#ler!eric

Eric stood in place, rubbing his temples and contemplating all that was said. It was easy to lose your cool when dealing with an angsty teenager, but perhaps he was too hard on Daniel. After all, he was still just a kid.

As much as Eric wanted to talk to Daniel, he knew the kid needed some time to himself and he didn’t wanna invade his space.

They would sort it out later.

After some time, Eric decided Daniel had probably cooled off by now and decided that now was the time to talk.

He took a deep breath as he stood outside his son’s door, already contemplating what he should say. Finally, he hesitantly knocked.

“Daniel? Can I come in?”

“Whatever..”

With permission granted, he turned the doorknob and entered the room where Daniel laid on his bed with his arms crossed over his chest, an expression of irritation on his face.

Eric sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

For a moment, the two sat in uncomfortable silence, both having a hard time looking at one another.

Finally, the man spoke.

“Look, son, I know I haven’t been as… present as I should be.” He started, trying to find the right words. “I know the divorce has been difficult for you and I just wanted to apologize for everything I said… I shouldn’t have been so hard on you, and I’m sorry.”

Daniel seemed to contemplate the apology before giving an awkward nod.

“It’s whatever… I was kind of a douchebag too.”

With the awkward exchange over with, the tense atmosphere still remained, though less suffocating than before. Eric knew he had to lighten the mood.

Thinking back to when Daniel was little, he suddenly got an idea. An idea that would either lighten the mood, or make Daniel hate him forever.

“Hey, Danny… are you still ticklish?” He asked, looking at his son to watch for his response.

And what a response it was.

Daniel quickly sat up and pulled his legs close to himself, his cheeks turning pink as his eyes formed a wary gaze.

“No, I’m not ticklish.. I outgrew that years ago!” He claimed defensively, though there was a tinge of nervousness in his voice.

Daniel often wore a tough facade. He’d built himself a wall of teenage angst and he refused to let it break. Though he knew that if the knowledge of his ticklishness resurfaced, that would get washed down the drain.

Eric was unconvinced. He knew his son too well for that lie to work.

“Daniel, how are we going to build a better relationship if we can’t be honest with ourselves.” There was a playful tone to his voice. Deciding to put his son’s claim to the test, - even though he knew it was a lie - he finally reached over and dug into Daniel’s sides, earning a surprised squawk from the teenager.

“ACK- Dahad!”

The rare sound of laughter filled the room, Daniel squirming and shoving at his father’s hands, his facade broken almost instantly.

Seeing his angsty teenage son laughing and smiling like a child truly melted the detectives heart. It had been too long since he’d seen the kid look so free and happy; the usual scowl replaced with a bright smile, just like the one he wore when he was a child.

“Well, Danny, I’m starting to think that you lied about not being ticklish.” He teased, relishing in his sons laughter.

Daniel’s laughter grew louder when the tickling fingers moved upwards to his ribs, massaging the bones and digging into his back ones, sending ticklish sparks shooting through his nervous system.

“STOHOHOP! YOU’RE S-SO AHAH- AHAHANNOYING!!” The kid shouted through his guffaws, though there was a hint of glee in his voice, showing that he didn’t hate this as much as he claimed.

“Well, am I as annoying as you are ticklish?” “YEHEHES!!” Daniel walked right into the trap.

“So you admit you’re ticklish!”

Daniel’s face turned red, realizing what the answer implied and immediately regretting his response. He kicked his legs and bucked his hips, tears of mirth forming at the corners of his eyes.

Eric recalled all of Daniel’s tickle spots, remembering one in particular that used to get some pretty big reactions.

“If memory serves- and mine is never wrong- you used to be pretty ticklish riiiight here!” He shoved his fingers under Daniel’s arms, scratching at the sensitive hollows.

Daniel let out a childish squeal, throwing his head back with unrestrained joy, gluing his arms to his sides and trapping his fathers hands.

“DAHAHAHAD!!! NOT THEHEHERE-”

The teenager was in stitches. He couldn’t remember the last time he laughed so hard, if at all. It was almost freeing in a way.

“Told you I was never wrong. You might be even more ticklish than when you were little, son!”

Eric was enjoying this moment just as much as Daniel, his chest tightened with affection for his kid, looking at his rosy cheeks and scrunched up nose and seeing the bright little boy that he raised.

In this moment, Daniel wasn’t an angsty teenager, he was just a kid.

Not wanting to push too far, Eric let up, pulling back and ruffling the kids hair.

Daniel laid catching his breath, a smile still glued to his face.

“You’re such an ahahass…” He tried to glare at his father, but it wasn’t very menacing due to the rosy cheeks and goofy smile.

“Watch it, son. Unless you want a round two-”

“Nonononono!! I’m good I’m gohohood!” The giggling teenager held up his hands defensively, sitting back up and shaking his head.

Eric laughed and pat his son on the shoulder, assuring that there would be no more tickles for the time being.

The earlier tension had been lifted, replaced by a comforting atmosphere. When Daniel finally calmed down, Eric wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him close, holding him in a side hug.

“I love you, Danny. No matter how many arguments we have, you’ll always be my kid.”

Daniel smiled at that and leaned into the hug.

“I know. I love you too, dad…”

“Wow, not too cool to tell your old man you love him?” The elder grinned.

Daniel snorted.

“Shut up.”