Sweet Revenge
A/N: So, this can story can be seen as an alternative universe kind of setting, since we didn’t get a happy ending in the original, but I really wanted to write something with these two as well. Number 17 - Escape - of @vqler's Tickletober prompt list of 2025 ft. Ivan and Till from ALIEN STAGE.
Words: 970 words under the cut
Their shared apartment was rarely quiet, but tonight it was downright chaotic. “Ivan, no!!” Till’s voice rang out, bubbly and high with laughter already, as he bolted down the hallway in his socks, nearly slipping as he turned a sharp corner. Ivan’s footsteps were close behind, the sound of long strides closing the distance with every passing second.
“You better run faster than that Till,” Ivan called, his tone darkly playful, “because once I catch you, you’re done!” Till squealed again, breathless from the laughter already bubbling in his chest. “I didn’t do anything!! You can’t prove it!!” “Oh, really?” Ivan said, grinning as he picked up speed. “So the missing last slice of strawberry cake just vanished on its own, huh?”
“That could’ve been anyone!” “It was literally labeled ‘Ivan’s - Do Not Touch.’” “That’s very vague!” Ivan laughed just as Till turned into the living room and, without even slowing down, grabbed a throw pillow from the couch and launched it backwards with expert precision.
Ivan caught it right in the face with a surprised grunt. “Argh!” he barked, staggering for half a second before shaking it off and charging forward again. “Oh, that’s it!” Till screamed playfully, throwing himself over the couch arm and scrambling onto the cushions like it was a lifeboat. But Ivan was already there, looming over him like a villain from a drama.
“No no no, waitwaitwait-!” Till babbled, trying to roll away. Too late. With a smooth pounce, Ivan straddled him, pinning him flat against the couch cushions. He grabbed both of Till’s wrists in one hand, holding them gently but firmly above his head. His other hand hovered ominously over Till’s torso.
“You should’ve picked any other day to steal my dessert,” Ivan said, dramatically ominous. Till’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t!” “Oh, I would.” And then he struck. His fingers dove into Till’s sides, wiggling rapidly up and down, and the reaction was instant. Till absolutely shrieked, laughter bursting from him like a dam breaking.
His back arched as much as it could with Ivan sitting on him, legs kicking helplessly into the couch cushions. “NOHOHOHOO IVAAHAHAHAN!!” The ravenhead grinned down at him, tickling without mercy, his fingers moving from his ribs to his waist, giving little squeezes and skittering movements that had the boy thrashing and squirming beneath him.
“Thought you were fast,” Ivan teased, “guess not fast enough.” “YOOHOU BAHAHASTAHAHARD!! GEHEHET OHOHOFF!!” But Ivan didn’t stop. If anything, the high-pitched squeals and bright pink blush coloring Till’s cheeks only made him laugh harder - not at him, with him. Because Till’s laughter was infectious - sharp, silly and just so real.
“You are way too ticklish for someone who throws the first pillow,” Ivan said, raising an eyebrow. Till let out another shriek as Ivan’s fingers found the dip just above his hipbones, digging in for just a second before fluttering away. “NAHAHAHA NOT THEHEHEHERE!!” “Oh? Here?” Ivan teased, targeting the spot again.
Till was howling now, face buried sideways in a couch pillow as he laughed uncontrollably, tears starting to well in the corners of his eyes. He tugged uselessly against Ivan’s grip, legs kicking. It wasn’t like Ivan was putting real strength into holding him down. He didn’t need to. Till was already halfway useless under his touch.
Ivan couldn’t help it - he was grinning like an idiot, his own cheeks dusted pink from laughter and adrenaline. Seeing Till so carefree, so unguarded, it made his heart flutter in a way he tried very hard not to think too much about. Eventually, he slowed down, his fingers lazily scribbling around Till’s belly one last time before finally letting go.
Till’s arms dropped like noodles and he went limp with a huge, exhausted wheeze. Ivan shifted off of him, still chuckling, and flopped onto the couch beside him. “That… was for the cake.” “You’re such a child,” Till groaned, red-faced and breathless, his hair sticking out in every direction. Ivan tilted his head with mock innocence. “You were warned.”
They sat like that for a moment - Till trying to catch his breath, Ivan fighting to keep a smug grin off his face. The quiet after all that laughter was oddly warm, filled only with the hum of the refrigerator and the faint sound of the wind outside their window.
After a minute, Till slowly sat up, curling sideways until he was leaning against Ivan’s shoulder, his legs folded on the couch. Ivan blinked, slightly surprised by the cuddle, but he didn’t move away. In fact, he leaned in a little.
Till’s voice was soft, a little raspy from all the giggling. “Okay... but seriously… What was all that about? You usually just pout when I steal your stuff.” Ivan looked down at him, eyes glinting. “I told you, that slice had my name on it.” “Pffft.” Till squinted suspiciously. “That’s not a reason for a full-blown manhunt.” “Isn’t it?” Ivan smirked, smug and unbothered.
Till narrowed his eyes. “You’re being suspiciously smug.” Ivan lifted a hand to ruffle Till’s hair. “You’re just mad you got caught.” Till leaned away slightly, something mischievous sparking in his expression. “No, I’m mad because you tickled me half to death.”
“You looked like you were having fun though.” “That’s beside the point,” Till said firmly. Then, suddenly, his fingers darted out and poked Ivan right in the side. Ivan flinched. “H-Hey!” Till smiled at him. “Was that a giggle?” “No it wasn’t,” the answer answered a little bit too quickly, knowing what was coming.
“I think it was… You defiantly giggled!” he said triumphantly, poking him again, and this time Ivan twitched and barely suppressed another laugh. Till leaned in, whispering gleefully. “Time for my revenge.” Ivan’s eyes widened in alarm. “W-Wait- Till, I-!” But it was already too late.
