#lee!daniel

Eric stood in place, rubbing his temples and contemplating all that was said. It was easy to lose your cool when dealing with an angsty teenager, but perhaps he was too hard on Daniel. After all, he was still just a kid.

As much as Eric wanted to talk to Daniel, he knew the kid needed some time to himself and he didn’t wanna invade his space.

They would sort it out later.

After some time, Eric decided Daniel had probably cooled off by now and decided that now was the time to talk.

He took a deep breath as he stood outside his son’s door, already contemplating what he should say. Finally, he hesitantly knocked.

“Daniel? Can I come in?”

“Whatever..”

With permission granted, he turned the doorknob and entered the room where Daniel laid on his bed with his arms crossed over his chest, an expression of irritation on his face.

Eric sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

For a moment, the two sat in uncomfortable silence, both having a hard time looking at one another.

Finally, the man spoke.

“Look, son, I know I haven’t been as… present as I should be.” He started, trying to find the right words. “I know the divorce has been difficult for you and I just wanted to apologize for everything I said… I shouldn’t have been so hard on you, and I’m sorry.”

Daniel seemed to contemplate the apology before giving an awkward nod.

“It’s whatever… I was kind of a douchebag too.”

With the awkward exchange over with, the tense atmosphere still remained, though less suffocating than before. Eric knew he had to lighten the mood.

Thinking back to when Daniel was little, he suddenly got an idea. An idea that would either lighten the mood, or make Daniel hate him forever.

“Hey, Danny… are you still ticklish?” He asked, looking at his son to watch for his response.

And what a response it was.

Daniel quickly sat up and pulled his legs close to himself, his cheeks turning pink as his eyes formed a wary gaze.

“No, I’m not ticklish.. I outgrew that years ago!” He claimed defensively, though there was a tinge of nervousness in his voice.

Daniel often wore a tough facade. He’d built himself a wall of teenage angst and he refused to let it break. Though he knew that if the knowledge of his ticklishness resurfaced, that would get washed down the drain.

Eric was unconvinced. He knew his son too well for that lie to work.

“Daniel, how are we going to build a better relationship if we can’t be honest with ourselves.” There was a playful tone to his voice. Deciding to put his son’s claim to the test, - even though he knew it was a lie - he finally reached over and dug into Daniel’s sides, earning a surprised squawk from the teenager.

“ACK- Dahad!”

The rare sound of laughter filled the room, Daniel squirming and shoving at his father’s hands, his facade broken almost instantly.

Seeing his angsty teenage son laughing and smiling like a child truly melted the detectives heart. It had been too long since he’d seen the kid look so free and happy; the usual scowl replaced with a bright smile, just like the one he wore when he was a child.

“Well, Danny, I’m starting to think that you lied about not being ticklish.” He teased, relishing in his sons laughter.

Daniel’s laughter grew louder when the tickling fingers moved upwards to his ribs, massaging the bones and digging into his back ones, sending ticklish sparks shooting through his nervous system.

“STOHOHOP! YOU’RE S-SO AHAH- AHAHANNOYING!!” The kid shouted through his guffaws, though there was a hint of glee in his voice, showing that he didn’t hate this as much as he claimed.

“Well, am I as annoying as you are ticklish?” “YEHEHES!!” Daniel walked right into the trap.

“So you admit you’re ticklish!”

Daniel’s face turned red, realizing what the answer implied and immediately regretting his response. He kicked his legs and bucked his hips, tears of mirth forming at the corners of his eyes.

Eric recalled all of Daniel’s tickle spots, remembering one in particular that used to get some pretty big reactions.

“If memory serves- and mine is never wrong- you used to be pretty ticklish riiiight here!” He shoved his fingers under Daniel’s arms, scratching at the sensitive hollows.

Daniel let out a childish squeal, throwing his head back with unrestrained joy, gluing his arms to his sides and trapping his fathers hands.

“DAHAHAHAD!!! NOT THEHEHERE-”

The teenager was in stitches. He couldn’t remember the last time he laughed so hard, if at all. It was almost freeing in a way.

“Told you I was never wrong. You might be even more ticklish than when you were little, son!”

Eric was enjoying this moment just as much as Daniel, his chest tightened with affection for his kid, looking at his rosy cheeks and scrunched up nose and seeing the bright little boy that he raised.

In this moment, Daniel wasn’t an angsty teenager, he was just a kid.

Not wanting to push too far, Eric let up, pulling back and ruffling the kids hair.

Daniel laid catching his breath, a smile still glued to his face.

“You’re such an ahahass…” He tried to glare at his father, but it wasn’t very menacing due to the rosy cheeks and goofy smile.

“Watch it, son. Unless you want a round two-”

“Nonononono!! I’m good I’m gohohood!” The giggling teenager held up his hands defensively, sitting back up and shaking his head.

Eric laughed and pat his son on the shoulder, assuring that there would be no more tickles for the time being.

The earlier tension had been lifted, replaced by a comforting atmosphere. When Daniel finally calmed down, Eric wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him close, holding him in a side hug.

“I love you, Danny. No matter how many arguments we have, you’ll always be my kid.”

Daniel smiled at that and leaned into the hug.

“I know. I love you too, dad…”

“Wow, not too cool to tell your old man you love him?” The elder grinned.

Daniel snorted.

“Shut up.”

Kevin had flown to Japan for a while to hang out with Daniel (Aka: RTGame) after COVID had been mostly eradicated. With both of them double vaxxed, Daniel and Kevin were allowed to hang out without needing to quarantine for 10-14 days!

Kevin and Daniel were now going to record their first videogame together. Well, obviously this wasn’t their first game together. But it would be their first game ever played in the same house! And wanna guess what they played?

If you guessed Super Smash Bros, then you are correct!

Daniel smiled and grabbed his switch controllers. “Alright. Let’s get this video started!” Daniel declared.

Daniel switched the live channel to the webcam and the video game Beside him, was Kevin trying to get his switch controller synced to the console.

“Alright, I think my controllers are synced.” Kevin told him.

“Perfect.” Daniel reacted. “Did you bring your baby too?” Daniel asked.

“You bet I did.” Kevin grabbed his wii baby and placed him in between Daniel and himself.

“Alright! Gilbert will sit beside your little cursed one.” Daniel decided.

“Yay! Awww, look they’re playing!” Daniel reacted as he started bashing Kevin’s Wii baby.

“Awww, how sweet.” Kevin responded.

Daniel sat his baby down beside the knocked over baby, and started choosing his character. “I think I’m gonna choose...Obama.” Daniel decided.

“Oooh! Hahahahaha! I’m gonna choose...Turg.” Kevin decided.

“Alright! Go Turg! I believe in you, Turg!” He joked.

“Awww, thank you, thank you.” kevin replied kindly. “Now DIE!” Kevin shouted right as the game started.

“NO!” Daniel yelled.

And: Kevin and Daniel were off!

[5 rounds later]

Kevin growled as he was beaten again.

“Curse you and your amazing gaming abilities!” Kevin joked.

“Oh, don’t sweat it. You’ll win one, I’m sure.” Daniel told him.

Then, Kevin turned to read the comments people were writing.

{TICKLE HIM!}

{Get him back! :D}

{Go for the ribs!}

{Tickle him till he pees!}

Kevin widened his eyes and laughed.

Daniel turned to him. “What’s so funny?”

“Oh just some stupid comments.” Kevin replied, before turning back to the camera and winking.

A new game had just begun! King Dedede! Vs. Ganondorf! The players immediately started smashing each other.

Kevin turned to the comments and read them rather quickly without seeming too obvious.

{is he gonna do it?}

{LOL Tickle his little tootsies!}

{Is Dan even ticklish?}

{Tickle your lad!}

Kevin smiled and wiggled his fingers towards the camera. Then, he returned to the game so he didn’t notice anything.

“Dude, you’re not really even fighting me.” Daniel reacted.

“I know, sorry.” Kevin told him.

“I might have another win under my belt!” Dan reacted.

“Yeah, maybe.” Kevin replied.

As it would turn out, Dan would win yet again.

“Oooh! Man, I am destroying you!” Dan reacted, cracking his back and smiling.

“Not for long!” Kevin declared.

The next game was on! It was very much the same characters as before: Ganondorf Vs. King Dedede! The fight started out rather normally.

“Yes! Take that! And that!” Daniel declared.

“No!” Kevin yelled.

Daniel and Kevin were halfway through the game when Dan had struck.

“I am so- GaaAAH!” Dan screeched like a dog, and curled in on himself. “KEVIN!” He yelled.

“What?” He asked, squeezing his sides more.

“NOho! Kehehevin yohohou cheheheateher!” He laughed quietly at first.

“You’re the one winning all the time!” Kevin reacted.

“Ihihit’s nohohot- OHOHO GOHOHAHAHAHAHAHA!” His laughter jumped a few octaves as he was tickled up in the armpits. “QUIHIHIT IHIHIT!” He laughed more.

“Then quit winning!” Kevin declared.

Dan was laying on the other side, kicking the babies as he tried to push Kevin’s fingers off him.

“Okay, he’s ticklish in the armpits! The armpits are a bad one! Where else do I go?” Kevin asked the chat.

“Wahahait whahahahat!?” Daniel asked.

“The chat wanted me to get revenge!” He told him. “And LOADS of people wanted it.” He added.

“WHYHYHYHY?!” He asked.

“Oho, you know why.” Kevin replied.

Kevin moved to his stomach to see if it was ticklish at all. And sure enough, it was!

“PLEHEHEHEHEASE STAHAHAHAHAP!” He begged.

“But tickling you is so much fun! And I’m not just saying that. Tickling you is actually more fun than I expected.” Kevin told him and the chat.

Daniel was squeaked and squealed the moment his belly button was even touched.

“NOHOHOHO FUHUHUHUCK!” He laughed.

“Just laugh it up, Dan. It makes the world a little more happier. Unless you don’t like happy, that is.” He joked, referring to his videos of destruction.

“FUHUHUCKING HEHEHEHEHELL! LEHEHEHET MEHEHE GOHOHOHO!” he begged.

“Let you go? And risk you beating me again? I don’t think so!” He teased. “Tickle tickle tickle tickle tickle!” He teased.

“YOHOHOU’RE SOHOHOHO WEIHIHIHIRD!” He reacted.

“Why thank you, Dan! I know I’m weird.” Kevin replied. “And the chat is also weird for suggesting such a thing.” He added.

Dan was wiggling around, laughing hysterically and flailing his arms around. He had dropped his controllers onto the couch by now, and had completely lost all composure.

“WHYHYHY AHAHAHARE YOHOHOHOU SOHOHO GOHOHOOD AHAHAHAT THIHIHIS?!” Dan asked.

“I have a sister, Dan! I’ve had countless tickle fights before!” Kevin responded.

Dan pushed him off. “Wehehehe’re on cahahamerahaha!” He told him.

Kevin grabbed his foot. “And that hasn’t stopped people before, has it?” Kevin asked.

“NOHOHOHO! NAHAHAT MYHY FEHEHEET!” He begged.

“Oh? Not the feet? Not these pair of feet?” He asked, tickling them with his fingers.

“NOHOHO FEHEHEHEHEET REHEHEHECOHOHORDIHIHING!” He begged.

“Oh…” Kevin stopped and moved to the bottom of the couch. “Here:” He sat down on the ground in front of the couch and held onto his foot. “No feet shots.” He promised before resuming back to tickling his foot.

Dan covered his mouth and squealed, trying to keep his laughter in.

“Ooooooh, being resistant now?” He asked.

Daniel shook his head, throwing his bouncy hair around in the process, and kept his hand on his whole mouth.

“I see, I see. Looks like I’ll have to pull your toes back…” He pulled his toes back, “And tickle your little footsie this way!” He declared, tickling his exposed toes.

Daniel squealed again and tugged on his foot. “NO!”

“Ohohoho YES!” He started scratching and skittering quickly to finally get him to break.

“BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! GAHAHAHAD DAHAHAHAMMIHIHIHIT!” He finally laughed. “IHIHIHIHIT’S SOHOHOHOHO BAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAD!” He screamed!

“Kitchy kitchy koo!” Kevin teased.

“DOHOHOHON’T SAHAHAHAY THAHAHAHAT!” He ordered.

“Don’t say what? Kitchy kitchy kitchy koo? A kitchy kitchy kitchy koo!” He teased more.

“NOHOHOHO!” He laughed.

“Your feet are surprisingly very ticklish!” He reacted. “I’m genuinely surprised.” he admitted.

“SHUHUHUHUT UHUHUHUHP!” Dan ordered yet again.

“Shut up?! You expect me, the man behind the baby abuse and Jim Pickens killings, to shut up?!” He reacted.

Dan shook his head.

“In fact, I am just gonna further annoy you by singing my favorite song while I tickle you!” Kevin declared.

“WAHAHAHIT!” He begged.

“Nope!” He started singing. ♫Country rooooooaaad! Take me hoooooome!♫ he sang proudly with a smirk.

“STAHAHAHAHAP THAHAHAHAT!” Dan ordered.

♫To the plaaaaaaace, I beloooooong!♫ He continued to sing.

“WHAHAHAHAT THEHEHE FUHUHUHUHUCK!” Dan shouted.

♫West virginiaaaaaaaa, southern maamaaaaaa!♫ He continued to sing.

“HEHEHEHEHELP CHAHAHAHAHAT!” He finally begged towards the chat.

♫Take me hoooooome, country rooooooaaaad.♫ Kevin finished.

“YOHOHOHOU’RE BEHEHEHEIHIHING CRAHAHAHAZYHYHYHY!” Dan fought.

“Well, looks like we have to start it aaaaaaall over again!” Kevin declared.

“NOHOHOHO!” Dan begged and pleaded. “CHAHAHAHAT PLEHEHEHEASE HEHEHEHELP!”

♫Country rooooooaaaad! Take me hooooooooome♫ Kevin started singing all over again.

And Dan would wind up never getting saved by the poor chat. In fact, the chat room would only encourage it further with their comments!

{YEEEESS!}

{This is such chaos...I love it}

{Someone get them both a record deal!}

{Dan could be the next Michael Jackson!}

{♫COUNTRY ROAD TAKE ME HOME♫}