#ler!gon

Killua was currently fleeing for his life from Gon. All because he just had to prank him! They were on either side of the couch, locked in position. If Killua moved one way, Gon would just intercept him. Killua nervously smiled, “C-C’mon Gon, it was just a prank, can’t we talk about this?” Gon looked back at him with a mischievous smile, all soaking wet from the earlier prank, “Sure we can talk, but after I get revenge.” Gon suddenly launched himself over the couch, tackling Killua to the floor.

They wrestled for a bit before Gon ended up on top…but by underhanded means is what Killua would say. Gon had used a hand to tickle under his arm which caused him to lose. “Are you sorry yet?” Killua shook his head and stuck his tongue out. Killua suddenly burst into laughter when Gon had used his hands to attack Killua’s sides. “Nohoho! Gohohon, thahahat’s nohohot fahahair!” Gon snickered, “You deserve this for dumping that bucket of cold water on my head!”

“IHIHIT WAHAS OHOHONLY HAHALF AHA BUHUHUCKEHET!” Killua shrieked out, as Gon switched to his hips, which were significantly worse than his sides. “GOHOHON THAHAHAT’S SOHOHO MEHEHEAN!” Gon’s fingers pinched lightly at Killua’s hips, “Well dumping that bucket of cold water on my head was pretty mean too, I think this is being nicer than that!” Killua shook his head from side to side, “IHIHIT’S NOHOHOHOT! IHIHIT’S SOHOHO MUHUCH WOHOHORSE!”

Gon chuckled, “Do you regret your actions yet?” He said this while slowing his fingers down to tracing. Killua simply breathed for a few seconds and then shook his head, defiantly, “It’s gonna take a lot more thahahan THAHAHAT WAHAHAIT NOHOHOHO!” Killua shrieked as his hips were the target once more. Gon shook his head, “You just don’t know when to give up, do you?” Killua’s shrieks of laughter were loud and boisterous, but also incredibly cute and endearing.

The smile on his face was blinding. Golden streaks of sunlight filtered through the shutters, streaming across his tawny skin; dazedly bright hair splayed across the cushions, enrooting itself into the depths of the couch, his head bent at an unnatural angle, body pinned in a mass of entangled limbs. Through the scuffle, Killua caught glimpses of him—his eyes squeezed shut, a flush blooming across his skin with the largest smile Killua had ever seen illuminating his face. 

"Leheheohoriohoho!" Gon cried, bursting with brilliant laughter, as he squirmed hopelessly in his grasp.

"I don't wanna hear anything from you but an apology, you little punk!" Leorio growled with mock anger, a satisfied smirk on his face. He almost looked happier than Gon.

"Wahaihit! Nohoho! Nohohohot thehehere!" He squealed, after Leorio seemingly moved to a worse spot. It was hard to tell with all the squirming.

"Come on, I want to hear it! 'I'm sorry, Mr. Leorio! I won't do it again!'"

"I'm sahahaharry!"

"And?" He asked teasingly, but gradually eased up on the tickling.

"Ahahahand I wohohon't ahahgahain!" 

Killua didn't know what Gon even did. He came rushing into the room after having heard Gon's screams, only to be greeted by… this. The two hadn't even seemed to notice him standing in the doorway.

Until Leorio finally eased up, releasing Gon and ruffling his head with a chuckle. "That'll teach you a lesson not to mess with me. Oh—hey, Killua! When did you get here?"

Gon peaked a glossy brown eye open, meeting Killua's, who immediately looked away, blushing after being caught.

"I heard the noise and came to check it out," he muttered, gaze firmly on the floor. "Then I found you two idiots."

"Hey, I'd be careful if I were you! Or else we might just get you next. Right, Gon?"

He laughed good-naturedly. Killua didn't know if it was because of what Leorio said or the fact that he hadn't stopped giggling since Leorio let him go.

"I'm not ticklish."

"Oh yeah?" Leorio challenged, a grin growing on his face.

"I'm not," he exclaimed bodly, raising his arms and crossing them behind his head with a smirk. "Go on. Try me."

Barking out a laugh, Leorio quickly strided across the room. "You're just asking for it now."

Despite his cool demeanor, Killua couldn't help the nerves spreading through him. He didn't think he was ticklish, but he actually wasn't sure. 

He'd been isolated in his home his whole life until he left for the exam. And his family certainly wasn't affectionate. He was more likely to get a punch than a hug growing up. The only exception was with Alluka, and while they had a few playful interactions over the years, Killua always started it, and Alluka wasn't one for revenge.

So, he had never actually been tickled before, despite his false bravado. But, at the very least, he hoped his training would come in handy now.

Leorio crossed the room and stood in front of him, wiggling his fingers in a teasing way that made Killua's heart beat faster. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he was ticklish.

"You sure you don't wanna beg for mercy? I might take it easy on you if you do."

Killua only laughed confidently, making Leorio tsk and shrug, digging his hands into Killua's armpits, saying, "It's your funeral."

Then, after a moment, "Huh?"

There was nothing. No reaction from Killua. Not the slightest twitch of his lips, and his arms didn't budge for a second. 

"Well then… I guess I'll just have to try somewhere else!" Leorio exclaimed, still confident in his ability to reduce him to a laughing, begging mess.

Again, nothing. Not at his stomach or sides or ribs or anywhere else he tried.

Dumbfounded, Leorio shook his head, "Are you… really not ticklish?"

"I told you, idiot," Killua shrugged, brushing past him to turn back to his room. "This was a waste of time," was all he said before he disappeared, leaving behind a disappointed Leorio and Gon.

It was hours later before the subject came up again. After dinner, Gon and Killua had returned to their shared room to settle down for the night, when Gon suddenly blurted, "Are you really not ticklish?"

"What does it matter?" Killua asked, a faint blush heating his face. He faced the wall, hoping Gon wouldn't notice from the other side of the room.

"I'm just surprised. I didn't even know someone couldn't be ticklish—is it part of your assassin training?"

Killua hesitated. "It's… a secret."

"A secret?"

"Yeah."

It was stupid. It was Gon. There was no reason not to tell him the truth, but he didn't know why he'd lied to Leorio earlier either.

The idea had been exciting, and Killua was never one to turn away from a challenge, so he let Leorio tickle him. And it did tickle, or at least he thought it did. It had never happened before, but it sent a weird, warm, fuzzy feeling throughout his whole body. Instead of laughing, he ignored it and carefully controlled his reactions to appear unaffected. 

"What if…" Gon started, drawing him from his thoughts, "I told you a secret, and then you told me yours?"

He paused, considering it. It wouldn't be that bad for Gon to find out, and he was curious; he didn't know Gon kept any secrets from him.

"Fine, but you have to promise not to tell anyone."

"Yeah!" Gon eagerly shot up from his bed, running over to sit next to Killua, who reluctantly turned to face him, hoping his face wasn't as hot as it felt.

Gon offered his pinky in a surprisingly familiar routine, and Killua locked it with his own. "Pinky promise and if I lie, stick a thousand daggers in my eye! And seal it with a kiss!"

It didn't sound exactly like how Killua remembered Gon doing it with his Aunt Mito, but he didn't say anything, simply smiling at the subtle change.

"Okay, you first," Killua ordered. 

Gon didn't hesitate. "I like being tickled."

His brows furrowed, "Why's that a secret?"

"I don't know," Gon shrugged, flopping onto his back. "I just haven't told anyone before. It's a little embarrassing…"

Killua flopped down next to him. "Well, I don't think Leorio or Kurapika would want to tickle you if you didn't like it."

"I guess... Anyway," he looked at Killua expectantly, "what's your secret?"

His face heated, and he shifted to lay on his side, facing his back towards Gon to try and hide his embarrassment. "It's stupid."

"Mine was too."

He sighed, mumbling, "I think I am ticklish."

"Really?" Gon exclaimed, shooting up. "But you didn't react to Leorio at all!"

"Yeah, but it felt weird. Like… tingly," he shrugged, burying his face in his hands to avoid Gon's gaze. "I don't know. That was the first time anyone's tried to tickle me."

"Hmm…" he hummed in thought, considering. "What if I tickle you?"

"What?!" Killua exclaimed, dropping his hands from his face to prop himself up on his elbows. 

"Then we can find out if you're ticklish. Want me to?"

He frowned, toying with the bedsheet between his fingers. "What if… I don't like it?"

"Then I'd stop," Gon answered simply. "Promise."

That, he supposed, made sense for Gon to say. Still, it was an odd sentiment. 

Touches, throughout his life, had been designed to hurt, a painful lesson he'd have to learn if he was to continue his family's business. It never mattered if he wanted it; in fact, his family seemed to enjoy it more when he didn't. 

There was no casual affection, no simple comforts, no consideration. Nothing like the simple ease Gon's, and his other friends, touches promised. There was instinctive unease, the desire to build up a facade and hide behind it, the lessons to never show weakness, but none of that mattered now.

"Okay, you can try," he finally answered, taking a deep breath.

Because Gon and Leorio and Kurapika, they wouldn't try to hurt him. He was safe with them.

There wasn't even a moment to compose himself before Gon pounced on him, wildly scribbling his fingers across Killua's stomach. He gasped, wriggling beneath him as the tingly, electric feeling spread back through him, shocking his limbs and making his heart stutter.

"Okay so far?" Gon asked, grinning in that beautifully bright way that made it hard to look at him, so Killua brought his arms back up to cover his face again and nodded.

"I-It's weheheird," he giggled, slightly muffled by his hands.

"Good weird or bad weird?" Gon asked, stilling his hands to let Killua gather his thoughts.

"...Dunno," he mumbled, blush darkening.

"At least now we know you're ticklish!" He said, then, after a few moments of silence, "Want me to keep going?"

It was another few moments before he slowly nodded, "Y-You can."

"Then…" Gon reached out, grabbing onto his wrists and pulling his hands away from Killua's face, his own hovering a few inches above it. There was a weird feeling in Killua's chest that he didn't have the time to dwell on. "I want to see your face."

Overwhelmed, Killua turned away, looking at the wall instead. "Whatever."

He could practically feel the brightness emanating from Gon's smile without even looking. 

"Ready?" Gon asked, releasing his wrists. Through the corners of eyes, he swore he saw Gon curling his hands into claws. 

"Three…" he drawled, giggling to himself as he counted down. "Two…"

Killua just wanted him to get it over with already, which definitely was because of how annoying Gon was being, not because of the building anticipation that made it feel like his stomach was doing flips.

"One!" he cried, digging his fingers into Killua's ribs, making him burst into loud, wild, boyish laughter.

His arms shot down, shoving at Gon's who managed to masterly avoid him. 

"Should I stop?" 

There wasn't time to think about how embarrassing it really was, only how much fun he was having with his best friend, and how he was safe and comfortable and receiving an almost foreign affection. "Nohohoho!" 

"Good, cause this is really fun! Right? But tell me when you can't take it anymore, okay?"

"Ihihi cahan tahahake ahahanythihing!" he boldly exclaimed, then squealed and shot his arms down when Gon prodded at his pits.

"Are you sure?" Gon teased, "I just started, and you're already laughing a lot."

"Shuhut uhuhup! I cahahan—cahan tahahake mohohre thahan yohohou!"

"Reall—hehehey!" he burst into laughter when Killua suddenly shot forward and latched onto his side, squeezing rapidly. 

"Whahat? Cahahan't tahake ihihit?" 

"Ohof cohohuhurse I cahan!" Gon managed between laughter, wriggling into Killua's ribs as the boys wrestled on the bed, targeting the worst tickle spots they could find.

They both put up a valiant effort, but Gon knew he lost when Killua latched onto his hips, kneading them.

"Wahahait! Wahaihit!" he shrieked, releasing Killua's sides to grab at his arms, struggling to escape.

"Bad spot, huh?" Killua smirked, doubling his efforts. "Come on, I win, right? Say it!"

"Yohohou wihihihin!"

"Yes!" Killua cheered, letting go of Gon and pumping his fist in the air.

Gon collapsed against the bed, Killua falling next to him, as they both desperately panted for air, still laughing together. 

Once he managed to regain himself, Killua turned to look at him, an exhausted smile tugging at his lips. "That was fun."

Gon's own smile grew. "I'm glad… yohou… had fun. Should do ihit again… sometime," he wheezed between breaths.

"Yeah," he smiled. That weird feeling in his chest was back. "But it's way too easy to beat you."

"I'll win… next time! 'Sides…" Gon paused, allowing himself to fully catch his breath before continuing. "Besides, there's no way you'll beat Leorio. He's too good."

"He didn't get me earlier."

"Yeah, but you were using your assassin skills! Just wait until he really tries. He's unstoppable, and Kurapika helps him most of the time," Gon shuddered, making Killua laugh.

"That sounds fun."

"You'd think that someone from a family of assasins would be less clingy."

"I'm not clingy!"

"You are!"

"You two have been at it for the last hour. Killua, just admit you're jealous and move on," Leorio walked in the room, Snowball in his arms.

"But I'm not!" The white-haired child whined, now starting to pout like a toddler.

"Stop being a baby!" Gon tweaked Killuas rib, sticking his tongue out. Killua squeaked and brought an arm to cover his side, glaring at Gon.

"Don't do that," he rubbed his ribs as he scowled at Snowball.

"Don't do what? This?" He smirked, grabbing at his sides again. Killua jumped off the couch, not daring to make eye contact with anyone. Gon started to laugh, standing up and going to pet Snowball.

Killua groaned, "See! You go right to her!"

"If you want my attention," Gon started, "then I'll give you my attention."

"But you aren't, that's the problem," he turned to go sit again.

"I am, you're just being a baby about it."

"I'm gonna leave while I still can, Snowball being here seems to be causing more issues," Leorio backed out of the room, still carrying Snowball. With that, Gon went to Killua and leaned over him.

"Say that your jealous, and I'll give you my attention."

"No. I'm not jealous, Snowball is just an attention hog!"

"Clearly our friendship isn't that important, seeing how you won't just admit that you're jealous," Gon crossed his arms, not moving from in front of Killua.

"Cause I'm not!"

"Yes, you are."

"Even if I was, why would I flat out say it?"

"If you won't say it yourself, I'll make you admit it."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Are you gonna say it?"

"No."

"Then yes, I am."

"And how do you plan to 'make me'?"

"Easily."

"What's that suposed to meAHAN!" Killua pushed into the couch, attempting to get away from the hand that was digging into his side. "Whahat ahare yohou dohoing?!"

"Tickling you, silly!" Gon continued to squeeze at the younger.

"Whahat dihihid ihi doho to deheservehe thihis?"

"It's my way of getting you to admit that you're jealous, duh."

Killua kicked Gons leg, causing him to fall onto the couch and stop his attack. Unfortunately for the younger (not really though, he was having fun but he'd rather die than admit it) Gon caught his wrist before he could enact revenge.

"Well that wasn't very nice, now was it?" The older frowned, grabbing the other, flipping him onto his back, and sitting on his thighs.

"It was worth a try, was it not?" He gave a wonky smile, "I almost got you."

The greenette latched onto Killuas ribs and started to scribble over them, "Actually, it's weird that you didn't even touch me. If you really wanted to, I would be at your mercy, not the other way around." He smirked.

"Vehery strahahage, rihight?"

"Yeah sure. 'Strange'. It's also strange that you aren't even fighting me."

"Heh.."

"Alright enough talking, you haven't even admitted to jealousy yet."

"Wahaihit-" Gon quickened his pace, sneaking in a squeeze every now and then. "NohoHOHO!!"

This continued for maybe 45 seconds, but Gon got bored of that and lifted his hands to give Killua a break. He took in greedy breaths, hugging his stomach while happy giggles poured out of his mouth.

"Are you gonna say that you're jealous now?"

"Ihin your dreheams."

Gon turned himself around to face Killuas knees, "Last chance."

"Neheveher!"

"Suit yourself." With that, he started spidering his knees, occasionally slipping to the back of them. Gon took note of how Killuas laughter got louder whenever he let his fingers slide under his knee.

Eventually, it was just the back of his legs being targeted, and his cackles were now sprinkled with little snorts. Gon made sure to throw in an 'awe! You snort? How cute.' the second Killuas breathe caught too quickly.

"Wow, you have stamina. I'm pretty sure I would've given like, 5 minutes ago."

"Trahahaining doHOes AHAHAlohot fohor yohouHUHU!"

"Hm. Maybe this will get you to crack..." He proceded to squeeze Killuas thigh right above his knee multiple times, watching and listening carefully to make sure he wasn't going to far.

"GYAHAHA OHOKAHAY OKAY! IHI GIHIVE, IHIM JEALOUS! STAHAHAP!"

Gon stopped immediately and got off of him, letting him breathe for a bit. Once he calmed down and his breathing slowed, he asked, "Are you okay? I didn't go too far right?"

"Noho you're fine, I'm fine," he took another deep breath, "That was mean though."

"Well you got my attention, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"So you'll be nicer about Snowball?"

"Fine."

“Waaaaah! I’m so bored!” Gon whined, flopping against the couch with his arms sprawled out.

“Well…” Killua began, eyebrows knit in concentration, “What if we…? Hmmm…”

The two kids were at a loss. What could they do?

“Ooh! I’ve got it!” Gon chimed, sitting up, alert, and criss-crossed. “I’ll tell you some jokes!”

“Oh yeah that’ll be great. Let’s see if you can actually get me to laugh.” Killua accentuated his response with an eyeroll.

“Oh I’m totally in on this.” Leorio butted his way into the conversation, “Kurapika, you game?”

The blonde boy looked up from his book, “Sure.”

The four friends, and Tonpa, sat in a circle. They all prepared their best jokes to tell Killua, in attempts to get him to laugh.

“Me first!” Gon cooed, “What do you call a fish with no eyes?”

“I don’t know. What?”

“A fsh!” He cried, smile wide and bright.

Killua peered at him, through his brow line, with pursed lips. “Soooo funny, Gon.”

“Awww! That one usually gets a chuckle out of me.” The greenette replied, biting the inside of his cheek.

“I’ll go next.” Kurapika said with a tinge of excitement.

“Go for it.” Killua said with a smug grin.

“What do you get when you cross a mosquito and a mountain climber?” He began, “Nothing. You can’t cross a vector and a scalar.”

Killua cocked his head to the side with an ajar mouth, “Wh- I don’t even know what you just said.”

“Hey, Kurapika.” Leorio whispered, his hand covering his mouth, “What the hell was that?”

“Man. Tough crowd.” Tonpa muttered with a snicker.

“Alright, let’s see if this one lands on ya, Kid.” Leorio stated proudly, “This one’s a big hit among my college friends. We’re you born in September, Killua?”

“N-“

“My Aunt Mito is!” Gon cooed, raising his hand in excitement.

Leorio grinned, “Guess your grandparents started the New Year off with a bang.”

Kurapika and Tonpa both snorted loudly, while poor Killua’s pale face flushed a bashful red.

“What’s so funny?” Gon whined, “Killua…? Are you blushing?”

“No!” The white haired boy came to his own defense, “Just warm in here!”

“Oh yeah?” He teased, elbowing his shoulder.

“N-None of you made me laugh, so you lose and I win!” He tried to hastily change the topic, ignoring Tonpa fist bumping Leorio.

“We lost, huh?” Gon asked with a tinge of menace lacing his voice.

“Yeah! Fair and square!”

The green haired boy grinned from ear to ear, pouncing on his best friend, sitting on his waist, and immediately digging his fingers into the latter’s stomach.

“Guess I’ll have to take one for the team, and make us win!” He chirped.

“AGH- Gohohohon! Wahahahait!” Killua erupted into bubbly giggles, pushing at Gon’s face vainly.

“Why wait?! We wanna win!” The greenette interjected, squeezing gently at the trapped boy’s ribs.

“NGH- stahahahap!”

“Look, Leorio, Kurapika! We’re winning! I made him laugh!”

The trio of the older prospective hunters looked upon the scene in front of them, having ignored it to talk about Leorio’s epic joke.

“Hah! Nice work, Gon!” Leorio cheered, “You gotta really get him laughing though, try under his arms!”

“Nononono Gohohohon! Hehehehe’s lyhihi-HIHIHING!”

Gon had snuck his wiggling fingers up underneath Killua’s arms, by Leorio’s recommendation.

“He doesn’t seem to be lying, Killua!”

“LEOHOHOHRIHIHOHOHO IHIHIHIM GOHOHOHNNAHAHA KIHIHIHILL YOU!”

The man tensed for a minute. Killua did come from that kind of family. But, he ultimately relaxed as he saw the cutest scene in front of him.

The boy’s face had never looked this happy. Yeah, he chuckled a few times from Gon doing something dumb. But this kind of shear joy? Leorio found it precious; Kurapika probably did too, he deduced.

“CMOHOHOHON GOHOHOHON!” Killua halted trying to fight back, not wanting to hurt his new friend. So he threw his head back, and opted for covering his supremely red face with his hands.

“Aww he’s blushing again!” The greenette cooed to his friends, and Tonpa, “Isn’t this what got you in this whole mess in the first place, Killua?”

He has to admit, all of the “training” his dad put him through really helped him keep his tolerance for Gon’s antics high.

Doesn’t make things any less embarrassing, though.

Killua whined into his hands, unable to formulate the right words.

“That’s so cute!” Gon chimed, “Big, Bad, Killua! He can take down a serial killer in one fail swoop, but he can’t handle being tickled!”

“OKAHAHAHAY GOHOHOHON ENOHOHOUGH TEHEHEASIHIHING MEHEHE!”

Gon changed pace and decided to swivel around on Killua’s waist, facing the other wall. He began to squeeze at the white haired boy’s knees.

“WAITWAITWAITWAHAHAHAIHIHIT! GOHOHOHON! NAHAHAT THEHEHEHERE!”

“Oooh! I found his tickle spot!” The latter sing-songed.

“GOHOHON! PLEHEHEHEHEASEHEHEHE! STAHAHAHAP!”

Intoxicated by his best friend’s laughter, Killua’s pleads fell deafly upon his attacker’s ears.

“Okay, Gon. He’s telling you to stop now.” Kurapika interjected.

“Yeah, buddy. Get off him now, okay? Killua can-“

In a Flash, Gon’s eyes widened as he felt fingers dig into his stomach from behind. He cried out in shock and fell backwards in peals of thick laughter.

“-Can take care of himself apparently…” Leorio finished his prior sentence.

“Well now what?” Kurapika asked.

“Let ‘em go.” Tonpa answered, “Passes more time for us to see who wins their little war.”

Meanwhile, Gon is absolutely in stitches.

“HOHOHOHOW’D YOHOHOHOU MAHAHANAGEHEHE TOHOHO FIHIHIHND MY SPOHOHOT?!”

“It’s simple really.” Killua chimed, drilling in a tad bit harder, “When some tickles you, they go for their own tickle spot first.”

The poor boy threw his head in his hands at his stupidity.

“Look who’s blushing now!”

Eventually, the winner of the war was in fact Killua. But, Gon did have his shining moments of almost making his best friend concede. The crushing blow was when the white haired boy decided to dip into his friend’s belly button.

After that, they managed to drag Leorio down with them!

But, he only turned the tables, destroying them both after a mere minute of being tickled.

Kurapika on the other hands was not so lucky…

Leorio found a stupidly ticklish spot right where his ribs and underarms meet. He just wouldn’t leave it alone!

So, in the end, all of the friends had participated in the war, with Killua as a clear victor.

Except Tonpa. Fuck you, Tonpa.

❣︎ 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑒’𝑠 𝐶ℎ𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 ❣︎