#cracking back

Patton was laying on his stomach, resting his chin on his arms as he watched TV. But he found it a bit difficult to focus on the TV, due to Roman’s palms and fingers against his back. 

Roman was trying to massage Patton’s back and neck in an attempt to help him relax. Patton had been complaining about knots in his neck, and Roman offered to massage them out. But Roman quickly began to wonder if he bit off more than he could chew. Or maybe, Patton was holding in more emotions than he lets on.

Why was that his theory? Well, it’s simple. Patton’s neck and shoulder muscles felt like rocks. Literally! They felt like they had been stretched out all the way, and were physically unable to relax. Roman worked at his shoulders as gently, but as effectively as he could muster. 

“Oh yeah, right there, aaaAH-!” Patton reacted, closing his right eye as he winced in pain. God, it felt really painful. But it also felt good getting his shoulders worked out. He badly needed it. 

“Is that doing anything for you?” Roman asked. 

“Yup! You’re doing great, kiddo!” Patton said, before letting out a deep breath. 

Roman worked at his neck and shoulders a little bit more, using his elbows to get some of the knots out. In all honesty, he didn’t feel like he was achieving anything. Roman had never come across anything this bad. Not even Virgil’s neck and shoulders were this bad! And he’s the embodiment of stress and anxiety! 

“Patton…” Roman asked, strain in his voice. “How did your neck get this bad?!” Roman asked. 

Patton grunted and breathed out slowly. “I…have no idea.” He admitted. 

Roman dug his fingers into Patton’s trap muscles. Patton bit his lip and grunted before hiding his face in his hands. It hurt so much, but he knew it had to be dealt with. If he didn’t deal with it now, then he would be in so much more pain. But this…was a little difficult to deal with. 

“Okay…” Roman stopped his hands. “I can tell you’re in pain. I’m gonna stop.” Roman told him. 

Patton opened his eyes and looked at Roman. “What?! Already?” Patton reacted. 

Roman sighed. “I know you’re in pain, Patton. I don’t wanna put you in more pain.” Roman admitted. “But…That’s part of the massage.” Patton told him. 

Roman moved his hands down his neck. “What about your back? Would you like me to work on your back for a bit?” he asked. 

Patton nodded his head and smiled. “Sure!” He replied. 

Roman smiled a bit more and started pushing on the areas right beside his spine. “How about starting here?” Roman asked, pushing down. 

Patton hummed and grunted slightly, feeling the thumbs push down on the muscles directly beside either side of his spine. It felt a little unusual, but it felt good too. It felt like he was stretching out his back with literally just his fingers. It felt…different. 

Roman moved his thumbs up and down the spine, before pushing 4 fingers each on either side of the middle of Patton’s back.

Patton opened his eyes and smiled, gasping lightly and letting out a relaxing breath. “That feels amaaaazing…” Patton mumbled. 

Roman smiled and started to push the fingers down on his back ribs. Indexes, middles, rings, and pinkies. Index, middle, ring, pinkie. He kept this going, making sure to push on and in between other ribs. 

Patton smiled a bit more, loving the feeling of his middle back muscles being worked on. “You’re so good at this…” Patton told him. “How you’re not a masseuse…I can’t fathom it.” The dad admitted. 

“Oh hush…don’t make me blush.” Roman told him with a smirk. 

“Why? Is it working?” Patton asked, smirking as well. 

Roman poked the left side of his ribs in response, making Patton wheeze and cackle. “Shush.” He warned. 

Patton laughed a little more at his reaction. “Ohoho myhy gohohohod!” Patton giggled, hiding his face in his arms. 

Roman rolled his eyes with a smile as he maneuvered his palms and fingers onto his lower ribs. “Yeah yeah, I get it. I’m the laughing stock of the group.” Roman teased. 

Patton squeaked and tried to cover his face with his hands. “Ohohoho gohohosh! Heheheheheheee!” Patton giggled. 

Roman’s smile stayed on his face for a bit as he kept going. “Am I really making you laugh that much?” Roman asked, not fully expecting Patton to still be laughing. Patton giggled a little more and kicked his feet up like a ditzy little girl. “Kkk-Kihihindahahaha.” Patton admitted. 

Roman’s smile lessened slightly as he looked down at his hands. They were currently located on the lower back, near Patton’s sides. Hmm…Maybe Patton’s not laughing at him…but rather…he’s laughing because of him…

Roman stopped his hands and lifted them up. Patton’s laughter quickly lessened to giggles, before calming down. He looked over his shoulder at Roman. “Why’d you stop?” Patton asked. 

Roman narrowed his eyes curiously as he planted his fingers back onto his lower back. “Hmm…” He hummed, looking down. But Roman’s head shot up to look at him the moment he heard Patton’s squeal and laugh. 

Patton gasped and yelped. “Wahahait- NahahahaHAHA!” Patton laughed, covering his mouth and muffling his giggles. 

“Oooooh…Are my pushes and massages…tickling you?” Roman asked. 

Patton giggled and nodded his head. “Yeheheheah! Yohohohou dihidn’t knohohohow?” Patton asked.

“I’ll be honest, it was hard to tell at first.” Roman admitted. 

With this information in mind, Roman quickly began to spider his fingers on his lower back and occasionally on the sides. He did this by going softer in his finger strokes. He was no longer massaging and was now, just gently petting the back muscles like he would to a dog.

Patton’s reaction was immediate. He arched his back and started squeaking and squealing in between his little giggles. “EEK! Hehehehe! Hahaha- EEEHEHEEEK! NAhAhaha- nuuuuhuhuhuuu!” Patton giggled. 

“Oh my gosh…” Roman started gently tapping his back like it was a keyboard or a piano, making Patton squeak and giggle with every touch. “You’re so ticklish here! How have I never known this?” Roman asked. 

Patton giggled and shook his head. “Ihihihi dohohon’t knohow!” Patton admitted. 

“What would happen if I just…” Roman removed his fingers.  

Patton blinked and attempted to look at Roman. “Hm?” But the moment he grabbed Patton’s sides, Patton jumped and giggled a little. “Wahahait…What are you-” 

Roman took in a big breath and blew a raspberry onto his lower back. 

Patton gasped as well, but followed it up with a SCREAM of hysterical laughter! “NaaAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!” Patton cackled, hiding his face in his arms. “NAHAHAHOHOHOHOHO!” He yelled, tapping the ground with his fingers. 

“I’m shocked, Padre. I never would’ve guessed you had a ticklish back.” Roman admitted. 

“Ihihihi…Hehehe…Whyhyhyhy a rahahaspberryhy?” Patton asked. 

“Because it’s fun!” Roman admitted. “And because you’re very fun to tickle.” Roman admitted. 

Patton blushed a bit as he looked down, clearly embarrassed. “Sh…Shut up.” Patton muttered. 

This only made Roman cackle in reaction. “That worked?!” Roman asked. 

Patton giggled. “Yeheheah…Ihihit dihihihihid.” he admitted. Roman started very softly fluttering his fingers onto his lower back. “Do you prefer softer tickles?” Roman asked. 

Patton hummed and giggled little by little. “Yeheah…Ihihi lihike sohofter ticklehes.” Patton admitted. 

“Okay.” Roman responded and continued to flutter his fingers on his back. “Is it just your whole lower back that’s ticklish?” Roman asked. 

Patton giggled. “Ihi thihink?” Patton replied. 

“Okay. What about here?” Roman moved his fingers closer to the spine, and pushed there. 

“OhgodohgohohOHOHOD!” Patton kicked his feet wildly and pounded the ground with his fists. 

“Holy-” Roman quickly got his hands off him, terrified he went too far. “Sorry! I’m sorry.” Roman attempted to wipe the tickles off as best he could. 

Patton giggled and rolled himself onto his back. “Ihihi’m tihihired.” Patton admitted. 

“Tired bean?” Roman asked, poking his belly. “Ye-EHEhes! Yeheah. Sleepy eepy.” Patton admitted. 

“Sleepy eepy.” Roman summoned a fluffy blanket and a dog stuffy. 

Patton gasped and hugged the stuffy. “Thomas’s first stuffy!” Patton reacted. 

Roman giggled and laid down beside him. “Is your neck better?” Roman asked. 

Patton bent his head to the right and left, twisting his neck around, just making little popping sounds with his spine and joints. “Oooookay.” Patton leaned his head back, making the spine between his shoulder blades snap and pop. “Yes! I feel so much better.” Patton replied. 

When he looked at Roman to get his approval though…Patton would discover that Roman was staring at him with his jaw dropped, and his eyes the size of saucers. 

“...What?” Patton asked. 

“18 cracks…” Roman muttered. 

Patton laughed and opened his jaw a bit, making two more pops. “20.” Patton said with a smirk.