#ler!emily

“Sorry Al, I know you like to be alone in the mornings, but Emily came for a visit! She really wanted an official tour of the hotel!” Charlie beamed.

“Hey! I remember you, you’re the one that I saved from the shark!” Emily smiled excitedly as she floated over to him. Alastor grumbles under his breath in slight annoyance at her choice of wording, saved pfft, more like dragged around.

“I see. How… lovely.” Alastor responded, his tone a bit sharper than usual, his ear twitching slightly in annoyance as he firmly places his mug down.

“The hotel is just beautiful! It would be such a great place to play hide and seek!” Emily squealed happily, flying around the large room, making Charlie giggle.

“Oh! That’s a great idea, Emily! Maybe that can be our next bonding exercise! What do you think, Alastor?”

Alastor’s ear twitched in annoyance as he finally turned to fully face the Princess.

“Sounds a bit childish, don’t you think, my dear?” Alastor retorted flatly.

“Oh come on! It would be fun!”

“… I suppose that is quite in character for you, is it not? Always running off to play children’s games while the rest of us fight tooth and nail for every scrap.” Alastor jabs, his grin growing less tense as he senses the slight power shift…

Emily falters at that, clearly hurt by his words… as she slowly descended back down to the ground.

“Alastor! Be nice to her, she’s still getting used to the way we do things around here!” Charlie scolds as she sees Emily’s wings droop.

“N-No! It’s okay… I um… h-he’s right… I guess I have had it pretty easy compared to you all…” Emily reassures, trying to put on her usually happy smile, but it is clear how forced it is.

“Don’t mind him… he’s just being… well… Alastor.” Charlie tries to reassure Emily, placing a friendly hand on her shoulder. Emily is about to respond when there is a noise coming from Charlie’s phone.

“Hm?” Charlie hums and pulls out her phone to look at the screen, her expression sours.

“Oh- I uh… I gotta take this. I’ll be back! Al be nice and keep her company until I’m back!” Charlie instructs before accepting the call and jogging out of the lounge.

Alastor grumbles but does not object, not like he really could anyway… So he simply remains standing there watching the Seraphim with an intimidating gleam in his eyes. Emily looks around the lounge in awe and contained excitement. Surprisingly, she seemed to have already recovered from his little jab from earlier… interesting. Alastor watches her closely, his eyes never leaving her form as she flutters around the room curiously.

There are a few minutes of silence before Emily speaks up.

“So uh… Alastor… right?” Emily asks the demon as she floats down next to him. The Overlord simply nods, before turning back to continue gazing out the window. Part of him hopes if he just stays silent she will leave him be.

Emily can’t help but be intrigued by Alastor’s behaviour… if she wasn’t mistaken he was the demon she saved from the giant Shark thing… maybe he didn’t remember? Why hasn’t he said anything to her? Maybe he’s shy? Or maybe he’s still recovering from… oh! That’s right!

Alastor was deep in thought, trying not to pay the Seraphim next to him too much mind, but was interrupted by a sudden pair of small hands latching onto his arm…

He glances down in the direction of his previously injured limb, fully expecting to find Niffty dangling off his sleeve or something of the sort, trying to get his attention, but no… to his surprise and distaste it was Emily.

“H-How’s your arm doing? It was pretty hurt last time I saw you.” The Seraphim asks cautiously yet eagerly. He quirks a brow, was she actually concerned? How naïve.

His smile tightening in irritation as he sees her gently pull his previously injured arm out from behind his back and closer to her face to inspect it. He hides his surprise expertly behind his usual grin, the sudden touch irritating him, and he just barely stops himself from snapping at the Angel.

“Does it still hurt? Is it okay? Is it healing correctly? Is it-“ Emily rambles with worry and concern as she inspects his arm. If this were anyone else, Alastor would have ripped them to shreds… snapped at them for daring to touch him, let alone in such a demeaning manner… fussing over him like an injured child… but this was a Seraphim. And as much as he would hate to admit… he learned the hard way that Angels and such are far more powerful than he was… His ears drooped back in annoyance as he watches Emily, still not saying a word as she observes his arm closely. And to be honest, it is not that he found Emily particularly distasteful… and unlike Angel Dust or other sinners he could safely assume her hands were clean and well kept, but still, he is very unfamiliar with her, so it was still unnerving.

“Hm… it seems to be doing better at least…” Emily ponders, bending his wrist and elbow a bit to test its mobility… a small hint of unease in her tone as she sees the slightly irritated expression peaking through Alastor’s smile.

“Quite right. Nothing but a scratch.” Alastor agrees flatly, his eyes once again returning to the window.

“A-Are you sure?… It was pretty nasty…” She asks as she rolls up his sleeve to look at the marred skin underneath. This makes Alastor stiffen.

He adjusts his tone before speaking. “I have had far worse, my-“ His words are interrupted however as his breath hitched involuntarily as he feels Emily lightly trail her fingers up his inner forearm, where a long fresh scar runs up his flesh. Alastor’s arm reflexively tugs against her grip a bit from the sensation. A small swell of radio static surrounds the area around them, to cover his slight reaction to the light touch. Emily’s eyes widen as her head shoots up to look at the Radio Demon. Her expression showing deeper concern and guilt.

“Oh no! Are you okay?! I didn’t hurt you, did I?!” Emily panics, moving her hands to his own, gently holding it in hers. Alastor’s eye twitches ever so slightly before responding. “Not to worry, my dear. Simply a chill.” Alastor responds, his voice strained as he subtly tugs at his arm once again, but she doesn’t let go, inspecting his expression closely.

“Are you sure?” She cuts in, leaning a bit closer, her face resembling a worried but caring mother.

“Yes.”

“Suuuper sure?”

“Indeed, I am.” Alastor denies insistently, leaning back ever so slightly, trying to maintain some semblance of space between himself and the Seraphim. “Then… why’d you shiver? Are you cold?” Emily questions in that agonizingly motherly tone.

Another eye twitch.

“I am not cold, wherever did you get such an idea?” Alastor huffs, contradicting his earlier excuse, realizing this he takes his eyes off the Angel for just a moment as he catches a slight movement out the window… which was his second mistake. Emily tilts her head curiously… she doesn’t know demons or their behaviour well at all, especially Alastor…but from what she has seen of the Overlord… he is always composed… even when he was bleeding out… aside from a furrow of his brow that is… and yet here he was, clearly a bit flustered or at least a bit on edge…

She glances back down at Alastor’s arm that still rests in her hands… the lighter flesh of scarring prominent against his darker-toned skin… Without thinking, she very tenderly lets her nails glide up his inner forearm again, along the scar tissue starting at the wrist and ending at the elbow, tracing the unique and abstract patterns and divots as she goes.

Alastor’s reaction is immediate, the Overlord’s stature instantly stiffens and a high-pitched almost elk-like screech fills the room. His arm flinches back, tucking close to his chest. This causes both Emily and Alastor’s eyes to widen, shocked and intrigued by the quite… well… human-like reaction that just came from the Radio Demon…

“D-did that hurt?” Emily asks, quirking a curious brow at him.

“Of course not. I am perfectly fine.” Alastor responds sharply, reaching his other hand up to pull his sleeve back over his forearm, but not before taking a moment to gingerly rub away the remaining tingles on his flesh.

There is a somewhat tense pause between the two once again as Emily contemplates for a moment…

“Wait a second… Are you ticklish?” Emily asks as she steps even closer. Alastor’s smile tightens… h-how- how did she catch on so fast!?- his ears droop slightly as a very faint flush appears on his cheeks.

“Excuse me?-“ He turns to look back at the Angel, a shocked expression in his eyes.

“Are you ticklish? Wait- Can demons even be ticklish?” Emily questions in genuine curiosity.

“Don’t be absurd, I am the Radio Demon, I do not get… ‘ticklish” He insists, adjusting his posture back to his usual charismatic and confident stance, but that doesn’t stop Emily from noticing how he takes a slight step to the side. Alastor’s grip on his staff tightens once more, so tight the red on his knuckles turned to a lighter pink tone. Seeing Alastor’s growing agitation, Emily steps a bit closer trying to offer reassurance.

“Uh… Hey… It’s nothing to be embarrassed about it’s-“ Alastor cuts her off with a scoff.

“Embarrassed? Perish the thought, my dear. I simply do not understand your… insistence on the subject.” Alastor says in mock politeness as his eyes narrow slightly.

“Oh come on! It’s just a question.” Emily smiles innocently, quickly earning a light warning glare from the Radio Demon.

“It’s utterly ridiculous, and quite childish, if I might add.” Alastor continues, making Emily huff slightly.

“You’re no fun.” Emily pouts, crossing her arms like a disappointed child. This gets a slight genuine smirk out of Alastor. Something about her innocent yet cheeky personality entertained him a bit.

“Ha! I saw that!” Emily beams pointing at him enthusiastically, startling the demon slightly.

“Ahem, saw what?” He questions as he adjusts his expression.

“You smiled!”

“I am always smiling.” The Overlord points out flatly.

“OK yeah… B-But it reached your eyes! I saw it!” Emily smiled proudly, crossing her arms again playfully.

“I see, well a momentary falter of judgement perhaps, do not expect it again.” He states before returning his focus to the world outside the window. With that, the two stand in silence for a few moments again, Alastor seemingly unaware of Emily’s next move…

Alastor just starts to return to his thoughts… before Emily suddenly pokes his side curiously. Alastor’s hair bristles like it’s been rubbed by a balloon. Damn it… His toothy grin wobbled as he slowly turns his head to look at the Seraphim.

“My dear…” Alastor warns. “I would suggest you refrain from—“

“Hehe! Why?~” The Seraphim giggles, leaning in even closer, and with otherworldly speed and accuracy, pinches the small spot just beneath his ribs. Much to the Radio Demon’s dismay, his body responds before he can manage to mask the reaction. His torso jerks away ever so slightly, his smile twitching to something more genuine for just a moment. With a sigh, he speaks.

“It would appear personal space is not a concept you Angels are familiar with— .” He begins, trying to remain as unaffected as possible but flinches back when he feels her fingers poke the area a second time. His back hunches forwards slightly as his arm darts down to shield the area, his crackling magic easily showing his growing agitation as the air fills with that familiar but unnerving sound of radio static, something that surprisingly doesn’t seem to intimidate the Seraphim one bit.

For as long as he can remember, dating back to even his childhood, his sides were one of the areas that were incredibly sensitive, abnormally so. Why, it was a fact his mother knew quite well. Though the memories are faint, he can recall moments growing up when his mother would soothingly rake her nails down his back while she tucked him into bed as she sang to him, often sneaking a few playful squeezes to his little sides in between. Always resulting in quite a squirmy and giggly reaction from the young lad. Looking back, it was a silly but fond memory he had. Though he’d never admit to such a thing. And to be fair, very few knew of a weakness such as this when it came to him. The only souls that dared touch him in such a way were Rosie and now Emily… any others? Well… he’d made sure they were… taken care of.

Though that fact was doing little to help him at the moment… a wave of curses ran through his mind, gritting his teeth so tight his jaw began to tremble. The Overlord shuddered as he felt the small Angel poke at his torso; whenever he moved to regain his composure, she would find a new spot to poke.

“I swear to all that is holy if you do not cease this- IhI- I will-” A small breathy chuckle escapes Alastor’s lips, interrupting his threat, which he instantly regrets.

“Eeeeee! You laughed! Oh my gosh, you are ticklish! This is soooo cute!” Emily squeaks as she continues playfully poking and pinching anywhere on the Radio Demon she can reach. Alastor growls in annoyance as he attempts to halfheartedly swat her hand back.

“M-My dear!-“

“Awww! You are so ticklish! All it takes to get you to squirm is a few little pokes to your sides?” Emily taunts playfully, growing more bold as she begins wiggling his fingers towards Alastor’s ribs. Alastor’s shoulder tenses and trembles in repressed giggles.

“I- I am nothing of the sort! Cease this at once! And I did not laugh- it was merely a chuckle at the complete absurdity of your behaviour!” The Radio Demon tried to deny as he dodged her lightning-fast hands, stumbling back slightly until he flipped up and over the edge of the couch, falling down onto his back on the cushions below, putting a much-welcomed but temporary pause on this little game. Emily giggled excitedly at the silly display.

“Ugh… gracious to the heavens above…” Alastor groaned as he regained his focus, pulling his legs down from the back of the couch as Emily continued to giggle, leaning over the back of the couch, a big childish grin on her face.

“Hehe! I had no idea demons were ticklish too!” She smiled down at him as the Overlord let out a breath of relief as he pushed himself up into a seated position on the couch. He cleared his throat, smoothing out his coat trying to seem unaffected, though his breath was still slightly laboured, which was giving him away, thank goodness no one else was around at the moment…

“Yes, well. I strongly recommend you attempt such tomfoolery with another demon, my dear. I am above such childish antics.” He stated as calmly as his flustered state would allow. Emily only snickered into her hand, finding Alastor’s attempt at nonchalance amusing, and honestly a bit adorable.

“Something amusing, dear?” Alastor asked, a slight warning and/ or challenge in his tone. Something that unfortunately for him, went right over the Seraphim’s head.

“It’s just funny… I always thought demons were horrible people… ones that had little to no connection to their human souls anymore…”

“And who is to say that I am not?” Alastor challenged.

“W-Well… Charlie seems to trust you, that’s gotta mean something!” She smiled fluttering up and over the couch, plopping down next to him.

“Correction, I would say she more so… tolerates me.” Alastor corrected, his tone almost half-joking, something Emily caught onto incredibly fast and beamed.

“Don’t say that! You seem like a lovely soul!” Emily gasps playfully. Alastor clears his throat, something about how genuinely the Angel insisted, touches a nerve. “Oh, such a naive soul, I have much more important things to be doing than partaking in such childish banter.” Alastor reminds him, his sophisticated and gentlemanly persona returning.

“Is that so, mister?” Emily chuckles, poking his side again, making Alastor groan.

“Aw, come on! Where’d that adorable little giggle go?” She teases, suddenly squeezing the lower sides to kick it up a notch, causing the grinning Overlord to gasp before biting his lip.

“Ugh- I do not giggle. What the blazes?! D-Do not start this again!” Alastor protests, unable to contain the snicker in his voice anymore, turning his back to the Angel, in an attempt to obstruct her reach.

“Oh, I’m starting it again!” Emily snickered, managing to lightly flutter her nails at the sides of his belly. His ears twitch and jerk, his body obviously trying to find a way to squirm without hurting Emily.

The Seraphim giggles, kneading her soft, dainty fingers into the taller demon’s belly, enjoying the involuntary shiver that runs down Alastor’s spine.

Alastor is unable to hide the small shriek that escapes through his clenched teeth as he leans away from her, which only gives her better access to his torso. He’s not very good at this… that or he has very little experience with his body betraying him in such a way. In reality, Alastor should easily be able to throw her off of him, as she wasn’t using any magic to keep him pinned… and in any other situation, he would not hesitate to do just that… but with Charlie and Lucifer nearby, he knew if he injured her, or even upset her, he would be in for a world of hurt… the next best thing would be to…

Come on… teleport… teleport! Blasted magic! Why does it have to falter when he is distracted!

“Hmm… you really should eat more, you know. I can practically feel every bone.” She comments, massaging her fingers into his ribs as if to make a point.

“Augheheh! Why Y-Yohou- Yohohohou lihihittle!”Alastor growls before he can protest further he feels the Emily playfully grab his hand eagerly pulling him down, his head landing gently on her lap, his legs kicking up onto the couch as he tries to sit up, but with even just a single hand on his chest, she is somehow able to keep him in place, shit she is strong when she wants to be!

“L-Let me up! I- I dehemand it!” A small involuntary snicker escaped his clenched jaw from the anticipation of what his body knows is to come.

“Hmmm…” Emily ponders for a moment, tapping her chin theatrically. “Nah, I think you got a few more cute little giggles in there!” Emily coos before going right back to work, her fingers poking and squeezing all around his sides and ribs.

“Grrrrrahaha! IhIhI wihihill get yohou for thihis!” Alastor growled as Emily’s fingers on her free hand spidered up towards his neck, his legs began to kick at unbearably ticklish sensation.

“A-Agh! My dear!- That is q-quihite enough I- Gyaaahaaahhaahaha!” Alastor giggled. yes giggled, tossing and turning his head in her lap, trying to shield his neck from the unbearably light ticklish sensation.

“Hm? Is it though? You seem to be having fun though, look at you laughing!” Emily teased bringing her hands back down to his sides. Unexpectedly, Alastor shrieked, his arms slamming down against his sides, “trapping” Emily’s hands against his ribs.

“Alastor… you’ve trapped my hands.” She smirked not fully stopping her tickle attack on his ribs. Just ever so slightly wriggling them to keep the Overlord on edge.

“Y-Yohou and I… bohoth know that… is not true!” The Radio Demon said through his soft giggles as he tried to glare back up at her.

“Well… if you’re not going to let my hands free then I guess they’ll just have to stay here forever~” Emily teased and started pinching and squeezing the ribs under his arms again. Alastor shrieked once again as Emily began playfully massaging little circles into his ribs. Alastor whined, biting his lip so hard it might bleed, arching his spine before he broke and high pitched laughter escaped his lips.

“Gyahaha! Noho! M-My dehehear!! I-I cahahn’t- ahahaha!!” The demon shrieked kicking and squirming.

“Ah-ha! Did I hit your sweet spot?!”

“F-Fuhuhuck! AHAHA!!” Alastor laughed desperatly pushing at her hands while also trying to protect his sides.

“Hm, not the best spot for it huh? I can get at is so easily!” Emily teased with a chuckle, the teasing making it all much worse for the poor demon as his face grew even redder from mirth and embarrassment.

“GYAAA! E-Ehehehemily! I-I-I swehear to you!-“ Alastor gasped as she squeezed the soft flesh just above his hips.

“Thats my name! Good job!”Emily snickered before Alastor let out a snort as she flutters her fingers along his naval.

“Dihid you just snohort?!”Emily laughed.

“I-I I DIHID NOHOHOT!!” Alastor denied right before another snort came from him, Emily laughed heartily before moving back to his belly so she didn’t drive him insane.

“Emily?! Al?! I heard a scream!! Are you guys alright-“ Charlie suddenly came running into the room. But her concern is quickly replace by confusion as she sees a pair of legs in black pants and familiar hoof like shoes kicking about from behind the couch…

“Gyahahahaha! Lehehet goho of mehe!!” Came Alastor’s voice from the couch.

“Uh…” Charlie is both amused and shocked by the display in front of her… she raises ber phone back up to her ear for a moment. “I’ll uh… call you back.” She says into her phone before placing it back into her pocket and leaned against the doorframe to watch.

“C-Cehease this! I-I command it!”

“Ha! Command huh? In case you’ve forgot, you’re the one giggling up an adorable storm here! If you want me to stop, stop laughing so much!” Emily teases, her smile brighter than ever.

“I-I swehear! Ma chérie! I’m going to make you pahahay for thihis!” Alastor giggles, kicking his feet against the couch, his eyes shut tight in mirth as he frantically tries to grab Emily’s hands.

“Well, then I guess I’ll just have to tire you out then~” Emily giggles continuing her playful attack on his sensitive spots.

“Now… where else could get you to make those cute noises? Hm?!”

“T-Taisez-vous! Sh-Sh-Shuhuhut Up! Arrête déjà!” Alastor squeals as Emily, spiders her fingers all over his torso, in search of any new sweet spots that will get him squealing.

“No way! You speak french too!?” Emily gasps.

“Should uh… should we help him?” Vaggie suddenly asks as she approaches Charlie from the hall. Charlie just shrugs, unable to hide the smile on her lips at the sight of the fur on Alastor’s ears fluffed up and a bit scruffed from the squirming.

“Aw… hehe had enough Alastor?” Emily snickered before she let Alastor finally grab her hands.

“Ohoh… you are far more devious than I gave you credit for, my dear.” Alastor huffs as his clawed and rough hands continue to clasp around the Angel’s wrists above him.

“Nah, I think he’s got it.” Charlie smiles to Vaggie quietly. Emily giggles happily at the demon below her, watching as he catches his breath, his chest rising and falling with his eyes pricked with a few tears of mirth.

“Yes, yes. Laugh all you desire, darling, continue to bask in my torment.” He huffs as Emily lets him sit up.

“Hehe! Oh come on! You had fun.”

“You are aware I shall forever deny such a claim, yes?”

“I figured.” The Seraphim shrugs.

His room still smelled like him.

Even with the wallpaper torn to shreds and shattered glass littering the floor, a trace of him hung in the air, greeting her tauntingly every time she stepped through those doors.

Cologne and something earthy, something uniquely his.

It would fade, too, with time. Eventually, all that would remain would be memories as the bedroom was handed off to someone new, remodeled and repaired until everything that reminded her of him was lost. She had argued, practically pleaded, that the space should be preserved, memorialized.

"Heaven is crowded enough as is, Lute. It wouldn't be practical when so many new souls are flooding in every day, in need of a home." Sera had replied. "Besides, surely Adam wouldn't have wanted his room turned into such a solemn place."

Bullshit. He would have wanted a golden statue dedicated in his honor, a funeral procession big enough to rival a king's, a museum of his accomplishments and contributions to be established.

Sera didn't know him at all, not the way she had.

Lute stared down at the sprawling city below, kicking a piece of broken glass through the gapping whole where the stained glass once stood. It tumbled through the air, sharp edges twinkling and refracting in the golden sunlight as it slowly disappeared from sight.

...

Nowhere was safe from her memories. Every street, every shop, brought another wave of devastation and bitterness crashing over her.

The little ice cream shop on the corner? They had went there together only a month prior, laughing about the shattered look on the princess's little face when they informed her that the exterminations would become more frequent.

The large stage erected in the center of the city? Adam had hosted weekly concerts there, playing his guitar for the masses while Lute watched dutifully from backstage, eyes constantly scanning for threats

The High Seraphim's tower? It had become like a second home with how much time they had spent there, planning attacks, discussing strategies, shit-talking his ex-wife and her little man-whore of a king.

Everywhere she looked, she saw flashes of him, little memories making her eyes burn with barely constrained tears.

Shaking her head, Lute ducked into the first shop she could find. Golden eyes flicked about, taking in her surroundings with disinterest. A little bookstore, filled to the brim with shelf after shelf, large armchairs shoved into the corners, and a little lamb winner smiling eagerly behind the checkout counter.

She could have stepped into a blank room, for all she cared. All that mattered was that Adam had never set foot there; this place held no sadness to consume her.

Numbly, Lute began to slowly browse the isles, glancing briefly over the various titles. Romances, cookbooks, gardening manuals, more romances. Nothing violent, nothing risqué. This was Heaven, after all.

'Look at all this shit; no wonder he didn't read.' Lute thought, scoffing as a particularly egregious title stood out to her. "Holly's Holiday Miracle," she murmured, shaking her head. Fucking ridiculous.

As she made her way further into the stacks, a low, hushed sound met her ears. Lute paused, brows furrowing. Voices, it was voices, whispering excitedly from a few shelves over. While she couldn't quite register what was being said, she could pick out at least three distinct cadences, all battling for dominance.

Silently, the exorcist slipped over to the next isle, ears straining as the words began to become clearer.

"Aaw, what's the matter? Having a hard time staying quiet?" One voice cooed, a clear playfulness in its tone.

"Yeah, is somebody too sensitive?" A second voice chimed in, this one lighter, higher in pitch.

Immediately, Lute recognized them both, frown deepening as a feeling of irritation bubbled up within her. Saint Peter and Emily; of course. All she wanted was to be alone, why did they have to turn up everywhere she went?! Her back pressed firmly against the bookshelf behind her, head cocking slightly as she continued to eavesdrop.

What were they going on about? Who were they talking to? Were they getting it on in the back of a bookstore? The fucking degenerates-

"Ehehehem, Peter! Wahahahait-"

Lute froze, eyes widening slightly. Abel, that was Abel's voice, clear as day despite the hushed, garbled tone. What the fuck was going on?

"Hey, Emily, check this out!" Peter whispered excitedly, the sound of clothes ruffling a soft, frantic begging erupting from the other side of the shelf.

"Nonono, Peheheter! Don't you-eheheheheheheeeeee!"

Was Abel...was he laughing?

Lute's body locked up at the sound. It was soft, so quiet it was barely there, but it was a laugh nonetheless. Not just a laugh, though...it was HIS laugh. Adam's laugh.

Sure, there were some differences. Adam's was loud, boisterous and gravely, able to fill a room with ease, whilest Abel's soft giggling was muffled and restrained. It was more high-pitched, too, more boyish. But the general spirit was there; the soft snorts interrupting his babbling pleas, the bounciness, the way it made her heart hammer.

That was all Adam.

She just couldn't help herself; slowly, carefully, Lute glanced around the corner, eyes widening at the sight before her.

Emily and Peter had Abel pressed against one of the shelves, boxing him in on both sides as their hands dug into his robes, probing fingers seeking out his sides and ribs as the blonde shook with barely-contained titters. Abel was biting down HARD on his lower lip, eyes squeezed shut as his wings tucked protectively against his torso (shit, Adam had done that, too).

"Guhuhuhuys, come on! S-Sohohohomeone's gonna hehehehear us!" Abel forced out, wheezing when Peter drilled into a soft just above his left hip.

"Then I guess you'd better keep quiet, then, huh?" Peter shot back, his expression the picture of mischief.

Emily rolled her eyes. "Come on, be nice!" She chided, her fingers scribbling across Abel's ribs as she cooed over the resulting squeal. "Don't worry, Abel, nobody ever comes in here, remember? You can giggle to your heart's content!"

Abel tossed his head back, resting it against the shelf as his cheeks turned a bright, embarrassed gold.

Father in Heaven, he looked so much like him. Lute's mind raced, her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she watched the blonde shake with laughter, frantically trying to quiet his growing mirth in his sleeve as his companions tickled him to pieces.

Lute couldn't look away.

It took all of her strength to pry herself away from the sight, quickly leaving the store before she acted foolishly. She wasn't supposed to see that, any of it, and yet it was burned into her mind, playing over and over again as she maneuvered down crowded sidewalks.

'He sounded so much like him...'

Shit, she needed a drink.

...

As the days drug on, Lute still couldn't banish that sound from her mind. It lingered there, taunting her, reminding her.

Every time it popped back up, she was immediately overwhelmed with emotions as memories rushed forward; her pinning Adam against a wall, clawed hands digging into his stomach as he hurled death threats and pleas between wails, her holding him down and preening his wings as he shook with embarrassed titters, her counting his ribs over and over again just to watch him fall apart as she "miscounted" and began anew (they were both well aware he only had twenty-three, rather than the usual twenty-four).

She had to do something, it was driving her mad! She couldn't even LOOK at her new "commander" (she still refused to call him by the title; Abel was not, and never would be, HIM) without the overwhelming desire to make him make that lovely sound again bubbling back up.

But she wouldn't; she COULDN'T do such a thing. Adam had been different, special. They had something special. She couldn't just GO UP to the blonde and start...she couldn't...

...

Her resolve broke three days later.

While the exterminations were effectively canceled for the foreseeable future, a decision that still made rage burn within her, it was decided that Heaven's defenses needed to be rediscussed and updated after the most recent uprising. Sera had attended the first half-hour of the meeting, laying out what she and the other high angels wished to see, before leaving to give her and Abel time to create a plan of action.

She had to hand it to him, while Abel was a spineless coward, he turned out to be quite the pragmatic thinker when it came to defensive strategy. Within only minutes of busting out the map detailing Heaven's layout and borders, he had been able to point out numerous potential weak points, circling each in red ink as he rambled on and on about potential solutions.

He was no fighter, but he wasn't a complete fool.

Lute hadn't been planning on giving in to her...intrusive thoughts. She thought she was doing a decent job at quashing the nagging, sentimental little part of her that SCREAMED to get its claws on the blonde. But then, Abel had lifted his arm over his head, moving to gesture at another section of the map, and something snapped.

"See, we could have them reinforce the gates with their-shihihhihihihit!" Abel's words were interrupted by a loud squeak, arm snapping down to his side. His eyes went wide, shooting down to glance at the golden claws curling into his side, then up to meet his lieutenant's intense gaze. "Uhuhum, Lute, what are you doing?"

The woman's gaze sharpened, her frown morphing into a small smirk. "Seems you did take after him after all."

"Whahat are you-nehehehehehehahahahaha! N-Nohohohoho, Lute, hohohohold on!" Abel busted into a fresh wave of giggles as the hand camp to life, squeezing rapidly at the fleshy side her free arm moved forward, cornering him between herself and the table.

Lute chuckled. "Not even going to try holding it in?" She taunted, claws squeezing up and down, up and down, running from just above the hip to below the ribcage. "Are you that weak, or do you just enjoy it that much?"

"Why?! Why ahahahahahare you dohohohoing thihihihihihis?" Abel cried out, adorable giggles tumbling past his lips uncontrollably as he floundered to grab her wrists, missing every time as they dipped just out of reach.

Why? She wasn't even sure herself. "Less talking, more laughing." She replied, moving up to scribble experimentally over the blonde's ribs. His laughter increased in pitch, taking on a whiny, flustered note. "Just look at you; I'm barely even touching you and you're losing it."

Abel jerked, blush deepening as a little snort ripped out of him.

Lute hummed, a devilish glint entering in her eye. "You know, Adam only had twenty-three ribs; what about you?"

That caught his attention. "Nohohohoho, Luhuhute! Dohohohohon't you dare!" He shook his head feverishly. "Twehehenty-four! I hahahahave twehehenty-four! No need to cohohohohount!"

"I never said anything about counting them, but since you brought it up, we'd better check, just to make sure."

"Noooooohohohohohohohooooo!"

Lute's claws set to work, scratching between each rib two at a time, slowly working their way higher and higher. "Two, four, six, eight, ten..."

Poor Abel was beside himself, squirming from foot to foot as he tried to dance away from the ticklish assault. "Gehehet awahahahay! Yohohou suck so muhuhuhuhuch!" He giggled. "Luuuuhuhuhuhuhute!"

"Shit, all that noise made me lose count. Guess I'll need to start over..."

Oh, the look on his face was priceless, eyes practically popping out of his skull as he WAILED out giggly protests. It seemed he was just as susceptible to her little game as Adam had been; maybe even more so.

It took three rounds of "counting" to get through all twenty-four, and by the time her claws slowed to a barely-there crawl, Abel was barely standing, knees wobbling as he shook with residual titters.

"Ohohoho Fahahahather in Heaven, you are so mehehehean!" The blonde pouted.

Lute's smirk widened. "That was just the warm-up."

"W-Warm up?!"

...

Over the next several weeks, it had become a regular occurrence for Abel to find himself being tickled within an inch of his life whenever Lute was in the room. It was never around others, only when they were alone, and never for more than a few minutes at a time.

But damn, was it flustering!

Scribbles to the ribs, squeezes to the hips, claws VIBRATING into his stomach until he thought he was going to go mad. It sent Abel's head spinning; she'd never been this way before, barely even gave him a passing glance, but now? Now she loomed like a specter, awaiting her next opportunity to pounce and reduce him to giggly, snorty tears.

Not that he minded, of course! It was still fun, even if it could be...a lot, at times, and he certainly preferred this side to her to her more abrasive, angry moods. But what had brought it on? Why the sudden shift? Had Abel finally managed to work his way onto her good side? No, surely not.

The blonde shook his head, letting out an exasperated sigh as he fell back onto his head, running a hand through his hair.

Leon wasn’t sure how he’d gotten himself into this position. He had come over to Grace’s apartment to visit her and Emily after the events of the care center, Raccoon City, and the ARK center. He figured it would help them all relax and feel a little bit better having some company. Currently, he was sprawled out on the floor with Grace digging into his ribs. ‘Gehehehet awahahay!’ He shrieked and kicked when she moved to scribble up and down his waist. Emily was giggling and clapping from the couch.

‘Uncle Leon is ticklish!’ she giggled with delight. Grace turned her head to smile at the little girl. Emily could finally see after she was cured of the virus–her brown eyes were filled with delight at watching Grace make her ‘uncle’ laugh like this. Leon snorted rather loudly as the FBI agent kneaded between his lower ribs. He arched his back as she kept at it, her fingers having some determination to kill him, it felt like. ‘Grahahahace!’ Leon’s laugh was raspy. Wheezy. And daresay cute, if Grace had to note it. 

For a man who was always so gruff, he sure was ticklish. She hovered her fingers above his waist, then above his ribs. Leon’s eyes were warily tracking her movements. Grace wiggled her fingers slightly, loving the jolt that went through Leon’s body. ‘He is ticklish,’ Grace affirmed, lowering her hands all the way and tracing shapes on his belly. She drew a circle, making Emily laugh as Leon squirmed in place. 

She cooed softly, scrunching her fingers over his stomach. It wasn’t his worst spot, but it was enough to get him to giggle silently. He scrabbled at her wrists, not gripping nearly tight enough to truly shove her hands away. Leon could squirm away if he wanted to and she knew that. Grace had seen him fight before, and this was nothing. She looked over at the seven year old sitting on the couch watching her. ‘Emily, do you want to help?’ she asked. 

The little girl nodded with excitement. She hopped down from her spot on the couch with a precious smile. Leon glared up at Grace but visibly softened his gaze when he turned to glance at Emily, who was now crouching next to him. He felt small fingers creep up his waist. Somehow, small fingers were worse. Emily scritched lightly at the spot right above his hip–her hand had slipped under his loose shirt a little so she was against bare skin.

‘F–Fuhuhuck!’ he choked out. Honestly forgetting a child was present. 

‘Language,’ Grace scolded playfully, drilling her thumbs into either side of his hips. He had to visibly fight bucking for fear of somehow hurting Emily. He let out a wheeze and shook his head. His body arched a little, and he wriggled in place. Emily whined softly. Grace removed her hands, a smug little grin on her face. ‘There. Behave,’ she said, poking Leon in the ribs just to get her point across. 

Emily dragged her small nails across his stomach. Leon sucked his stomach in on instinct. Emily thought it was funny so she followed the movement, giggling as she felt the muscles twitch. Leon was silently giggling. He was refusing to open his mouth or sass for fear of it either coming out as swearing or just sounding like a child. ‘Tickle tickle tickle!’ Emily said in a soft, bubbly tone. Leon felt his face turn a shade of red. Usually teasing didn’t affect him, but the fact that it was from a person he couldn’t kick off–a child, at that–seemed to be the cause. 

Grace started tickling the very outside of his thigh. Made his leg kick out and him roll to the side where Emily wasn’t. ‘You know, Emily, your uncle has a ticklish back. Do you wanna see?’ 

‘Grahahace!’ 

Emily pushed at his ribs slightly, trying to roll him over. Leon groaned in protest, refusing to look at either of them. Emily whined softly, clearly determined to move all 155 pounds of him. Leon felt bad, so he begrudgingly rolled onto his stomach, crossing his arms and resting his head on them. Able to muffle his sounds into the floor if need be. The older woman sat next to him, kneeling next to his shoulders. Grace started kneading his shoulders and upper back. He choked out a laugh, muffling it into his arms. 

Emily squealed with delight, climbing onto the backs of his thighs. Well, now Leon knew he really couldn’t squirm. He felt her small fingers begin to tickle up and down the sides of his waist, right next to where his lower back would start. Leon giggled with a snort, one hand coming out from under his head to grab onto Grace’s thigh and squeeze a little. She was proud of him for at least being nice enough to not squirm too much. Emily hit a particularly bad spot on the backs of his lower ribs, and Leon yelped and chuckled harder, nuzzling his face into his arm further. ‘Emihihily–plehehehease!” 

‘Hey, sweetie, watch this,’ Grace said with a smug little smile. Emily watched with a delighted grin as her mother pushed back Leon’s hair to expose the nape of his neck. Leon let out a confused mumble of a word, then squealed as Grace blew a raspberry into the sensitive skin. The hand that was originally squeezing her leg was now hitting the floor a bit. He felt Emily start to trace shapes on his back. 

‘Can we–can we spell uncle’s name?’ Emily asked her mom, who sat back up to look at her adopted daughter. Grace nodded, leaning down and spelling Leon’s name for her. He felt the little girl trace out an L on his upper back. Then an E, the messy line going down his spine. He arched slightly. ‘Don’t mess me up,’ Emily scolded playfully, and traced an O next. She made sure to make the letter N as fancy as a kid could make it across his lower back. ‘Okay, Emily. Here’s another thing you can do.’

Grace showed her daughter how to make her hands into mini claw shapes. Emily nodded, looking with both fascination and slight frustration at her hands. She successfully made the shape, then Grace showed her where to put them. Leon snickered as he felt small, clumsy hands place themselves on his waist. He was still on his stomach. Grace pinned the arm down that was hitting the floor, pinning his wrist gently with her knee. Leon growled, trying to sound intimidating but it quickly dissipated into frantic bubbling chortles as Grace’s hand dove into his underarm, fingers digging rather insistently, 

He felt the small hands start to clumsily drag and pinch insistently at his waist. He kicked his feet, steel toed boot hitting the floor rather hard. ‘Emi–Grahahahahace! Plehehease–ihihihit–’ 

‘Tickle tickles?’ Emily offered. 

‘Nohohoho!” 

Without even thinking, he swiftly rolled onto his back. Emily was able to scramble out of the way and since he was in a loose pin by Grace, his arm came out freely. He was panting, very red in the face from the sheer embarrassment. Emily lowered her head and blew a messy raspberry on his belly. Despite the loose shirt he had on, he still felt it quite well through the fabric. He let out a squeaky cackle, throwing one arm over his face to cover his eyes. 

Her fingers scribbled messily along his waist, up to his ribs then back down right above his hips. Jesus, what had Grace taught this kid? He arched his back and heard the girl make a bubbly sound of delight. ‘Ehehemihily-!’ he squeaked out, his laugh starting to turn more…clear rather than the gruff and raspy one from earlier. He felt Grace grab one of his legs and start to tickle behind his knee. Light tickles, just enough to be felt but not enough to make him truly laugh. An infuriating, itching sensation that made him want to kick his leg.

The tickles got more insistent, which made him fully kick the leg out, nearly connecting with Grace’s jaw. She luckily was able to dodge it. ‘Shihihhihit–sohohhorry!’ he choked out through laughs. She wasn’t sure if the apology was more directed toward the fact he nearly kicked her or the fact that he just swore. Again. 

‘Mama, what does that mean?’ Emily asked, her eyes so innocent and curious Leon could’ve swore he wanted to sink into the floor

‘Your uncle is just saying bad words, sweetie. Alright, Leon, that’s another thirty seconds. Emily, do you want me to tickle him or you? Or both? I feel like he’ll behave enough to hold still.’ 

The pristine sounds of angels talking, laughing and enjoying their own disarming activities filled the heavens, bringing a warm auto sphere around them. Lute was located in Adam’s old office, broken and tampered with by her rage and grief at his death The hallucinations of Adam faded from her mind after everything seemed to be back to normal, yet the flickering dreams and memories of him never yielded her mind

An ominous but eager knock was at the front door of the office, making lute flinch in surprise and irritation at the sudden disturbance “Lute!, are you in there, I saw your footsteps leading to here,” a bubbly voice called out from outside the door to Lute. Lute let out a groan of pure frustration knowing who was behind those golden doors

That bubbly little seraphim, Emily, always comes to her for entertainment or to talk her ears off about Charlie’s redemption program or Abel “Yes, Em, I'm always in here, you should know this by now,” the door creaked open to reveal Lute hunched over the desk, her gaze on Emily intense yet softening slightly hinting at a feeling deeper than hatred Emily's bursting blue eyes gleamed at Lute, bouncing on her heels as she advanced forward inside and her face slowly showing concern “Ah! Well then I heard a thud from the room, is everything okay?,” The young seraphim's voice shifted from glee to something more concerned drawn on her face

Lute glanced at the broken shards of glass and wreckage before looking up at Emily's concerned visage and sighing softly “Yes, Em, just me and my thoughts as usual,” her tone was slightly softer, lacking the usual scowl or snarl. Emily advanced closer to Lute and was slightly close to her face, Lute was slightly turning a bit yellowish(blush color) “What are you doing, Em,” Lute stammered, not liking the smile that was on Emily’s face “Oh I was just thinking…you really don't smile as much..so I just thought I wanted to see you smile again!” She grinned wider and fingers twitching in anticipation, Lute's expression slowly turning to one of nervousness “And just how do you think you'll be able to accomplish that, Em” lute just loved digger her own grave, didn't she?

All of a sudden 10 wiggly fingers travel up lutes sides and ribs, tickling and scritching at her worst spots, Emily's expression slowly turned softly smug watching the ex lieutenant laugh and squirm, it was useless trying to push Emily's hands away from Lute's stomach since the seraphim was quite strong for her size “EHEHEHEHMILY! STA-STAHAHAP W-WHAT AREHEHE YOUHUHU DOHOHOING HAHAH” Lute laughter was instant, trying to push her hands away while more blush creeped up her face

“Why I'm tickling you of course! Effective isn't it?” The seraphim teased a bit “NOHOHO (soft squeak and covers her face)” Emily smiled softly at Lute's shyness, such a battle hardened ex exterminator brought down by..fingertips? Comical wasn't it?, beings really have two sides.. “No, what? No more tickles?” She leaned closer to get more peeks at Lute’s joyful face “Nohohoho morehehe!!” Lute managed to say through laughter, however her tough acts didn't fool Emily.

Lute often pushed others away when tickled or fight back, but with Emily she never did, she often liked when Emily tickled her after all, even if it was silly of her, Emily's hands felt soft, warm maybe even comforting on her, she didn't want it stop genuinely, “Lute, precious! I happened to notice you aren't kicking and punching me like you do with Abel and Saint Peter when tickling you, you aren't injured are you?” Emily tilted her head, noticing the lack of fight in lute

“ohohof co-coursehehehe not! I juhuhust don't wahahanna hurt a serahahahaphim a-ahahand serahahah getting mahahad what mehehe” she protested, turning her head away from the younger seraphim. “Oh? Really now, so you actually care about hurting me?” She giggled at lutes obviously lying, making her heart do a little flip inside knowing lute doesn't want her to stop yet. “Okahahahay yehehes!! Hahahahappy!?!?” Lute bit down on her own tongue to muffle her squawking giggles.

Emily’s heart skipped a beat..did Lute just say what she thought she said? This wasn't a dream right?.. “Hehehello!?!? Earth to Em!!” Lute managed to sit up and snap in front of Emily's face to check on if she's good, Emily squeaked when Lute got close to her face and nodded quickly, her cheeks light peach,..what was she doing again? Oh right!! Making lute laugh more.

Emily's fingers than moves to Lute’s weak spot which was behind her ears and wings, scribbling all types of patterns on her wings, soft ones, rough ones, fast, slow, and even drawing, all the motions made Lute yelp and cackle almost with pure laughter, it tickled so badly she could barely think straight to get away, she fully gives up on escaping Emily's tickles anyway.

Lute almost gave up when her hand just barely grazes Emily's stomach, drawing a surprised squeal out of the little Seraphim, awakening a bit of mischief from the ex-lieutenant, immediately lute dug her blunt nails into Emily stomach exciting more giggles and laughter out of Em

"Oh what's this?" Lute teased "No-nohohotihihing" Emily denied, Emily definitely knew she was in trouble and in a blink of an eye Emily was pinned beneath lute and squirming while lute nibbling lightly at the bright ones neck and her hands scribble against her stomach and hips a bit

The reaction out of Emily was instant, bubbly laughter and snorts, the reaction did cause Lute to blush a bit, breaking her usual composure, but staring at the seraphim so helplessly and adorable was endearing to her, tho she'd never admit that

"WAHA-WAHAHAHAIT LUUHUHUTEHEHE snnrk STAHAHAP EHEHEP snnrk" Emily's laughter bubbles up more as lute realizes shes nibbling her neck and immediately stops with a hint of flush on her ears and cheeks "Shit I'm sorry, I didn't know-" Lute stammered to explain herself but words couldn't explain it better but Emily knew she was guilty and just chuckles softly smiling warmly at her "It's alright..woo I never laughed that hard in a while now!" Emily breathe slowly settles back to normal state

"Emily? Where are you?" a voice echoed through the hallways and it was sera calling for her little sister, she probably guessed she was in Lute's room again after all "Dang it..I gotta get goin! I'll see ya later, Lute! Make sure to smile more, it looks good on you!!"

Lute chuckles and shakes her head softly, she didn't even realize until a bit late she chuckled genuinely and smiles softly at the seraphim "Later Em, try not to snort next time I tickle ya, mk?" Emily left with a embarrassed giggle at Lute's snarky remark, seems like she still is the same but improved

"Make sure to smile more, it looks good on you!!" Emily's words echoed through her head, maybe she should smile more..