#ler!kel

At twelve years old, Sunny is going to die.

Kel, one of his best friends, has decided to utterly betray him for the sake of getting back at his older brother. The sleepover the three boys were having started keeping them up a bit later than expected, and nobody was yet tired. So, Kel suggested they play hide and seek.

And, while this may not seem like a bad thing in hindsight, Sunny was dying. Because Kel's reasoning for suggesting it was to 'tire them out' so they could fall asleep. The reason this is so effective is because Hero doesn't usually play hide and seek like you're supposed to. No, as the silly older brother of a hyperactive boy who otherwise can't sit still long enough to play, he decided that hide and seek is much more fun if he gets to attack the found hiders with tickles.

Hence Sunny's premature death.

Which leads to where he is now, curled up under the dining table and shifting in anxious excitement every time Hero calls out taunts. It's not a very good hiding spot, but that's on purpose. Because he and Kel have a secret plan.

Kel would never actually care about getting to sleep early, so when he suggested this game to tire them out, Sunny was a bit confused. But, before the game started, the boy explained to Sunny that he should hide somewhere obvious. Then, while Hero is distracted with his tickle attack on Sunny, Kel will jump in and get Hero back.

So, basically, Sunny is bait. A sacrifice, if you will. And oh, does he feel it when Hero walks into the dining room, the smile in his voice evident.

"Sunny... Kel... you can't hide forever, y'know."

Sunny watches Hero's feet move around the room, and it's at that point that he realizes how horrible his hiding spot really is. And sure, it's on purpose. He's supposed to be found. But still, his fate is inevitable, and just the thought fills his stomach with the fluttering feeling of butterflies. And as Hero's feet stop right in front of the table, the butterflies flitter up through his head, and he already has to stop himself from giggling.

He found me.

Just as the thought comes, Hero crouches down and stares right at him, a playful grin on his face. "Looks like I found my first victim, huh?"

Sunny's heart jumps, and he starts scooting back, a wobbly smile taking over his face. But Hero just reaches in and grabs him by the ankle, pulling him across the floor. "Ehehe, nope, there's no escaping your fate!"

"No, no, no!" Sunny doesn't resist at all, only giggling quietly as he's pulled into Hero's arms.

"Hehehe, yep!" As soon as Sunny's back hits Hero's chest, Sunny feels fingers wiggling over his sides, and he immediately breaks into giggles. They're quiet. Sunny doesn't know if he's capable of making a sound louder than Mewo's meows (though, to be fair, the cat is pretty loud). But Hero seems pleased with the noise.

"Pretty late for dinner time, but you'll do." The older boy growls playfully, ducking his head down and gently nibbling at Sunny's neck, causing him to squeak and kick his legs. He's going easy on him, Sunny can tell. Hero is always gentle when it comes to Sunny. And as tickly shocks spread through his body, Sunny is torn between hoping Kel would get take Hero down already and hoping he'll take a bit longer to get here.

After a few more moments of giggling, Hero lets Sunny go. "Alright, I think it's time for me to find my dessert."

However, before he can move, Kel tackles him from behind, latching onto his back and digging fingers into his ribs.

Hero yelps at the unexpected attack, taking a few seconds to process what's happening. "Wah! Kel? What the- hehehey!"

As soon as Hero's brain catches up, he doubles over under Kel's weight and bursts into laughter. Kel uses this to his advantage, forcing Hero face-down onto the ground as he kneels on his back. "Revenge!"

"Hahahaha, nohoho! Sunny, hehelp!" Hero laughs, reaching out to Sunny as he tries and fails to buck Kel off of him.

"Don't do it, Sunny! Hero's gotten us too many times! He needs consequences!" Kel counters, forcing Hero to pull his reaching hand back in by poking fingers under his arm.

Sunny contemplates for a few moments, watching the whole thing go down. Kel does have a point, but on the other hand, he sacrificed Sunny... but in that case, he should make sure his sacrifice wasn't in vain. And he can always get Kel back later.

So, to Hero's many protests, Sunny scoots over and wiggles his fingers into the sides of Hero's neck, a small smile blossoming over his face. While Kel cheers loudly, Hero squeaks and complains.

"Ahahaha, nohooo! Sunny, whyyyy?"

"Don't listen to him, Sunny! He gets what he deserves!" Kel grins, digging fingers into Hero's hips in a way that makes him yelp.

"Guys, NOHOhoho! I'm- hahaha! I'm sorryyy, okay? I'm sorry, I gihive!"

Kel squints down at him, pondering as Sunny watches. "Hmm... okay!"

He stops, signaling for Sunny to do the same. Hero relaxes, giggling into the floor while Kel gets off of him. "Two against one isn't fair."

Sunny smiles, his voice quiet as he copies Kel's words. "You got what you deserved."

Kel laughs as Hero groans. "Not you too, Sunny!"

"Yeah, Sunny! We've defeated him this time!" He holds his hand out for a high five, which Sunny happily accepts.

Hero then pushes himself up from the floor, a mischievous smile back on his face. "I wouldn't say that just yet. I never got my reward for finding you in hide and seek, Kel."

Kel gapes. "But you didn't! I came to you!"

Hero shrugs. "Same difference."

Kel and Sunny had already been sat with him for a bit, making him feel guilty for struggling so much in front of them and that just made it even harder to relax.

“Hey, hey it’s okay. We’re here, nothings gonna happen, alright?” Kel rested a hand on Basil’s as he murmured, offering him a sense of security.

The teen scuttled over to sit closer to him, and leaned in to hug him gently. Basil didn’t say anything, just adjusting himself to fit better in the embrace and focusing on his friend’s warmth to help steady his breathing.

Kel continued, “If there’s anything we can do to help, just say.” And Sunny nodded his head in agreement.

The blonde-haired boy sat and spaced, half way between peace and a racing heart, pondering on what to say. Or if he should even talk at all. The silence seemed to beat the room like a drum after all his crying. Mimicking his nervous heartbeat and irritatingly harmonising with the hum of electricity creeping its way to his ears. The dried tears on his face itched. And he felt kind of sick. No…don’t focus on it.

He closed his eyes and held Kel’s hand tighter. The touch of another person guiding the sense of dread pooling in his gut away and out of him gradually.

As he settled, the shy boy fidgeted a little, bringing Kel’s wandering attention back onto him and inclining the daydreamer to lightly rub the sides and curves of his friend’s pale hand, in his way to reinsure that safety and reality. The sudden touch spread across his hand like a feather drifting along his skin, it was comforting and tingly, soothingly ticklish.

The corners of his lips ever so slightly wobbled themselves into a timid smile, and he reluctantly welcomed the new feeling of butterflies fluttering around in his stomach as he began to form an idea of what could offer the kind of distraction he needed. Basil shuffled slightly and moved his arm to hold his waist, now the tingling feeling of Kel’s affection seeping to the rest of his body.

His mind began to paint a different pattern of thoughts, now warm and comforting and lovingly vulnerable. He pressed his hand a little harder into his side in an attempt to rid himself of the ghostly presence leaking from his sudden fantasy, prickling goosebumps on his skin and causing a needy restlessness.

No matter his effort those phantom hands persisted the flustering touch, drifting their way up and down his shivering sides and dusting his cheeks a nearly unnoticeable tint of pink. The anxious boy knew what all this meant and was embarrassed to acknowledge it, but he knew it’d help. He knew his friends would be right there to do it and there was no way he could deny their sweetness. So he admitted, mentally, he now had a lee mood.

The desire, the want, the need- the need for fingers teasing at his skin, hands squeezing at his stomach, for his every spot to be tickled unpredictably and his every thought melted along with his heart. Oh, if only he could just be squirming and squealing with laught-

Soft spoken calls of his name punctured the daydream he was losing himself in, the voice becoming clearer each time it repeated itself.

“Basil? Hey!” Kel patted his hand, bringing him back down to earth once more. “Have you thought of something that could make you feel better?” Basil hesitated—because there was something, but it was way too embarrassing, and to make it worse, he knew his friends would be able tell.

He steadied his breathing and encouraged himself to respond,

“Well.. u-um could you do that…thing we talked about uh- the..y’know..” He stammered, his voice practically a whisper as he stared down at his shorts, pointlessly analysing every dust particle and hair strand accumulated in an excuse to escape eye contact.

The taller boy wracked his brain, before noticing Sunny holding his hands in front of him, scrunching his fingers with a playful yet caring expression on his face.

Kel realised. Thaaat. “Ohhhhh aw I get you! You want us to tickle you?” Kel smiled warmly, he really could comfort people with just his presence. But that didn’t stop Basil from flushing twice as deep, why did that word have to be so flustering?

“Ahah..uh. Yes.. please..Oh- only if you want to I-Ihi dohohon-wahahait I wahasnt rehead-AH KEHEhel nohohoho!!” Basil stuck his elbows to his sides, squirming and giggling in surprise as the taller boy suddenly began to squeeze at them. He was expecting a slower and gentler start, but supposed the surprise at least didn’t allow his brain any time to process and make room for negative thoughts.

He jerked once he felt ten fingers clawing at his ribs, losing his position and slumping limply down to the wooden floor he was once sat on. Kel chuckled, “Downnn we go!!” He sang, digging and vibrating his fingers into the bottom of Basil’s ribcage as they sank further. Adorable nasally cackles and snorts were practically pouring from the boy.

“Gosh, snorting already?” Kel teased, “You must be really ticklish!” With that, Basil could just feel the heat rise to his ears. Kel was hesitant to make too many remarks, after all he didnt want to overwhelm him, but the deep rose that accompanied the joyful dimples on his cheeks was just irresistible. And Basil knew he was just helping make things lighthearted.

Sunny shuffled over to Basil’s knees, sneaking his hands underneath and humbly dancing his fingertips along the ticklish hollows. The flower boy squeaked quietly, his frantic giggles rising and lowering randomly like sweet and cheerful hiccups. He shifted his legs up and down, unable to keep still but not exactly avoiding the fluttery sensations.

If anything, he tried to lean closer into them, the thought and feeling of something so affectionate and vulnerable warmed him. A sense of comfort and love trickling through his body like a soothing stream, Sunny’s approach of tickling was much softer than Kel’s, and the contrast of the sensations complimented each other greatly, somehow working every adorable sound Basil could make right out of him.

As flustering as it was, he couldn’t deny it was helping a lot, and he appreciated the warmth and connection it greeted him and his friends with.

Kel wandered his fingers down from Basil’s ribs, pausing for a moment to let the boy open an eye and see a mischievous grin peeking back at him, oh, and definitely not to let him see the slowly wiggling fingers gradually creeping their way under his shirt too!! Not at all!!

Basil squealed “KE-AGHHAH-KEHEHELL NOHOHOO” the blonde folded inwards the second Kel made contact and shot his arms down to hold his wrists as he attacked his bare tummy, his fingertips gliding over the sensitive skin which wobbled and caved adorably to the touch. He switched to light grabs and rapid squeezes, squidging in rhythm with Basil’s laughter as it rose and fell in excited panic.

As quickly as he picked up, Kel eased the tickles down slowly, opting to just gently trace along Basil’s stomach, and his laughter soon calmed down along with it. Just giggles and soft titters.

He didn’t want to go too overboard on his friend, the poor guy was trying to calm down in the first place after all. So he decided they should ease up a little. Kel twitched his shoulder at Sunny and gave him a smile as a signal to stop.

Basil continued to giggle, hugging himself with a big grin on his face. His hair was messy and ruffled, and his face flushed, completed by that adorable smile. He slowly opened his previously squeezed-shut eyes to see his two extrovert-and-introvert friends gazing at him with a certain look in their eyes.

“Whahat..?” The blonde asked, still giggling a little from the fingers Kel was absent minded-ly tracing on his stomach.

“You’re really endearing to us…” Sunny responded quietly with a smile.

Basil’s body lost all tension, his heart melting, how were his friends so loving to him? Sunny was only just warming back up to smiling again and what he’d said along with that smile had meant more than he could ever know. He felt so at home and safe.

Kel chimed in, “And your laugh is so nice to hear man…you need to laugh more often!” The tall boy chuckled, “…Or do we need to tickle you more?” he grinned mischievously and gave Basil’s stomach a few squeezes.

He squeaked and curled in on himself again, mustering up a giggly reply, “Ihi’d like that..”

————

"Hey, Hero! How did you do?" 

Hero didn't grimace, because that was his classmate and she was nice. In any other and every other situation that didn’t involve school or grades, she was really nice. 

Unluckily for him, that was not the case today.

"How did you do?" A smile, a curious look. Usually that would be enough to trail the attention away.

"I got a D! Not as brilliant as you, I guess, but still enough to pass so yeah!"

"D is still a good grade. I am glad you got it!"

"Hm mm, but still you're not running away from the question. Tell me, what did you get?"

His hand began scratching the back of his head, fingers tangling in his hair. "Ah, nothing much, just a B." He chuckled in good humor.

"Nothing much? Hero, I would commit crimes for your grades! Uuuurg, and you don't even look happy for it, too. Come on, I would be shooting fireworks if I was you right now. Is being that good just so normal for you, golden student, that you don't even care about them anymore?"

Words appeared and died in his tongue. A mix of "You’re not me" and "but I don't feel happy" and "Please don't call me that". Instead, he smiled and opened his mouth to say something (anything).

Scratch, scratch, scratch. He could almost feel the spotlight. It was starting to irritate, burn his skin.

Another classmate cut them.

"Hey, hey, Heroooo, my man!" That was June. She was nice and the arm that he slipped across his shoulders in a half hug made warmth spread across the touch. She was nice. "Sorry for cutting you short but I really need you to explain the subject of our Literature test like right now." 

His eyes ran at the clock above the white board on the room. It was lunchtime, their literature test would be in the period right after it.

"Of course!" Smile. Suddenly, he was back at his comfort zone, with notes and books and subjects that don’t make any sense, but when you start to stare at them long enough with a tilted head you can start to see the connections. "Do you have any questions in mind? What was the part you got the most confused?"

In a blink his own literature notebook was on his hands, pages being fastly flipped as the boy looked for where his notes were. 

Silence. The arm slipped from his shoulders.

Hero looked up. June laughed, with a tiny drop of awkwardness and bit her thumb with a dangerous smile as she avoided the other's eyes.

"Everything."

Hero stopped. Blinked. There was a light tremble in his words.

"The seven chapters about art schools?" 

"Yep." She popped the p. "And the historical context. And the authors. And characteristics." Hero must have shown a glimpse of the dread he was feeling inside because soon June was holding his hand and kneeling on the not-so-clean-and-where-did-all-this-ink-even-came-from-floor. "Please, Hero, please! I know that I haven't studied anything but you're so great at teaching. I will owe you that one, please!"

"Ok! Ok!" Hero fumbled a bit with his own hands, feeling a mix of relief to take over his movements. No one should be so desperate to get his help. And how could he even say no to her? "It's fine, it is a very long subject but we have one hour before the class so I think we can cover a bit more than the basics." 

His face became more serious, determinated eyes. "Get your book. We're going to meet on the tree next to the entrance, alright?"

"Perfect!" June jumped in the same place. "Thank you so much, Hero!"

"It is fine." And it really was, Hero loved to teach. But…"I am always happy to help, but next time, please ask me a day or two before the test." 

"Of course, dude!" And she was already out the door. 

Deep sigh. Hero looked at the clock. Actually, he took like one week to study all that stuff, however, maybe if he got the main historical events and explained how those affected the literature, architecture and worldview of each age, perhaps he could summon the main points of everything.

Another minute ticked by. Hero got his sandwich from his bag, already opening and taking a bite. Today was going to be a long day.

At least June was truly nice.

(...)

The thing about having Sunny as a neighbor is that sometimes he was just… there.

Hero, in his spot laid on the floorboards of his room - having fallen there after coming back from school and realizing that Kel was still out with the basketball group, - stared wide eyed at the deep dark eyes that curiously peaked at him from above. As soon as his brain clicked and he recognized the boy, however, his fast heartbeats began to calm down.

“Sunny!” He didn’t really want to get up, the cold floor soaking through his clothes and resting on his skin making all his muscles relax and keeping his mind from floating away. Still, he sat and turned around to stare at the younger with a pleasant quirk of lips. “Did you come to see Kel? He is still at his basketball practice. I am sure that you can still find him if you go to the park.”

Sunny looked back at him, his face was less pale and his movements less sluggish. It was good to actually see him more often, see the light come back bit by bit in his eyes. The same attentive eyes that fixed their attention at the taller boy, the silence stretching across the room before Sunny seemed to arrive at a conclusion, lightly nodding his head before popping himself on the floor right at his side.

He pulled his knees up and rested his chin on them and Hero opened his mouth, wanting, but not knowing how to explain that he really wasn’t a fun company right now.

“Heh. Sunny, I-”

A hand rested on his. The cold fingers patting his hand twice before a phone screen was basically shoved in his face.

Hero blinked, chuckled and adjusted himself to see what was on the device. It was a video of a small duck shaking himself and walking excitedly behind its owner with a light and quick ‘pap pap pap’.

He smiled, much more naturally this time, and pretended to not notice how thick with emotion was his voice. “This is cute.”

Sunny nodded, seeming content with himself, before turning back to watch something else. Probably more videos with ducks.

“Right.” Hero mumbled for anyone in particular. Deep breath. “Alright.”

Something hot ran across his cheek. And another. And another. And another.

It felt like burning, almost as bad as his eyes. Almost as annoying as the itch on his nose, the dryness of his throat.

Still, the floorboards were cold. They were brown and smooth and filled with dents wherever the tip of his fingers passes, result of years and years of both him and Kel having more accidents than the normal amount for two boys with inexplicable clumsy tendencies.

Still, there was a cold hand on his and the sound of puppies ‘yip yap yap’ and ducks ‘pap pap pap’ in the air smiling at it felt a bit easier.

 Breathe.

Hero stared at the ceiling for a pieces of minutes, letting himself slowly close his eyes as his breathing got slower. 

What a long day.

(...)

He opened his eyes, rubbing them and yawning as the consciousness slowly creeped back to his senses. His gaze travelled to the window, confirming that it was still afternoon and that possibly didn’t doze off for more than an hour. 

Stretching on the floor, the older one realized that Sunny was still there, unfolding from the tight ball he usually imitated when sitting down and answering his gaze with his own curious eyes.

Hero smiled.

Sunny was a good friend.

His smile quickly turned into a grin.

“Sunny. There is something on your face, come here for a second.”

One blink, two blinks, Sunny came closer. Hero tried to not let his plan ( or mischief) show too much on his face.

“Just a little bit closer.”

He opened his arms, Sunny moved to attend his request. Hero’s arms got closer and…

Bam!

*HERO captures you in a hug!*

With a squeak, Sunny trash for a second before realizing what was happening and letting himself fall on the floor with a small smile, amused titters making his shoulders bounce for a bit before he let himself be hugged like a teddy bear with no complaints.

“Thank you, Sunny. You’re a really good friend.” 

The younger boy didn’t answer him, but it didn’t matter. The silence that fell on them wasn’t in any way awkward. There was no need for words when all of his acts and little expressions showed how much Sunny cared.

Hero only kept him in the embrace for a couple more of seconds, giving the boy a quick squeeze before letting him go as a dazzling smile took over his face. Now it was time for him to show a bit how he cared about the younger too.

That was enough sulking for one day.

“Kel still hasn't arrived, huh? What if we both play a game then? I am sure we still have that old Spaceboy videogame where you can race his-”

“Another game.”

The voice was low, but for the way that made him immediately stop right on his tracks could be the loudest shout to ever exist. Hero tried to not let the immense wave of pride that filled his chest everytime Sunny decided to express his opinion show in his expression.

“Do you want to play another game?”

Sunny nodded, lightly pushing Hero’s shoulder so he would be laying down again. Hero let himself fall with an amused light in his face.

How could he deny that boy anything, really.

“What game is it?”

Sunny shrugged, as if not sure, he didn’t wonder about it too much, however, the shorter quickly calling his attention by lightly shaking his hands and lifting them. 

Hero tilted his head, confused and still amused. Kids nowadays are so fun.

Sunny repeated the movement.

“Ah!” Finally, it clicked. Hero lifted his own arms. Was this a new version of Worm? He and Kel used to play it all the time as kids, even though his mother never seemed excited in seeing her two sons wiggling around the floor like two invertebrate beings. “Like this?”

The younger nodded, patting the arms for a good measure and a clear message of ‘stay’.

Then he lifted his own hands again, Hero watched attentively, ready to follow the instructions to the next step of the game.

That was the moment Sunny shoved his hands on his sides.

The sound that came out of his mouth was a half gasp and a half squeal, arms immediately crashing down in an attempt to catch and stop the onslaught of squeezes and pinches that were being delivered all across the ticklish skin.

“Suhuhunny!!” As quick as the giggling came, it went away, being immediately replaced airy titters and low, almost inaudible laughter, especially as Sunny spidered his nimbly fingers upwards in order to escape the hands that tried to pry him away, each prod and poke on his sensitive ribs making the older one arch his back and let out a single high pitched squeak that made his entire face explode in warmth. “W-why!”

Sunny only hummed contently, letting his hands rest cozy and snug on his highest ribs, the tip of his fingers just scratching the tip of his armpits while the thumbs kneaded the ribs with energy. Soon enough more and more loud high pitched squeals and squeaks began breaking the quietness of his laughter only for Hero to descend right back and his hysterical airy giggles all over again, arms clued on his sides, torso squirming from a side to another in lazy, futile wiggles that did nothing to actually stop the sudden tickle attack.

“Got you.” Sunny’s voice was as calm as ever, with plenty of a playful joy blossoming on it freely. “I will steal all of your giggles for myself…” 

His attack went back to his sides, however instead of maddening squeezes or killer pinches, Sunny simply laid his hands on the skin and vibrated. 

Hero jumped, merely wheezing before inaudible snickers that made his shoulders bounce with giddiness bubbly right out of his lips.

“Got them. They’re mine now.” Hero almost wished that his laughter was as loud and boisterous as Kel’s just so it wouldn’t be so easy to listen to Sunny’s teasy remarks, which weren’t even that teasy in the first place, lacking the smugness Aubrey had during her tickle attacks or Kel’s mischievous pokes of fun, but his words right now sounded just so sincerely happy that all that Hero could do at the this was let out an embarrassing snort that made his cheeks even more warm, the gigantic smile plastered on his face getting wobblier.

Especially as he heard a voice from his doorway.

“Are we tickling Hero?”

The immediate cry of “No!” that flew from his voice was quickly subdued by the fact that the younger violin player decided to change his technique to a skilled scribbling that concentrated too much on the spot where his sides connected with his stomach to be a coincidence. The word died in the air just as Hero’s bouncy snickers got even bouncier and even snickery, Sunny’s affirmative hum instead filling the room.

“Great!”

“Don’t!” Hero managed to slip in between his chuckles, opening a watery eye just to face the one thousand watts smirk of his younger brother, a smirk full of promises of danger and his very immediate doom. His brain run though arguments to find anything, anything promising enough to discourage Kel from helping Sunny but all he got was the same mantra of “it tickles it tickles it ticklesitreallytickles” that scrambled his thoughts any time that wiggly fingers even looked at his direction. 

“I’m going to-” Wheeze. 

“I can’t-” Yelp. 

“When I-” A hiccup. More airy giggles.

Finally, he acquiesced, accepting his fate. “Plehehehease.”

“You’re tickling his sides? Nice idea, Sunny! That is a very good spot.” Kel carelessly threw his bag somewhere on the floor running to sit right at his brother’s sides, taking full advantage of the situation where Hero couldn’t scold him for that. “But you have to see his reactions when I tickle his legs! It’s like a super secret spot that can get him crazy every single time!”

Hero actually jumped when a hand lifted his leg, a few half-heartedly kicks with no real effort showing his struggle as he shook his head in protest.

“He always gets all squirmy when I do that but he never actually tells me to stop.” Kel ‘whispered’ (which, for Kel’s standard, was a lowered shout). “Even when he kicks me it’s so light that I can barely feel it. I think that he really doesn’t mind being tickled but I don’t tell him that I know or he would be really embarrassed.”

Sunny seriously nodded in understanding. Hero wondered if his face was trying to melt with how hot it was. Maybe if he tried enough he could be able to get that invisibility power he always wanted as a kid.

He kicked again. 

“Watch this.” Kel whispered to Sunny, who decided to stop his own attack so the taller could get some interrupted oxygen. Two sets of watchful eyes turned in Hero’s direction. “Ha! This one wasn’t even close, Hero. Try again!” And then Kel’s hand found his calf and began kneading.

The force of the crackle that was fished from his throat made Hero shoot his head backwards, arms failing around for a couple of seconds before he fell back on the floor, quiet, fast and impossible to hide began dancing around in the room like a sweet melody.

“Ok, ok!” Kel, like the little demon he is, laughed together with him. “Now you just need to do this and…” His fingers crawled a few inches closer to his knee, attacking the spot with squeezes and pinches non stop. A snort shot in the air. And another. And another. And another. “Tcharam!! A snorty piggie coming right up.”

“Kehehehel! Don’t!”

“Make me.” Kel raspberried at him, suddenly stopping the banter when he saw his neighbor moving like he was snatching something out of thin air. “Eh? Did you catch a mosquito?”

Sunny shook his head, a grin on his face. Hero turned his attention to him as well when the boy repeated the gesture.

“I am catching Hero’s snorts.”

“Ohohoho my gohohod.” Sunny telegraphed his movements enough that when the oldest’s protest began disappearing in a wheezy crackle he was already “snatching” it from the air. “Stohohohop!”

“Ah! I get it! But you can’t have only his snorts, Sunny. Look! I can make him do other sounds too.”

Suddenly there were scritchess and scratches worming their way on the extremely, awfully, horribly ticklish skin under his knee, giving every inch of it a special attention as more and more silly sounds fell in flocks from his lips.

“There is a giggle!”

“And a yelp!”

“Quick, catch this squeak, it’s already floating away.”

As Kel and Sunny kept their play pretend, Hero started to feel like he was going to explode, and, in an unexpected bound of energy the flew forward and catched Kel’s hands, holding them with a triumphant grin - which was cracking at the corners with leftover chuckles, it’s true, but still - as he stared down at the brother in front of him.

“Heyyy, Hero.” Kel smiled nervously. “I, huh, er, uh…”

“Hi, Kel.” He was careful enough to put a playful growl at the end of the younger’s name. “Missed your old friend, the Tickle Monster?”

“Eek! Aaaaah!! He is going to tickle me! Sunny!”

“Don’t worry, the Tickle Monster has two hands. One for each ticklish boOOOY!”

A sensation exploded across his senses. A buzzing that began in the back of his neck and spread like a tickly electricity across all his nerves, teasing his ears, dancing on his chin, zig zagging over his spine and humming over his torso.

“Yes! Get him, Sunny! More raspberries until the Tickle Monster is defeated!”

Quickly another raspberry followed the first, and then another and another over and over again, all of them unfairly attacking his unprotected neck. For a moment Hero lost himself in uncontrollable belly laughter, in smiles, in airy snickers, teetery titters and in a maddening sensation that made everything else but the constant idea that “It tickles!” disappear from his mind in a blink.

After some time, he was tapping the floor, happy tears running on his cheeks and a wheezy “enohohohough” flying from his lips as the tickling went away. Sunny running to stay at Kel’s side as his friend called him for a winning high five.

“We did it. We defeated him!” Kel’s excited voice made amusement fill his chest. Kids are so fun nowadays. “Your raspberry attack was a good idea.”

Breathe in. Breathe out. Giggle giggle giggle.

“But, eh, why were we tickling Hero?”

At this, Hero’s head shoot upwards, body slowly unfolding from the defensive ball it tried to mimic to watch Sunny with an equally curious gaze.

The shortest eyes glanced at his form for a bit, but before Hero could think anything out of it (was he going to tell-) Sunny just shrugged.

Silence.

“Ok! Hey, Sunny, since you’re here, we should play a game!”

Their neighbor grinned, just the tiniest tiny bit. 

Hero wondered if he, as a good older brother, should warn Kel.

“Do you have any idea of a good one?”

“I’m your brother!! You can tell me anything.”

“I know, but…it’s dumb..”

“Don’t say that, it’s not dumb at all stop beating yourself up!!”

“But it is!! It’s stupid & I shouldn’t even be upset about it-“

“Heyy what did I say? If you don’t stop bullying yourself you know what I’ll have to do!”

“What? No- don’t! Seriously it’s not even that big of a deal I’m just overreacting!”

“Come onn it’s brother tradition~!” Kel sang.

“No!!”

“Heroo~~” he raised his wriggling fingers & grinned at his brother, whose pout was now curling up at the corners to form a slightly nervous smile.

“K-Kehel dohon’t!”

“Don’t whattt?” Hero cringed as the younger grew closer.

“Tihickle me! WaIT-“

“If you say so!!” Kel quickly darted his fingers to his brothers sides, starting to squeeze & tase as the other burst into laughter.

“Nohohoho Kehel quihihit it!” He squirmed against the couch reaching blindly for the attackers wrists & sinking further into the pile of pillows under him.

Kel laughed along as his fingers crawled under Hero’s shirt & skittered across the ticklish skin, making the other squeal & kick adorably.

“KeHEL dohont it tihickLES- AHAH NOHOT THERE!” He squawked, barking out in loud laughter once his brother found his way up his ribs, circling around a sensitive hip with the other hand.

“I don’t know Hero, you seem to be enjoying this if you ask me!” He giggled at the other’s embarrassed face.

“Hey waHATCH it yohou little shihit” the older boy said as a seemingly empty threat, given his wide smile & bright red cheeks.

“Listen, I don’t know if this is just me but you don’t really look like you could do much right now judging by thAHAT FAHACE-“ Kel’s elbows shot to his sides once a sudden & unbearably ticklish sensation spread across his torso.

“WaiHAHAIT IM SOHORRY HehERO!” The teenager curled into a ball of snorts & cackles as his older brother spidered around his stomach, pinching gently at every sensitive spot he could find.

“I warned you!” He smirked as the other slammed his fist against the pillows & shook his chest with ticklish mirth.

“YoUHOURE SUHUch a diCK!” He screeched out.

“Oh I’m the dick? For getting my very ticklish brother back after being wayy too cocky??” He scribbled up the boy’s ribs, poking at his underarms.

“I’d say that’s quite reasonable.”

Kel’s laughter raised in pitch as he blabbered with giggles & petty complaints.

“..dihick”

“Okay, that’s it. You’re done, smiley.” Hero held the other’s wrists together in a loose grip, slowly bringing them above his head & hovering a hand over his now exposed underarms.

“Nononohoho dohONt thahats so bahad HEherO-!” The elder lowered his wriggling fingers closer to Kel’s death spot as he watched in fear & anticipatory belly laughter.

Before he stopped, & dashed to his stomach making him jolt his legs to his chest & whine, “Youhouhou fuhucker!”

Hero cackled at the miniature athlete’s response, asking, “What’s the magic word?”

Kel squeezed his eyes shut in embarrassment, “Ohoh my GOHOD”

“Go on~!” He traced a line up his flanks to his sides, tickling lightly up the other’s torso (which wasn’t helping.)

“Juhust do ihit! Hehero!!”

“Do whatt?” He grinned with affection.

“Tihickle meEHE!” Kel threw his head back in deafening laughter, howling once his brother began to scribble & drill into his worst spot. His face burned a bright pink, as much as his ego suffered he knew it’d cheer Hero up, it always did & that was what mattered. (He also loved it. A lot. But he’d never say that.)

A minute or two of 90 decible squeals & useless protests later, Hero finally let up & smiled at the ticklish giggling mess that was his brother, ruffling his hair as he held his sides with left over ghost tickles.

“Fuhuck you, man. Were you tryihing to kihill me or what?” He snickered.

“You asked for it! Plus, “it’s tradition” right?” He snarked, “pft-hehey get ohoff!!” Kel giggled mischievously as Hero pushed the sneaking hand off his side.

“You feeling any better?” He asked.