#laughust

Hunter sat on the couch in Luz’s house, looking at his hands. Camilla had all but forced him to give her his gloves, they were falling apart at the seams and smelled horrible, she promised to hand wash them and sew them back up good as new. But in the meantime… he was left to sit with uncovered hands for the first time in… well he didn’t know how long. 

He stared at the myriad of scars on his hands, left there from years of abuse. Not just from Belos even, missions, spars, kitchen accidents. There were a million ways he’d hurt his hands, and each one left him feeling… insecure, at best. He didn’t like how his hands looked, as ragged and worn as his gloves really. He also didn’t like the feeling of them out of the gloves, it was like pins and needles. He tried to wear other gloves around the house, but none felt right. It was… frustrating.

“Hey man!” Gus exclaimed, bouncing next to him on the couch, startling Hunter out of his reverie.

“Oh! Uh… hey Gus. What’s up?” he asked tentatively, subtly trying to hide his hands from view.

“Just wanted to see how you were doing. …Plus I’m super bored. Willow’s in the garden, Luz and Amity went for a “romantic walk” and thus here I am. Poor little Gus-Gus, left to fend for himself!” the younger boy whined dramatically, flopping over Hunter's lap, a hand to his forehead. His theatrics made Hunter giggle a bit, “Oh you poor thing. But I’m afraid I can’t help you much, I’m not really doing anything interesting at the moment.” “That could change though! Come on! Let's have a guy day! You and me! Taking on the human world!” Gus grinned, bouncing back up and looking at Hunter with wide expectant eyes. Hunter looked away, his brief jovial mood souring. “Sorry… I can’t right now. I’m… a bit stuck here. Till Camilla gives me my gloves back.” Gus tilted his head like a curious puppy, “She took your gloves? Why?”

“They were getting gross apparently.” he shrugged, hands hidden under his thighs. “Oh… ya know I don’t think I’ve ever seen your hands.” Oh no. “They’re just… hands.” Please don’t ask. “Can I see them?” Noooooooooo. “I… they’re kinda…” he started, not really sure how to explain without sounding childish

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.” he said earnestly, shocking Hunter. He was still getting used to this… freedom, so to speak. He didn’t have to do a lot of things nowadays. He didn’t have to go on patrols, he didn’t have to do all the chores, he didn’t have to get up at 4am every morning, he didn’t have to make his own food, heck he didn’t even have to eat all his food if he didn’t want to! It was… so strange, and new and weird. But… he found himself nodding, and lifting his hands up for Gus to see. He looked away though, not wanting to see his friend's reaction.

“Whoa… did… did He, do that?” he asked softly, and Hunter nodded again.

“Sorta… some was him, some was just… normal wear and tear from my job.” he mumbled, hugging himself.

Gus sighed, “I’m sorry you had to live with that.” 

Whether THAT was Belos or his old job, was up for debate.

“Yeah… me too.” he sighed.

“...Is it ok if I touch them?”

Hunter thought for a moment, but hesitantly shook his head no. He was… getting used to saying no to people. Sure when it was an underling, or someone he used to see as “lesser” it would be easy. But now… he saw his friends as his equals, so it was certainly harder.

“Ok! That’s fine!” Gus smiled, holding his hands up in front of him. “…Can I hug you though?”

“I… guess?” hugs were still odd to Hunter. His friends were always hugging each other, and they tried to hug him a lot. Mostly Gus, Willow, and Luz, but still. He didn’t mind the hugs. Especially the tight “bear hugs” Willow gave.

Gus’s grin grew and he wrapped his arms around Hunter, hugging him tight. His face nuzzled Hunter’s neck a bit, making the teen squeak involuntarily. Gus pulled back a bit and tilted his head again, “Dude, you ok?” Hunter rubbed his neck, a weird feeling without his gloves. “Y-yeah… when you brushed my neck it just felt… weird.” “Weird?” “Weird.” “Weird… how?” he asked, scooting a little closer.

He shrugged, “I don’t know… tingly? I guess?” 

Gus hummed and smiled again, this seemed… mischievous. “Can I do it again?” Hunter narrowed his eyes but nodded, lowering his hand and tilting his head to give Gus better access.

Gus brushed his fingers over Hunter’s neck, fluttering them a bit. This made Hunter squeak again, a few involuntary titters leaving him as his shoulders scrunched up. “Hehehe! W-what the heck is that?!”

Gus laughed as he pulled his hand back, “I can’t believe it! You’re ticklish!”

“I’m… what?” he blinked, “I’ve never heard that word before.” “Ticklish! It means that basically there are some spots on you that are ticklish! Like your neck! Someone pokes you, or does what I just did, and it makes you laugh! Some people like it, some hate it, some people are ticklish, some aren’t. It’s different for everyone.” Gus explained, “My dad used to tickle me all the time, it was a fun bonding thing for us! Plus, Willow and I get into tickle fights a lot, same with Luz!”

“Huh… so is it just necks that are… ticklish?” he asked.

“Nope! There are lots of spots! If you want, we can find out if you’re ticklish in other places! It’ll be fun!” he grinned, practically bouncing on the couch cushion.

Hunter looked at his friend but eventually shrugged, the… ticklish feeling on his neck hadn’t been unpleasant. Besides, it wasn’t like he could be that ticklish in too many places. Surely he’d know about that by now if that was the case.

Gus pumped his fist in the air and raised his hands, forming claws with his fingers. “Alright… let’s see… where to start. How about we go from the top down?”

Hunter shrugged again, “I doubt I’m that ticklish.”

“That’s what they all say.” he chuckled, his fingers lightly scratching behind Hunter's ears.

Hunter immediately jerked forward with a squeal, holding his ears and looking shocked. “EEK! W-what the- How- What- I-” “Whoa! Dude, your ears are crazy ticklish! That’s hilarious!” Gus giggled, moving closer and scratching behind his ears again.

Hunter honest to titan shrieked, his ears wiggling as he tried to keep still this time. “EHEHEHEHEHE! IT-IT TIHIHIHIHIHICKLES! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!” “Well that’s the point! Oh! Oh! I wanna try something!” Gus then drew a spell circle in the air, a feather appearing in his hand. “Ok, this might tickle more, let me know!” Hunter was still fizzling out giggles when he felt that horrible, soft, bristly, torture device on his ears. “AAAAAAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! NOHOHOHOHOHO! W-WAHAHAHAHAIT! GUHUHUHUS! OH TITAHAHAHAHAN! I CAHAHAN’T TAHAHAKE IT! AHAHAHAHA!” Gus snorted, “Dude I just started! How ticklish are you?” “V-VEHEHEHEHERY! STAHAHAHAP! PLEEHEHEHEHEASE!” he shrieked, shooting his hands around his ears as soon as Gus moved the feather away. The Gus in question just giggled at him, “Maybe we should take a breather. LEt you get your bearings.”

“W-whyihihihi dohohoes it tihihickle so muhuhuch?” he asked, still giggling as he tried to rub away the lingering ticklish feeling.

“I don’t really know, it just does.” Gus shrugged, “We can find more of your tickle spots later. We’ve already got ears and neck. So that’s a start!” Hunter nodded, he felt… better honestly. Lighter even! It was… nice to laugh a bit, he hadn’t even thought about his gloves, or how weird his hands looked or felt. “Yeah… I’d like that.”

Gus beamed at him and hugged him. “Heck yeah! Just beware, when the others find out your ticklish, there’ll be no stopping them.” Hunter scoffed and pulled Gus into a noogie, “I can take ‘em!”