#(debateable)

"Coochie coochie cooooo~" The pirate crooned, bursting into mad giggles when Ben flinched away from the hook stroking his neck. He readjusted his body, leaning on the mast that Ben was currently tied to.

Ben knew it was stupid, but he couldn't pay attention to what else the pirate was saying. His eyes narrowed, eyeing up the pirate's - Harry, Harry Hook's - bare arms. Muscular, scarred, the red coat sleeveless and more than likely too small to fit his broad shoulders if the frayed edges around them suggested anything. If only he wasn't tied to this mast, it'd be so easy to slip his hand into those oddly hairless underarms, teach the cocky pirate a lesson -

Uma's sudden appearance distracted him from his thoughts, and with a sigh he stopped imagining. It was no use, anyway.

When would he get the chance to tickle Harry Hook?

***

Turns out that chance would come sooner rather than later. Although not quite as thoroughly as Ben would have liked.

"Hiya!" Harry grinned madly, the young King acutely aware of the sword not even an inch away from his neck. Despite his initial hesitation, his training kicked in and he swung, the pirate's own sword colliding with his so hard he could have sworn he saw sparks fly. Hook was so close Ben could see the water trailing down his body, hear the dripping from his sodden clothing. Oddly enough - to Ben's slight amusement - the raccoon eyes were still perfect, and the king had to exert every ounce of self control to keep from bursting into hysterical giggles.

He managed to lead the pirate on a bit of a dance, unable to keep a small proud smile from gracing his face. While the pirate had experience and brute strength on his side, Ben had all the techniques and fancy movements. This meant that, despite the two of them being relatively well matched, Ben had a slight tactical advantage. So when he managed to get Harry's sword stuck in the ladder, he couldn't resist. He looked right into the pirate's red eyes, and tickled the underside of his chin, before sneakily poking his underarm too.

'Coochie coochie coo~" He couldn't help but tease him back, watching as the red quickly bled away revealing bright blue eyes. He watched, feeling a weird sense of pride as Harry squirmed away and the corner of his lips turned up instinctively.

Oh yeah. He was ticklish.

He was almost sad when his friends dragged him away from the pirate and off the Isle. It would have been so fun to make him squirm.

Oh well. One day.

***

It had been a few months since all of that had happened, and honestly, Ben had nearly forgotten about his quest.

In his defence, those months had been very long. The whole Uma debacle, shortly followed by Audrey's possession and then the removal of the barrier and then finding homes for all the Vks now in Auradon and making arrangements for the adoption of younger VKs and finding places for older VKs to live and adjust... He'd barely had a minute to himself, to be truthful. All his relationships were suffering for it. Mal and himself had broken up yet again (she just couldn't handle being queen - Ben could understand. Sometimes Ben thought he couldn't handle being king), and she, Evie, Carlos and Jay were out exploring the world. They didn't need him anymore. He didn't have any real friends except Doug, Jane and Lonnie - all 3 of which had left with the Core 4.

Ben wished he could have gone too.

Not that he didn't enjoy being king. He just...

Wasn't enjoying being king.

And now it was supposed to be the summer holidays, his friends had abandoned him (he really didn't hold it against them) and the only other people still in the school/castle because they didn't have a place to go were Uma and her boys.

Speaking of her boys...

"God facken dammit!"

Ben turned around, seeing Harry struggling with the Tourney equipment. He was trying to manhandle it all into the shed they stored it in, and he couldn't help but grin a little at the pirate's struggle.

"'Do me a favour, lad,' he said, 'it won't take long,' he said," The Scottish teen scowled, getting bopped on the head by another piece of equipment, "I dinnae see 'im dealin wi' this shite!"

"Need any help?" Ben called out, heading down.

"Nah, Beastie, I'm doing perfectly facken fine." Came the accented drawl, "Totally not getting pissed off more 'n more by the facken minute, no sir."

The King rolled his eyes. "That's a lot of words for yes."

Harry growled but Ben ignored him, helping the pirate manoeuvre all of the equipment in with minimal head bops. It still took a good ten minutes, and by the time they were done Harry's eyes had a pink tinge.

"Next time that Coach bastard asks me for a favour I'm runnin in the opposite direction. This wasnae a favour. This was a facken challenge."

Ben chuckled. "I'm surprised you didn't realise what a mess this shed is. Don't you play Tourney?"

Harry cackled. "Do I 'ell. That's a wee boys game is that."

"It's quite fun." Ben defended his favourite sport. "When you're not getting shoulder barged by Jay, that is."

"I still think I'll pass on that." Harry rolled his eyes. "Gil seems to enjoy it, but that's as close as I'm gettin to that."

"Really? I'd have thought you'd have been into it." The King half-frowned.

"Nah mate. And I willnae join ROAR either - before ya get started on that. They won't let Uma join, and I only train wi' me Captain."

"Maybe that's why I beat you on the Isle," Ben half-joked, leaning against the wall of the shed. It was strange, how comfortable he felt with the pirate, despite their last proper conversation having been while he was tied to a mast. "I can't even count how many people I've battled. Granted it wasn't in a fight to the death, but still."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "Ya didnae beat me, ya rat bastard scunner."

"That's a new one." Ben laughed. "And didn't I? I seem to recall our fight ending with your sword caught in a ladder."

"Well, clearly yer brain's broken. Get it checked out, savvy?"

"I'm a king, Harry - I have medical checkups monthly. And I seem to recall a little something else about our fight too." Ben's grin turned mischievous. He had his chance, and honestly - he needed a bit of play time.

"Oh really? Do ya now?" Harry cocked a curious eyebrow.

"Y'know, I never really got my revenge for that kidnapping..." Ben smirked, "Not very kingly of me, letting that behaviour go unpunished."

"I dunno what ya think ya got on me but-"

The king didn't let him finish, poking at Harry's sides and reveling in the surprised yelp the pirate let out. He grinned evilly as Harry's eyes widened in panic.

"Beastie, don't you daRE -!"

Ben tourney-tackled the Scot, sitting on his waist to keep him pinned to the floor. Harry's hands went to try and push him off, so the king pinned them with his knees, leaving the other boy open to attack.

Ben grinned innocently at the younger teen, who seemed surprised at the ease with which he was taken down.

"And this is why Tourney is useful."

"Let me go, ye bastard! Yer gonna regret thi- no wait!" Harry broke into giggles as Ben's nimble fingers started to tickle across his neck.

"Mmm, I don't think I will regret this." Ben grinned down at him, laughing as the pirate bit the air next to his fingers. He felt more relaxed right now than he had in months - he didn't want it to end that quickly. "What was it you said to me? On that mast? Some sort of tease... Hmm..."

While Ben was pretending to remember, he slowly skittered his fingers down to Harry's abdomen. Down his shoulders (the collarbones got a small squeal, which made Ben laugh a little), down his chest and ribs, down his sides...

Harry's breath hitched when Ben's fingers settled on his stomach, and the Kings grin widened.

Bingo.

"Ahh! I got it now!" He leant down, close to Harry's face, crooning the same words the pirate had said to him a few months prior.

"Coochie coochie coo~"

He dug into Harry's stomach, the pirate flailing beneath him as panicked laughter fell out of his lips. Ben was pleasantly surprised by the sheer squeakiness of it - he had been expecting Harry's traditional mad cackle, or something like it. To hear Harry squeal and snort and squeak was unexpected - in the best way possible.

"Wow!" Ben couldn't help but chuckle, "Your laugh is very cute! You should laugh like this more often!"

"FAHAHACK OFF!" Harry shrieked, bucking as Ben started to attack his hips. "STAHAHAP!"

"Mmmmm, no. This is fun!"

"SHIHIIIIIIT!"

Ben giggled, slowing down his tickles until the pirate was giggling quietly. He let Harry catch his breath, grinning widely when blue eyes met brown.

"Having fun?" He asked, noticing Harry's face had gone pink. "I honestly didn't think you'd be this sensitive."

"Le-lehet me gohoho, savvy?" Harry managed to get out between giggles, squeaking as the soft tickles made their way back to his sensitive neck. "Uhuma will be lookin for me-"

"Oh, don't worry about me, Harry." Came a distinctly feminine voice from the entrance to the shed. Ben turned, pausing his efforts to see a smirking Uma at the entrance.

"Captain!" Came Harry's betrayed voice. "How long have ye been stood there?"

"Oh, long enough." The sea witch made eye contact with the young King, smirk taking on a more malicious light. "By the way, you missed his ears and thighs."