#ler!kaufmo

Lee!Jax

Ler!Kaufmo Ler!Ribbit

This fic is based off the wonderful art made by PinkleBelle! Link Here :D

Word Count: ~2200

Warnings: None

This is a SFW tickle fic, if you don't like that then don't read :)

Kaufmo and Ribbit notice Jax hasn't smiled much lately. They only know one way to fix that. Jax remembers exactly what that way is :3

The circus was quiet that afternoon.

Not the bad kind of quiet. Not the heavy, tense silence that sometimes settled over the tent when something had gone wrong with an adventure or someone was off sulking in their room. This was the good kind. The calm kind. Jax was frowning at the ceiling.

He was sprawled across the couch, his long legs dangling over one armrest and his head laid against the other. His ears were drooping. And he was frowning.

He'd been frowning for a while.

Kaufmo noticed first. He usually did. Spending enough time around the same handful of people made it easy to notice when something was off.

Kaufmo set down the deck of cards he'd been shuffling for the past ten minutes and tilted his head toward the couch. His bow tie was crooked. It was always crooked. Ribbit had told him seventeen times, and he still has never fixed it.

"What's up with him?" Kaufmo asked.

Ribbit was sitting cross-legged on the floor nearby, poking at one of the circus's weird little creatures that Caine made. Some kind of floating blob. It made a soft boinging sound every time she touched it. Boing. Boing. Boing.

"Dunno," Ribbit said. "He's been like that all morning."

"All morning?"

"Since breakfast."

"That was four hours ago."

"I know."

Kaufmo frowned. Four hours was a long time to stare at the ceiling, even for Jax. Jax wasn't exactly a ray of sunshine on a normal day. He was smug, lazy, and just mischievous enough to steal the last donut while looking you in the eye. But he didn't usually frown for four straight hours.

"You think something's wrong?" Kaufmo asked.

Ribbit gave the blob one last boing and then turned to look at Jax properly. His ears were still drooping. His arms were crossed. He hadn't moved in at least twenty minutes.

"He's been kinda off all week," Ribbit said. "Quiet and distracted. I tried asking him about it yesterday and he just said he was 'just tired'."

"Tired for a whole week?"

"That's what I said."

Kaufmo picked up his cards again and shuffled them absently. The soft flick of the deck filled the quiet. "We should do something."

"Do what?"

"I don't know. Something. He's been frowny."

"Frowny isn't a word."

"It is now."

Ribbit snorted. She pushed herself up from the floor and dusted off her knees. The little blob drifted away, boinging softly. "You want to cheer him up?"

"Yeah."

"How?"

Kaufmo thought about it. They'd tried the usual things. The joke routines. The card games. The long rambling conversations about nothing in particular that usually got Jax to crack a smile. None of it had worked this week. He'd still joked around. He'd still smiled. Something about it just felt… quieter. "We could try the tactic," Kaufmo said.

Ribbit blinked. Then a slow grin spread across her face.

"The tactic?"

"The tactic."

"The one that always works?"

"The one that always works."

Ribbit's grin widened. She looked over at Jax, still sprawled on the couch, still frowning at the ceiling. He had no idea what was coming. He had no idea they were even talking about him.

"I like this plan," Ribbit said.

Kaufmo set his cards aside and stood up. His bow tie was still crooked. He didn't fix it. "Let's go cheer up our rabbit."

Jax heard them coming.

He didn't move. He didn't look. But his ears swiveled toward the sound of footsteps, and he knew. You didn't survive in the circus without developing a sixth sense for when your friends were about to be annoying.

"Whatever it is," he said to the ceiling, "no."

"We haven't said anything yet," Kaufmo pointed out.

"You didn't have to. You're doing the thing."

"What thing?"

"The thing where you two scheme."

Ribbit and Kaufmo exchanged a look. Jax was sharp. He always had been. That was part of why they liked him, even when he was being a grouch.

"We're not scheming," Ribbit said. "We're just concerned about your well-being."

"My well-being is fine."

"Your ears are drooping."

Jax's ears immediately perked up. Not because he was happy, but because he'd been caught. "No they're not."

"They were."

"It's… gravity."

"Gravity doesn't affect rabbit ears."

"It's circus gravity. Different rules."

Ribbit and Kaufmo had reached the couch by now. They stood on either side of it, looking down at Jax, looking far too pleased with themselves. Jax stayed exactly where he was, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the ceiling.

"You've been frowning for four hours," Kaufmo said.

"I'm not frowning. I'm thinking."

"About what?"

"Stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

"Rabbit stuff. You wouldn't get it."

Ribbit sat down on the armrest.

"You know," she said, "me and Kaufmo have been talking."

"Terrifying."

"And we noticed you've been kind of frowny lately."

"Frowny isn't a word."

"That's what I said," Ribbit said to Kaufmo.

"That's what she said," Kaufmo confirmed.

Jax's eyes narrowed. "Why are you two ganging up on me?"

"Because we care about you," Kaufmo said.

"Gross."

"And we want to cheer you up."

"I'm cheered. Mission accomplished. You can leave now."

"You're still frowning."

"I'm SMILING." Jax flashed them the most exaggerated grin he could manage. "See? Smiling. Hooray."

Ribbit looked at Kaufmo. Kaufmo looked at Ribbit.

"The tactic?" Ribbit said.

"The tactic," Kaufmo agreed.

Jax's grin disappeared.

"…What tactic?"

Neither of them answered.

They just smiled.

And took a step forward.

Jax immediately scooted backward across the couch.

"…W-Wait."

Another step.

He slid off the couch and stumbled backward onto the floor.

"W-WAIT, guys."

Ribbit wiggled her fingers in Jax's direction.

Jax took another step back.

"Please… n-not again."

Kaufmo kept walking.

"So you do know the tactic."

"I'm SMILING!" Jax blurted, forcing the widest grin he could manage. He pointed frantically at his own face.

"LOOK! I'm smiling!"

Neither of them slowed down.

Jax couldn't stop letting out a nervous little, "Heheh-"

"…Guys?"

Another step.

He bumped into the wall behind him.

Dead end. Jax looked at the wall and then slowly turned his head to face his friends. There was nowhere else to go. Kaufmo and Ribbit's shadows loomed over him like a tower as Jax curled in.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me…"

Jax wasted no time and made a break for it.

Ribbit caught one of his ankles with a laugh.

"Ha! Gotcha."

Jax stumbled.

"WAHAIT-"

He hit the floor with a startled yelp.

Before he could push himself back up, Kaufmo slipped in behind him and caught both of his wrists, lifting them up beside his ears.

"WAHAIT-"

"There we go," Kaufmo laughed.

"Nohoho, don't 'there we go' me-"

Ribbit knelt down in front of him, flexing her fingers.

"You know," she said with a grin, "you're making this really easy."

Jax's eyes darted from Ribbit… to Kaufmo… then back again.

His ears flattened.

"N-No…"

"Heheh…"

"I'm already smiling…"

His nervous grin returned before either of them even touched him.

"LOOK! I'm smiling!"

Ribbit wiggled her fingers just above his stomach.

"Plehehease don't…"

"Don't what?"

"Tickle me… WAIT NO-"

Her fingers landed on his stomach in quick, playful scribbles.

"GAHAHAHAHA-!"

Kaufmo tightened his hold just enough to keep Jax's wrists comfortably pinned beside his ears as the rabbit immediately started squirming.

Jax gave one hopeless tug against Kaufmo's grip. It didn't even budge.

"N-NOHOHO-"

"Oh~?" Kaufmo teased. "We haven't even done anything yet."

"YOHOHOU KNOW WHAHAHAT YOU'RE DOHOHOING-"

Ribbit grinned.

"I do."

Her fingers fluttered across his stomach, scribbling circles that sent him into another fit of laughter.

"GAHAHAHAHA-!"

Jax folded forward instinctively before Kaufmo gently pulled him upright again.

"No fair," Kaufmo laughed. "You have to stay where we can see you."

"NOHOHO-!"

Ribbit barely had to move.

Every tiny scribble sent another wave of helpless laughter out of him.

"Hehehehey!"

"There it is," Ribbit giggled.

"The real smile."

"IHIHI HAHATE YOHOHOU-"

"No, you don't."

Kaufmo rested his chin on top of Jax's head.

"I think we're making progress."

Kaufmo couldn't help laughing along with him.

"You really were frowny today."

"IHIHI WAS FIHIHINE-"

"You seem much happier now."

"I CAHAHAN'T BREHEHEATHE-"

"That's not a no."

Jax threw his head back, laughing too hard to answer.

His whole body had gone limp except for the occasional helpless squirm.

He wasn't even escaping anymore.

He wasn't even trying.

He was completely, utterly wrecked.

"PLEHEHEASE- YOHOHOU'RE BOTH TEHEHERRIBLE-"

"Terrible?" Kaufmo said. "Us? We're just trying to cheer you up."

"THIHIS ISN'T CHEERING-"

"You're smiling."

"I'M NOHOHOT-"

"Your face is so red," Ribbit observed, never letting her fingers leave his stomach and ribs. "It goes all the way down your neck."

"IHIHI DOHOHON'T BLUSH-"

"Your ears are pink."

"THEY'RE ALWAYS PINK-"

"Not that pink."

"Nnhehehe-"

Jax jerked violently against Kaufmo's hold.

"Awww," Ribbit cooed. "Look at your little blush."

"IHIHI DOHOHON'T BLUHUSH-"

"And that smile."

"IHIHI'M NOHOHOT SMIHIHILING-"

"You are now."

Ribbit's fingers drifted higher across his stomach until they found another sensitive spot.

"GAHAHA- RIHIBBIT PLEHEHEASE-"

"Please what?"

"PLEHEHEASE- PLEHEHEASE IHI CAHAHAN'T-"

"Can't what?"

"CAHAHAN'T-"

"Awww," Ribbit cooed. "He's too flustered to even finish his sentence."

Jax's face flushed even brighter.

"I-IHI'M GOHONNA SHOVE CENTIPEDHES UP YOUR A#$-"

Silence.

"…"

"Pfft."

Ribbit slapped a hand over her mouth.

Kaufmo curled his lips inward.

"…Snrk."

Neither of them dared look at the other.

…

They looked anyway.

That was a mistake.

"BAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Neither of them could stop.

Jax's face somehow turned an even deeper shade of red.

"SHUHUHUT UHP-!"

Ribbit doubled over, laughing even harder.

Kaufmo laughed so hard he nearly fell off the couch.

"C-CEHEHENTIPEDES?!" Ribbit managed between wheezes.

"WHOHOHO SAYS THAHAHAT?!" Kaufmo laughed.

"STOP LAHAHAUGHING-!"

At some point, without either of them noticing, both of them had stopped tickling him.

Kaufmo let go of Jax's wrists.

Ribbit offered him a hand.

Still giggling under his breath, Jax accepted it, and between the two of them they helped him flop back onto the couch.

The moment he landed, Jax grabbed one of the couch cushions and buried his burning face in it.

"Heheh…Hah…Hehe…"

Jax went limp on the couch. His chest was heaving. His fur was ruffled. His ears were still flat against his head, but slowly, very slowly, they started to lift. Lingering giggles kept bubbling up out of him, his body still not quite believing the attack was over.

"Hohoholy shihihit," he managed.

"That good?" Ribbit asked.

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

"I hate you so much."

But he was smiling. Not because he was trying to prove anything. Just because he'd been laughing so hard he couldn't think straight. Kaufmo leaned back against the armrest, satisfied.

"See? We cheered you up."

"You tickled me until I couldn't breathe."

"Close enough."

"I'm never trusting either of you again."

Ribbit poked his side.

Jax flinched with a tiny yelp. "HEHEY-"

"See? Still ticklish."

"I KNOW that. I've always known that. That's not new information."

"But it's funny."

"It's not funny."

"It's kind of funny," Kaufmo said.

"You're not helping," Jax mumbled into the couch cushion.

Ribbit snorted.

It took a long time for the laughter to fade.

When it finally did, Jax was slumped sideways on the couch, his head resting against the armrest. His ears were completely limp. His eyes were half-closed. He looked exhausted. But he was still smiling.

"Feeling better?" Ribbit asked. She'd recovered enough to sit up, wiping tears from her eyes.

Jax thought about it. His chest still ached from laughing. His face was still hot and his fur was a mess.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "Actually. Yeah."

"Told you the tactic works," Kaufmo said.

"It's a stupid tactic."

"It's the only tactic we know."

"Then it's the only stupid tactic you know."

But Jax's voice had no bite to it. He was too tired for bite. Too warm. Too comfortable. The kind of comfortable that came from being completely wrecked by people who cared about you.

Ribbit crawled over and flopped down on the other end of the couch, her feet bumping against Jax's. "You know we did that because we like you, right?"

"Gross."

"I'm serious."

"So am I. Gross."

But Jax's ears lifted slightly. Just a little. Just enough.

Kaufmo pulled out his deck of UNO from wherever he'd stashed them and started shuffling again. "Uno?"

Several rounds later…

"…I don't have a green."

Kaufmo drew.

Red.

Still nothing.

He drew again.

Blue.

"Nope."

Another card.

Yellow.

"…Seriously?"

Across the table, Jax quietly laid down another green.

Ribbit followed with one of her own.

Kaufmo stared at them.

"…You two planned this."

"We're literally just playing Uno," Ribbit said, barely holding back a smile.

Kaufmo drew again.

Still no green.

"…Give me a break."

Another draw.

Another card he couldn't use.

He threw his head back dramatically.

"GIVE ME A GREEN CARD!"

Jax's shoulders were already shaking.

Ribbit had started snickering into her hand.

Finally…

A green.

"YES! HOLY S#$%!"

Kaufmo slammed it onto the pile.

Her eyes landed on the bright green Reverse.

She immediately buried her face in one hand, already wheezing.

"Ohoho no… dohohon't do it…"

She shook her head.

"Dohohon't do it…"

Without saying a word, Jax placed down a Reverse.

Kaufmo froze.

Slowly…

Very slowly…

He looked down at his hand and looked at Jax.

"…"

"I DON'T HAVE A GREEN!"

"PHFFT-"

Ribbit lost it first.

"BAHAHAHAHA!"

Jax folded over the table.

"GAHAHAHA-" Jax wheezed.

"NOHOHO WAHAHAY-"

With a defeated groan, Kaufmo reached for the draw pile again.

He drew again.

Red.

Kaufmo threw his hands into the air.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Another round started almost immediately. Kaufmo insisted he was about to make a comeback. Jax and Ribbit insisted otherwise. The tent filled with laughter all over again.

Jax kept smiling.

Around Kaufmo and Ribbit, it came easily.

Thanks for reading my fic, and I hope you enjoyed it! :3

ITS OKAY IF NO AGJHHH TAKE YOUR TIME HAVE A NICE DAY/NIGHT I LOVE YOUR FICS!! 💙

I love it and yes I absolutely can and could?!

AND THANK YOU SMSMSM!!!<3 YOU'RE SO SWEET

ENJOY, ROSE!!

Before It All...

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--The Snow Memory...--

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|Lee - Jax -- Ler - Ribbit|

___________________________________________

FTing - Queenie, Kaufmo, and Kinger

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Mentioned - Zooble, Caine, (Gangle, Ragatha, and Pomni / Everybody)

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AU : Mine!

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Context : This takes place before the events of episode 6, 7, or 8. But! Making a callback to episode 7, memory the snow with the hut memory... adventure thing in Caine's office Jax was staring at? That's the snowy I'm goin' for!

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Everyone... just had gotten back from another adventure by Caine.

"Well, my work here is done. Don't miss me too much!" Jax called out with a wave, heading towards their sleeping quarters.

He could hear the faint voices of Zooble talking to Caine's obnoxiously loud voice... the others were talking, just not as loudly as the other two.

He entered the entrance to the quarters, closing the door behind him. He sucked in a breath and sighed, his ears droopy. He walked slowly towards his room, shoulders slumping, eyes suddenly tired... he looked out of it.

He made it to his room, walking in and locking the door. He hated his room. Hated anybody seeing his room...

He rubbed his eyes, his frown wobbly. He wanted to ask Caine for a room design change... if that was even possible. He lied down on his bed, looking at the pictures that infested his wall. All flipped over.

Why would he even take those pictures at all? Why did it even matter? They're gone, why did he keep them in the first place?

Something to hold on to? He himself forgot why he even kept them. The more he looked, the more it hurt.

He shook his head, tucking himself in with the blanket and closing his eyes, curling up, hugging one of his pillows, burying his face inside of it.

What would he get today?..

Another nightmare? Or...

He drifted off before his thoughts could finish... body relaxing, grip loosening.

"Jax!! Heads up!!" Ribbit yelled, throwing a snowball at Jax's face, making the rabbit fall into the snow.

"Gah!-- ohokay! Maybe a bit of a warning next time?!" Jax chuckled, Kaufmo giggling and helping him up.

They were all wearing scarfs, gloves and hats... snow clothes and boots - you get it.

Ribbit walked over with a laugh. "First of all, I did warn you. You're just slow!" She poked his side.

"I aham not-!!" He swatted her hand away, backing up against Kaufmo, who just laughed in response, hands on Jax's shoulders.

The adventure was... semi-normal. They just had a snow day, basically.

"Yeah ya are." Kaufmo spoke in that jolly, goofy tone, quickly spidering up Jax's back once.

"eeEEK-!! Thahat's unfahair!!- It's a twovone!!" He pushed Kaufmo away lightly, his grin just growing wider.

"Ohh, is itt?" Ribbit shared Kaufmo's grin, raising her hands and wiggling her fingers, stepping closer.

"Rihibbit, stohop!!--" Jax bumped right back into Kaufmo, back up against his chest.

"Aaaandddd... down ya go!" Kaufmo slipped away, having Jax fall to the fluffy snow ground.

"Thanks, Kaufy!" Ribbit hopped onto Jax, hands still raised, fingers still wiggling. "Any last words, puffball?"

"WAHAIT!!-- Okay-- ohokay! Let's not be hahastEEEHEHEHHE!! RIHIHIBBIHIHIT!!" He cackled when Ribbit aimed for his upper ribs. Wasn't even that bad of a spot... Ribbit was just the tickle master.

"Time's up!!" Ribbit laughed along, her long fingers pressing every button of ticklishness on Jax possible.

Kaufmo sat down next to them, covering his grin and poorly stifled chuckles.

"WHAHA-- WHAHAHAT DID I DOOOHOHOHOHO?!" Jax hiccuped, mouth opening, sharp teeth visible.

"Nothing yet." Ribbit pressed against Jax's belly.

"GAHA--!! NOOHOHOHOHO!!"

"Awwwhhh, is the bunny ticklish?" Kaufmo baby talked, cooing, hands on his cheeks.

"OHOHO MY GOHOHOD, DOHOHOHON'T!!" His cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much... but his chest fuzzied up with happiness.

"What about here?! Over here? Hereherehere?!" Ribbit switched spots rapidly, making the rabbit squeal.

"GUHUHUHUYS!!" Jax curled up, hugging himself, his smile big and bright, laughter loud and carefree. His cheeks hinted a hue of pink.

"What? What're you gonna do?" Ribbit snickered.

"Giggle at us?" Kaufmo teased along, poking Jax's shoulder.

"YOHOHOU AHABSOLUTE DOHOHOHORKS!!" His foot started to thump against the snow, making soft but quick pitter-patters.

Jax didn't hate this. He never did. Hell, he enjoyed it more than anything. It just made him feel right. Made him feel human... loved.

"Immmaaa... getcha here, and then there, and thennn everywhere!!!" Ribbit tickled everywhere she could on his upper body.

"GAHAHAHA, NAHAHAHAHAHAHAHO!!! OHOHO MY-- OKAY!! OHOHOKAHAHAY!! CAHAHALM DOHOHOWN!! CAHAHALM DOHOHOHOWN!! AAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Jax smile grew wider, his eyes squeezed shut, foot quickening.

Kaufmo snorted, cackling. "Bahaha! Ohokay, ease down!!" He tapped Ribbit's shoulder, who giggled and lightly drummed her fingers against his shoulders.

"Aha-- ahaha! Thahat-- Ihi-- geheheheheheez!!" He hiccuped, his foot slowing.

A portal opened, the adventure being over.

Jax was still giggly as they walked back in the circus, the three talking.

"So, Jax..." Kaufmo started.

"Huh?- Whahat?" He sighed, all of them back in their original clothes.

"...We'll give you ten seconds. One." Ribbit raised her hands.

"Wha?!"

"Two.." Kaufmo stepped closer.

"Stohop-!! H-Hohold ohon!!" He stepped back, his smile wobbly and oddly excited.

"Three!!" The two spoke.

"Noho-!!" He ran out of there, giggles spilling out of him forcefully.

"Kihinger!! Queeniehe!!" He quickly slipped into the pillow fort, scrambling next to the couple.

"Oh my! What's the rush?" Queenie chuckled, watching him hide behind Kinger.

"Quite the Giggle Bug, huh?" Kinger raised a browz watching Jax cover his mouth.

"Juhust help mehe!!"

"Kinger!! Queenie!!" Kaufmo and Ribbit called out, entering the pillow fort.

"Yes, dears?" Queenie stifled her laughter well, Jax covering his mouth, shoulders shaking, hiding behind Kinger.

"Have you seen Jax? He kinda ran away~" Ribbit and Kaufmo shared grins.

"Yeah! Wonder why~" Kaufmo shrugged.

"Sounds mysterious. No, haven't seen him." Kinger slipped his hand behind him, squeezing Jax's belly.

"Wahait, noho-!!" Jax giggled out.

"Found you!!!" The two grinned, scooting over, Kinger lightly pushing Jax on his back - his friends immediately ambushing the rabbit.

"NAHAHAT AHAHAHAGAHAHAIN!! KIHIHINGER, YOU TRAHAHAHAITOHOHOHOR!!" His mouth opened once more, feet kicking, foot thumping.

"Aww, sweetheart..." Queenie cooed softly, leaning against her husband - watching the three giggle and have fun.

"Ihi know, I know..." he placed his hand on hers, his eyes soft and fond. Loving.

Jax woke. He groaned, sitting up, the pillow on the floor. He looked down at his lap, sitting there for a good moment.

...

Kinger.

He got out of bed, leaving it a mess. He unlocked his door and walked out, locking it again once it shut, pocketing his key.

He walked through the walls, exiting the hallway and standing into the opened circus. He looked around... eyes landing on Kinger's pillow fort.

It was all dark... he slept for a long while after he came back from that adventure. Everybody was asleep in their rooms.

He hesitated... he really did. But he shook his head, walking over. He knelt down in front of it, fidgeting with his fingers.

"...Kinger?" He called out, voice quiet and soft.

There was rustling until the pillow door opened, his head poking out. "Jax? What are you doing awake?" He asked, his voice echoing off the walls.

"I--..." He looked down before up at Kinger. "...I had a dream... when I took my nap..." He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing away again.

"Oh..." Kinger looked at Jax before scooting aside. "Wanna come tell me about it?"

Jax paused...

"Yeah." He crawled in, scooting back. "And... can I stay here tonight?.."

Kinger nodded. "Of course of can. You never have to ask."

He closed the entrance.

Summary: Jax, Ribbit, and Kaufmo are making bets, but things get silly fast.

Switches: Jax, Ribbit, and Kaufmo

Jax, Ribbit, and Kaufmo were enjoying a nice night stargazing. They had made it a tradition to go out stargazing every night, and tonight, was of course, another one of those nights.

They had made a game where they were betting on what they could and couldn’t do. “Alright”, said Jax, “but I bet you can’t smile wider than me!” The three Chill Fellas tried doing their best Grinch smiles, but Jax got lucky with his avatar, and managed to beat both of them.

It was Ribbit’s turn next. “Aright, but I bet you can’t jump higher than me!” Each of them stood up, and jumped as high as they could, but Ribbit jumped higher than both of them. “No fair!” Jax argued, “You have a frog avatar!” “You have a bunny avatar!” Ribbit argued back.

“Alright, alright, my turn.” said Kaufmo. Jax and Ribbit sat back down. “Hmmm… I bet… you can’t beat me in a tickle fight!” Jax’s pupils shrunk when he heard that. “Now, hold on, I think we can skip this one.” Jax said, nervously. Once Ribbit heard that, she knew she had to help Kaufmo get Jax. “If I wasn’t going to get you before, I definitely am now! Get over here!”

Ribbit and Kaufmo then moved to be on either side of Jax, both of them using one hand to scribble on each of Jax’s sides and then the other to scribble on his tummy. Jax began uncontrollably laughing, until he decided to join in. “Ahahahalright, thahat’s it!” He reached up a hand to squeeze Ribbit’s ribs, and pushed her off of him.

He then began scribbling on Ribbit’s ribs, while still trying to get Kaufmo off of him. While still using one hand to tickle Jax, he used the other to team on Ribbit, leaving Ribbit defenseless. “Yohou knohohow, Kaufy… I’m kihinda huhuhungry… I cohould go fohor sohome RIBS!” Jax pushed Ribbit onto her side, and used his sharp teeth to nibble on Ribbit’s ribs.

Ribbit went wild with laughter, screaming, thrashing, and begging. Meanwhile Jax’s laughing was only making the tickling worse. “AHAHAHAHAHA I CAN’T TAKE IT AHAHAHAHA”, Ribbit screamed with laughter. At this point, Jax and Kaufmo decided to give her mercy, and let her go.

Now it was just down to the rabbit and the clown. Kaufmo tackled Jax and began scribbling on his underarms. Jax reached up and got Kaufmo’s ribs, but it wasn’t enough to get Kaufmo off of him. Eventually, though Jax began to run out of oxygen, and tapped out.

This idea was requested by @awww-is-someone-reading

Who also made this fanfic with their idea!

Enjoy your mealllll

You Laughed!

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--Thinking of her...--

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|Lee - Jax -- Lers - Kaufmo & Ribbit|

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FTing - Ragatha & Pomni

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Mentioned - Kinger, Queenie & Caine

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AU - My own!

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AU Context : This Post!

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"Hey, Jax!" Ribbit called from afar, waving, Kaufmo beside her.

"Guess your best friends are here.." Ragatha chuckled, a hand on her hip.

Jax chuckled, arms crossed. "Not entirely.." He rolled his eyes, ears twitching.

Ribbit gasped, "Ragatha!!" She hopped over and enveloped Ragatha in an embrace.

Ragatha giggled, hugging back.

"What's up, Jay?" Kaufmo stood near Jax, smirking.

"Nicknames now, huh?" Jax returned the smirk. Even if he denied it, it held some fondness mixed in with amusement.

Jax was warming up to them. Even if a little slowly... even if he hung around Kaufmo and Ribbit more.

"Well, I'm gonna head over with Kinger and Queenie... they said they had something important to show me!" Ragatha let go of Rbbit, waving goodbye.

Ribbit waved, watching Ragatha leave.

"So, what did you need?" Jax raised a brow, tilting his head.

"Oh! We were going to the stargazing room! We wanted you to come with!" Ribbit turned around, hands clasped together.

Jax's shoulders relaxed, his eyes softening. "You... wanted me to come?.." He sounded like he didn't believe it.

"Yeah, are you down?" Kaufmo nudged Jax, his smile welcoming.

"I..." Jax hesitated before shaking his head. His guard was still up... but a part of his wall crumbled. "Yeah, okay."

"Yes!!" Ribbit cheered, grabbing his and Kaufmo's hand. "C'mon! We already set up the blanket!"

"Slohow down!" Kaufmo laughed, keeping up.

Jax gulped, an uneasy shiver running down his spine. Why did he want to trust them?

"You've never seen the stargazing room before, right, Jax?" Ribbit asked, hopping over to a door in one of the many hallways in the cirucs.

"Um... no... I didn't even know there was other rooms." He shrugged, slipping his hand out of the frogs grasp.

"Really? Wow. You got a bunch to see then." Kaufmo grinned.

His smile was just so... normal. Like he knew Jax forever.

Maybe... just for a little bit...

Jax exhaled, his shoulders fully relaxing, ears drooping

Just for today.

"Guess I do." He let out an airy sigh, his tone easy-going, more soft.

Kaufmo's smile widened.

"Found it!!" Ribbit announced, opening the door. "C'mon c'mon!!" She quickly ran it.

"Ribbit loves stargazing." Kaufmo suddenly said, walking to the opened door.

Jax's ears perked up. "Really?"

"Yeah. We even put a stargazing adventure into the suggestion box... Caine has yet to do it." Kaufmo chuckled. "Hopefully you'll be with us to experience it."

Jax's chest bloomed with warmth. He... wanted him with them?

He shook his head. "Y-Yeah - yeah, hopefully."

They walked into the room, the door shutting behind them. Jax pupils grew, sparkles shining in his eyes.

The sky was beautiful. The stars twinkled, clouds flowing by... the grass felt soft on his paws, a breeze passing by. He heard water streaming - an oddly pleasant sound.

"Over here!!" Ribbit waved, sitting on the blanket.

Kaufmo stepped forward first, Jax following - still glancing around.

Kaufmo sat down next to Ribbit, Jax sitting in front of them.

"Isn't it wonderful here?" Ribbit leaned back, hands propping her up, looking up at the stars.

"It's..." Jax pulled his knees up to his chest, glancing from the river, to the surroundings, to the sky, to them. "It's nice."

"Ribbit got me into it. So peaceful over here - no chaos." Kaufmo crossed his legs, hands in his lap.

Jax nodded.

Ribbit and Kaufmo talked - always including Jax, the rabbit chiming in a few times, or talking when spoken to.

Watching them laugh... feeling being included - it did something to Jax. Something he never felt.

Ribbit's loud laughter snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Oho my gohod!!" Ribbit giggled, leaning back more.

"Shut up! It was one time!" Kaufmo waved a hand dissmissivly, snorting - leaning back - hands propping him up from behind.

"I would've been way more stealthier. Instead of screaming like a monkey!" Ribbit snickered, hand on her stomach.

Kaufmo screaming like a monkey, huh? The thought itself was... amusing.

"WAAAHHHHH!!! WE'RE GONNA DIEEEE!!!" Kaufmo wailed, failing his noodle arms.

"GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF!!!" Ribbit screamed, grabbing Kaufmo's collar, shaking him like a maraca.

Jax's shoulders shook, a hand coming up to his mouth as he let out a chuckle. It was quiet, but audible.

Ribbit gasped.

"Oh-- OH!! YOU LAUGHED!!" she laughed in victory, "Yesyesyesyesyes!!!" She air punched Kaufmo's stomach, the clowns smile fond.

Jax suppressed his giggles, his smile widening. He was already giggly, and seeing Ribbit so... happy and proud she got him to laugh - it made him feel included. Feel... loved.

"Shuhu-- shuhut up!! You-- you cahahaught me off guahard!" Jax shook his head - hands waving in front of him.

Ribbit laughed along, legs crossed, a hand lifting up to her mouth to slightly cover it. Kaufmo let out an airy chuckle.

"A laughs a laugh, I mean.. you gotta start somewhere!" She shrugged, hands on her legs.

Kaufmo smirked, filled with playfulness and amusement. "I'm just mad it was you instead of me."

"Well yeah, you're not funny." Ribbit smirked back.

Jax couldn't argue with that.

He let out a snort, a chuckle escaping before he could suppress it.

Ribbit ler out a laugh, holding her stomach

"Pfft-- D[BEEP!]n it, Jax!" He laughed, "I am funny!"

Kaufmo lightly pushed Jax on his back, crawling closer, prodding at his torso.

"Ihihihi'm sohohorry!! Wahahait!" Jax laughed uncontrollably, his mouth opening to reveal his sharo teeth, one he didn't know he had.

"Hoholy shit! That's sick!!" Kaufmo grinned, Ribbit scooting closer, giggling.

"No way!! He's ticklish and has sharp teeth?! You're full of surprises!!" She squealed, wiggling a finger under his neck.

Jax scrunched his shoulders up, a blush glowing on his cheeks. They... thought his sharp teeth were cool? They didn't find him disgusting? Didn't find his laugh disgusting? Didn't... find him weird?

"Nohohoho!! Quihihihit ihihit!!" He giggled out, his foot thumping against his blanket.

"Awww! Little thumper!" Ribbit cooed, her fingers spidering up to his ears.

"EEK-!! NOOHOHOHOHO!!"

"Oof, bad spot?" Kaufmo chuckled, his fingers starting to scribble on his belly.

"IHI-- EHEHEHEHEHE!!" Jax covered his face, not knowing what to do with his hands.

"Aah, tickle tickle tickle!! Ah goochie goochie goo!!" Ribbit teased, tone loving and teasy.

"DOHOHON'T TEHEHEHEASE MEEEHEHEHE!!" His foot thumped quicker, tail wagging.

"Ooh, he likes ittt!!" Kaufmo squeezed Jax's thighs.

"WAHAHAIT-!! PLEHEHEHEHEASE!!" The warmth came back, fuzzier and bright - a shiver going down his arms. His ears twitched, his smile wide.

"Please what, huh? Use your wordsss!!" Ribbit lightly scratched his ears.

"IHI-- GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Jax hiccuped, his eyes immediately widening and covering his mouth.

The two above him BRIGHTENED.

"You hiccup?!" Her voice rose an octave, scratching faster.

"Hoholy! Do it again! C'mon! Doitdoitdoit!!" He squeezed the bunny's thighs quicker.

"EHEHEHEHEEK!! *hic!* YOHOHOHOU JEHEHEHERKS!! *hic!* AAHAHAHAHA!! *hic!*"

Ribbit gasped. "Did you hear that, Kaufy?"

"I sure did... called us jerks!!" Kaufmo grinned despite his "angry" words.

"You know what that means, Jax??" Ribbit leaned down.

"NOHOHOHO?!"

The two smirked.

Ribbit grabbed Jax's hand, Kaufmo leaning down.

"Oh noho-- wahahait! Wahahait dohoAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAON'T!!!!"

He SCREAMED.

Kaufmo blew a giant raspberry on his belly, Ribbit mimicking the action flat on Jax's paw.

His blush grew, tears pricking at the corner of his eyes.

"IHIHIHI-- *squeal!* OHOHO IHHIHI'M SAHAHAHARRY!!! *hic!* AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! *hic!* HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!! *squeak!"

"Oh, you're sorry, huh?" Ribbit chuckled, drumming her fingers on his paw pad.

"YEHEHEHES!! *hic!* I AHAHAHAM!! PLEHEHEASE-- *hic!* NOHOHOHO MOHOHOHORE!! *squeak!*"

"Fineee!" Ribbit stopped, flopping down next to him.

Kaufmo did the same, chuckling softly.

Jax giggled breathlessly, covering his belly, his foot slowing down.

"Ticklish much?" Kaufmo smirked, earning a playful glare from Jax.

"Fuh[SPLAT!]k *hic!* ohoff!" He giggled, Ribbit joining him.

A comfortable silence passed over the trio.

Ribbit broke it, voice calm, full of fascination. "The stars are really pretty..."

"...aren't they?" Pomni looked over at Jax, her smile welcoming.

Jax blinked, the warmth in his chest returning. A piece of his wall crumbling. "Yeah.." he mumbled, looking back up at the sky, hands behind his head.

"They are."

Lee!Jax

Ler!Kaufmo Ler!Ribbit

Word Count: ~4000

Warnings: None

This is a SFW tickle fic, if you don't like that then don't read :)

A Little Thank You! 🥹

This fic and @pinklebelle's comic were both created from the same idea, but we each put our own spin on it. It was so much fun seeing how similar (and different!) our versions ended up being :D

If you enjoyed this story, I definitely recommend checking out their comic too! ❤️

Kaufmo bets Ribbit she can't make Jax laugh. Unfortunately for Jax, he overhears. Even more unfortunately, he decides to brag about being "immune." You'll understand soon. >:D

Jax was having a very good day.

Mostly because Kaufmo was eating toast.

Kaufmo should've gotten up earlier.

Jax was sprawled across the entire couch, one leg hooked over the armrest and both ears flopped lazily against the cushions, listening to Kaufmo and Ribbit talk about him from the other room.

Kaufmo laughed.

"Ragatha laughs way too easily."

"She does not."

"She absolutely does."

"You made a silly face."

"It was a really good silly face."

Ribbit rolled her eyes.

"I bet I could make her laugh too."

"Oh, please."

"What?"

"You could probably make Ragatha laugh."

"…But?"

"You can't make Jax laugh."

Ribbit raised an eyebrow.

"You really think I can't?"

Kaufmo shrugged.

"I don't think anybody can."

"Oh?"

"Not a real laugh," he added.

Ribbit folded her arms.

"You wanna bet?"

Kaufmo smiled.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

"If I get a real laugh out of Jax by the end of the day…"

"…you pick our next adventure."

"And if I can't?"

"Then I do."

"Deal."

Neither of them noticed the rabbit ears poking over the back of the couch. Impressive, honestly.

Jax, still sprawled across the cushions, grinned up at the ceiling. They were going to spend the whole day trying to crack him, and they were going to fail miserably. This was going to be fun.

A moment later, chairs scraped against the floor.

"Ready?" Kaufmo asked.

"Ready."

Footsteps.

Jax pushed himself off the couch and wandered into the hallway with the most innocent expression he could manage.

The second Ribbit spotted him, she smiled.

"Heyyyy Jax."

"Hey." Jax smirked.

Ribbit blinked.

"Wait… You heard us?"

"Every word."

Kaufmo groaned.

"…Well, that's less than ideal."

"You know what's funny?" Ribbit said.

"No."

She blinked. "You didn't let me finish."

"Don't need to. Nothing you say is gonna make me laugh."

Ribbit caught Kaufmo's eye.

"…He really heard the whole conversation."

Kaufmo sighed.

"…Things just got harder, didn't it?"

"I'd say so."

"…Next time we should whisper."

"I can still hear you."

Kaufmo sighed.

"…Right."

"We'll see about that." Ribbit cleared her throat. "Ahem, okay. Why did the chicken cross the road?"

"To get away from you."

Kaufmo choked out a laugh and clapped both hands over his mouth.

It didn't help.

"Pffft-!"

Ribbit whipped around.

"Kaufmo!"

"I'm sorry!"

He wasn't.

"That was funny!"

Ribbit's eye twitched. "That's not the punchline."

"Don't care," Jax said.

She tried again. "Knock knock."

"No."

"…You didn't even let me finish the setup."

"Don't need to."

Ribbit exhaled through her nose. "What do you call a rabbit who tells bad jokes?"

Jax stared at her.

"…Nothing? No guess?"

"I'm not participating in this."

She tried one more. Something about two adventurers walking into a bar. Jax stared through all of it with the same flat expression.

"Are you done?"

Ribbit folded her arms.

"…You're impossible."

Kaufmo snorted.

"I told you that."

"I know."

She rubbed a hand over her face.

"…I hate that he was funny."

Jax smirked.

"I'm immune."

"Immune to what?"

"Whatever you're doing." He pushed off the wall and gave Ribbit a smug little pat on the head as he walked past. "Nice try, though."

He didn't look back.

Behind him, everything went quiet.

Ribbit slowly faced Kaufmo.

"I don't like him."

Kaufmo watched him disappear around the corner.

"…The ducks would've understood."

Kaufmo tried next. He cornered Jax in the hallway outside the kitchen, blocking the path with his whole body and grinning like he'd already won.

"Jax."

"Kaufmo."

"I'm about to do something hilarious."

"No you're not."

Kaufmo's grin didn't waver. He pulled a small rubber duck from behind his back and placed it on his own head. Then another duck. Then a third. He balanced all three in a wobbly pyramid on top of his skull and spread his arms wide.

"Ta-da."

Jax eyed the ducks. Then Kaufmo's proud, expectant face. Then the ducks again.

"That's sad."

Kaufmo gasped.

"Sad? It's art."

"If that's art, then I'm abstract."

"…I spent five whole minutes balancing those."

"It's three bath toys on your head."

"Four, actually." Kaufmo pulled another duck from his pocket and placed it on top of his head with the others. The duck fell off and bounced on the floor with a thud.

Jax stepped on the fallen duck and continued walking.

"Better luck next time."

Kaufmo sighed dramatically and bent down to rescue the duck.

"You tried your best."

The duck, unsurprisingly, didn't respond.

He heard Kaufmo sigh behind him. "He's not human."

"I'm a rabbit, actually."

"That explains the ears."

Jax just snorted and kept walking.

The hallway fell quiet.

Kaufmo blinked down at the duck in his hands.

The duck stared back. Unhelpfully.

"I believed in the ducks."

Ribbit let out a small laugh.

"You balanced bath toys on your head."

"There were four."

"There were three."

"…The duck let me down."

Despite herself, Ribbit smiled.

"…Does that count as a laugh?"

"No."

"A pity."

"Keep trying."

But Kaufmo wasn't ready to admit defeat.

"Okay," he said, thinking out loud. "If jokes don't work…"

"If ducks don't work…"

"If art doesn't work…"

Ribbit folded her arms.

"…I'm a little offended you skipped over my jokes."

"They're included under 'art.'"

"…Wow."

Kaufmo snapped his fingers.

"I've got it."

"You do?"

"No."

"…"

"…Give me ten minutes."

Ten minutes later…

Jax was wandering down one of the hallways when-

"BOO!"

Kaufmo sprang out from around the corner with his arms in the air and the goofiest face Jax had ever seen.

Jax stopped.

Blinked once.

"…Was that the plan?"

Kaufmo slowly lowered his arms.

"…Yes."

"You practiced that."

"…Maybe."

Jax patted him on the shoulder as he walked past.

"I'm rooting for you."

Kaufmo watched him disappear down the hallway.

Then he sighed.

"…Ribbit, you can come out now."

Ribbit stepped out from behind the opposite corner.

"I can't believe that didn't work."

"The duck let me down again."

"…That somehow makes me feel worse."

"…That's what I was afraid of."

By the afternoon, the jokes had run dry. Kaufmo's rubber ducks were scattered across three rooms. Ribbit had exhausted every punchline she could remember, and a few she'd made up on the spot. They'd tried silly faces. They'd tried surprise scares. They'd tried teaming up and pulling expressions so ridiculous Kaufmo's jaw ached afterward.

Jax hadn't cracked.

Not once.

He wandered through the circus with the easy confidence of someone who'd already won. Kaufmo passed him in the hall and got a lazy salute. Ribbit attempted one last desperate pun in the common room and received a pat on the head for her trouble.

"You're wasting your time," Jax said, draped across a chair. "I told you. I'm immune."

"Nobody's immune to laughing," Ribbit said. "That's… not how it works."

"It's how I work."

Kaufmo tilted his head.

"What's your secret?"

"Pure willpower and a lack of joy."

"Pffft- You hear yourself, right?"

"I'm hilarious."

"Hehe… you kind of are."

Ribbit sighed.

"You're supposed to be helping me."

Kaufmo shrugged. "You almost had him with the chicken."

"I did not."

"You had me."

"That doesn't count."

"It should."

Ribbit groaned.

"It absolutely shouldn't."

Jax smirked.

"I told you. I'm immune."

Ribbit rolled her eyes.

"Fine, but this isn't over. Let's just… have lunch."

"Best idea you've had all day," Jax said.

"Oh please."

Nobody talked for a while.

Kaufmo stacked crackers into towers. The tower leaned dangerously to one side. Neither Kaufmo nor the crackers seemed particularly concerned.

Ribbit stared blankly at her food.

Jax leaned back in his chair.

The smug grin came back.

"So… That's it?"

Ribbit glanced up.

"That's what?"

"You're just giving up?"

She shrugged.

"I guess."

"Huh."

"Y'know, I expected more."

"You got more?"

"No."

"Then enjoy your victory."

Kaufmo and Ribbit started talking about completely different things.

Caine's last adventure.

Whether toast counted as a proper lunch.

Somehow…

They ended up talking about ducks again.

Jax had almost forgotten about the bet.

"Jax," Kaufmo said. "Mind passing the salt?"

Jax eyed the salt beside him.

"Nah. Do it yourself."

Kaufmo reached across the table.

His knuckles brushed Jax's side.

"Eep-!"

Jax slapped both hands over his mouth.

…No.

No no no.

Please tell me neither of them heard that.

The silence said they had.

Nobody said a word.

Ribbit caught Kaufmo's eye. He was already looking at her.

Both of them faced Jax.

Jax's ears flattened.

He stared at the floor.

Looking up suddenly seemed like a terrible idea.

Kaufmo's hand hovered in the air where it had bumped Jax.

"What… was that."

"Nothing." Too fast.

"That was a sound."

"It was a cough."

"It was a squeak."

"Rabbits don't squeak."

"You just did," Ribbit said.

"And that was adorable," Kaufmo added.

Jax's ears burned.

"Kaufmo. Take it back."

"No."

"…Pleeease?" Jax pulled out the biggest puppy eyes he could manage.

"Nope."

Jax's ears drooped.

"…Worth a shot."

"…I'll stop calling your duck thing sad."

"No."

Jax's eyes darted toward Ribbit. She was watching him, smiling. A slow smile that Jax did not like the look of at all.

"Wait," Ribbit said.

"No."

"Wait, wait, wait."

"No one needs to wait."

"Kaufmo." Ribbit faced him. "Do it again."

"WAIT no- Don't do it again-"

Kaufmo reached over and poked Jax's side.

"Eehep-!"

Jax nearly sprang out of his chair, his hands back over his mouth. His ears were trembling. His face could've fried an egg.

Kaufmo and Ribbit exchanged a glance.

Ribbit turned back to Jax, grinning.

Neither of them spoke.

"Oh… my… god." Ribbit's eyes widened.

Jax shook his head so quickly one ear flopped over his eyes.

"No."

"Oh my god."

She pointed at him.

"You've been hiding this all this time?"

"It's nothing."

"Kaufmo. He's ticklish."

"Yeah, I noticed."

"He's really ticklish."

"…That was also something I noticed."

His ears went completely flat. A wobbly smile tugged at the corners of his mouth no matter how hard he fought it.

"N-noho guys- I'm not-"

"You squeaked," Kaufmo said.

"I- It was a… stress response!"

"You squeaked."

"W-Well rabbits squeak sometimes. It's a thing."

"When they're ticklish?" Ribbit asked innocently.

Jax opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

…

Nothing.

The silence stretched. Kaufmo and Ribbit just watched him, their smiles growing. Jax's ears twitched. His tail gave one traitorous little wag.

He was in so much trouble.

"So," Ribbit leaned forward on her elbows. "We never shook on any rules…"

"…What?"

"The bet. We didn't shake on any rules. Which means there are no rules."

"That's not how bets work."

"It's how this bet works." She met Kaufmo's eyes. "What do you think? Does this count as making him laugh?"

Kaufmo scratched his chin.

"Hmmm… I don't know. We didn't technically make him laugh. We just… discovered something interesting."

Jax grinned nervously, pushing his chair back.

"I-I'm leaving."

"No you're not."

"R-Ribbit-"

"Sit down, Jax."

That tone. The one that meant she'd already won.

Jax sat.

Ribbit and Kaufmo stood and walked toward him. They stared at him, and Jax suddenly felt a lot less like a smug rabbit and a lot more like lunch.

"So," Ribbit said, leaning against the table beside him. "All morning, we've been trying to make you laugh."

"And you've been so smug about it," Kaufmo said.

"You kept telling us you were immune."

"Turns out…" Kaufmo grinned.

"You're actually really ticklish."

Jax's ears twitched. "I-I hate both of you."

"No you don't," Ribbit said.

"I do. So much."

"Really?" Ribbit reached out and rested her hand on his side. Just rested it there. Jax went rigid, a strangled giggle caught in his throat.

"Ehehe- Ribbit-"

"I'm not even doing anything. My hand is just… here."

"Ihihi knohow what you're doing-"

"What am I doing? I'm barely touching you." She let her fingers flex, the lightest possible squeeze. Jax squeaked and curled away, his ears burning.

"Awww," Ribbit cooed, giving him a proper poke. "Is the little rabbit ticklish?"

"Nohoho, shuhut up-"

"Awww, is the widdle bunny tickwish?"

"Dohont use thahat vohoice."

"Hmm…" Ribbit pretended to think. "No."

She poked the same spot again.

"EHEP-!"

"Wait…"

"What?" Kaufmo asked.

"…That got a bigger squeak."

"No it dihidn't-"

Kaufmo crouched beside him.

"For science."

"Noho."

He lightly scribbled over Jax's side.

"Heheh-!"

Kaufmo blinked.

"…That was different."

Ribbit tilted her head.

"It was."

Her eyes wandered over him.

"…Huh."

"W-what?"

"…Nothing. I just have a theory."

She traced a slow circle with one fingertip on his side, watching his face. His nose scrunched up. "Hehehe- stohop-"

"Stop what? I'm just exploring." She moved her finger to the other side and tapped once. Jax flinched with a snort.

"He snorted," Kaufmo said, delighted.

"I heard. Do the other side again."

"Dohon't do the other side-"

She did. Jax's whole body jolted. "NOhoho-!"

"Awww, does the bunny have a ticklish tummy?" Ribbit's fingers crept to his stomach, featherlight. Jax folded forward with a shriek.

"GAHAHA- rihibbit-"

"There it is!" Kaufmo clapped.

"It's a start." Ribbit grinned, but her hands stilled. Her eyes had drifted a little lower on his torso, thoughtful. "But I've noticed something."

"Whahahat?" Jax was still giggling, breathless.

"Every time I poke your side, you jump. But when I did it here," she tapped the spot just under his ribs, "you almost folded in half."

Jax's ears shot straight down.

"…No I didn't."

"Yeah, you did." Kaufmo crouched on his other side, eyes bright. "Let me see."

"Don't let him see-"

Kaufmo's fingers found the spot under Jax's ribs on the opposite side. Jax clamped both arms down over his ribcage with a panicked giggle. His body just… did it.

Both of them noticed.

"Oh."

"Ohhhh."

Kaufmo slowly found Ribbit's eyes.

"…He just covered it."

Jax realized what he'd just done. His face could've fried an egg.

"…Aw, come on."

She lightly scribbled under his ribs.

Jax folded almost instantly.

"WAHAHAIT- RIBIHIT NOHOHO- NOHOT THEHERE"

Both of them froze.

Ribbit didn't even have to say anything. Kaufmo already understood.

"Nohoho please-"

Kaufmo slowly grinned.

"…Found it."

Jax's gaze flicked from Ribbit… to Kaufmo… to the doorway.

He could probably make it.

No. No, he absolutely could not.

He gulped.

"…G-Guys?"

"We've been going about this all wrong," Kaufmo said, still crouched beside him, still grinning. "All morning we've been trying jokes and ducks and surprise scares…"

"Turns out the answer was right here the whole time." Ribbit gave the spot one tiny squeeze.

Jax squeaked.

"Literally."

Jax twisted away, scrambling backwards in the chair, shielding his ribs protectively.

"NOHO- DOHON'T-!"

Ribbit and Kaufmo exchanged a glance.

"…Definitely the bad spot."

She reached for him again. Jax curled into his hands deeper.

"NOPE."

Ribbit laughed.

"Oh, that's adorable."

She nudged one of his hands aside and scribbled the same spot.

"GAHAHAHAHA-!"

"There it is."

"Oh, definitely."

Kaufmo joined in, lightly scribbling the exact same spot. Jax folded in half.

"NOHOHOHO-"

"Case closed."

Kaufmo blinked.

"…You're actually protecting it."

Then he laughed.

"That's adorable."

Ribbit grinned.

"…Yep."

"That's the bad spot."

"NOHOHOHOHOHO IT'S NOHOT-!"

Jax twisted sharply, trying to scramble off the chair.

Instead, he completely missed the edge.

"WAH-!"

He tumbled onto the floor with a startled yelp.

Kaufmo blinked.

"…Well."

Ribbit covered her mouth.

"…That wasn't the escape I think you were going for."

Kaufmo crouched beside him, trying hard not to laugh.

"…Need a hand?"

Jax looked at it. Then at Kaufmo. He knew exactly where this was going.

"H-hi?"

"Yes?"

"P-plehease…"

"Please what? I'm not doing anything." Kaufmo started tracing on Jax's side, featherlight. "See? Barely touching you."

"Yohohou're doing the thihihing-"

"What thing?"

"THE- the tihihichkle thing-"

"Awww- he said it!" Ribbit clapped her hands together. "He said the word!"

Kaufmo laughed. "I think that counts!"

Ribbit shook her head.

"No- not yet. I said a real laugh."

"WAHAIT NOHO"

"Ohhh, you're right." Kaufmo grinned at Jax's flushed face. "We haven't gotten a proper real laugh yet, have we, bunny?"

Jax's ears went scarlet. "I SHOHOHOULD'VE KEHEHPT my mouth shuhut!"

Ribbit laughed.

"Well… Yeah, you should have."

She knelt beside him and started scribbling over his stomach. Jax tried to curl into a ball, but Kaufmo's hand stayed at his ribs while Ribbit scribbled across his tummy.

"GAHAHAHA- NOHOHOHO GUHUHUYS-"

"Yes?" Kaufmo asked sweetly.

"PLHEHEASE-"

"Please what? Please keep going?"

"NOHOHOHOHO-"

Ribbit's fingers scribbled over his stomach. Kaufmo kept lightly scribbling beneath his ribs. Jax kicked his feet helplessly against the floor.

"GAHAHAHAHAHA- NOHOHOHO- P-PLHEHEASE-"

"He's still fighting," Kaufmo laughed.

"Barely." Ribbit grinned. "Look at his face, Kaufmo. He's so pink."

Jax buried his face in one arm, shaking with laughter. "IHIHI'M FIHIHINE-"

"Oh?" Ribbit smiled. She caught Kaufmo's eye. He already understood.

"I've got an idea."

"So do I."

Jax peeked between his fingers.

"…Whahat?"

Jax eyed Ribbit, then Kaufmo, then back again.

"…G-Guys?"

Neither of them answered.

That was somehow worse.

Ribbit leaned down.

"…Hold still."

"WHAHAT-?"

Before Jax could react…

"PBBBBBT."

"SKREEEHEHEHEHE-!"

Jax folded almost in half, kicking wildly.

"NOHOHOHOHOHO-!"

Kaufmo burst out laughing.

"…Whoa."

Ribbit lifted her head, smiling.

"Huh."

She met Kaufmo's gaze. He met hers right back.

A grin slowly spread across both of their faces.

Jax saw it.

"…No."

Neither of them answered.

"…No."

Jax watched her inhale.

"…R-Ribbihit."

"…Don't."

She smiled anyway.

Kaufmo didn't say a word. He simply shifted one hand a little higher.

Ribbit noticed. Her smile widened.

"Oh no…" was all Jax could say before-

"PBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBT."

At the exact same moment, Kaufmo's fingers vibrated beneath Jax's ribs.

"GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-!"

Kaufmo stared.

"…I've never heard you laugh like this."

Neither had Jax.

…That was probably a bad sign.

Jax answered with another helpless shriek.

"GAHAH-!"

His back arched clean off the floor. His feet hammered uselessly against the carpet as he tried to curl into himself, laughter spilling out faster than he could breathe.

"There it is!"

"The real laugh!"

Kaufmo couldn't stop laughing himself. "I can't believe you've been hiding this!"

Ribbit beamed. "And that adorable little blush…"

"IHIHI'M NOHOHOT BLUHUSHIHING-!"

Jax tried to hide his face against his shoulder. It only made Ribbit smile wider.

"You are absolutely blushing."

Kaufmo laughed. "You really do."

Ribbit grinned.

"I bet they can see it from space."

"S-SHUHUHUT UHUHUP-!"

Kaufmo grinned. "And your ears are pink."

"THEY'RE ALWAYS PIHIHINK-"

"Not that pink."

"Awwww~," Ribbit cooed, "And look at that smile."

"IHIHI HAHATE BOHOHOTH OF YOU-"

Jax tried to hide his face in his hands but Kaufmo gently pulled them away. "Nuh uh. No hiding. We want to see that beeauuutiful smile."

"IHIHI'M NOHOHOT SMIHIHILING-"

"You are," Ribbit said. "You really are."

And she was right. Jax couldn't stop the laughter and hiccups spilling out of him. His ears were pink. He was completely, utterly wrecked. And the worst part? He couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed this hard.

"GAHAHAHA- GUYS I CAN'T-"

"Reeeally," Ribbit grinned.

"OKHAHAHAY- OKHAHAHAY- YOU BOHOHOTH WIHIHIN-!"

Ribbit slowed. Kaufmo stopped.

"…Did he just admit defeat?"

"I think he did."

The room suddenly felt a whole lot quieter.

Jax slumped onto the floor, chest heaving, still giggling.

"Hohoholy," he said.

"See?" Kaufmo said. "You can laugh."

"I hahate you."

"No you don't."

"I hahate you so muhuch right now."

But he was smiling. A real, exhausted smile.

Ribbit sat down in the chair next to him. "So… the bet."

Jax opened one eye. "What about it?"

"I won."

"You think?"

"Oh, I KNOW."

"You didn't make me laugh. Kaufmo did."

"Kaufmo bumped you by accident. I did all the actual tickling."

"That's debatable."

"It's really not," Kaufmo said. "She definitely did most of the tickling."

"You trahaitors! Bohoth of you."

Ribbit grinned. "So… I'm picking the next adventure."

"Fair enough."

Jax pushed himself upright, still catching his breath. "So this whole day was just about a bet?"

"Pretty much."

"You spent all morning trying to make me laugh because you wanted to win a bet."

"And because we like hearing you laugh. But yes. Also the bet."

Jax looked from Ribbit to Kaufmo.

"You're both ridiculous."

"We know."

"Completely ridiculous."

"We know."

Jax groaned, rubbing both hands over his burning face. "I cahahn't believe that just happened…"

Ribbit smiled. "It did."

"I was doing fine this morning."

"You were."

"…You know what's even worse?"

"What?"

Jax muttered into his hands. "…You cohould've just asked."

Ribbit blinked. "Asked what?"

Jax froze.

He slowly lowered his hands.

"…Nothing."

Kaufmo tilted his head. "Jax."

"…"

"Asked what?"

Jax's ears folded even tighter. He studied the table with incredible concentration.

"…You cohould've just…"

His face somehow got even redder. His ears were scarlet.

Ribbit's smile softened.

"Awww…"

Kaufmo cooed. "He's too embarrassed to say it."

Jax buried his face in his hands. "Shuhut uhuhup-"

Ribbit laughed quietly. "You don't have to."

"…Tickle me."

Neither of them answered. Jax wished the floor would open up.

"…"

"…"

"…Forget I said that."

Still neither of them spoke. Jax risked glancing up. Both of them were staring.

"…Why are you staring at me like that?"

Kaufmo blinked. "I think my brain stopped working."

Ribbit nodded. "Mine too."

Silence.

Kaufmo's eyes widened. "You… would've said yes?"

Jax looked about two seconds away from abstracting. Then very slowly… He nodded.

"…"

"…Forget I said that."

The silence somehow made it worse.

Ribbit didn't even have to say anything. Kaufmo already understood.

They both faced Jax.

Ribbit snorted. "…Pfft-"

That was all it took. Kaufmo lasted another two seconds. Then he lost it too.

"Oh my gosh…" Ribbit said.

Jax buried his face in his hands again. "I hate this conversation."

Neither of them answered. They just stared.

Jax groaned. "…Stop staring at me."

"We're not doing anything."

"That's the problem."

Ribbit giggled. "You're so red."

"Shut up."

"…Can't," Kaufmo said.

Ribbit laughed. "Awww… you're blushing harder now than when we were tickling you."

"Can we please stop talking about this?"

"Nope."

"Next time we want to make you laugh, we'll just ask."

"Next time?" Jax's ears perked up.

"Next time." She poked his side lightly. "Now that we know the tactic works."

"Eehep-!"

"Thehe tactic?"

"The tickle tactic." She said it like it was obvious. Like Kaufmo already knew. "The one that always works."

"…I really should've kept my mouth shut this morning."

Kaufmo pointed at Ribbit. "Told you she'd win."

"I noticed."

"You noticed halfway through."

"…Fair."

Jax groaned and dropped his head onto the table. "You're going to use that against me forever, aren't you."

"Absolutely."

"One hundred percent."

"Great. Fantastic. I've created monsters."

"You didn't create anything," Ribbit said. "You just happened to be ticklish."

"And smug about being immune."

"And fun to tease."

Jax lifted his head just enough to glare at them. "I really do hate you both."

But his ears were relaxed. His smile was soft. And when Ribbit reached over to ruffle the fur between his ears, he leaned into the touch without thinking.

"You know," Kaufmo said, leaning back in his chair, "we should keep track of this."

"Keep track of what?"

"The tactic. How well it works. We could make it a thing."

"A thing?"

"Yeah. Whenever someone's feeling down, or smug, or just needs to laugh…"

Ribbit nodded slowly. "The one that always works."

"The one that always works."

Jax glanced between them. His ears twitched. "You're serious."

"Dead serious."

"We're really having this conversation?"

"When you say it like that it sounds weird."

"It is weird."

"It's scientifically proven."

"By who?"

"Me."

"Oooooh," Ribbit said.

Jax snorted, rolling his eyes. "Fine. But this isn't over."

Ribbit smiled. "That's cute."

"I'm serious."

"We know you are."

"That's what makes it funny," Kaufmo added.

Jax rolled his eyes, but the smile stayed.

Kaufmo bent down and reached beneath the table. "Aha! Found him!"

He held the duck above his head like a priceless treasure.

Ribbit laughed.

Jax leaned back in his chair, ears relaxed.

Ribbit was still smiling at him.

"…Quit staring at me."

"No."

Jax huffed… then smiled anyway.

Jax had been right. It had been a very good day.