#ler!chenya

It had been about two weeks since Riddle's... incident in the rose garden. That's what he'd taken to calling it because it sounded less horrifying than "overblotting" or "crazy berserker mode" as Cater had so bluntly referred to it. Despite being given a clean bill of health, Riddle was still recovering. He would get lightheaded. He had trouble sleeping. He'd lose his appetite. He was still nervous about using his magic, afraid of overdoing it again. Riddle didn't even have any memory of what had happened. Headmage Crowley said that it would simply take time to heal such wounds.

Trey still felt largely responsible for Riddle even overblotting in the first place. He'd become determined to help Riddle heal in any way he could. Trey had done extensive research in the campus library and found various books on stress relief, teaching himself about yoga and breathing techniques and meditation to help lower stress. This is why Riddle was heading to a secluded spot behind the Heartslabyul House rose garden now - Trey had gotten him to agree to meet up every day after classes and work on one of these techniques.

Riddle had a free period at the end of classes today and decided to head to their meetup spot early as it was quite lovely outside. With a book to read and an old picnic blanket tucked under his arm, the teen made his way behind the rose garden hedge maze to a small group of oak trees. He gently set his book in the grass before shaking out the blanket and laying it under a tree. "Hmm... yes, this shall do nicely," Riddle said to himself. "Shaded enough that I won't overheat but I can still have a bit of warmth from the sun's rays." Riddle slipped off his school uniform blazer, folding it perfectly and smoothing out any and all wrinkles as he rested it on the bottom of the blanket before sitting down. He rested his back against the tree, stretching his legs in front of him and crossing them at the ankles. Riddle allowed himself a moment to get comfortable and then started to read his book. It was warm. There was a gentle breeze. The sky was clear. Riddle was calm. Every condition was perfect for helping him relax and get lost in his book, which he did. And then he had a sudden feeling that he was being watched. Riddle's icy grey eyes peered over the pages of his book in front of him and saw no one. They peered to the left and saw only the rose garden maze walls. They peered to the right... ...and saw a face floating in midair and smiling at him. "BWAAAH!" Riddle gasped, throwing his book into the air with a startled jolt.

One of Chenya's hands materialized and caught the book before it fell to the ground. He smiled at the redhead with a giggle. "Goodness! You must have been paws-itively entranced in this book for me to spook you so," Chenya laughed, his body fully materializing in the air as he turned the book over to look at its cover. "What're we reading, hmm?" "Nothing!" Riddle replied, snatching the book out of Chenya's hands and quickly stashing it under the blanket. "What are you doing here?"

"So secretive," Chenya teased, still floating over him. "I was around and thought I'd check on you. I..." Chenya lowered himself to the ground and sat beside Riddle on the blanket, becoming uncharacteristically somber for a moment. "I've been worried about you since... well, since Trey told me what happened." "You don't have to worry about me." Riddle's shoulders slumped. He still wasn't used to other people caring about him like this. He also hated feeling like he was hurting others. "Trey has been helping me learn how to let go of being so strict and find a balance between rules and leniency. I'm doing better." "I miss that purrfect little smile of yours," Chenya admitted, bumping his shoulder against Riddle's with a sigh. "Tch... what do you mean? I smile! See?" Riddle's lips stretched into a genuine but soft smile.

"Not like that, silly kitty. I miss how you smiled when we climbed trees... when we'd play Old Maid and Trey would lose..." Chenya sat back against the tree, eyes focused on the back of his friend's head as he thought of childhood memories. "I miss that great big smile you had the first time you bit into a strawberry tart at his parents bakery." He reached forward and kneaded his nails gently along Riddles shoulder blades affectionately as he mentioned the tart memory. "EEEEK!" Riddle arched his back with such force that he'd nearly snapped his spine. He instantly clapped a hand over his mouth, horrified at his own sudden outburst. Chenya froze. Neither of the teens were sure of what had just happened.

"Curiouser and curiouser..." Chenya reached out and repeated the motion. This time, Riddle involuntarily giggled as his back tensed. The redhead's eyes went wide. He was mortified and confused. "Stop that this instant!" "Oh dear." Chenya chuckled. That reaction sounded ominous and Riddle did not like it one bit.

"What... why... what magic was that? What did you do?" Riddle was almost positive that his friend was using some kind of spell to get him to smile.

"Magic? Has no one ever...? No, I don't suppose they have." It was at that moment that Chenya was reminded of just how much of a sheltered childhood Riddle had lived. It was probably worse once he came here to Night Raven because he was so closed-off. "No one has ever..." The mischievous boy leaned forward again and quickly spidered his fingers against Riddle's sides, causing him to giggle outright. "You, my dear, are ticklish." Chenya immediately went invisible and started poking and fluttering his fingers anywhere he could reach - Riddle's sides, his back, his shoulder blades, the back of his neck, behind his ears... Riddle jolted and wriggled like a worm on a hook, falling onto his back and swatting at the air trying to slap Chenya's hands away. Classes had finished for the day. Trey made is way through the halls of the campus, to the Hall of Mirrors, back to Heartslabyul House, and through the rose garden to met up with Riddle. As he exited the back of the hedge maze, his chest knotted in a panic. He saw Riddle, alone under a tree, convulsing on his blanket. Fear took over and Trey's legs immediately started running. He had been afraid nonstop for the past two weeks that Riddle could relapse. "Riddle! No no no no no..." Trey was kneeling at his best friend's side in mere seconds. "Riddle! What's happening?! What's wrong?!"

"Hehehehe help! Help me! Che... Chen... make hehehehe make him hehehehe stop!" Riddle looked like he was having some sort of seizure, flailing his hands and flopping around. But he was... laughing. "What in the world? Riddle?!" Trey was beyond confused. He'd never seen his best friend act like this. A second later, Riddle stopped moving. He was now heaving breaths. Chenya's face materialized beside him. Trey fell back in surprise. "Bwaah! Chenya? What's going on?"

"I can only imagine how this must have looked. Apologies if I worried you," Chenya said with a nod as the rest of his body materialized. "I was trying to coax this little sourpuss to smile and ended up making quite an interesting discovery. Look!" His hands reached out, fingers wriggling against Riddle's ribs and making the poor boy burst into another fit of giggles as he curled up defensively on his blanket. Trey stared. He blinked. He adjusted his glasses. He blinked again. For a moment, Trey had flashes of childhood memories. He could see himself, Chenya, and Riddle as small children. He could hear their giggles when they played. He'd never heard anything like the sounds Riddle was making right now though. "No way," Trey said with a bark of a laugh, looking down at Riddle who was trying to catch his breath. "And here I thought I knew everything about you. How did I not know you're ticklish?" "I didn't know," Riddle exhaled, smoothing out the wrinkles in his shirt. "Heavens, that was awful." The boy let his eyes close. He would completely deny it if asked, but he was still smiling. The more Trey thought about it, the more it made sense for Riddle to be so clueless. His parents weren't ones for any type of physical affection. The only friends he'd had were Trey and Chenya until his mother forbid them to come anywhere near him. Neither of them had really had much physical contact with him more than a hug here and there because Riddle had been so shy and they didn't want to frighten him back into his shell.

"It's good that you arrived when you did. I swear, Chenya was trying to kill me," Riddle sighed, ever the one for theatrics as he rested a hand on his chest.

"That's not true," Chenya protested. "I was helping you." "I nearly died. How in the world is that considered helpful?" Riddle wondered, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Such a dramatic little thing," Chenya giggled. "I never see you laugh. Laughter is good for relieving stress."

"Utter piffle!" the Heartslabyul housewarden scoffed.

"Chenya's actually correct though. Laughing decreases stress hormones, releases endorphins, relaxes physical tension..." A smile crossed Trey's face, a smile that was just a bit too far on the mischievous side. "What is that saying, Chen? Laughter is the best medicine, I think, yeah?" Trey cracked his knuckles. "Indeed!" Chenya looked about ready to pounce, a playful gleam in his cat-like eyes. "I prescribe four hands," he added, flexing all ten of his fingers in the air. "Huh?" Riddle furrowed his brow. "That doesn't even make sense." The teen opened his eyes just a moment too late to see both of his best friends with clawed hands hovering over him and he had no time to move. "Oh no no no wait!" Riddle was thrown into absolute hysterics. He was giggling. He was sputtering. He was trying to cover his mouth and shield himself at the same time... and failing miserably at both as he curled into a ball and kicked his legs. "Just be gentle. We don't want him getting overstimulated. It *is* his first time," Trey pointed out as his fingers danced along Riddle's ribs. "That would be quite the cat-tastrophe, wouldn't it?" Chenya giggled. He switched between fluttering his fingers at Riddle's neck and gently scratching under his arms, careful not to use too much pressure. "Wouldn't want the poor dear to pass out, although that would give you the opportunity to play housewarden for a bit." "Stop hehehehe talking hehehe about me... like I'm hehehe not even HEHEHEHERE!" Someone's hand started to squeeze just above one of Riddle's hips and shattered all sense of composure and decorum that he was trying to keep. He broke out into an absolute cackle and gave up trying to cover his face. He couldn't even sputter a word through his laughter. One of his hands started swatting down repeatedly on the blanket.

"Uh-oh, that's a tap-out." Trey immediately held up his hands. Chenya took just an extra second more before following suit. "I think he's had enough for today." Trey looked down at the small heap of a boy that was Riddle Rosehearts. Despite the fact that Trey and Chenya had their hands in the air, Riddle was still giggling. "You... okay there, buddy?" All of a sudden, Trey was just a bit worried that Riddle might be angry.

Riddle slowly turned over onto his back, sprawling on the blanket between his torturers. His hair was a mess, matted against a sweaty forehead and sticking out in every other direction. His cheeks were as red as his hair, not from anger but from overheating and embarrassment. His uniform shirt was a wrinkled disaster, untucked and twisted halfway up his torso. His eyes were closed and he was heaving breaths. Residual giggles were still slipping from his lips as he started to calm down. "There it is," Chenya said fondly. "Hmmph?" The redhead cracked one eye open, looking up in confusion. "There... what... is?" he asked between giggling breaths.

"Your strawberry tart smile, silly kitty," Chenya replied, booping the tip of Riddle's nose with his index finger.

Trey couldn't help laughing. He knew exactly what Chenya was referring to, and it was good to see it again.

"Ugh, I hate you both," Riddle groaned. "All three of us know that's an outright lie," Trey chuckled. "How do you feel?" "Exhausted." Riddle draped an arm over his face and stretched out his legs. "My face hurts. Everything hurts." "That's because you've never worked out any of those tickle muscles... ever. We can help with that," Chenya teased, wriggling his fingers in the air. "No! Absolutely not!" Riddle didn't even have the strength to try and defend himself. And he was already giggling again at the mere thought of being tickled. "Please. I surrender. No more. I can't." "You're safe. No need for hiss-terics," Chenya chuckled, mussing Riddle's hair affectionately. "I should head back anyway before it gets late. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Riddle started to sit up when Chenya immediately pulled him into a tight hug, clamping his arms at his sides in the process. He sighed in defeat and simply let Chenya hold him. He'd never admit it, but that hug felt absolutely wonderful. Riddle had spent his life so touch-starved that this overwhelming amount of contact today had rendered him completely bewildered. He was a mix of complex and conflicting emotions. He hated this, but he loved it at the same time. He couldn't make any sense of it. "Look after him," Chenya told Trey before kissing the top of Riddle's head with an annoyingly and purposely loud smooching sound. "Bye, dears." He let go of Riddle, standing and fading from sight as he waved to the pair.

Riddle collapsed back onto the blanket with a heavy sigh. He rubbed his palms against his sides, still still feeling traces of the absolute torture he'd just gone through. There was still a soft smile on his face. "...are you angry?" Trey asked quietly.

"Hmm..." Riddle shook his head slowly, still trying to catch his breath. "No. I don't think that I could ever be angry with either of you. You're never doing that again, though. I feel utterly drained. I could fall asleep right under this tree."

"I had other plans for us, but having a catnap under a tree for a bit doesn't break any rules that I know of," Trey joked. "Hmmph. Leave the feline puns to Chenya," Riddle teased, showing that he was in a good mood. "What plans?"

"I do what my mother calls stress-baking. I bake when I'm stressed out because it's enjoyable and calms me down," Trey explained. "I thought we could find some easy recipes and see if stress-baking helps you. And as a bonus, we end up with snacks to eat... which I also do when I'm stressed."

"That..." Riddle took another moment to himself as he was still catching his breath. "That sounds lovely. Since Chenya mentioned it, I find myself craving a strawberry tart."

"I think we have enough ingredients in the kitchen to make some. Without oyster sauce this time, though." Trey chuckled, smiling wider as Riddle groaned.

"Uuuurrrggh." Riddle draped an arm over his face. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Ohoho not on your life." Trey stood and held out a hand. "Think you can gather the strength to make it to the kitchen?"

"I'll manage." Riddle took Trey's hand and pulled himself to stand. He smoothed the wrinkles from his shirt again and tucked it back in before putting his blazer back on and fixing his hair while Trey folded the blanket and picked up Riddle's book. "Do I look presentable? Queen of Hearts Rule num-" The housewarden stopped himself from finishing that sentence. "I don't wish to set a poor example for the rest of Heartslabyul House and walk about the dorm looking unkempt." "Hold on." Trey quickly raked his fingers through the hair at the back of Riddle's head, putting a few stray strands back into place. "There. To the kitchen, then?" Trey gestured back towards the hedge maze. "To the kitchen," Riddle nodded, walking alongside Trey. "I don't think it needs saying that should you tell anyone about what just happened..." "Wouldn't dream of it. No one will hear a peep about you being ticklish as hell from me," Trey chuckled, putting an arm around a furiously blushing Riddle's shoulders as they disappeared into the hedge maze.

——

twst first!

chenya hc first since u love him but i think he has a rly ticklish neck and this was found out bc whenever his neck is touched even SLIGHTLY his body suddenly disappears and now u cant touch his neck?? he’s lowkey hard to ler for but he likes being tickled so he probably will let you if he trusts you enough~ ticklish ears too

chenya whenever he is bored likes to play hide and seek (except the other person doesnt know) and when he finds them, he just tickles him. usually trey and riddle fall victim to this.

anyway treyrid where riddle really likes holding trey’s hand because it destresses him snd makes him feel comfortable, but sometimes trey will like rub his fingers over his hand and its ticklish and he just has to deal with it because hes too embarrassed to say anything

more treyrid,, so riddle has really ticklish ears and whenever trey notices a stray hair or something thats a bit out of place, trey will move it and “accidentally” graze his fingers along riddle’s ear. trey is a lot more mischievous than ppl give him credit for…

not a tk hc but MORE RIDDLE but now with cater cuz i love for cater and riddle bonding but i think itd be cute if whenever riddle wasnt feeling the greatest, he’d come to cater for comfort and theyd have something akin to a girls night where they do each others hair and talk abt lots of things. (sorry im gonna yap for a sec but i think they could rly confide in each other bc they both felt pressured by their families ie. riddle having to be basically perfect and cater being forced to be nothing but cute) so i think they get along really well

now for fragmem hcs!!

again doing ur favs cuz u love merold but if he learns that someone he is close to is ticklish, he’ll say something like “hm~ but thats a weakness, you know~ better fix that..” and proceed to tickle them .

but he conveniently leaves out the fact that he is just as susceptible to the feeling (but only a select few know cuz hes PRETTY good at hiding it)

i think he is very ticklish but you have to go about it a certain way. light, gentle tickles worst best on him because he can barely conceal his reactions at all.

he tickles hallritt a bit often because he reminds him of his brother and also because hallritt is too shy to get him back

but hallritt is NOT too shy to tag team him .. this is usually sanah, rimicha, and hallritt ganging up on him. he cant say he HATES it though.

also romamero tickles, i think merold really likes tickly cuddles where roma will like gently tickle his back as they try to sleep and he just giggles.

roma is ALSO very ticklish though and he has the cutest laugh ever, its deep and breathy but very like melodic in a way. also not that shy about his ticklishness but WILL let you know that he will retaliate.

RIMICHA SANAH TICKLE FIGHTS have i talked about this?? but whenever they are bantering or arguing about something, theyll settle it with a tickle fight. id like to say they are both evenly matched but perhaps sanah wins slightly more…

louter is ALSO a super ticklish fella just like his twin…

also so imagine louter REALLY likes doing laundry (for some reason…) but klark is a naturally tidy person so whenever klark is eating something particularly messy, he might tickle him a bit to distract him.. does this make sense? ofc not while he’s EATING eating so he doesnt choke but yk!

also klark is a tsundere so louter likes to tickle him whenever hes being particularly cute .. like cuteness aggression.

however, klark usually gets him back ofc . he also really likes louter’s laugh. louter just lets it happen too, like no fighting back at all and if he does, he does it by tickling KLARK more.

louter also has a super pretty laugh, its not just klarks bias….

louter is super open about being ticklish while klark is the opposite and would reveal he was ticklish to no one except louter, kiki, and lala… not even kurode (though kurode would find out himself ofc)

aruchaco tickles ,,, arupek is really good at REALLY random things… namely massages so think this: one time chaco is complaining that his back is sore for some reason and arupek is like “i give really good massages” and so chaco trusts him with that,, unknowing that his back is unbearably ticklish. it takes aru wayy too long to realize and he’s wondering what’s so funny, but once he does, he thinks its super cute so ofc he keeps doing it

chaco is super shy about tickling but he gets into it he’s gets INTO it, he gets a bit sadistic and super teasy and sometimes even arupek cant handle it… they make me sick…

And now, he was here, in the Heartslabyul Lounge, textbooks as far as the eye can see (or really, only covering the table) and Riddle drilling lesson after lesson into his brain. He was sure that if he stayed there a second longer, his brain would quite literally melt.

He hated that Riddle was actually a really good tutor. This wasn’t Ace’s first time getting a tutoring session with the Housewarden, despite the other’s busy schedule. But.. he had to be in the mood to study, you know?

“Do you get it, Ace? This is important,” Riddle asked, causing another groan to pass through the freshman’s lips.

“Yes… but..” He said, knowing full well that he hadn't been listening to Riddle for the past five minutes. “Can’t we just take a small break?”

“Not when you haven’t been listening to me at all. Do you really think you’re deserving of a break?” Riddle narrowed his eyes, his arms crossed. Ace, on the other hand, averted his eyes after getting through his initial shock.

“So you noticed..”

“Of course I did.”

“I just can’t focus! It’s just one test. I’ll do better on the next one.” Ace shrugged, looking out the window. He could be doing other things right now. Should he just.. say he needs to go to the bathroom and just leave? No, it’s Riddle. He would wait until Ace got back and punish him. And no one wanted to be on the receiving end of Riddle’s punishments.

“But you didn’t do well on this one. Tell me, what will you do if this material shows up on the final exam?” Riddle questioned, doubtful.

“Eh..”

“Hehe, playing teacher?” A voice suddenly cut out, startling the two. Ace jerked his head over towards the source to see.. a floating head?!

“Ah! It’s you!” What was his name? Arte… Pinky..? Huh???

“Chenya,” Riddle sighed, then looked up, a glare directed at him, rather than Ace. “Stop using your signature spell to scare others.”

“Hehe.” Chenya winked, then the rest of his body appeared.

“Freaky…” Ace mumbled to himself, still recovering from his heart attack earlier. How did he get in here anyway? When did he get here?

“What are you doing here?” Riddle asked the RSA student.

“Can’t I just visit my friends~?” Chenya put his hands behind his head, casually.

Riddle pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m assuming you’ve already met with Trey then?”

“Nope,” Chenya started, popping the p. “I actually thought I was gonna see you two together. You two used to be like, attached at the hip.”

“We were not.” Riddle looked away.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatcha doing?” He said, half-walking, half-skipping over to the table. Sevens, him and Floyd would get along swimmingly— no pun intended.

“As you can see, I’m tutoring one of my freshmen. He got an unacceptable grade on his last test and I am going to ensure that doesn’t happen again,” Riddle explains, gesturing at the textbooks sprawled about on the table.

“Way to put all my business out there, Housewarden..” Ace muttered under his breath. Riddle pointedly ignored him.

“Looks like he’s been working hard. I heard him ask for a break! Why not give the little freshie one?”

“Little freshie?!” Ace can hardly be grateful for Chenya trying to convince the housewarden to give Ace a break when he’s called that! Still.. a break would be nice.

Riddle looks between the two, a hopeful glint in each of their eyes.

Then, he sighed. “Fine. I will permit silent reading for ten minutes,” He responded, at last, handing him an alchemy textbook.

“Eh?! That’s not a break at all!” Ace exclaimed, before he could help it. He withdrew slightly at the glare that Riddle sent him.

“Yeah. I mean, like, something away from studying. Come on, the Chenya is visiting, do you think I’d wanna watch you two studying?” Chenya whined, throwing his arms out. He seemed very.. mischievous. Clearly, this was not his first rodeo.

“And what do you suggest?” Riddle raised a brow.

“I know!” Chenya declared, like he had been waiting for it, then he set his sights on Ace. Ace startled when Chenya started walking towards him, getting closer and cupping his ear to whisper into it.

Ace lit up while Riddle grimaced. Ace looked at the housewarden, newfound fervor in his demeanor. Ace had a mission and he could tell Riddle was not looking forward to finding out what it was.

“What are you two scheming over there?” Riddle demanded and Chenya shook, like he forgot the other was there. Then, the same fervor was in his eyes.

“Get him!” Chenya shouted, suddenly, as if Ace were a soldier or a knight or… something. Still, Ace obliged, running to pounce Riddle. Riddle didn’t seem to stop him, even though he very well could have, so the freshman could tell that he was curious about where this was going to go.

Then, Ace wiggled his fingers on Riddle’s sides and Chenya joined in, tickling Riddle’s ribs and armpits.

“H-huh?! Unhahand me!”

“No way! You were right, he is ticklish!” Ace exclaimed, almost incredulously.

“Hehe, isn’t he?” Chenya giggled. And that’s when it seemed to click in Riddle’s mind that that’s what they were whispering about. Riddle bit his lip, trying to resist but it was all over before he even began.

“Lehehehet gohoho!” Riddle laughed, an unwilling blush rising to his cheeks. Ignoring all that Riddle was, he looked so.. cute and innocent here.

“Nuh uh! This is how I want to spend my break!” Ace started poking his fingers in between Riddle’s ribs, loudly and obnoxiously singing some classical music, like Riddle was a piano. He knew he would probably die later, but… it was worth it.

When he hit a particular sensitive spot on his ribs, Riddle actually snorted. Yep. Definitely worth it.

Chenya was squeezing Riddle’s thighs, lightly grazing the tops of his knees all the while.

“You twohohoho, stahahap!” Riddle cried, squirming and trying to grab his magic pen from his pocket. That is, until Ace started scratching at Riddle’s waist, grazing his sides just barely, but enough to drive him mad.

“No way! Not when I found out my housewarden is,” Ace started, teasingly. “…this ticklish~” He enunciated his words with a poke to his side, laughing at how Riddle jolted each time.

“Teehee, he is just as ticklish as he was when he was little! So cuteee!” Chenya cooed, his slender fingers exploring Riddle’s tummy and bellybutton.

“Shuhuhut uhuhup!” Riddle screeched, his face bright red and Ace wasn’t really sure whether it was from embarrassment or anger. Maybe both. Maybe this shouldn’t go on much longer, he thought, thinking back about the times Riddle had used his unique magic on him. Riddle was better about it now, but he definitely still had his limits.

“Seems like you’re having fun?” A voice called out of seemingly nowhere. All three heads jerked towards the sound, spotting Trey in the doorway.

“Trehehehey! Mahahahake theheheem stohop!” Riddle giggled, finally giving up on trying to break free as he looked at Trey who chuckled in response.

“Alright, don’t you guys think he’s had enough?” Trey asked, walking closer to them but never actually stopping. Ace looked at his house warden and backed away. Chenya got in a few more pokes in before he stopped, as well, deciding to jog over to Trey.

“Trey! Your best friend is here!” He exclaimed, pointing at himself and winking. A fond smile made its way onto Trey’s face and Ace offhandedly wonders about the history between the three.

It is almost silent for a few moments, save for Riddle exhaling slowly and deeply.

“I hope that made for a sufficient break.” Riddle glared at the two, but especially Ace. Likely for giving into Chenya’s whims, which.. fair, but shouldn’t he be more angry at Chenya who suggested tickling him in the first place?!

“It definitely did, Housewarden!” Ace admitted, pushing any fear of retaliation that he might’ve had, recalling the moments just now. If Riddle hadn’t collared him, he must be safe, right? And well, it’s Riddle. Riddle would never do something so petty like tickle him back.

“Whatever. Let’s just get back to learning. And there will be no breaks until we are finished,” The Housewarden declares, sitting up to pick up one of the textbooks on the table. However, he scooted closer towards Ace, so that they were more diagonal than across.

Ace decided not to think about it too much. That is, until Riddle began poking him in the side every time he lost focus or got an answer wrong.

He supposed that this was what he deserved, so he didn't say anything. At least pokes in the side were all it was…

——

“what’s wrong, riddle?” little chenya pouted, poking riddle in rhe side. when riddle had gone out to play with them for the day, both trey and chenya could tell that he was feeling down. and what kind of friends would they be if they didn’t try to cheer him up?

“hkk!” riddle gasped, before shaking his head. “s-sorry. it’s just there’s so much i have to do when i get back. even being here is gonna make me get finished with it later.. um— not that i don’t wanna play with you guys! it’s just—“ riddle rambled, not realizing the tears pricking in the corner of his eyes. trey put a comforting hand on his shoulder and he abruptly stopped. riddle rubbed his arm, sheepishly. “sorry..”

“it’s okay! work is stressful, you know?” trey said. “we can cheer you up, if you want. we can’t do your work for you, but chenya and i have this little thing we do when we’re sad.” chenya’s face lit up at that.

riddle wiped his eyes, but he looked curious. “what is it?”

“tickling!” chenya exclaimed, pouncing on riddle as he was still processing.

“w-wahahait, tihihihickling..?!” riddle burst into giggles immediately, his reflexes telling him to push chenya away. trey smiled before he decided to join in as well.

“it works pretty well on us, so maybe it’ll make you happy too,” trey explained, his small hands working at lightly pinching his abdomen. chenya went straight to tickling his ribs and armpits. even when riddle’s arms were clamped down, it offered little protection again chenya’s merciless hands.

“t-trehehey! cheheheenya!” riddle giggled, bubbly and light and absolutely adorable. chenya laughed along with him, and soon, trey was as well. laughter was quite contagious, indeed.

minutes later, the three were spread out side by side in the grass and all that could be heard were the sounds of riddle trying to catch his breath, and residual giggles from all three, which was ironic because riddle was the only one being tickled.

“are you happy now?” chenya asked, and riddle smiled.