A/N: I wrote it in one night for @letupabit, although I can hardly write all my fics quickly and it usually takes FOREVER (even if all that I’ve written after my first and second fic is MUCH shorter (Sorry for that)… By the way, two of it just being edited now, they'll be released soon), just because I want to cheer this good person up and support!!! Also, I've already uploaded both wonderful people who agree to help me with my fics, I'll just post it and apologize for the illiteracy!
But I recently worried that I never could get into the characters and I always write the same texts, where you can substitute the name of any character and nothing will change… But here it seems to me that both, Jun-Bae and Dae-Ho, get into the generally recognized head canons and the way they are described here, even in the tickling scene, it could be only them and no one else 🥹❤️🩹
In the original series this episode which I used for the beginning of the fic, was a scene where all knows each other’s names (and it looks like Dae-Ho doesn’t want to tell about his father and changes the topic quickly), but I’ve changed it a little. And let’s imagine that they introduced themselves a little earlier!
Hope you’ll enjoy! And please let me know if you will!
Another game was over and common room was full of people. Some of them were shocked and frustrated, but “previous winner’s team” looks like they are just meet for a cup of tea to friendly talks.
"And you are!!! Where did you learn to play Kongi like that? Brilliant hand movements! So clever, one, two, three and it’s done!”
“I was the only boy in three generations, I was allowed to play only at home, with my sisters”
“And your parents let you serve in the marines anyway?”
“My father wanted me to become a man... He fought in Vietnam, so...”
Dae-Ho has noticeably dropped head, his smile disappeared from face. There was an awkward silence until Yong-Il came to the rescue. Throwing a worried look at the marines, he loudly addressed Kim Jong-Hee and advised her to go to the doctor immediately after she got out of the games. The conversation turned in a different direction and continued soon as if nothing had happened. Dae-Ho seemed to relax after a couple of minutes and his usual energetic and cheerful state returned to him, but Jung-Bae could not get this awkward episode out of his head. Until the end of the evening, he continued to look carefully at the face of his younger comrade from time to time, trying to find in his eyes the answer to the question of what he is silent about and what this sunny boy is secretly saddening about. Something in this all bothered him so much.
They had only known each other for a couple of days, but when Jung-Bae were looking at Dae-Ho, he felt some unusual warm feeling in his heart. If his father was strict with him as a child and did not give him enough love and warmth (and the short conversation that took place after the game gave him just such an impression), Jung-Bae for some reason wanted to fix it and help the boy catch up at least as much as possible. In their situation, it was not easy, and after spending the rest of the day thinking about it, Jung-Bae almost despaired, but suddenly the perfect case presented itself right 15 minutes before the shutdown and the lights turned off.
Everyone was getting ready for bed. Someone patiently waited for their turn to go to the toilet accompanied by pink soldiers, someone tried to find a safer place to sleep in fear, someone made their beds. Dae-Ho was just methodically smoothing the folds on the pillowcase, as he was taught in the army, when someone poked him under the ribs from both sides at once. Dae-Ho shuddered, suppressing the scream and dropped the pillow from his hands. Turning around, ready to attack, he was relieved to see how Jung-Bae had already lifted her off the floor and sat down on the step next to the bed, trying to make a pillow more comfortable under his back.
“I just didn't expect it, Sir! It won't happen again!”, Dae-Ho reported, straightening his back and saluting.
“At easy, soldier!”, Jung-Bae smiled and Dae-Ho finally relaxed, smiling back involuntarily. Jung-Bae patted De-Ho's bed next to him. The younger one sat on it, waiting for his mentor to say further.
“Dae-Ho”, Jung-Bae began, looking at him as friendly as possible. “I don't want to embarrass you, but I came to apologise”
“Apologize?”, He was puzzled
“Yes... You see... This conversation about your father and childhood... He was too strict with you, wasn't he? I really didn't want to... Dae-Ho?..”
Dae-Ho was very pale, which was a good noticeable even though his head was lowered so low that his long hair almost covered it. He nervously rubbed the edge of the just perfectly tilled blanket in his hands and his fingers were shaking.
“Dae-Ho, I'm so sorry...”
“Everything is fine, sir! Nothing like that, my father was a strong man and I'm grateful to him for a lot.. It's just not easy for me to remember some things”
“It takes a lot of strength and courage to admit it, Dae-Ho! It’s good that you can show me your emotions, everything is fine!”
“Thank you, sir... Really”
The conversation went wrong. And it seemed to Jung-Bae that he did even worse than before. But Jung-Bae wouldn't be himself if he gave up so easily.
“Our parents want the best for us, but sometimes they push too much, trying to realize their own ambitions and hopes! I was actually called Jung-Bae, which means "twice righteous"! What even a "once righteous man" would doing in a place like this... What, by the way, does your name mean?”
Dae-Ho smiled sadly but still seemed to be depressed.
“You know, Mr. Big Tiger, I actually noticed something when I came up to you today...”
“I poked you in the ribs to get your attention and check your reaction, of course! You’ve reacted very quickly, well done, soldier! You keep yourself in great shape! I'm glad I didn't get a fist in the face right away, it was rashly on my part... But it seemed to me that there was something else behind this reaction, besides excellent preparation…”
Dae-Ho continued to be silent and still not let go of the edges of the blanket from his fingers, but at least his hands did not tremble now and he was able to turn his head to his interlocutor.
“Mr. Song Gi-Hun and I are old friends and sometimes he is sad. Then for many years I have been using one trick, which, judging by the way you shuddered, can work perfectly on you too! Do you want to see?”
“T-thank you sir, I'm grateful, but I'm not so sure that... Ouch!”
Dae-Ho hadn’t any chance to finish the sentence because it was at that moment that Jung-Bae pushed him by the shoulders and knocked him down on the bed, randomly poking with one hand with splayed fingers into all the ribs in turn, and the other raking the wrists of the younger one above his head.
Dae-Ho’s shirt rolled up a little, leave his stomach naked and Jung-Bae immediately put his hand on right there. Dae-Ho squealed and trembled, kicking desperately. The fingers in the like of a spider crawled VERY slowly and gently in a circle, then getting to the lower ribs, then approaching the navel.
"It's so sensitive spot, yeah, soldier?"
"Aw, of course it is!!! Just look at you, you are shaking all over! And I'm barely even touching you!”
"PLEEEEAHAHAAHHAASE, SIHIHIHIIIIIIR"
"Well, since you're asking, I can't refuse!"
It brokes Dae-Ho immediately. Because after saying that Jung-Bae started to tickle at full capacity. It was hard to believe how this man could be SO good at it. Or it was better to say for Dae-Ho “SO bad at it”… Fingers danced across his ribs like it was a piano keys, time to time pinched between it, and the younger marine felt that it was even worse than the times when all of his little sisters used to attacked him at the same time.
There was absolutely no way (and to be honest - no reason) to hide his wild laugh, so Dae-Ho just let it drop.
"Are you THAT ticklish? Can't believe it, soldier!”
"I AM NOHOHOHOHOHOOOOOHOHOT"
"Oh, poor boy! So ticklish and can't admit it!”
"AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAAA"
"It's can't be that bad! It's just a little tickle! What does such a LITTLE tickle means to a BIG tiger!”
Hands returned to Dae-Ho’s tummy and started to scratch and ripple here, while one of insidious fingers dived into the navel. And all this teasing made it unbearable… It was too much. Dae-Ho yelled hoarsely.
“NOOOHOHOHOHOOOOT THREEHEHEHEHEEEREEE PLEAHAHAHAASASE SIHIHIIIR”
“Nooooot there? Why? But I like to tickle you right there! Because I think that you too ticklish on your ticklish little tummy!”
“You don't like the word? You are wrong, I think it's exactly what I do to you right now! And you are laughing! I just tickle tickle-tickle-tickle”
Dae-Ho’s laugh became soundless. It was just not enough strength for laughing or even breathing and finally Jung-Bae spared him. In a daze Dae-Ho hardly noticed how someone dry his tear and adjusted his shirt. Still a little trembling Dae-Ho opened his eyes and looked to Jung-Bae.
“At ease, soldier, at ease!”, he repeated for the second time in this evening, giving to Dae-Ho his pillow back, “Take a rest, it was a long day! Sorry for everything and sorry for this if it was too much… I’ve just thought that you need to have a good laugh”
“It’s okay! And thank you, Sir…”
“You always welcome! And try not to worry anymore, Son!”
