#lee!philza

She made sure every frightened, angry, confused, or relieved soul was carefully shifted from one plane of existence to the next, all provided with the same gentleness she could give them. Though, every once in a while, she felt the need to slip away from it all for a moment. Just to breathe and let herself relax from the stresses of being a Goddess. Which is why she was so grateful to have such a wonderful mortal waiting for her. 

Every visit made her giddy, her laughter like sweet, tinkling bells as she shifted into the Overworld plane. She would watch her husband drop whatever he was holding and practically teleport to the front of his house, eyes wide and grin splitting his face as he watched the sky excitedly. 

It was adorable, seeing the man become the equivalent of a puppy when their owner gets home. 

Kristin’s physical form took a lot of energy, which is why she spaced out her visits to her beloved, winged husband. Though the wait in between was tortuous, it was always worth it. As soon as she became visible - standing in the snow with a smile so bright it could rival the sun - Phil was flying off the balcony to practically tackle Kristin into a hug, large wings shifting to wrap around her tight, laughter ringing out from both of them.

Kristin gently took off the blonde’s bucket hat to place a firm, loving kiss into the golden strands, nuzzling into the softness as Phil hugged her close. 

“Hello dear,” Kristin chuckled airly, pressing a hand to the back of Phil’s neck and the other to his cheek, slowly drawing herself away enough to see him properly. “Missed me, have you?”

Phil’s eyes were practically shining, wings puffed up in a way that made Kristin laugh again. “Of course I did,” he sighed, pressing his head into her hand. “It’s been five months.”

“Four and a half, love,” Kristin corrected, stroking the pad of her thumb against the stubble on Phil’s face adoringly. “But too long all the same.”

Phil let her caress his face a moment more before moving back into her embrace, hugging close and nestling into the soft, velvety material of her black dress. His words were softly spoken, slightly muffled by the fabric, “I've missed you.”

Kristin exhaled quietly, pressing her lips to his head and held him close. “I've missed you too.” She murmured. The tenderness of the admittance was not lost on either of them, the hug saying what else was needed. Kristin had one hand resting in the space between Phil's wings, the other resting on the man's nape. Her thumb gently brushed at the skin, her nail lightly drifting across his neck softly.

Phil's shoulders jumped up quickly, a weirdly strangled noise worming its way out of him much to both of their surprise. He leaned away, his hand coming behind his head to hold Kristin's, a sheepish grin on his face. 

"Ah," Phil said, his cheeks a tad pinker than they were seconds earlier. "Sorry… reflex." 

Kristin smiled in confusion. She had heard a plethora of noises from Phil before, with him being an avian it was expected. The warbling bird calls were her favourites, yet she hadn't heard something akin to that before. A high pitched squeak like a field mouse, that wasn't one of his usual sounds she could recall. Maybe it was a sweet spot that avians had? 

She was half tempted to try brushing her fingers along the skin again to see if it would inspire the same reaction, but she didn't get the chance. Phil had interlaced their hands together and brought them to hold in front of him. 

"My garden has been growing well since you last visited, would you like to see?" 

His eyes were alight with something excited again, the slight warmth in his face having faded. 

Kristin tucked the odd 'reflex' into the back of her mind and squeezed Phil's hand tightly, lovingly. 

"Lead the way, dear."  

—

Returning to the mortal plane brought along many delights Kristin lovingly indulged every time she visited. One of her favourites, were the meals or drinks Phil would prepare for the pair of them, leaving some aside for his roommate Technoblade, who Kristin had seen pop off from time to time on the Other Side, his Totems of Undying giving him a brief blip into the void-like afterlife. Every time he arrived, he'd give a fast wave and a smile before disappearing seconds later. 

While the visits were a bit worrying - it showed how many times Techno had been sent over to her domain - Kristin still found humour in the piglin's little greetings, returning the wave with a laugh. 

She hadn't met him in person yet, but Phil promised she would get introduced to his friend one day. The piglin himself was often out hunting, training the wolves, tending to his crops or animals, or hibernating. He was a busy man, Kristin could sympathise with that. 

She was seated at the table in the cosy home, watching Phil fondly as the winged man shifted around his kitchen, masterfully mixing together ingredients for their meal. Technically speaking, Kristin didn't need to eat really, but she appreciated Phil's efforts dearly. Everything he made, he made with love and care, it was so clearly seen in his builds. It only made sense his food would be the same. 

Kristin rested her weight back on the chair, brushing stray hairs from her face as she spoke. "Sweetheart, are you sure you didn't need a hand?" 

"Nope." Phil glanced back with a playfully stern look. "No. You spend every day being the Goddess of Death, you barely get a break. These visits are your holidays, you're not meant to do anything other than relax."

Kristin laughed, pressing a hand to her chest. "Oh I see, apologies Phil. It seems I haven't visited in so long that I've forgotten I have a servant in the mortal world." 

At Phil's loud, offended squawk, Kristin cackled, rising from her seat to walk to her husband, hugging the man from behind. His wings dropped down to allow her the ability to do so, primaries dragging along the floorboards. He'd have to preen them later to get any dirt from the floor out of the thick, black feathers, but he didn’t really mind. Right now, he was grumbling lightheartedly as his wife nestled close to him, rolling his eyes fondly as she nudged the side of his head,

"Sorry, I'm sorry," Kristin chuckled, leaning over to kiss Phil's cheek, gently squeezing his sides to balance herself as she went on her tiptoes briefly. 

Phil's wings spread out across the space as he squeaked loudly, his own hands landing on her own fast as lightning, his smile a bit wider than it was seconds earlier. 

There it was again. That 'reflex', Phil had said earlier, accompanied by an odd sound, though this one was definitely louder than the one he'd made earlier. 

"Phil? Are you alright?" Kristin asked, worry at the edge of her voice. It was like the man had completely lost control of his wings for a moment. 

"Uh- yes. I'm… yes, sorry about that," Phil smiled over his shoulder at her, his wings sweeping together and nestling close to his back once more. 

Kristin raised a skeptical brow, concern still lining her face. Phil turned his head enough to kiss her nose cheekily, his whole frame losing tension as he carefully removed her hands from his sides, giving them an affectionate squeeze. 

"I'm alright, love," he reassured, "promise. Now go sit down, this will be done in a moment." 

Kristin hesitated then gave a small nod, nudging Phil's head with her own and returning back to the table. These ‘reflexes’ were rather odd. She wondered what on earth they were. 

—

The food Phil had prepared was absolutely delicious, and once the dishes had been cleared away, cleaned and dried, the pair settled down into the lounge, Phil’s wings curled around them as they sat close together. 

Phil was recounting a story of when he and Techno had created the ‘Antarctic Empire’ and laughed heartily throughout the tale. Kristin, who was sipping on her hot chocolate, struggled not to choke on the drink as she laughed as well. Phil’s giggly cackling was incredibly contagious, her own giggles blending with them.

The atmosphere was warm, full, and felt so right. A part of Kristin ached for this to be their normal. To just live as a mortal beside her beloved, winged partner in a snowy tundra, every day happy and peaceful. But it could never happen. She knew that. She had a duty, and a body that couldn’t survive in this plane of existence for long periods of time. Though she wished with all of her being that she could just stay for once, she knew it would only end badly.

Phil’s face was suddenly in her line of vision, a hand holding her own bringing her back from her internal battle. Phil’s hand was comfortably tight, squeezing gently at her fingers. “Are you alright?” he asked softly, the lines in his face creased in a worried way.

The Goddess of Death found herself melting for this man all over again. She managed a weak smile, bringing her free hand over to hold the top of Phil’s. “Yes, I’m sorry for zoning out. Just thinking is all.”

Phil’s brow only dipped more in concern. “Is it something bad? Are you feeling fatigued? Are your powers running out? Do you need to go back to the other side-?”

Phil’s ramblings were silenced with Kristin bringing a hand up to press against his mouth, a fond look adorning her face. “I’m alright, Phil,” she reassured firmly. “We still have a few hours before I have to go back. Calm down.”

Phil gently took her hand away, his thumb drifting over the back of the skin as he released a short puff of air. “Sorry. You just looked really zoned out, I was worried you were having ‘plane shift’ disorientation again or something.”

“Hey, that only happened once,” Kristin reminded him with a small laugh, her hand dropping to squeeze Phil’s knee playfully.

To her surprise, once again, Phil’s whole body jolted and he squeaked, flinching away from Kristin’s touch. The Goddess found herself unable to hold back the question this time. 

“Why do you keep doing that?”

Phil’s eyes widened fractionaly at the inquiry. After a second of putting his brain together, he gave a small smile, his hands coming together to hold Kristin’s, specifically away from his knees. 

“Ah,” he said with a small chuckle. “You don’t know what ‘tickling’ is, do you?”

Kristin cocked her head to the side curiously, dark strands of hair falling over her face in a fluid motion, framing her intrigued expression. “Ticklish?” She repeated, mulling the word over. “I do know of it, though I haven’t had personal experience.”

“Right.” Phil squeezed her hands, his expression open though his cheeks were a bit flushed. “Being ticklish means that you’re sensitive, it’s usually in specific places of vulnerability, and it’s meant to be an instilled instinct in humans. These spots are places we usually protect from possible threats, so they don’t get much contact from outside forces, air-go, they become more sensitive to touch. When they do get tickled though, the natural response for us is to laugh.”

Kristin listened attentively, nodding along as she understood the explanation. “So, is it a bad thing? To be ticklish? Being sensitive to things might make life a bit inconvenient.”

“Some people think it is.” Phil’s smile got a bit bigger as he spoke. “Techno finds it inconvenient when he’s trying to train the wolves and their fur keeps tickling his hands. Wilbur as well, he got really embarrassed about his sensitivity because he kept laughing whenever I hugged him with my wings.” Phil ruffled the appendages to prove a point, the thick feathers making a sweeping noise with the movement. 

Kristin's smile became fonder, confusion melting away to endearment. “That’s very sweet,” she chuckled, then her eyes had a spark in them. “And so is you being so ticklish that even me squeezing you makes you squeak.”

Phil’s wings suddenly poofed out, his eyes widening and cheeks flushing at the casual words. He gave a weak cough, adjusting his bucket hat which had slipped over his eyes. “Well- I’m… I don’t know, I wouldn’t say I’m that bad, I just…”

Kristin giggled louder, watching her husband become a stuttering mess on the couch was far too entertaining. She took her free hand that Phil had let go of to cup his jaw, stroking her thumb across his warmly flushed cheek. “You don’t have to be embarrassed, dear. I find it very cute. You mortals just keep surprising me.”

If anything, Phil blushed worse, torn between denying the words and trying to come up with an argument to them. He settled with leaning his weight into her hand, shaking his head a bit in exasperation. 

“Honestly, I’m surprised this conversation didn’t happen sooner.”

“Oh, is that so?” The Goddess of Death mused, “Did you want me to notice your sensitive nature sooner then?”

Phil’s wings were his biggest tell, poofing up again like a cat’s tail. “I-I didn’t say that- I wasn’t-”

Kristin cackled, full and hearty, kissing Phil’s nose gently to silence his frantic, flustered rambles. “I’m just teasing, love, calm yourself.”

Phil scoffed, closing his eyes for a moment. “You’re gonna be the death of me Kristin, I swear you will be.”

“Well, if I was, then that just means you could spend eternity with me on the Other Side.” Kristin brushed loose strands of hair from Phil’s face, kissing his forehead gently and nudging her nose against his. “But let’s wait a bit longer for that, shall we? I’m sure your friends here would miss you dearly if you joined me.”

Phil gave a low hum. “Yeah, unfortunate being a father to fuckton of crows and emotionally constipated people.”

The Goddess of Death laughed again, bringing her head away and smiling fondly. “You love them though, you can’t deny that.”

The avian shrugged. “Eh, it’s a flip of a coin most days.”

Kristin gasped, a playful grin on her face. “How could you say that, Philza Minecraft?” She accused, “all those poor crows who dote on you and call you Dadza, only for you to say ‘eh, it’s a flip of a coin’ about how much you love them! Shame on you, sir!”

“And this is why they like you more,” Phil cackled, “you’re the fun parent and I’m the grumpy one.”

“I am the fun parent!” Kristin grinned, immediately latching onto the title. “Can’t believe I got stuck with such a grumpy old fart for a partner.”

“Wha- hey!”

“What do you mean 'hey'?! You were the one who called yourself grumpy!” laughed Kristin, fingers suddenly poking at Phil’s stomach to establish her point. The man immediately jolted away with a laugh, batting at the hands that were snaking towards him. 

“Oi!” he gasped, wings flexing uselessly at his sides as he tried to maintain his balance. 

Kristin’s eyes lit up. “Actually, I think I have the perfect way to make you less grumpy and pull you into the ways of the ‘Fun Parent’!”

“Nononono- Kristin! Wait, wai- wahahahait!” Phil’s voice fell away into fits of laughter as dutiful, slender fingers wormed into his dark green haori, scoping out his soft spots in seconds.

“Oh my gosh- you weren’t kidding! You really do laugh at this!” 

Phil’s wings flapped a bit erratically when Kristin shifted a hand up to wiggle into his ribs, the sensitive nature of the bones making the man squirm as they were attacked mercilessly. “Krist- Krihihistin! Thahahat tihihickles sohoho bahahad!”

“Oh wow, really?” Kristin widened her eyes with a faux show of amazement. “Shocking. Whoever would’ve seen that coming, hmm?”

Phil finally gave up on trying to stay upright on the couch, collapsing back onto the armrest with his wings draped over the end. Kristin didn’t hesitate to follow, keeping him down with one leg pressed over his knees, hands still working around his sensitive midriff. 

“Why haven't I tried this sooner? You're just a giggly wee thing aren't you, Phil? Oh, the arguments I could've won so much faster if I'd known this sooner." 

“Shhuhut uhup- thihihis ihis- this- nohohohohot thehehere!” 

Phil’s howl of laughter made Kristin startle, looking down to see her hands had landed on Phil’s top ribs, massaging the bones in an unbearably consistent, tickly way. She grinned, shifting her fingers so they were pressed into the backs of the ribs with her thumbs on the front ones, squeezing and pinching quickly.

“KRIHIHIHistihihin! OhoHOHo gohoHOHOD!”

Phil’s laughter had a trill echoing in the back of it, his avian side relishing in the attention while his more human side was trying to get the fuck away. His hands were uselessly flailing, unable to push at his wife’s hands or settle long enough to grip anything close. He was lost in his own swirling giggles, wings falling to the ground when Kristin moved to wiggle her nails up and around his neck.

“You made an odd noise when I did this earlier,” Kristin commented, brushing her fingers across the back of Phil’s neck, delighted when the man made the exact same strangled squeal weaselling out of him. “Aww, there it is!”

“NohOHoho! Nohohot neheheck tihihickles! IHIHehehehehe!” Phil’s words quickly tapered off into high pitched giggles, the fluttering fingers turning him to mush. He’d always been unbearably sensitive there, sometimes even his own wings would make him flinch and jolt when they brushed against the skin. Kristin’s gentle fingers coaxed out his mirthful titters, his head shaking from left to right but doing nothing to stop the ‘attack’. 

“Okay, can definitely check off your neck being a sweet spot,” Kristin chuckled, her hands dropping to Phil’s sides. “And this got a reaction out of you too, right?”

The assumption was correct as Phil immediately jolted, trying to sink and disappear into the cushions as the Goddess’s fingers wriggled into his thick clothing to attack the sensitive muscles and nerves. A sharp peep left Phil’s mouth and he clamped his hands over his lips, but Kristin had already heard it, and by god was she ecstatic. 

“You chirped!” She cooed gleefully, prodding lightly at Phil’s skin to try and make the noise again. 

“I-Ihihihi dihihid nohohot- AH!” Once again, that same joyful chirp leapt from Phil’s throat, even with his hands muffling his tumbling laughter, it was clear as a bell. “Stohohohopihihit!”

“Stop what? Making you chirp? That’s all you, love,” Kristin chuckled, though she did take her hands from his sides, not without a couple leaving prods that urged another peep to get out. 

She gave a low hum, making a show of thinking long and hard about something. “Now then, that other place was your knees, wasn’t it?” 

There was a soft noise of protest, Phil’s hands leaving his face to hold them up to Kristin in surrender. “No- nononono it wasn’t- you don’t need to- Krihihistin!”

Phil’s ramblings splintered into nervous giggles, high and elated, with another echo of bird-like warbling at the edges. It made Kristin coo adoringly, wishing she was part avian herself so she could dote on the man with similar noises to his own. Though she couldn’t quite match it, she was doing a damn good job, seeing as it made Phil flush and grin widen. 

“I think it was~” she hummed teasingly, her hand drawing back to his legs to settle on one of his knees. Judging by how the man froze up, she’d made a good call. “Let’s see if I can get any more little chirps out of you, shall we?”

The tickling was fast, yet gentle. Phil couldn’t prepare himself for it no matter what he tried. Despite the tickle fights he’d had in the past, it was useless against a literal Goddess who seemed determined to tickle him silly. She squeezed and prodded his knees, skittered along his socked feet and calves, vibrated her fingers into his hips and stomach, then settled with gentle pinching along his upper ribs. 

It was almost maddening, but Phil’s bird brain was thoroughly enjoying itself under such love and affection, warbling and chirping like a fledgeling. These noises had slipped past his lips more than once, making his embarrassment grow, but Kristin only made soft noises and faces of adoration back. 

It was only when Kristin targeted that one sweet spot on his back where his wings met his shoulders did he finally crack, his hands planted on his warmly tinted face as he threw his head back with a wheeze.

“Krisihihihitin! PlehEHEase! Ihihi cAHAhan’t tahahake thiiHIHIhis!”

Kristin, who loved her husband and her job of passing dead souls on very much, didn’t want to combine them so closely so soon. She laughed gently and took her hands from Phil’s ribs, sitting back on the couch and patting Phil’s leg soothingly as he took in great gulps of air. When he didn’t feel the ghost tingles worming across his skin, he slumped back with a giggly sigh, brushing the tears budding at the edges of his eyes. 

“Gods, you’re ruthless,” he grinned tiredly, the last of his laughter leaving his voice and leaving him feeling light and relaxed.

“Thank you,” Kirstin smiled, the grin flashing her sharp canines playfully. “been working on it.”

Phil wheezed another laugh, sitting up and brushing a hand through his mussed hair, correcting the strands that had fallen haphazardly over his face. “I can tell.”

Kristin watched as he tried to put himself back together, smiling fondly. “Are you alright?” She asked, just to make sure.

Judging by the hand that took her own and gently squeezed, it seemed she hadn’t needed to worry. Phil’s blue eyes were alight with warmth and love, an affectionate look on his face that would’ve made anyone run an absolute mile due to not wanting to get cavities from the sweetness. 

“I’m good,” he reassured, “just tired now.”

“I can imagine so,” Kristin lifted their interlocked hands to place a kiss on the back of his palm. “You were laughing an awful lot.”

Her eyes fell to his wings. The feathered appendages were in complete disarray, the feathers out of line and dust littering the soft plumage. The sight made her frown, her hands itching to correct the disaster that was Philza Minecraft’s crow wings. 

"Here, turn around and let me preen you, you've gotten your wings all messed up from flapping them so much. I'm pretty sure you've picked up half of the floor's dirt in here. Good lord, Phil."

"Hey, it's not my fault, you were the one hellbent on torturing me."

"Shush, I heard you making those bird sounds while you were laughing. You were enjoying every second of it." 

With that, Kristin settled Phil to face his back to her, his warm face having a seemingly permanent smile on it, embarrassed or not, it was there. 

Kristin’s fingers carefully dug into the feathers, carding through for loose feathers and grit. Phil’s shoulders rose to his ears in a fast motion, his hands taking fistfuls of the couch. The little huffs of laughter he released was even more evidence to Kristin that she had the cutest avian in existence as her husband. 

“Really? Even here too?” Kristin laughed fondly, never maliciously.  

Phil crossed his arms with a groan. “I’m sensitive, alright? Leave me alone.”