There was something wrong. The weretiger usually wore his emotions like a badly-fitted coat—always tripping over guilt, shame, self-loathing, and still managing to offer some sorry excuse of a smile through it all.

But not tonight.

Tonight he was quiet. Too quiet. There was no half smile, he was just, Still. And Akutagawa didn't  like it.

Akutagawa closed his book. Loudly. No response.

“…You’re acting strange,” he said flatly.

Atsushi blinked, slowly turning his head. His eyes looked a little glassy.

“I’m just tired,” he muttered. Even he didn't believe his own lie.

“Tch. You said that already.”

“Well… maybe I still am.”

That wasn’t it. Akutagawa knew it wasn’t.

There was a scrape of chair legs across wood as he stood up, deliberate in every step as he crossed the room.

Atsushi didn’t even react when Akutagawa crouched in front of him.

He just looked… small.

And Akutagawa hated it.

“You’re sulking.”

“I’m not sulking.”

Akutagawa narrowed his eyes. “You’re brooding. You have that pathetic furrow between your brows again.”

Atsushi’s lips twitched, but the ghost of a smile never fully formed. “Maybe I just messed up today. Again. Maybe it’s my fault those civilians got hurt. Maybe—”

poke.

Atsushi was startled. His whole body jumped.

Akutagawa’s finger lingered just at his side. He looked positively smug.

“…What was that?” Atsushi squeaked.

“You flinched,” Akutagawa replied simply. “And you made one of those squeaky noises again.”

“That’s not—Akutagawa, don’t—”

Another poke. This time higher. More deliberate.

“D-don’t! I’m being serious—!”

“So am I,” Akutagawa said, voice soft but unrelenting as he reached again. Atsushi moved to avoid his fingers but Akutagawa knew his moves all too well. Whichever way Atsushi moved to avoid his fingers Akutagawa would go to the opposite side, faking him out only to attack anyway. 

Akutagawa’s fingers struck again—this time not a single jab, but a series of quick, feather-light prods beneath Atsushi’s ribs.

“GYAH—A-Akuta—! H-hehey! STAHAHAHAP!”

Atsushi curled forward instinctively, arms folding tightly around his torso as he twisted on the bed, trying to scoot away. But Akutagawa followed, calm as ever, movements precise as a scalpel.

“I don’t understand.” His tone was maddeningly flat. “If you’re tired, why are you squirmingso much?”

“BECAUSE YOU’RE TIHIHIHICKLING ME!”

“Hm.” Another thoughtful prod, this time targeting the edge of Atsushi’s waist. “Are you going to admit it?”

“Th-That’s not—” poke poke poke “WAHAHAIT—OKAY! Ohohokay! I AHAHA-ADMIT IT!”

Akutagawa actually smiled, just barely—so faint it could be missed if you weren’t looking directly at him. “Good. Then this is effective.”

He sat beside Atsushi now, his fingers slipping beneath the loose hem of the other’s shirt with no hesitation, pressing into the dips between ribs with exacting care. Atsushi howled.

“NOHOHO FAHAHAIR—Th-That’s—AHAHAHA—I c-can’t—!”

“You said you didn’t want to talk. So I found a better method.”

“THIS IS NOT A METHOD!”

“You’re smiling.”

Atsushi gasped through his giggles, his hands flailing and useless, trying to push Akutagawa off—but the black-clad Port Mafia member had that terrifyingly calm energy about him. Focused. Composed. Like this was all part of some clinical experiment.

“Your reflexes are slow. You're easy to provoke,” Akutagawa observed as if he were reading a case file. “Your underarms are especially reactive.”

“D-Don’t you DARE—!!”

Too late.

Akutagawa struck again, fingers skimming deliberately up Atsushi’s sides, thumbs pressing into the vulnerable hollows just beneath his arms. The shriek that ripped out of Atsushi’s throat could’ve shaken the roof.

“AKUTAGAWAAAAA—!!”

The name burst from Atsushi’s lips in a squealing, desperate cackle as he twisted hard to the side, nearly rolling off the bed.

Akutagawa caught him by the shoulder without a word, steadying him easily. His grip wasn’t rough—but it was firm. Intentional. Like he’d never let him fall.

Not even from something as stupid as laughter.

“Stop moving,” he muttered.

“S-s-stop tickling me!” Atsushi cried, breathless, red-faced, and trembling. His chest rose and fell rapidly as giggles still clung to the edges of his voice. “Y-you’re such a—a jerk—!”

His comments didn't seem to phase Akutagawa but while he continued to wreck the weretiger a thought came to him. “I do happen to remember Dazai mentioning something to me in passing.” His hands slowed while he hovered them over the younger boy. Atsushi's giggles weren't as loud or forced just reminance of what just occurred, he looked up at Akutagawa unaware of what he was about to do. The black robed portmafia member lowered his hands shifting the weretigers shirt up just the tiniest bit revealing his belly button and Atsushi’s eyes went wide. 

“NO NONONO DONT! HE WAS LYING!” Akutagawa’s face was still as stoic as it always was as he let out a huff.

“Heh, for someone calling Dazai-san a liar you sure seem awfully defensive.” Atsushi grabbed his shirt immediately pulling it down causing the other to scoff. “Are you really going to make me have to use Rashouman?” And the weretiger who had just thought things couldn't get any worse. He tried to bolt.

“Rashouman!” Before Atsushi even made it off the bed he was pulled back and his arms moved above his head, although held by Rashouman the hold was uncharacteristically gentle. Akutagwa moved Atsushi’s shirt back up just a bit higher than his belly button this time. “Now Dazai said this spot was only to be used if extremely necessary, and I think wiping that annoying mopey look off your face entitles this to be completely necessary.”

With that Akutagawa held out a single finger and lowered it towards his button and Atsushi freaked out.

“NONONO OKOKOK I'M DONE MOPING I WONT BROOD ANYMORE!!!”

“You surely won't after this” his finger delves into Atsushi’s belly button and a scream bursts out of the weretigers mouth of that of someone being murdered. 

“AKUTAGAWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO” Akutagawa remained stoic as ever while he wrecked Atsushi into a new dimension. His finger swirled in his bellybutton not so much digging but just enough to tickle like hell. The things Dazai had let Akutagawa in on seemed to have a major effect on Atsushi so why not try something else he thought to himself. Inadmitably Akutagawa lowered his head towards Atsushi’s tummy and this only caused his squirming to worsen ten fold. 

“NONONONO DONT YOU DAHAHAHRE”

“Oh I dare Weretiger, and I shall.” He says this with an uncharacteristic smirk on his face, and once lowered he blows. Blows a long hard raspberry on Atsushi’s belly button and he shrieks, the noise so high pitched it almost startles Akuatagawa. He almost stops but wiping that dumb sad look off his partner's face is what his main goal was right now. 

“AIEEEEEEEEEHHEHEHEHEHEHE CRAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP AKUTAGAWA NOHOHOHOHOHOHO” his body thrashes and Rashouman holds firm, to keep his waist in place in holds Atsushi’s hips down with his hands and just to be a little more sadistic he rolls his thumbs into his hip dips. Atsushi’s body fights for a moment longer before collapsing allowing himself to laugh. Allowing himself to forget about what happened tonight. Besides being tickled to the brink by the rabid dog of the mafia, it feels good to be able to let go despite laughing til he can't breathe.

Only when Akutagawa sees tears and how red his face truly is and how his breathing has changed does he stop, he finally lets his hands fall away and sits up bringing his mouth away from the weretiger’s tummy as well as releasing Rashouman’s hold. His expression didn’t change much—but there was something calmer about it. Less tense.

“…You were upset,” he said simply.

Atsushi blinked, thrown off by the shift in tone. “Huh?”

“You were brooding. Again. That look on your face…” Akutagawa paused, then frowned. “It’s worse than your whining.”

“I wasn’t—” Atsushi hesitated. His arms dropped from their defensive curl, and he exhaled. “…Okay. Maybe I was a little off.”

Akutagawa didn't reply. His gaze flicked down—toward Atsushi’s hands, still faintly trembling from the aftershock of laughter—and then away again, jaw tightening.

"I like you more when you're laughing," he muttered.

The silence stretched between them.

Atsushi slowly blinked, shocked by the words coming out of Akutagawa’s mouth, his cheeks flushing. 

"Don't make me say it again."

A laugh—this one real, worn around the edges but warm—escaped Atsushi before he could stop it. It was softer now. No hysteria, no forced grin. Just… genuine.

He rubbed the back of his neck, still pink. “I- um. Thanks for uh… for cheering me up.”

“You’re welcome Weretiger” Atsushi moved hesitantly but made his way beside him laying just close enough.

“If I see that look on your face again while we're on this mission I won't hesitate to do it again Weretiger” Akutagawa says flatly.

Atsushi doesn't say anything but cuddles up to him regardless, causing Akutagawa to stiffen for a moment before relaxing. “Pathetic” he says dryly but wraps his arms around Atsushi anyway.

There's a silence for a beat, and Atsushi leans up pecking a kiss on Akutagwa’s cheek, and immediately the paler of the two goes red.

“…Thanks Ryu.” Atsushi says again, cuddling into his partner, and before long Atsushi was actually able to sleep in the comforting embrace of his partner's arms.

Akutagawa looked down at the sleeping weretiger in his arms. His face remained stoic at first but the corner of his mouth twitched. Just once.

“You smiled,” he said quietly.

He held him for the rest of the night til he fell asleep alongside him.

Out of all the members of the Decay of Angels, Nikolai was Sigma’s least favourite. He was far too unhinged, occasionally visiting Sigma just to threaten him as a joke, or play around with him. Never really hurting him though, Sigma suspected that Fyodor had ordered him not to.

That was another thing. Nikolai hated any time Sigma spent with Fyodor. Few as it was, in Nikolai’s opinion it was time that should have been spent with him instead. Nevermind that they were only discussing their great plan, or giving meagre updates on the Casino, according to Nikolai that was time that ought to have been spent with him, Fyodor’s best friend or boyfriend or whatever.

Sigma truly did not wish to be a part of either of their schemes. All he wanted to do was run his Casino. And yet.

“Sigma!” Nikolai pouted, “Why were you ignoring me?”

Sigma took in a long, measured breath.

“I did not mean to ignore you, I was just focussed on my work.” Which I would love to get back to, he thought bitterly.

“Oh, okay!” Nikolai said, taking a seat on his desk, scattering papers to the floor. Sigma leaned down to pick them up.

“It’s just… what were you up to today?” Nikolai said, seeming earnestly curious.

Sigma leaned back up, shuffling the stack back together and setting them down neatly on the desk. “I had breakfast with my head of staff, then had a brief meeting with Fyodor-”

“See,” Nikolai interrupted, “That’s what I heard, but I thought it couldn’t be true because Fyodor was meant to meet with me this morning and I thought ‘There’s no way my best friend Dostoy would blow me off for you!’, But now you’re telling me he did? Why would Dostoy do that?” He leaned in closer, kicking his feet childishly, “I think you must have done something… forced him.”

“I can assure you,” Sigma put on his best ‘Manager’ voice, “That I did in no way force Fyodor to meet with me, nor did I have any idea of your plans.”

“Hmm…” A mischievous grin broke out on Nikolai’s face, “If you say so~!”

For a second, Sigma hoped that would be all. For a second, he turned back to his desk and lifted his hand to the paper on top of the stack, when all of the papers were suddenly lifted away from him. He looked up, mouth open in protest as Nikolai tossed the papers into his cloak.

There was a beat of silence.

Then, a fluttering noise at the end of the room as the papers scattered out of Nikolai’s portal.

He did not turn to look, did not sigh, or even blink. Nikolai’s face was stretched into a massive, wobbly grin, as though he was trying not to laugh. It did not last long, as he burst into a loud, maniacal laugh. Now Sigma did sigh, as he raised from the chair and walked to the mess at the end of the room.

Apparently Nikolai did not deem this punishment enough, for as soon as he had turned his back he felt a heavy weight flop on top of him, arms wrapping around his core.

“Oh Sigma~.” Nikolai sang in his ear, and began prodding at his sides.

Fuck.

He tried to keep his composure, but Nikolai’s fingers were relentless, working their way under his blazer and pinching gently at his sides.

“Nik- Nikol- Nihikolahai! Stop!”

But it was too late, from his first laugh he knew he was a goner. Nikolai was like a shark, once he tasted blood (giggles) he was relentless. See, he may not have harmed Sigma, at least not physically, so his new favourite way to extract revenge came in the form of… tickles. Oh the humanity.

“Tickle tickle, Sigma~” Nikolai whispered, wiggling his fingers along his sides. Sigma felt his legs begin to give out as he fought against the laughter blooming within himself.

“I prohohomihihise! Ack- I did nohohohot fohohorce Fyodohohor to mehehehehehet mehehehe.” Sigma choked out, falling to his knees as Nikolai grew heavier on his back.

“Oh I know that, as if you could have any influence on Dostoy~.” As he spoke Nikolai’s hands worked up his body, pinching at his ribs and making him writhe.

Sigma squealed, his hands jumping up to weakly push Nikolai away, “Thehehen whahahat dohoho yohohouhu wahahahant!”

“You work too hard, Sigma. I’m just helping you relax.” Nikolai pouted.

“No yohohouhuhu aren- Hey!” Sigma’s arm slammed down as his quick fingers began to flutter under his arm.

“Sure I am. You don’t believe me?” Nikolai grinned, before putting on a hurt voice, “Are you calling me a liar?”

“Nohohohohoho!” Sigma called, even though that was exactly what he was doing. One of Nikolai’s hands was attempting to wriggle into his armpit, while the other was wrestling with his wrist, clamped tightly against his chest.

Nikolai rested his head on Sigma’s shaking shoulder. “I think you are~,” He cooed, “I don’t like liars.”

Sigma began to protest weakly, as Nikolai gripped his wrist and slowly forced his arm up, and into his cape.

It disappeared. There was a soft glow in front of them as his hand reappeared on the floor in front of them, and the portal tightened until he couldn’t pull it back through. He twisted till he was looking at Nikolai, still crouched over him and beaming.

“Noo, Nikolai please- just let me get back to work, you could see Fyodor now! Don’t waste your time on me, please.”

“Hmm,” He appeared to be considering it, but Sigma knew better than that by now. He braced himself.

“Nope~!” Nikolai called, and his fingers came skittering under Sigma’s arm.

He shrieked, pulling as hard as he could, but to no avail. He could do nothing but fall into hysterical cackles as his worst spot was clawed at mercilessly. He fell to the side a little, practically slumped in Nikolai’s arms as he half-hugged him to get at his spot, his other hand holding his cloak open.

“NIHIHIKOKOLAHAIHI!” Sigma cried.

“Is something the matter?” Came his shit eating response.

“YEHEHEHES, IHIHIT TIHIHIHICKLEHEHES!! PLEHEHEAHAHSE!” Nikolai’s response was to dig deeper, the tips of his fingers scratching into the divot under his arm while his thumb dug into Sigma’s ribs. He tipped his head back and laughed, now fully boneless against Nikolai.

After a long moment, he realised that Nikolai had stopped. He released the portal and Sigma’s arm came crashing through. For a second he lay there, panting, until he realised he was lying in Nikolai’s lap and shot up.

Nikolai followed him up, snickering, “You looked so comfortable~.” He teased.

Sigma blushed. “Yes well- is that all?” He really had no idea how to end these ‘sessions’.

“Mhm!” Nikolai said, skipping away, “I think I’ll go see if Dostoy wants to have tea with me, bye!”

And just like that, he was gone. Sigma turned around and sat heavily at his desk, still somewhat short on breath.

There was silence, then another fluttering of paper. He looked up, confused and blinked at the messy stack that had appeared on his desk, only catching the last golden glimmer of a portal. Sigma swung round in his chair, but Nikolai was gone.

One single piece of paper drifted from the top of the stack towards the floor.

"GWAH!? DAZAI!" Atsushi shook his mentor, after he'd been trampled on repeatedly, Akutagawa had watched with large owl eye's, not sure in what to do. Dazai had faintly grabbed Atsushi's hand after face planting into the ground and smiled, "I can finally die!" He spoke, making both Atsushi and Akutagawa stare at him, knowing full well he wouldn't.

Dazai then place his face back down, not daring to budge, he was rather stubborn about it, a fake pout on his face that no one could see. Yet he didn't expect Akutagawa to kneel down beside him and start to poke the back of his left hand ribs, making him hide his growing smile against his sleeves.

"Poke poke poke poke.." He said at each poke, Atsushi sweating, "Akutagawa-san, I don't think that's helping.." He said, slightly amused, stiffling a laugh as Akutagawa replied with a confused 'poke poke?'

"Akutaga- wait." He said, listening as he got closer, trying to hear it clearly. "Continue." He said, Akutagawa rolling his eye's as he poked more, Atsushi's smile turning into a wide grin. "Good job, Akutagawa-sa-" "Shut it, Jinko." He gave him a death stare, making the weretiger shiver. "O-Okay then!"

Akutagawa continued, before noticing why Atsushi seemed so smug, Dazai was now shaking his head, his legs daring to twitch at a weak attempt to kick the ground, in hopes it would distract him from laughing. Akutagawa summed them up, before his small, innocent pokes now turned into scribbling, as he squeezed and prodded at their mentors ribs, elicting a snort from the other, his entire body jerking from the newer sensation.

"Oh? Jinko, help me." Akutagawa said, this being a rare time to cooperate with the weretiger, for something so silly. Atsushi's eye's lit up, as joy filled him now, enthusiastically scribbling under Dazai's arm, making him throw his arm's down defensively, turning his face towards them to show how flustered he was. "Ehehe! W-Why so tohohouchy, ahahay?" He tried to tease them, making the two state plainly, as they exchanged looks, smirking down at him. "Is Dazai-san ticklish?" Atsushi asked with a smug tone, making his eye's widden, growing a slight bit more red.

"A-Ahahatsushi! Akutahaga-WA!? AGH!?" He arched, Atsushi was surprised to hear him suddenly grow so desperate, until he looked, chuckling when he found Akutagawa sitting on his lower back, focusing on tickling deep circles at their mentor's hip's, making him snort out loud. "D-Deheath by tickling wahahasn't my plahahan but hehere we are!" He joked, snorting once again when Atsushi turned his arm's into his weretiger form, using the soft pads of the tiger to massage deep ticklish circles into his lower ribs, making him wiggle like a worm out of the earth below.

"BWAH!? EEK! WAHAIT! THAHAT WAS UNEXPEHECTED!" He slammed his fist on the ground desperately, making the two stop, the two got up and bowed apologetically, feeling bad for doing this to someone they looked up to, instead, Dazai placed his hands on their shoulder's, squeezing them reassuringly. "That's.. quite alright." He heaved, giggles still spilling out for a few more, before he grinned at them. "But you definitely could've done better." He shrugged, sighing, "What a shame.." He feigned sadness, before yelping as he felt his wrists be held above his head by Roshomon, the two smirking widely. "You could've just asked if you wanted more." Akutagawa spoke, a evil glint in his eye's.

As soon as Atsushi joined the rest of the members of the Armed Detective Agency, it was clear which one he needed to be cautious around. Dazai Osamu, of course. Not because he was a threat... Actually... He kind of is.

No, Dazai would never deliberately make an attempt at Atsushi's life, but it sure felt like it sometimes. You see, Dazai is a tickler. A sneaky one. A tickler that would strike at any moment. No matter what you're doing or how potentially dangerous it could be.

When Atsushi was bringing coffee for everyone from the cafe below. Dazai was there. "GOTCHA!" A pair of devilish hands attacking the boys unarmed sides, sending the coffee flying across the room.

Atsushi had been asked to clean the office. Dazai was there. "Coochi, coochi, coo~"Armed with the duster the second he saw an inch of exposed skin. Making the tiger cub yelp and disturb everyone's work.

Even just passing him in the hallway. "Boop~!" A stray finger always prodded at Atsushi's soft tummy or side.

And so, Atsushi soon learned he had to be weary around Dazai. But it never worked. With Dazai always being so chilled and goofy, it was impossible to tell when he was going to attack. So he was never prepared for one.

Today was no different. Not in the slightest.

"Morning." Atsushi chimed as he entered the office, seeing most of the others already working at their stations. He set his messenger bag on his desk, looking at the empty seat beside him. "Is Dazai not coming today?" He asked the busy redhead opposite him.

Junichiro shrugged, looking up from his laptop. "Dunno. I haven't seen him yet. I'm sure he'll show up eventually." He smiled.

"I guess." Atsushi nodded, sitting down at his desk and looking at the paperwork that had already been set out for him. Just some sorting that needed finishing up.

A couple minutes later, the sorting was done. Nice and neat. A quick but important job finished. Atsushi stood, stacking the papers into a pile and carrying them to the door, they needed to be taken to Fukuzawa's office to be signed.

"I'll be right back." The tiger smiled, heading down the hallway, humming to himself.

"Atsuuushiiiiiii~" A voice behind him stopped him in his tracks, sending a shiver down his spine. He looked over his shoulder, seeing no-one there.

"Um, Dazai?" Atsushi raised a brow, looking back and forth down both directions of the hallway. "Where-?"

The poor boy didn't know what hit him. Dazai suddenly dropped down from the ceiling, tackling the boy to the floor.

"MORING!!"

"GYAH!" He was pinned on his front, the papers he had so neatly stacked were sent flying.

"I got you gooood~" Dazai sang, sitting upon the small boys back with a grin. "Now, where did we leave off? Ooooh yes~ I remember~." He taunted, leaning in close to Atsushi's ear, making the boy scrunch his shoulders up.

"Wait! Wait! I-I have toho-! AHAHA!" He started giggling when he felt Dazai begin his attack, wriggling his fingers up under his arms.

"Dahazai! Ahaha! No! Rrh- No!" He clamped his arms to his sides, defensively.

"Now, now Atsushi. We both know I can tickle you elsewhere~" The cruel man chuckled, moving his hands down to the boy's ribs, poking each bone as he counted.

"Oooone~ Twoooo~ Threeee~ Oop. Lost count because you were squirming so much. Why must you make my job so hard?" He sighed dramatically. "Let's start again~"

"Gyaha! Eeehehe! S-Stop with the p-pohoking!" Atsushi giggled, flinching and gasping at each perfectly placed prod.

"No poking? If you insist." Osamu shrugged, suddenly vibrating his fingertips into the boys ribs, his tongue sticking out eagerly as he watched his little friend flail. He loved Atsushi's reactions. How he'd arch his back and yelp at certain spots.

Dazai was indeed, a merciless Ler.

"StahahaAAHA! D-azai!!!" Atsushi hiccuped, as Dazai switched to squeezing the boy's hips, clinging onto them relentlessly.

"Dahazai! Plehehease! I-I gotta delihi-! Aha!"

"You gotta whaaat? C'mon Atsushi, use your words, please. This is a professional work environment, if you can't speak up when you need to, it could cause issues." He shook his head, giving the boys sides a break, leaning back and resting his hands on the back of Atsushi's thighs, squeezing them playfully.

"AH! Nahahaha! H-Hehelp!" His little legs kicked helplessly against the wooden floorboards, his hands reaching back to try swat at Dazais legs.

"You're far too ticklish, you know. I think we should do this every day! Like endurance training! Hey? Doesn't that sound fun? Tickle, tickle, tickle~"

"Eheheheheee! Noho!"

"Well, I think it sounds great fun. You don't get a say in the matter." Dazai chuckled, sticking his hands up Atsushi's back, slowly raking his nails up and down the boy's shoulder blades and spine.

"You seemed to be in the middle of something, so I'll end this session for now." He smiled, watching as Atsushi sighed loudly, laying flat on the floor, huffing as he relaxed into the gentle back scratches from his older friend. A giddy smile on his face.

"Hah... Gee... Thanks." He wheezed out, looking at the scattered papers on the floor, knowing he'd have to reorganise them again.

Dazai climbed off his victim, petting his hair. "Want me to get some cakes from the cafe?" Atsushi looked up at Dazai, sighing with a smile. He had a funny way of making up for these tickle attacks, but they were always perfect. "Please!" Atsushi beamed.