#tfic

Roman sighed. He looked down at Virgil who was laying into him fast asleep. “Logan, it’s just a movie. It's a silly movie. It isn’t meant to be realistic.”

Patton giggled. “Yeah, Lo! It’s just a movie.”

Logan huffed. “I don’t see how someone could enjoy a film when it is so blatantly ridiculous.” Roman rolled his eyes, while Patton just giggled again. “It should have at least some aspect of a realistic component to it.”

”Just watch the movie, Specs,” huffed Roman in annoyance.

Virgil, who was curled up napping in between Roman and Patton with his head in Roman’s lap, stirred. He grunted, very annoyed. “Who woke me up?”

All three sides froze. You did not want to be the person who woke Virgil up. He didn’t sleep much, so when he did, he expected to not be disturbed.

“Well? I’m waiting,” demanded Virgil, now sitting up straight. He looked around in question, arms crossed.

Roman blurted out, pointing an accusatory finger toward the logical trait in the recliner. “Logan was complaining about the movie!”

Logan glared at Roman in indignation. “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I not allowed to speak during the whole movie?” he inquired angrily. He turned to Virgil. “Besides, I would have dropped it if Roman would have just nodded and agreed with me. But no, he had to argue,” he added scowling.

Virgil hid his smirk and instead raised an eyebrow. “Oh, is that so?” In reality, he never actually got mad when he was woken up. He just liked messing with the others (especially Roman) however he could. Virgil figured he could have some fun with this.

”O-oh, well-” stuttered Roman.

“I thought I heard something other than Logan’s voice! I heard someone else who was frankly quite louder than Logan!” interjected Virgil looking up at Roman. Roman paled.

“Ah well, I was just defending the movie that’s all,” he replied, trying to hide his fear and failing miserably. “Simply making conversation.”

Virgil smothered a grin. He loved making Roman nervous. “Well, Roman, we all know you’re a lot louder than Logan; it was probably you who woke me up.”

“Now that’s not always-“

Roman was cut off by his yelp, feeling a poke at his ribs. “No interrupting!” scolded Virgil, this time forgetting to mask the grin and the obvious enjoyment he was getting out of this.

Roman blanched as Virgil’s intentions were made clear. “Virge, I’m sorry! Honest! You can go back to sleep, and we’ll all be quiet okay?” He glanced around to see if any of the other Sides would lend a hand. Logan was pretending to be fascinated by the movie suddenly and Patton was also suddenly too ‘preoccupied‘ to notice. He began to grow very nervous as Virgil crept up closer to him.

“Well, I’m already awake now thanks to you-“ he poked Roman’s side again who squeaked at the touch. Virgil‘s evil smile took up his whole face. “I’m very upset, Roman. My sleep was disturbed.” Roman began whining and backed into the arm of the sofa as Virgil continued to get closer. Patton and Logan finally turned their attention to the two traits in the middle of a standoff.

“Don’t hurt him, Virgil!” pleaded Patton.

“I appreciate your concern, but don’t worry Pat. I won’t hurt him. Physically anyway. His pride might be a little bruised.” Virgil smirked again. Roman continued to plead with the darker side despite knowing full well that nothing would stop what was about to happen.

“Come on, Virgil, please! I promise it won’t happen again! I- EEP!“ A pinch to his side.

“Too late, Princey. In all your years of being a prince, has no one told you the most important rule?“

Virgil paused as if trying to build up even more anticipation. He leaned in so close, that Roman could feel the anxious Side’s breath against his neck.

“Don’t wake a sleeping dragon.”

With that, he pounced on Roman and scribbled all over his torso immediately causing the Prince to break into frantic cackles. He mercilessly tickled all over and despite Roman’s defenses, Virgil was just too fast. Every place he tried to guard, the anxious side would just tickle somewhere else. Roman was hysterically laughing and resorted to calling for help from the others.

“HEEHEHEHELLLPPP!!” He cried through his desperate laughter.

“You shouldn’t require our assistance. You should be able to fight him off yourself. If I’m not mistaken, you supposedly have beaten this so-called ‘Dragon Witch’ which, judging by the name, would seem much more dangerous than the tickle monster,” replied Logan, a teasing smile encompassing his features.

”Oh I’m not sure about that Logan,” joked Virgil. “The tickle monster is pretty vicious.”

Poor Roman turned a bright red. “Stahahahahahahap teheheheasheheing!!”

“Aww Lo, look he’s blushing really hard,” Patton gushed.

Roman just blushed harder at that, the teasing was killing him. He was laughing himself hoarse while Virgil just snickered with no signs of stopping anytime soon. After what seemed like hours, Virgil noticed Roman’s laugh becoming more breathy.

“Well, Princey,” Virgil began. Roman was beside himself laughing, as Virgil’s hands were shoved in his armpits “I think you might have learned your lesson.” Roman nodded frantically. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop on one condition. You say, ‘Virgil, you are the best side in the entire world and I would be nothing without you, and I promise to never disrupt your sleep ever again.’ Can you say that?” Roman squeaked as a response. Virgil chuckled knowing Roman couldn’t possibly; he was laughing way too hard.

“VIRHIHIGLLE YOHOHOHO ARHAHAA AHHHHH!”

“Yes? I am what?”

“BEHEHEHEEHEST SIHIHIHIHDE- OHOHOHO MYHHYHY GOHOHOSH!”

Virgil laughed. “And?”

“IHIHIHI CAHAHAHANT REMEHEHEMBER!!” Roman cried in desperation. Virgil started to feel a little bad.

“Alright close enough.” He finally stopped and poor Princey fell limp, giggling and wheezing for air. Virgil smiled down at him. “Sorry dude. May have gone slightly overboard,” he apologized.

“Hahaha, my stohohomahahach, ohoho mahan.”

“Okay, well, now your feet are borderline bleeding because they got so dry from the cold air outside. What exactly do you intend to do about that, if I may ask?”

Roman slowly blinked again. He looked down at his, admittedly very sore, feet, then back up to Logan. “Do you have any lotion, Logan? I’m out, and haven’t found the time to go somewhere and get more.”

Logan rolled his eyes before walking away to get the lotion. “I’ll be right back, Roman. Don’t go anywhere.” Logan threatened, heading to his room to get the bottle of lotion.

Roman hummed to himself while he awaited Logan’s return before he remembered something that made his entire face flush immediately.

He was insanely, undeniably ticklish. And, oh boy, Logan was about to find out.

Logan reappeared beside him, holding a bottle of lotion. “Okay, I’m back, Roman. I know you don’t like lotion on your hands, so do you want me to put it on for you?” Logan asked, looking up at the other. 

Roman, in an attempt to mentally prepare himself for what he knew was about to happen, nodded towards Logan. “Oh, um, yes, sure. Thank you, dear.”

Logan nodded and squirted a dollop of lotion onto his hands before sitting himself at the edge of the couch where Roman was seated, and took his boyfriend’s feet into his lap.

Roman took a steadying breath and clenched his fists as he felt Logan beginning to work the lotion into the incredibly sensitive skin.

Logan felt Roman tense up and glanced up, confused, until he saw his boyfriend’s face: red, eyes shut, and suppressing a smile, and he knew what was going on. 

Logan stopped rubbing in the lotion before grinning and lightly wiggling his fingers underneath Roman’s toes.

Roman snickered softly, and gently tugged at Logan’s hold on his feet.

Logan smirked slightly, glancing towards Roman. “Whatever could be wrong, Roman? Why is your face so red?”

Roman snickered and covered his face with his hands, trying to stifle any stray giggles from escaping.

Logan scratched across Roman’s heels, and Roman squeaked lightly, and quickly tugged his feet away from Logan, blushing lightly and pulling his knees up to his chest, watching Logan carefully.

Logan fondly rolled his eyes and tugged Roman back down by the ankles, readjusting the both of them so that he was now sitting and stradling Roman’s hips.

Roman flushed and looked at Logan. “W-whatcha doin there, Glasses Case?”

Logan smiled down at his boyfriend.

“Trying something. So. It appears that the mighty prince is perhaps a bit ticklish. Am I right?”

Roman bit his lip lightly, before crossing his arms stubbornly. “What? No, of-of course not.” Roman averted his eyes off to the side, knowing what was to follow.

Logan suddenly got an idea. He lightly clicked his teeth. “Roman, do you promise not to take Virgil up on irresponsible dares any more?”

Roman furrowed his eyebrows before glaring up at Logan. “Of course not. I have a reputation to keep up here as the adventurous side! I will not let it crumble because of the words of that sullen stormy knight.”

Logan nodded curtly. “Very well, then. Just know that you chose this way.”

Roman looked confused. “What waAY- Hey!”

Roman broke into giggles as he felt ten fingers individually wiggling into his sides. “Nononononono! Ihihit tihick-tihihic-!”

Logan smirked. “Tickles? Well, I should certainly hope so. That does tend to be the intended goal of tickling an individual.”

Roman flushed bright red when he heard that word. “Dohohon’t sahay ihihit!”

Logan cracked a smile. “What? ‘Tickle’? It is merely a word, Roman, it will not do anything to harm you, I can assure you.”

Roman giggled and covered his face to hide his blushy cheeks. Logan took note that 

Roman was not making any attempt to stop him.

“Well, Roman? Are you going to stop doing stupid things just because you and Virgil think it is entertaining?”

Roman snorted when he felt two thumbs drill into his hips. “NOHOHO!”

Logan tsked and paused his fingers for a moment. “Well, then, I simply have no choice in the matter. I must tickle the nonsense out of you.”

Roman squeaked as he saw Logan once again lower his fingers over his quivering tummy, holding his breath in an attempt to hold in his giggles.

Logan quirked an eyebrow. “You don’t have to look so shy, Roman. It is apparent that you are enjoying yourself. You have not yet asked me to stop, after all. It is quite endearing.”

Roman covered his grin and giggled. Logan wiggled his fingers above Roman’s tummy, watching as Roman’s eyes followed his fingers carefully. Logan smiled when Roman giggled, wiggling slightly in place.

“What’s wrong, Roman? I haven’t even touched you yet.” Logan held a certain twinkle in his eyes that showed his sincere love for the other. 

Suddenly, the fingers resting just above Roman’s tummy touched down, scribbling rapidly across the sensitive flesh.

Roman fell into helpless giggles. “Ah! Nohohoho, Logahan!”

Logan did not pause at all. “Yes, Roman, that is my name. Is there something you require?”

Roman snorted and fell back into a pool of giggly goop, and didn’t respond other than the occasional squeak.

Logan paused his wiggling fingers to repeat his question. “Well? Now do you promise to be more responsible, Roman?” Logan grinned before wiggling his fingers threateningly again. 

Roman giggled and gave in. “Ohokay! I gihive. No more of that, I promise. Dearest.”

Logan smiled before pulling Roman to a sitting position, right beside him. “Good. At least we both have the assurance that you two will be safer.”

Logan paused before he remembered something important. “Oh, Roman?”

Roman tilted his head slightly, resulting in an image that somewhat resembled a puppy. 

“Yeah, specs?”

“I never did finish putting on that lotion. Looks like we’ll have to finish that up now.”

"Oh! How about a board game?" Patton clasped his hands for maybe the seventeenth time.

"Oh I love board games!" Roman sunk a little.

"Card games...?"

"I love those too!" It was too much for the prince to process. He groaned outwardly and rubbed his temples, trying to get a hold of his temper.

"For Athena's sakes, Patton! Stop giving me the same answer for every idea I have! Just pick one over the other! Ugh. Even you can't love everything with the same intensity! Please, just tell me which one you'd like to do!" Patton frowned a little and thought with a face that could mirror Logan's eyebrow raise of utter confusion. After a minute, the moral side looked just as defeated as the prince himself.

"I don't know Princey! I can't pick! All those ideas you gave are amazing! And as much as I'd like to choose between them...I just...can't! I just want to do what you want to do!" Roman fell back on the couch in dramatic fashion.

"Not again, Patton! We are going in a circle here! What I want to do is what you want to do, yet we both want to do what the other side wants and no decisions are being made on which activity we will do!" Patton hung his head a little and fiddled with his thumbs. He watched as Roman pulled at his hair with frustration.

"I'm sorry Roman! I don't know what you really want to do! But, I promise it's not because I don't want to spend time with you! I do! It's just we both are too nice. Eheh. This 'kind' of argument is just a round Robin for us!" Roman's response to Patton was a pillow in the face, sending the moral aspect in almost the exact position Roman was on the couch in front of him.

"Stop it! I already told you I want to do what you want to do, and I gave you a whole list of options. Just freaking TELL ME!" The moral aspect gave a half-hearted chuckle at the pillow Roman threw at him, and lamely tossed it back allowing the prince to catch it with ease. Roman twirled the pillow in his hands, trying to think up a solution to their predicament. With Virgil and Logan gone, this wasn't an easy task, but it only took a moment for a possible idea to come to him.

"Okay. Patton." Roman clasped his hands together and drew a breath, touching his middle fingers to his nose as he regained his composure. "I have a proposition for you." He pointed with his folded hands towards the moral side. Patton perked up and nodded vigorously, signifying he was intently listening to what he had to say.

"If...you tell me what you'd like to do in these next couple hours, I will personally see to it that your next request is fulfilled! Regardless of what I, Logan, or Virgil think!" Roman stood up on the couch to confirm his point, watching proudly as Patton followed suit and started clapped wildly.

"Wait really?!" Patton's eyes were the widest they had been that day, and finally the prince felt like they were getting somewhere.

"Yes really! But, in order to do that, you need to choose." Roman smirked and collapsed back on the couch, feeling that his side of the bargain had been portrayed perfectly. Patton drew in a deep breath and did the same.

"Okay. I can do this..." He closed his eyes and tapped at his forehead. "Think, think think, think, think."

Roman manifested a glass of water in his hand and drank daintily. "A winnie the pooh reference! Classic." The moral aspect smiled warmly and went right back to thinking. The prince scrutinized his fellow side's face as he did this, when he noticed a peculiar blush grow on Patton's face as he seemed to accumulate an idea.

"How about...umm...oh wait nevermind..." Roman raised an eyebrow at Patton's pinked expression and set his glass of water down.

"Have you thought of something, Patton dearest?" It seemed Patton's blush only grew at the nickname and Roman's interests were now clearly piqued about what he had in mind.

"Uhh...yeah! But...it might not be something you wanna do so let's just move on! Eheheheh! How about that board game idea you had? We could play Monopoly-" Roman quickly put a finger against Patton's lips to shush him.

"At this point, Patton, this is the most interest you've shown at anything today! So do tell me what this original idea you had of yours was?" Patton tried to swallow his blush and was only mildly successful as the prince transfered over to his couch and sat down next to him. Patton laughed nervously and waved his hand around like it was nothing.

"Awh, don't worry about it. I'll just ask for it for my one request you said you'd fulfill! Eheheh!" Roman knew that Patton laugh all to well and it so happened to be the same laugh Patton would use when he was trying to conceal his feelings. Roman was having none of that.

. "Well there's no harm in telling me now is there?" Roman gave Patton a playful grin and watched as the blush came back to spread across his face. Oh this was going to be fun.

"Well...I...uhm-" Patton fiddled with his thumbs faster.

"It's nothing explicit is it, padre?" Roman just had to jest watching as Patton jumped back in hurried fashion and rush to his own defense.

"What?! Nononononono! Nothing like that! It might be slightly intimate-"

"Intimate you say?" Roman grabbed his water and downed it quickly, moving his face closer to Patton's. "I can do intimate." Patton snorted at the Prince's face and playfully pushed it away.

"Stop it. No no nothing like that! You should know by now I'm all about the heart and not about the bod!" Roman gave him a disbelieving smirk.

"Really now? Because I'm positive I'm not the only one who bears a fancy towards six packs." Patton's blush got a bit redder as it began to rush to the tips of his ears. Roman threw his head in laughter, quite glad of his victory.

"R-roman!!" The prince clapped a hand on his back, sending Patton forward a bit.

"I knew it! So how intimate would you like it? I can take off my shirt." Patton was sure his hips didn't need to move that much if he was just taking off his shirt, nevertheless his blush finally spread down to his neck.

"GAH! No! Keep your shirt on Roman!" Patton reached to the hem of Roman's shirt that was already exposing his belly button and attempted to pull it back down. "Modesty!"

"What modesty Patton? There's no one here but us." Patton yanked it down out of Roman's hands.

"Noo!! Stop!"

"Okay fine fine! How intimate are we talking then?" Roman clasped hands with Patton, pulling him and himself off the couch and to their feet.

"I just wanna cuddle!" Patton shouted. A little more volume than what was necessary since Roman was right in front of him, but the prince understood because of how insecure the moral aspect must have felt saying that. "I've cuddled with Logan and Virgil, but it's been forever since we've cuddled! And I feel like we don't have much interaction so I'm sorry if that's weird to ask, but your famILY too. Don't forget that." Roman gave a warm half smile and wiggled from side to side.

"Aw shucks..." Patton smiled.

"Also, this whole bonding thing is because we both agreed that the Sander's Sides videos have been growing us two apart more than bringing us together and we wanted to change that. That was your idea...wasn't it Roman?" The prince smiled and brought Patton in for a hug.

"Yes. I suppose it was. Well to heck with it. Why don't we cuddle a bit?" Roman kicked off his boots and laid on the couch behind them, motioning for Patton to do the same.

"Just like that? Don't you want like a movie on or something-BLANKET!?" The fanciful side chuckled at Patton's reaction when he summoned a large fuzzy blanket that depicted cats and dogs playing together. He had to hold his squeal in as Patton practically jumped on him and burrowed underneath the blanket.

"Judging by that reaction, I don't think a movie will be necessary." As Patton wiggled under the blanket and got himself situated in the prince's arms, Roman couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm for cuddles. He quickly snaked an arm around Patton's waist, hearing him let out a soft, surprised squeal as he was brought closer to the chest of the larger spoon.

They stayed like that in comfortable silence for a couple minutes, until a low rumbling decided to interrupt their wordless hangout.

"Excuse me?" Roman commented, opening an eye to the moral aspect that was in front of him.

Patton giggled nervously. "Oh that was just my tummy. Ya know...I just ate, so food's settling."

The prince inwardly smirked as an idea began forming in his mind. "Your tummy you say?" He rested his hand around Patton's middle directly on the body part in question. "And it thinks it has the gall to interrupt peace and quiet between me and it's owner?!"

Roman rubbed it gently, causing Patton to squirm a little. The smiles on both aspect's only continued to grow wider. "R-roman? Wh-at?"

"Perhaps it needs to be taught a lesson." Roman grinned devilishly as he began to skitter his fingers lightly along Patton's belly. Patton quickly doubled into light giggles, half-heartedly pushing Roman's attempts at tickling away from his person.

"Wahahait! Rohoman! It's involuhuhuntary!"

Roman clicked his tongue. "Such a big word! Tell me Patton have you been spending more time with Logan than me?! That in itself is a crime! You and your full belly shall be punished equally!" Patton was now giggling into the confines of the blanket, quickly realizing that he had nowhere to escape from Roman's wiggling fingers.

"Ihihihi sahaid I wahahanted to cuhuhuddle!" Patton let out a quick snort when Roman's hand had snaked up under his shirt and squeezed his hip.

"But we are cuddling Patton dearest! Tickling is just one aspect of cuddling! And also, might I add we aren't fighting over what to do as a bonding experience anymore. I believe this is an experience in and of itself. Plus, your laughter is an added bonus!" Roman trapped Patton against his front, now skittering just a bit more rigorously once he noticed Patton trying to escape his clutches.

"Rohohohohohohohoman!!! Nahahaht there!!" His fingers were diligently kneading the skin right under Patton's navel.

"Oh why not here? Are you too ticklish here?" The prince raised an eyebrow at Patton's squeal when one of his pointer fingers slipped into his belly button. "Goodness you are adorable. We should spend time together more often if it means I get to hear your melodious laughter." The giggling continued to spew from Patton's mouth, but turned to high pitched squeals when Roman began nuzzling into his neck.

"Rohohohohomahahahannn!! Stahahahaahppp!!!" Patton turned his body inward towards Roman and beat his chest softly, hoping the prince would take a hint that he had enough.

The prince frowned and slowed his tickles. Though he was sad the intimate moment had passed, there was now no trace of awkwardness between the two sides in the blanket. He had the urge to continue tickling, but refrained in case the moral aspect didn't want it.

Patton must have read his emotions because not a minute later, Patton took one of Roman's hands and rested it on his side. "Just a little lighter? It's not that I mind rougher tickles, it's just...I like to enjoy the intimate touch that comes from my famILY, ya know?"

Roman awwed, and gently tickled Patton's sides up and down. Watching him squeak and squirm as if this was the best experience in the world was really quite therapeutic to the prince. Patton guided his fingers up to his ribs, into his armpits, up to his neck, then back down to his belly, only for the cycle to repeat itself. Once Patton had enough, he gently grabbed Roman's wrists, and the fanciful aspect quickly withdrew.

"Tha-ank you." Patton sheepishly grinned, watching as the realization dawned across Roman's expression.

"Say Patton, this wasn't the intimate thing you were blushing about earlier was it?" The moral aspect fiddled with his wrist.

"Maaaayyybee?" Roman chuckled and pressed a quick kiss to Patton's still pink cheeks.

"There's no need to be embarrassed, Patton. It was adorable, and I much rather enjoyed the activity."

Patton yawned and sleepily eyed the side in his arms. "Wouldja want the activity done back to you then sometime?" It was now Roman's turn to flush.

"O-oh...maybe some other time. For now, cuddles are perfectly fine. I'm not opposed to being on the receiving end sometime soon however." The moral aspect pecked Roman on the cheek and snuggled his face closer to his chest.

"Good. Cuz I'll bet that princely laughter is amazing. I'd love to hear a real laugh from you sometime." The royal aspect gave a nervous laugh.

"Sure! It sounds great." But he was thankful when the moral aspect did no other prodding into his real laugh.

Another couple seconds went by before the silence was broken again, but this time by Patton's voice.

"Thank you for cuddling Roman."

"Hm? Oh of course. It's what you wanted and I am also having fun."

"I mean it when I say this Roman, that even if we didn't cuddle, I would have had just as much fun doing any of the things you suggested earlier." Roman took a second to scratch his head.

"Even over this?" Roman gestured to their cuddling position. "Which you clearly wanted so much?"

"Well yeah! Cuddling is always fun, but I still would have been happy with anything else. Wanna know why?"

"Why then?"

"Because the thing I love most of all..." Patton brought his face a little closer to Roman's. "...is spending time with you." Roman flushed a tremendous amount and the grin on Patton's face told him the moral aspect had gotten the reaction he had wanted from him.

"Alright alright. We're even. You and only you can turn me into this mushy sappy mess that I am now."

"I wouldn't have you any other way." Patton pressed another kiss to his cheek before laying his head back down on Roman's chest. "I'm feeling sleepy. Wanna nap together?"

The blush only continued to spread to Roman's neck. "Might as well, I don't feel like getting up anytime soon."

"Then don't! You're too comfy anyways." Patton nuzzled into Roman's neck before letting out a sigh of satisfaction. "Nighty night Roman."

"It's day, but sure. Goodnight...Patton." Patton was asleep long before Roman was able to, but the prince didn't mind. He used that time to think. To think about how much bonding he truly had been missing with the moral aspect. And he could only think about the experiences they could share together if they continued to bond like this. The thought of it all brought a smile to his face as he finally drifted off to sleep.