#86 tickling

Shin, the leader of the squad, is the one who introduced tickling in his teams' traditions. Having only been tickled by his big brother before, these were the only good memories he could remember from his childhood. It became like a lifebelt that helped him keep going throughout all the pain of losing his friends battle by battle. Besides his 'Reaper' task of redeeming his dying members, the ravenhead is also the main ler of the team, though you wouldn’t except it despite his gloomy and aloof personality. In truth he is quite caring and is always the first to strike when someone feels sad, using his unusual ability to sneak behind his friends without being noticed and giving them a surprise tickle, always receiving happy smiles from them afterwards. Despite that caring attitude towards others, he himself rarely smiles nor laughs freely, thinking that he doesn’t serve it. Raiden was the first to show him that it is okay to relax as well and let himself fall into the comforting hands of others. He is ticklish on his neck and his feet, although the spot under his lowest rib would cause a smile as well. His laugh is very child-like and everyone in the team who hears this rare sound is immediately stunned by it, never having heard such a heartwarming sound.

From the moment on Lena became his squad's Handler, he slowly began to change, beginning to smile more and more by himself. It was like his heart, his emotions being locked inside him for so long slowly began to break out of him and appear on the surface. The others, above all Raiden, quickly realized his change of behavior, happy to see him enjoying himself. His wish to thank the girl that had done so much for them grew with each caring word she said, with each support she gave them. When he and Lena finally crossed paths he showed her a bright smile, being utterly grateful and happy that she had caught up to them and when the black-haired leader witnessed one day that she was ticklish as well, it became his favorite duty to tease his Major whenever he could.

Raiden is probably the only member of the Spearhead Squadron that is allowed to tickle Shin without having to fear any bad consequences. Both are close friends, having fought for the longest time side by side. They learned about each other's sensitivity very early in their friendship and while it started as an alternative way to the fist-fights, it soon became their way to relax and let off some steam from a previous battle, knowing that they can drop their guard around the other. They are equally ticklish, and their tickle fights are always a great spectacle for the other members and bets about who will win had- and are still made by the others. Raiden is ticklish on his underarms and under his chin. He has a very loud laugh and gets flustered easily when being tickled. He also is a sucker for revenge tickles and would often hold the lers hands mid-air, before gently pushing them back and looming over them with a warm, brotherly smile, before he moves his hands to their sides and strikes back “without” mercy. Don’t worry, he is a very caring big brother and just teases you for the love he has in his heart. Besides Shin, he often enjoys tickling Frederica, lifting her up and wiggle his hands into her underarms. She always struggles quite a bit, trying to kick him with her tiny legs, though she really likes it. Whenever he has tickled her, Raiden would treat her to a huge pile of ice-cream or cake as an apology (it’s not a bribe, no it really isn't).

Theo is canonly ticklish and would often get tickled and teased by the girls of the squad whenever he was in a grumpy mood or moping alone in a corner. His gained his alias 'Laughing Fox' also because of his unique way of laughing. No matter how he is tickled, his laughter always consists of deep snickers and giggles. The blonde is sensitive on his sides and his neck and even Shin seems to enjoy teasing him once in a while by wiggling a hand nonchalantly over the sensitive skin in an unnoticed moment. He doesn't mind being tickled, having grown fond of this treatment in his previous team and liking to be close with his brothers and sisters in arms. Losing them in battle hurts him deeper than he might admit, and not only once had the others had given him a comfort hug while he cries tears of sorrow into their chests, accompanied by his sobbing. It then became a habit from his teammates to add in some light squeezes to his sides, not to tease him with it, but to make him smile again and show him that he still had them, that they would be by his side.

When Theo takes the initiative for once, he is well-known and feared for the usage of his beloved painting brushes. It is a very effective technique, and he even uses different ones for various spots: Tiny brushes for teasing hands, cheeks and necks and large brushes for attacking the stomach or the feet. He also tends to go all-out, showing no mercy once he starts his playful attack. Surprisingly, Theo doesn't start tickle fights, he usually provokes others until they start to tickle him instead, nudging them or putting himself in a vulnerable position. It isn't like he couldn't do it, he just loves to tease his friends, its just his way of saying 'I like you and you're important to me'. Still, Theo does know when he shouldn't tease or tickle a person. Lena for example is off-limits, only allowed to be tickl- ahem teased by Shin and he made it quite clear that whoever touches her will get it back ten times.

Lena had always wondered what the hell was going on in her assigned squad whenever she did her nighty calls to talk with them. First only occasionally, but as they grow closer, almost every time she called, she could hear snickers and laughs in the background. They weren't that kind of mocking laughs, rather playful and carefree ones and it was really making her curious. One time while talking with Shin, even he had suddenly a bubbly voice and it was unmistakable that he tried to stay collected, yet a tiny giggle escaped his mouth and just when the puzzled girl wanted to ask what was happening, still not believing she heard Shin laugh, the connection was cut, only to be restored two minutes later. Shin acted as if nothing had happened and Lena also didn't find a good way to ask him about it, saving her question for another time. What happened you ask? Well, a certain blonde thought that it was a good idea to mess with Shin while giving his report, so when he dared to squeeze his sides, the ravenhead lived up to his name and gave him a two-minute punishment that would make sure, that he would never interrupt his reporting ever again. Later on, when they finally met in person, Lena finally learned the truth about all the laughter when she witnessed Theo being tickled by both Kurena and Anju without a care in the world, making her blush deeply and resembling her reddish strand.

Lena is quite ticklish herself, although none of the squad found out said information for a while. She and Annette had exchanged many pokes in their past, making each other giggle. TP also had tickled her unintentionally when he had nuzzled himself against her cheek or licking either her hands or cheeks. When Shin saw her with TP one day in such a situation, he would begin to casually poke her sides or blew some air into her ear from behind, loving how she always shrieks and looks at him with this flustered face while scolding him, well-knowing that she actually doesn’t mind being touched by him like this. The white-haired girl though never really tickles him back, being too embarrassed to do it. She would only manage to poke him into his sides, even saying "Beep" before withdrawing her hand and hiding her flustered face. Shin just finds this adorable and would always want to hug her, embracing Lena in a comfort squeeze and sharing his warmth with the girl he had grown so fond of over the last passing months.