#ler!grim

AAAAAA I’m sorry this took so long lol but this prompt was so adorable I just had to do it justice!! I hope you like 💜

this may also be considered a sequel to Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon? c:

Funny Business

However far off, Grim Matchstick recognised crying when he heard it.

He wasn’t used to hearing it here, though, on his daily glide over the typically cheerful chaos of the carnival when he spotted a lone figure huddled behind one of the tents, away from the bustling crowds. He’d recognise that colourful face anywhere - but he’d never seen it look so miserable before.

“B-Beppi…?”

“Huh - Grimmy!” His friend startled as Grim descended from the sky, springing to his feet with a smile, but it didn’t light up his face like usual. “What a super duper dragon-sized surprise! I didn’t even see you there - must’ve had my head in the clouds, ha! Get it, ‘cause…balloons - air…” Beppi faltered, looking close to deflating for a moment before he cleared his throat and rubbed his hands together. “Anyway! What can I do ya for?”

“Oh - I was just p-passing by and I heard, uh…” Grim fidgeted with his claws, taking in the dull pink tinge of Beppi’s usually bright yellow eyes, the telltale tear tracks smudging the paint around his cheeks. It was painful to see his pal in this state - and even more so when we he was obviously struggling to keep up the happy act. “A-Are you okay? It’s not like you to hide away from an audience…”

“Pffft, I’m just fine, dandy as candy, don’t you worry!” Beppi waved a hand dismissively, but his smile was growing shakier by the second. “Just a rough crowd, that’s all, but that’s the biz! Even if - even if no one laughed the entire show until someone started throwing popcorn - that doesn’t mean you’re a failure of a funnyman who should probably just pack up the rubber chickens already ‘cause the people deserve a good clown, and - and…”

“H-hey, sssh, don’t be silly! Well - s-s-sillier than usual…” Grim slid his arm around Beppi’s shoulders, pulling him into an awkward but heartfelt hug. He was more used to making people cry - albeit unintentionally - than comforting them, but Beppi immediately threw his arms around him, sniffling into Grim’s scaly shoulder as he patted his back. “It’s gonna be okay. D-do you want me to get Djimmi, or…?”

“No!” Beppi’s head jerked up in alarm, grabbing Grim’s arm with both hands as if afraid he’d fly away. “No, don’t tell Djim, I don’t want him to - no sense causing a kerfuffle over silly ol’ me. Look, I’m feeling better already, see?” He rubbed his eyes before baring his teeth in an unconvincing, slightly unsettling grimace.

Grim frowned, not buying it, but then an idea sparked. He wasn’t sure if it’d work, but Beppi always tried his darnedest to cheer him up when he needed it, so maybe it was high time he returned the favour.

“C-c’mon, you call that a smile? I know you can do better than that - you taught me how to smile, remember? Let’s see, I think it w-went a little something like this…”

Beppi’s eyes widened in realisation as Grim’s stubby but strong arms encircled him before he could bolt. “Grimmy, wait, you don’t gottahahaha -!” He instantly burst into giggles as Grim scooped him up, wiggling his claws under his arms as he did so.

“Gotcha - there it is!” Grim beamed triumphantly down at his ‘prey’, cradling him in his wings so his claws were free to scribble and pinch at his sides. “My f-f-favourite laugh - see, such a swell clown, the best, the sweetest li’l ball of giggles! Whatever would we all do without it, without you?”

He may have been teasing, but Grim meant every word; tickling Beppi was like a carnival game in itself, his reward the honks, snorts and squeaks of pure delight as he ineffectively batted at Grim’s hands, only making him want to try every spot to see what other noises he might win. “Okahahay, okay, I’m smihihihilin’!”

“F-folks can’t get enough of this one - he’s a r-real rib-tickler!” Grim lifted his tail to loop around Beppi’s wrists, retracting his spikes so as not to hurt him while leaving him at the mercy of his claws as they danced over his ribs like a piano - evidently hitting the right notes as Beppi squealed with laughter, bucking and writhing in his grip.

“Hehehey - thahahat’s my johohohoke!”

“Then it’s g-gotta be a good one, right, with how much you’re laughing!” Grim couldn’t help chuckling himself, affectionately nuzzling his snout into Beppi’s neck. “Mmm, the t-t-tickle monster’s got a real taste for giggly little clowns. I think I spy a s-snack!”

He began nibbling, careful with his fangs, from Beppi’s neck down over his ribs and lingering at his belly until he was shrieking helplessly, the vibrations almost tickling Grim too.

“Nooohohoho not thahahat! I’m toohoohoo -!” Beppi’s laughter tumbled out in loud, uncontrollable, infectious peals when Grim flickered his forked tongue over the dip of his bellybutton, long beyond coherent speech, but he could just about decipher one word:

“…my mahahahakeuhuhup…!”

“Oh!” Snapping out of his merciless monster role, Grim stopped, uncoiling his tail from Beppi’s wrists and letting him flop into his arms. “S-sorry - I got a little carried away…”

“D-dohon’t be. I needed that.” If Beppi’s facepaint was smeared before, he now resembled a candy cane that had been left in the sun too long - but one glowing with genuine joy and gratitude, still giggling weakly as he hugged Grim’s neck. “How about that, I created a tickle monster! I’m so proud! And just a teensy bit terrified.”

“You brought this on yoursehehelf!” Grim snorted as Beppi’s fingers scrabbled up his neck and behind his ears, before somersaulting neatly out of his arms before he could retaliate. He stuck his tongue out in response, waggling it in playful threat. “M-maybe next time, I’ll bring a couple extra heads.”

“Oooh, them’s fightin’ words.” Beppi gasped in faux-offence, clutching his heart theatrically. “Ya don’t wanna mess with a clown, Grimbo - we always get the last laugh. Speaking of - yikes, better skedaddle to make the next show. Can’t let the kiddies see me like this, they’ll think it’s the ghost train! Hey - why don’t you come with! Guest of honour?”

Grim opened his mouth to politely decline - his appearance at any show usually caused more trouble than it was worth - but Beppi’s eyes were so big and hopeful, his grin restored to its usual irresistible brilliance in a way he couldn’t help but feel a little proud of, and, well, who was Grim to turn down the greatest show in Inkwell? Besides, he had a feeling folks would be a lot less hasty to heckle Beppi with a dragon in his court.