#lee!ace

Ace let out a muffled roar of frustration, crushing the pillow against his ears. "Aaaahhhgh!! Shut UP! I'm tryna sleep here!"

"Trying to sleep?" one ghost sang, its voice suddenly shimmering right against Ace's eardrum as it phased through the pillow. Ace snapped his eyes open, startled by the icy proximity. "How can you sleep? Shouldn't you be consumed by guilt for gobbling up your Housewarden’s precious tart?"

Ace scowled. "Is that what this is about? You think this collar isn't enough of a punishment?"

"Ohoho... we think you deserve something much more stimulating."

"If you think depriving me of sleep is a harsh punishment, then good luck," Ace grumbled, rolling onto his side and trying to burrow back into the cushions. "I've dealt with worse."

"Oh, sleep deprivation is just the opening act..."

Suddenly, a sensation like a freezing winter breeze wrapped around Ace's wrists. He flinched, instinctively trying to tuck his hands against his chest, but his arms wouldn't move. They were locked in place by an invisible, icy force. He yanked with all his might, his heart beginning to hammer against his ribs. "Oi! Did you- did you just grab me?"

Before he could process the answer, that same chilling grip clamped around his ankles. The force of it flipped him onto his back, sending his pillow flying across the room. Ace stared up, eyes wide, as he realized the 'breeze' was actually the solid, freezing touch of ghostly hands.

"What are you planning!?" he yelped, yanking frantically at his legs. "How are you even touching me?! Aren't you supposed to be intangible?!"

"We only phase through things when we want to," the leader explained, his voice dripping with mischief. He seized Ace's other hand, pinning both of the boy's arms high above his head against the sofa. "And right now, we want to be very, very hands-on with our guest."

Ace's breath hitched. He was completely spread-eagled, his torso totally exposed. Two ghosts held his limbs tight, but it was the third one. Hovering directly over his midsection with a wicked glint in its glowing blue eyes, that made his stomach drop. Those pale, misty fingers were wiggling with predatory intent.

"Hey!! Heyheyheyhey! HEY!" Ace's voice climbed an octave as he thrashed, his sides already jumping in anticipation. "You guys are insane! I didn't do anything to you! Why me?!" He looked toward the stairs, screaming at the top of his lungs. "YUU! YUUUUU! YOUR GHOSTS HAVE GONE FERAL! HELP ME!!"

Ace groaned, his face and ears burning hot. "Arghhhhh... quit the teasing! If you’re gonna do it, just get it over with!"

Ace squeezed his eyes shut, bracing his entire body for the first poke, his face flushing a deep crimson from both fear and embarrassment. He waited. And waited. The only response was a symphony of ghostly snickers. They were savoring his panic.

The ghost hovering above him let out a dark, bubbly giggle, practically vibrating with excitement as it watched Ace's muscles cord with tension. "So willing to take your medicine, hmm?" it cooed, its hands pulling back like a coiled spring.

Ace's eyes were glued to those misty fingers. He drew in a sharp breath, bracing his core only to let out a strangled gasp when the ghost's hands suddenly lunged forward and sank right into his abdomen.

There was no impact. Instead, a wave of unnatural, bone-deep cold washed through his stomach as the ghostly hands phased through his skin. Ace arched his back, his breath hitching in his throat at the invasive, freezing sensation. He stared desperately toward the stairs, praying for the sound of Yuuken's footsteps, but the only sound was the whistling wind of the dorm.

Then, the fingers turned solid.

"GAH—AhahHAAahahAHA!! N-noho! No, wait, staHAHAP it PLEHEASE!" The transition was instant. The icy fingers began to dance, digging and prodding with ruthless precision against his sensitive sides. Ace's body jolted off the couch cushions, his legs kicking uselessly in the grip of the ghost at his feet.

"YUU!! YUUUHUHU PLEASE, WAHAKE UP!!" Ace shrieked, his voice cracking. But his plea was cut short as the ghost's fingers slipped right through the fabric of his shirt, making direct, skin-to-skin contact with his bare stomach.

"We think he likes it!" the ghost at his ribs chirped, its fingers migrating up toward his unprotected armpits.

"AGH!! AhAHAHAH! IT’S TOO—TOO COHOLD!!"

It was far more like being tickled by a human. It felt more like being poked by ten freezing icicles. Every time the ghost's fingers twitched, a fresh jolt of frantic laughter surged through Ace's frame. He twisted and writhed, his face turning a bright shade of pink as the two other ghosts held his wrists and ankles firm, keeping him perfectly pinned for the assault.

"I—gheHEhE—I DON'T like it!" Ace sobbed out, his head thrashing against the sofa. The more he struggled, the more the ghosts seemed to enjoy it, their glowing eyes wide with spectral glee.

"Oh, look at those twitchy legs!" the ghost at the foot of the sofa cackled. Ace's eyes went wide as he felt that familiar, freezing sensation sink right through the leather of his sneakers. "He thinks his shoes are armor!"

"NOHO! Stay awahay from—GYAHHAHAH!!" Ace's legs buckled as the ghost’s fingers phased through the soles of his shoes, scribbling ruthlessly against his arches. Between the assault on his ribs and the icy needles dancing on his feet, Ace was losing the battle for air.

Desperate to hide his burning face and the undignified snorts escaping him, Ace squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face into the crook of his arm, which was still pinned above his head. He tried to stifle his cries, his shoulders shaking with silent, frantic snickers that he refused to let turn into full-blown screams.

"Aww, he's shy!" the third ghost cooed, its fingers drifting away from his ribs and hovering dangerously over the dip of his hips. It began to wriggle its misty digits, inching closer to the most ticklish spot of all. "Should we see if he's just as jumpy down here?"

"P-please...Ahah, n-nohoho!" Ace gasped into his elbow, his body coiling tight like a spring. He could feel the cold air of their moving fingers just an inch from his hipbones. "Don't—I'm begging you! Not th- not there!"

The ghost's hands lunged downward—

WHACK!

The sound of a straw broom hitting the back of the sofa echoed through the lounge. The ghosts shrieked, scattering into the ceiling as a very tired, very annoyed-looking Yuuken stood there, hair messy and broom held like a spear.

"I told you guys," Yuuken muttered, their voice thick with sleep, "no torturing the guests after midnight. Leave him alone."

"But he was so reactive!" one ghost pouted from the rafters before finally vanishing into the floorboards.

The icy weight on Ace's limbs vanished instantly. He slumped into the sofa, his chest heaving as he stared at the ceiling, face still bright red and eyes watering. He looked like he'd just run a marathon.

Yuuken sighed, leaning on the broom and looking down at the disheveled Heartslabyul student. "You okay, Ace?"

Ruggie - It would be really funny doing eye fixation inductions with him. Classic following on a coin on a string he would be so locked in. He's so cute!! He would squirm and swat at the sensations but nothing makes them go away. (He likes it.) Giggles giggles giggles hes so cute. Also giving beastmen scent suggestions, they smell something sweet and it makes them laugh more!! Currently working on a fic with him and Jamil again 👀

Vil - Rook taking Vil down in trance, making him super super sensitive, then bringing him up and giving him a makeover! Vil Cannot stop twitching and giggling from the makeup brushes. Cannot sit still through a mani-pedi. Rook is just swimming in all his sounds and movements + he gets to touch all over that beautiful body! Hypnofreak Rook fans where are we?

Kalim - kaLEEm strikes again. He loves being tickled he does not care how. Finds realistic hypnosis fascinating. And then he laughs himself silly. He likes having his head empty to just fully enjoy it without feeling homesick.

Idia - this dude. shaking my head. listens to hypno tickle files (which i recently learned were a thing.) wants them to work sooo bad but he can only ever get a few pity giggles out of it. Inventor extraordinaire. Makes his own tickle machines, visors, programs, etc. He's such a looser. Just like me fr.

Ace - tsk tsk tsk ☝️ my guy loves to deny. "No, I'm not ticklish!" "(real)hypnosis? what a bunch of hoopla!" Confident FOOL! No one is falling for it bro 😭 Even an inexperienced hypnotist like Deuce could get him under. Everyone makes fun of him for weeeks after.

——

since riddle was never exposed to tickling when he was a child, he was always curious about what it felt like. like, he’s read about it, heard about it, etc, but just couldn’t imagine HOW it could make someone laugh. afterall, it sounds so absurd. which makes total sense.

it wasn’t until he started hanging out with chenya and trey that he finally learned what it was like. chenya had been the one to poke him in the side first. riddle had jumped, sputtered, giggled, and jsut reaxted like how any ticklish person would and riddle was like,, what was that?? chenya had simply told him he was curious and trey was like “oh, youre ticklish, huh?” and suddenly it made SO MUCH sense. THATS what tickling was like, and now that he had a taste of it, he was curious about more. being actually tickled and tickling someone. thankfully, being friends witb the two, he did in fact experience those

when he arrived at nrc, it didnt happen as much but trey seemed to notice that riddle didnt exactly hate tickling. as he got older he tried to hide it, but he didnt hate iy. maybe wasnt as interested as when he was younger, but it was more neutral. trey would like to poke him to get his attention and such.

trey is ticklish but maybe would prefer to be tbe ler, or at least let it be equal. he’s like, teh nonchalant tickler HELPP so like, usually won’t go very far, not more than a poke to tbe side or something small like that, but well, he still does it to like most of heartslabyul and his friends outside of heartslabyul, but is like totally casual abt it so sometimes ppl wonder if they should even bring it up

when they do, “i only wanted to get your attention.” hey trey! calling their name works just as well btw!! no but sometimes he does it just because he feels like it. always the same excuse too😭

cater is pretty ticklish. he has a love-hate relationship of it. i thjnk he enjoys tickling people, but doesnt do it much because HE doesnt particularly ENJOY getting tickled and he doesnt want them to like, retaliate. he doesnt hate it but his sisters loved tickling hjm when he was younger so it kinda left a bad taste in his mouth. basically, he usually will only have a good time if its someone he knows well and is comfortable with and he knows theh wont push him to the brink. he doesnt like to laugh uncontrollably i feel like. eitherway, he def tickles others the same exact way bc he doesnt want them to feel the same way he does about it.

he doesnt mind gentle tickles at all, but again, ws long as he’s with the right people. i feel like with a partner, he would actyally really love tickles while they r cuddling. super cute, yes.

deuce didnt get tickled a lot, at least not until he entered nrc. never really had any feelinfs towards it. he hated it when he was younger, became more neutral about it when he grew up. he would definitely defend someone if they thought it was embarrassing. “everyones ticklish! nothing to be ashamed of!”

this actually leads to him getting tickled about half the time😭😭 because everyone loves to tickle the first year students (i would too). super embarrassed? yes. super awkward? yes. hates it? nope!! prob would be blushing and all but never have any complaints

ace, on tbe other hand, did get tickled a lot when he was younger and that did not change upon his arrival to nrc. i dont know how to describe it, he just radiates those vibes. also i frel like he was more of the “popular” guys in middle school (he peaked in middle school just kidding) but he was prob the one his frienfs liked to gang up on and tickle

doesnt PARTICULARLY seek out being tickled but will ALWAYS join in if one of his friends is being tickled in front of him with the most sadistic smile on his face. he js evil, do not let urself be tickled by him (or do maybe).

yk that guy who will convince others to tickle the super scary boss?? no?? well whatever, that’s cater. tell me he doesnt whisper to the freshman to tickle riddle… everyone knows its him too except riddle because, well, the freshman never get too far in their endeavors. afterall, leaders are to set an example!

trey knows ofc, but does he stop it? ofc not!! riddle needs a laugh time to time after all.

tickle fights. between all five of them. most r started by the chaotic duo (ace and deuce) or cater. and well, the winner is USUALLY cater or riddle, trey too. ace and deuce never win. plus, cater has his clones to back him up, but if riddle uses his spell, he’s the first one gone

"Gah! Deuce! I said I'm sorry, okay!"

"Yeah well sorry isn't getting my head back!"

Earlier that day, the first year pair was hanging around the kitchen, grabbing any and all snacks for a movie night with Yuu and Grim. "Hey, Deuce. You wanna grab a couple tarts? I found a whole batch for the unbirthday party tomorrow." Ace held up a large tray of fruit tarts that Trey had made.

"I wouldn't if I were you. Don't you remember last time you stole a tart? Just put those back, we can just grab something else." Deuce replied, going through a cabinet.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just, hold this for a sec so I can go through the rest of the fridge." Ace rolled his eyes.

"Sure, fine" Deuce grabbed the tray from Ace, watching to make sure he doesn't steal any other party food for the day after.

"Trappola, Spade, what in the queen's name are you doing?!" Riddle stood in the doorway, his arms crossed as his eyes narrowed at the two of them.

"Shoot- Heyyyyyyy housewarden!" Ace waved, a worried smile on his face. "Just, uh, grabbing a snack! Yep! Nothing wrong here, so you can be on your way."

"Then why is Deuce holding the tarts for tomorrow's unbirthday party? Do you really expect me to believe such nonsense?" Riddle eyed the trey Deuce held.

"Housewarden, this is all just a misunderstanding, I swear. We were just grabbing some snacks for a hangout later with Yuu and Grim, honest," Deuce tried to explain.

"Enough of this! Rule 53, 'You must replace anything you steal' and I can obviously tell that neither of you plan on replacing any of the food you're to be taking." Riddle gripped his staff, an irritated look on his face. "Off with your heads!"

So now, Ace was running wildly around the Heartslabyul dorm while a not-so-pleased Deuce quickly followed behind. "This isn't fair! You're on the track team!" Ace panted after a couple minutes.

"Yeah, well neither is getting us in trouble! I'm sure Yuu and Grim are going to expecting us to bring something since they're hosting, and now we have nothing!" Deuce huffed.

The two of them continued these shenanigans for a short while longer until Ace had the bright idea to run into some random room hoping someone could help. Unfortunately, the room Ace chose happened to be his, and his two other roommates were currently out of the room.

"Fuck-!" Ace gasped as he now realized he was trapped. He backed up slowly with his hands in front of him as some form of "defense". His eyes darted around the room looking for any chance of escape before he suddenly hit a bed, falling to a seat on it. "Now c'mon, Deuce- we can be civil, right?" Ace pled.

"Yeah right. This has been one too many times where you've dragged me down to get a punishment that only belongs to you." Deuce cracked his knuckles and grinned.

"Wait Deucey I'm sORRY- wahahahit!" Ace shrieked as Deuce began to sporadically squeeze Ace's sides. "Fuhuhuhuck you-!"

"I don't think someone who's sorry would say that to the person they're apologizing too," Deuce teased, switching his tactics to wiggling his fingers under Ace's arms, bringing out another wave of laughs.

"Gah- Deuhuhuce! Nahat thehehehere!" Ace giggled, bringing his arms down to protect himself, which proved useless as Deuce's fingers were trapped there. "Plehehehease!"

A couple hallways down were Yuu and Grim, looking for the pair of - now late - freshmen. "Grah, where are they?! I'm startin' to get hungry, y'know..." Grim complained, his stomach growling."