#fluffylore

"Avery?"

"Hm?" He rolled over to face me in bed, his hand finding my side in the dark. "What's wrong?"

"I... have a confession to make."

"A confession?"

"Yeah," I replied, then added quickly, "but you have to promise not to get mad."

I felt his hand tense slightly on my side. "Casper. What did you do."

"I, um. Well, I went into the bathroom."

"Yes...?" He prompted when I didn't immediately continue. Truthfully, I had forgotten for a moment that I was telling a story.

There was another pause.

"Um, and, I was high."

An abrupt sound of shuffling sheets, then suddenly, the hand which had previously rested on my side was dragging mine up to the headboard along with its twin. I screeched laughter as he settled over me, lowering his face down to mine until I could just see his dramatically expectant smile in the dark. His angry smile.

"I'm sorry, please continue." His voice was dangerously calm. "You went into the bathroom, and you were high... then what happened?"

"Plehehehease, you can't get mahahahad!" I begged, squirming beneath his superior weight as he knelt over my hips. Shaking my head only lead to a chilling realization: there were cloud hands forming near the sides of my body.

His eyes held a twinkle that sent a shiver down my spine, but I couldn't stop giggling, which only made his smile tighter. "I... Went into the bathroom... and I accidentally used your toothbrush-"

"I never promised such a thing," he said matter-of-factly. One of his ghostly hands grabbed my chin as I tried to look away, forcing me gently back to meet his eyes. "Now talk, while I'm still in the mood to listen."

An exaggerated groan was followed by a wicked assault of twenty fingers dancing along my sides.

- agAHAHAIHAHAIN!" I convulsed with laughter, hardly able to believe how much it tickled. My arms trembled as I tried to tug them down, but the effort was short lived.

"How many times?!" He cried as I came unglued beneath him, my legs kicking uselessly as my stretched torso was played like a double piano in a duet competition. Avery's copycat fingers felt just like his own when they tickled me; deft, loving, and merciless in their pursuit of the perfect spots to stimulate. "They're not even difficult to tell apart! Yours is green, mine is blue!" He continued over the cacophony, as if I had any hope to answer. But by the end of his exclamation, I could have sworn I heard him laughing too.

"AHAAHAAAA! I'M S-SOOHOHOREEEHEHEEY!" I roared as several of those cruel fingers targeted my exposed armpits, his cool digits finding their way into the short sleeves of my nightshirt to tickle my bare skin. My ears throbbed with blush. "PLEHEHEHEASE! Ihihill gehehet you a n-nehehehehew one!" I tried to bargain as two fingertips traced torturous circles in the centers of my pits.

"If I put my toothbrush in a cloud-shaped cup, will that help you remember it's mine when you're too loopy to tell colors apart? Hm?" My vision was blurry with tears, but I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Nohohooooo!"

"What, then?!" Avery's real hands shifted from my wrists to hold mine, lacing our fingers together as the tickles slowly stopped. A couple tears slid down my cheeks as he leaned in to nestle his plush forehead against mine. "What will help you remember?"

My giggles faded into a dopey grin. "Maybe if you kiss me, that will help."

He barked an exasperated laugh, his eyes smiling in the dark. He drew closer, and for a moment I really believed I was getting my kiss; my lips parted and my eyes closed, only for both to shoot wide again as his lips targeted my neck instead!

"WAAAAAHAHA~! STAAHAHAP!" I pleaded as I tried to block his access by shrugging my shoulder, but he only pressed his lips more insistently against my skin, peppering below my ear with rapidfire smooches. My thoughts frayed and burned in the blaze of sensation, my struggle to escape becoming automatic as he hummed, nibbled and pretended to "eat" my hellishly ticklish neck. It could have been seconds or several minutes before he stopped, I couldn't tell, but I was dizzy by the time he did.

"So, do you still think that will help? Or do you need more?"

It was disgustingly unfair that he was able to wipe the corner of his mouth with one of his extra hands, allowing him to keep mine firmly pinned to the bed. Showoff.

"NO! Noho more! I'll just - hic! - I'll juhuhust put my nahahame on mine! Easy peheheasy!" The answer was suddenly so clear!

I gasped as Avery rolled onto his back, pulling me with him such that I collapsed onto his soft chest. I giggled like I'd gone for a ride, my head spinning slightly as he wrapped his arm possessively around my back, cradling me against him.

"Easy peasy... Mhm. You know, it's going to be twice as embarrassing if you label your toothbrush and still use the wrong one."

"I'll write it super big. All bold letters. Can't miss it."

"Better not, dewdrop," he purred, his voice low with sleep. "Because next time, I'm not stopping at your neck."

Avery squeaked his old office chair in my direction. He offered a characteristically guilty smile and I knew what he was going to say before he said it: “I know, I know… I’m just on a steady roll with this paper, right now. I don’t want to lose my momentum.” I gathered the empty cans of sparkling water that had accumulated in the corner of his desk. The past few days had seen a lot of collaborative research effort between the two of us, since I’d offered to help him meet this important deadline with the Cirropian Research Council. I wanted to spend time with him, but I also understood what being “in the zone” was like, especially since I’d quit my job at the bank and started working as a freelance artist. There were times that walking away helped, but I’d lost motivation that way a time or two as well. “Well, you know your body,” I replied, kissing the top of his head. Before I could walk away, he wrapped his arms around my waist and nuzzled his soft, pillowy face into me. I giggled, but with my hands full of crumpled cans, I could only offer an awkward hug around his head. “Finn’s gonna be home from work soon. Are you gonna come have dinner with us? I think Damon’s making seafood chowder tonight.” “Of course,” Avery murmured, hands wandering up the back of my shirt and smoothing with cool pressure over my skin. His arms held me possessively, seeming reluctant to let go.

I exhaled slowly, letting my eyes close halfway. “You know, there’s going to be a lot more of me downstairs tonight… like, 100% more… you should, I don’t know…” I felt the vibration of his laugh through my body, his hands steadying on my hips and pushing me gently back, as if he were holding a prized possession at arm’s length. 

“No, no. I really have to get back to this, I’m sorry. Have fun spending time with Finn, okay? He can come up and see me if he wants to tell me about his day before dinner… I’m worried about him working at that bar.” I nudged the door open with my toes. “I think he’ll be okay. He’s tougher than you and Damon give him credit for, you know; if you ever saw him hunt, you’d know what I mean.” Avery grimaced. “No, thank you. I trust your judgement… Perhaps it’s just an adjustment period. I just know he’s had a string of pretty stressful days, lately… Will you talk to him? He opens up to you more easily than me.” “Ten-four! Do you want this door closed?” “Yes, but I’ll close it, don’t worry. I’ll see you at dinner, dewdrop. I love you.” 

“Love you, sweet cloud.” 

As I turned toward the staircase, I heard a rush of wind just strong enough to make the door latch. 

☁️☁️☁️ I made my way down too many stairs to the kitchen, where I tossed the cans into the recycling box and grabbed a bag of pre-popped popcorn from the pantry. Then I trudged down too many more stairs to the living room, where I flopped onto the couch like an exhausted fish. I didn’t know what it would take to have an elevator installed in the lighthouse, but every time I had to walk down from Avery’s study, past the kitchen, past Finn’s room, past Damon’s room, past the second bathroom, and finally into the living room near the bottom of the structure, I considered asking Avery how complicated it would be. Surely it was possible. If it was possible for a human, a cloud elemental, a robot, a fish, and some sort of weird-secret-fifth-thing to coexist in a structure that was never meant for inhabitants anyway, then surely it could be done? As they say, stranger things have happened… A noise somewhere behind the couch broke my reverie. Random noises were not uncommon in the lighthouse, given that it was surrounded by constant movement from waves outside and movement from my housemates inside, but this was a shuffling sort of noise that I was less familiar with. For the past six months, though, unfamiliar noises had typically come from a single culprit. “Silas?” 

I shifted onto my knees, looking behind the couch. Nothing. 

“You can come hang out if you want to,” I reassured, scanning the walls for any hazy, purple hues I’d learned to associate with a portal about to form, and a curious, inky creature to slink out. There was nothing there, though – only the Halloween-themed fairy lights Avery had helped me string up last week, along with pictures of my odd little “family.” We were surely a ragtag bunch, and we had our problems, but I’d never felt safer before moving into the lighthouse; unlike anywhere I’d lived prior, it really felt like home. Even with the new-ish addition of Silas, who none of us had really figured out, save Avery. 

The front door opened suddenly, making me jump and snap to attention. Then, a literal exhausted fish sauntered up the stairs into the living room and flopped down on the other side of the sectional, even harder than I had. The stirred air reeked of gin and cooking grease – he hadn't even taken his shoes off. 

“Ooof,” I said, scooching closer to where Finn’s head was buried in a throw pillow. “Bad day, buddy?” 

“Oughhhh…” Finn groaned, turning his head and sighing. “Caspy, people are exhausting.” I couldn’t hold back a rueful laugh. “Boy, I know that’s right.” I rubbed the back of his work uniform. He looked awfully cute in his button-up, vest, and bowtie, but the outfit really wasn’t Finn. Those webbed feet weren’t meant for dress shoes, they were meant for flipflops. Or just bare, which they usually were when he wasn’t working. He sighed and sat up, rubbing his face in a way that was uncharacteristic of Finn. I recognized this as overstimulation. “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked, unclipping the back of his bowtie and tossing it on the coffee table. “Was it Tetra?” Tetra was Finn’s boss and owner of the bar. I hadn’t met her, but to hear Finn talk, she was a tough shark woman who ran a pretty tight ship. Still, she had always given him time off when he asked for it and never made him work the later shifts unless he asked to, which was more than I could say for some of the managers I’d personally worked for. It was Finn’s first “real” job outside of his pearl diving (which, admittedly, was recreational – though it DID rake in some serious cash) and occasional odd jobs he did seasonally.

“No, just the customers… at one end of the bar, there was a guy who just lost his job, and at the other end, there was a bunch of girls doing a, um… the thing before you get married?” “Bachelorette party,” I clarified. “Yeah, that. Tetra couldn’t really help me ‘cause there were a lot of food orders, so she was mostly cooking and I was in front by myself. It was hard… the guy was really upset and I was worried he was gonna start a fight with the guy next to him, and the girls were happy, but they were so loud, and they got drunk way faster than I thought they would… I wanted to help them both, but I felt like, I don’t know… it was hard to be one guy who was fun, and then a different guy who was… understanding? Plus a lot of other people came in… It was just really…” “Overwhelming, sounds like. I’m sorry, honey… Dealing with people like that can be really stressful. Are you thinking you wanna keep doing this after your apprenticeship is over? You don’t have to, you know… I know you want to help, but there are other jobs you could do, or you could just go back to pearl diving. Nobody would blame you.” Finn sighed and shuffled out of his shoes, tucking them under the couch, and then squirmed out of his vest. “I dunno... Maybe I just need more time. I’m learning so much, and I think Avery was right that it’s good for me to be around more people. I do think mixing the drinks is fun, too,” He said, flopping over with his head in my lap. “Anyway, I just wanna relax now, is that okay?” 

“Of course. Wanna watch Animal Planet? I think Shark Week is on,” I asked, tucking a curl of green hair behind his finned ear. “Even though you already ‘know all the sharks, Caspy’.” I playfully imitated Finn’s voice, including his lisp. Finn giggled, and I felt the tension in the room finally loosen. “Don’t make funna me!” He cried, but his tail happily thumped against the couch anyway. 

“What? It’s what you said!” I picked up the remote and turned on the TV, which was already on Animal Planet, and sure enough – Shark Week was on. Regardless of what Finn said, I knew he loved this show and we usually watched it together. Sometimes he even told me things about sea creatures that only someone who could speak Aquan would know, like how nurse sharks loved the sound of the rain. “I bet I know a sea creature you DON’T know anything about, though…” Finn’s ear twitched. He rolled over on my lap, glaring up at me with his green-gold eyes. “No way,” he said. “I know everything about the sea! Even the deep-dark creatures humans haven’t found, yet!” 

“Yeah, but do you know all about the… woozy worm…?”

Finn gasped and tried to sit up, but I looped my arm around his ribcage and held him against me. Still, keeping him from evading required considerable effort – unsurprisingly, a triton who swam in the ocean every day was stronger than a human who mostly drove a desk. Every time I wrestled with Finn, I was reminded that I really needed to get into some kind of strength training program. Oh, well – a problem for future me. “Woozy worms aren’t- REEhehehehal!” He complained, already bubbling up with squeaky giggles. “Oh, but this one is VERY real… And he’s soooo woozy, he can’t find his way home! He needs a place to rest!” I exclaimed, reaching around Finn with the arm that wasn’t holding him to present my index finger, which wiggled up and down as I turned my wrist back and forth, making it look “woozy.” “Noohohoooo~!” He squealed as I moved my finger closer to his neck. “Ohhh, he thinks this cave looks cozy! He’ll just rest in here for a little bit,” I teased, diving my hand into the right side of Finn’s neck, which he shrugged his shoulder to protect, but it was too late. The woozy worm was already wiggling into the “cave” he had created, making him screech with laughter. “S-STAahahahahap~!” Finn’s socked feet kicked uselessly, his tail smacking the arm of the couch. “Hmmm, he likes this cave, but he wants to shop around. He’s a tough customer! He wonders if this side would be better, he’s gonna try over here,” I said, darting my tickling finger to the left side of Finn’s neck. It was far from the first time I’d played this tickle game with him, but for some reason, he could never protect the other side fast enough. I held his torso tightly as I wormed my finger along his neck, shoulder, and around his collarbone while he thrashed and squirmed, his previously work-coiffed hair becoming a curly, unruly mess. His giggles broke into gleeful, raucous laughter as I felt him stop holding back and give in to what was likely the first real laugh he’d had that day.

And there he was… That was my Finnegan. Giggly, messy, unrefined. Perfect in all his imperfection, finally safe at home with me. 

With my arm resting on his ribcage, I studied the rhythm of his breathing, trying to figure out if he was still awake. We'd been in bed for around an hour according to my phone, which I'd just checked for the eighth time. I couldn't stop thinking about the audit in which I was mired at work, plus, my shoulder hurt from poor posture all week. I was tired, but I couldn't sleep. 

I rolled over, nuzzling my head into my pillow to try and get comfortable. To my surprise, Avery rolled with me, his long arms wrapping securely around my body. He enveloped me like an oversized beanbag – when I spooned him, I was more like his backpack. Avery sometimes rolled over in his sleep, but as I felt his hand move with intelligence against my hip, I spoke into the dark. 

“Are you awake…?”

“Mm… no.” He did sound sleepy. That cool palm slid up my body and under the hem of my t-shirt.

I exhaled slowly. “Good, you're not supposed to be.” 

“I could say the same to you.”  

His fingers traced down my bare tummy. I flinched. 

“Why are you so tense~?” He asked. 

“Aheh…” 

“Relax your belly.” 

I whimpered. 

“Casper, relax for me~” 

I bit my lip, but did as instructed, releasing my stomach muscles with a shaky exhale. As the pudge of my belly expanded into his palm, he gently grabbed at it. 

“Mm, there we go~ I love how soft you are, here…”

My legs twisted as I turned my face into the pillow, muffling giggles into it as he fondled and teased my vulnerable tummy. My hands knew better than to interfere with this ticklish evaluation.

“A-Ahavery…” 

“Yesss~?” 

I could hear his smile. I squirmed against the cool softness of his body. 

“That…!” 

“Mhmmm~?” 

I tensed again, my muscles knitting together. This was met with a punishing fingertip wiggling into my navel. 

“Ah, ah~ You know better. Do I need to get mean~?”

“P-pleahease…” My ears burned. 

“Please…? You want me to get mean?” 

Oh, no. 

“No, no wahahait-!” 

“Well, who am I to turn down such an invitation?” 

His curious fingertips turned into a plush claw as all five digits dug into my belly. My bubbling giggles turned into a geyser of laughter I had no hope of holding back. 

“WAAAhahahaha!” My legs kicked, toes curling in futility. 

“If you won't relax your belly for me… I want you to at least complete your thought from earlier, please… Tell me what this does to you.”

Avery's politeness made the demand twice as scary. I grabbed a fistful of blanket; anything to help me resist grabbing his hand. I knew what was down that road. 

“I c-cahahahan’t!” I whined as he continued to wiggle his fingers into me, exciting all those wickedly sensitive nerves. I could barely hear his voice beneath my laughter; low, controlled. Amused. 

“You know how much meaner I could be than this~ Is that what you want?”

“Nohohoho!” His hand scampered across my tummy, lightly skittering to a new spot and then digging in again, with random breaks to gently pinch my side or hip. With every attempt to roll onto my stomach, he simply pulled me back with his gentle strength. I could feel the restrained power behind that touch; hands that could easily unrest a tree from the earth handled my human body like a priceless Fabergé egg. 

“Tell me, then…” 

His index finger found the crease at the top of my thigh, pressing it like a child presses a streetlight button when there's an ice cream parlor across the street and five dollars in his hand. My reaction was explosive. 

“WAAHAHAHAHAA! OKAHAHAY! OKAHHAHAY~!” 

The handful of blanket was damp with the sweat of my palm as the tweaking stopped. A pause heavy with expectation fell over us. 

“Well…?” 

“It… it…” My blush was so hot, I was sure Avery could see it in the dark. 

He chuckled against my back, placing a cool, refreshing kiss on the back of my neck. I wanted more… I wanted them all over. 

“Sing for me, dewdrop…” 

A single tweak into that crease made me jolt and gasp. 

“Fihihine! It…” I tucked my head into the pillow. “...Tickles…” 

“What was that? Apologies, I'm afraid you'll have to speak up…” 

I felt swift movement behind me and even before the attack, I realized that I had pushed Avery's ler rage too far. In an instant I was on my back, cushy cloud cuffs around my wrists as they rested above my head, Avery's leg like a lap bar across my thighs. His hand spidered over my torso, scribbling under my arms, my ribs, my belly. I howled with laughter, my back arching uselessly. 

“OKAHAHAY IT TIHIHICKLES! IT TIHIHICKLES!!” I cried through gale after gale of deep, hopelessly honest cackling. 

“Oh, it does? It tickles when I do this? Hm! Could that be because you're ticklish?” He'd adopted a casual, playful tone as he laid beside me, propping his head up with one hand as he tormented me with the other. 

“YEEHEHEHEHESSS!” What good was it to resist at this point? I didn't even bother tugging at the cuffs as he used a single fingertip to wiggle into one armpit, then the other, then back to a big, ticklish claw at my belly. I just laughed and laughed, letting it all pour out unimpeded by resistance. 

“Very good~! My goodness, such hair-raising laughter, all from such a small amount of stimulation…” 

He lifted my night shirt up to my ribs, then went back to gently pinching and grabbing at my belly pudge, patting, squeezing, and playing with it. 

“I'm sorry, I just can't get enough of this.”

“Plehehehehease stahahahap thahahahahat~!” I protested in a combination of ticklishness and embarrassment. Much as I was a huge proponent of body positivity, I wasn't exactly immune to insecurity; I'd packed on a few pounds from work stress. 

“I will never understand what you humans find shameful about fat on your bodies… especially here…” 

He shifted on the bed, repositioning so that he could nuzzle his cool face into my exposed middle. He kissed and cuddled, making me giggle shyly. 

“So soft and warm,” he cooed, peppering me with more kisses, the last one landing on my navel. 

I felt the cuffs around my wrists dissipate. I reached down, stroking the rolling curve of Avery's head, even as my belly quivered beneath his touch. 

“I love tickling you,” he said. “I love loving you. All of you, just as you are.” 

The corners of my eyes felt wet as he crawled back up the bed, wrapping his body possessively around mine, pulling me into him like he was an oyster and I his treasured pearl. I tucked into him, his cool arm a relief against my cheek as I rested my head on his bicep. The world disappeared around us; we were a mote of sanity glowing amidst a blackness of merciless chaos. 

“I'm so tired,” I whispered. 

“I know, sweetheart. Can you sleep, now?” 

“I think so.” My eyes were already closed; there was very little thought involved. 

It was quiet. Avery's breathing slowed. 

“Avery…” 

“Hm?”

“Don't let go… okay?” 

He pulled me in tighter. I felt his lips on the back of my head, nuzzling my hair. 

With their first Halloween approaching, I figured it would be appropriate to introduce the pair to the holiday with one of my favorite movies, and both seemed to enjoy it; Finnegan babbled away with questions and giggled at the silly parts, while Avery grew quietly sentimental at the flickers of tenderness between Dani and her brother. As the scene with the bullies in the cages played and Max cheekily stole his shoes back, I was expecting a flurry of tittering from Finn – when I didn’t hear anything, I looked down. His head was heavy on my thigh, and his ribcage rose and fell with a predictable rhythm. 

“Hehe, had it been you in that cage, I believe I would’ve done a bit more than just steal my shoes back,” Avery joked – quietly, thankfully – as he turned his head toward me. 

I raised my eyebrows questioningly and motioned my head toward Finn. 

“Hurry back… I’m not done with you,” I quipped, yielding raised eyebrows and a shy grin from the cloud man as we parted ways. I took the short flight of stairs up to the kitchen as Avery took Finn down to his bed. 

A soft chuckle was Avery’s response, followed by a nod of confirmation. He gently lifted Finn’s legs just enough to slip out from under them. “I’ll take him,” he whispered, looping one arm under Finn’s knees and the other behind his neck, scooping up the sleeping merman and cradling him against his chest. “Why don’t you make us some tea, and I’ll be back in a minute?” His hushed voice was like a low roll of thunder. Finnegan cuddled closer, his ears fluttering in his sleep.

I stood, pressing my lips against the crown of Finn’s head – his wavy mess of hair smelled like driftwood. Then reaching up, I cupped the lowest curve of Avery’s head and rubbed gently with my thumb. 

Part of me wished Avery’s kettle was a fast electric one, but it had been hard enough to convince him to get a microwave; he disdained plastic. ‘If it can be made from anything else, it should be,’ he’d said, but after I’d burned enough meals using his conventional oven, he’d finally made a concession. I used it to check the time – just past ten. I watched steam begin to drift out of the kettle’s spout. My mind wandered back to the movie, and what Avery had said about it. My socked toes curled. I pursed my lips together. What a helpless position… suspended in a cage, feet dangling, shoes off… 

Living in a lighthouse had taken some getting used to, particularly concerning the stairs. Prior to moving in with Avery I expected to climb stairs once or twice a day; down to my car, and back up to my second-floor apartment. Now, my life revolved around stairs; up from the bedroom, down from the kitchen, up to the balcony, down to the front door. At least it was good for my legs. The change had been subtle, but since moving into the lighthouse, I noticed that I could push harder and coast farther when riding my skateboard. I wondered if Avery noticed. I wondered if he could feel the muscles of my legs when he massaged them with his big, soft doctor’s hands…

I shook my head. Tea. I was supposed to be making tea.

The kettle’s squealing whistle going from suggestion to demand snapped me back to reality, and I quickly took it off the burner. I poured a bit of water into Avery’s strawberry themed teapot, swirled it around, poured it out, then filled the pot and added the cinnamon tea Avery had been favoring lately. I turned toward the kitchen table.

The teapot plummeted toward the floor. How many times had I warned him not to sneak up on me?! I gasped as I braced for an assault of shattered glass and boiling water, but instead of a crash, I heard Avery’s relieved chuckle. His hands steamed as he set the teapot on the table. 

“Whew, close one. Are you alright?”

“Avery!” I cried in a mix of exasperation and relief. 

“Sorry, sorry!” He winced, hands out. “I didn’t mean to startle you, dewdrop. I was about to say something, but you turned before I had a chance.” 

“You’re lucky you’re fast! Are your hands okay?” I asked, my voice heavy with concern as I reached forward to touch his palms. They were as cool and soft as ever. 

He laughed humorlessly. “It would take a lot more heat than that to burn someone like me. I’m just glad you’re alright… You could’ve really gotten hurt if I wasn’t quick enough. I’m so sorry,” he said, his brow creased with regret. 

My flare of adrenaline cooled, and I smiled softly, cupping his face again. “It’s alright. I’m alright. Did Finn wake up at all?” 

“Heh, no… Ticklefish was out like a light.”

I took two teacups from the cabinet. “It sucks that he fell asleep before we got to the zombie part. He would’ve loved that. I guess we can watch the rest of it tomorrow.” 

I was about to pour the tea when Avery stopped me, his fingers resting on my forearm. 

“Would you like to drink this on the balcony? It’s clear tonight.”

+++

Growing up in the desert had made me accustomed to seasons that rarely felt like themselves, so I never failed to appreciate an October that actually felt like October; crisp, cool, and bursting with color as the leaves began to change. As I leaned back in the cushioned patio chair and stared out at the lights along the coast, cinnamon tea in-hand, I imagined what my first Halloween with Avery and Finn would be like; carving pumpkins, baking cookies, decorating and inviting friends over for a costume party, maybe. We’d never thrown a party in the lighthouse before, but I was sure Finn would love it – he loved spending time with our friends. We’d made so many since moving in together… More than I ever thought I’d have, given my reclusive nature. I shifted toward Avery, curling my legs up in the chair. 

“Do you want to have a Halloween party?” I asked.

“Here, in the lighthouse? It might get a little crowded. Who would we invite?” He sipped his tea, legs crossed elegantly as his eyes remained trained on the twinkling city lights.

“Hmm… Sunny and Dr. Lockhart, for sure… Maybe Sparky, Bori, and Niko? You know how much Arte and Tilly love dressing up, hehe… There are a handful of others I can think of, too. Do you think that would be too many people?”

“Well, we might be able to make it work, however… I think another venue would be more comfortable. Parties can get overwhelming for some – our guests should have space to step away, if needed.” 

I was quiet for a moment, thinking. We could always suggest it to one of our friends, but I didn’t like the idea of imposing… or making them feel the need to prepare and tidy up, afterwards. 

“Oooh! What about at the park? We could set up a projector and a screen and have a movie night there!” 

Avery giggled. “I think that’s a splendid idea. I’ve never been to a party, this should be fun! I’ll help with whatever you need, just say the word.”

“Well, actually… there is something I need.” I set my teacup down on the patio table. “I need it right now, though.” 

He turned toward me, his eyes inquisitive in the dim light. “What’s that?” 

I angled my chair toward him.

“Ahh- R-right now?” 

“I need those pretty cloud feet in my lap, please.”

I watched those inquisitive eyes widen, accompanying a blue flush I could just barely see in the dark. He jolted slightly, nearly spilling his tea. 

“Yes, right now.” I patted my lap, grinning. “I’m not gonna be able to get you later, since Finny is asleep… and you're not the least bit quiet, are you? I bet you thought I didn’t even notice your cheeky comment, earlier… you should know better by now.”

Avery set his teacup down and angled his chair in my direction… slowly shuffling his socked feet out of his slippers. 

“You know, when I said that… I was envisioning you in this position,” he playfully complained, lifting his legs and placing his feet on my thighs. 

I snickered. “I know what you were envisioning… but that doesn’t mean I’m going to simply give it to you… at least, not without making you earn it, fluffy.” 

Avery squirmed in his seat, a warbled grin already forming on his lips. I pinched the tip of his right sock, slowly pulling it off – his delicate toes twitched in the chilly night air. The elemental’s feet were big, pillowy, and softer than sin; like the rest of him, they were a tickler’s dream. I placed a fingertip on his blue-tinged heel and stroked lazily up his silky arch, all the way to his toes. 

He stifled a giggle, his hips twisting in his chair as he struggled to stay still. It had been a few days since I’d tickled him seriously, and the desensitization was apparent in his reactions; his movements were a hot spark landing on parched kindling, and I was immediately engulfed in a fire of ler rage. 

I tugged on his left sock, watching the fabric drag across his marble skin. Even this seemed to tickle him, because although I couldn’t hear any more laughter, he couldn’t keep still. 

“Ohohoo nooo… what’s thisssss? What’s wrong, Dr. Nimbus…? I can hear you giggling, what’s so funny…?”

“C-Casper… c-come on…” He whimpered, lowering his face into his hands.

“Look at these big, pretty feet of yours…” And they were – they were gorgeous. As I stared at his soles, I hardly knew where to start. He flexed his cornflower toes gently, and I was happy to take the suggestion. “Tell me… is the illustrious Dr. Nimbus ticklish on his pretty feet…?” I began pinching and wiggling his right toes, rolling their tips gently between my thumb and forefinger. 

“GG-EEhehe!” He tried to hide it, but his giggling was completely helpless. Despite the squirming of his body, though… he actually did manage to keep his feet still!

“Awwww, does someone have ticklish toes…? Does it tickle when I do this to you, sweetheart? I already know you’re blushing like crazy under those hands, so there’s no sense in hiding it from me…” 

Starting at his heels again, I applied just the tips of my fingers, scribbling right up into the curves of his delicate arches. No more shy titters, now; Avery really laughed. 

“EEEAhaHAHAhahahaa!” His toes went crazy, curling and wiggling and flexing as I tickled his soles, but his feet did not budge, even as he laughed into his hands. 

A fluster so strong I nearly whimpered stirred in my belly; God, he was cute. I could tickle him all night on that balcony, surrounded by nothing but the ocean’s waves and his gleeful laughter.

“Tickle, tickle, tickle~! Gosh, you’re so flushed not even your hands can hide all of it! Come on, won’t you put them down so I can see that smile of yours?” My fingers continued to gently scratch his arches, working up to the sensitive balls of his feet.

“P-PLehehehease C-ahahahahasper!” 

“Please Casper what?” I giggled, leaning down to kiss his toes – first the left set, then the right. This made his laughter squeaky and embarrassed, causing him to squirm harder.

“Come on, thunderhead… put your hands down, before I have to really tickle you… coooooochie coochie coooo~ I’m gonna tickle these feet alllllll night, Avie…”

In a huff, Avery finally put his hands down, revealing a face that was almost completely blue. As I crawled my fingertips up his soles and nestled them into the silky ridges beneath his toes, he threw his head back, laughing uproariously into the night sky as his shoulders relaxed, giving in to the sensation.

“EEEEHEHHEHE PLEHEHEHEASE~!”

“There we go! Ohhhh, look at you! Awww, look who’s laughing so hard from a little tickling on his feet! Tickle, tickle! Laugh for me, handsome…” 

And he did; deep, thunderclap-like belly laughs boomed out from the elemental as I let my fingers dance all over his squishy, delightfully sensitive feet. His skin began to glow in the dark that surrounded us, and I could see white sparks of light beginning to fizzle and pop around the border of his head like a freshly-lit sparkler… a private fireworks show, just for me. 

I drew this out for a good while, teasing, tickling, and playing with his feet until I could tell he was starting to get tired, his laugh taking on a slightly hoarse quality as a single tear slid down his flushed cheek. I slowed to a stop, my hands forming gently around his feet and massaging them soothingly. 

“Are you alright, ticklish?” I asked tenderly, gently kneading my thumbs along his arches. He groaned softly as he caught his breath. 

“Oooh… whew… yes, hehehe… goodness, you really got me… ahhh, that felt really nice – it’s been a few days since I laughed so hard.” 

He smiled at me, then – the big, giddy smile of someone who’d just been tickled to hysteria. My heart melted, and I had to fight the swell of emotion gathering in my throat; to say I adored him was an understatement. As I finished rubbing his feet, I put his socks back on them and let him return them to his slippers. 

“Avery, for once… you look more tired than I feel.”

“Hehe, you wore me out! It’s a lot of work producing all that electricity, you know,” he giggled, standing. “It’s starting to get cold, and late… I think I need a soft, warm… ticklish human to share my bed with. Know anyone who might be up to the task?” 

I stood, too, wrapping my arms around Avery’s waist. As he returned my embrace, I felt his soft fingertips gently tickle down my back, making me giggle against his lips as I kissed him. 

“Avery?”

“Mm?”

“How sleepy are you?”

“Quite… But, I'm awake. Are you okay?” 

Avery rolled to face me, the side of his head squishing into his pillow as his fingers reached for me, stroking my cheek. I cupped his cool hand against my face.

“Yeah, but… I think your quilt has a loose thread somewhere? I keep feeling it on my legs, can we turn the light on?” 

There was a brief pause, then a sound like buzzing static as the lamp on Avery's side table flicked on without him moving. He smiled as the dim light illuminated my face. 

I snorted. “How do you do that? And don't say-” 

“-magic~?” He finished sleepily, grinning a little wider. 

I rolled my eyes playfully as I dove under the covers, looking for the errant thread. My hand batted and swiped, but what meager light filtered through Avery's thick quilt wasn't much help.

“Could you hand me my phone, please? I can't find it.” 

I reached my hand back from the semi-tent I'd created, but instead of putting my phone in it, Avery simply folded the blanket over to expose the underside. 

“Oh, um, I guess that works too,” I said, blushing a little. “Oh, here it is.” 

I moved to rip the loose thread, causing Avery to jump. 

“Ah-! No, please don't tug,” he pleaded, gentle fingers touching my arm, “I'm sorry, this quilt is old and delicate. Here, I have sewing scissors.” He reached into the drawer of his side table, and I couldn't help but be terribly endeared that he had a mini sewing kit in there. Opening the clear case, he retrieved the scissors and cleanly snipped the loose thread, smoothing his hand over the blanket as if comforting it. 

“There we are,” he folded everything up and put it back, “good as new.” He smiled at me again, rubbing the back of my hand. “Are you ready for me to turn the light off, now?” 

I hesitated, because I was staring at his quilt, really seeing it for the first time; a slightly warm, marshmallowy-white fabric that was covered in a rainbow of patchwork pinwheel shapes, some solid, some patterned with various floral motifs. Though it was clearly old and thoroughly loved, there actually weren't any other stray threads that I could see, nor were there any holes or stains – I supposed that mini sewing kit had seen a lot of use over the years. 

“This quilt is really beautiful. Did someone make it for you?” 

“Yes, my mother did, just before I was born.” 

My fingers went from gentle to reverent as I traced the edges of the pinwheel shapes. Only moments ago, I could've ruined Avery's blanket – his baby blanket, lovingly made by his mother and painstakingly treasured by him for years. My stomach hurt. 

“God, I am so sorry,” I said, nervous to look at him. “I was so careless, I could've… I'll never do that again.” The guilt was immense. I hugged myself. 

“Oh, dewdrop,” Avery replied. A soft hand pulled me against his side, rubbing my arm. “I love this quilt, and I'm glad I stopped you… But even if I hadn't, whatever damage you did could've been fixed. Even by myself, perhaps – I've gotten pretty good at sewing over the years, hehe. So, don't worry, okay?” 

I snuggled against him, closing my eyes and focusing on the rubbing of his hand, letting the comforting and repetitive motion penetrate me. My head found its way to his chest, my hand encircling him and rubbing his side and belly. Avery murmured and cooed as I touched him, and then the light was off and both of our heads rested on his pillow, his hands stroking my back as I squeezed him and kissed into the crook of his neck. My hands wandered his body, grabbing gentle handfuls of his sides and belly – and without intending to do so, making him tremble with barely restrained giggles. 

“Casper… pfff, hehe! Ahh, it t-tickles when you do that,” he said of my fondling, sending a thrilling tingle down my spine as he shifted under my hands. How terribly I craved to make him sing with laughter, but I knew he was tired – we both were. Rolling onto my other side, I pressed my back against Avery’s body. 

“You're lucky I’m nice,” I grumbled playfully, earning a swift tickle to my belly that made me cry out a surprised laugh. I reached back to pinch his hip, but he snatched my hand and folded it gently back against my chest. 

“When we wake up,” he promised, voice already heavy with sleep. I heard him take his glasses off, then his arms tugged me against him again, cuddling and holding me like a treasured plushie. My breath regulated and my eyes fluttered closed, palms blindly stroking the cool silk of his arms around me.

“I love you.” 

“Alright, Casper. Lay down, and lift ‘em up.”

I flushed hotly, squirming in place as we stood in my bedroom. It was evening, and we had already changed into our pajamas. Avery looked wonderful in a tank top; tall and powerful, his bare arms pale and smooth as marble. Lacking two nights worth of sleep, I looked like a frazzled raccoon by comparison, my own oversized tank and gym shorts only adding to my gremlinized appearance.

Ravaged by an unrelenting bout of insomnia, I was exhausted, and I looked like it. But, as I seemed to learn again and again, with Avery... I was never too tired to be sheepish.

“Ah-! Avery, please, I…”

He chuckled knowingly, nudging me toward the bed. 

“I know, I know. It flusters you terribly, but you always sleep so well afterwards. The last thing you need is a third sleepless night, my dear; I won't allow that to happen, if I can help it. I know it's tough, but it will help you relax, I promise. Go ahead and get comfortable, now… Let me take care of you.”

I offered an embarrassed glance before turning toward the bed, my knees wobbling as I laid down on the quilt. He dimmed the lights, then floated over beside me and made himself comfortable, the brawny elemental's feet nearly hanging off the bed. For someone so big, he always moved with effortless grace.

“Alright, now… Arms… Uuuuuuup up up~” He ordered playfully, taking my wrists in his big, chilly hands and gently guiding them over my head. I tried to relax, the cool air wafting over my now open, vulnerable armpits. My hands balled into fists. 

“You know what I'm going to do next~ I know how much this makes you laugh, but just try to stay still for me, okay?”

I swallowed hard. Easy for him to say! I took a deep breath, but caved to more whining on the exhale. 

“Avery… Please, not the pits…” I was already glowing, my lips warbling into a twitchy smile before he had even laid a finger on me. A surge of giddiness welled in my chest, threatening to burst from my lips at any moment. 

Simpering deviously, he pushed right into my anticipation. 

“Hehe, ohhh, why not~? Does somebody have tickly pits, Casper~?”

And there went my resolve.

“Ah-! D-dammit… You already k-know-EEEEEHEHEHE?!” 

Without another word, he leaned down and pressed a soft, cool kiss into the middle of my right armpit.

I gasped.

Kisses?! 

He'd tickled plenty, but Avery had never kissed me before… Not there. I’d never known the elemental to be squeamish (not as if I weren’t hygienically meticulous...), but I would’ve never foreseen such a gesture – apparently, I didn’t know what he was going to do! My shocked body struggled to react, emitting a combination giggle-squeal as my back arched and ears burned with exploited sensitivity. His lips were a hunter’s arrow clad in cold silk, penetrating right to my core. My arms trembled as I struggled to keep them raised; even his breath tickled. 

Though my face was a billboard of fluster, Avery wasn’t content with my suffering. He continued to tease, smirking down at me as he thumbed through the pages of my expression; panicked delight, terrified desire, excited dread. Like most who had ever willingly submitted to a tickling, I was the embodiment of a war between philia and instinct, waged on a battleground of trust. Just by looking at him, I knew that he saw everything behind my eyes… and loved it.

“Keep ‘em up… The left one needs kisses, too~” 

“NohoHOHOHOOO!” 

“Mhmmm~ Right here…”

Holding my left arm up, he planted three swift kisses right into the hollow. I screeched and twisted as he giggled, his lips vibrating against my skin as he held onto my elbow, easily preventing me from lowering my arm. 

I was still laughing and squirming as he stopped to speak again. 

“Ohhhh, somebody really likes this, don’t they~? Tickle, tickle, tickle, Casper likes tickly kisses in his pits~ Hehehe~ Keep those arms up, or I'm gonna getchagetchagetcha~”

“AHaHahaAvery p-plehehehease~!” 

What had I done to deserve such savagery?! He was positively merciless!

“Are you going to be a good boy and sleep through the night, for once?” He leaned down again, brushing his satin lips back and forth across my left underarm, before planting another deep kiss into the center. I bubbled up with gleefully hysterical giggles, making him chuckle again. 

“YEHEHEHEhehes! PLEEHEhehease, no mohohore k-kihihisses~!” My heart palpitated fiercely. I was certain I couldn’t blush any deeper, but my face still managed to betray a wisp of regret as he relented. Like a center-fielder with an unbroken streak, Avery caught this, too.

“Alright, alright. I won't give you any more kisses… But that doesn't mean you're safe!” With that, he scribbled his plush fingertips into my pits, making me clamp my arms down as I shrieked and howled, curling into a ball as I did. 

“Aaa-gitchygitchygitchy~! Who's my ticklish, handsome boy?” 

“EEEEEEEEHEHE-AAAHAHA~!” My eyes welled with tears as he continued to wiggle his trapped fingertips under my arms, the limited range of motion doing nothing to lessen the sensation. How did it tickle so badly? I could hardly think…! My heart raced as the sensation ran all over me, making me tremble as my vibrant blush spread down my neck and chest. Enduring a tickle from Avery wasn’t a rarity by any means, but I couldn’t remember the last time he’d made me laugh so hard; he really did intend to exhaust me!

“We're going sleep alllll the way until morning, right? Or does the tickle monster need to wear you out a bit more~?” 

“I’LL SLEEEEHEHEHEHEEP!” “Wonderful! Now, I don’t think I received an answer to my first question. Let me ask it again…” “NOOOOHOHOOOO!” “Who is it, Casper~? Who’s my pretty, sensitive, ticklish boy~?”

His gentle fingers were so fiendishly persistent as they wriggled into my pits, I could scarcely get the word out. “M-MEEEEHEHEHEHEE!” “There we go! Good boy~!” 

I couldn’t believe it; even after such an admission, he continued to tickle me!

As my laughter began to border on screaming, he finally gave my armpits a break, switching instead to my ribs, belly, hips, feet; anywhere he could reach. My laugh was too big for me to keep my eyes open, but I could feel that he’d conjured extra hands to assist him… The sheer cruelty of it all! I quickly slipped into silent hysteria, which afforded me an opportunity to listen to Avery’s melodic, affectionate chuckle as he tickled me. Oh, how wonderful… how terrible, how unbearably tender. Enough love to fill every ocean radiated from that laugh, and I wanted to swim in it until the end of time.

Once he was satisfied that he’d soundly melted me into a flushed, ticklish puddle, Avery finally stopped. He leaned down to give me one last kiss, this time on my forehead, as he tucked my hair out of my face.

“I love you, dewdrop. I'll be right here, okay? If you wake up scared, just wake me up, and I'll help you get back to sleep. With tickles, or without.” He softly caressed my cheek, then winked, causing the light in the room to flick out. Pulling me into his arms, he nuzzled into my neck as a deep, exhausted sigh rolled from my chest, my body buzzing with the characteristic tingle of a thorough tickling. His plan was working… I could already feel the tug of sleep on my consciousness, pulling my thoughts into a wooly haze. My eyes slipped closed as I snuggled my back against his pillowy, cool body.

As I made the short trek home from the bank, my eyes trained on the lighthouse as it stood tall against the afternoon sky. After glaring at my computer screen and paperwork for eight hours, it was a relief to stare at something beautiful and distant. I rolled my tired shoulders, wincing in pain as I did. Maybe I could talk Avery into giving me one of his expert massages… Not that I deserved it, I thought, after how neglectful I’d been him and Finn all week. I frowned, remembering how many times I'd fallen asleep watching TV with them -- I definitely needed to make up for lost time this weekend. I shuffled up the stone steps and turned the lighthouse’s antique doorknob, wiping my feet on the strawberry-print mat as I entered.

“Caspeheher! Hehehehelp!”

No sooner had I walked through the door – key still in-hand – than my arms were full of triton as Finn crashed into me, nearly knocking us both over. He squeezed me as if he hadn't seen me in weeks, giggling as he nuzzled his face into my neck. With some effort, I deposited my keys and wallet into the plastic tray and shuffled out of my shoes, just in time to watch Avery appear in the foyer. He was grinning in that characteristic, long-suffering way of his as he shook his head.

“What are you doing to this fish?” I asked, chuckling as Finn scrambled out of my arms and hid behind me.

“Well, I was just trying to give him a routine physical,” Avery replied, “but as you can see, it isn't going well.”

“He’s lying!” Finn protested, laughter riding beneath his words. “He was tickling me!”

I quirked an eyebrow at Avery, who rolled his eyes upward, offering a sheepish grin-and-shrug combo that told me everything I needed to know. For the first time that day, I giggled.

“Do you need an assistant to help with this patient, Dr. Nimbus?” I asked playfully, reaching back to pinch Finn's side without taking my eyes off the cloudman, eliciting a ticklish squeal.

“Why, yes! Thank you for offering, I believe that would be quite helpful!”

“What?! You traitor!” Before I could snatch him, Finnegan darted past me and was scampering back up the stairs with a gleeful laugh. I wondered why Avery didn't stop him… until the elemental floated gracefully over to me, pulling me into a deep and comprehensive embrace. I sighed with relief, my eyes automatically closing as I laid my head on his chest, listening to the quiet storm inside his body. Bergamot and old paper wrapped around my olfactory nerve like a warm blanket – I was finally home.

“Hi, dewdrop.”

“Hey, peach.”

“How was your day?”

“Tiring… This audit is wearing me out. I'm really sorry I haven't been much fun to be around this week… I promise I'll make it up to you and Finny.”

“You know you don't have to apologize for that, sweetheart. We're both so proud of how hard you work, and we understand when you're tired.” Avery's large, soft hand stroked my upper back. As it did, I felt his fingers get curious around my shoulders, pressing and palpating my achy muscles. I flinched through a cocktail of ticklishness and pain. “Oh, oh… Sorry, did that hurt? My goodness, you are tense. You've been hunching over your desk again, haven't you?”

I blushed a little. No matter how many times Avery tried to correct my posture, I always fell back into old habits as soon as work got too stressful.

“Aheh… Maybe a little… Sorry.”

“Oh, Casper… Tsk, tsk, tsk,” he chided, his touch turning softer and playing around my shoulders and neck, making me laugh and squirm.

“Ehehe~! Okay, I'll- ahaha! I'll w-work on ihihhihit!”

“You'd better, or you'll be in for a much more serious tickling than this!” Avery teased, continuing to tickle a bit more before stopping, his eyes tender as he looked at me. “Really, though… I'll give you a nice massage later, okay? I don't want you to be in pain.”

I felt my ears flush as I turned my attention to the foyer wall, my mind wandering to Avery's cool, pillowy doctor's hands coated in massage oil, squeezing and kneading my bare shoulders…

I cleared my throat, meeting his eyes only briefly, as if staring too long would allow him to read my mind.

“Don't we have a fish to torment?”

“Ah, yes! I'm sure he's up there getting impatient… which makes me worry for the state of our home. Shall we?”

He gestured to the stairwell. I took a step forward, then halted, eyeing him warily.

“... After you.”

Avery grinned. “No, really. I insist.”

“You’re a doctor; such a title affords you the right to go first, don't you think? Please permit me to offer this token of my respect.”

I watched him try not to laugh. So was I, but I was better at it.

“...You flatter me. Very well, I'll lead on.”

I let Avery believe I wasn't going to do anything. I was certain that by the time we’d passed the halfway point, I'd convinced him of my innocence. Surely if I'd planned on doing something, I would've by then. Right?

Right…?

Wrong. With about ten steps in the winding staircase to go, I reached up and gave the elemental a quick scribbling along both of his sides. Avery gasped in surprise, followed by a flurry of defeated, yet joyful laughter.

“Oh, you cheeky little-”

Just like Finnegan had done to me earlier, I ducked under Avery's hands as he reached back to snatch me, clambering to pass him on the staircase. Unlike Finn, though… dodging Avery's hands didn't guarantee my safety, as a forceful gust of wind knocked me backwards and right into his arms. I screeched with laughter as he lifted and tossed me like a sack of potatoes over his soft shoulder, my legs kicking as he easily carried me the rest of the way.

“Oh, no you don't,” he admonished, reaching up to tweak the crease at the top of my thigh with his thumb and forefinger. Panicked laughter filled the living room we now stood in as I thrashed, but none of my wriggling did any good; he was simply too strong. Avery chuckled as he gently pinched, forcing a torrent of squealing, frantic laughter from me, until he deposited me carefully on the couch.

“Did you know I was going to do that?” I asked, still giggling.

“I had a suspicion… but I will concede that you lulled me into a false sense of security.”

“Yessss!” I cheered, earning another lighthearted glare as he reached down with both hands, quickly wiggling his fingers along my sides and belly. I curled into a ball on the couch, filling the room with my hysterical squawking as he tickled any spot he could reach.

“You might be a systems admin, but you moonlight as a troublemaker, don't you?”

“NOHOHOHOOO!”

“I think you doooo~” He lilted, worming his fingers under my arms, between my neck and shoulder, and any other ticklish creases I created with my defensive posture. I was still screeching as Finn appeared in the doorway.

“Don't worry, Casper, I'll save you!” His bare, webbed feet made a sound like a duck running as he charged Avery, who whirled on him before Finnegan had a chance to try anything, easily scooping the triton into his arms and nuzzling into him.

“EEEEEHEhehehee!” Finn laughed, his fingers squishing Avery’s soft head as the cloudman kissed his neck.

“And they say chivalry is dead,” Avery tittered, taking a seat on the sofa beside me, Finn still in his arms. “Will you please let me finish your physical, brave warrior? I'm almost done, I promise... I just need to check your belly, now.”

Finn sighed dramatically, then sprawled across Avery's lap, adjusting his body such that his head rested on my thigh. I grinned down at him.

“Hi, Finny-Finn-Finn.” I swept his hair back and leaned down to kiss his forehead. The warmth of his scales was always a bit of a surprise, especially compared to Avery's chilly skin.

I was expecting Avery to go in for the kill, but as I watched him methodically inspect Finn's abdomen, I realized he was conducting a legitimate physical. He gently pressed and palpated the softer scales of his belly as he used his free arm to keep the merman’s squirmy legs still. Finn giggled, and I couldn't blame him; I'd been on the receiving end of plenty of physicals from Avery, too, and I knew those fingers tickled no matter how professional he tried to be. In the back of my mind, I knew it was likely a conflict of interest for Avery to treat us… but since he was the only doctor in Port Oleander – and more importantly, one of the few on land who could treat merfolk – I supposed an exception had been permitted.

“Does any of this hurt, Finn? Has your belly been hurting at all, lately?”

“N-no, it's not hurting. Uhm… my belly hurt last night, after dinner, though…” He admitted.

I frowned, unable to recall him saying anything about a stomach ache. Last night had been my turn to cook. I wasn't a great cook to begin with, and admittedly… it was difficult to prepare meals that both Finnegan and Avery could eat; the elemental couldn't digest any food that was too dry, and Finn’s rainbow trout biology was primarily carnivorous. Soups, stews, and curries were common in our house – dinner last night had been red curry with chicken.

“What kind of hurt? Was it stabbing, dull, hot, achy…?” Avery asked, concerned.

“Hot, especially when I was laying down in bed.” Finn looked away from me. Avery and I exchanged a glance.

“I'm sorry, Finn… I probably made it too spicy. I won't make that again. Why didn't you say anything? I would've gotten you some medicine to help you feel better.” I stroked Finn's hair back again, my face etched with guilt. Now that I was thinking back to the previous night, he had seemed more quiet than usual… but I had been too tired to comment on it, chalking it up to him being tired, too. I kicked myself; Finn was never tired. The only time the triton lacked energy was in the five – maybe ten – minutes wherein he would go from bouncing off the walls to being dead asleep. Had I been more observant, I would've realized that.

Finnegan's eyes were serious as he looked back at me, an expression that seemed foreign on his gamine face. He looked away again, though, as he started to speak.

“It's just… you've been working so hard this week, Caspy, and I didn't want to hurt your feelings or make you worry about me.”

I couldn't bring myself to meet Avery's eyes again as an arrow of regret pierced my heart. I really had been disconnected from them all week.

“Finn… nothing is more important to me than you and Avery, okay? I’m sorry I've been so busy this week, I should've paid more attention to how you were feeling. Please don't suffer in silence again, okay? If your tummy hurts – or anything hurts – please promise you'll tell us from now on.”

Finn's tail swished uncomfortably… but he managed a smile, looking up at me again.

“Okay, I'll tell you from now on… I promise.” He shifted his gaze to Avery, whose hands were still resting on his scaly belly. “Am I done, now?”

It occured to me then that the part of the physical Finnegan disliked wasn't the tickling, it was staying still. Avery's concerned expression relaxed; a rainbow after a storm.

“Yes! You're a very healthy fish, Finn. Just keep remembering to soak in the tub at least once a day when you can't go swimming, so your gills stay healthy and your scales don't dry out.”

“Okay!” He was already off the couch, stretching his arms over his head and swishing his tail, as if laying across our laps for ten minutes had made him stiff. I shook my head, grinning. “I'll go for a swim right now, actually! Love you, Caspy! Love you, Avery! Bye, bye, bye, bye!” Each ‘bye’ grew progressively quieter as he descended the stairs, tail thumping clumsily the whole way down.

Once he was out of earshot, I looked down at my hands.

“I feel so bad… he got sick because of me, and he didn't even say anything.”

Avery shifted, pulling me into his arms again. I rested against his soft, cool body.

“He got a bit of a tummy ache from eating something too spicy, not an incurable disease, hehe. You won't make that dish again, and he'll tell you next time something doesn't agree with him. No need to worry yourself sick, okay? Life is unpredictable and stressful, sometimes… but we're your family, Casper. We understand.”

I snuggled against Avery's side as he held me, my throat constricting as he said the last few words. He looked down at me, and then I felt my favorite little tickle under my chin, coaxing me to look at him.

“Now… I believe I need to tend to my other patient, hm? Why don't we start your weekend with a little physical therapy on those shoulders? I swear, you're wound up tighter than an eight day clock.” He brought me up with him as he stood, strong arms carrying me bridal-style in the direction of the bedroom, giving me no room to protest.

Not that I would have. My fingertips fiddled with the collar of his shirt, the ghost of a coy smile dancing across my lips.

“Alright, doctor… but you'll have to let me return the favor, afterwards. After all, I've got a whole week's worth of lost time to make up for. Think you can handle that much…?”

The shade of cerulean that rose in his cheeks told me he caught my meaning, and I watched his wisp of surprise turn into a bashful giggle.