#lee!stan

"Normal" took on a new meaning after that first summer in Gravity Falls.

The word "normal" used to mean Mom and Dad, their cat, their house, their school. Then normal meant their Great Uncle Stan, Soos, Wendy, Waddles the pet pig, magical adventures. But once that portal opened, there came a new normal, one in which the whole family could come together as one. Now normal meant two sets of twins sitting together in the living room enjoying a peaceful afternoon, like today.

Stan and Ford were seated at the table while Dipper and Mabel sat on the floor. The grunkles were listening to their niece and nephew recount their various adventures throughout their summer, of which Ford had missed out on while he was on the other side of the portal.

"...I was sure my sock opera was done for! My one chance at love! Lost forever!" Mabel held an arm to her face in dramatic flair.

"Aaaand Bill could have taken the journal" her brother reminded.

"Oh yeah. But all was not lost! I fought that dumb isosceles jerk with my own two hands! It was tough. It was gritty. It was the greatest climax of a play anyone had ever seen!"

Ford and Stan chuckled at Mabel's rendition of the scene. Ford especially was impressed the kid's had managed to overpower Bill so easily.

"And then I remembered a way to beat Bill! A weakness of Dipper's that was sure to-"

Dipper piped in fast, sweating and chuckling nervously. "OKAY! Okay! I think Great Uncle Ford gets the idea. Maybe just skip to the explosion part."

Stan laughed. "But you're skipping over the best part! Watching those two grapple with each other on stage was hilarious! Who knew Dipper's insane ticklishness would come in handy?"

The boy's heart skipped a beat. He thought he could see Ford glance at him in his peripheral, but he didn't dare a look. He could feel his face prickle with heat.

Why now? Why right now?!

"THAT- that is an over-exaggeration at best!" Dipper said a little too loudly.

Mabel and Stan had been laughing the whole time.

"Face it, kid. A prod to the side and you jump ten feet in the air. I've never met anyone as ticklish as you" said Stan once he regained his breath.

"Oh, trust me. It gets so much worse. One time he shrieked out in the middle of Algebra. It was too funny!" Mabel giggled.

Dipper could only sit there mortified as Grunkle Stan and Mabel teased him in front of his hero. He thought this moment couldn't get any worse. And then he heard a chuckle to the left of him.

"Big talk coming from you, Stanley" came Ford's voice. He found Dipper's "little weakness" quite endearing and sweet, and his blushing face even more so, but he decided to mercifully pull focus from Dipper and bother Stanley with one stone.

The uncle in question stopped laughing. "What? What's that supposed to mean! Nevermind actually, don't answer that. Is this room darker than it was a minute ago?"

Ignoring his brother, Ford turned to the kids, getting up from his chair and making his way across the table towards Stan. "Your uncle Stanley, believe it or not, has a few idiosyncrasies of his own." As he spoke, his arm quickly looped around his brother's and pinned it out. "Simply position your arm like so annnnd..."

Ford quickly began tickling under Stan's arm.

Stan, himself, began to cackle against his will, twisting himself in an attempt to free his arm.

"Ah get off! You're playin' dirty! St-Stanford you dork, let me gohoho!" He tried to look ticked off, but he just couldn't fake it. He was just a little proud of his brother for getting the drop on him. He had missed them playing like this.

The kids laughed with him; Mabel because this was just plain funny, Dipper because he enjoyed seeing his smug uncle get his karmic retribution.

Ford kept tickling, even as Stan sunk into the floor. Making eye contact with Dipper especially, he delivered the final blow. "And if you really want to take him down..."

With that, Ford wiggled all six digits into Stan's ribs. The reaction was instantaneous.

Stan lost it, struggling harder than he had before. "ALRIGHT, ALRIGHIHIHIT! YOU WIN! GEEZ!"

Ford finally released him.

"Grunkle Stan, you have no room to be making fun of me after that" teased Dipper, having regained his confidence.

"Yeah yeah, you watch yourself, you little goober, or I'll remind you who's the real tickle monster in this house."

"And that would be who exactly?" Ford remarked, eyebrow raised.

"A load of ingrates, the lot of ya!" said Stan from the floor.

---

Their houses were literally right next door to each other. Their desks at school were right next to each other. Hell, their “assigned” seats at lunch (not that the two were attending some authoritative, prison-like hell hole or anything- they had just been sitting in the same seating arrangement for the past ten years, that changing it at this point felt like a crime.) were right next to each other too. You’d think with someone being so close, it’d be absolutely impossible to miss them. 

Yet, here Kyle was. 

Somehow, despite how incredibly close they were locationally and emotionally, Kyle couldn’t help but feel like Stan was being…kinda distant. 

It wasn’t like Stan was ignoring him or anything, but Kyle could feel that, at the very least, Stan was limiting how long they interacted. Their conversations felt shorter. Stan wouldn’t do the stupidly funny thing he always did in Chemistry: make stupid faces at him during class, trying to get Kyle in trouble like the asshat he was. It was little things like that. Kyle hated to say it, but he felt like Stan was distancing himself on purpose. 

Kyle didn’t understand. Sure, one could make the argument that the two were outgrowing each other- but Kyle couldn’t, and honestly wouldn’t, accept that- there was no way their friendship had survived until their senior year of high school just for it to fizzle out. That just wasn’t possible. Kyle wasn’t the type to let things go without answers, a trait that he’d never admit he inherited from his mom. And as he sat there in his bed, staring at the window into his Super Best Friend’s one, he’d remind himself of the times where Stan would somehow manage to climb up Kyle’s wall and into his window; despite the fact that Kyle would scold him through cackles about how he could’ve just gone through the front door. 

Now, Kyle wasn’t going to go that far- surprisingly Stan was more of the theatrical one, and Kyle really didn’t have the energy through all the Midterms, and papers, and group PowerPoints to be able to hoist himself up Stan’s wall and Flynn Rider his ass all the way to Stan’s window. But, he wasn’t going to wait for Stan to come to him and actually express what was happening- because Kyle had a very strong feeling that day would never come. So, with a need for answers, Kyle threw his shoes on-  and walked those thirty seconds over to Stan’s house. 

The conversation, if you could even call it that, with Stan’s mom was really short. Her face lit up the moment the door swung open, and besides the hello, her only words to him were “Stanley’s upstairs in his room!” 

Kyle had to admit, he was actually kinda shocked walking up those stairs. He wasn’t greeted with the blaring of Nirvana or The Brobecks coming from Stan’s room. That was shocking. That meant one of two things, Kyle knew. Either Stan was taking a nap, which Kyle, obviously, was really praying wasn’t the case because talking to him would be literally impossible; or he was ruining his eardrums by blasting music into his ears. Kyle had a hunch it was the latter option. 

Of course, a possible third option danced in his mind: that being Stan simply wasn’t home, but Kyle seriously doubted that. First of all, his car was still parked in the driveway- and Stan treated his little red “Terrance” SUV like it was the second coming of the lord. Kyle couldn’t imagine a world where Stan would walk anywhere anymore. Secondly, Kyle was pretty sure Stan was bedrotting right now; which was another reason he wanted to talk to him. Kyle knew Stan’s mental health fluctuated more than that one rollercoaster they rode at Cartman’s stupid theme park when they were kids. Kyle figured checking in wouldn’t hurt. 

Kyle would knock, since he wasn’t raised in a barn, and after a few minutes of no answer- Kyle would let himself in. 

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Kyle was right. Stan was laying in bed, almost-sorta starfishing as he stared up at the ceiling; phone on his lap, headphones in his ears, and eyes glued to literally nothing. Kyle knew Stan well enough to know that this meant Stan was deep in thought; which, Kyle hated to admit, was normally not a good thing.

Kyle didn’t want to scare the shit out of him, but at the same time, Stan genuinely didn’t seem to realize he was even alive right now. The lights were off, but the room was still nicely lit from the sunshine beaming through the window. South Park could be a real pain in the ass, but the sun was always beautiful. Kyle hoped that this meant turning on the lights wouldn’t scare the ever-loving-bejusus out of him. 

Kyle was very wrong. 

 Stan would shoot up in his bed, a yelp escaping him as his hand flew to his mouth; an audible slapping sound ringing throughout his bedroom. An airpod would fly across the room, conveniently landing at Kyle’s feet. Stan would sputter, eyes adjusting to the newfound light and other person in his room. Kyle could only describe the look Stan was giving him as one that he’d might give if Kyle had poured water on him, and Kyle couldn’t tell if he should laugh like an asshole or feel genuinely bad. 

“You fucking- dickwad!” Stan’s words were very hushed compared to the yelp that had flown out of his mouth a few seconds ago, the very kind “dickwad” barely connecting with the two words that came before it. “You scared the shit out of me, dude! I could’ve broken my phone!” He’d say, in a tone that Kyle had a feeling came out way whiner than Stan intended it to. Stan would even gesture to the phone that was glued to his balled fist, as if Stan had even the slightest doubt that Kyle would know what that foreign word “phone” meant. As if Kyle didn’t have one of his own. 

“Sorry- I didn’t mean to scare you,” Kyle would apologize, genuinely. He’d crouch down to pick up the runaway left airpod, just for safe measures. He wouldn’t want to step on it and have Stan totally hate him for the next week and a half. “I just wanted to stop by and-”

“Oh shit, did we have plans today? Kyle I’m so fucking sorry, man-” Stan would, somehow, very kindly interrupt. Normally Kyle hated being interjected, but this interjection confused him more than anything. “Dude, I’m sorry- just give me like…five minutes. No. Not even five. Like- three. Three minutes. My head’s been fucking everywhere- I’m sorry, Kyle-” 

An audible, “Huh?” would escape Kyle as Stan threw himself out of bed and sped over to his closet. He had to give credit where credit was due, Stan was making pretty good time for the hypothetical plan that the two didn’t even have today. “No, no- Stan you don’t have to- dude, we don’t have plans or anything...”  Kyle would attempt to explain, and those words seemed to semi-get-through to Stan, since he’d put the shirt he was holding back in the closet. Kyle recognized the look of confusion on Stan’s face before the words even came out of his mouth. Kyle would speak before Stan could. 

“What? I can’t come visit my Super Best Friend?” Kyle would ask in a very genuine tone, so he didn’t really appreciate the chortle that would come out of Stan. 

“You missed me that bad?” Stan would tease, clearing not buying whatever Kyle was hypothetically selling. “Uh-oh…I don’t want to tell Wendy she’s got competition…” Stan would pucker his lips at Kyle before laughing again, (a sound that Kyle never realized he missed all that much until now) sitting back down on his bed. 

“Well…I..” Kyle fought the urge to get red, because the first part was actually true. But a part of him knew that…that wasn’t a bad thing. If he wanted Stan to be transparent the transparency would have to start with him. So, he’d concede. “Actually…yeah, Stan.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Kyle didn’t know why the hell his voice sounded the way that it did. His voice was soft, fragile, and most of all…concerned. Kyle didn’t mean for that to come out like that- at least not at that very moment. 

Stan would catch it immediately. “Wait- really?”  The sincerity would match Kyle’s in an instant. “Oh fuck- are you okay? What happened, man?” Stan would gently ask, patting the spot next to where he was currently sitting with a welcoming smile.

As bad as Kyle felt for making Stan worry, he had to admit it was kind of sweet how quickly Stan would drop the teasing. “I’m okay, Stan…I just…” Kyle would take Stan’s silent invitation to sit down next to him on the bed. Stan would hold out his hand and Kyle would simultaneously put the AirPod in it. Stan would quickly and quietly put it back in its case, along with the one that managed to stay in his ear. 

Stan wouldn’t say anything; he’d just stare at Kyle with his big, expecting eyes. Kyle hated to say, that made him a little nervous. He’d try to search for the right words…but when that didn’t work, he’d just say the first thing that came to his mind.

 “I’m worried about you, Stan.” 

“Me?” A laugh would infest that word, but Stan’s tone would quickly go back to the kindhearted way it was before. “Kyle…I’m fine, dude. You don’t need to worry about me, man..” 

Stan’s words were so sweet, but they pissed Kyle off so bad. He couldn’t help it- he couldn’t stop the words from coming. “But I do need to worry about you, Stan. When we were kids I promised you I wouldn’t let you suffer in silence when you’re upset-” Kyle’s ramble would stop for no one or nothing, not even Stan’s very confused “suffer?” that would come out as soon as Kyle said that word. 

“And I can’t help but feel like something's upsetting you- and I don’t like not knowing what that is- because at least if I know what it is, I can do something about it, you know? At least if I know what it is, I know it isn’t me- and it sucks not knowing if I did something to piss you off. Because if I did- obviously I’d want to fix it, Stan.” Stan would stop the attempt of interjecting, now just staring at Kyle as Kyle continued. 

“I want us to be able to talk about when things bother us. I mean-it sucked when you lived on that stupid farm with your dad- but you’re back, and you’ve been back, so I’m sorry, Stan- you’re within range for me to worry about you. That’s just the price you pay for living right next to me.” The apology was not at all genuine, it was extremely sarcastic, but Kyle knew Stan had come to expect that. Or, at least, Kyle thought Stan knew that. Kyle wasn’t expecting the somber look on Stan’s face. Kyle knew that he must’ve said something that deeply resonated with him, or worse, really called him out without Kyle intending it to. 

Kyle would run back the monologue in his head. Why was Stan looking at him like that? Kyle couldn’t help but panic a little. Stan looked kind of like a kicked puppy- and from Kyle’s point of view, he didn’t say anything to warrant that look. If anything- that whole speechlet was to prevent that look. 

“...What happens when I’m not “in range”, Kyle?” 

The silence in the room was deafening. Even more deafening than “Better Than Me” by the Brobecks probably was to Stan’s ears a few minutes ago. Kyle really didn’t think that little jokey, sarcastic comment would be the point Stan got out of the whole spiel, but he’d bite. 

“What do you mean?” He’d quietly ask. 

“I can’t stop thinking about it, Kyle. I just- man, it fucking blows. I didn’t think it would hit me yet- I thought I’d have more time..” 

“What?” Kyle would normally like to brag about how well he could read Stan’s mind- but he was stumped. The vague, ominous “it” wasn’t ringing any bells to him- and it didn’t help that Stan was looking at him like it should. 

Stan would turn his face to look at his closet, or…what Kyle assumed was just Stan’s way of looking away from him. “I’m not an idiot, Kyle. I mean…shit, I always knew that you were…you know.” 

“I really don’t.” Kyle would mutter, trying not to turn Stan off from the vulnerability train he was on. Stan would continue to keep his face turned anywhere but in Kyle’s direction, and Kyle couldn’t but worry a little about why Stan was trying to hide so much. He wouldn’t say much, but he’d keep an eye out.

“I always knew you were going to get out of here, Kyle.” 

Kyle didn’t understand why those words gave him chills. He wouldn’t have time to unpack that as Stan continued. 

“I mean…shit, dude. I always knew you were going to get into some really impressive ivy league school or some shit- and you were going to become…something. Become someone- someone who’s really successful…and probably makes a lot of money.” Kyle assumed that was a genuine attempt at a joke, but Stan seemed to abandon it mid-delivery. “And any day now you’re going to get a letter back from Yale, or Brown, or some really prestigious college- and everyone is going to be so fucking thrilled for you. Which, yeah, they should be. I’ll be thrilled too. But…I’ll also be really pissed off.” 

Kyle’s ears would perk up at the sound of Stan’s voice cracking as he spoke. The understanding of what was really happening right now hit Kyle far too quickly. He’d rush to put his hand on Stan’s shoulder, silently supporting him before he shut down. Kyle could tell Stan had been thinking about this for a while, and he’d be damned if he didn’t get it out. 

“...I’ll be really pissed off- ‘cuz- even though I’ll be really happy for you…fuck, I’ll be so fucking mad that you’re moving thirty hours away from me-” Stan would take a hand and swipe at his cheek a bit too aggressively. He’d still refuse to look at Kyle, but Kyle wouldn’t comment on that yet. “And then I’ll feel like a total douchebag for making it all about me- b-because- because I know I should be happy that you’re doing something that I know I never could- but I’ll just hate the f-fact that I know you’re going to do so many sick things without me- and you’re going to meet p-people who are just as smart as you are- so when you come back to South Park…” 

He’d stop speaking for only a moment, his breath shaky. Stan’s nails would dig into his knees, with the occasional break to beat the tears off his own face. God, Kyle really couldn’t remember the last time he had seen Stan cry. He hadn’t missed the feeling. 

“If you come back to South Park..”

Seeing Stan cry always made Kyle’s breath hitch. He’d get a pit in his stomach. He’d feel like now he needed to cry too, just to feel united in some way. But all Kyle could do was stay silent as Stan finally looked at him. Kyle suddenly wished he didn’t. 

“You’d realize that you were always too smart for this stupid mountain town.” 

Stan’s cheeks were stained with tears. His eyes were glossy, tears rolling down his cheeks as he stared at Kyle. 

“You’d realize that you were always too smart for-” 

“No.” 

Kyle would firmly interrupt, shaking his head. “I’m not even going to let you say it, Stan. That’s not true.” Kyle couldn’t take it. A part of him felt like he should let Stan get the full vent out; lord knows Stan would, and did, for him all the time- but Kyle couldn’t stand hearing Stan, genuinely the coolest person he’d ever had the privilege of knowing, saying all these horrible, and blatantly untrue, things about himself. “Are you hearing me?” Kyle would grip Stan’s arms, turning him to look at him. 

“That’s not true at all. No one at college- no one I ever meet is going to…I don’t know- hypnotize me into thinking you aren’t my favorite person.” Kyle would say with his usual conviction, not an ounce of doubt in his words.

“…I’m your favorite person?” Stan would ask, voice cracking yet again. He’d stare at Kyle with the look of wonder; and Kyle couldn’t help but get a little ticked off that that was even a question Stan could even fathom asking.

“Dude! You’re my Super Best Friend! Do you seriously think I just give that title out to any Joe-Fuckin’-Schmoe I meet?” Kyle would ask with a laugh, nodding his head with a definite answer. “Yes, dude. You’re probably always going to be my favorite person.” 

Stan’s eyes would, somehow, soften even more than they already were. “W-Well…when you get with a really pretty…probably jewish- girl in college-“ He’d start. Kyle would cut him off pretty fast.

“Dude, you still make time for me, right? Even though you’re dating Wendy?” He’d reason. Stan would seem to have an answer already prepared. 

“That’s different- you’re still here-“ 

“Stan, I’m not going off to war- I mean, my god, this is all one major hypothetical we’re running on. I don’t even know if I’m getting into an Ivy league-" Kyle would jokingly begin, ignoring Stan’s grumbled, “you definitely are. Only Ivy League people randomly use the word hypothetical.” as he continued on. 

“You make time for me, so I’m going to make time for you. You’ll just have to trust me on that, okay? You can do that, can’t you?” Kyle would ask. Stan would nod immediately. 

“…of course I trust you.” Would be the first words Stan would say that actually sounded more familiar to the “normal” Stan Kyle was used to. His shoulders would loosen, and it warmed Kyle’s heart that he was able to tell that those were the words Stan believed the most out of everything he had said. 

“And I trust you. So…there we go. You have nothing to worry about, Stan.” Kyle would reassure him, keeping direct eye contact. He wanted Stan to know that if anything Kyle ever said was true, this was the most sincere thing he’s ever said. 

Stan would smile weakly; and Kyle didn’t know why he was so caught off guard when another tear daintily rolled down Stan’s cheek. He’d softly sniffle in, what Kyle assumed, was an attempt to make it seem like he wasn’t crying; despite the fact that Kyle was literally watching him do it. 

More tears would come, and before Stan could try to beat them off; Kyle would take his hand and delicately wipe them off of Stan’s face without a word. That seemed to encourage even more tears, and before Kyle knew it, a fond, “C’mere,” was leaving Kyle’s lips. Not even a millisecond would pass before Stan practically threw his arms around Kyle, holding him tight. 

Stan would hold onto Kyle so tight; as if letting go of him meant he’d disappear forever. Kyle’s hands would land on Stan’s back, drawing soothing circles into his back as the most heartbreaking sobs escaped his Super Best Friend’s mouth. Kyle would shush him softly, trying to lull him the best that he could. He’d whisper words that he hoped were supportive enough: soft “let it out”’s and “it’s okay”’s. The "I'm staying right here for as long as you need me to” seemed to really get to Stan, and Kyle would allow him to squeeze tighter. 

“...is this why you’ve been kinda’ distant with me?” Kyle would finally work up the courage to ask, and he’d immediately be met with more incoherent sobs. He’d physically feel Stan nodding into his shoulder, before he’d make out a few repeated “i’m sorry”’s and “i didn’t mean to”’s. Kyle would lazily tsk at that; mentally high-fiving himself for not convincing himself that he was making that all up. 

“Stan…you could’ve just told me. I’m always here for you. You know that, right?” Kyle would ask, his hands migrating a bit lower from Stan’s upper back. That wasn’t entirely purposeful. He’d hear the letter “I” come out of Stan’s mouth- but that was about it, because the next thing he knew, he could’ve sworn he heard something akin to a laugh come out of Stan’s mouth and cut him off. 

Kyle’s face would scrunch up in confusion for a minute. What did he say that Stan found funny? Did he do something funny? His eyes would instinctively go to look over Stan’s back to look at his own hands…and the realization hit him like a freight train. 

Kyle couldn’t believe he was thinking this. 

He had completely forgotten Stan was ticklish. 

Well, no, completely forgotten was a total stretch. Obviously, in moments where he’d purposely poke at him; or moments where Stan would purposely make a jab at him- Kyle would remember. Obviously, if you were to ask Kyle if Stan Marsh was ticklish; he’d laugh at you so hard before scoffing a quick, “have you met the guy?” But, for some reason, at this very moment- Kyle’s brain hadn’t correlated that if his hands accidentally got too close to Stan’s sides….

For some reason, it just didn’t click that that would tickle him. 

But it clicked now. 

Oh, it definitely clicked now. 

Just by the look on Stan’s face, and by how quickly Stan would let go of the tight hold he had on Kyle, Kyle had a feeling that the same exact thought process clicked for Stan too. Kyle wouldn’t even let the “Kyle-” come out of Stan’s mouth before he started fluttering his fingers on his Super Best Friend’s sides. 

“Kylehehe!” Stan would flinch away immediately, failing to bite back his laughter as he threw himself against his pillow. Kyle would be quick to follow, continuing to attack his sides as Stan’s legs flew up towards his stomach in an attempt to protect himself. “Duhude- Kyle, come ohon!” Stan would clench his teeth together, as if that would stop the noises that were already leaving his mouth. “I’m sohorryy!” 

The more Stan, horribly, fought his laughter; Kyle suddenly realized he genuinely didn’t remember the last time he had legitimately, seriously tickled Stan like this. Maybe eighth grade? The more Kyle thought about it, the more it stumped him. 

“I don’t know why I don’t do this more often.” Kyle would casually think out loud, tazing his fingers into Stan’s sides sporadically. Stan would yelp, a peal of boyish laughter escaping him before he could stop it. “I mean, it’s not like it’s hard to tickle you. You’re really ticklish.” 

Sure, maybe Kyle was teasing a little bit to get Stan to actually laugh more; considering Stan was always the type to try to hide his laugh. But, on the other hand, Kyle was just speaking his mind. Genuinely- why did it take him so long to do this again? 

“Shuhuhut uhahahap!!” Stan would whine; the teasing, admittedly, kicking his ass and doing exactly what Kyle intended it to do. “Yohoure mohore- gaHAHa! You’re more tihicklish thahan mehe, yohou ahahahass!” Stan would protest, his legs thrashing as Kyle scribbled on his knees. 

It wasn’t lost on Kyle how Stan’s ears turned a bright shade of red the more he spoke. He had almost forgotten how red Stan would get whenever Kyle tickled the shit out of him when they were kids. That was…actually pretty rare; specifically because of the callout Stan just said. Normally, Stan would be the one doing this song and dance. But…now that it was Kyle…

Kyle would be lying if he said a little part of his younger-self wasn’t healing right now. That’s not to say Kyle was never the one in this position- but Kyle normally didn’t get this long. Normally, when they were younger, Stan would just tickle him back; and Kyle would, embarrassingly, crumble the moment that happened. 

But…maybe Kyle taking a very long break from tickling him worked in his favor today; because Stan seemed to be malfunctioning- like he didn’t know what to do with himself. Realistically, if the two wrestled for a bit- Stan would get the upper hand eventually. But Stan wouldn’t even attempt to put up much of a fight, his hands more focused on covering wherever they (incorrectly) assumed Kyle would go next. 

“Wahahait! Wahahait!!” Stan would curl into himself further as Kyle’s fingers walked up his ribs; as if Stan was trying to sink into the bed frame. “Nohohot- aheehe!! Nahahat thehehere!” Stan would begin to plead; and Kyle couldn’t help but smile as Stan’s laughs turned into “girly” giggles and squeaks. Kyle genuinely forgot how much he enjoyed making Stan sound like that.

“You know, Stan, maybe we can make a tradition out of this!” Kyle had to have his fun while he had the upper hand. “Whenever we see each other during a break or something, when we come back from college, I’ll just tickle the shit out of you! That way, you know I still remember who you are. How’s that sound?” 

Stan would frantically shake his head, only managing to get out a high, “Noho wahahay!” Kyle couldn’t help but tease him some more. 

“No? Why not? I dunno, I think it’s a good idea, Stan.” Stan would squeal as Kyle inched higher up his ribs, and Kyle couldn’t help but laugh along with him. “Okay, okay! We’ll raincheck the idea…” 

As fun as this was, Kyle still couldn’t shake the confusion. Oddly enough, Stan didn’t really…seem like he was fighting him? Sure, he was ‘shielding’ himself, if Kyle could even call it that; he was doing a pretty shitty job at it. Kyle wouldn’t let himself linger on it for too long, since he was pretty much just absentmindedly tickling him the more he thought too hard-but he had to admit that…for a moment, he considered that Stan wasn’t doing a good job on purpose. 

“Okahay! Wahahait- pffft! Kyle sehEEHERIOUSLY-!” Stan would all but scream, his hands suddenly recalibrating themselves. Kyle would quickly feel Stan’s right fingers interlock with the ones on his left hand; and before Kyle really even thought about it, he’d yank his hand upwards- in turn, yanking Stan’s hand upwards with him.

Kyle’s full attention would come back to him now; and he’d very quickly realize the sudden urgency from Stan came from Kyle’s fingers getting higher and higher. Although that wasn’t entirely intentional- it definitely was going to be in a minute. Kyle’s fingers would still, and he couldn’t help but smirk at Stan as his eyes traveled to his upheld arm, and then back to Stan. 

It seemed to hit Stan all too quickly that he had; for the lack of a better word, completely fucked himself. “Kylehe..” Stan would, very anxiously, giggle out; although Kyle couldn’t help but notice Stan’s own efforts to yank his arm down weren’t as effective as they normally would be. 

“What? What is it, Stan?” Kyle would, ever so sweetly, ask-only to be met with more anxious giggles and big, scared eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that? Is everything alright?” 

Stan wouldn’t respond, so Kyle would raise the stakes by hovering his fingers directly over Stan’s exposed armpit. The reaction was immediate- Stan’s eyes would immediately shut, and he’d cringe to his right, his giggles becoming more frantic as he gritted his teeth. 

“Staaan…don’t tell me…” Kyle would trail off in a fake surprise, his hand inching closer and closer. “You’re not…you’re not ticklish, are you?” Kyle would tease with the most shit-eating grin on his face; said grin only growing wider as Stan’s face, somehow, turned more red than it already was. 

“Because…I don’t know…you’re laughing so much…and I’m not even touching you.” Kyle would laugh, and as mean as it was, Kyle had to get back at Stan for all the times he would say the exact same thing to him when they were kids. “I just feel like only a reeeally ticklish person would do that.” 

Stan had clearly bit his tongue for as long as he could, but as soon as those last few words left Kyle’s mouth; a quick, “Fuhuck ohoff!” would slip out against his better judgment. 

Kyle would, of course, take those as fighting words. 

“Oh, okay!” Would be all Kyle would say before he abruptly began spidering his fingers over every inch of Stan’s right armpit that he could reach. 

Stan’s reaction was immediate. His eyes would immediately snap open as the most dorky cackles flew out of his mouth, as every attempt of Stan stopping himself from laughing flew right out the window.

Stan would shriek, his arm immediately shooting down to actually protect himself. “WAHAHAIT! BahaHA-! WAHAIT, KYLE-!” Were the only words Stan would manage to muster out of his mouth, before he made a noise that Kyle seriously did not remember the last time he heard. 

Kyle had been making mental notes of how much he had missed Stan’s laugh this whole time; but the moment the snort that Stan made entered the room, Kyle was absolutely sure that was the sound he missed the most. 

Stan’s hand would immediately go from shielding one of the most ticklish parts of his body to covering his mouth, the slap ringing throughout the room as it went silent. 

“…Oh my god.” Were the only words Kyle could fathom at first. “You still snort when you laugh!” He’d cheer, which would, of course, make Stan flush out of embarrassment.

“…I thought I grew out of it..” Stan would grumble as his hand was still, practically, stapled to his mouth; his cheeks burning. 

“Oh please,” Kyle would, lovingly, roll his eyes as he shook his head. As if. “There are just some things you can’t grow out of, Stan. Like...our friendship!" He would quip, only waiting a beat before speaking again. “…Well, c'mon! Let me hear another one!” Kyle would demand playfully, yanking Stan’s hand off of his mouth and starting his fingers back up again without much of a warning. 

Stan would try to get a “hell no” out of his mouth, but all that would come out were cackles as Stan, not so willingly, complied to Kyle’s demand and snorted yet again. 

“okahAHAHAY! OKAHAHAY!” Stan would scream through his snorts, trashing so hard that the pillow that had been holding up his head flew off the bed. “fuhuhuck! Kyle, I cahaAHAHANT-!” Stan had decided he was no longer above begging as soon as Kyle drilled his thumbs into his armpits. 

“Sure you can, dude! You can do anything you put your mind to!” Kyle would, ever so kindly, encourage. “Besides, my hands are a little trapped here. Soo…I guess we’re just gonna’ keep at this!”

Poor Stan was in stitches at this point; so much so that he couldn’t even get his arms to lift up to ‘free’ Kyle’s ‘trapped’ fingers. All he could do was beg for mercy and surrender some more through his, extremely embarrassing, barrage snorts as tears formed in his eyes. “StohoHOP! Stohohop pleheHEEHEASE!” 

Kyle would stop immediately. 

“Sorry, dude…I got a little excited.” Kyle would sheepishly admit, yanking his hands away on his own accord. “…I am a little bummed I didn’t get to your actual arms, but that’s for next time, I guess.” Kyle would playfully tease for the last time, offering a hand that Stan would very quickly take. 

“Gohod…man, you're an ahasshole…” Stan would giggle as the sensations faded, grabbing his pillow from off the floor and placing it back on the bed. “You’re…you’re meheaner than my sister…”

“Okay, now you’re just being dramatic.” Kyle’s eyes would roll once again, playfully punching Stan in the arm as the two just took a moment to sit with each other. They’d both laugh for a minute, before silence consumed the room. The silence was happily welcomed, the two just taking in each other’s presence.

“…Look, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t know what’s going to happen after we finally graduate.” Kyle would admit after a little while. That sentiment seemed to worry Stan, but Kyle would speak again before the thought really overtook his train of thought.

“But, I do know whatever does happen…we’ll get through it together- no matter how far we are from each other.” Kyle would turn to give Stan a friendly, genuine smile; thrilled when Stan would return the gesture. “We’ll take it one day at a time. Until then, let’s try not to freak ourselves out about it, okay?” 

“…I don’t know what I’d do without you, dude.” Stan would confess, not seeming to care how ‘sappy’ that sentiment may seem. 

Kyle would nod, smiling as Stan leaned against him.  Heartfelt moments for the two weren't exactly rare, but Kyle couldn't help but cherish them every time they happened.

Kyle deeply appreciated it, especially considering how shared the same sentiment to a T. Kyle had known since the moment he met Stan in kindergarten, he had met someone who was going to be in his life forever. This was the guy that was going to be the best-man at his wedding; the guy who he was going to be the god-father to his eventual kids- Stan Marsh was going to be in Kyle Brofloski’s life forever. 

And Kyle would do whatever it took to make sure that never changed. 

“Me too, Stan...”

❓Stanley💵

General:

Silly con-man gives me ler-leaning switch vibes. Loves wrecking his family, but wouldn’t mind the occasional giggle-fest.

Over the years, he’s developed the elusive “can say the t-word whenever” power, though it definitely didn’t used to be that way. Ford reminds him of that whenever it’s most annoying.

Can easily admit that he likes tickling others, but receiving it? Yeah, good luck. He’s willing to die on that hill.

Lee:

A bit rare, but he will get lee moods. He’s a “ride it out in silence” kinda guy, but Ford can sometimes catch onto his bullshit (definitely not bc he does it too what-)

If he DOES try and solve his problem, it’ll be in the most roundabout way possible. Provoking his brother, teasing his great niece and nephew until they try something, you name it. If it works, it works.

Worst spots are his armpits and the area right beneath his belly button. Enjoy watching him lose his mind if you target either one ♡

Melt spot is his ears. You can’t tell me his goofy ears wouldn’t make him giggle his heart out; he’d love every second of it.

Very gruff, choppy giggles. Sounds kinda like he’s been chain smoking, then saw the funniest thing in his life. When you really get him going, deep and rough belly laughter. Occasional snorts if you wanna kill him.

Ler:

When he gets in a ler mood, he’ll either bother his overworking brother or mess with one of the kids. Sometimes his family can tell, though he won’t normally admit anything.

Such a wonderful asshole of a ler-

Teases, smart-ass comments, horrible dad jokes, and more! Definitely the one to go to if you want a shameless wrecking.

“You’re a lil’ squeak toy, huh? I just squeeze your side and- yup, just like that.”

“Ya know, you could’ve just pushed me away by now. Don’t worry, I noticed.”

“You sure squirm a lot, don'tcha? Like a lil’ worm, could use you as fishing bait!”

“It tickles? Wow, that must really suck for you.”

Pretty good with aftercare. He'll ruffle your hair and tease you, of course, but he lets you lay on him while the TV plays. Fair trade, honestly.

👓Stanford🖋️

General:

Can you really tell me he isn't at least a little lee? After all those years with little to no comforting contact, he loves a good giggle fest.

Making his great niece and nephew laugh, though? Even better.

He doesn't always get that feeling, so I'm going lee-leaning switch.

Lee:

If you even mention it around him, he'll blush, no matter his mood. It's real bad when he's lee.

You can kinda gauge if he's in a mood by just saying the t-word (if you can, that is)

If you don't have that magic, then he's still pretty obvious in other ways.

Extra stuttering, constantly adjusting his glasses, eyes lingering on your hands, wobbly smiles. If you've got eyes, you'll be able to tell.

Will deny it at first, but it's pretty flimsy.

“I-I don't know what you're talking about. I survived the roughest interdimensional plane there is. I don't need…that.”

He falls apart the minute you wiggle your fingers at him.

Worst spots are his hips, followed by his ribs. A few squeezes to either will have him snorting up a storm.

Melt spots are his ears and the tops of his thighs. Like his brother, his ears are lovely to run a feather across for both him and the ler. He loves gentle traces on his thighs, though. Have him a melted, giggling puddle in seconds.

He loses tickle fights on purpose at least 76.4% of the time. Don’t ask me how I got that number: I just know.

Ler:

His ler moods are rare, but if he’s feeling a bit distant from his family, he’ll try and piece things with some giggles.

Soft, playful ler. He never wants to go too far, but he isn’t afraid to goof around and tease while he’s at it.

“I think I’ve got a leg up here, huh? Thanks to my extra fingers, this has gotta be at least 20% more ticklish~”

“You really do blush quite a lot. It’s pretty cute to watch.”

“As a scientist, it’s my job to conduct experiments. Let’s try now. Hypothesis: if I get your worst spot, you’ll laugh at least twice as loud as you are now. Time for the experiment~”

The moment you say stop, even if you don’t mean it, he pulls away. If you want more, you’ll have to ask him.

Pretty great with aftercare. Will absolutely cuddle you, maybe even tell some stories if you’re interested. He’s got plenty from his time in the portal, though he keeps the angstier ones to himself. Any tale he tells is almost guaranteed to make you smile.

🎩Bill💛

General:

Believe it or not, the chaotic dorito does like tickling. In fact, after him and Mabel’s interaction, they seem to randomly plague his thoughts at the most inopportune times. It goes in either direction, his moods as random as his personality.

Considering this, we’re gonna go straight-up switch.

Lee:

These moods are especially hard for the demon to satiate. His friends are insane, but none completely batshit enough to try something like tickling him. When he needs a fix, he usually has to outsource it or suffer until it goes away.

On the off chance he does outsource, he goes for one of the Pines twins. They’re hesitant to let him in, but he’s a sweet-talker. Once he’s inside, it barely takes an hour for him to provoke someone into wrecking him.

His spots vary based on the body he’s inhabiting. The one time he was tickled in his own (Weirdmageddon incident, don’t ask), he found that his hat and feet got him laughing the most.

(don’t come at me, his hat re-grew flesh when he got shot in it)

He doesn’t really have a distinct melt spot, though he loves being tickled right beneath his bowtie. It makes him kick and squirm, but it also makes him incredibly giddy.

Ler:

I’d tell you to run for your life, but it won’t do you much good.

Evil, sarcastic and rough ler. Good luck breathing o7

The kinda dude to go for all your worst spots first, and only explore the softer side if he’s wanting to spice things up.

Can and will generate any tool he feels like to wreck you (surprisingly enough, he’ll ask first)

Boundaries really need to be set before anything happens. Otherwise he’ll just go until he feels like stopping. If you look on the brink of passing out, he’ll quit, but other than that nah.

VERY teasy, with a large handful of sarcasm and sass.

“Geez, you laugh really loud when I get ya here. Mind dialing it down? I don’t wanna go deaf before I’m 20 million.”

“Ha! You snort? I’ve gotta hear that again, c’mon!”

“You’re confusing. You say ‘no, go away,’ but you haven’t even tried escaping. I’m supposed to be the crazy one here; mind explaining?”

“Wow, this is driving you nuts, huh? We’re gonna match!”

Stan and Kyle get into the most tickle fights

Kenny lowkey wishes they include him more, but he's scared to ask

They don’t really like tickling Cartman, but they will if he stepped a line (Cartman doesn’t like to be tickled)

They don’t take tickling seriously unless it's with Cartman, in that case none of them will stop till he's in tears.

Kenny seems like the least ticklish one, but that's only because of his parka; it's so thick that it blocks out tickles, and when they're rough enough for him to feel them, it usually hurts more than tickles

When Kyle and Stan first thought to reach under/unzip his parka, it was the death of Kenny (not actually)

Tweek and Craig get into tickle fights a lot too

Craig is definitely the one that can last the longest

This doesn’t mean he isn’t that ticklish, he could just take it for longer

Kyle is the most ticklish, then it's Butters, Kenny, Stan, Tweek, Craig, and then Cartman is the least

I literally LOVE the hc where Kyle has like a crazy ticklish neck and ears

Stan abuses this a lot (love him)

Wendy is a switch, and all the girls are scared of her when she's in a ler mood

They all think tickling is gay (but like not actually, it's an excuse) 

They all enjoy it to some level, other than Cartman 

Stan once tickled Kyle into admitting he likes it, and Stan would never let Kyle never live that down

Craig has random lee moods, but he's more of a ler

He also provokes the shit outta everyone when he’s in a lee mood

Kenny likes being tickled, but he’s scared to tell anyone out of fear of the others feeling bad they didn’t include him before (poor baby)

Kenny has the most contagious laugh

He has a scream laugh when you hit a good spot, but like bubbly giggles everywhere else 

Also he giggles when someone threatens him with tickles

Poor Kyle, the most ticklish, gets red at the word

“Yeah and then he was all like “does that tickle your fancy?” like what the fuck? Are we living in the 1800- wait what? Kyle? You good man? You’re all red, did I say something?”

And poor Kyle is like, “Yup! Uh huh, all good” LMAOO

Kyle’s most ticklish spots are his neck/ears, upper stomach, and knees

Kenny’s most ticklish spots are his arms (especially his forearms), hips, and stomach

Stan’s most ticklish spots are his ribs, armpits, and thighs/behind his knees

Craig’s most ticklish spots are his armpits, biceps, and back

Tweek’s most ticklish spots are his sides and hips (forgive me, I don’t know too much abt him yet) 

Butters’ most ticklish spots are his stomach, neck, and ribs 

Cartman’s most ticklish spots are his stomach and thighs

Cartman stays out of tickle fights because he doesn’t like having to work to get someone to laugh (he orders around other people and the only reason they actually do it is that they get to tickle someone)

Butters has a very cute laugh, very bubbly and sweet

Stan and Kyle team up on Kenny because Kenny refuses to let them pay for him

Kenny repeats the word “no” hoping his ler would listen to him (spoiler alert: they never do)

“Nonono- Noho! No dohon’t do this- Noho tihickles! Not fahair- Nononono- NOHO!”

Butters starts giggling like a madman like it makes his ler laugh too 

“Butters! I’m gonna getcha!” “Ahahaha! Wahahait!” “Wait what?” “I- eheheh- I-I ahahaha!” “Duhude, what? I’m nohot eleven toughing yohou!”

Stan swears so much while he’s being tickled, it’s so funny

“FUHUHUCK Duhuhude! Dohon’t fucking tihihickle mehehehe yohohou dihiHIHICK! FUHUHUCK! SHIHIHIT- WAHAHAIT-”

Craig snorts when you tickle his armpits

Kyle… poor Kyle.

His face gets so red, and you can see it in his eyes how excited he is, but he denies it

He also gets very giggly

Kyle, Kenny, and Butters like being tickled the most

There’s a difference between in the reasoning for them liking it though

For Butters, he just loves to laugh and have fun 

For Kenny, he loves the attention and love he gets (I’ll speak more on this in a second)

For Kyle, he feels like he had to grow up quickly, and he likes being treated like a kid once in a while 

Back to Kenny (I LOVE HIM I’M SORRY) he was getting tickled by Stan and Kyle and Stan kinda went “you’re so cute, man!” and Kenny got RED-

They then soon figured out how Kenny gets so blushy when he gets complements and Stan and Kyle find it adorable

I think I made this clear, but Stand and Kyle team up on a lot Kenny, it’s rare that only one of them is tickling him

Butters and Kenny tickle each other a lot, and they’re the only one who knows they like it (in case that was confusing, Butters is the only one who knows Kenny likes it and vice versa)

Craig, Kyle, and Tweek prefer rougher tickles (pinching, scratching, poking, squeezing) whereas Kenny, Butters and Stan (surprise!) like light tickles more (lightly scribbling, feather-light touches, hovering over one spot, etc.)

Stan gets weirded out by feet, and Kyle knows this and always pokes him in the side with his foot to watch the disgust on Stan’s face (9/10 times this results in Stan grabbing Kyle's ankle to hold his leg up and tickle under his knee)

Kyle teases the FUCK outta his lee (especially Kenny and Craig)

Can you blame him? He can finally have his revenge!

Kenny and Tweek both use the "what, can't take what you dish out?"

Kenny flusters Stan so much with this, he'll tickle Stan in the same way he did to him, talk to Stan in the same tone, then go "Oh, so it was fine when you were doing this to me earlier??"

Craig seems so uninterested, but he looks at his lee with a little smile

He also pretends like his isn't tickling them

"So, Stan, have you seen the new comic that game out? The Spider-Man one? Have you read it yet?" FUHUHUHCK OHOHOFF CRAHAHAIG!" "Well, that's rude, I'm just asking a question."

Teases get to Stan so much, it makes up for him not being as ticklish