#admin matt

“Wha- You think you’re tougher than me, Max?” Archie mock gasped at his smaller husband, a grin pulling on his lips when Maxie raised his chin confidently. “I know I’m tougher than you! Working with molten rocks and ridiculous heat makes you stronger!”

“There's no denying that.” Archie agreed, closing the distance between them with a smirk. “Though the sea aint a walk in the park either. You never know just what the ocean’s gonna do. I’d say that makes me tougher!”

“Sure, says the man who almost cried watching baby Popplios play.” Maxie teased, memories of his burly husband's reaction coming to mind.

“H-Hey! They’re cute! Plus, you’re scared of horror movies!” Archie countered, laughing when the redhead blushed.

“You still watch those goofy cartoons!”

“And you love chocolate chip pancakes!”

“Boy, boys, you’re both cute.” Shelly laughed as she walked over with Tabitha, boxes of research material in hand. “What's going on here?”

“Nothing new when it comes to our team leaders.” Courtney filled them in, Matt holding down his laughs at the random revelations made within the past five minutes. “The usual lovers quarrel.”

“Maxie here thinks he’s tougher! Can you believe this?” Archie asked, turning to the admins for help. “I’m clearly the tougher one here!”

“Pffft! Yeah right! You can ask anybody here, and they’ll tell you I’m tougher!” Maxie fought back, reaching out and lightly jabbing Archie in the side. The taller man yelped and jerked, making him laugh. “H-Hey!”

“Ooo, I got an idea!” Courtney suddenly exclaimed, putting down her notes with a mischievous glint. “A fair way to see who’s tougher between the team leaders!” She got up and bounced over to the pair, hands reaching out and jabbing them in the ribs with precise fingers. “Gah! Courtney!” Maxie yelped, shrinking away from the jab. Archie, already on guard, moved away in time. “H-Hey!”

“A tickle battle! Whomever lasts longer wins!” she announced, making the leaders blush. “Whoa now...That seems a bit extreme…” Archie tried to argue.

“Ooo, I can get into that!” Shelly jumped in, her eyes also glinting with mischief as she placed her materials aside. “Endurance is certainly a factor of toughness, don’t you think, Tabby?”

“I told you it’s Tabitha, but yeah!” The magma admin rolled his eyes at the nickname, but was smiling nonetheless. “We haven’t really heard Maxie laugh in awhile. This could be nice.”

“Tabitha! Shelly!” Maxie felt any hopes of escaping flee as he watched the admins grow excited. Archie looked no better, body on guard for any spontaneous attacks. “M-Matt! Help me out here!”

Matt held his chin in thought, eyes closed as he hummed to himself. Everyone watched on, waiting for his response. Finally, the man stood up, walking over to the pair. “I’m with Archie on this one. A tickle battle would be extreme.” He decided as he placed a hand on his leader’s shoulder. Archie started to smile.

“Without rules. No ganging up on one leader! Shelly, help me take this lug down!” Matt quickly yanked Archie into his chest, pinning him taking hold of his arms. “Matt! You traitor!” Archie cried, already giggling as Shelly closed in, wiggling her fingers. “Come here, Archie~”

Maxie didn’t have time to appreciate what was coming. He tried to run, but Courtney was faster, diving into his waist and pulling him onto the ground with her. “Get ‘em Tabs!” She cried, holding on to a squirming Maxie like a rider to a bull.

“It’s Tabitha!” Tabitha argued, but didn’t waste any time adding to the chaos. Taking advantage of Maxie’s squirming, his hands wiggled into his armpits with ease, earning a squawk of laughter from the redhead. “Noohoohohohohohoohohoho! T-Tahhahahahhhahahabihhiihihihihtahhahhahahah!”

A few paces over, Archie was fighting for his life not to laugh. Lips pressed thin and cheeks puffed, he squirmed against Shelly’s delicate fingers as they ran along his ribs and sides gingerly. “Come on, boss, you know you want to laugh! Give us a smile! A chuckle! A snort!” She poked and prodded with each request, worming her fingers closer and closer to his armpits. Just the thought of them there made Archie snort. “N-No! Shehehehehahhahahahahhahahahahahhaally!” That was it, Archie was laughing. “There it is!” She cheered, laughing along with him as she dug into his pits.

Back with Maxie, the redhead could barely think, laughing and squirming as four hands dug into his stomach and sides, drawing out helpless giggles and laughter from the usually stern man. “Aheahhahahahahahahhahhaha! Gahahhahahhahahahahaha! Cohohohohohoohrneehehehehy! Taahahahhhahahabahahahtahhahaha!”

“Just say the word, Maxie! Then it's all over!” Matt called from his spot, laughing at the squeaky giggles escaping the redheads lips. Archie himself was booming with laughter, squirming and twisting in his admin’s arms as Shelly went for every tickle spot she could reach. His cheeks were flushed a warm red color, eyes squeezed shut with mirth as he laughed and laughed. “Aww! Is someone a little ticklish? Is he? Hmm?” Shelly teased, grinning when Archie wheezed. “I think you’re getting close to giving up, boss!”

The battle was long and tiresome, but eventually, a winner was revealed.

“OHOHOHOOHOHOHOKAY! OHOHOOHOHOOHKAY! IHIHIIHHIHI GIHIHIHIIHIVE!” Maxie all but screamed when his admins targeted his back. At this point his face matched his hair, and his glasses were askew.

Immediately the admins stopped their tickles, letting their leaders recover from the spontaneous tickle attack. Archie fell to his knees, slumping over as he giggled himself silly. Maxie had curled into a ball beside him, tears of mirth dotting his eyes and a tired but calm smile on his lips.

“Hehe...heh...I wihin…” Archie got out, making Maxie snort. Around them, their admins were in a fit of giggles, delighted with the outcome. It wasn’t long before Maxie and Archie were joining in.

They'll certainly have to do this again.