-

Charlie and Vaggie were in the lobby at the Hazbin Hotel. Charlie was pacing back and forth across the floor, attempting to come up with new bonding exercises to try with the guests. Vaggie sat on the couch, watching her partner move about the room.

“How about some sort of trust exercise? Building trust is essential to forming healthy bonds.” Charlie suggested.

“Didn’t we already try that with the trust falls?” Vaggie inquired. 

The angel’s body was beginning to feel stiff, as she had been sitting motionless for some time, Charlie bouncing idea after idea off of her.

“Yes, but maybe we could try something different. Some other type of activity that works to build trust between people.”

Charlie continued to pace, racking her brain for possible activities. Vaggie, still feeling stiff, reached up her arms and stretched out her body. Charlie caught a glimpse of Vaggie’s wings flapping, the grey and white feathers brushing up against the couch. She stopped in place, an idea having popped into her mind.

“I’ve got it! We should try tickling!”

“... excuse me?”

“As a trust exercise! People can get into pairs and take turns tickling each other.” Charlie beamed. “One partner allows the other to tickle them, trusting that they will stop when they’re told to do so.”

“That’s a… pretty unique idea, Hon.”

“I know! Isn’t it great?” Charlie chimed, beginning to approach Vaggie. “We should test it out.”

“I don’t know, Charlie. I’m not sure if people will want to take part in something like that.”

Charlie pouted. As she reached Vaggie, she clasped her hands together, flashing ‘puppy-dog’ eyes at her partner. 

“Please?”

Vaggie knew that she couldn't say no to Charlie when she made those eyes. Charlie knew it, too.

“Alright, we can give it a shot.” Vaggie conceded.

In an instant, Charlie descended upon the couch, lightly pushing Vaggie onto her back and planting herself atop her waist.

“You ready?” She asked, holding up her hands as she fluttered her fingers.

Vaggie felt a slight blush cross her face. 

“As I’ll ever be.”

Charlie then moved her hands down to Vaggie’s hips, slowly starting to scratch at them with her nails. Vaggie bit down on her lip, effectively preventing any sounds from surfacing. She kept her arms at her sides, despite the immediate urge to grab at Charlie’s hands.

“Now remember, tell me when it gets to be too much, and I will stop right away.” Charlie asserted, speeding up her fingers.

Vaggie began to squirm, continuing to stifle the sounds bubbling up inside of her.

“Mhm.” A smile was plastered on the angel’s face. Charlie couldn’t help but grin in return.

“Come on, Vaggie! Let me hear those giggles!” Digging her nails further into Vaggie’s hips, Charlie began roughly scratching at the surface. Vaggie finally broke.

“Nohohoho! Chahaharlie!” She giggled out.

Deciding to go for a different spot, Charlie moved her hands up to Vaggie’s ribs, scribbling in the spaces between the bones.

“Ahaha! Nohohot thehehere! Ahahahaha!” Vaggie’s giggles turned to laughter as she latched onto Charlie’s wrists, not making any effort to push at them.

“Not here? But I get to hear your adorable laughter! Besides, I haven’t heard you say stop yet.”

Vaggie blushed further at Charlie’s teasing. She began twisting her body from side to side as the scribbling became more rapid.

“Oh, no no no! You can’t get away from me~! No no no!” Charlie sang out, continuing her attack as her hands easily followed Vaggie’s rotating figure.

As she watched Vaggie laugh and squirm beneath her, Charlie once again took notice of her partner’s wings, now lightly beating against the couch cushions. Her grin grew as she recalled the sensitivity of her father’s wings.

Stopping her hands and allowing Vaggie a minute to breathe, Charlie positioned her fingers at the base of the angel’s wings. Just as her breath returned to a normal pace, Charlie struck, raking her nails and dancing her fingers across the sensitive area.

Vaggie yelped, eyes widening as she thrashed violently. After a few moments, she called out to Charlie through her laughter.

“OHOHOKAY! THAHAT’S ENOUHOUGH! STOHOHOP! HAHAHA!”

Instantly, Charlie withdrew her hands, shifting off of Vaggie and sitting next to her. Vaggie laid for a while, recovering, until Charlie spoke up.

“That was fun! Do you see now how it could be a good trust exercise?”

Vaggie sat up, turning to face Charlie.

“I do. In fact, I think I feel closer already…” She began, moving slowly towards her partner, “but now it’s your turn to do some trusting.”

Before Charlie could respond, Vaggie pinned her down on her back. Straddling her hips, she grabbed hold of Charlie’s arms, raising them up above her head.

“Ready?”

Nervous giggles spilled freely from Charlie’s mouth as she gave a small nod. Internally adoring her partner, Vaggie moved her wings under Charlie’s arms, gently gliding the feathers back and forth.

“Ehehehe!” Charlie’s giggles became more frantic, her legs lightly kicking beneath Vaggie.

“Just say when.” Vaggie said, smiling. She began to flutter her wings around the hollows.

“Nohohoho! Ehehehe!” Charlie lightly tugged at her arms, but Vaggie’s hold was firm.

Vaggie stilled her wings, opting to slowly drag them down the length of Charlie’s sides. As they approached her hips, Vaggie brought them back up to her ribs, dragging them down the sides once more. She did this over and over.

“Ahahaha! Vahahagie!” Charlie laughed, beginning to squirm.

“You can make it stop at any time, Hon.”

Charlie shook her head in response, a light blush forming.

“Suit yourself.” Vaggie pulled her wings back and released Charlie’s arms. Without warning, she shot her hands under Charlie’s shirt, spidering her fingers all over her stomach.

Charlie jumped, grabbing onto Vaggie’s wrists as she was overcome with laughter. After a minute, she managed to choke out a few words.

“AHAHAHA! AHAHALRIGHT! STOHO-AHAHAHA!”

Vaggie stopped right away, pulling her hands back. She moved off of Charlie, who immediately curled up into a ball.

“You’re right. That was fun.” Vaggie said, offering Charlie her hand.

Charlie took it, allowing herself to be pulled up into a sitting position.

“D-do you think we should use this as a trust exercise?” Charlie asked, still catching her breath.

“You know what? I think we should. It would definitely be an interesting way to get the guests to interact with one another. Plus, it would sure be entertaining to watch.”

“It’s settled then! Thanks for your help, Vaggie!” Charlie pulled her partner into a hug. “I can always count on you.”

Vaggie returned the embrace. “You know it. That’s what I’m here for.”

As Charlie stood, heading off to find the others, Vaggie felt grateful for her partner. Even with all of Charlie’s outlandish and unconventional ideas, she knew she couldn’t have asked for a better girlfriend.

-

Charlie and Vaggie were in Heaven, on a tour of the realm provided by Emily, the seraphim. Charlie’s eyes were full of wonder as she took in the surroundings, while Vaggie wished that she could be anywhere else. 

As the three made their way around, Charlie couldn’t help but notice a recurring theme amongst the winners who inhabited the realm. They all looked happy.

Charlie felt a pang of sadness. She had always wanted to see a place where everyone was joyful and content, but she wished that she could make her people feel the same way. What if her plan for redemption didn’t work? They would be stuck in a realm full of violence and despair, awaiting the day they meet their second, and final demise at the end of an angelic spear.

Charlie stopped in her tracks. Vaggie and Emily noticed and followed suit.

“Charlie? Is everything okay?” Vaggie questioned, sensing that something was up with her girlfriend.

Charlie didn’t respond, instead turning to Emily, who watched her with concern.

“How is it that everyone is so happy here? I get that it’s Heaven and all, but don’t people ever have bad days?” Charlie paused, looking down at the ground. “Aren’t there ever people who refuse to give love and trust a chance, despite your best efforts? Or, do all of those people end up in Hell, and I’m just fighting a losing battle?”

Vaggie wanted to comfort Charlie, to tell her what it’s really like to live in Heaven, but she knew that she couldn’t. Emily, feeling for Charlie’s situation, approached the demon and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Well, it isn’t always easy to keep everyone happy. Especially when you're feeling down yourself.” Emily started, giving Charlie a soft smile. “But what’s important is that you try your hardest. Everyone is different, and wants different things. You just have to remember that you should value your own emotions equally to the emotions of others. Otherwise, you won’t be able to help anyone.”

Charlie looked up at the angel, returning her smile.

“Thanks, Emily. You must be very good at your job.”

Emily giggled in response. Removing her hand from Charlie’s shoulder, her eyes gained a mischievous glint.

“You know, I do have one trick that I use when a soul is feeling particularly down.”

Charlie’s smile faded.

“What’s that?” She questioned.

Emily shot her hands down to Charlie’s stomach, where she began rapidly skittering her fingers against the surface.

“Tickles!” Emily exclaimed, beaming.

Charlie burst out laughing. Curling in on herself, she grabbed onto Emily’s arms.

“AHAHAHA! NOHOHOHO! EHEHEHEMILY!”

“Tck-a tck-a tck! Tck-a tck-a tck! Is this a bad spot, or are you really just this ticklish?” Emily teased, curious about the demon’s endearing reactions.

“BOHOHOTH! EHEHEHE!” Charlie laughed out honestly, prompting Emily to giggle alongside her.

There might as well have been two holes burning in the back of Emily’s head, as Vaggie was staring intensely at the seraphim, daggers in her eyes. First the hand-holding and now this? Vaggie was seething with rage at how Emily was getting up close and personal with her partner.

Vaggie’s thoughts were cut short as she snapped back to reality, hearing someone call out her name.

“VahAHAggie! HehEHElp! AhAHaha!”

Emily was now gently holding Charlie’s wrists in one hand, scratching at her navel with the other.

“This is one of my favourite tickle spots! It’s so cute!” Emily said brightly.

Oh no she doesn’t, Vaggie thought to herself.

Approaching Emily from behind, Vaggie reached up and wrapped her arms securely around the angel’s waist, lifting her into the air and away from Charlie. Vaggie then dug her thumbs into the seraphim’s hips, vibrating them roughly.

Emily shrieked, the sound dissolving into bubbly, uncontrollable laughter.

“NAHAHAHA! OHOHOH MYHYHY!” She squirmed around, grasping Vaggie’s wrists.

“Can’t take what you dish out, can you?” Vaggie grinned, continuing her attack.

Charlie steadied her footing, regaining her breath. 

“Vahaggie, don’t be too rohough.” She cautioned, smiling.

“You got it, babe.” With a smirk, Vaggie moved her hands to Emily’s wings, where she began lightly tracing the surface with her nails.

“AhaHA! NohOho! Nohohot thehERE! Tohoo tihiHIcky!” Emily pleaded, gently kicking her legs and beginning to flap her wings.

“Come on. If it was that bad, you’d be putting up more of a fight. Even Charlie hides the fact that she enjoys it better than you.”

“Vaggie!” Charlie shouted out, flushing. Vaggie chuckled.

Deciding that it was her girlfriend’s turn to be on the receiving end, Charlie snuck up behind Vaggie and slipped her hands under her arms, wiggling her fingers into the hollows.

Vaggie yelped and let go of Emily, bringing her arms down against her sides to protect herself.

“Chahaharlie! Thihis ihihis behetrahahayal!” Vaggie laughed as Charlie continued her attack.

Catching her breath and finding her balance, Emily watched the couple’s affectionate antics.

“Come on, Vaggie, show me that smile~” Charlie cooed, moving her hands down to claw at Vaggie’s ribs.

“NAHAHAHA! CHAHARLIE QUIHIHIT IHIHIT!”

Charlie continued for a few more moments, before bringing her hands to a stop. Vaggie, slightly dazed, took the time to catch her breath.

“Are we ready to continue?” Emily asked, the three girls feeling both drained and refreshed from their playful fight.

“Yes!” Charlie chimed.

“Sure.” Vaggie said flatly.

As the three continued their tour around Heaven, they each thought about what they had taken away from their shared interaction. Emily was happy to have two new people to show around her realm and play with, Vaggie had gained a new tactic to use when Emily got too touchy with her partner, and Charlie had an idea for a new bonding exercise at the hotel. In the end, the girls all felt closer to one another, with their day having been brightened, even if just a little.