#switch!gus

☆☆☆

Morale at the Noceda home was at an all time low, and for good reason. Ever since the Day of Unity, nobody could find a reason to smile.

Luz couldn't stop thinking about Eda, about King, about the house. Amity felt terrible for leaving her family behind. Gus kept having stress illusions, lost in his own head. Willow blamed herself, thinking she could have done more, could have been stronger, helped hold the door open. Hunter kept having random pains in his right side, still remembering the effects of the draining spell.

Vee tried to cheer them up, but it was pointless. They were all stuck in their minds. Camila had tried cooking Boiling Ilses cuisine, but she couldn't replicate the absurd ingredients. After a week of talking and persuading, she got them all together in one room to talk.

Pillows and blankets littered the floor, stuffies and snacks were near each person, and some music was playing in the background. It was basically a comfort nest, and she hoped it helped them calm down.

"Alright everyone. I know a lot has happened, and I know you have all been stressed. We're here to talk about it, and to try and make living here easier for the time being. Amity, you start." The purple haired witch looked up, pulled out of a daze.

"Uh, I don't know. Maybe me and Luz could share a room?" Camila didn't know how she felt about that, but if it helps, she'll allow it. "Okay, but you go to bed by 10:30, and keep the door locked if you're doing anything couple-like." Amity's face lit up with her signature blush, eliciting small giggles from multiple teens.

"Luz, have something?" She laughed a bit. "Ice cream day?" Her mom nodded, laughing with her. "Why not."

"Alright Gus, what would you like, if anything?" He thought for a minute before answering. "Could I have a music player? It would help with... thinking." That could definitely be done. "Of course. If you help me clean the kitchen, we'll go and get you one." He smiled, and it warmed her heart to see him happy.

"Next is Willow." She rubbed her arm, then answered. "Maybe some workout stuff? Like weights or jump ropes?" Camila nodded, then moved on to the next teen. "Hunter? Do you have anything?" He ran a hand through his hair. "Um, I don't know. We could have sleepovers, or something. I-I don't know, it's probably dumb, nevermi-"

Camila cut him off. "That's a great idea. It's fun to hang out with your friends at night! I remember when Luz had her last sleepover. Her friend from school spent the night. They played board games, watched a movie, and had a tic-" "OKAY THANK YOU MOM!"

Luz was the one blushing now, and everyone was suddenly very interested in what Camila had to say. "Please, continue, Ms. Noceda." Amity was the one asking, Luz's firey blush making her curios to know more.

"Call me Camila. What I was going to say, was that they had a tickle fight." Luz groaned, flopping back onto a nearby pillow. Everyone else, besides Amity, looked confused. "What's a tickle fight?" She looked over to Hunter, laughing a bit.

"It's when two or more people tickle eachother. Whoever taps out first wins." Gus asked the next question. "What's tickling?" She shook her head, while Luz was a literal tomatoe, Amity petting her head.

"Well, lets say Luz's ticklish," another loud groan from Luz. "If you were to touch her in a certain way, she would laughs or giggles. If you gently scratch her belly, she laughs." Amity raised her hand. "Can I demonstrate?" Camila nodded, smiling. Luz ran for her life, Amity hot on her heels. The others just kinda watched, waiting to see what happened next.

When the pair came back to the nest, Amity tackled Luz into the pile of blankets, pinning her down. She wiggled her fingers into Luz's belly, and the poor girl started to laugh. "OH COHOME OHOHON! NO FAHAHAIR! WHYHYHY ME?!"

Hunter's eyes were wide as saucers, while Gus and Willow were giggling at Luz's predicament. He was astonished! How could touching someone make them laugh like that?! It was just crazy. Yet it was happening right in front of him.

"See? Okay Amity, I think she's had enough." Said girl got a round of rib pokes after Luz recovered, turning into a tickle fight. The other teens looked like they were waiting for their turn. "Well, it looks like I've planted some fun seeds. I'll leave you guys alone, but try not to hurt eachother or break anything." And she just left, leaving the choas she started to brew.

Willow was the first one to speak. "I don't know about you guys, but I wanna try this out." Gus nodded, and Hunter looked like he was trying to solve for x (you know that's hard). "Hey Hunter, can I try it on you?" Snapped out of his silliness, Hunter just kinda nodded. "Uh, sure? I doubt it'll have the same effect on meHEHE!"

Willow wasted zero time, going straight for his belly button. He was giggling and squealing in seconds, batting at her hands. She pushed him onto his back and sat on his thighs, keeping him from kicking her.

"Wanna help, Gus?" The boy practically jumped over to them. He wiggled his fingers against Hunter's sides. "EEEEEhehehehe! Guhuhuhuys! *snort* Ihihihit's so wheheheheird!" Hunter couldn't explain what it felt like. All he knew is that he felt happy and giddy while he was being tickled. He honestly liked it.

"Hey Willow, can I try something? I wanna see if it works on ears." Hunter shook his head, but he was ignored. "Sure!" When Gus scratched the shell of his ear, the blonde boy melted into the touch. His giggles got a lot softer, and he was adorable. "Awe, he's so cute like this! Great idea!" Hunter's blush spread all the way down his neck now.

After about a minuet of tickling Hunter, Willow wanted to try the tickle thing on Gus. "Hey, can I try this on you?" He shrugged. "Why not? Hunter looks like he's having fun." Even though the pair had stopped, Hunter still feel the tickles. It took a good minute of giggling for it to stop.

"Thahat was... actually kinda fun." Gus laid down, and this time Hunter straddled him. He wanted to try it the other way, doing it to someone else. Willow was above his head, holding his arms up. "I saw Amity do this. It looked fun."

Speaking of those two, they had finished their ticle fight, Amity winning. They were currently cuddling in the nest, looking relaxed and tired. Too bad they weren't gonna get much sleep for a little while.

Hunter was the first one to try tickling him, very gently running his fingers down Gus's ribcage. He stared to giggle, fast and high pitched. Willow went for his armpits, and he burst out laughing, bucking and squirming under them. "OHOHOHO MY TITAHAN! HAHAHAHAHA!"

The loud reaction startled Hunter, and he accidentally brushed his fingers on Gus's belly. The boy beneath him squealed, then went back to belly laughter. The blonde poked at his belly a few more times, making him squeak and laugh even harder. "S-STOHOHOP!" Both pairs of hands immediately stopped moving, and the weight on his thighs disappeared.

"You whehere right. T-thahat was fuhuhun!" After he recovered, Gus was ready for Willow's turn. "You ready? It's feels weird, but it's really fun!" She nodded, laying in the same position Gus had. The boy sat on her waist, while Hunter took her arms.

"Ready, set... go!" Gus poked at her belly, while Hunter scribbled at her armpits. Neither if them expected the sweet giggles they got. "Hehehehehe! Thahahat's weheheird!" 'Weird' seemed to be the word of the night, as all three of them at said it multiple times now. Then again, the wird was the best description they had.

When he got to her sides, Willow's giggles turned into belly laughter. She squirmed and wriggled, but made as much progress as the last two (none). "GUHUHUHUS! HAHAHAHA! IHIHIHIT- IHIHIHIT TIHICKLES!" Hunter grabbed her wrists, trying to get a better grip. His thumb wriggled on her palm, looking for some grip. She snorted.

"Hunter, you're really good at finding these spots!" The boy looked confused. "But I didn't do anything." Willow squeaked out a complaint. "STOHOHOP TAHALKNG LIKE IHIHI'M NOT HEHEHERE!" Gus laughed. "Sorry Willow! Hunter, do the thing you did with her hand."

He scratched at her palm again, and her reaction was the same. Gus told him to continue, and Willow turned into a hysteric pile of laughter. They only went on for a few more seconds. When they were done, they let her go, sitting beside her as she caught her breath. "Thahat was dehefinitely new."

All three of them were tired. They cuddled up next to eachother, Hunter in the middle (and loving it), Willow and Gus on either side of him. They fell asleep in the nest not long after.

...

It had been an hour since things quieted down, and Camila went into the living room to check on them. Her heart melted at what she saw.