second they’d seen each other?

A soft sigh fell from his lips, how long has it been? How many nights had he spent sitting under this false sky in the hopes of reuniting with her? How many of those had gone sleepless, leaving him on the edge of his seat with anxiety in the morning?

At this point he admittedly didn’t really want to know the answer anymore. He clung to the hope of reuniting with his sister at ‘the end of his journey’ whatever that had meant.. where was his journey supposed to end..? Did he want it to end?

He shook his head. He was thinking too much.. eyeing Nasha town below he promptly decided to take a walk. However unbeknownst to him someone saw his form from afar, eyes trained better than any human ones could’ve ever been.

The male walked for quite some time before he sat down in a patch of grass in an open field. His hand reached for the stars, a longing feeling tightening in his chest. Loneliness was a bitter feeling. It could rip his chest open at only the mere thought about it. Every nation he walked, every friendship he’s founded and cared for, they all stay in those nations, and while paimon was a lovely companion, someone he cared for dearly, it just wasn’t the same somehow.

His lips trembled, he was exhausted from the day, unable to sleep and lonely. He wouldn’t dare show anyone this… how.. pathetic it looked. He had fought in the Natlan war and won! Defeated the abyss and its huge monster with an archon! He who fought devalin and cured him.. he who won against the balladeer and many more of the fatui harbingers..

He felt lonely. Left out. Left behind.

Pathetic in a way..

Aether’s gaze washed to the ground, blinded be tears of his own. Gosh…

“Crap..” he murmured when the first tear slid down his cheek, and then the next, and the next to the point where he sniffled, shoulders hunched to his front, he didn’t care about drying his cheeks, why would he? Who was he supposed to hide it from if no one was around?

“Aether?”

The traveler froze. That voice… Flins..? But how? How had he tracked him?!

The blonde rushed to clean his face and straighten his back, still not meeting the Fae’s face. Not that he could without turning around completely and thus showing his red and puffy eyes.. “Hey Flins, what brings you out here?” The blonde asked instead, his voice light and filled with its usual kindness. The marks of his breakdown would’ve gone unseen.

Flins didn’t prod, instead he walked up next to the traveler and looked up at the stars “I was merely patrolling.” The blonde hummed in acknowledgment, gaze trained on the grass beside him.

The other eyed him, finding the puffy cheeks that were left behind by the breakdown he had just witnessed. If the human body wouldn’t flush and puff out the eyes after they cried there would’ve been nothing to show the travelers internal turmoil. But.. here they were.

“How about you?” Flins dared to ask, surprised when Aether answered steadily and almost practiced. “Can’t sleep”

But, Flins noted something in his voice, a waver. A sign aether wasn’t as free from the shackles his thoughts created as he made it out to be.

“Whys that?”

Silence.

Aether would’ve scowled, should’ve shooed Flins away, should have done anything to be alone again, Flins would move on eventually anyway. But, something inside him didn’t want that. Catching his air in his throat he pressed his lips together. “It’s a long story.”

The sentence made the owner flinch, it had been short and sharper then intended, creating a feeling of guilt in his already shattered heart.

Now Flins was definitely going to leave there was no point in— why did he want him to stay?! Flins should’ve never seen him like this and yet.. he couldn’t push him away.. his head whirred around when he heard the Fae sit down on his left.

Surely their eyes met, big golden, shocked and confused ones meeting the purple, golden ones of the fae that held an almost perfect balance of grace, power and determination.

“I have time.” Flins said, his voice soft but firm, almost as if closing the door aether would’ve used to shoo him away. But now it was closed, non existent in a way, there was no reason or chance to use this imaginary door anymore..

Flins wanted to know. He cared.

Aether’s mouth opened, his breath catching in his throat anew. Flins watched as aether’s head fell towards the ground again, eyes fleeing his own.

Silence loomed over them, tense and unusual.

Aethers frown deepened. How could Flins stand him this second? Uncooperative and defensive.. his thoughts were broken like shattered glass as Flins spoke up again and his hand found the travelers back, tracing it soothingly. “You don’t have to hide you know?”

That broke the dam.

The traveler scowled, trying to hold back before a choked wail left his lips and that noise alone made him squeeze his eyes shut, lurching forth as cries left him without a sign of relief.

Flins frowned at the sight and his hand stopped the tracing, instead grabbing Aether and pulling him into his lap, hugging the traveler and letting his hand massage his scalp.

He felt Aether relax slightly at the touch, his continued tension weakening under the touch.

The lightkeeper’s frown merely deepened, Aether felt so.. weak. Tired.

They sat like this for awhile, arms wrapped around Aether as he tried to soothe himself back into a state of pretend.. all for naught.

Flins shushed him whenever he got a little too loud, murmuring reassurances that they could fix whatever it was and finally after starting to cradle the male, Aether’s wails quieted down to nothing more than silent tears.

Flins was humming a silent tune, his chest vibrating ever so slightly, stimulating the awfully active nervous system the traveler had that very night.

Flins leaned over the traveller a little, his free hand grabbing one of Aethers and massaging the knuckles

“Want to talk about it?”

Filns voice wasn’t louder then a whisper, still Aether heard him clear as day. “I don’t know..” he whispered honestly. Should he..? The fae had looked through him without issue..

Aether sighed “I…” he started quietly only to fall silent again. “You..?” Flins hummed, squeezing his hand reassuringly. Aether grabbed Flins hands, collecting them in front of him as he leaned back slightly, not hearing the other complain.

“I’ve travelled the nations of Teyvat far and wide, I’ve seen every corner of these nations, helped people win wars, replenish friendships, destroy conflicts, fought their enemies…” he counted “all in search of Lumine.. and yet..‘it’s fruitless. Everything that lead up until now.. our ship that crashed here.. it’s not where it should be, it’s like it vanished,” he hissed.

“Nothing makes sense, how was she already outside when for generations we didn’t move out of the ship?” He asked and hugged himself.

“And the end of my journey?” He hugged his knees, finding himself at the verge of tears yet again “when is that supposed to be?”

Flins hummed, tracing his arms in thought. “Your sister..” he murmured. “Where were you before teyvat?”

Aether hummed, a sad but soft smile playing on his lips at the thought.

“We.. we used to have a lot of friendly banter.. little challenges to test each others abilities over and over again..” he sniggered weakly “one time we raced, we raced form one city to the other and she won.. y’know what she told me?” “Hmm?” “I should’ve trained my legs more.” A soft laugh left aethers lips “she was always quicker on her feet and stronger. But in every arm wrestling match I’d win.” Flins felt the male’s spirits raise slightly. Thank the archons..

As aether kept talking about his sister he got more and more involved in his sentences, his arms and hands emphasising words or phrases, his voice playing with different highs and lows, matching the stories he told.

Flins smiled down at him.

The traveler from afar, a truly remarkable fella.

“Oh yeah and she used to flinch away every time I’d poke her side. But she’d always chase me across town if I did.”

Oh?

“Why would she chase you across town?” Aether froze at the question. “Oh um.. just to play.”

Huh…

Flins eyed the male. His heartbeat racked his body only shortly and he would’ve probably missed it if he hadn’t been sitting so close.. oh now this was interesting. Flins couldn’t help the mischievous smirk that etched onto his face.

He adjusted his hold on Aether, letting his hand slip along his side. Aether jumped at the feeling and eyed the other, unable to however at the tight and snug hold he was held in.

“Aether, did you know that a fae has to keep their word?” The smaller raised an eyebrow “um.. no, why?” Flins hummed playfully “Then you do now.. and let me give you my word this moment.. I’ll make sure you laugh at least once tonight before going to sleep.”

Aether didn’t know how to react, first a choked chuckle left his lips, then a smirk played on his features. “Is that a challenge?” Flins leaned down to the traveler’s ear “a promise,” he purred into his ear before his hands latched onto the boys bare sides.

Aether flinched, eyes blowing wide “now hold on that’s ChehEheheating!” Giggles poured out of him almost instantly before he shut his mouth tight. Flins grinned at the reaction, Aether wanted to play huh..? They could arrange that..

Aether meanwhile was trying to collect his thoughts, which proved rather difficult with the continuous shocks that ran up his sides and to the back of his neck, sending goosebumps up and down his body.

Don’t laugh,— don’t laugh! He could hold out for awhile, surely!

Flins watched with growing amusement as the boy’s body began to shake with effort and tiny huffs and puffs left his squirming body. “That can’t be comfortable Aether~…” he purred close to the males ear. “Nehehe-! Dohohon’t!” Aether whined, turtling up his neck and looking away to hide the ever growing blush on his cheeks.

“Heh, come on, don’t make this difficult..” Flins mused, hands, light and soft, moving upwards to his ribs. Aether shook his head, the giggles in his throat getting hard to hold onto with each second that passed.

“F-Flins!” Aether gasped when the males hands scribbled a spot that made him writher, only for the hands to freeze.

His heart was thrumming in his chest at the implications, when would Flins strike? He couldn’t see! Well he could see but he couldn’t move to turn around to- “HIEK! Nehehe Flins!” Aether squeaked out after his high pitched squeal, hands flying to the offending scribbling ones- how did the touch feel like it left sparks behind!? Flins had the be cheating there was no other way for him to create such a sensati- “NAhahe! Flihihins!”

“Hm~ there we are, finally, let’s see if we can get you to laugh.” Flins purred and that was aethers only warning before the hands shot to his armpits. “HeHEhey! NOhot thEhehere- flIHihins!” “Not here? Why not Aether? Seems to be a great spot if you ask me.” Flins grinned, watching how aether practically pushed against him to escape his fingers. “Here, I’m sure we can make this more interesting..” the male let his hands slither slightly higher and past the defences Aether half heartedly held up.

A shock of ticklish electricity wracked through his body when Flins reached the tippy top and he threw his head back, soft, unrestrained boyish laughter leaving his lips as his body squirmed, hands flailing, unsure wether to grab the offending hands or hide his face- which hand should he grab anyway-!? Gosh it tickled!

“YouHUhu’re cheHeHEheating!” A low laugh rumbled through Flins’ chest and he leaned to aethers ear again “I’ve been nothing but nice! But if you want to see me cheat..” a mischievous smirk fell onto his face. Aether cursed at Flins when he tried turtling up again but clearly couldn’t.

Though his tingling ear was the last of his concerns when the hands shot out of his hollows and right to his exposed stomach.

“FLIHIHINS!” He cried out jumping forwards and curling up- “WHaHahat was THAHAT!?” He squealed out, legs kicking every now and again when the ticklish shocks suddenly and unexpectedly began to increase. “FLIHIHINS! Whahahat aha hare y-WAHAHA! WHaHahat share you dohohoing!?”

Flins sniggered “what am I ‘wahaha?’” He echoed his first sentence- the audacity! Aether shook his head “HOHOHow!? WhaHAt are youhuhuh doiHIHING!?” “Heh, Certainly not wahaha!” Aether fell into a bout of unrestrained laughter, beyond the tickling, that damn fae! Using his slip up to make jokes.. “FLIHINS!” He cried out when one shock was extremely close to his waist.

“What’s up? Didn’t you want me to cheat?” He purred and leaned forth, after the traveler “are the shocks not enough?”

He was using his vision!?

Aether ducked his head away, his cheeks turning a wonderful shade of red which his ears promptly followed “youhUHu chehehat!” Flins sniggered and let up shortly, giving the poor traveler time to breath. “I’m the cheat? Aren’t you the one who first accused me of cheating for nothing?” Aether sniggered and looked up, meeting the Fae’s gaze.

Golden eyes full of mirth and glee met the playful and gentle ones of the fae.

“You can’t be serious.” “I promise you I a’haha’m” Flins smirked as he used aethers earlier outburst again to make a joke which gained him a playful chuckle “you jerk!” Aether squeaked and crossed his arms, looking away with an extra dramatic pout.

“Aww aether I can’t have that~” “don’t my problem is IHIHIT!? BWAHAHA FLIHIHINS! NOHOT THEHERE!” Aether fell into hysterical laughter and fell back into Flins who had pushed him back into his chest. Aether kicked out, squirmed until the laid in the lap of the fae, hands flailing as Flins’ switched spots seemingly every few seconds!

A scribble at his waist, then his neck, then his sides, his tights, then back at his stomach and then his knees when they shot up, back at his waist-! His armpits!

Aether could only laugh and shake his head at the overwhelming tickle treatment the fae had reduced him to. Flins sniggered at the huge smile on the traveler’s face. It was carefree, light and sweet. A warmth of pride blossomed in his chest at the sight of him and before long he let up again.

The younger male continued to giggle sluggishly, curling up to rub away the tingly spots that had stayed. “Think I held my word?” Flins mused, ripping aether out of his thoughts “Ihihi-“ he looked at Flins who slowly raised his hands again “NOHO MOHOHORE! FLIHINS!” He squeaked and turned to keep the hands in check, quickly grabbing onto them by intertwining their hands.

Flins laughed at the reaction “alright, alright”

Aether grinned up at his friend, his chest fluttering with excitement that slowly lifted with each lingering chuckle. Silence fell over the two, light and playful unlike before.

Aether held his breath, why he wasn’t sure but it was broken by a last soft laugh. “Thank you.” He murmured.

Flins smiled at his friend, an adoring glance in his expression he couldn’t shake “sure.” He mused. Their eyes strayed from another to the moon.

After another while of silence Flins hummed “What do you think of- aether?” He murmured and looked down.

Aether who laid in his lap had fallen asleep.

His head mushed against his tigh, chest rising and falling evenly and slowly, cheeks flushed slightly and a soft smile still ever so slightly carved into his expression.