#falox

— Hey, Fal-

— No.

Fox stopped in mid-sentence. For a few seconds he just stood there, surprised by the abrupt answer.

— Wha... — He shook his head to regain his composure and retorted in frustration. — I didn't even say anything!

— I saw VR helmets in your hands. That's enough for me. — Falco replied calmly, without looking up from the comic book in his hands.

Fox was looking at the bird in confusion, which wasn't even looking at him. His ears drooped in disappointment, making him look even sadder.

— Why not? — He couldn't let up, so he asked in an unhappy voice.

— Because I'm tired of losing, Fox! — Falco sighed wearily and irritably. — I'm not going to play with you again until I'm at least a little better. — As if to prove his point, he pointedly turned his back on the fox.

Fox pouted with resentment. It looks like Falco really doesn't want to play this time... Of course, there were times when bird refused to play because he always lost, but usually Fox managed to persuade him (to kneel and beg/annoy him until he agreed).

But how can he convince Falco to play now?

Hmm... Apparently, the most recent option remains...

— Listen, man. — Fox moved closer to Falco — I know you don't like losing. But you know, you can get better just by playing with me!

— You said that last time. Times. — The blue bird tried to move away from the fox, but his paws grabbed his shoulders and forced him to sit still.

— Yes. But... — Fox lowered his head to the level of Falco's head and continued with a sly grin. — ... There will be a reward waiting for the winner this time~

And that's more interesting.

●◉◎◈◎◉●

— ARGH!! STUPID SHIT!

After an angry shout, the vr helmet abruptly fell to the floor, almost breaking from the force of the impact.

Falco... Lost again.

— Well... I must say, it was much more difficult this time than in the past. — Fox calmly took off his helmet with a satisfied smile and placed them on the table.

At that time, Falco was sitting on the floor, on the courts, holding his head.

— I knew it would be a bad idea... I knew it... Why the hell did I agree... — He muttered softly to himself as Fox approached him.

To tell the truth... Fox really had to work hard this time. Although he's not sure if it's because Falco really got a little better or because of the fear of losing and their deal.

Anyway...

— Anyway... — Fox walked over to Falco and put his hands behind his back. — Deal is deal. And as a winner...

Falco jumped to his feet and stepped back a few meters from the fox.

— I REFUSE!! — He spoke too loudly than he should have, which betrayed his panic even though he was trying to make it firm. — I... won't do... it.

Huh?

— Aw, c'mon man. — Fox whined in frustration. — You agreed to it yourself!

— No! — Falco turned away from Fox, crossing his arms over his chest.

This bird can be such a problem sometimes... Especially when he wants to be like that. Why was he suddenly acting like this? Really him... What's the word? Oh, yeah...

— Are you chicken?

Shy.

Falco flinched at these words and immediately turned to Fox, looking even angrier than before.

— The hell did you just say?!

This reaction only made the fox grin even more brazenly.

— Well, I don't know why you're so scared, but it's okay, I guess. I'll just ask for another reward from you. — he started guessing to ask (make-believe, of course), while Falco looked very uncomfortable at that time.

— I wasn't scared! It's just... — The bird glanced uncertainly at the room and waved its wing vaguely around it. — Not here! Okay?!

Eh?

— Eh? — Fox stared blankly at Falco, cocking his head slightly to the side. — W-what's wrong with this place?

— I don't know! I mean... — Falco cleared his throat, trying to stop raising his voice. — Don't you think it's best to do this in one of our rooms? Behind closed doors, you know.

Eh?

— Eh?

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

— Well, this is what your room looks like. — Fox said this in a normal voice, rather as if voicing his thoughts.

Falco's room is no different from any other room. The same furniture arrangement, the same interior. But they live on the Great Fox, so of course, Birds added a couple of details for his comfort: some posters (Fox couldn't figure out which posters were from music groups and which from movies or other media, but everything looked brutal), a laptop with some books and cutlery on the table. (Fox knew Falco was secretly eating something!). However, in the spirit of Falco... Wait stop.

— Is this a nest? — The corner of Fox's mouth twitched slightly, although he didn't know how to react when he pointed his thumb at the new furniture.

It looked like a bed, with the same dark gray walls it stood on... Nest. It was hard to tell what kind of material it was made of, as if an ordinary nest had been wrapped in cloth, from which something was now sticking out. But judging by the rumpled pillow and the crumpled blanket, this is where Falco sleeps.

— Yeah, why? Do you want me to sleep on the bed? — By this time, the bird himself had already taken off his top jacket and hung it on a chair, nodding towards the bed.

By the way, when he mentioned it, the bed really looks super clean and pristine. Of course, her presence was not surprising, the Great Fox was made according to the standard, even the interiors of the rooms were absolutely the same.

— Nothing, man. But why don't you sleep in a regular bed? — Fox moved closer to the nest to get a better look at it. Apart from the pieces that looked like twigs, there were also something that looked like other fabric and sawdust sticking out of the fabric. Fox sniffed the air. — Did you spray it with perfume or something?

— Ah, an old habit. — To the fox's surprise, Falco sat down on the bed. — Or you can call it "instinct." As far as I know, some birds add tobacco plants to their nests to avoid insects, but some pick up cigarette butts or steal cigarettes.

— Do avians add cigarettes to their nests too? — Fox decided to take off his top jacket too, still looking at the nest.

— Yes, I did it myself in my hometown. — Falco watched the fox, a little pleased that they were having a conversation. Maybe Fox will forget about the deal altogether. — We often had seasons with parasites there. There are ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, and locusts... Or whatever you call these creatures. — He lay on his side, propping his head on his hand. — Chicks have nests with tobacco plants and adults already have cigarettes and cigarette butts, but some of them and teenagers had them like chicks, but sometimes mixed with ordinary cigs.

Fox nodded silently, sitting down on the bed next to Falco, thinking for a while.

— And you... — He turned to his friend, finally tearing his gaze away from the nest. — You know that there are no pests here, but you still add perfume because of habit, right?

— Yeah. — Falco nodded. — I added a couple of scented sticks to the nest before wrapping it with a cloth. There's vanilla, lilac and roses.

— Some romantic scents for you. — Fox chuckled.

— I don't want to smell like tobacco and the mint has long since worn off.

There was a silent pause in the room. But she wasn't awkward, none of the guys felt uncomfortable.

— Well, it's time to do what we came for. — Fox sighed and started to take off his boots.

— Aww, men. — Falco groaned, trying not to sound too disappointed. But it was hard to keep a straight face when the fox turned and pinned him with his back to the bed and sat on top of him. — Fine, whatever... You can start.

— I heard you, bro. — Fox was smiling contentedly, which looked pretty normal... Except for the strange gleam in his eyes, which shone at the sight of Falco in just that thin black T-shirt.

Fox took a deep breath in and out, and finally put his hands on the bird's belly and began to wiggle his fingers.

But the rapid, erratic wiggling of his fingers soon became slower, focusing on exploring the sensations beneath them.

It was unusual to feel Falco's stomach, even through the fabric. The feeling was soft and smooth, but different from the wool. It seemed as if his fingers were already touching the skin, passing right through the feathers without ruffling them. It's completely different from wool, where it would be a complete mess.

He wonder if it's because of Mikey? If him take it off, will the tickling feathers be in disarray too? Would Falco mind if he t̶e̶a̶r̶s̶ a̶p̶a̶r̶t̶ lifts his T-shirt to take a look?

Speaking of Falco...

Fox looked up to ask the bird.

Falco turned his head away so that Fox couldn't see his face (Avians can turn their heads that much?!), and his hand clenched his beak to hide his laughter, but his trembling shoulders betrayed him anyway.

Damn it... Why is he so... cute!?

— Wow, dude. — Fox couldn't help but smile teasingly. — I was about to praise you. But you're so ticklish~

— Ah-I not! — Falco turned to Fox, trying to object, but shut up, trying not to laugh. — I just... I remembered a joke! Yeahaha!

— Oh, yeah?~ — The fox purred, leaning forward slightly. — What joke? I wanna hear that.

— We-well... — He swallowed, trying to control himself. — A vampire... wa-walks into a bahahar...

Falco found it difficult to collect his thoughts, his tongue was confused in words and he stuttered even worse than Slippy.

At one point, Fox stops. Falco exhales in relief, thinking that the fox is done.

— And he orders... — But then Fox abruptly starts tickling the bird's sides and belly again, and his words are instantly replaced by unrestrained laughter. — AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

— Hey, I actually wanted to hear the rest of the joke. — Fox pretended to complain, but there was still a smile on his face. — Fine then. Anyway, what I see is much funnier~

Fox's fingers moved quickly, moving over Falco's body, at the same time exploring to find the most ticklish places of the bird.

— FOHOHOHOHOHOX!! STOHOHOHOHOP THAHAHAHAHAT!! — Falco gave up surprisingly quickly.

— Stop? — For a moment, the fox really wanted to stop... But he changed his mind and continued his "attack" — Stop what? — he teasingly asked.

— THAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAT! — Despite the fact that Falco was laughing uncontrollably, you could still feel the notes of his irritation.

— What 'that'? — Fox persisted, stubbornly pretending that he did not understand what his friend meant.

— WHAHAHAHAHAHAHAT YOU DOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOIHIHIHIHIHIHING!!

— What am I doing?

— FOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOX!!

— That's my name. — Fox continuing teasing. — Come on. Just say, "Fox, please stop tickling me, I'm too ticklish!" and I'll stop. Maybe.

In response, Falco just laughed again, apparently unable to squeeze out some kind of irritated remark about Fox. It wasn't that the fox minded, he liked the sight in front of him.

Honestly, it was quite amazing to see Falco like this... It seems that even Slippy is not as ticklish as Falco.

— C'mon, Fal! It's not so hard! — And Fox considered it a crime not to tease him for refusing to say "tickle." — "Don't tickle me, Fox!" You get it? Don't...

— DOHOHOHOHOHON'T YOU DAHAHAHAHAHAHAHARE!! — bird recognized that tone, but I couldn't stop him.

— Tickle, tickle, tickle! — Fox abruptly leaned on Falco and now they were both lying on their sides, Fox was from behind, his left hand (which was on top because of their position) tickling Falco's armpit and side, placing his right hand under the bird's head and tickling his other armpit.

— SHUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAT UHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAP!! — Because of his new position, Falco found himself in a very vulnerable position, and now he was having an even worse time, unable to stop the tickling. So, he had no choice but to just squirm and laugh.

The tickling continued for a while longer, until Fox got tired.

He finally let go of Falco and sat up in bed, stretching.

— Well, that was fun, wasn't it, buddy?

— ... no more...

— No more t-tickling? P-please... — Falco was still lying on his side, looking up at the fox with a pitying look. Oh, wow, his eyes seem to be wet.

— Guh! — Fox clutched at his heart, unable to stand the sweetness that Falco radiated.

— Fox? (Are you an idiot?)

— Okay, okay. — He turned to his friend and poked him in the cheek. — As much as it's fun to keep torturing you (especially with such a sweet expression), you're lucky that I'm very merciful.

— Oh yeah. Even the Virgin Mary is not as merciful as you. — Falco replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes as the fox lay back down and hugged him.

— These are too bold words for someone who has not yet regained his breath. — For some reason, Fox snuggled too close, resting his head on the bird's upper arm.

Falco didn't respond to this, just rolled his eyes and then lowered his eyelids.

A pleasant silence enveloped the room again, as if nothing had happened.

— Hey, Falco?

— Hm?

— So why don't you sleep on the bed?

— My body hurts afterwards.

— Oh... Want to change place?

— Little later.

『••✎••』

distant memories, vivid dreams