#nd!reader

You'd been standing frozen as you stared at the pathway that led to the front door of your childhood home, holding the last box of your valuables, yet to be carried inside. The house had received a fresh coat of paint, soft yellow in color, and in the window, you could catch a glimpse of the banner your loved ones had hung up in the living room.

~WELCOME HOME!~

the banner read, but you didn't feel welcome... The idea of that final trek up to the steps, felt akin to preparing to take the walk of shame. It was a shame you couldn't shake from your head. Despite your family being more than understanding, despite them, in a time where being misunderstood was running rampant like a plague, the shame you felt, the shame your mind haunted you with, would not shake.

The ringing in your ears, brought about by the complete silence that surrounded you, seemed so loud. It was so loud... so loud that you didn't even hear the rumbling engine of the van that had stopped on the street right behind you. As your eyes continued to stare forward, defocusing in the midst of your overthinking, you hadn't heard him calling out to you with concern lacing his voice.

The voice, now louder and closer, snapped you from your thoughts. "Hellooooo? Earth to strangerrrr!" You let out a shriek, body jumping violently before you whipped around and jumped a second time from how close he was, the box nearly slipping from your grip.

Before it could fall, another pair of hands were quick to steady it. You gazed at them, his fingertips nearly touching yours, and concluded that the silver rings that adorned them, along with the chain bracelet on one wrist and a watch on the other, seemed oddly familiar.

"I got you- it! I- got it- the box. Uh... Sorry about the scare. You were standing still an awwwfully long time. Are you good?"

"Y-Yeah... I-I'm... I'm okay..." The KISS shirt he was wearing caught your eye, though it was the black leather jacket and denim battle vest you knew you'd seen before. When you looked up at him to say thank you, the realization finally dawned on you. After the words left your lips, you were silent for a few seconds, gathering the courage to look into his eyes before you spoke again.  "Eddie...? Eddie Munson, r-right...?"

Eddie's brows furrowed curiously, initially wondering how you knew his name. The gears stopped turning in his head and he let out a gasp that startled you briefly. He raised his hand with his finger already pointed. "Wait a minute... Do my eyes deceive me, or am I currently face-to-face with Y/N 'The Wallflower' L/N, the most brilliant mind, in the Hawkins class of '84, who's sporting a mullet~?"

"W-Wallflower!? I... Is that what people called me...?"

Eddie chuckled and shook his head. "Noho! Nooooo~ I never heard anyone call you that, don't worry. I-I didn't mean that as a bad thing, promise. You were just... as quiet as a church mouse in school, and I- maybe heard you talk loudly like- once, so..." he shrugged, making sure you had a steady hold on the box before he crossed his arms and let his hands rest beneath his shoulders.

"...the mullet does look nice. Suits you. A lot, actually."

"Thank you." You hummed in acknowledgement, setting the box down beside you, rocking back and forth on your heels as you tried to think of what to say. The silence was painfully awkward, and your often very quiet neighborhood did little to ease the tension. 

Eddie opted to make another attempt at breaking the ice. "Have we- ever actually spoken to each other? Like, before now?"

"I..." you knit your brows as you pondered. You couldn't think back to a single time you two had spoken, and Eddie, who already knew the answer, was chuckling. "N-No... We dihidn't! Wait! Hohow?"

"Sahahame age, same grade, eheven had quite a few classes together, buhut we never had a conversation. Funny, isn't it?" He smiled impishly and leaned a little closer, his expression growing serious and his voice lowering in volume. "Were you afraid of me~?"

Were you? Had you been? Was he mad? Annoyed? The question gave you butterflies, and you quickly shook your head in a slight panic, worried he was truly upset with you as you struggled to read his tone. "What? No! I... I wasn't afraid, I just..." Your words trailed off upon seeing that he was laughing again.

"IhIhI'm just teasing you~" 

You could feel your face growing a little warm from embarrassment, eyes darting down to the pavement as you tugged on your sleeves. "Right... right... Sorry..."

Eddie tilted his head sideways as he waited for you to look up again, offering you a warm and reassuring smile, his hair beginning to fall in front of his face. You couldn't help but return it, before looking down at the box on the ground. "You back in town to stay? Or are you just visiting?"

The shame that had been churning in your stomach several minutes before, that for a short amount of time, lay dormant, bubbled up to the front of your mind again. "I... Um... I'm back in town to stay..." You were hoping he didn't ask you to elaborate further. Much to your relief, he didn't.

"Wellll, would you maybe... wanna catch up, or something? At some point? Y'know? IhI say catch up, when really we'd finally be getting acquainted. Maybe we can actually get to know each other?"

Eddie's question caught you off guard, and in the process, briefly interrupted your shame, and as your body responded to the sudden joy, you began to bounce on your heels. "Yeah! I-I'd uh... I'd like that, actually."

Your eyes seemed as though they'd lit up when Eddie caught a glimpse of them. He'd seen you happy stim before when you were in school together, but he'd never seen the endearing sight so vividly. His smile morphed into a grin and he nodded.

"Cool! Alright!" He clapped before pointing at you as he began to move backward toward his van, cussing when he nearly lost his balance upon stepping off the curb. "What do you say- SHIT! What do you say, we go grab some food tomorrow or something? I could pick you up. Maybe around four?"

"F-Four... yeah... Sounds like a plan!" You gave a rather awkward thumbs up, and Eddie laughed as he returned the gesture from his spot in the front seat, before giving a quick wave as he began to drive off. As your brain started to catch up with everything that had just happened, you blinked a few times, and took a breath before picking up the box.

You can do this... Last box... Your family's excited to see you... They're still proud of you... You're hanging out with someone tomorrow... You can do this... No shame... no shame...

Those words echoed in your head repeatedly. With one final inhale and exhale, you walked up the concrete pathway, and up your front steps.

***

Your eyes felt heavy as you attempted to talk yourself out of bed the following morning. You'd been surprised with your favorite dinner and dessert combo the previous night, which you accepted with hesitance. Not even your comfort foods could take your mind off of the impact of what you saw as your biggest failure. The sudden ringing of your morning alarm, made you violently flinch and scramble to hit the snooze. You'd woken up a mere three minutes before it had been set to go off.

Throughout the day, you felt as though you were losing yourself. It was as if your mind lagged behind your body. All you could think about, as you looked in the mirror and didn't quite see yourself looking back at you, was one word... failure... As time continued to tick by, you silently got ready, since somehow, you'd done nothing but blink and suddenly four in the afternoon was fast approaching. A soft, collared sweater was your top of choice, with comfy shorts of a soothing fabric.

"So, I ran into Wayne Munson at the market the other day." A family member said from the kitchen as you slowly put your shoes on. "Y/N, didn't you go to school with his nephew, honey?" 

At first, the question went through one ringing ear and out the other, but after a few seconds, you registered the statement.

"Y-Yeah... yeah... Um... I'm hanging out with Eddie today."

"Oh? Old school friends catchin' up? IhI'm not teasing, I'm genuinely curious."

You finished tying your shoes and stood up to grab your bag, settling your building anxiety by pinching the fabric of your sweater sleeve between two fingers. "We never actually spoke in high school... S-So, I guess you'd call it new friends getting to know each other... right?"

"I'd say so," your relative said with a smile on her face. "You put that rock I gave you back in your bag, right? The... what was it called...? Sensory rock?

"I got it before I came back downstairs. Thank you for the reminder." Your body jolted with a burst of adrenaline upon hearing the knock at the door. It hadn't been loud, or obnoxious, but your hypersensitivity was in full swing and it left you jumpy.

Eddie was all smiles when you opened the door, and gave a little wave with his hand as he greeted you. "Hihi. Ready to go?" The quiet thumping of your younger cousin running to the door had given you time to brace for them bumping into your leg.

"Mama! Are you and the rest of the grownups aware that a cute guy with funny hair is taking Y/N out?"

Eddie's brows knit together, but he began to chuckle. "Fuhunny hair?"

"They know! And I am a grownup!" You exclaimed quickly, shaking your cousin off of your leg and tugging at your sleeve as you moved to step outside with your former classmate.

An elderly family member guffawed from the living room, which travelled down the tall ceilings of the hallway. "Have fun, baby! Make sure Eddie says hello to his Uncle Wayne for me!"

"He knows my uncle?"

The answer to Eddie's question came seconds after he'd asked it far too quietly for anyone except you to have possibly heard him. "From work!"

"IhI will, love you all, bye!"

"You're gonna dip without introducing him?" Oh boy. You gave Eddie an apologetic look, but he only grinned as your little cousin led him to say hello to the rest of the house. You knew your family wasn't uptight or judgmental, nor did they buy into Satanic Panic, but still, your worries weren't eased right away. When Eddie ended up with an invitation to Friday's dinner and family game night, you knew right then and there that you'd had nothing to worry about after all.

Thirty minutes passed by, and when you'd actually stepped out the door to walk to Eddie's van, you took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry..."

"Don't be! Dohon't be. Your family's really kind." Eddie was smiling bright as could be, taking energetic and funky little strides toward the passenger side of the van, which he held open for you, offering his hand for support as you stepped inside.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure." Eddie hopped into the driver's side, resting his hand on the wheel. "So... This hangout is completely zero pressure and whatever you want to do, so... if you wanted to eat in somewhere, we could do that. If you want to get food to-go and just eat it wherever, I'm down."

The van was quiet as you pondered. "Um... C-Could we... Take our food to go...? And just be somewhere with less people...?"

"Absolutely, we can. You don't mind listening to Black Sabbath on the way, do you?"

Eddie's question had you smiling involuntarily, wrists shaking with suppressed joy. "Orchid is my fahavorite song."

His eyes widened, before his brow furrowed, head tilting in your direction, starting the car and pulling out a Black Sabbath cassette tape which he briefly fiddled with. "Are you telling me that not only is the Hawkins Wallflower sporting a mullet, but they're also a metalhead!?"

"Y-Yes...? Is that... a bad thing...?"

"No! No. IhIt's... it's wihihicked, actually! What uh, what other bands do you listen to?"

The entire time you were driving to get food, Eddie listened eagerly as you info-dumped about all the metal bands you listened to, and at one point, the two of you were head banging to Detroit Rock City, the music far too loud in your ears to be bothered by an elderly couple gaping in horror in the car next to yours.

Another half hour passed by after that, and as you held your food in your hands, the two of you trekked through the woods, venturing to your hangout spot of choice, Skull Rock. It was quiet enough, and oddly peaceful despite its eeriness. Despite the many moments of joy in the evening thus far had helped to distract you from your woes, they were still sitting at the back of your head. The ringing in your ears was still there. The pressures you felt were subconsciously building.

Eddie had been telling you about one of his concert experiences when the ringing became worse. He saw the way your stimming had changed, and recognized it as a sign of stress, one he'd noticed when your class was taking tests or if the room became too noisy.

"Hey. Y/N... are you alright?" It felt as though you were hearing Eddie from several feet away, instead of right next to him. You fiddled with your sensory rock, which sat in your open bag, and took a few seconds to ground yourself.

"Um... Y-Yeah... just... I know we're far from them now but... I was just, overwhelmed by big groups of people today... I-Including my family... I know that's mean to say..."

"Wehell, they love you, and you've definitely made them proud. They'll survive if you need a breather from thehem. I promise."

Made them proud... You didn't feel that way... not one bit... and it was eating away at you now...

"IhI... I don't know about that..."

"Are you kidding me? I can see in their eyes how proud they are!"

"They shouldn't be, Eddie... They really shouldn't." You could feel the pressure in your chest growing heavier the longer the conversation carried on. It became too much. You couldn't skirt around your guilt and shame any longer.

"What could you have possibly done that would make you think your family shouldn't be proud of you-"

"I didn't graduate!" Your outburst was just as surprising to you as it was to Eddie. He'd almost never heard you raise your voice above an indoor speaking level in school. "I-I'm so sorry... I... I didn't graduate college, Eddie."

Eddie smiled in disbelief at the sorrow in your eyes. "Thahat's okay-"

"No... No it isn't. Th-That's... This isn't okay..." You saw Eddie tilt his head in your peripheral vision.

"Do you... wanna talk about it...? Y/N...?"

"It's... so much, Eddie. I don't want to burden you with this. I-I... I really don't..."

You wanted to keep the shame to yourself. You wanted to. But you couldn't...

"Y/N. If you need someone to ramble to, about anything that's on your mind, I'm here. I'm sittin' right here, and I'm not going anywhere." The air was near silent, save for the distant sounds of birds calling to each other in trees, and the crunching of the grass beneath your shoes when you rocked your heels.

"I don't know what happened, Eddie... I... I fell behind in everything... The more time passed, the more I... the more I just..." The tears you had been fighting to hold back, the tears you had been trying to will away, to dry up and disappear, finally fell, and poured out in long streams down your cheeks. "The more I... thought th-that... things would be better... if... if I was gone..."

You hugged your own arms tightly and closed your eyes, too ashamed to look up at your former classmate while your body rocked back and forth.

"Y/N-"

"I spent everyday, of college... more high than sober... Every... hour... that I was awake, I was smoking weed," You rambled, leg bouncing rapidly and body moving in distress automatically. "I'm not ashamed of it, please don't think that I am... I'm not against marijuana usage or anything... I just... I wish it hadn't taken being high all the time, just to keep me here. It was... it... it was the only thing that kept me floating, when all I wanted to do, was s-sink."

Eddie was silent as he looked at you. Never in a million years would he have guessed you went through something like that. You'd always been hyper-vigilant about doing well in school, at one point a teacher even suggested asking you to tutor him. He'd had no clue how to approach you. Neither of you had even spoken to each other at that time.

He'd seen the brightness in your eyes the day you graduated. A student with highest distinction, accepted into your dream college and hopeful about the future, now broken and in tears with your future feeling like a lost cause. You realized he'd been looking at you, and you hastily wiped your eyes with a hollow laugh. "S-Some star student I turned out to be, right...? I... I only made it halfway..."

"Y/N-"

"I-I've embarrassed myself enough, Eddie... I don't... I don't know why you wanted to get to know me... This... This is me... I'm a college dropout... All my potential... it... it was wasted... It is wasted..."

Eddie couldn't let you continue on. "Can I tell you what I've been doing since you graduated, Y/N?" He waited until you looked up at him before he spoke again, and even then, he was silent for a few moments, wondering if what he said would provide you any comfort at all.

"E-Eddie...?"

"I've still been trying to pass senior year..."

"What...?"

Eddie leaned closer to elaborate. "Yeah... I was held back again. I'm the last person, who'd ever judge you for being a college dropout. You have nothing to prove, Y/N. You're... you're brilliant, alright?"

"You're wrong, Eddie. That's wrong. I-I... I'm not."

"Yes, you are-"

Your words came out louder than you'd meant them to through your pained sobbing. "No, I'M NOT! I-I'm not... I'm just living proof that church mice and wallflowers don't make it anywhere..."

Eddie's heart sank even more upon hearing those words leave your mouth. He began to wonder if that nickname had only hurt you more. In your peripheral vision, despite your tears blurring your sight, you saw Eddie offering a hand. With a deep breath, you took hold of it and squeezed it.

"I'm sorry, Y/N."

"For what, Eddie...? You didn't do anything wrong... I'm the failure here..."

"No, no... You're the farthest from a failure someone can be. I never meant to discourage or hurt you with those nicknames. If I'm responsible for shaking your confidence at all today, I'm sorry. You've been through enough and... I made that worse-"

"No, you didn't, Eddie. I swear, you didn't. I've... just spent a long time trying to keep myself hidden. I didn't want to be seen. I didn't want to be judged." You sniffled and wiped your eyes. "I'm just really surprised... I didn't expect to be seen by anybody... I-I really didn't expect it when you asked me to hang out, because it meant that you saw me... A-And maybe that scared me a little bit... But, I really don't mind the nicknames."

"Are you sure, Y/N?"

You nodded firmly, before lowering your head. "I guess... if anything... I-I'm... I'm embarrassed that you ever had to see me like this, Eddie..."

"Are you fuckin' kidding me?" Eddie saw your eyes water and quickly assured you he wasn't mad at you. "Wh-What I'm trying to say is... damn it... Have you seen me, Y/N? I can't tell you how many times I've felt the way you feel... You're looking at the guy who's barely about to, maybe, finally pass senior year and graduate. The obnoxious nerdy 'freak' who carries the weed he deals in his fucking lunch box. You will never, ever, hear any kind of shame, from me, toward you... 'Kay...?"

"Eddie... don't... you don't have to..."

"I'm not gonna give you the chance to feel embarrassed about crying in front of me!" Eddie argued. "So, come on! What's it gonna take to get you smiling again? To get that little fucker known as 'shame,' to leave you alone for a while?"

"I-I don't kn-know..." you sniffled, staring down at the ground beneath you, tugging on your sweater sleeves. A fresh wave of tears fell from your eyes and you sobbed into your fabric-covered hands. "God! I-I'm *hic* such a crybaby!"

"Nononono, no, Y/N! You're not a crybaby. Y-You're... you're processing something heavy and... dammit. Please, don't be so hard on yourself."

Eddie was growing more distressed by the second over seeing you so unhappy. It wasn't usually so hard for him to help someone feel better. He'd become a natural at it; an expert, even. But, your mind was struggling to believe any of his words, and that worried him. He sat in front of you, mindful not to touch you in case it would make you uncomfortable, as he did his best to figure out how to support you. 

"A hug? A stupid story? Give me something, please." Eddie moved closer, the panic in his voice evident as he tried to figure out how to make you feel better. Your sobs turned to quiet hiccups, but you struggled to think of something that could make you feel alright, and you silently shrugged, wiping your eyes. "Jokes? Funny voices? Stupid faces? Christ! I-I... I don't know what would help you, and I reallywant to help you... I don't want you to feel sad, Y/N. Shit... Tickling?"

He immediately noticed your breath hitch in your throat upon hearing his final idea, and he saw the faint hints of happy stimming in the way your body moved. Your eyes briefly shifted to meet his gaze, but as quickly as you'd looked at him, you looked away. "Hold on... what was that?"

"What? What w-was what...?"

"You know exactly fucking what~" Eddie pointed at you with a tiny smirk forming on his lips. "Are you ticklish, church mouse?"

"I... I-I don't kn-know!?" you stammered out, sniffling and wiping your eyes. "What d-does this have to do with- why did you-  I... I'm not-"

"Ticklish~?"

His sudden utterance of the word caused a squeak to leave your mouth. "Stop saying it!"

"Why? Is it giving you butterflies or something?" Eddie's tone was growing increasingly playful in nature, and he stood up, holding his hands up cautiously and pointing at you, eyes widening. "Carefullll~ They say there's a terrifying presence out in these woods. An all powerful being... A magic user... who replenishes his power, with the sweet... sounds... of... laughter~!"

You jumped when he leaned forward, inhaling with a loud gasp and tucking your arms close to your chest, a giggle slipping out. "Eheddie!"

"Shh! He can hear you~" Eddie whispered, looking around as though he were expecting something to jump out. "Some folks even claim, that he can possess whatever living human being he desires, to carry out his bidding~"

"E-Eddie..." 

"Something tells me he's been keeping a verrrry watchful eye... on a certain tearful hero, sitting juuuust beneath... Skulllll Rock~" When he suddenly turned to look at you, you couldn't help the stim that took over your hands, and you attempted to stay composed by once again tucking your arms close to you. He leaned closer again, crouching down so he was at eye level with you, and his voice became hushed and genuine in tone. "I'm not actually gonna do anything unless I have the alright from you. Okay?"

You bit your lip and pondered briefly. The shame was so trapped in your head, so heavy on your person, that you knew a major distraction was needed. Your brain needed to focus on something else. It needed to. With a deep breath, your leg bouncing rapidly, you looked up at him.

"I... I really need the distraction... You can... You can... you know... You have the alright from me..."

Eddie's eyes remained gazing at you, his expression seemingly stuck. You furrowed your brows curiously, tilting your head as you looked at your friend frozen in place. "Eddie...?"

All of a sudden, his eyes rolled back, he clutched his head with both hands, and keeled over with a roar, making you jump and shriek. "It's- GAHHH! He's... he's got me, Y/N! FUCKIN- CHRIST! Hurry! Run! Before he-" He let out a low and gravelly scream through grit teeth as he exaggeratedly writhed and kicked in the leaves on the ground. After a moment, his body was still, and his head whipped in your direction to look into your eyes with a blank stare, his lips having curled into a smirk. The expression on his face was nearing feral.

You felt your heart flutter and skip, still frozen where you sat. "Eddie...?" The moment he spoke, a wave of chills washed over your body. 

"I'm afraid you're mistaken, Y/N~ Eddie Munson is now merely a vessel, for the being only ever before described, as nothing. but. a. myth. You, my adventurous wallflower, are now face-to-face... with the Evilllllll... Overlorrrrrd..." he slowly lifted his hands before teasingly wiggling his fingers in the air, "...of tickling!"

The loud squeak you let out had been completely involuntary. Your eyes widened when he took a couple steps toward you, feeling the nervous laughter bubbling in your throat and up to the roof of your mouth. He suddenly lurched forward, with his hands resting on his knees, making you shriek and stim with your legs, your hands covering your mouth to muffle the giggling that he'd startled out of you.

"I have one question for you to answer~ Since it is evident that you are doomed to laughter, I'll let you make this decision for me." Eddie stood back up, and slowly paced in front of you, hands clasped behind his back. "You can attempt the hero's journey; run, hide, or fight... It doesn't matter in the end, but you can try it~ Or, you can continue sitting still, like you are right now, and accept your fate, instead of prolonging the inevitable. Which do you choose?"

"W-Whahat!?"

"Try and run, timid adventurer, or surrender to your destiny. Which. Do. You. Choose~?"

It took a few seconds for you to decide, and even then, you weren't quite sure what you were doing, but you slowly stood up, and began to back away, the sound of the leaves and dirt only amplifying in your ears due to yours and Eddie's silence. "Well then~ A chase it shall be~"

An evil cackle tore its way from Eddie's chest and echoed in the trees, which sent you squealing and running to the other side of the rock. You noticed a lack of running noises in the dirt behind you, and turned back. Eddie wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"E-Eddie...?"

You let out a loud and shrill scream when Eddie jumped in front of you with a startling cackle, wrapping his arms around your waist and wrestling you to the ground.

"EDDIE! You don't play fair!"

"Oh on the contrary~ I did chase you. I just never told you how long or short the chase would be~" He gently took hold of your wrists, and slowly moved them to hover above the ground by the sides of your head. "Now then- play along- I shall cast a spell, and pin these hands, right by your head."

As he emphasized the word, he set your hands down, and, to play along, you kept them there. He was taking his act so seriously that you almost wanted to laugh then and there.

"As evil a being as I am, it's still vital that you're feeling comfortable. If you do not feel alright with me using my hands directly on your skin, I'll respect your wishes." Despite still acting in character, you knew he was reassuring you that he would not cross any of your boundaries.

With a bite of your lip, and a timid huff, you averted your eyes at first, but, to make sure Eddie knew that you weren't feeling pressured, that you were okay with the slightly more intimate affection, you met his eyes once more and answered, awkwardly attempting to tell a joke in your response. "I don't m-mind... It's okay. I-I'm... kihinda... kinda fahahated to l-laughter either wahAHAYYY!"

You couldn't help the nervous squeak when Eddie carefully moved his hands under your sweater, feeling his hands just centimeters away from your torso. "I hope you're prepared to laugh hysterically, you endearing little church mouse."

His pointer fingers began to trace slow, light patterns up and down the skin on your sides, making your nerves jolt, the giggly whimper that left your lips causing you to swear under your breath with mild embarrassment. The smile on his lips was growing wider, dimples and all.

"Mmph- hmhm... ohoho nohohoho! Pffft! Shihihit! ShihIHIHIT!"

"Something tells me that you've just realized you're far more ticklish than you thought you were, my helpless mortal~" His tone was low, the vocal fry in his voice only making him sound more menacing. "I wonder if I... Ah? Ahhhhhh? Uh huhhh~"

He'd begun to brush more of his fingers over the ticklish spots, a grin creeping onto his face as he kept them wiggling agonizingly slowly. A small yelp leapt from your throat in response to the ice cold sensation of the rings making your nerves jump and causing goosebumps to form.

Eddie chuckled mischievously, the sound of which had your ears tingling and growing hot. "Dohohon't laugh! Thehe r-rihings a-are f-fREHEEZING! Mhmph!"

"You can't hold in all of your giggles forever, you darling mortal. Oh~? Another squeak? You do realize, I've only just begun, yes? This overlord has a loooooot of mana to recharge~"

Just as you opened your mouth to retort Eddie's cheesy theatrics, the ticklish sensation grew fivefold. 

"EheheheHEHEHEDDIEEHEEE!" A snort soon followed your loud cackle of laughter in response to Eddie spidering all of his fingers on the bare skin of your sides. Your shoulders pressed into the ground as your back arched, and you twisted your torso. "OHOHOH MYHYHY GAHAHAAWWWWD! *snort* SHIHIHIHIIIT! IHIHIHIT'S *hic* SOHO MUHUCH WOHOHORRRRRRRSE!"

"I'm afraid Eddie can't hear you, you giggly little mortal. Must I remind you, that he's been possessed by me~ And, the more you wiggle like a rabid earthworm, the worse it's gonna tickle~ Which is no issue for me, considering my magic replenishes eiiiiither wayyy~" How Eddie was taking his character so seriously, you had no clue. What you did know, is that your cheeks and ears were hotter than a flame, and your stomach had become a butterfly garden.

He snickered, watching fondly at how rapid your happy stimming had become. It was evident that you were trying your hardest not to clamp your arms down to your sides, as your arms twitched when Eddie moved to a particularly bad spot. "It seems that the ticklish mortal cannot withstand even a fraction of my attacks~ However, my spell doesn't appear to be strong enough to keep your hands piHIHINNED- HOHOLY SHIHIT! I was soho right~"

You'd let out a loud squeal and kicked your legs, unable to stop your hands from shooting down to instinctively hold onto Eddie's wrists as his thumbs dug into your hips. He watched you carefully, noting that you weren't actually trying to push his hands away, but you had tightened your grasp to bear with the sensation.

"NohoHOHOOOOAHAHAAAAA! *hic* STAHAAAAP!" 

Eddie stopped instantly, though he grew briefly confused by the near sad expression that graced your face. Christ, you were adorable, and he couldn't stop thinking about that fact. "You okay...?"

"I-I... I d-didn't actually mean..." You were growing embarrassed by your own words, and you partially covered your face with your hand. "I-It... U-Um... Reflex... F-Force of habit... I... S-Sorry..."

Much to your surprise, Eddie gently moved your hand away, and back down, holding onto it a little longer before he let go just so he could see you stim by running your thumb over his rings again. "Y-You... uh... want me to keep going?" When you nodded, he began to smile.

"I-I'll... f-figure out h-how to... tell you when I-I really c-can't laugh anymore..." Your avoidance of simply saying 'When it tickles too much' did not go unnoticed by your now-smiling new friend, whom you gazed at nervously as you waited for him to say something.

A screech left your mouth when Eddie's thumbs suddenly began digging into your hips again, cackling obnoxiously and making you scream a second time, giggles spiking in pitch and intensity. "PFFFHEEEEEEEEEEE! SHIHIHIT SHIHIHIT SHIHIIIIIIIIT!"

"As per your request, my darling giggly hero, though I may be an evil overlord, in the interest of ensuring you don't laugh yourself to death, I'll give you a lifeline~" Eddie paused his hands, but kept them on your hips, and though unmoving, you still felt the sensations and couldn't keep from squirming. "If you want to save your friend, Eddie, from my possession spell, and free yourself from my clutches, all you have to do, is say 'tickler, be gone!'"

"W-Whahahat!?"

Eddie hummed before his fingers moved to hover above your belly, where your shirt had ridden up from all the moving. "Three little words~ I know you can do it~ It doesn't have to be now by any means, however." He lifted his pinkie finger, before setting it down and lifting the next, smirking at the way your torso twitched each time he drummed his fingers over your skin.

Once you had looked up at him again, he winked at you, before rapidly clawing at your belly and grinning over how much you were suddenly happy stimming with your body.

"NOHOHOHOT *snort* FAHAHAHAHAIR! NONONONOHOOOO!" You began taking sharp gasps of air between your laughter, hiccuping and squeaking with utter mirth. It took nearly a minute to calm down when Eddie eased up to let you breathe.

The stray hiccupy giggles that came out with after each inhale were an utterly darling sound to Eddie's ears. "I think it's time I give your poor sides and tummy a bit of a break~ I've still got quite a lot of mana to recover. Though, lucky for you, that stray symphony of mirth that continues on even when I'm not actively tickling you, can still be fed on~"

Eddie's eyes softened at the giggly whimper that his statement drew from you. Your hands were hyper with giddiness, a stark contrast to your body, which had become relatively still (save for the rising and falling of your belly) in the leaves and grass as you awaited Eddie's playful attack again. You twitched and squeaked every few seconds when the grass brushed your sides.

"Perhaps I should tell you a little bit about myself, you giggly mortal~ Would you care to hear a little tale about the Evil Overlord of Tickling?" He teasingly wiggled his fingers in the air to add dramatic flair to his words. Despite your initial squeak, you shyly inquired.

"Whahahat ahabout hihim?"

"For many millennia, long before you and my current vessel even existed, the Overlord has been a very misunderstood creature. He's watched, as the fables, the bedtime stories, twist and morph to make him sound meaner, and scarier." You saw the corners of Eddie's mouth falling downward despite his attempts to fight it. He stared at the ground, clasping his hands as he rested his elbows atop his knees. "He began to internalize it... he stopped disputing the rumors and judgement that came hand in hand with it. He saw himself, as an outcast... a freak... a monster..."

Your brows were knit as your mind began to read between the lines. "W-Wait..."

"...but what they didn't see, was the broken soul... not understanding why he was shunned by everyone else... They didn't see him fighting hard to make sure he didn't end up like his father... Didn't see him trying to prove himself, to everyone... by not giving up, when he didn't graduate the first time..."

"Eddie..."

"They also never saw, that his desire to bring mirth and merriment to those around him, came from a place of not knowing how he could have either of those things, for many years of his early life..." Eddie cleared his throat and wiped his eyes, taking a breath as he willed himself to say what he wished to. "And the one thing, he wouldn't let them, nor anyone else see, was that the moment his eyes landed upon the ethereal... mysterious, wallflower... sitting at his table in his freshman year English class, the Overlord felt his heart fluttering. And that flutter, lasted for days... weeks even... months..."

You began to sit up, palms planted firmly in the grass, eyes wide, as you'd fully realized what Eddie was truly trying to tell you. "Eddie...?" He glanced at you, and you jumped, but you outstretched your arm, and timorously offered him your hand.

Eddie took a deep breath and chuckled when you began stimming with his rings once more, even using his silver chain bracelet every so often. "When the Overlord reunited with that wallflower, a few years later, and finally got to talk to them, well... he realized, that the fluttering had never stopped."

You were too nervous to speak, so you gave his hand a quick squeeze with the most mild strength.

"The Overlord just wants his new friend to know, that their value, and their worth, should not ever be determined by their shortcomings. No matter how many times people may have told them, or how many times they may have told themself..." 

"What if... what if it takes forever for the wallflower to believe that...?"

Eddie gave a soft smile and raised his brows before smirking at you cheekily. "I suppose that in the meantime, the Overlord will just have to make you giggle your troubles away~"

Your eyelids quickly lifted at those words, and you let out a loud squeal when he suddenly growled and wrapped his arms around your shins. "EHEHEDDIE! EDDIHIHIE! DOHOHON'T YOU DAHAHAHARE! EEEEE!" With a low stubborn grunt, you tried tugging one of your legs free and succeeded, but, it had been at the cost of one of your shoes, which Eddie tossed out of reach, leaving you with only a shin-high sock to protect from the playful attack.

"How many times must I tell you, mortal? 'Eddie' is currently occupied by an ancient tickling creature- GOTCHA!" He exclaimed, catching your ankle and locking it in his elbow with a triumphant guffaw. "WOAH! You kick me and that second shoe is coming off. IhI'm warning you~"

"Whyhyhyhyhyyy!" You half-heartedly tugged at your trapped ankle, one hand already happy stimming from the anticipation.

"Well, I was gonna go for your knees, but, uh... well, I'm not the one who yanked my own shoe off. Is it that bad a spot~?"

"IhI dohohon't kn-knohow!?" How convenient it was that seconds later, you did find out just how bad a spot it was. Eddie trailed one finger up your sock, eyes going wide when you let out a scream and snorted, slowly sinking back into the grass while your abdomen shook with hysterical giggles.

"So it appears the answer to that question was yes~ If one little trace along your foot through fabric is this bad? Well. That's just more laughter for me~"

"NononononoNONONOHOHO! OHOHOH MYHY GAHAHAWWWWDAHAHAHAAA!" It took mere seconds for you to be reduced to silent laughter when Eddie spidered all of his fingers along the bottom of your foot. You stomped your free foot on the ground, happy stimming in overdrive and hiccuping from your mirth. "EHEHEDDIE! *hic* IHIHI *hic* CAHAHAHAHAN'T!"

"Remember the spell if you need it, adventurer~" Eddie's sweet reminder had your face growing hot. "I must say though, I'd be quite content with tickling you to bits for the remainder of the day~"

"IhIhIt's sohohoho bahaHAHAaAaAD! IHIHIT'S SO BAHAHAHAD! IhIhIt TIHIHIHICKLES! AHAAAAAAA!" You let out a scream when he traced his fingers over the top of your foot. 

"HOLY- Wohohoah~ Really~? It tickles~? I'm baaaarely spidering my fingers~ Are you sure it tickles, you adorable mortal~?"

You had been far too giggly to notice that Eddie'd released your ankle, only to turn himself toward you and lock your legs with his in record time. "H-Hehey- Wahahait- wahaHAHAaAaAIT! Nohohot thehehere- EHEDDIE!"

"Evil. Overlord. Of Tickling." Eddie made sure you could see he wasn't truly mad despite his grit teeth. "You're in trouble, my adventurous wallflower~"

He spider-crawled his fingers up your legs at an agonizingly slow pace, making your hands flap rapidly as you giggled nervously. Your legs were covered in goosebumps and they twitched from the ticklish trailing. The moment his nails brushed against the skin on your thighs, right above the inner sides of your knees, your stomach turned with butterflies and your squeak echoed.

"Oh? Hmmm? UH HUHHHHH~!" Eddie chuckled darkly before grinning impishly over your reaction to the tickling. Your laughter was the most intense he'd ever heard, and for a split second, he was worried you might run out of air.

"OKAHAHAHAY!" You cried after a few seconds. "SHIHIHIHIT! *hic* OKAYOKAY! *snort* TIHIHICKLER BE GOHOHONNNNE!"

In an instant, like he promised he would, Eddie ceased the playful torment, withdrawing his hands and freeing your legs from his. He clutched his chest dramatically, rolling back his eyes before falling to the grass beside you, making a silly croaking noise that caused you to giggle all over again. Upon "waking up," Eddie grinned.

"Phew!" He wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead. "You banished him... But, considering you're giggling like mad and missing a shoe, it appears the Overlord replenished all of his mana by tickling you to tears before you could recite the spell, right~?"

You hadn't even noticed your tears of mirth, but hastily wiped them with your sleeve. When your eyes met Eddie's, you couldn't stop yourself from giggling even harder. He laughed softly, before offering his hand to help you sit up.

"I-IhI got it... Th-Thank you though, Eddie..." Eddie didn't take any offense, as you'd made him aware that you could get touch averse sometimes, and he was more than understanding that all the tickling must have been a lot to deal with.

"How are you feeling...? Honestly?"

"Gihiggly... but... behehetter than I've felt in years..." Your admission was genuine, and out of the corner of your eye, you saw Eddie beaming at you. "Thank you... IhI mean that... Thank you, Eddie..."

"Of course, Y/N. I gotta say, it's awful cute that you like tickles too."

"T-Too? Wait- You..."

"Yes. I'm well versed in the art~" Eddie said with a dramatic voice that emphasized how much of a nerd he was. "Got this whole 'Munson Doctrine of Tickling.' Kihidding. I dohon't have it. Not on paper at least~"

You hid your face in your hands momentarily and playfully swatted Eddie's leg. After a few minutes, as the two of you settled down, you found yourselves leaning on each other, the sky orange as the sunset was fast approaching, air feeling a little colder than it did half an hour earlier.

"Eddie..."

"Hm?"

"I-I'm sorry I didn't say this before, but..." you took a breath, and bounced your leg to recollect your thoughts, "...thank you, for opening up about yourself... You didn't have to... I'm- I'm glad you did, don't get me wrong, it's just that- well... I appreciate your vulnerability. And, I want you to know, that you've brought me a lot of joy in the one day I've spent with you so far... so, I know that the joy you bring everyday to people who know you the best, is too great a number to count. I-I want to help in some way, with anything, because I'm really thankful for you, so... if you did still need a tutor, I could... I mean... What I'm trying to say is... you're wonderful, and you deserve wonderful things... You're not a freak, Eddie, and I wish more people truly knew you..."

Your heart was racing, as you were fearful your words didn't come out right, but when you found the courage to look up at him, his large, brown eyes were softer than you'd ever seen them before. "I will absolutely take you up on that tutoring offer."

"R-Really?"

"Can we count it as a study date~?"

Your brows furrowed momentarily, and Eddie had to resist the urge to poke your nose. "Study- Wait... Do you like me...? I-I... I think I understood when you were telling the story, but... I don't want to have misread your tone..."

"Yeah... I... I do like you. I could see you, Y/N. I did, see you. I just, didn't want you to be frightened, by me-seeing-you. You, uh... looked a bit like a deer in the headlights whenever our eyes mehet in school." Eddie chuckled quietly, before leaning close to you. "You sure you weren't afraid of me~?"

"I wasn't afraid! I- Hey! Y-You're teasing..."

"IhI am. But not about liking you. So..." He bit his lip, and looked toward the setting sun. "Is there any specific time your family's expecting you back home by?"

"I-IhI, uh, never told them a time..."

"Do you... uh... wanna make the rest of this day a first date... maybe?" You could hear nervousness in his voice, and it left you momentarily flabbergasted. If the orange glow of the sunset had not been so strong, you would have seen the red adorning his cheeks.

Your heart was racing, body overtaken by the urge to happy stim, and you welcomed it with a nod of your head and a simper on your lips. Though you had a long way to go before the burden of failure would be lifted from your shoulders, for the rest of that day, your shame was nowhere to be found.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EEEEEEEEEE 😖💕 FIRST FULL LENGTH EDDIE FIC ON THE BLOG 🥳 I hope this was worth the wait. I'm back in business and the Eddie Munson content train is a rollin' 🥰 (This fic- was so FLUSTERING TO WRITE AGSHHDJFJFJF)

I sincerely hope that this made y'all feel some joy today. You deserve joy, and you deserve to feel proud of yourself. I'm proud of you /gen /p

Love you all!

The nights Y/N had to fall asleep without Bucky at their side were the hardest nights for them. Though they were also an Avenger, they often needed longer recovery time after missions. The team was always understanding, and never made Y/N feel weird, strange, or ashamed about their neurodivergence. However, because they needed longer to recover from missions, it meant that there were often nights where their boyfriend was out on the field.

As much as Y/N tried to mask just how much being apart from Bucky affected them, they'd often find themself tearfully curling up in bed with one of his shirts, slowly brushing their fingers over the fabric to soothe themself. All of Bucky's shirts were absolute sensory haven for them. Well, except one. One of them had a texture that physically hurt Y/N to touch. That was the shirt Bucky never wore again. He adored it when Y/N stimmed with his shirts and didn't want that to change.

After a long night, Y/N was still sleeping, exhausted from their earlier hours lying awake, struggling to get to bed without being able to snuggle with Bucky. When Bucky arrived back home, he quietly entered his and Y/N's shared room. He anticipated that they'd be sleeping, and his guess was proven correct when he saw Y/N fast asleep, their bonnet slightly pushed up from their head, still clinging to one of his shirts.

A warm smile grew on his face at the sight. Once he'd closed the door, he slowly walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge of it and leaning over. "Rise and shine, dollface," he uttered softly.

Y/N groaned quietly, stretching their body, Bucky's heart melting at the quiet sleepy squeaks that left their mouth, before slowly opening their eyes. The smile that formed on their lips was instantaneous, and their hands began to stim with joy.

"Bucky~!" They sang sleepily, opening their arms and reaching up to him. They giggled when Bucky wrapped his arms around their upper body and helped them to sit up, hugging them lovingly and pressing kisses to their cheek, taking a brief second to straighten their bonnet with his non-metal hand.

"How'd you sleep?"

"Not too well..." Y/N admitted. "I got really sad..."

The super soldier could see his partner's tired, puffy eyes, and he frowned, his brows furrowing sadly as his worries were indeed confirmed. "Oh doll, you were crying when I called last night... weren't you? I had a feeling, but I didn't want to make you more upset by pointing it out..."

"Can you hold me?"

"Of course I can."

Bucky pulled them into his lap, and Y/N buried their face in his chest. They tried to apologize, but Bucky softy interrupted them with reassurance.

"Y/N, you don't need to be sorry for anything. It's normal to be sad when we're apart. Especially in our line of work, I know it's really scary to be apart from each other." He smiled softly upon noticing Y/N slowly brushing their thumb over the ridges in the collar of his tee shirt. Bucky was absolutely smitten. "Lean back for a sec. I've got an idea."

Y/N looked at him curiously, breath hitching when he took off his shirt. They instinctively averted their eyes out of pure shyness, and Bucky chuckled softly.

"You're adorable, doll. C'mon. Shirt off."

"W-What for?"

"It's a surprise. A really good one."

With a breath, Y/N pulled their shirt over their head, only to be immediately engulfed in Bucky's tee shirt, which they pulled down over their head before putting their arms through the sleeves. The growing smile on their face was very hard to miss, and with a giggle, they stimmed happily.

"Youhou were right," Y/N relented with a hum of content. "It smells like you. I like you. Well- I love you. But I also like you."

"I love and like you too," Bucky stated, throwing on a different shirt. "How are you feeling about physical touch right now?"

Bucky was well aware that Y/N could grow rather touch averse at times, so he often waited for them to initiate hugs and snuggles. He wanted to be as attentive to their boundaries and as understanding a boyfriend he could be on the topic of their neurodivergence.

Y/N bit their lip and squirmed a little, averting their eyes as they mustered up the courage to answer. "I... I really need a laugh, Bucky."

Bucky grinned knowingly, before he suddenly began peppering several kisses along their neck and jaw. They immediately squealed, hands rapidly moving toward and apart from each other as they began giggling. "Buhuckyyy!"

"What's got you in such a giggly mood so early in the morning, babydoll? Does it tickle~?"

"Youhouhou ahahahalreheheady knohow thehe ahahahansweheherrr!" Y/N squeaked, shrieking when Bucky gently tackled them back onto the mattress. "BUHUHUCKYY!"

Bucky had known Y/N long enough to notice the way they happy stimmed rather intensely whenever he playfully poked their side or planted little kisses on their neck. The day he blatantly asked Y/N if they liked being tickled, they grew ashamed and tried to hide their face in their hands, but Bucky stopped them. When he noticed their watering eyes, he was very quick to reassure them.

"That's not a bad thing, doll. Hey... You don't need to feel ashamed about this, alright?" He insisted softly, gently brushing their tears away with his thumb.

"But I do..."

"Please look at me? Just for a moment?" Bucky's voice never failed to make Y/N's heart flutter, and they silently looked up into his eyes. They were a bit taken aback by how smitten their boyfriend looked, and couldn't stop the smile from forming on their lips.

"Why are you looking at me like that...?"

"You set the bar for being charming astronomically higher every damn day, you know that?"

"B-Bucky..."

"I'm not gonna lie, the fact that you like being tickled is so damn adorable~"

"Buhucky!"

"Do you not believe me?" Bucky questioned, raising an eyebrow when his lover shrugged. "Am I gonna have to tickle you and prove it?"

Y/N had squeaked as Bucky gently but quickly pulled them into his arms and tickled them silly, all the while affirming how precious he thought it was. By the time he was done, his partner was far too giggly to feel sad or ashamed, and Bucky promised he'd tickle them to pieces whenever they wanted. "I really need a laugh," was in fact a less embarrassing way for Y/N to ask Bucky to tickle them, though it still flustered them to high heaven to just say that.

"Look out, doll!" Bucky exclaimed playfully, gently pushing up the shirt of his that Y/N was wearing until their tummy and lower ribs were exposed to the slightly chilled air. He slowly and teasingly wiggled his fingers as he used his metal arm to keep himself propped up, and Y/N squirmed with a loud squeak.

"B-Buhuhuckyyy! Nohohohooo!

"Oh yes, dollface. You said you needed a laugh." Bucky's hand moved closer and closer, but he paused just as his fingers were above Y/N's belly.

Y/N whined and squirmed from the building anticipation, happy stimming giddily and giggling nervously.

"Gotcha!" Bucky exclaimed suddenly, making Y/N scream and burst into high pitched laughter as he spidered his tickling digits on their belly.

"BUHUHUCKYYYYYYYY!"

"Damn I missed this. I missed you. I gotta make up for three missed days of tickling you silly," Bucky stated, sitting up and tauntingly wiggling his fingers.

"Nohohohoooo!"

"Yes yes yes I do~" the super soldier sang, spidering his fingers up Y/N's sides and chuckling at the giggly screech they emitted. "Did you get more ticklish since I've been gone~?"

"Nohoho teheheheasihihiiiiing!" Y/N whined, squirming and kicking their legs. Bucky grinned, before he slowly and mischievously walked his fingers up his partner's sides. They knew what he was about to do and bit their lip with a squeak, before they screamed in response to him fluttering his fingers at the spot where their underarms and ribcage met. "NohoHOHOAHAHAA! Stohohohohop ihhihit!"

"Aww, does it really tickle that badly, babydoll?" He asked softly, laughing when they nodded. "Feel free to stop me anytime then. That is, if you really want to stop me~"

Whenever Y/N rapidly tapped on his shoulder, arm, or leg, or said a specific word, that was their signal for him to stop. He'd realized that whenever they told him to stop, they never meant it, as was shown by the few times he did stop and they grew sad that he did. After that, the two came up with a different way for Y/N to communicate when they actually wanted him to stop.

He never pinned their hands when he was tickling them to make sure they could tap his shoulder if they were laughing too hard to say the word. He also knew it was the body part they used most often for stimming, and truthfully, seeing them happy stim from the tickling made his heart soar. In response to Bucky's reminder, Y/N only hid their face behind their hand and giggled more. They didn't want him to stop yet.

"Hey. Arms up, doll. No hiding," Bucky insisted, grinning when his partner whined, but complied. "You're too damn cute, you know that? Come on. Which spot am I tickling next, hm?"

"Dohohon't mahake mehehee choohoose ihihihihit!"

"Tell me~" Bucky sang.

"Ohohokay! H-Hihihips..."

"Oh? Have your hips been missing the tickles, dollface?" Bucky teased playfully, before ever so gently kneading his thumbs in circular motions right on Y/N's hipbones.

The snort that left their lips, followed by high pitched shrieks, had Bucky dissolving into sonorous laughter, absolutely smitten by the adorable human giggling beneath him.

"Why are you laughing~?" He teased, the smirk on his face making their heart flutter. "Come on, doll. Talk to me."

"Pihihihis ohohoHOFFF!"

The super soldier moved his hands to their waist and kept them dead still, leaning closer to their face so his nose was touching theirs. Y/N was still giggling nervously, waiting in agonizing anticipation for his next move. His smirk grew upon feeling the warmth radiating from their cheeks. When his eyes met theirs, they had to fight to stay looking at him. Bucky knew he'd flustered them good and he loved it.

"That wasn't very nice," he growled playfully. His gravelly tone of voice shot shivers up Y/N's spine and they squeaked. Bucky's voice immediately lost the low rasp as he began laughing. "IhI dihihidn't doho ahahanythihihing!"

"You knohohow damn well whahat you diiiid!" Y/N whined, hiding their face in their hands before playfully and lightly swatting his shoulder. "Youhouhou always do thiiis!"

"It's not my fault you melt at the sound of my voice~" he muttered, leaning close to their right ear. "Like when I get real close, and you start squirming- lihihike that~ And I know you love when I talk about how much I love hearing you laugh, and how I can't get enough of those adorable squeaks coming out of your mouth right now~"

"S-Stahaaap! IhI'm g-gonna melt..."

Bucky grinned and propped himself up again, brushing his non-metal hand across their cheek. He felt how warm their face had grown from his affections and bit his lip with pure adoration. Y/N simpered, joy evident on their lips, and hummed happily at the cool feeling of Bucky's hand caressing their burning face.

"I love you, Y/N. I love you so much."

"IhI love you too, Bucky Barnes."

"Mind if I give those lips a kiss?"

"Not one bit."

Bucky quickly, but delicately, crashed his lips onto theirs, grinning into the kiss when Y/N beckoned him even closer for a hug. "I don't wanna crush you, babydoll."

"You won't," Y/N argued. "I trust you, Buck."

Y/N knew their trust meant everything to Bucky. He'd been terrified of possibly hurting them many times, even before they began dating, but Y/N wasn't afraid. They adored him, and they loved him. On the nights he'd opened up about how broken he still felt about his days as the Winter Soldier, about how he was still terrified of hurting them, his partner gave him gentle reminders that he and the Winter Soldier were not one and the same; they would never be.

"I may not crush you, but you know what I will do~?" His tone grew playful and he propped himself up again, hands moving back to Y/N's sides. They'd already begun giggling, their hands happy stimming in anticipation.

"W-Whahat are you gohonna do?"

"Continue tickling the hell outta you~" Bucky spidered his fingers over the skin on their flanks and made them scream, the sensations shooting around to their back, setting their torso alight with ticklish sparks.

"NohonohoNOHOHOHAHAHAHAAA! THAHAT'S SOHOHO UHUHUNFAHAHAIR!"

"Is it really unfair if you love when I do it~?" His teasing was driving them mad, but he was right. Y/N bent their legs up toward their sides defiantly in a half-hearted attempt to shield them. "You know, if you wanted me to get all the tickle spots on your legs, you could have just said so."

"Hehehey! Buhuhuck! Dohohon't youhouhou d-doho ihihit! Nohohot thehehehehehere!" They squealed, laughter jumping up an octave at the mere sight of Bucky's hands moving around, playfully hovering over different spots just to keep Y/N on edge.

When his hands finally stopped at their ankles, they immediately squeaked out a panicked giggle.

"Uh oh~" Bucky sang, his grip on their ankles tightening the slightest bit.

"Buhucky! Dohohon't eheheven thihink ahahabouhout ihihihit!"

"Too late~" The super soldier turned and looped both of their ankles carefully in the crook of his vibranium arm. "You're in trouble, doll."

"Nohohooo! Dohon't youhouhou dahahahare!"

"Oh I dare."

Y/N's happy stimming was in overdrive, and they screamed the moment they felt Bucky's wiggling fingers playfully attack one of their worst spots. He laughed heartily, glancing back at them with a cheeky grin and switching to slowly dragging one finger up their right foot. The timid Avenger only laughed harder than before, letting out strings of incoherent pleas and hiccupy giggles.

"I'm barely touching you!" Bucky exclaimed in pure amusement. "You are without a doubt, the most ticklish person I have ever known in my life."

"BUHUHUCKYYY!" They whined. "P-PLEHEHEHEAAAASE!"

"Please keep tickling you silly? Anything for you, babydoll~"

"Youhou're suhuhuhuch a jehEHERK! Thihihihis ihihis soHOHO MEHEHEAN!"

"Aw. Too mean for you? Hm?" Bucky cooed, lifting and turning his head to look Y/N, briefly mimicking the adorable pout on his partner's face that only lasted a few seconds before their smile broke out again accompanied by a screech of laughter. "Can't handle the tickling~?"

"Noho teheheasihihiiiing! OHOHOHO MYHYHY GOHOHOHODAHAHAAAA! NOHOHOHOHO!"

He released their ankles after a couple more minutes, giving them a moment to catch their breath and offering them their water from the bedside table.

"Thahanks, Buhuck..."

"Are you okay?" Bucky asked softly, setting the water back once Y/N had taken several sips.

They nodded, relaxing back into the sheets and pillows with a giggly sigh. Bucky saw the giddy look on their eyes, and chuckled. All it took was him slowly lifting his hands into view, and ever so slightly twitching his fingers to make his partner flinch and squeak with giggles. He moved closer, fingers forming claws.

"Have you not had enough tickles yet? Hm?"

Y/N's only response was bashfully hiding their face with a whine, and the moment they peeked through their fingers, Bucky's face was close to theirs. A startled gasp left their throat and they were thrown back into high-pitched cackling the moment Bucky rapidly but very gently squeezed their sides, uncovering their face instantly.

"What'd I tell you about hiding?" He teased, hands switching quickly to their ribs, and then their hips, before he spidered his fingers on every inch of their belly, the shirt of his they were wearing having ridden up from all of their squirming. The gesture had Y/N screeching, back arching and feet lightly slamming against the bed as they kicked their legs.

"IHIHIHI'M SOHOHOHORRYYYYYY!"

"I'm afraid the only way to apologize to a tickle monster is to get tickled into oblivion, dollface."

Bucky slowly walked his fingers down their sides, giving their hips another squeeze and grinning when Y/N bucked beneath him, before trailing down to their thighs. He paused, and Y/N squealed.

"Noho!"

"Yes~ You think I was gonna forget about these adorably ticklish thighs of yours?"

Y/N bit their lip and swore they'd suppress their laughter, but that plan fell apart the very second their boyfriend traced over the skin with the lightest touch. Even that was enough to make them yelp.

"BuHUHUCKY!"

"You can stop me anytime you want, doll." Bucky's reminder and flirtatious wink only served to make their face grow hotter, as it simply emphasized the point that Y/N was wholeheartedly enjoying getting playfully wrecked and hadn't actually signaled for him to stop doing so.

"DohOHON'T wihihihink ahahat mehehee whehehehen youhou sahahay thahaaat!"

Y/N's voice was the highest pitched it could possibly be, and Bucky's heart melted.

He smirked, trailing his fingers to the spot where their inner thigh met their knee, and Y/N knew they were absolutely done for. It was without a doubt their worst spot.

"Buhuhucky Baharnes, dohohon't youhou fuhuhucking dahare!"

"Is this spot really this bad every time?"

"Yehehehes! Youhou jahahahackahahass!"

"You need to watch your language," Bucky growled, the gruff tone of his voice making Y/N squeak loudly. They didn't realize just how intense stomach butterflies could get until they started dating Bucky.

"W-Wahahait! IhIhI'm sohohohorry! I-IhIhI'm sohohorry, PFFAAHHAHAHAAA! NONONO NOHOHOHOHOOO! BUHUHUHUCKYYY!"

Y/N's laughter was full on high pitched screaming, interrupted by deep gasps and snorts, followed by the occasional giggly whimpering. It took less than a minute for them to finally relent and reach up to tap Bucky's arm. He immediately stopped, chuckling when his partner dropped back onto the mattress and clutched their torso, still giggling despite their temporary breathlessness.

"Had enough~?" Bucky teased, grinning at the rapid nod in response. He moved to lay beside them, head propped up on his vibranium arm as he carefully wiped away their tears of mirth and turned their head to look at him. "Are you okay?"

Y/N nodded, hands stimming with the collar on their boyfriend's tee shirt. Bucky pressed a gentle kiss to their temple.

"Thahank you, Buck. IhIhI... really needed that," they whispered, before biting their lip. "Could... could we... um... a l-little later could you... y-you know..."

"Tickle you again?" Bucky questioned knowingly, laughing softly when Y/N bit their lip and nodded. "Of course I can, doll. How are you feeling about touch right now? I know tickles can often fill your physical touch limit."

"I'm more than okay with it, Buck." They answered with a warm smile. "I-I've missed three days of your physical affection."

"Alright. Snuggles sound good?" Bucky asked softly.

"Mhm," Y/N affirmed, turning to move into the super soldier's arms. They rested their head in the crook of his neck, and hummed with content as his arms wrapped around them.

"I love you so much," he whispered.

"I love you too," Y/N sighed, closing their eyes and taking a deep breath.

"Your hair smells really nice." Bucky muttered. "Well, I'm smelling the bonnet- but I know it's what your hair smells like too. It's nice. It smells nice."

Bucky was adorably awkward when it came to the topic of Y/N's hair.

"Thahanks, Bucky. I did wash day yesterday..."

"Can't believe I missed wash day."

"IhIt's okay. You'll be here next week for it."

"So, is it new style time today?"

"New style time indeed."

"What style do you have in mind?" Bucky asked. He absolutely loved watching Y/N style their hair, having gotten to the point of doing so often enough that Y/N let him help them take out their protective styles.

Y/N found it charming how invested he'd get in learning about their hair, and eventually offered to teach him how to style it. Within a week, he knew finger coils and two strand twists. He was getting the hang of cornrows, slowly. Whenever their hair was all styled or done up for the day, he knew not to touch it, and never asked to. Sometimes, however, Y/N would let him gently feel their styled hair with his fingertips. The first words out of his lips were always the same.

"You look so amazing."

"I'm gonna do (D/C) box braids this time. I've got all the stuff for it already."

"Do you think... Can you please teach me how?" Bucky was damn adorable.

"Yehes, Buck. I'll teach you. No part two to the butterfly loc attempt though, right?"

"No... no part two. Promise." It hadn't been the most disastrous, but Bucky had somehow gotten the one loc Y/N let him try to do sticking straight up. He'd panicked and apologized profusely, but Y/N just began giggling, and undid the loc with ease before fixing it, assuring Bucky it was okay.

"Good try, Buck. Let's get some easier styles mastered first, yeah?"

"Youhou're so cute," Y/N giggled. "I love you."

"I love you too," Bucky said softly. "I'm excited to spend a whole week home with you."

"Wait, what? R-Really?" Y/N piped up.

"I forgot to tell you when I first came in, I'm taking the week off and you're doing it with me." The super soldier heard the gleeful giggle from his partner and grinned.

"Luhucky me," they hummed.

"Lucky you indeed~ Seven whole days of being tickled to tears by your boyfriend~" Bucky teased, briefly wiggling his fingers right at the spot where Y/N's jaw met their ear and grinning at their squeak. "In all seriousness, I'm the lucky one. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, dollface. I don't know how I got so lucky."

"Lucky us that we met each other," Y/N stated, nuzzling his neck. "But if you want to know what got me... it's your kindness, your love for people, your awkward charm, and your heart, that had me catching feelings for you, hard. Everything about you makes me melt, Bucky."

"Y/N..."

"I mean it, Buck."

"I know you do," Bucky affirmed with a grin. "You just make me so damn happy. Every single thing about you makes my heart race. You make me so damn nervous sometimes you know? That's how much I adore you. God- you're so gorgeous and sweet... I'm getting nervous."

Y/N was giggling as they moved their head back so they could see Bucky's face. His cheeks and ears had grown redder. "H-Hi." He greeted, a bit taken aback by his lover being so close to his face.

"Hi."

"Have I ever told you that you've always got this beautiful glow to you? Y-You sure you're not secretly an angel?"

The super soldier's nervous flirting was Y/N's favorite. In the occasional moments where Bucky grew more shy than them, they did everything they could to fluster him further.

"Kihiss me, Buck," they giggled, and Bucky was quick to oblige, cupping their cheek and humming happily. The two of them were content to spend the rest of the morning snuggling close, both feeling safe in each others' arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bucky. Barnes. That man makes me swoon. Also, this is my first fic writing for Bucky so I'm kind of nervous 👉🏾👈🏾 I'm just so soft over the idea of Bucky reminding reader in a playful but genuine and caring way that their boundaries will be respected the second they're set. Black ND fic readers, this one was for you ❤️ I wish you joy, all the happy stimming in the world, and absolute sensory haven each and every day!!!

Spencer listened intently as his partner rambled on about their love of the movie, "Fantastic Mr. Fox." They'd mentioned how much they adored stop motion films and Spencer had suggested the two curl up under blankets and watch one for a night in movie date. After Y/N had a bit of a dilemma with which film to show Spencer first, they were finally able to select the movie after using a randomizer.

"One of my favorite things about this movie is the color scheme throughout," Y/N said with a smile. "The warm tones are just so soothing and I love how consistent they are in every scene, even when it's night time. I feel so cozy, and bubbly, and warm. I just realized I stim a lot during this movie."

"You know, warm colors tend to be ones more associated with energy and feelings of happiness, so given this movie is one hour and eighty-seven minutes of warm tones, it makes sense that you stim a lot," Spencer interjected, a grin forming on his face when he saw that the tables had turned and Y/N had become the one listening intently, both of them stimming in different ways with their hands. "Not to mention, it's a movie you love."

"That makes perfect sense, Spencer,"

Y/N affirmed.

Spencer chuckled, before his smile faded as he began to ponder. "Y/N, there's something I've been meaning to point out for a while. I noticed it the very first day we met."

He saw the slight change in Y/N's expression and knew they were nervous as to what it might be. They weren't sure if it would be a good thing or a bad thing and it made them nervous. The genius was quick to reassure them, and gently offered his hand to them, which they accepted. The gesture was not one Y/N ever took for granted.

"It's nothing bad, button, I promise. It's just that," Spencer paused when his smile grew wider, "out of everyone at the bureau, you've been the one person who's never interrupted or stopped me from rambling or sharing so much information in a short amount of time. You always look intrigued and interested to hear what I have to share."

"Because I am," Y/N stated. "Spence, I've infodumped my whole life, and for a long time it felt so embarrassing. Then, I met you, and I began to feel comfortable and less embarrassed about it. You helped me to feel okay with it just by talking to me. Plus... you were the first teammate I told about being neurodivergent... Albeit unintentionally, via oversharing infodump, but your reassurance helped me feel better about telling the rest of the team. N-Not to mention, you being neurodivergent too just makes me feel so safe when I'm around you."

When Y/N heard the sound of Foxy whistling on screen, the beginning of his trademark, they made the clicking sound that followed in time with him, before repeating the sound a few seconds later. Spencer smiled, still holding their hand, before inviting them to lean on him, opening his arms. His partner happily accepted.

"Y/N?"

"Hm?" Y/N looked up at him, averting their eyes a couple times before returning their gaze back to his.

He knew Y/N had struggles with eye contact and he never took it personally when they broke said contact, wanting them to feel as comfortable as possible. Spencer understood wholeheartedly that it was difficult for them. He gently lifted their hand and gave it a quick kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too, bookworm."

They grew too shy to continue eye contact and briefly hid their face in his shirt, a gesture that never failed to melt their boyfriend's heart.

"Did you know that what is believed to be the first film made using the stop motion animation technique was from 1898?" Spencer questioned, grinning the moment he saw Y/N's head lift up, their eyes bright and a smile on their lips.

"I didn't," they answered. "Please continue."

"Apparently it was a film called 'The Humpty Dumpty Circus.' All that's left of it are still images. It's also possible that said stills were in fact not from a film but instead photos of a popular early 20th century children's toy set," Spencer elaborated.

"A toy set..." Y/N repeated. "Did I ever tell you that I used to make mini stop motion animations with my toy sets? I remember, my friend had this book about animation and some tutorials for how to make certain ones. I'm sure we still have some that we made somewhere. I once made one out of clay about a marshmallow prince and princess."

When they saw the look on Spencer's face at their words, they couldn't stop their giggle. He chuckled in response. "Marshmallow prince and princess?"

"Mhm~"

"I hope I can see that stop motion of yours someday."

"Perhaps."

When Spencer playfully raised his eyebrow, Y/N began laughing harder, and soon enough he'd begun to laugh as well, and that laughter only grew as the two went back and forth repeating the single word.

"Perhaps?" Spencer poked his partner's side and grinned when they squeaked and giggled.

"Peheherhaps... Perhahaps~" Y/N hummed. "I love you. That isn't a perhaps, that's a definite and it bears repeating. I love you."

"I love you too. It absolutely bears repeating," Spencer stated, kissing the top of their head. "I love you too, butterfly."

"Wanna watch Coraline tomorrow?" Y/N asked curiously, quietly reciting another movie line under their lips.

"I'd love to. The book was a fascinating read," Spencer answered. "I haven't seen the movie."

"I've seen the movie, but I haven't seen the book- read the book. Son of a bitch, I hate when that happens," Y/N huffed. "'Seen the book...'"

"It's okay," Spencer assured them. "If you'd like, I could read the book to you."

"Yes, please. I love your voice."

That compliment flustered him and he smiled brightly. Y/N grew embarrassed by their own statement and sat up from their boyfriend's arms.

"That was awkward and weird to say, w-wasn't it...?" Y/N asked quietly, partially hiding behind their hand before proceeding to hide their face completely with both. "I-I'm sorry... I-I..."

"Hey," Spencer said softly, sitting up and gently moving Y/N's hands from their face.

"I-I'm embarrassed... It j-just... I..."

"Please don't be embarrassed. I-I'm flattered, Y/N. It means a lot that you find comfort in my voice."

"R-Really?"

"Yes, really," Spencer affirmed, poking their nose.

"Really really?" Y/N repeated with a smile.

"Really. Really. Really!" Spencer emphasized the repeated words with quick pokes to his partner's sides, grinning when they giggled before wrapping his arms around them, allowing himself to fall back onto the cushions as they squeaked and fell onto him.

"Spehencer!" They whined.

"Yes, snugglebutton?"

"S-Snuhugglebutton!?"

"Mhm~ You're my snugglebutton~"

"Shhshshh!"

"Say it~"

"Nohoho."

Without hesitation, Spencer lightly spidered his fingers over Y/N's back, making them shriek with laughter. "Nononohoho! Thahahat ihihihisn't fahahahair!"

"Tickling is perfectly fair. I know how giddy and happy it makes you~" They buried their face in his shirt and kicked their legs, letting out short screams when he rapidly poked at different parts of their back. "Come on, Y/N~"

"Okahahahaaayyyy! IhI'm youhouhour snuhugglebuhuhutton..."

Spencer laughed softly and stilled his hands. "Mhm."

Y/N grew shy again, resting their head on his chest and gazing at the screen. As Kylie interrupted Foxy talking about the dangers of looking a beagle in the eyes, Y/N recited along without missing a beat.

"Yeah? Well first of all, one of these beagles has chronic rabies which he's on medication for and if you get bit by him you have to get shots in your stomach for six months, and second-"

Spencer glanced at Y/N with the biggest grin on his face. "Listen I'm not gonna justify this to you, just pay attention and stop interrupting me. I'm taping this."

Y/N noticed Spencer was looking at them and felt their ears heat up a bit. "S-Sorry," they squeaked sheepishly.

"Y/N, you don't need to apologize. That was so cute," Spencer chuckled. "I'm just admiring you."

"S-Spencer..."

"Recite away, button," Spencer encouraged. "Recite away."

"Recite away?"

"Recite away~"

"Recite away~!"

They would never ever get tired of nights like that one, in the arms of their favorite person in the whole world, happily rambling and infodumping to each other, occasionally going into cycles of echolalia, and musing about their love for each other as they spent time together.

"Did you know they used soap and plastic for the flames in this film?"

"I did not, but I do now," Spencer muttered with a bright smile.

"And plastic wrap to make the water."

"Absolutely fascinating how they make it look so real."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter pressed his lips together, brows furrowing with concentration as he worked on upgrading his web shooter formula. He looked so focused, so in the zone, and on the other side of the room, his partner didn't want to interrupt him. Y/N's leg was bouncing rapidly, hoping to release the tension from their body silently, so as not to disturb their boyfriend's work, but it was getting harder to stay quiet.

Their body began to rock, as they tugged on their sleeves and tried to breathe deeply. They contemplated getting up and silently leaving the room, but before they could, Peter saw them in his peripheral vision, and he set down his tools. Peter knew when Y/N was feeling overwhelmed. The moment he saw the leg bouncing, they simultaneous body rocking and sleeve pulling as they tried not to cry, he stood up.

"Bug...?"

Y/N couldn't answer him, lest the tears finally fall from their eyes. Their boyfriend knelt down in front of them on the couch, his hands on either sides of their legs. "Bug... Hey. Hey... Do you need some support?"

"I... I didn't..." They sniffled, hastily wiping their eyes. "I didn't want to bother you, Peter."

"You're never a bother, bugaboo. Come on. Tell your honey-bun what's on your mind." Peter's use of Y/N's nickname for him made them giggle silently, shoulders briefly shaking.

"I-I, um... I can't exactly pinpoint what caused it... I just..." Y/N's hands began to flap, their brain aching for the feeling of clarity, but they stopped themself, setting their hands in their lap and clasping them together.

Without any hesitation, Peter gently took hold of his partner's hands, lifted them up, giving them a gentle squeeze to indicate they should keep them raised, before he began to flap his own hands. The simper crept up on their lips at the sight, and instinctively, their hands began to flap again. Peter didn't stop flapping his own hands, however, intent on encouraging his significant other to keep going.

"I don't know... what caused it, but I just feel really overwhelmed and I wasn't sure what to do." The words began to flow out like a perfect stream of water, the stimming granting their mind and their thoughts the clarity they'd been yearning for. "This morning I was feeling alright, but as the day progressed, I felt myself crashing. I didn't want to interrupt you by asking for help..."

"Sweet-bee, don't ever hesitate to ask me for help or support," Peter stated firmly. "You're my partner. I will always be here to lean on if you need me, okay?"

"O-Okay."

The man grinned, standing up and holding out his hands to a confused Y/N, who's hands were still flapping, much to Peter's delight. "Come on, bug. Stand up. We're gonna stim that stress away."

"Peter-"

"Stim. the. stress. away." Peter emphasized his words with playful pokes to Y/N's sides and belly, grinning when they giggled and squirmed. "I can totally tickle the stress away too if that's something you're looking for."

With a bite of their lip, Y/N placed their hands in his and squeaked as their boyfriend pulled them to stand in front of him. He released their hands and stretched side to side.

"Alright, what are we doing first? You're my teacher."

The encouragement and enthusiasm from Peter was making Y/N's heart flutter. They couldn't help but flap their hands with a shy smile, and that smile only grew as Peter followed along. "The hand flapping! Yes! Alright! I could do this all day! Good workout on the wrists."

Y/N began giggling, bouncing on their heels, which Peter joined in on almost instantly. Their chest was swelling with excitement. "I really want to jump!"

"So let's jump!" The exclamation was all Y/N needed, and they laughed as they jumped repeatedly, feeling the tension fading from their body. It was a precious sight, seeing Peter encourage and participate in stim breaks with his partner. He knew they'd needed the break for a while and knew they sometimes felt insecure about taking stim breaks around him.

Y/N was giggling even harder, their fists beginning to rapidly move apart and back toward each other. "Oh yes! I love this one!" Peter was beaming and chuckling, his significant other's stress having faded as though it were never there.

"Thahank you, Peter. IhI really needed the stim break."

"I will happily stim with you any time you wish, giggle-bug." His smile slowly morphed into a smirk, and Y/N's eyes widened knowingly. "Do you know what comes after a stim break?"

Y/N giggled and shook their head, already taking tiny steps backward as they began to happy stim. When they saw Peter lift his hands and wiggle his fingers, they shrieked with laughter and bolted from the room, Peter hot on their trail.

It was only a matter of time before Peter had caught them and began tickling them to bits.

"Peheheter! EEHEE! NAHAHAHAAAA! NONONONOOOO!" Y/N was well aware that Peter knew their protesting was insincere.

"Oh yes! You need a tickle break! I see those happy stims, giggle-bug~ Is this a favorite ticklish spot~?"

Y/N continued squealing and laughing in their boyfriend's arms, the web shooters still lying idly on the desk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~