#ler!eleven

“Will?”

A quick glance away from rummaging through his backpack shows El standing in the hall just outside the door. Her fist hovers in the air as if about to knock when she stumbled upon Will’s bedroom door, unusually wide open.

They had only just gotten home from school, maybe twenty minutes ago, and Will wasn’t quite ready to shut himself away for the evening with math equations and Spanish conjugations as his only company. He had been looking for his favorite sketching pen, the one he’d carelessly tossed in his bag as soon as the final bell rang.

California’s endlessly blue skies and unfamiliar greenery stirred a deep need within him to practice drawing landscapes. The sun stayed out so long here, even with the second week of November quickly approaching, and Will had gotten into the habit of walking to a park not far from their new house after school. It was nice, finding a shady bench, sketchbook in hand, tracing the shapes of grassy hills and tall trees with leaves surprisingly no longer green despite the warm weather. Almost two months spent out of Hawkins, and drawing was still one of the only things that didn’t make him feel out of place.

Though it wasn’t unusual for El to come knocking on Will’s door throughout the day—she had never been to a real school before and often had a lot of questions outside of the two classes they shared—she typically spent some time in her own room before making an appearance. His mom had been helping her decorate, buying new bedding, curtains, a clock, and an assortment of pictures to hang on the walls, just trying to fill the space. El had only been living with Hopper for about a year before—well, before everything. She didn’t have nearly as many personal items as Will, Jonathan, or even their mother had in their own rooms. And his mom seemed to enjoy spending her new telemarketing money on El; out of the goodness of her heart or a genuine excitement to get to know her adopted daughter, Will wasn’t sure, but it definitely kept them both busy.

If El wasn’t focused on organizing her new space, she was either writing letters to Mike or reading letters from Mike and…Will tried not to think about that as much.

Will paused the search for his pen, deciding whatever El had to say to him so soon after leaving school might be kind of important.

“Everything okay?”

She nodded, wandering into Will’s room—he didn’t exactly invite her in, but yeah, okay—and taking a seat on the floor next to him.

For a moment, El tilted her head curiously, watching him in that strange, observant way she tended to do, before asking, “Why are you on the floor?”

Will blinked, “Oh. Um, I was just looking for something- it doesn’t really matter.” He shoved his book bag to the side, getting up off his knees to sit side by side with her, back resting against the foot of his bed. “Did you wanna ask something?” El almost always wanted to ask something, and if her casual demeanor meant anything, it was probably a bit silly. Not that he would judge. Who else could a girl raised in a laboratory ask mundane, and occasionally bizarre, questions about the world, if not…

The guy she shared a friend group with for a couple months?

Her long-distance boyfriend’s best friend?

Her newly adopted, slightly older, sibling?

Sigh…

El simply nodded again, turning to face Will fully, “What is tickling?” Her expression remained unchanged, nothing but a mild curiosity in her eyes as she waited for an answer.

Will, on the other hand, could feel his face heating up as he registered the words being said. “Uh. What?”

Without hesitating, she repeated herself, “What’s tickling?”

Will shook his head, stumbling over his words slightly, “No, no, I- I heard you but…Why- why do you wanna know?”

“I had gym class today.” A fact Will already knew. His mom had suggested the three of them memorize each other’s schedules just in case anything happened while at school, they knew where the others would be. Most of Jonathan’s schedule tended to slip his mind, him being a senior and taking completely different classes with teachers that Will has never even met.

He had El’s schedule down to the second, though, mostly because of the three periods a day they saw each other: World History, Algebra, and 5th-period lunch. But also…he could tell she was struggling to fit in. For the first time in his life, Will was lucky enough to not need to worry about being bullied just for existing in a school setting. El hadn’t been so fortunate. Her bubbly, albeit a little awkward, personality and limited vocabulary stand out, drawing attention from unwanted parties.

Will wouldn’t admit it, but he did worry about her. He just wished he could make those cliquey mean girls who liked to poke fun at her leave El alone for good.

“Oh-kay,” Will said, slowly. “What happened in gym?” And what could it possibly have to do with this topic of conversation.

“In the locker room. Before gym class started.” El continued, “There were these two girls, and they were…playing, I think? One of them was laughing a lot. She kept telling the other girl to stop tickling her.”

Nodding along with pink cheeks, Will avoided making direct eye contact with El as he thought about how to give a satisfying answer without bursting into embarrassed little flames. He didn’t wanna talk about this. He didn’t even think he could, barely able to say the word as it is.

“So- um.” He cleared his throat softly, stealing a glance at El’s face. Her wide brown eyes stared back, always eager to learn new things. Her hair was getting longer, the ends beginning to brush past her shoulders, and making her look a bit more mature. Despite this, she sometimes seemed so young, younger than they actually were, like that little girl who escaped from Hawkins Lab was always going to be a part of her.

Will understands. Sometimes he thinks the twelve-year-old version of him, whisked away to the upside down on the same day, would never truly leave him either.

“It’s basically when you…um...touch someone?” He felt himself cringe at the word choice, but pressed on when El didn’t seem to mind, “Um- in certain places. And it makes them laugh…yeah.”

El’s brows furrowed, confusion drawing a frown across her face. “But…why?”

“Well- I don’t know?” Will could only shrug, unsure if El was asking why tickling made people laugh or why people were ticklish to begin with. Either way, he didn’t have an answer, and he was growing antsy the longer they kept talking about this.

He watched El ponder his words for a minute, hoping that his brief answer would ease her endless curiosity for now. His face still felt warm, and he had no doubt his cheeks were on their way to a bright red. When they were kids, maybe still in elementary school, Mike once told him his poker face would be really good if he didn’t get so blushy when he felt shy. Even now, years later, it was all he could think about whenever he got flustered.

“Could you show me?”

El was looking at him expectantly, a tiny smile on her lips and a twinkle in her eyes. This was all new to her, he had to remind himself. She was not purposely trying to torment him, even if the fluttering in his stomach and buzzing under his skin said otherwise.

“You mean…tickle you?” Will asked softly, hesitating just for a second at El’s word of the day.

“Yes.” El smiled, clasping her hands together excitedly. “I want to know what it feels like.”

Well, that wasn’t so terrible, really. That he could be done with in just a few seconds, keep El happy, and still catch his afternoon stroll to the park.

With a shaky sigh, he folded pretty quickly, “Sure. Why not?”

A happy squeal and tiny, “Yay!” had him rolling his eyes slightly, and–okay, Will could admit her excitement was kind of endearing.

“Just-“ He took hold of El’s arms, raising them to hover just in front of her torso, away from her sides. “Stay still for a sec.”

When she didn’t move, content to let Will take the lead, he slid a bit closer, placing his hands over her sides. Careful fingers spidered up and down, from El’s middle to her upper ribs, feeling the fabric of her pink and purple flannel shift as they went.

For a short second, Will thought maybe she just wasn’t that ticklish, in general or in this specific spot. But as he looked up, he noticed the growing smile on El’s face, a futile attempt to hide it behind bitten lips. Funny, she had no clue what this was five minutes ago, yet her instincts still say to try not to laugh.

They carried on like that for a few more seconds, El slowly growing more and more twitchy, until finally Will dug two fingers into the space between her ribs on either side. Wobbly arms shot down with a burst of girly giggles, and he pulled his hands away, unable to fight back a small smile of his own.

“Thahat felt weird,” El looked up at Will, smile still big and toothy, arms wrapped around her middle in a protective hug. “Why do people like that?”

“Well, most people don’t really. It’s supposed to be a game. Like a fight.”

“A…tickle fight?”

Will only nodded, having been ready for this conversation to end the moment it started. This wasn’t even the strangest thing El had ever randomly decided needed an immediate answer. If she had asked anyone but him, they wouldn’t have even thought twice about it—well, maybe not anyone. His mom and Jonathan, the party, none of them would care. He just had to be weird and squirm whenever he heard the word-

“Can I tickle you then?” Will was going to die.

It must look a bit like he was poorly imitating a fish, mouth opening, closing, then opening again. A simple ‘No’ sat on the tip of his tongue, but for reasons his brain has yet to share with him, he didn’t say it.

It’s not like El would be upset with him, maybe a little disappointed, but she was very good at respecting boundaries (apparently, she learned about ‘compromise’ from Hopper and took it very seriously). And if they left it at that, El would leave. They could go about the rest of their days. Separately.

But-

Maybe he didn’t just want her to leave?

Maybe he didn’t want to be the guy she only kinda knew through mutual friends forever. Or keep blaming her for stealing away his best friend for a whole summer.

Two years ago, a girl helped save his life when she didn’t even know him. Now they lived together, far away from everything they had ever known. Perhaps it was a little unfair to spend all his time ignoring her outside of when she directly asked for something. Feeling awkward in his own home was getting a little tired.

“Sure, El,” Will sighed, feeling equal parts like he might regret this and like he kind of maybe wanted it to happen anyway, “You can…you- Just go ahead.”

El’s pleased little smile looked almost menacing, though nothing changed except the anticipation lighting up Will’s nervous system. She reached towards him just as he had done before, placing her hands on his sides.

It was…weird. El obviously didn’t quite understand exactly how to move her fingers in a way that provokes laughter, mostly poking and prodding Will in a slow, clunky motion.

Of course, the mere idea of being tickled made giggles bubble up in Will’s throat. A hand pressed against his widening smile as awkward touches had him squirming where they sat on his bedroom floor.

El’s face of utmost concentration was funny enough on its own, brows furrowed with a seriousness he only ever saw in their shared Algebra class. She watched for Will’s tiniest reactions, seeming to put together the way he flinched in the opposite direction of each poke pressed to his t-shirt.

“You aren’t very still.” She huffed, clearly annoyed with Will’s fidgeting. “You told me to stay still before.”

“I am- AH!” A sudden squeeze of his sides and Will’s arms shot down to protect himself, wrapped in a loose hug.

For a second, neither of them moved. The perfect picture of composure staring down the mess she’d made with her own two hands. Will’s wobbly smile and reddened face enticing her to continue.

El moved quickly, squeezing again and again and again and-

“Ehehel!” Will was laughing then, high-pitched titters slipping past his uncovered lips. His hands were busy covering his torso at random, trying and failing to keep away grabby hands.

El smiled, “This is fun.” It was almost the exact same scene she had witnessed just before the start of gym class. Although Will’s laugh was a lot quieter than the girl’s echoing screech had been, and he was way twitchier, like he was being electrocuted or something.

Will didn’t respond to the quiet proclamation, ticklish shocks making his brain feel a bit fuzzy. Being tickled by his brother or his friends always meant quick bursts of rough scratches and scribbles, a kind of roughhousing that brought more screaming than anything else.

El’s touch was delicate, a certain grace to her movements despite her inexperience. It made him feel like when he was really little, and his mom would wiggle her fingers against his arms, neck, and stomach until he fell into a fit of giggles and squeals.

Eyes fallen shut and seconds away from curling up into a ticklish ball of limbs on the floor, Will didn’t notice El’s pinching fingers climbing higher and higher until-

“WAHAIT! WAIT! EL!” The sudden tasering of his ribs sent Will scrambling backwards, away from El’s outstretched hands and shocked expression.

She blinked at him, the sudden foot of distance between them, and his elbows propped up against the hardwood. Soft laughter still bounced around the room, Will watching her with an obvious nervousness and something else. Something that looked a bit like…excitement?

Oh. So this was the game.

El grinned, pushing herself up to follow Will to his new position lying on the floor. A sound reminiscent of a bird’s pitchy squawk escaped the giggly teen as he clambered to his feet, stumbling out of his bedroom and running down the stairs.

Will didn’t have to look to know El followed behind him, the sound of her quick footsteps propelling him forward into their living room. He slid across the hardwood floor on fuzzy socks before stepping onto the rug, placing the couch between him and his pursuer, who was just now entering the room.

El eyed him over the back of the couch, stepping to simply walk around and reach him. Of course, whenever she moved, Will went the opposite direction, always maintaining the same distance between them.

He felt like a little kid again, when he used to annoy Jonathan until the older inevitably caved into chasing him around their small home. They hadn’t really done that in a while. Not since Will went missing and playing chase stopped feeling like a silly game.

Now, his eyes gleamed with mischief, watching El’s frustration grow the longer he evaded her grasp.

“Is there a problem?” He taunted lightly, the safety the couch provided making him feel a bit bold.

El glared at him, throwing a hand up towards him and then-

Nothing.

In the few months since El lost her powers, there had been numerous occasions when she seemed to forget that they were gone. Will imagined it must be like an amputee feeling like their missing limb is still there.

When these moments occurred, they typically tended to avoid drawing attention to it, not wanting El to feel bad about losing something that had been a part of her for so long. Will especially tried not to acknowledge it, a dark part of him twisting with guilt, as if somehow it was his fault for letting the Mindflayer possess him and access their world.

But with the current playful atmosphere and butterflies still floating around in his tummy, Will couldn’t help the laughter that burst out of him; a full-on belly laugh resounding from deep within his chest.

El was quick to take advantage of the distraction, rounding the couch in short steps and tackling Will onto it.

The two teens grappled for the upper hand, matching grins on their faces. For a second, it seemed like Will had the advantage, a recent growth spurt leaving him a good few inches taller and the leverage needed to push her off.

Then, El’s blunt nails pressed against the tiniest sliver of skin, just below the belly button, uncovered where Will’s shirt had ridden up slightly in the tussle. He gasped, hands flying to push his shirt back down, but wiggling fingers had already crawled their way under it.

Head thrown back against the couch cushions, a wave of bubbly giggles instantly flowed through the quiet room. El managed to comfortably situate herself on top of Will’s squirmy hips, undeterred by the desperate wiggling from the boy underneath her.

“W-Wait! Wahahait El! I- AHH!!” Will knew he wasn’t making much sense; his brain only supplying the word wait with no idea of what it needed to wait for. All it could think of was the feeling of nails, trailing over his sensitive skin, El finally making her way up to his ribs to tweak between each bone. Only it was so much worse than before, hands shoved under his shirt, no separation, no easy way to hide himself from her torment.

“You said it is like a fight.” El spoke up over the chorus of laughter emanating below her, “And I am going to win.”

It was silly, honestly a little stupid, but her words must’ve cast a light dizzying spell on him, filling his brain with sticky cotton candy and making his body feel tingly all over.

Will couldn’t stand to look at her anymore, hiding his face under his hands. “Shuhuhut uhup!”

He could hear her giggling at his reaction, only making him feel more flustered and giggly. El’s hands began to slow down for a second, giving him a chance to calm down. Or so he thought.

“Will.” There was a smile in El’s voice, her fingers gently trailing back down to rest unmoving over the center of Will’s stomach. Just keeping them there was enough to worm the occasional snicker out of him, and somehow, it felt like she knew this.

“You like tickling.”

She didn’t say it quite right, but they both knew what she meant. “I do nohot!” Will slowly removed his hands from over his face, hesitant to make eye contact with her lest she see right through him. Again.

“Yes, you do. You have not asked me to stop yet.” El thought back to the locker room again. About the girl laughing loudly. How she pleaded with her friend to stop the second the tickling started.

“Nohot true! EHEHEL!!” Will let out an embarrassingly pitchy screech, El’s finger slipping inside his belly button and sending a tickly shock up his spine.

“You’re saying I lie?”

He shouldn’t. He really shouldn’t, for his own sanity. But something about the situation loosened his lips–a dumb confidence ignited by the silly mood.

Forcing himself to bite back a laugh, Will held El’s gaze, “Yes. You’re lying. You’re a li-AAHAH!!” Will screamed, back arching up off the couch. Ten wiggling fingers vibrated against his stomach, nails probably leaving little crescent marks where they dug into the soft skin.

“You said to wait. And you ran away. But you never said stop.” El methodically scribbled up and down, lightly over Will’s lower stomach and sides, and with a firm press into his ribs. “You like it.”

Will wasn’t currently in a position to argue. She learned quickly, it seemed, a coordination to her movements that wasn’t there when this all started. It left Will flailing, metaphorically and literally, arms unable to keep up with her speedy hands. When he covered one spot, her fingers would simply glide to the next, the randomness of each sudden touch turning the boy into a smiling puddle of goo.

This wasn’t like being tickled by his mom, or his brother, or his friends. This felt entirely different, targeting his weak points in a way that couldn’t not be purposeful, like El cracked the code for the perfect way to harass him.

Giving up on trying to block El’s determined and nimble fingers, he hid his face in his hands once again. His whole body felt warm and fuzzy.

El began to slow down again after a few seconds? Minutes? Will couldn’t tell anymore, feeling like he’d become one with the couch.

He did force himself to pay attention when he heard El’s chirp of “Hi, Jonathan!”

Hands sliding off his face revealed his brother making his way down the stairs, shoes on and keys in hand, like he planned on heading out.

Unlike him and El, Jonathan appeared to be successful at forming relationships in their new town. He had been meeting up with some guy, Argyle, Will is pretty sure, almost every day after school for the last couple weeks.

“Jonathan!” Will extended a hand towards his brother’s approaching form, “Hehehelp!”

Brows furrowed in amusement, Jonathan paused by the back of the couch, clearly not expecting to see the two youngest members of the house engaged in such antics. “Hey, guys? Um…what?”

“Will and I are having a tickle fight.” El helpfully declared. Although it really didn’t look like much of a fight, Will trapped and squirming under El’s sweet smile and mean hands.

“Oh yeah?” Jonathan took hold of Will’s outstretched hand, looking down at his little brother’s flushed face and goofy grin, “Who’s winning?” He asked sarcastically, chuckling at El’s proud answer of “Me!”

“Are you planning on killing him? He looks like cooked pasta.” He shook Will’s hand in his, annoyingly entertained by the way Will’s arm dangled like a limp noodle.

“Jonathan-” Will called again, trying to sound pleading between giggles in hopes of garnering sympathy, “Hehelp mehe! Pleheaase- AH! EL!” He was being silenced. El’s finger swirled inside his belly button the second he tried to ask for help, cutting him off with a squeaky yelp.

Jonathan actually laughed at him—which, okay, was everyone just out to get him today?

He was quiet for a second, seemingly thinking, before a teasing look took over his features, “Y’know. You’ll get him screaming if you go for his underarms.”

“NO!”

“Really?”

Two simultaneous reactions shocked another laugh out of the older teen. Jonathan let go of Will’s hand, the latter quickly pulling back, arms wrapping around himself in a tight hug.

El finally stopped tickling him, eyes sparkling with the new information.

“Later, guys.” Jonathan turned away, unfazed by his little brother currently glaring daggers at him as he walked away. “Have fun, El!”

“Thank you!” She called back. And with that, he was out the door.

The sudden silence felt jarring, two pairs of eyes looking away from the door and finding each other in the quiet. Honey-brown eyes, creased in obvious delight, stared down at a pair of hazel-green ones, squinted in a way that hopefully looked intimidating (it did not).

“El.” Will started, cautiously, the kind of tone one might hold when struggling to reason with a misbehaving golden retriever.

She tilted her head, “Will.” And gently pulled down his still raised shirt, patting the fabric over his now fully covered torso. Stupidly, his body was convinced this must tickle too, and he bit his lip to hold his serious expression in place.

Small hands wrapped around Will’s wrists.

“No.”

“Move your hands.”

“No!”

“Will.”

“El!”

Their staring contest continued, El’s persistence returning the feeling of bubbly anticipation to Will's chest.

Still holding his arms, El leaned down slightly, “Will.” She spoke softly, a short breath shared just between the two of them. “I’m stronger than you.”

Will snorted softly, unimpressed by her attempt to be intimidating, “No, you’re not.”

“Yes.” Will’s hands came apart just slightly, El forcing his limbs away from his center with all the determination in her body. “I am!”

Wrestling with both the crazed teenage girl on top of him and the smile threatening to split across his face didn’t feel fair in Will’s opinion. His bones might as well be jello after being tortured for however long, “Get off mehe!”

Skittering nails managed to worm their way between his tight defenses, El’s hands sliding down his forearm to reach the crook of his elbow. The tingly feeling sent him pulling away from her touch with a sharp squeak, a mistake on his part, as she used the momentum to force Will’s arms over his head.

El grinned wickedly. She grappled with Will’s hands, struggling to get hold of both his wriggling arms at once. Her laughter was so bright and happy, clearly enjoying the chaotic energy.

A giggly state of panic had descended upon the youngest Byers. His pleas became a never-ending chorus of “No”, “Please”, “El”, “I can’t”, that simply went ignored, absorbed into the frenzy.

With a final shove, El slipped her fingers into the squishy space underneath one of Will’s wiggly arms, deciding that if she just kept her grip on the other, he couldn’t do anything to stop her.

Then, just like Jonathan had told her, Will screamed.

So loud and sudden, it honestly sounded like he was being murdered.

Her hand lay trapped underneath the arm that slammed down against his side the instant she touched him.

Fingers pressed firmly against skin, only the thin layer of fabric from the sleeve of his t-shirt to stop her. With the way Will reacted, though, there might as well have been nothing there at all.

El hesitated, unsure if it was okay to keep going. But before she could even consider stopping, fitful laughter spilled out into the room, a sweet melody sticking to the air like excess syrup on warm waffles.

Will only glimpsed the incredulous smile on El’s face, smiling so wide his cheeks forced his eyes into little crescents. “Shuhuhut uhuhup! Shhuhut UHUHUP!!”

El could only laugh along at the sight, almost feeling a little bad for being the reason Will lost his mind. “But I did not say anything.”

Shaking his head back and forth, Will was beginning to think he actually might die there, if not from embarrassment then from tickle-induced exhaustion.

She wiggled her fingers just slightly, forcing another startling shout out of the twitchy teen.

“Pleh- plehehase! Ihihi CAN’T! EHEHELL!!” He honestly didn’t remember his arms being this bad when he was younger. Maybe it had to do with El working her way up to it, lowering his guard, starting a small fire that grew to tickle him from the inside.

“I can stop.” El slowly curled and uncurled her fingers, watching Will squirm with the same focus and enthusiasm that a cat might have watching a mouse. “You just have to ask.”

Of course El had to bring this up again when Will could barely form a coherent thought. Everything just felt so fuzzy. Overwhelming in a way that he knew was safe. And maybe he really didn’t mind it at all.

Will shook his head again, not even sure he had the energy to string words together if he tried. He was tired, sure, but he trusted that El would take pity on him eventually. Or his ticklish reactions would finally get boring. Whatever came first.

It wasn’t long before Will’s laughing fit grew quieter, interrupted by pitchy squeaks and hiccups. Without even realizing it, he had rolled onto his side, curled up on the couch, not noticing when El had climbed off him until he felt a gentle hand brush against his hair.

“Will?” One word held so much concern. El had probably never seen anything like this before. It was a first for Will as well; no one had ever tickled him for so long, leaving him thoroughly wiped.

He blinked his eyes open (when did he even close them) to wide brown eyes and a worried frown; El knelt on the floor beside the couch.

Maybe it was the residual tingles still simmering beneath his skin, but seeing El made his barely there smile widen at the edges. “Hi.”

“Hi.” She giggled softly, more than a little relieved she didn’t break him completely, “Are you okay?”

He felt a bit loopy, honestly, like he’d woken up from a really long nap. Groggy and maybe a little dehydrated. But also, like he had a nice dream. “Mhm.” He nodded, pushing himself to sit up on the couch.

El stood to sit beside him. A quiet settled over them, wrapping the room’s only occupants in a blanket of calm.

After a few minutes, El spoke up again, almost whispering, as if she was too loud, the peaceful moment would shatter, “You didn’t want me to stop.”

Will fiddled with his hands in his lap, not meeting her eyes, “I guess not.” He shrugged, voice just as quiet, "Not really, no.”

“Why?”

He could feel the color returning to his cheeks, more than a little embarrassed. He sighed, “I don’t know. It was nice…to not have to think about anything. Y’know like…” Biting his lip softly, he finally looked up, “Do you miss Hawkins?”

El was looking back at him with a thoughtful look on her face. Sometimes he really wondered if she could see right through him.

Her lips twitched downwards, the tiniest curve of a frown, “I miss Hopper.” She admitted, “And Mike. And…everyone.” Her voice tapered off, barely audible at the end. For once, El was the one who struggled to hold his gaze, turning away.

“Yeah. Me too.”

A beat, and then, “I think I understand.” She turned to face him again. “I had fun too.”

Will scoffed softly, rolling his eyes, “Yeah, I could tell.”

“Is it…mean if I thought your reactions were funny?” Her smile was small, almost shy.

“Yeah, but,” He knocked his shoulder into hers, jostling her slightly with a gentle grin, “Siblings are a little mean to each other sometimes.”

Delighted is really the only word to describe El’s response, an excited little flap of her hands accompanying the wide smile on her face. “Really?”

Will laughed softly, nodding, “Yep. Especially little sisters, from what I’ve heard.”

She hummed, nodding contemplatively. Will was sure he saw an evil glint shine in her eyes. “Good to know.”

Ready to make her next move, she reached across the board to grab her game piece, accidentally brushing against Will’s wrist in the process.

Her head perked up when she heard a giggle, the youngest Byers jolting and quickly pulling his hand back.

Now, Eleven wasn’t a stranger to tickling. She had gotten into tickle fights many of times, mostly with Mike. She always had a feeling Will was ticklish, but now she was certain.

Suddenly disinterested in the game, she focused all her attention on her brother, eyes glittered with curiosity.

“Will, are you ticklish?”

Will’s cheeks turned a shade redder and his eyes widened, taken aback by the playful question.

“No, I’m not! You just scared me, that’s all…” he said hastily, avoiding eye contact.

Jonathan looked up from the game, raising an eyebrow.

“Since when are you not ticklish?”

Will’s eyes darted towards his older brother, heart racing with suspense.

“Since… forever?”

He tried to sound casual, though his voice betrayed a hint of nervousness.

Jonathan smirked, sensing the opportunity for some fun.

“Oh really? Because I remember when I used to chase you around the house and tickle you until you couldn’t breathe.”

Eleven’s eyes lit up with mischief. “Friends don’t lie, Will.”

Will groaned, burying his face in a cushion. “Oh no.”

Seeing the gleam in El’s eyes, Jonathan grinned.

“You know, El, I think Will could use a little reminder of the rules around here.”

Eleven nodded, trying to hold back her giggles.

Suddenly, the two pounced, fingers wiggling wherever they could reach.

“Ah! No, w-wahahait!” Will yelped, trying to wriggle away. But it was two against one, and he didn’t stand a chance.

Jonathan managed to pin one of Will’s arms down while Eleven attacked his sides, making him burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“G-Guys, I cahahahan’t!” he squealed, kicking his legs out and futility tugging at his arm.

“Admit it,” The girl said, trying to speak through her own laughter. “You’re ticklish!”

Will’s face was bright red, eyes sparkling with mirth as he squirmed hopelessly under his siblings, embarrassed but enjoying the bonding moment nonetheless.

Jonathan’s heart also warmed at the sight, taking in the pure innocence and silliness that the three of them were engaged in. Life had been dark and scary the past few years and it was nice to take part in something ridiculous for a change.

Besides, it had been too long since he’d tickled his little brother, and if he could lend El some useful tickling tips, that was even better.

Getting that very idea, he gave a devious smirk and glanced at their adopted sister.

“Hey, El, try his stomach.”

Will’s giggling increased at the anticipation, his slightly watery eyes widening with dreadful excitement.

“Nonononono, don’t l-listen to hihihim!”

The brown haired girl pretended to ponder, though she had no intention on giving mercy.

“Jonathan, didn’t lie to me, Will.” Raising her hands, she wiggled them just above Will’s tummy, a trick she’d learned from Mike.

The youngest Byers grew more frantic in his squirming, eyes locked onto the wiggling digits.

“EEK- I’m sorry, I’m sohOHORRY!!” He threw his head back with a shriek when El’s surprisingly vigorous fingers made contact with his stomach, wriggling and scratching the soft skin.

Jonathan laughed at his brother’s reaction, all too familiar with which spot got which response.

“Ah, the classic Will Byers shriek… never gets old.” He teased, watching the younger boy’s face turn even redder from embarrassment.

After awhile, the two finally relented and let their brother go.

“Have fun, Will?” Jonathan asked with a smirk, arms crossed as he watched the boy catch his breath.

Will laid there panting dramatically, cheeks still flushed from the laughter.

“No... You guys are mehehean..”

Eleven narrowed her eyes, unconvinced by the statement. “Friends don’t lie, Will…” she glared playfully, raising her hands to threateningly wiggle her fingers once again.

Will giggled more and squirmed away, wrapping his arms defensively around himself.

“Eep- Okay, Okahahay, it was r-really fuhuhun!”

The girl lowered her hands triumphantly and smiled, clearly pleased with herself.

If Mike were asked to describe himself, he’d probably stick to three main ideas: smart, creative, and resourceful.

If anyone else were asked to describe him in three words, he’d probably get a lot of: loud, opinionated, or annoying.

The last of which, he firmly disagreed with, particularly when it came from either of his sisters or one antagonistic redhead.

Though he had to admit, the first two were pretty accurate. Mike really understood that right now, physically unable to shut up about the stupid movie they just watched.

When Will suggested he stay over and watch a movie with them, Mike thought they would be picking from their typical selection. Gorey slasher films and low-budget horror or intricate plot lines, tangled with cool action sequences like Star Wars or Blade Runner.

According to house rules, though, Will and El always took turns picking when they had their movie nights. And tonight was El’s turn. When Mike asked if he could choose, being their guest and all, he was vehemently denied by both parties. Apparently, whenever the party watched stuff all together, he almost always got the final say.

Which certainly wasn’t untrue, but they didn’t have to look so annoyed by it.

Mike just wasn’t expecting El’s first and only choice to be some long, overemotional love story. It wasn’t even a weirdly entertaining rom-com like the ones his mom would fall asleep watching on the couch next to an empty wine bottle. This was some kind of soap opera, so much drama, even more crying, and almost no comprehensive plot.

Sure, maybe he didn’t have to say anything. He and Will could’ve wished El a good night, slinked off upstairs to his room, and made fun of it together. Or maybe he shouldn’t have even thought about the movie at all. Pretend it doesn’t exist, completely erased from memory.

But he loves El. She’s one of his best friends. And as a friend, he had to tell her,

“That might have been the worst movie I’ve ever seen.”

The second those words left his lips, they’ve been at it nonstop, back and forth like lawyers in a courtroom. Will and El may not actually be twins, but one thing they definitely shared was their ability to hold an argument on a topic they were passionate about.

“How could you not like it?!”

“It made zero sense!”

“It was beautiful!”

“Yeah, maybe if I was blind and deaf! I’d definitely appreciate it then.”

“They are in love! You’re just jealous!”

“El, I am telling you, I have never-”

On and on and on. Mike wasn’t even sure how long they’d been talking, but a glance at the living room TV showed the tape paused at the end of the final credits. Definitely a good few minutes.

So focused on proving a point, Mike completely forgot about the other body on the couch. That is, until the blanket over his shoulders slowly slid away, Will stealing the whole thing for himself.

“Does it really matter so much?” Will mumbled, stifling a yawn into his blanket-covered hands, “Can’t you guys just agree to disagree?”

Thoroughly silenced, the two put their bickering on hold to glance at each other and then at Will, pressed into the arm of the couch on Mike’s other side. Mike was instantly swayed, ready to put this whole thing to bed and crawl back under the blanket with sleepy-looking Will.

El didn’t have the same motivations. “I can agree, if he!” She poked a finger at Mike’s chest for emphasis, “Takes back what he said!”

Mike leaned away, crossing his arms over his chest, “That’s not even what agree to disagree means. You can’t try to change my opinion!”

“I can if your opinion is garbage.” El tilted her head at him in a way that reminded him so much of Max. She wasn’t even here, and somehow she found a way to harass him.

Before he could protest, Will spoke up again, “Guys, it’s not a big deal.”

Will continued to be the voice of reason. Always kind, caring, just. One of the best people to have on your side in-

“Mike, just ‘cause you don’t understand it, doesn’t mean it’s bad.”

Jaw-agape, Mike whipped around to see Will’s sleepy smile, green eyes blinking innocently at him.

“Yeah, Mike.” Mike could tell El was grinning just by her voice, “You just don’t understand.”

Unbelievable.

This was unbelievable. They’re totally uniting against him!

“Wha- I-” Mike swore he got whiplash looking back and forth between them, “I do understand!”

El hummed, pressing another poke to his side, making him flinch, “You said it didn’t make sense.”

Mike spluttered, waving his hands in vague disagreement, “Well, yeah. Because it doesn’t!”

“So you admit it?” Will leaned forward, hooking his chin over Mike’s shoulder, “You just don’t get it.”

Will’s words came out as little puffs of air at the side of his neck. It felt weird, a little tingly, but he couldn’t let himself be distracted. Not when he was trapped between two people dead set on proving him wrong, when he knew he was right.

“That’s not what I’m saying. It was just weird.” Mike’s hands moved carefully in front of him, as if he was trying to show each step of logic in his words, “I mean, if that girl was always crying over her boyfriend, why didn’t she just break up with him?”

Like a coordinated attack, El and Will spoke at nearly the same time.

“She has a name!”

“People can’t be emotional?”

Mike’s eyes were wide, feeling like he was digging a hole he’d never get out of, “That’s not- No!”

“Michael,” Will quietly tutted behind him, “Don’t you have two sisters? What would they think if they heard you right now?”

El immediately nodded, leaving no chance for rebuttal, “Yeah. Do you not listen to women, Mike?”

Will sighed, “Definitely doesn’t listen to his mom.”

El did the same, shaking her head, “Poor Karen.”

Mike didn’t want to, but he couldn’t help but laugh. The ridiculousness of the situation and Will’s every word made his hair stand on end. It got to him.

And, of course, they did not let it go.

“I cannot believe you, right now.”

“What’s so funny?”

Mike hid behind his hands, effectively chased away by his attackers. That might’ve been a mistake, though, allowing them to quietly communicate with their eyes over his shaking shoulders.

Before he knew it, Will’s hands slipped out from under his blanket to hold Mike’s hips in a secure grip. Then El slid just a tad closer on the small couch, knee pressed against Mike’s thigh.

A sharp poke to his stomach made him flinch again, uncovering his face to shield himself. El was smirking at him, and if he turned his head, he was sure he’d find Will making a similar face.

“I think,” She poked him again, “We can make you like the movie.”

“Wait, Jane. We can’t change his opinion.” This was it. The moment Will would realize he was right and come to his rescue. “We want him to admit he doesn’t understand the movie or listen to women.”

Mike had never felt more betrayed.

“I’m not saying any of that! It’s not even tru- Don’t you dahahare- shit!” Mike jolted when nimble hands reached out to scribble over the uncovered parts of his belly. He reached for El, managing to grab hold of her wrists and attempt to force her away, but a firm squeeze of his hips had him recoiling into himself.

“Will! You trahaitor!” Mike forced the words past bitten lips, trying not to laugh. El continued the assault on his midsection, rapidly wiggling fingers never staying in the same place for more than a second.

“How am I a traitor?” Will pushed under his shirt slightly, making him gasp and hide his face in the back of the couch, “Did you assume I wouldn’t get the movie either?”

Mike couldn’t answer. He knew if he opened his mouth for anything, all the laughter fizzing inside him would come spilling out. Especially with Will drawing lazy circles with his thumbs over Mike’s hips. The contrast between El’s speedy, all over the place movements and Will’s slow, light touches; it was driving him nuts. His brain couldn't handle processing two completely different sensations.

“Will’s seen it before.” El piped up, poking at Mike’s arms, clenched tightly over his sides, “We both like it.”

Now he really felt crazy. Mike was sure Will didn’t care about that movie at all. He knew Will liked a good love story every now and then, ‘good’ being the key word. That thing El had them watch barely counts as a movie.

Of course, he couldn’t say any of that with these two heathens torturing him just for having good taste.

Will squeezed his hips again, and he jumped, back arching away slightly. This created the tiniest gap needed for El to finally worm her small hands against Mike’s sides, squeezing as fast as she could.

“Nahahahaha!” Mike couldn’t take it anymore, trying to push away from the feeling only to press closer to Will’s chest, “Stahap! Stahahahap!”

“We told you what to say.” El and Will spoke at the same time. How nice of them to start doing the creepy twin thing right this second.

Mike shook his head, sliding down to rest his head on Will’s stomach. He could see the other boy through squinted eyes, a blanket around his shoulders, and a tiny smile on his face. Someone guilty of betraying their best friend should not look so comfy.

“Nehehever!” Mike twisted for leverage to get his legs up off the floor, kicking El away, “Ihihit’s bahahad! Ihihit’s a bahad movie!”

El let out a surprised giggle as she scooched to the other side of the couch, leaning away from flailing limbs, “Will!”

“I got him.” Will took the place of scratching along Mike’s sides, hands pushing up his shirt, “Grab his ankles.”

“NOHOHO!” Mike thrashed on top of the cushions, hoping he’d fling himself onto the floor. It was no use, though, a sudden pressure holding him very still. El was using her powers on him. All he could do was sit there and laugh as she slid her own legs over his shins, securing him in place.

“Wahahait WAIT STAHAP!!” As soon as El released her psychic hold on him, Mike squirmed as hard as he could. But with Will holding him down, still pinching at his sides, and El practically sitting on top of him, there was nothing he could do.

“What do you say?” El blinked over at him, waiting patiently for his confession.

Mike closed his eyes, trying to think through the fog around his brain. What did they even want from him?

“Wiiilll! Stahahap!!” He shook his head desperately, mind blanking on anything that wasn’t the feeling of short nails gliding across his skin, “Ihihi cahan’t remembeheher!”

Will glanced down at him for a moment before looking over to El. She smiled and Mike just knew he was rolling his eyes, that traitor. “If you forgot, it probably means you don’t care.”

“I cahahahare!! Ihihi cahare! Dohon’t! Dohohon’t!!” Mike had a perfect view of El slowly lowering wiggling fingers towards his socked feet. “Ihihi lied! The movie is good! Ihihi swear!”

Once again, his tormentors made eye contact with each other. Mike was never hanging out with just the two of them ever again, if it meant constantly being scrutinized with no words. El looked down at him, tilting her head suspiciously, “So you lied?”

Oh, fuck, that’s not-

“NOT WHAT I MEANT NOT WHAT I- AAHAHAHAHA!!!” Mike threw his head back when manicured nails dug into the arch of his foot. El held one down in a surprisingly strong grasp while the other wiggled like it was trying to separate from his leg and hop away.

At the same time, Will’s gentle fingers left his torso completely to skritch at the sides of his neck. Mike leaned as far as he could towards the edge of the couch, but Will quickly pulled him back with a giggle, this time keeping one hand on his chest.

“You can’t escape, Mike.” Did Will even realize how ominous that sounded? “Just say what we wanna hear.”

“IHIHI DIHIHID!” He knew he definitely said something. There was too much going on, too many fingers scribbling and wiggling and tickling. Mike was falling apart into tiny smiling pieces. If he couldn’t wade through the maze of his own mind, would they never let him leave?

Mike felt scratching underneath his toes, making him screech and curse uncontrollably, “You didn’t. You said you lied.”

El’s words barely registered; the slow curling of her nails pressed right below the gaps between his toes sent tickly shocks through every nerve in his body. The only thing stopping her was his thin ankle sock, and if Mike knew El well, she’d be crazy enough to remove it.

Another poke at his neck made Mike’s laughter pitch up at the end, a weird squeaking sound that made him feel flushed. Will seemed captivated by it, squishing into whatever crevice Mike couldn’t cover with his shoulders hiked up to his chin. Over and over again, trying to recreate that sound.

Only just remembering his hands were free, Mike covered his neck and grabbed Will’s wrist, “WIH- BWAHAA!” Only to immediately shoot his arm back down when Will’s hand on his chest poked under his arm instead. “WILL, PLEH-a! PLEHEAHESE!!” There it was, that pitchy, embarrassing squeak.

Blearily, he peered up at the boy staring down at him. Mike swore Will had hearts in eyes. There was a giddiness about him, like watching Mike lose it over something so silly was more entertaining than anything on TV.

Then, suddenly, everything stopped. Mike took deep, gasping breaths, prepared to thank whatever being on earth or above or across dimensions for saving him.

“Kids?” A low voice cut through the living room, slowly approaching from the bottom of the stairs. Mike didn’t feel quite so thankful anymore.

Ice running through his veins, Mike quickly gathered the energy to fling Will’s blanket over himself, frantically whispering, “Hide me! Hide me!”

Will laughed softly at his antics but helped cover up Mike’s fluffy black hair and upper half. El was already sitting on part of his legs anyway, so it probably didn’t look weird. He hoped so, anyway. The other two gave a quiet greeting, “Hi, Hop,” as the man walked into the room.

“Hey, what’s uh-” Mike held his breath through the pause, “What’s going on in here?”

“We watched a movie.” El chirped, Will humming in agreement.

“Oh, yeah? Just the two of you?” Hopper was gonna kill him. It’s after midnight, he’s pretty sure, and here he was screaming and swearing in the man’s house. And it wasn’t even his fault!

“Yeah.” Will’s hands found him under the blanket, lightly scratching at his collarbone. If Mike could get away with it, he would bite those fingers right off. “Mike left a while ago.”

“Uh-huh. So that is..?” Hopper must’ve pointed at Mike’s twitching legs, all he could do to keep quiet under Will’s sneaky hands.

“What do you mean? Those are my legs.” Will sounded confused, as if he didn’t understand Hopper’s issue with his legs being twice as long as usual.

A sharp poke to the center of his foot made Mike snort quietly, jolting in El’s grip.

“Yeah, Hop. He’s gone.” El giggled at the little squeaks growing in frequency as Mike’s resolve was slowly broken down.

The room was quiet for a moment, outside of Mike desperately trying not to giggle every time Will poked his neck.

“Well.” Hopper chuckled, “Good riddance.” What the hell?! Is making fun of him all this family ever does?

“Just try to keep it down, your mom is still sleeping, okay?” At the whispered agreement, Hopper turned to walk back out of the room.

“Alright, good night, kids.” A pause and then, “Good night, Mike.”

Will and El immediately broke out into a fit of giggles. Mike quietly called out from under the blanket, “Nihihight ch-chief!”

When Will threw the blanket off him, Mike’s hands were over his face, a soft dusting of pink over his cheeks. “I hahate both of you.” He mumbled.

Mike yelped when he felt another poke at his foot, “Like you hate the movie?”

How is this still happening to him? Is this karma for something? Mike could barely remember what he had for breakfast, let alone what evil thing he had done to be facing universal justice.

“Ehehel, stahap! Hop told us to be quiet!”

Will slid his hands over Mike’s stomach once again, making his arms fly down from his face, “Pretty sure he told you to be quiet.”

Mike shook his head, smile wobbling as he looked up at matching grins, “Ihihi cahahan’t! Pleheheheahese!”

Tapping along the edges of Mike’s belly, Will hummed as if thinking it over, “And what do you have to say?”

“Ihihihi- ehehehaha!” El dragged a nail up and down one shaking foot, replacing any answer he may have had with incoherent giggling.

“Don’t think that means anything.” Will shrugged.

When Mike thought of their friends, he always associated Will and El with a sort of innocence. They were never the type to skip school or break curfew if they could help it. Sometimes, though, he forgot just how devious the two of them could be, especially when working together.

They were being gentle now, slow movements and soft, light touches over some of the most sensitive parts of him. Enough to keep him giggling like mad without all that screaming he was doing earlier.

“Wahahahai- Ehehahahaha!” Mike was quietly losing his mind to the slow circles tracing just above his hips and the light scratching over the ball of his foot.

Is this what people mean by ‘tickled silly?’ Incapable of stringing words together and laughing at the slightest touch? Mike felt a whine building in the back of his throat, ready to start pleading for his freedom.

“Will?” El paused, noticing Mike’s descent into delirium, “Do you think he needs a hint?”

Will looked down at Mike’s face, now partially squished into Will’s thigh. His cheeks were still a bit pink, making his freckles stand out, even in the low light. A toothy smile took up most of his face, eyes shaped like little crescents, and his shiny black curls were thoroughly ruffled by all the squirming.

Will hummed, brushing a strand of hair out of Mike’s face, “Maybe? He looks a bit out of it.” A mischievous little smile bloomed across his face, “I think we killed him.”

“Mike.” When he didn’t respond, El huffed, poking his foot once more.

“Whahahahat?” That low giggly whine finally bubbled out of him.

“Did you understand the movie we watched?”

Oh yeah. The movie.

Mike forced himself to shake his head. This was not the time to be prideful. “Nohoho.”

“And do you listen to women?”

He hesitated for a second too long, apparently, El digging into the arch of his foot, “OKAHAY!! OKAY! Nohoho Ihihi dohon’t!”

El smiled, hopping off the couch and freeing Mike’s legs, “Good. Think about that next time we watch it.” She picked up her blanket from where it had fallen to the rug at some point and said a quiet good night to Will before taking off.

Mike found the energy to roll onto his side, curling his legs up to his chest, “Ihihi hahate ihihit here. Ihihi wanna go hohome.”

“Mike.” Will giggled at him, poking his cheek, “Don’t you wanna come sleep in my bed?”

That had Mike pushing himself up to stand on wobbly legs. He almost fell over, Will quickly grabbing his arms and laughing, only mildly concerned.

They got ready for bed together, and when Mike’s face hit the pillows that smelled faintly of cheap bar soap, fresh linen, and just Will, he finally felt normal again.

Except for one thing.

“Will?” Mike whispered to the boy crawling under the sheets beside him. Will hummed, so he continued, “Did you really like that movie?”

Will turned to look at him. Even in the dark, Mike could make out the happy crease of his eyes and the cheeky little smile stretching across his lips. Mike gaped at him, and he laughed.

“I’m leaving.” Mike shuffled away but let himself be stopped by a pair of hands grabbing his and Will’s quiet protests.

“Just wait, okay.” Will looked like he was trying so hard not to laugh in Mike’s face. Clearly, something about his grumpy frown was funny. “I’ve never actually seen it.”

What.

“What?!” Mike whisper-shouted, grabbing Will’s shoulders and shaking him, “What are you saying?!”

“I always fall asleep.” Will couldn’t stop giggling now, pushing Mike’s hands off him, “I knocked out like ten minutes in, and when I woke up, you guys were fighting.”

He knew Will looked sleepy earlier. Mike can’t believe he didn’t notice. How did El never notice if Will’s done this more than once?

“So you had no idea what we were talking about?” Will shook his head, “What was all of that for, then?!”

“Mike.” Will grabbed his hand again, smiling too sweetly to be so evil, “You’re really easy to mess with.”

Mike refused to look at him, knowing if he did, those sparkly green eyes would flush all the annoyance out of him, “I’m telling El.”

“You wouldn’t!” Will leaned over him, and Mike closed his eyes, “Miiiike!”

Mike grunted as a body flopped on top of him. Will mumbled into his chest, “I’ll just keep you here then.”

“That’s fine. I’ll just scream.” Will groaned, and Mike chuckled, pushing a hand through his hair.

Will pushed himself up on his forearms, a determined, little pout hovering over Mike’s face, “I’ll stop you.”

Almost unconsciously, Mike’s hand trailed down soft brown hair to cup Will’s cheek, “How would you do that?”

Either Will leaned in first, or Mike closed his eyes too soon. He couldn’t be sure. All that seemed to matter right now were the lips currently slotted to his. Soft and warm and a tad minty with toothpaste.