#ler!bash

Gilbert sighed heavily as he all but dropped into the kitchen chair. Today was one of those days that almost made him miss working on the ship. Sure it was back breaking work, and he could swear he still smelled the latrine on him sometime, but at least there was a way to distract yourself from it all. The constant work and hustle and bustle, the seemingly endless ocean, the excitement of foreign ports and exploration. That was something to look forward to, or a way to turn off your mind for awhile.

Not as much of that to be found here in Avonlea. Sure there was still a lot of work to do on the farm, but it wasn't quite the same. On the boat they'd work him so hard, it left him unable to do anything but sleep at the end of the day. Now he would often lay in bed for hours, unable to really get to sleep with all the thoughts racing through his head.

Of course this didn't lend well to endless days of school with that awful teacher. Mr.Philips was more interested in punishing and humiliating, than he was in actually teaching. He was a sad pathetic bastard of a man, that's to be sure.

Today it was his head on the proverbial chopping block. He'd been suffering from terrible insomnia for so long. That night had been no different, he'd not gotten a wink of sleep. So in class he'd nodded off a bit, just so unbelievably tired from no sleep.

Of course Mr.Philips had caught him the moment his eyes had shut. So of course he'd been forced to stand up at the front of class, and write 'I will not fall asleep in class' on the board 50 times. His wrist certainly ached from the exercise, and he'd been forced to stay late because of it.

So now here he was, tired, upset, with an aching wrist and the knowledge that he'd likely be in for another sleepless night. Maybe he could take to the bottle. Seemed to work for plenty of others he'd seen.

"What's goin on wid you Blight? You look like somethin someone pulled outta the gutter." Bash said as he walked in, hanging his coat on the hook on the wall.

Gilbert sighed heavily, barely turning his head to his friend. "I feel as I look Bash. Like something pulled me from the gutter."

Bash tutted and ruffled the younger man's hair in teasing affection. "Aww, is the poor little babe tired? Someone need a nap?"

Gilbert would chalk it up to his tired mind, but he leaned into the warm hand on his head, tears pressing at the corners of his eyes. "Honestly Bash? You have no idea how nice that would be right now."

Bash's bred furrowed in worry, usually Gilbert would have some playful reply, and they'd had a banter. This was unexpected and bit concerning. "Are ya feelin alright there Blight? Ya not sick are ya?"

He shook his head, "I don't think so. I'm just really tired. I can't sleep, and nothing I've tried has helped. I don't know why, it's so frustrating! I can't think straight, I can barely focus! I'm so tired Bash! I just wanna sleep! But I just… I just can't."

The older man sat next to his friend, hand still on his head, now more checking for fever. "You? Not sleepin? That's hard to believe. You used to sleep like the dead back on the ship."

"With how they worked us? I felt like the dead." He chuckled a bit.

"Ah, there's a smile!" He grinned, playfully but lightly shaking Gilbert's head. "I bet we can find a way ta getcha sleepin. Maybe yer just not bein worked hard enough!"

Gilbert scoffed and pushed his hand away in mock offense. "I work plenty hard, thank you very much! It's just not the kind that slowly kills you from the inside out!"

"Then it ain't the right kinda work to get ya ta sleep!" Bash grinned back, standing up. "I can try cooking up somethin to help ya out. I remember a few good recipes that used to put me out like a light!"

Gilbert chuckled, leaning forward and resting his head in his arms on the table. "You know what? That doesn't sound to bad."

"Don't you go falling asleep on me right now though!" He teased, poking at him.

Gilbert jolted a bit, rubbing his side where the poke hit. "Ok! Ok! No need to be so pushy, I'm just resting my head."

Bash regarded him curiously, "What was all that?"

"All what?" He asked, a tad defensively, arms now crossed against his chest.

"All that! Ya jumped like I'd electrocuted ya! And now yer actin like I'm gonna jump atcha!" He chuckled, but he leaned in a bit, hand reaching for his side. "Yer not hurtin there are ya? Let me see."

Gilbert jolted again, shooting up from the chair. "N-No! I'm fine! I'm not hurt! I'm gonna go check on the animals!"

"…No." Bash grinned at him, seemingly putting the pieces together. "Ain't no way you been keepin this kinda thing from me for this long!"

Gilbert would deny the rising heat in his face till his dying day. He knew what Bash was getting at, and he knew if this conversation went any further, he'd never have a peaceful day again.

The truth of it was, Gilbert had always been… sensitive. Not absurdly so, thankfully, only his dad had known really. It was something usually used when they'd be playfully rough housing when he was little. Once or twice his dad had used it to make Gilbert smile on rough days. Or when he'd been bedridden and Gilbert had refused to leave his side, it was a good distraction from the doom and gloom of it all.

Of course it had been a long time since he'd played like that with anyone. He wasn't really close enough to anyone for them to find out. Then there wasn't much time for childish games like that on the ship. And with how crazy his life had become, he'd all but forgotten how sensitive he really was.

Now though, it was all coming back crystal clear. And Bash was slowly advancing on him, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"I might know just the way to get ya ya sleep I think. It'll probably work better than my first idea for certain." He grinned, slowly walking towards Gilbert.

"I-I think I'm good actually! The food will work wonders I'm sure! I should really check on the animals though!" He laughed nervously, backing up towards the door. But Bash wasn't backing down,and seeing as Gilbert wasn't looking where he was going as he back away, he didn't realize till it was to late that he'd actually backed himself into the wall. "B-Bash, Bash now let's be reasonable. We're both fully grown men, this is beneath us."

"I'll have to disagree Blight." He grinned, stopping in front of him. "I think a good laugh if just what the doctor ordered."

Gilbert stood for a moment, holding eye contact with Bash, before tired to bolt to the door. But Bash was faster, grabbing him and pulling him into an inescapable bear hug. Before he knew it, his friends hands were squeezing at his sides. "Come on now, let's tired you out properly!"

"BASH!" He yelped, hands flying to his mouth, trying in vain to hold back the grin forcing its way onto his face. He could already feel the laughter bubbling in his chest. Had he really always been this ticklish? Had he forgotten how bad it was, or did all the years without somehow make him more sensitive? Either way, he was twisting about to try and escape it.

"Aye! Quit yer wigglin! I'm trying ta help ya!" He laughed, hands never ceasing their insensent ticklish squeezes. "But maybe this ain't the spot? Let's try here!"

Gilbert honest to goodness kicked when Bash's fingers dug into his stomach. He'd definitely forgotten how ticklish that spot was. A hand pulled away from covering his mouth to try and pull at his friends hand. It did next to nothing really. He was never as strong as Bash, and given how sleep deprived he was, it certainly didn't help.

Bash just laughed, "Guess I was right! Seems I hit a good spot, eh?"

Gilbert shook his head, twisting and wiggling in Bash's hold. But his fight with his own laughter was a losing game. He was sure he'd break any second now. Maybe if he wasn't so tired he'd have better endurance. But alas, he was sure he'd never hear the end of this now.

The hand that wasn't tormenting his stomach was moving, going up his side till it landed squarely on his ribs. That was when any composure that Gilbert had left was tossed out the window.

"AHA! NOHO!" He cried, giving into the laughter that poured from his lips. It was a bright, goofy sound. Quite different from his usual soft chuckles or teasing snickers. He hadn't laughed like this in years, and despite how embarrassing it all was, it did feel kinda nice.

Bash's own laughter joined his, triumphant. "Haha! There it is! Gotcha now Blight! Listen to ya! Laughin like a hyena! I gotta say, it suits ya!"

Gilbert was fighting valiantly against the onslaught. Which is to say he was weakly slapping and pulling at the hands that tormented him. A very valiant and brave fight indeed.

"BAHAHASH!" He cried, a snort being torn from his lips as the bastard's hand got under his arm.

"Oh now that was a funny noise!" Bash grinned, "Can ya make it again?"

And make it again he did, snorting even louder as both of Bash's hands were now digging into his underarms. His arms were pressed to his sides in an instinctual attempt at defense, but all it led to was trapping his friends hands in that terrible spot. He was really doing himself no favors, was he?

"C-CUT IT OHOHOUT!" He cackled, slowly sliding to the floor as his legs lost their strength.

"Why dontcha try and make me, eh? See if ya can!" Bash laughed, all but straddling Gilbert as he tickled the poor guy to pieces.

Gilbert tried to kick, or buck, or twist to freedom, but Bash was to strong. He truly doubted he'd be able to free himself even if he was at full strength. He attempted to lift his hands to grab at Bash's arms, but it only led to Bash digging harder into his underarms. So he was essentially stuck like this, helpless to the playful whims of his attacker.

Thankfully Bash seemed to be in a merciful mood. Or maybe he noticed that Gilbert's useless attempts to fight back or escape were getting weaker and more sluggish. "Alright alright, I think I've tired ya out well enough."

"N-Nehehearly killed me more lihike." He giggled, catching his breath as the sensations slowly faded.

Bash scoffed and rolled his eyes, climbing off Gilbert and offering a hand. "Don't be a baby, yer fine. A little tickling never killed nobody!"

"You don't know that." He huffed, taking his hand and standing up, a bit unsteady on his feet.

Bash only laughed, throwing an arm around him and lightly jostling him. "Whateva ya say Blight! Now go get to bed, ya look dead on ya feet."

"Bed? Without supper?" He asked, though he did have to admit he was leaning pretty heavy against Bash.

He rolled his eyes, guiding his friend to the table and turning to the cold box. "Fine fine, I think we have some left ova's I can heat up on the stove. Just don't go-"

He cut himself off as he turned back to Gilbert, who was already asleep, still sitting up in the chair. Bash chuckled, "Fallin asleep… well, let's hope ya have good dreams tonight. Sleep well my friend."