#error salvation

“AH! Watch your hands, creep!” Adolphe's body jerked when Ankou’s hand grabbed his side for leverage. At the reaction, the Watchman seemed to perked up, his trademark smile spilling over his lips.

“Now what do we have here..? He did it again, this time curling a thumb and forefinger onto his waist and pressing rapidly. “Is the useless human weak to such childish torture?”

“Gaha! Nohohoh, screehehehw yohoohou! Gehehet off! Gehahahha, dohohohon’t dohoho thahahhat!” Adolphe still sounded angry, but the bite in his voice was gone as Ankou continued tickling him. He released the fistful of silver hair he had to shove at his face, squirming against the floor. “Knoohohock it ohohohohoff!”

They really were like children now. Ceres relaxed in her seat realizing the worst of their tussle had passed. Her worry slowly formed into amusement as she hid her giggles. “Try not to tickle him too badly, Ankou. He’s human, afterall.”

“Dohohohon’t encohoohohurage him! HEhehahaha, Cehehehres, hehehelp mehehehehe!” Adolphe cried for assistance, arms jerking downward as Ankou skidded his fingers against his belly. Oof, that was always a bad spot for him growing up. “Gehehehet thihihis grihihihm rehhahahaping bahahhahstard!”

“I’m no grim reaper, I’m the Watchman of Death! Of course, someone with your brain capacity wouldn’t know the difference.” Despite his words, it was clear that Ankou was rather enjoying himself, finding new leverage over the giggling brunette as he sat on his legs, moving his fingers up to Adolphe’s ribs. “Are you ticklish here, too?”

In response, Adolphe let out a loud cackle, grabbing at the hands poking along his ribcage. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Nohohooho, dohohoohn’t! Gheahhahas, Cheheheehres, pleahhahahhse!” Adolphe begged for her aid, weakly reaching a hand out to her. “Hehehehelp mehehehehe!”

“My dear princess should help me, if we’re being open about it.” Ankou chided, wigging a finger into the brunette’s armpit, retracting the extended limp. “She would know all the best spots to tickle you.” He turned to her then, red eyes glistening like rubies. “Ceres, my dear princess- would you assist me in sending this man to Hades?”

Ceres looked between them, suddenly unsure on what to do. She did in fact know all of Adolphe’s tickle spots, so leaving him a exhausted mess of laughter would be child's play.

But Ankou…he had a rather unfair advantage over her foster brother, didn’t he?

She made her decision, standing up. “Give him a break, Ankou.”

The Watchman did as asked, and Adolphe gasped for air holding his belly. “C-Cehheheres you are a Godsent.”

“No need for that, I’m not helping either of you.” Her words made them both pause, looking at her curiously. “I'm just gonna level the playing field. Ankou, are you ticklish?”

To her and Adolphe’s surprise, the non-human flushed red. “Ugh..”

“Let’s find out.” The brunette shot his hands out, grabbing his sides and squeezing rapidly. Ankou let out a shocked cackle before falling off of him, his hyena laughter filling the room. “Oh my God, he’s so ticklish! Now I can finally pay you back, you damn freeloader!”

“Ahehahahahahha! Thahahhat’s nhoohohohot fhahahhair! Ehhahahaha, Deheahhahahr Priihihihncess, sehehehend me yohoohohur ahahhahid!” Ankou pleaded to Ceres, but she only curtsied in response.

“I would, but I have to make dinner. Be nice, Adolphe.” She turned her back to them, smiling to herself at Ankou’s cries of mirth and Adolphe’s triumphed glee. Huh- they laughed the same. The longer they were together in this little group, the more and more she viewed them as long lost brothers. Part of her envied it, but the rest of her relished in the joy it brought her.

In the other room, she heard what sounded like a chair tip over and the boys bickering. She giggled as she prepped the stew.

Children indeed.