#tickleween

Todoroki didn’t usually feel temperature like everyone else did, but right now the heat of his blush on his cheeks and ears was hard to ignore. He gave a shy smile. “If we linger for too long, we’re going to be late.”

“That would be a shame.” The blonde got to his feet, and for a moment Todoroki felt a strange disappointment in his chest, until his boyfriend began to slowly saunter toward him in…that kind of a way.

He swallowed again. “Yeah, it would,” he said quietly, not meaning a single word.

Bakugou took his time, but once he’d reached his boyfriend, he wasted no time grabbing him by the belt and pulling him in close, kissing him with a fervor that surprised the other boy. Never one to complain about affection, however, the half-and-half hero cupped his face and kissed him back, enjoying the moment while it lasted.

A minute later, flushed and breathless, Bakugou pulled back just enough to lean his forehead into Todoroki’s. “You know, Shoto, I’ve been rather naughty~”

Holy shit. Todoroki’s heartrate spiked. He fought to keep a straight face. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” The blonde grabbed his wrists, gently guiding his hands not to his waist or neck as he expected, but to his lower ribcage. Todoroki tensed, now fighting off a different kind of reaction. “I think you’d better punish me for it.”

Was it hot in here? Could Todoroki be hot? He struggled to catch his breath for a moment, fighting every ounce of desire in him to not immediately do what he very much wanted to do. Bakugou was trying to be sexy, and all he could think about was that?

“W-What…um…” The peppermint boy stammered, and Bakugou smirked at him. “What…have you done?”

The blonde lowered his voice. “I’ve been spying on you.”

“You…huh?”

Arms wrapped around his neck, leaving Bakugou even more vulnerable now than he’d been a second before. Todoroki still hadn’t moved his hands.

“I saw you yesterday,” his boyfriend murmured teasingly. “Trying to tickle a pillow, of all things. It must be a bad one, huh?”

He started to pull away, but Bakugou refused to let him out of their circle. “Too bad there isn’t someone you could take some of that energy out on. Someone who’s been bad recently, who deserves to get their shit wrecked? A prisoner, perhaps?”

This was actually happening. Todoroki sucked in a breath of air, trying to keep his heart calm. He was dizzy with surprise and desire. “Katsuki, I…”

“Unless…” Bakugou tilted his head so he could lean in to whisper in his ear. “You don’t think you could tickle me into submission? It would definitely be a challenge. I can see why you wouldn’t take it—”

He crumbled. In an instant his fingers were digging in, hard, and he was pushing Bakugou right back to the bed he’d just vacated, drinking in his partner’s shout of laughter and the way he curled in on himself like he was dying of thirst and had just found a well.

Bakugou was on his back, and Todoroki was above him, and Bakugou was grinning, laughing, and Todoroki couldn’t help but go for one of his worst spots right off the bat, and…

Something caught his eye. Movement on his belt. Without thinking, he snatched the cheap handcuffs off his costume and grabbed one of the blonde’s wrists—

And then he came back to himself. He realized what he was doing, what he was about to do, and a wave of uncertainty crashed into him. He glanced at Bakugou. “Katsuki—”

“You think those will help you? Bah,” the blonde growled, fully in character now, smirking defiantly. “You’ll never break me, Shoto.”

And that was the last straw. In an instant Todoroki had the cuffs around his partner’s wrists, keeping his arms secure above him while he used both hands to finally, finally, plunge his tickling fingers into real flesh and bone, drawing out real squirming, real laughter.

“Gahahahehehehehehehehehe! Fuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuck!” Bakugou squealed, giggling and wriggling adorably, making Todoroki’s heart race even faster. God damn if he didn’t love the hell out of that laugh in particular. Being allowed to draw it out like this was what he considered one of the best gifts he’d ever been given.

He allowed himself a minute to just indulge, just draw out the initial burst of reactions, before he remembered that they were in costume, and Bakugou was already in character. Well…why not play along a little?

“So, you were spying on me?” Todoroki asked, trying his best to sound disapproving.

“Yeheheheheheheah! Whahahahahahat of it?”

“Exactly what did you see, and how long were you there without my knowing?”

“Lihihihihihihihike I’d tehehehehehehell you anythihihihihihing!”

Oh, so it was like that. Todoroki grinned, settling himself on his boyfriend’s hips, pulling open the fabric of his prisoner’s jumpsuit to sneak his fingers inside and scratch along bare skin. Bakugou tried to flail, but could hardly move for the weight on top of him and his arms bound above him. “You sure about that?”

“Fihihihihihihihine, fine! I wahahahahahahahas coming to gehehehehehehet you for something ehehehehehehelse, and you dihihihihihihidn’t answer the doohohohohohohoor – fuck!” The blonde squealed and cackled for a few seconds when Todoroki got to his bottom ribs. “I sahahahahahaw you tihihihihihickling your pillow with a lahahahahahahaugh track or sohohohohohohomething playing and leheheheheheheheft you alohohohohohohone!”

Laugh track. Todoroki’s insecurity got the better of him. He slowed his tickling a bit, hesitating. “You…you heard the…?”

“Come on, don’t be like that,” Bakugou interrupted before he could get lost in his thoughts. “I already know you’re into this kind of thing, so it wasn’t a shock. And I don’t think it’s weird. It was cute. I almost took a video. I didn’t! But I almost did.” He smirked again. “That’s when I knew you could use someone to help you through the worst of it, and, well…we’re already dressed for the part, aren’t we?”

Todoroki swept his gaze over his blushing, smiling boyfriend, took in the moment for what it was, and leaned down to kiss him. “I love you so much.”

“Love you too, Shoto,” Bakugou replied, then tugged purposefully at the handcuffs to bring them back to the matter at hand. “Now wreck me into next week so we can go to that party.”

That’s when Todoroki felt himself smirking back, already tickling again, already drawing out helpless, growly giggles again. “But Katsuki…I thought you wanted me to punish you~”

Several minutes later, Bakugou was a screaming, laughing, begging mess, struggling and kicking uselessly under his boyfriend’s onslaught, his jumpsuit having been opened even further for Todoroki to reach up to his armpits and stay there, tickling mercilessly, their faces only inches apart with the one on top enjoying every bit of the show up close.

“FUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUCKING SHIT, SHOHOHOHOHOHOHOTO!! ENOUGH ALREHEHEHEHEHEHEADY!! I CAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAN’T!!”

Todoroki just smiled at him, leaning down to brush their noses together briefly. “Oh, I’m sure you can. Do it for me, Katsuki? Hmm?”

“PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE!! ANYWHERE ELSE, PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE!!”

“Hmm…anywhere?”

Bakugou wailed, clearly approaching his limit. His cheeks were red, and mirthful tears were brimming in his eyes. “AHAHAHAHAHAHANYWHERE!!”

Todoroki darted down to the space between his armpits and upper ribs, digging in with ruthless and practiced precision, and when Bakugou opened his mouth to scream, he closed his own over top of him to muffle his cries of hysterical laughter. His boyfriend bucked and thrashed beneath him, and the peppermint boy soaked it all in, letting it fill him up to fully satisfy the terrible ler mood he’d been in for a while now.

Just then, there was a pounding on their door. Todoroki froze, sitting up, and Bakugou took the opportunity to gasp for breath as Kaminari called from outside, “Food’s here, whenever you two lovebirds want to join the fun!”

Before Todoroki could formulate a response, Bakugou barked, “Fuck off, you damn extra! We’re busy!”

“Katsuski!” Todoroki hissed, even as he heard Kaminari cackle and move away from the door. He shoved his boyfriend’s chest. “He probably thinks we’re—”

“The way you had me screaming just now? He knows damn well what you’re doing to me.” Bakugou was still catching his breath, but he looked cocky nonetheless. “And I have no problem with that. Do you?”

Todoroki considered, then snickered, pulling his hands out of Bakugou’s jumpsuit to pinch up and down his sides playfully. “Not at all. You deserve it, and I like being the only one who can do this to you and get away with it.”

The blonde was instantly sent back into giggles, these ones lighter and breathier than the hard laughing he’d been doing moments before. He pulled uselessly on the cuffs. “Fuhuhuhuhuhuhuck! You’re luhuhuuhuhuhuhucky I lohohohohohove you, you tihihihihihihickle mohohohohohonster!”

Amir responds first. “I am sorry Dorian, but we could not help but notice how tense you look right now.”

“Yeah, we know it’s part of your position to be on the lookout, but stiff muscles that never get rest can’t be good for you. Why don’t you relax for a little bit?” Betty adds.

“I’m fine, but I appreciate the concern,” is all Dorian says in response.

Amir rolls his eyes. “Yes yes, we know you’re fine, but wouldn’t it be great to smile more? A smile shouldn’t be rare! It should be always shining, as bright as the sun itself reflecting off a mirror!”

Betty responds, “What Amir is trying to say is that you look so tense all the time, so it would be nice to see you smile and loosen up a little more.”

“Exactly!” Amir agrees. “I mean, look at you right now. “Your face is all stiff and serious. It’s a problem we need to address.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Dorian replies. “This is how I always look.”

Amir exasperates a sigh. “Here, let me show you what I mean.” Amir goes over to the door, takes Dorian’s arm, and pulls him towards the other side of the bedroom. Dorian grumbles as he’s escorted from his post and positioned in front of the mirror. Within the reflection, he can see himself, Amir standing with him on one side, and Betty moving closer to join him on the other side.

Amir gestures towards the mirror, more specifically the reflection of Dorian’s gruff-looking face. “You see, Dorian? You are too serious!” Amir looks over at his friend, “You see it too, right Betty?”

The pink-haired woman nods. “I do see it. You have to admit, Dorian, it’s great that you’re always standing guard around the house, but sometimes you need to relax too, you know?”

“What’s wrong with the way I look?” Dorian glares, specifically at Amir.

“Nothing! Nothing at all!” Amir answers. “Betty and I just think that a smile would look great on you. That way you won't look so tense anymore, eh?” Amir gives Dorian a playful jab in his side to punctuate his sentence. Surprising, Dorian flinches and sucks in a breath of air. He latches onto Amir’s hand and quickly pulls it away from his side.

“Yeah, I get it,” Dorian releases Amir’s wrist. “But like I said before, I’m fine.”

Amir only half-processes Dorian’s words as he blinks at him; he’s still hung up on the fact that Dorian basically jumped when he jabbed him. At first, Amir thought that he may have just surprised him, but then he realized… Was that a hint of a smile he saw?

Amir and Betty both look at each other. Betty’s look of amusement indicates that she also noticed, and was thinking, the same thing. Amir can’t help but smirk.

“Could it be…?” he finally responds. “Could it be that the stoic Dorian is a little ticklish?”

Dorian rolls his eyes with a grumble. “I’m not ticklish. Simple answer as that. Now, I appreciate you both trying to help, but I have a job to do.” Dorian walks off, then heads downstairs to change his post. 

When he leaves, Amir and Betty glance at each other, both of their minds cooking up a scheme.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Betty?” Amir smiles.

Betty returns a smile. “Oh, you bet I am.”

***

“So picture this! A crime has just occurred in a bakery and the criminal has hidden the evidence in a baked good—like a cake, or a pie, or something like that! So my question is this: judging by the facts of the case, what sweet treat would the criminal most likely hide the evidence in?”

Dorian shakes his head at the riddle. He has his arms crossed as he responds to Maggie the magnifying glass’ question.

“So you want to know what type of food item a criminal could get away with using? Why don’t you talk to Mitchell about this?” 

“Because this is less about the actual food and more so on the inconspicuous properties of the food!” Maggie clarifies. “If someone came into the house with a bakery item as a gift, what would look the least conspicuous? Hmm, cake? It could be cake…” Maggie thinks out loud.

As she speaks, Maggie sees Amir and Betty peek out and then appear from behind the living room wall. They slowly tip-toe their way towards Dorian.

Dorian notices that Maggie’s eyes briefly glanced at something past him. “I guess I would have to think about that one,” Dorian is about to turn his head around, but Maggie quickly pulls back his attention as she yells out,

“WAIT! I've had an epiphany! What if it’s the flavor of cake that makes it less conspicuous. Hmm, let’s see here… There’s chocolate, strawberry, vanilla…”

Dorian replies, sighing, “Maggie, I don’t think the flavor of cake makes any differ–ENCE!” He yelps in the middle of talking from Amir and Betty sneaking up on him and driving their fingers into his torso. “Gahack!” Dorian coughs out a few giggles as his body slowly reacts to the realization that he’s being tickled.

“What are you dohohoing?” Dorian keeps himself standing in place while he pulls in his limbs a little closer to himself.

“Aha! I knew it! I knew you were ticklish!” Amir exclaims with glee as he drums his fingers along Dorian’s side. “You can’t keep a good secret like that from us!”

“And now that the secret is out, we can see that smile we’ve been wanting to see! The giggles are an added bonus,” Betty mentions as she holds on to one of his arms while her other hand scratches at his ribs.

“I wahahas hoping yohohou would forget!” Dorian starts to squirm a little the more the tickling continues.

“A chance to make our friend smile? We couldn’t forget a thing like that! We even had Maggie help us with a distraction.” Betty smiles in the direction of the magnifying glass, “Thanks Maggie for your help.”

“Hehe, no problem,” Maggie beams.

“Maggie?! Yohohou were in on it toohohohoo?” Dorian wraps his arms around his torso as he can feel in his belly the boiling pot of laughter starting to make an appearance.

“Well, when Amir and Betty came to me with a rumor that you might be ticklish, I just had to see the evidence for myself,” Maggie says. “Now I have, so it looks like this case is open and shut.”

“Do you want to give us a hand, Maggie?” Betty asks. “I bet Dorian has plenty of tickle spots to go around.”

“I do nohohohot!” Dorian protests as his body tries to curl inward on itself, nearly causing him to fall backwards to the floor, but he’s trying to keep somewhat of his stoic image by keeping himself standing.

Amir explores further up his sides. “Lying is not a good look on you, my friend. We’re just going to find out about your so-called ticklish spots eventually,” Amir grins, especially when he sees Dorian tightening his arms to himself when Amir reaches his underarms.

Maggie chuckles. “Thanks for the offer, Betty, but you two have your fun with it.” Maggie is about to leave but she stops herself. “Since you said Dorian flinched when you poked his side, try around there. He must be super ticklish there if he couldn’t contain his reaction just from a poke.”

“Mahahahaggie!” Dorian yells.

“We’re on the case, Maggie!” Amir grins.

“Okay, bye! Have fun you three! Let me know how it goes later!” Maggie speeds out of there before she can get herself in any more trouble with Dorian.

“Mahahahaggie wait!” Dorian calls out to her before he has to quickly shift his attention back to his two attackers that have just been given a major tip. “Dohohon’t you even think–AHA!” Dorian jolts when Amir tests a squeeze right above his hip. When the mirror hones in on the spot, Dorian immediately falls to his knees.

“And down he goes!” Amir cheers and pounces on top of Dorian to knock him onto his stomach. Amir lies sideways across Dorian’s back.

“Amir!” Dorian pushes half of his body up on his arms. “Get off–mehehehe!” Dorian snickers as Amir scribbles into his side again. Dorian wobbles on his arms before completely crashing to the floor and releasing goofy bouts of laughter.

“I’ve got him pinned Betty! Get his other side!” Amir exclaims

“You got it, Amir,” Betty kneels down and skitters her fingers across Dorian’s side and his back, like she was giving him a tickly massage to loosen the ‘down to business’ tension he always has. She also focuses on the spot right above his hips that made him crumble. Dorian bounces with booming belly laughs and slams his fist to the floor. When he makes a singular, higher pitched cackle amidst his continuous stream of “Hahaha”s, Dorian bumps his forehead into the floor, trying to hide away from the sound he just made. He knows it won’t be long before his two friends will make a comment.

“My goodness,” Amir starts, “I’ve heard of squeaky doors before, but a giggly door that squeaks while being tickled? Now that’s a new one.”

Betty chuckles. “I could get used to this new version of Dorian.”

Dorian lifts his head. He shouts to his friends behind him, “Yohohohou gohohot me, ahahalright?! Knohohohock it off!” Dorian manages through his wheezes.

“Oh well, if we must,” Amir teases, but immediately pulls his hands from Dorian. He jumps off his back and sits next to him. Betty takes a seat as well while Dorian picks himself from the floor and leans back on an arm to rest.

Betty sweetly pats his back, careful not to startle him again. Amir laughs.

“Ha ha! We got you!” the mirror rubs it in a little.

Dorian’s chest rises and falls as he speaks, “Yeah, you did. You both performed a well coordinated sneak attack without question. I’ll give you that.”

“Oh good. Then we’ll know what to do next time,” Amir says.

Dorian whips his head in the direction of the mirror. “Next time?”

“Yeah, now we’ll know what to do if you're too tense or not smiling as much,” Betty smiles at him.

“No way- you hang on! You’re so indecisive tonight!” Sanemi growled out his annoyance, fingers skillfully digging into Giyu’s belly and sides while the brunette kicked and laughed beneath him. “If you want me to be in costume so bad, just say so! I might be more motivated to do it if you say so.”

“I dohohohohn’t wahhaahnt you to fehhheheel ohoohohbligahhahated! Ehahahaha- Ahhahahaha, Shahahnemihihihihi!” Giyu arched when his lower ribs were grabbed, his hands encasing Sanemi’s and weakly tugging at them. “Nohohohohohot thehehehehehre!”

“Say you want to see me dressed up.” Sanemi growled. “Say it. Say you want me to wear that dumb mask and walk around with you holding hands all night.”

“I dihihihidn’t sahhhay tahhahat lahahahst pahahahrt!”

“Oh. Yeah, you didn’t.” Sanemi blushed. “Well- you were clearly thinking it!”

Maybe he was. “Sahahhahnemi! Eheahhaha- fihihihne! Fihihihine, I wahahahant yohohohu to drehhehehehess up!” Giyu confessed, and the tickles came to and end. The hands lingered on his sides though with warning. “I wahahant you to dress up with me. I wahahnt to hold hands and be an annoying couple with you on Halloween.”

“....Okay.” Sanemi nodded, cheeks still pink as he sat up. “That’s all you had to say, you know.”

“I don’t want to come off as selfish.” Giyu admitted, earning a gentle flick to the forehead. “Hey..”

“You're my boyfriend. You can be selfish from time to time.” Sanemi chided him gently, kissing the spot he flicked. “If it’s for you, I’ll wear it. Not for Uzui, though. I don’t know what dumb vision he’s got going on, but I’m doing this for you and you alone.”

“He gave everyone masks.” Giyu added softly. “He wants us to be Deities."

“Gah- whatever. My motivation still stands.” Sanemi pretended to sound annoyed, and Giyu smiled. “Let’s go out and have a good time.”

            Bruce did not reply, letting Clark ramble about the logistics of flying versus gliding. Clark was exceptional at having conversations with himself, which Bruce also did, but the reporter could have full on arguments with himself that would end up with him mad later. It was cute.

            Bruce reached for the steaming mug of tea Alfred had brought just before Clark’s spontaneous realization, raising it to his lips.

            “I could be having sex with Owlman,” Bruce choked on his tea. “Oh, sorry Bruce. It’s just funny to think of you dressed as an owl instead of a bat. I wonder if you would hoot as a safe word.”

            “Clark, you need to shut the fuck up right now,” Bruce was now looking at the man, his steely blue eyes full of tangled emotions. “I do not want one of the kids to hear that.”

            “I don’t hear any of them nearby,” Clark replied, wearing the smuggest of smiles. He crossed his legs and tilted his head to the side. “I hear how fast your heart is beating though.”

            Bruce did not blush, and he had not blushed since he was a child, however if he hadn’t trained himself out of this normal human behavior, his face would have been beet red. Having a super powered boyfriend was amazing, but right now it was not only an irritant, but a major inconvenience.

            “What’s gotten into you?” Bruce’s voice was incredulous.

            “What? Don’t you like it when I flirt with you?” Clark waggled his brows. “But, yeah. I found this cool book about owls, and I thought about you. This one looks like you.”

            Clark had already placed a bookmark where the owl of note was, so when he opened the book, he was quick to turn it around and show Bruce the photo.

            The photo was of a long-eared owl with the widest of eyes and completely drenched. It was depressing to look at. The ears were straight up, almost looking like Bruce’s cowl.

            Bruce took in a deep breath, “That’s nice Clark.”

            “I thought so too.”

            Bruce looked back down at his book, reopening it to where he last left off, praying to some sort of deity for Clark to go back to reading quietly. Unfortunately, no one was listening.

            Before Bruce could blink, Clark had sped over to him, picking him up to put him in his lap. Taking the book from his hands, Clark placed it on the side table before turning all his attention to Bruce.

            “I thought you said the other night that you were going to “humor me” more,” Clark’s warm breath on Bruce’s ear made the hair on the back of his neck raise.

            “I have been humoring you,” Bruce tried to ignore the shiver surging through his nerves.

            “You’ve just been talking to me.”

            “That’s what humoring is,” Bruce retorted, swinging his legs around in an attempt to stand up, though Clark quickly wrapped his hands around Bruce’s middle.

            “I was hoping you’d smile a little,” Clark’s fingers curled into Bruce’s belly, forcing out a soft gasp. “Oh, what was that?”

            “Clark,” Bruce warned, though knew his words had no effect as he felt Clark’s chest bounce as he chuckled. “Don’t.”

            “Threatening me will just make it worse,” Bruce huffed at Clark’s reply, staring a hole in the floor so he didn’t have to look Clark in the eyes. Bruce didn’t have to be the world’s greatest detective to know there was absolutely no way out of this situation without Clark getting what he wanted. This, of course, frustrated Bruce, though just feeling Clark’s warmth radiating into him made Bruce feel fuzzy.

            Fingers tapping into Bruce’s belly, the man squirmed like an anxious child on a mall Santa’s lap. Hands gripping Clark’s wrists, Bruce continued to turn his head away, his eyes tightly shut. His lips wobbled, though his mind fought the sensation while Clark’s wriggling fingers sped up over time.

            “Why won’t you just let me see you smile?” Clark teased, his lips grazing the shell of Bruce’s ear. “C’mon Bruce. Just one little smile.”

            “No,” Bruce would deny the fact that his statement sounded more like a whine, though Clark found it endearing.

            “Fine,” Clark pressed his face into the crook of Bruce’s neck. “I guess I’ll have to up the ante then.”

            “Asshole,” Bruce managed to let out before becoming overwhelmed by a surge of happy laughter; Clark peppering kisses all over Bruce’s neck, driving the man insane. “No! Dammit Clark, stop!”

            “If you want me to stop,” Clark pulled his face away, then pressed his forehead against Bruce’s, the noses touching, “you’ve got to hoot for me. It’s your safe word, remember?”

#augtickletober2025 by @august-anon

#g&s tickletober / #31 Tickles Til Halloween by @gladdygirl18 & @sunstone-smiles

#sana's tickletober 2025 by @itzsana-kiddingmenow

“Mmm, thanks, but I think I’m going to go for a more lavish vampire look,” he replied, carefully guiding mascara onto his lashes. 

“Even fancy vampires have to eat,” Seiryu teased. “Feeding off of others; that’s the main thing that makes them scary, you know?”

Still waiting for the makeup to dry, Tsubaki leveled his eyes at Seiryu in leu of an eye-roll. “Who said I had to eat blood? Maybe I’m a different kind of vampire?” 

“Oh? I hadn’t considered that…” Seiryu replied.

Uryu’s eyes opened in interest and looked towards Tsubaki’s voice.

“What kind of vampire would you be then?” Seiryu asked, moving to apply another layer to Uryu’s markings. 

Tsubaki tilted his head in thought and his deep, blood-red nails sparkled in his periphery. 

“I don’t know,” he replied, trying to keep the smile out of his voice as he slowly approached the twins. 

Seiryu saw Tsubaki sneaking towards them out of the corner of his eye, but Uryu had his back to him and was none the wiser. Tsubaki also wasn’t wearing heels yet, making his movements unusually silent. 

Seeing the play at hand, Seiryu hesitated with the false blood and kept his expression neutral as he pretended to look over his work. 

But Uryu could feel it—the subtle vibe change. He scanned his brother’s face and caught a glimpse of Tsubaki sneaking toward him in a mirror across the room. Anticipation shimmered across his skin but he held his nerve until the very…last…second. Uryu grabbed Seiryu by his upper arms, his eyes widening in surprise as he was spun and tossed into Tsubaki’s embrace. 

“Pfft! You’re not who I was going for!” Tsubaki laughed as he hugged Seiryu. “But I’m sure you’ll be delicious!”

Uryu tilted his head.

“But I thought you said you didn’t eat blood?” Seiryu mused, the fangs in his smirk disappearing when a set of nails drummed along his side.

“No, I was thinking of something a bit more...laughable?”

Seiryu clamped his mouth shut and tried to twist free from Tsubaki’s grip.

Uryu took a few healthy steps back. 

“Like you said, vampires have to eat and your laughter sounds like a perfect first course!“ Tsubaki cooed, wiggling two nails into each of his hips. 

A smile crept onto Seiryu’s face and he gave up struggling to stifle the laughter fluttering in his chest with his hands. 

“Come on, cutie, where are those adorable giggles of yours?” Tsubaki sang, adding more fingers and making Seiryu shudder. “So much resistance and yet you were going to sacrifice poor Uryu to the same fate!” 

“YOU—yo-you!” Seiryu tried, shouting to distract from the ticklish trails wiggling across his stomach. “We-Were gohing to gehet him first!” 

Tsubaki clicked his tongue and skittered his nails under the outer layers of Seiryu’s outfit. “And yet you didn’t help your own brother?” 

“He didn’t hehelp mehehe eiheheehither!” 

Uryu lifted his chin. He didn’t know what exactly his brother had been up to but was glad to dodge one of Tsubaki’s tickle hugs. 

Seiryu puffed out his cheeks in the effort keep it together, but Tsubaki’s nails seemed to tickle the laughter itself and before he knew it loud chuckles pushed past his lips. 

“Stohohoha! Stohop! You’re gohohoing to mehes up my mahakeuhuhup!”

“Oh as if,” Tsubaki grinned, lightening his touch and blitzing his fingertips all over his stomach. “Now give me some of those precious giggles!” 

“AH! Ahehahaheha!” Seiryu gasped, kicking his feet to try and escape. “Nahahaha! Nohohahat thahahat! Wahahait wahahait wahahait!” 

“Nope! Can’t do it!” Tsubaki beamed. “You’re just too cute, thinking you can keep your giggles from me with a tummy this ticklish!” To his immense amusement, a blush rose to Seiryu’s cheeks. He scribbled his fingers up to the bottom of Seiryu’s ribs and he tossed his head back in ticklish laughter. 

“AHAHAHA! URYU HEHEHELP!”

Uryu only blinked at his brother as Tsubaki traced and scratched slowly up his ribs. 

“If you dohohoHON’T HEHE’LL GEHEHET YOHOU TOOHOHO!” Seiryu cried.

“Awe whaaat? I didn’t say that!” Tsubaki smirked, scratching between Seiryu’s ribs and making him cackle. 

Uryu flinched a little at the sound, knowing all too well what he was experiencing. However, he was not about to be tricked after watching what Tsubaki also wanted to do to him according to the expression he wore.

“AHHAHA! PLEHEHEASE!” Seiryu begged, eyes shining with tears.

Uryu squinted at him. 

“NO TIHIHICKLE TRICKS FOR THE REHEST OF THE NIHIHIHGHT!”

He squinted more. 

“PLEHEHE! I PROHOHOMISE!”

Before Tsubaki could process past Seiryu’s peals of laughter, Uryu had swept out of view. Fingers were already wiggling into the back of Tsubaki’s underarms by the time he realized a promise had been uttered. A squeak of surprise left him and he squeezed Seiryu’s sides in retaliation. 

The adorable squeal Seiryu made was coupled with Tsubaki’s as his sides were squeezed again and again. 

“Eeheep! Uryu dohohon’t!” Tsubaki giggled, his fingers’ dexterity diminishing with each squeeze. 

Uryu shrugged, switching to tasing Tsubaki’s sides instead. 

“Ah! Ahehe! Thahat’s! EEK! Noho thahahats wohohorse!” he tittered, squirming under the well placed pokes and abandoning his tickling efforts to keep hugging a now struggling Seiryu.

Uryu returned to his underarms with quick, light scratches. It was easy enough to block if you brought your arms to your sides. 

“Eeek!” Tsubaki squealed, bringing his arms to his chest and twisting away. 

Seiryu wasted no time breaking free from the hug trap. He only took a few seconds to catch his breath before joining Uryu’s efforts to corner Tsubaki. 

“Eehehee! Stohohop thahahat!” Tsubaki snickered, torn between not getting himself trapped and squirming away from Uryu as he continued to relentlessly wiggle his fingers into his underarms. The choice dissipated entirely when a second pair of hands began skittering across his midriff. He’d watched the twins do this to many other tickle targets, but knowing what they were going to do gave him more anticipation than foresight. 

“Ohohonohohoho!” Tsubaki laughed, sinking to the floor as the twins sandwiched him between two sets of tickling fingers.  

“What do you mean ‘oh no’?” Seiryu asked, unable to conceal the smirk on his face. “You said you were a laughter vampire, we’re just helping you feed!” 

Uryu nodded, a the smallest smile on face as he caught his brother’s eye.

Seiryu followed his gaze and grinned in delight. 

“Ihihi cahan’t eheheheat my own lahahahaughterahahaha! That! Thahat’s nohohot how ihihihit wohohorks!” Tsubaki giggled only to squeal in surprise as something fluttered behind his knees and sent him crashing down onto them. 

Seiryu brandished a prop feather duster in front of Tsubaki before descending it onto his folded legs. He barely had time to gasp before bright laughter erupted from his lips. 

“Oh? feather ticklish I see?” Seiryu asked, pulling the duster away as Tsubaki swatted at it. "That's so cute!"

Uryu resumed going after his underarms and sides from behind, making Tsubaki flop backwards onto his lap. 

“EEHEHE! Ohoho my gahahahahaha!” Tsubaki laughed, trying and failing to sit up as Uryu poked sporadically around his stomach and the bunches of feathers continued to flit across his skin. “Hehehehe! Lehehehe! LEHEHET ME Uhuhuhuhup! Youhou’ll mehehehess uhup my hahahahair!”   

 “We’re not even holding you down,” Seiryu sighed, slowing his tickles with the duster while Uryu ceased his poking. “Also, what do you take us for? We didn’t want your squirming to mess up your hard work and knew we had to take you to the ground to get you to stop.”

Tsubaki rolled his eyes and moved to sit up. “Hohohow cohohonsiderAH! PFFT! EEEHEhehehehe!” He laughed, the strength in abs being replaced by  giggles as he flopped back down again. 

Seiryu grinned, having resumed the feathers’ ticklish sweeping across his legs. “Are going to be nice to my brother for the rest of the evening?” 

Uryu looked up in surprise. 

“Youhohohou meehehehehe! Mean the ohohohone cuhuhurtently ahahaha! Acting as my pihihihillow?” Tsubaki snickered, flinching when Seiryu skittered fingers across his knee. “OBVIOUSLEHEHE YEHES!”

“Hmm, okay,” Seiryu said, relenting and offering his hand.

Uryu blinked while Tsubaki came down from his giggles. He took the offered hand and Uryu supported his back as he sat up.

“Ohohokay, nohow that thahat is over, everyone still look ohokay?” Tsubaki asked, turning to look at where he’d been laying on Uryu and straightening his jacket. 

“It seems to be the case,” Seiryu nodded,helping Tsubaki and Uryu to their feet. Tsubaki looked at a nearby mirror, but other than some smoothing, the hairstyle he’d chosen for this evening was indeed intact. Seiryu appeared beside him, his own hair a bit more mussed with all the flailing he’d been doing. He’d begun to straighten it out, only to stop short upon hearing familiar giggles.

Seiryu turned as Uryu recoiled from Tsubaki’s wiggling nails, a ticklish smile on his face as he held his side. 

“Hey, you said you’d be nice,” Seiryu smiled, his brother snickering as Tsubaki closed the gap.

“I am!” Tsubaki grinned, slowly creeping after Uryu as he inched away. “He can get away if he wants to, I just wanted to see which of your laughter was sweeter!”

“And the verdict?” Seiryu asked, smoothing down his clothes.

“Hmm…” Tsubaki mused, putting a hand to his chin while the other scribbled more giggles out of Uryu. “I think I’m going to have to say...both of them!”

While Atsushi sat down and crossed his legs, Dazai collapsed beside him and tucked his arms behind his head with a contented sigh. Atsushi shook his head at the sight of his mentor, unsure how he could be so relaxed when they had so much left to do at the office… and when the weight of their recent battles was still fresh in everyone’s minds. 

How odd that on any given day, he could be sorting paperwork one minute and fighting for his life the next.

Desperate for a distraction from his thoughts, Atsushi drew his attention to a falling maple leaf, following its agonizingly slow descent, noting its colors, its shape, and…

“So what’s got you down all of a sudden?”

Startled out of his trance by Dazai’s question, Atsushi straightened. “Oh. I’m just tired.”

“Tired?! The day isn’t even half over!” Dazai sighed dramatically. “Man, I knew Kunikida was working you too hard.”

Atsushi shook his head. “It’s nothing like that.”

Dazai sat up. “Then what is it?”

Atsushi sighed and shook his head again. He really didn’t want to talk about it. Honestly, he wasn’t even sure if he could. To avoid more discussion, Atsushi turned his attention to an ant crawling near his hand. A moment passed, and just when he thought he was in the clear, he felt something tickle his ear. Atsushi yelped and swiftly covered it with his hand. He turned to see a grinning Dazai twirling a fallen maple leaf between his fingers, the tool used to tickle his protégé.

“W-What was that for?” Atsushi cried, feeling his cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“Hmmmmm.” Dazai chuckled, “I think I know what’s wrong.” 

Atsushi recoiled, wary of his mentor’s playful tone. “What are you talking about? I said I was tired!”

Dazai cracked his knuckles. “Yep! Nothing a little giggle therapy won’t fix.”

Atsushi’s jaw dropped, instantly understanding Dazai’s intentions. This wouldn’t be the first time, of course, but why now? And in such a public setting?! 

Dazai’s wiggling fingers slowly drew closer to Atsushi. “Here comes the Tickle Monster, Atsushi-kun!”

A shiver ran down Atsushi’s spine in anticipation. He couldn’t let this happen! If only he’d resisted Dazai earlier and pleaded for Kunikida to help, he’d still be safe at the office. So he made to leap away but it was too late. Dazai caught his sides and pulled him back, making Atsushi shriek. “Dazai-san! Wait! Please!” 

“Tickle, tickle, tickle!” Dazai teased, squeezing and digging into Atsushi’s sides. 

Atsushi fell back against Dazai, unable do anything but tremble with quiet laughter from the sudden attack. He closed his eyes shut to avoid seeing if they’d draw any attention to their spot in the park. And to avoid further embarrassment, he pressed his lips together tightly, stifling any laughter that would threaten to escape as Dazai continued his assault. 

“Wait a minute? This isn’t right…” Dazai gasped, moving up to scribble over Atsushi’s ribs. “Where’s the giggles?” 

Atsushi shook his head quickly, all while struggling to pry off Dazai’s hands. 

But Dazai wouldn't budge, instead, he tickled other spots to avoid Atsushi’s resistance which only tickled him more.  “C’mon, Atsushi-kun! This treatment won’t work if you aren’t giggling!”

Atsushi then made what sounded like a whimper as he kicked out his legs. Meanwhile, one of Dazai’s hands moved to his belly and scribbled there too. 

Dazai snickered. “I can feel them in there. Let them out, huh? You know you want to~” He whispered into Atsushi’s ear, “tickle, tickle~”

At the tease, Atsushi broke. “Ahahahaha!” He threw his head back, giggling hysterically. “Dahahahazai-san! Nohoho!”

“There’s the giggles I was looking for!” Dazai laughed along with Atsushi. “Oh, where do you think you’re going?! We’re not done yet!” Dazai followed Atsushi as he fell back onto the blanket and curled up, hiccuping with giggles and laughter as his mentor relentlessly tickled him for several more moments. 

“There, feel any better?” Dazai said when he finally let up on Atsushi just as he started to tear up from laughing so hard.   

Atsushi slowly pushed himself up, wobbly and giggly, while wearing a wide smile from his “therapy.” He nodded in reply. 

“You sure?” Dazai gave one of Atsushi’s knees a quick squeeze. 

“Yes!” Atsushi squeaked. “I’m okay! I’m feeling so much better! I promise!” And it was true. Embarrassment aside, he didn’t mind being tickled. Dazai’s “giggle therapy” was a good respite from his sobering thoughts.

“Great! Mission accomplished.” Dazai patted Atsushi on the shoulder. “But one more thing: Don’t be afraid to take a break every now and then, alright?”

Atsushi looked at Dazai, confused by the advice.

“You’ve been through a lot since you’ve joined the agency and that’s putting it mildly.” Dazai fell back into his reclining position on the blanket. “If you need to rest, just do it. You’ll never feel better if you don’t.” 

Atsushi hung his head, “but… there’s just so much to do. And who knows when–” 

“It’ll be there when you get back,” Dazai interrupted.

“But what if I don’t feel better?”

“You will. Just as like how the seasons always pass from one to the next.”

Atsushi turned away. “I don’t understand…”

A maple leaf landed on Atsushi's head and as it slid off, he caught it in his hands. Autumn was a kind of rest, wasn’t it? No, it was a kind of preparation. Soon the trees will eventually be bare and then dormant, allowing for winter to appear and coat everything in a blanket of snow until it’s time to wake up. And then when spring comes, the snow will melt and the trees will awaken anew. 

Just as spring can’t happen without winter, healing can’t happen without rest.

Atsushi smiled, understanding relaxing the tension in his shoulders he didn’t know was there. 

“No. No, I think I do understand.”

“Good,” Dazai said, his eyes already closed. “Now I think it’s time for a quick nap.” He yawned, “wake me up in a bit, okay?” 

He was busy reading, and you were mindlessly on your phone.  He really seemed like he wasn’t paying attention, so you went to get a glass of water that was next to the dish washer.  Slowly you opened it and hid in a corner shelf that was hardly ever used int eh kitchen.  Then you strolled back to the living room and sat down next to him with your water.  You couldn’t help but smile.

“What ya reading?”  You asked, innocently, leaning on his shoulder without the arm, nuzzling into his neck.  You actually knew the answer since he liked to read a lot of history books since he missed a lot of it and you got him this one in particular.

He chuckled.  “What, you don’t remember getting me this?”  He asked with a smirk.

“Oh, I do.”  You lazily traced the side of his neck with your index finger, causing him to shiver under your touch for a second.

“What are you doing?”  He asked with a side eye, and a small grin.  You started to trace your finger on his ear lobe.

“Nothing, just looking at every little part of you.”

“You look with your eyes, not your hands, darling.” He started to put his book down and got up.

He went to the dishwasher, figuring it should have been done now.

  After opening it and noticing his missing appendage, he took a step back.  Clearly it didn’t get up and walk off on its own.  “Babe, you don’t happen to know where my arm went, do you?”  He stood there with one arm on his hip.

You stood up confidently and walked over, like you gained strength.  “No!  Where is it?”  As horrible as a liar you are, he chuckled and reached to kiss you.  As he sunk into that kiss, your hands wandered on his back muscles and traced down his side and ribs, ever so gently, making him hold in a giggle.

“Babe, what’s wrong?  You’re so, squirmy with me today.  Are you ok?”  You asked innocently.

“I’m just fine, but I’ll need my arm back.”  He started to take a step at you, causing you to step back with a large smile on your face.

“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about?  Why would I take your arm?”

He grabbed you by the waist with his one arm, effectively lifting you up to his eye level.  “Because you’re a child.”  He leaned in for a long, sweet kiss, that made you forget about his arm for a hot second.  Then he tossed you onto the couch.  “Where’s my arm?”

You were starting to curl up, giggling to yourself, cheeks getting red.  “I don’t know!”

He lunged in and pinched your side with his only arm, causing you to squeak and grab it.

“Where’s my arm?  If you give it to me now, I promise no harm will come to you.”  He said confidently, staring right into my eyes.

You shrugged your shoulders as if you had nothing to say and he straddled you and with his good arm, started tickling you all over your mid-section fast and expertly.  You laughed hard and every time you swatted his hand away or grabbed it, he just as easily moved it back into position.

You tried to grab his thighs and hips, but he was just too damn fast.  “Sto-op!  I giiiive!”  You yelled.

He stopped and you pointed to the corner drawer.  “In there.”  Your voice shook, pointing.  He kissed you on the cheek. And said thanks.  He pulled it out and locked it onto his shoulder.  You loved it when he did that, so you sat there smiling.

He started to come back at you quickly and lunged his hands up in your armpits, causing you to scream!  “Waaaaaiiiittt!  Yoooou ssaaiid noooooooo moooore!”

“No, I said no harm would come to you!  You were being a brat though, so you deserve this!”  His hands were moving so perfectly all over your neck, armpits, rips, belly and sides, that you felt yourself not able to think coherently.

“Naahaaaa, stoooopppp!”

“Say your sorry for stealing my arm!”

“Sooorrrrryyyyy!”  You barely got out and just like that he stopped.  You were red-faced, breathing heavy, hair a mess.

“You are so beautiful doll.”  He leaned in and gave you a long deep kiss, then grabbed his book to go back to read.

You closed your eyes.  You loved that man.