#ler!boothill

Getting a nod back from his request, Boothill took his attention back to the man next to him. Unlike the cowboy, Argenti took his sweet time with each drink. The smell, the taste, the colour of the liquid inside the glass, he paid attention to every bit of it, noticing the beauty in all of it.

Still, it was clear how unused Argenti was to a stronger beverage like the Asdana’s White Oak. The way his nose wrinkled up slightly as he sipped from the glass made Boothill smile every damn time. “Hah, you’re a stubborn one, aren’tcha, Rosy? I told you, order something sweeter already, for fork’s sake”.

Argenti shook his head, taking a deep breath before turning the glass all the way, drinking it to the last drop. “T-that would mean we wouldn’t be sharing a drink like I granted you, my silver cowboy. And even so, by drinking from the same bottle as you I can get to know you some more.”

“I might not be the only fudger around here with loose screws, ya know?” He scoffed. To think Argenti would actually fulfill said promise and go out for a drink with him was already surprising, but Boothill couldn’t even remember how long it had been since someone kept up with him like that. “But I like your attitude, Rosy, I’ll give ya that.”

One, two, three glasses went by before one of them could take notice. Boothill found himself staring at Argenti, watching the way the knight seemed to leave a bit of himself behind with each cup.

It already felt different to look at him without those endless plates of armor in the way - somehow, even if he was still dressed, the lack of it made Argenti seem so vulnerable. And now, with the alcohol slowly mining away his fairytale-y character, Boothill couldn’t help but feel a little flustered, even a bit impressed, when looking at that “different” Argenti. 

“Heh, look at you go, Rosy,” he purred, leaning over the counter and letting his chin rest on top of his hand as he gave Argenti his full attention.

With lethargic moves, Argenti returned the look. That amount of alcohol was sure taking a toll on his brain and his senses, making everything feel a little funny. After staring at Boothill for a couple seconds, Argenti turned his face away, one hand covering his reddened cheek. “By Idrila, s-stop that,” he giggled shily.

Boothill blinked, confused. “Eh? With what?” No response. “C’mon now, you drag me over here for a drink and won’t even look at me now?”

“I think you- you’re staring a little too much…”

Now this was interesting. 

Hanging with Argenti always meant he was the one getting Boothill flustered - “my silver cowboy”, “metallic beauty”, “good partner” and many other forking stupid names. Maybe this was the chance that Boothill once thought would never arrive…

“Aren’t ya the one who says that ‘beauty needs to be appreciated’ or some shirt like that?” He teased back, pulling himself closer to the knight, trying to eye his face over his shoulder. “I’m just doing what ya told me to.”

Argenti sighed, almost as if he was frustrated. From that angle, Boothill could swear he saw something like a pout on Argenti’s face. Dagnabbit. “Did someone ever tell ya look kinda cute like this, Rosy? Heh, we should go drink more often.”

The knight scrunched up his shoulders slightly, feeling a shiver run down his spine with Boothill’s voice so close to him. “R-refrain from behaving- hic- improperly, this is a public space, Boothill…”

“I’m just praising ya,” Boothill chuckled, a devilish grin pulling at his lips, “it’s not my fault ya having some forking nasty thoughts, Rosy. Ease up, will ya?” He teased again, wrapping one arm over Argenti’s neck while poking his side with the other. “It’s a waste to frown with a face like that.”

“B-Boothill!” Argenti gasped, straightening his back as he jolted in surprise, nearly falling off the small bench. He looked around, hoping his little squeal went unnoticed by the few people in the bar. “Don’t do that…”

This was just too good. Like fudgin’ hell he would stop. “Aight, but my best behavior has a price, ya know?” He hummed, unable to resist the fun of teasing Argenti. After all, who knows how long it would take to see him like that again?

With a little pout and arms crossed over his stomach, Argenti looked over to the other man. He let out a small, defeated sigh, as if earlier that day he wasn’t the one showering Boothill with overly sweet compliments that you wouldn’t find even in the most cliché romantic books.

“...and what is it?”

“Ya’ll have to use that pretty mouth of yours and kiss me real good, yeah?”

!!!

“By Idrila, you-” Argenti gasped, pushing at Boothil’s face with his hand but barely creating some distance between them, “-scandalous, sordid man! H-how dare you ask for something like that?!”

“Bwahah, ya into dirty talk now, Rosy?” He smiled, eying Argenti through the gaps between his fingers. With a swift move, Boothill moved his face away from Argenti’s palm and let the knight fall into his arms, “but since we ain’t kissing, I better do something about ya face, yeah?”

“A-ahh, wait, Boohothill, this- ahah, noho!” Argenti giggled helplessly, his balance and control long gone along with the drinks he just had. It was a matter of seconds before he found himself nearly laid against Boothill and unable to get back to his seat. “D-don’t- ahaha, i-it tihihckles!”

“Ya sure had a couple secrets hidden under that armor, huh?” Boothill hummed, his fingers effortlessly tweaking at Argenti’s sides and stomach, tracing random figures over the clothed skin just to mess with the knight even more. “Since when are ya this ticklish, Rosy? It kinda fits you, tho.”

“Dohohon’t- ahAHah, don’t mehehntion it!” Argenti whined, wrapping his arms around his own body in a vain attempt to shield himself. “Juhust stop ihihit!”

But there was no muddlefudger in the whole galaxy that would make Boothill stop at that moment. Where would be the fun in that, anyway? He scoffed, pulling Argenti even more into his arms while letting his hands roam freely over the knight’s body. “Ya didn’t want to kiss me, Rosy, how else am I getting some fun ‘round here, hm?”

“T-that’s- ahahah, indehehecent! I cahAH- AHAhah, oHOHoh my behEHEauty, nohohot thehere!” Argenti gasped as he looked down to Boothill’s hands latched onto his waist. A crooked, even somewhat uncharming, smile pulled at his lips before he lost himself to his laughter.

Those metallic hands, crafted to handle fast moves with utmost precision, were now finding themselves a new, less harmless use. Instead of pulling triggers or drawing out guns, they squeezed and pinched Argenti’s sculptural body, finding one ticklish spot after the other.

Argenti wasn’t even sure if they were just that fast at tickling him or if the alcohol from those glasses of Asdana’s White Oak were weightening down his senses more and more by the second. Maybe it was a bit of both.

“B-Boohothill, t-theEHeh ohohothers ahahre looking! Thihis is embahaharrising!”

“Ya better hope they do, Rosy,” Boothill chuckled, his thumb rubbing circles over the dip of Argenti’s hip, only imagining how bad it tickled by the looks on Argenti’s face when he did it. “That’s some real beauty I’m seeing now… they might as well take a look too, eh?”

He shook his head. No, this wasn’t it - this wasn’t how beauty was supposed to be appreciated. Following Idrila’s will would never feel this weird. “Nohoh, plehehease!” Argenti laughed, spotting something on the nearby counter that, at that moment, seemed like his way out of Boothill’s restless touches.

“Such a cry baby, aren’t ya, Rosy? Ya need to toughen up a bit,” the cowboy teased, taking that small opening to experiment tickling Argenti under his arm. As another, but louder, squeal came from the knight, Boothill chuckled, “c’mon, it’s not even that bad, aight? Just a little tickle, hehe.”

“H-hohow wohohould you knohohow?! You dohon’t- ahAHAHA!!”

Boothill smiled fondly, feeling something as if the wires inside his chest were getting tangled up on themselves. He let go of Argenti’s side, focusing on prodding at that sensitive spot under his arm while cupping the knight’s face with his other hand. “That wasn’t very nice of you, Rosy…”

That wasn’t the end of that short lecture, but Argenti couldn’t really tell Boothill’s words apart anymore - he couldn’t focus on them, to be precise. Not falling back first into the ground was already taking the most out of him, and those drinks from early added to the tickling weren’t really making things any easier.

Besides how much that deviously positioned hand under his arm tickled, the other thing Argenti couldn’t help but wonder was how was Boothill still so alert, so not-drunk? Didn’t they both have the same drink, the same bottles of Asdana’s White Oak?

The wondering about Boothill’s endurance could wait, however. Before he could lose himself into further thinking, that electric-like sensation hammered against his nerves, sending signals straight into his brain that made him lose himself to laughter.

“Oi, Rosy, are ya falling asleep over there? Don’t tell me you’re this drun-”

Brrr.

Before he could finish another tease, a small, short noise caught the cowboy’s attention. Followed by the soft vibration of his phone in the back pocket of his jeans, Boothill felt the annoyance take over his system. Who the fudge dared to bother him at such a good time?!

“Tsk, last thing I needed now was my phone triggering ‘cuz of these forking tight pants again,” he groaned, reaching out for his device while giving Argenti’s cheek a soothing pat. “Hold in there, Rosy, I ain’t done with- huh?”

“Rosy, ya son of a-” Boothill groaned, looking down at the man panting in his lap. That sure was some way to call for help. “Ya lookin’ for trouble, eh, you cute dimwit,” he chuckled, letting his hand continue to wreak havoc.

Still, he needed to send something or that boy would get the wrong idea. Tsk, dagnabbit.

—————

“Here you go! A new recipe, I hope you two like it..” Argenti smiled warmly, presenting a small batch of cookies elegantly before them.

Rappa’s eyes lit up as she clasped her hands together excitedly, Boothill let out a small laugh. “You’ve turned into quite the baker, haven’t you?” He commented with evident fondness.

Argenti leaned over the counter to be closer to his boyfriend, “Of course I have, you make such beautiful expressions whenever you’re enjoying something I’ve made. As long as you keep smiling like that, I’ll keep baking.” The knight lifted a hand to cup Boothill’s cheek, his eyes fond.

Boothill, despite being used to Argenti’s… dramatic way of speaking, felt his face heat up a bit. Covering his reaction with a small scoff before rolling his eyes, swatting his hand away. “Yeah, yeah— whatever you say, lover boy. Sweet talk won’t make the cookies any sweeter, y’know.”

Argenti laughed, the cowboy's reddened cheeks not slipping by unnoticed. The knight fixed his gaze over to Rappa who was looking up at him expectantly with these adoring puppy dog eyes that Argenti would forever be swayed by. “They should be cooled enough now, go ahead, dear.”

“Hell yes!” She grinned, instantly grabbing one and taking a bite. Boothill followed quickly after, his bite just as rushed and messy as hers. It only took a few seconds before both of their eyes widened, not shocked, but overjoyed that another one of Argenti’s baked goods were a delicious success.

Boothill sent a big grin his way, “You’ve done it again! Save some skill for the rest of us, yeah?”

Rappa shoved the whole thing in her mouth and quickly swallowed it all up before she praised him. “It’s so good! Thank you Knight Ninja!”

“You’re very welcome! Uh, Rappa— be careful not to choke, alright?” Argenti laughed nervously, watching as Rappa shoved another cookie in her mouth and ate it at a concerning speed, before rushing to grab another.

Boothill’s eyes widened, having just finished his first. “Wh- Hey! Don’t eat em’ all!” He scolded, quickly grabbing two more. “Jeez! You’d think we don’t feed you!”

Argenti laughed and Rappa giggled a bit too, before the homely air suddenly shifted between the two Galaxy Rangers. Boothill and Rappa’s eyes locked onto the plate, and then onto eachother— noticing a concerning fact…

There was only one cookie left!

Their eyes shined with determination once they realized that they both wanted it. In an instant, Rappa rushed to reach out for it, wanting to steal it for herself. She was just inches away from it before…

BANG!

Her chair was kicked out from under her, a cowboy boot making harsh contact with the side of it. With a shriek she fell to the floor, landing right on her ass. Of course, Boothill, the one who had used such a cheap tactic— grinned like an idiot. Quickly grabbing his prize and taking a big bite, making sure to look the pink haired girl right in the eyes while he did it.

“Close, but not close enough~” He joked, Argenti letting out a small, disappointed sigh at his boyfriend’s childishness. “Be quicker next time, yeah?”

“Ohoho?” She stared up at him, her expression filled with misplaced confidence. Boothill grinned down at her with a smug, mischievous glare.

A second later she suddenly charged up at him. Likely, to push him off his chair for revenge, or to steal the two cookies that he hadn’t bitten yet. “You dare mess with the great Dazzling Ninja?! You are so gonna get it, Silvergun ShuraHA— PFFT! AAHahahaha! W-WaHAhahait!”

Unfortunately for Rappa, as soon as she got within in his grasps, she had fallen right into his planned, mischievous trap. Argenti watched with surprised eyes as Boothill moved the cookie to the side and quickly threw her over his lap, her head and legs dangling in the air. Wasting no time before his ten iron fingers dug playfully into her tummy.

“Well damn, just what kinda ninja couldn’t have seen this comin’?” He teased, breaking out into the fondest smile as she started screaming with laughter. It was hilarious, her laugh was always just as loud and free as her. God… it even reminded him of the times he’d tickle his daughter, or mess with the band of troublesome teens that were endlessly being adopted into their cowboy crew.

It’s not often he gets to reminisce about his home planet in a way that doesn’t make him frown.

Rappa kicked her legs wildly in the air, enough that Argenti could see them peeking up from the other side of the kitchen counter. “AHAHAhaha! D-Dahahamn it! Thihihihis— Is nahahahat fahahahair!” She complained half heartedly, squealing when Boothill's hands latched onto her hips, grabbing his wrists to try and shove him away.

“Not fair? You came at me! I was just defending myself, girl.” Boothill snickered, finding a good spot on her hips that made her thrashing become almost wild.

Amongst her frantic laughter, Rappa became worried that her squirming was gonna make her slip off his lap, removing a hand from his wrist as she grabbed onto the countertop tightly. “AHAHahahaha! B-Boothihihill, I-Im— I’ihihim gonna fahahahall!” She squeaked through panicky laughter, laughing too hard to use his nickname.

A second later Boothill’s scribbles dove under her exposed underarm, it’s not his fault the opportunity was right there!

“AHAHAHA!” She quickly let go of the countertop as her arm tightened against her side. “PleheheheHEHhehease!”

The cowboy shook his head, “Psshh, you’re fineeeee! I wouldn’t let you fall, unless…” Boothill’s knees lowered ever so slightly, putting the girl on a small angle before quickly straightening his legs again. Rappa though, let out a loud shriek and kicked her legs in panic, her laughter somehow becoming even more squeaky.

His silliness worked well in making her laugh even harder, and for obvious reasons that made his fondness grow.

Still, Boothill burst out into laughter at the sound, his eyes closing contemptuously as he laughed along with her. Rappa snorted when she felt a poke to her ribs, rushing to plead despite how much fun she was having. “ARGEhehehenti! Plehehease, heheheHEHEhehelp mehehehe!”

Boothill tutted playfully, “Heh heh~ Nice try, but unfortunately for you, Argenti knows better than to pick sides.” He announced with even worse misplaced confidence… because a second later…

There was a squeak, followed by a string of high-pitched giggles that sounded like they totally shouldn't belong to the tough cyborg. But oh, did they ever. Argenti’s fingers had hooked under his chin, targeting the perfect spot on his neck to send the cowboy squirming.

“Y-Yohohohou…! Frihihihick! Oh nohoho!Nononono pleheheheaasee! Argehentihihi!” He crumbled under the gentle touch, pleading, which is something he never, ever does— Unless… It’s because Argenti is tickling his neck and making him giggle like an idiot.

His fingers stilled and his metallic shoulders scrunched up, he wanted to rush to defend himself— but he didn’t want Rappa to actually fall so he focused his strength on holding her up even though he was sliding down his chair.

“Quick, Rappa! Escape while you can!” He laughed, clearly— enjoying himself just as much as the other two were. “Hmm~ I forgot you could giggle like this, my Silver Cowboy.” He teased, which made a certain cyborg blush a cute pink.

Feeling Rappa escaping, he tried to hook his hands under her arms. “Yohohou thihihihink, yohohou cahahan escape so ehehe— AHA!” Argenti’s fingers dug right under Boothill’s jaw, which quickly shut him up with the most adorable laughter. “TRAHAhahaitor!” He immediately accused, Rappa found herself able to safely slip away from them, falling to the ground as she focused on catching her breath.

Boothill kicked his boots against the bottom of the counter, scrunching up his shoulders as he reached up for Argenti’s hands. “You put up a good fight, Galaxy Ranger.” Argenti giggled a bit, one of his hands leaving his boyfriend’s jawline to gently lift Boothill’s chin.

“Lehehet gohohoho! Lehehet— GYAHAHA! St-Stahahap thahahatttt!” Boothill squealed when Argenti leaned down and blew a raspberry on the now exposed skin, his strength fighting against Argenti’s hand to pull his chin down to his chest.

He failed at that, but after a couple more well-placed raspberries that had him screaming with laughter, Boothill leaned back harshly on reflex, which made his chair fall backwards. The cyborg, and the knight, toppling over with it.

It wasn’t long before Boothill made good use of their new positions and turned the tables on Argenti, the knight's elegant laughter soon filling the room. Boothill was so distracted getting revenge on Argenti, that he hadn’t noticed Rappa had recovered from the attack.

She stood up swiftly, looking at the two for a second before giggling. “I’ll be taking these~” Rappa grinned, stealing Boothill’s cookies and slipping away to her room.