#tktober2025

N leaned against the wall, a few feet away, watching. Not in a creepy way, of course. Just... curious. He liked seeing Uzi in her element. The way her wings twitched when she got frustrated, the way her scowl deepened when a screw didn't fit just right, it was kind of adorable.

"You're staring again," Uzi muttered without looking up.

"Am I?" N asked, tilting his head with mock innocence.

"Yes," she deadpanned, tightening a bolt. "Stop hovering. It's distracting."

N pushed himself off the wall, hands clasped behind his back. He walked closer, his grin subtle. Hovering was what he did. And judging by the way Uzi's shoulders tensed whenever he leaned over her workbench, he had a sneaking suspicion there was more to it than just "distraction."

Tonight felt like the perfect time to test that theory.

N sidled up beside her, leaning down as though to inspect her device. His hand, though, hovered suspiciously near her side. Not touching, just lingering in that space close enough to notice.

Uzi froze mid-twist of her screwdriver. Her head turned slowly, eyes narrowing at the empty air just above her ribs. "Don't," she warned flatly.

"Don't what?" N asked, his tone pure sugar. "I didn't even do anything."

Her glare sharpened. "You're thinking about it. That's enough."

He chuckled softly, straightening but leaving his hand dangling tantalizingly close. "Thinking isn't illegal yet, last I checked."

Uzi snapped her wings tighter around herself, trying to appear unbothered. But N caught the tiniest twitch in her expression, the faintest flicker of anticipation. And oh, that was too tempting.

N drew slow circles in the air with his fingers, hovering them near her ribs. He even let out an exaggerated gasp. "Oh, no, look how close I am. Tragic, really. One little slip and- oops."

His fingertip tapped her side lightly.

Uzi jolted like she'd been shocked. She immediately swatted at his hand, screwdriver clattering against the floor. "N!"

"What? That wasn't even a tickle," he protested innocently. He pocked again, quicker this time, and her wings gave a betraying twitch.

"Q-Quihit it!" she snapped, curling away, though the corners of her mouth were twitching like she was fighting a smile.

N leaned closer, voice dropping into a conspiratorial murmur. "Ohhh... your wings twitched. That's interesting."

Her glare sharpened. "Bite me."

He grinned, chin propped on one hand like he had all the time in the world. "Tempting, but I think I'd rather see how long you can hold out."

Her fists clenched. Her whole body screamed with tension, anticipation coiled like a spring. She tried to keep her usual tough-girl posture, but the longer N's fingers hovered, the more restless she got.

Without warning, N darted his fingers into her side, skittering them playfully.

Uzi erupted. Laughter burst from her like a crack in a dam, harsh and uncontained. "N-!! StoHoHoHOP!! IhIHI swHEHEHEHAR-!" She twisted violently, almost knocking her workbench over in her thrashing.

He laughed along with her, dodging her flailing arms. "Youhu're soho juhumpy! I barely touched you."

"Shuhut- shuhut uhuhup!" she squealed through gritted teeth, shoving at his chest. But her eyes squeezed shut, her grin fighting its way out despite her best efforts.

N only teased her side for a few moments before pulling back, hands raised like he'd completed a science experiment. "See? Now that wasn't so bad, right?"

Uzi glared at him, chest heaving, cheeks flushed. "Doho that again and IhIHI'll-"

Her threat dissolved into a strangled giggle as his fingers hovered dangerously close to her hips. He wasn't even touching her yet, and she was already twitching.

"Ohhh~," N sing-songed, grinning wide, "I think I found something even better~!" N tilted his head, eyes gleaming with playful curiosity. "You're already squirming, and I haven't even touched your hips yet. That... feels important."

Before Uzi could scramble away, N caught her wrists in one hand and pinned them lightly against the workbench. His grip wasn't tight, just enough to keep her from smacking him in the face while she thrashed.

"Lehet me go!" she barked, kicking out.

"Not until I confirm my hypothesis," N replied sweetly. His free hand hovered just over her hips, fingers twitching dramatically. "Do you think you can hold out?"

She pressed her lips together, glaring daggers at him.

He struck. Fingers digging into Uzi's hips in quick, wiggling motions.

Uzi's response was immediate and violent. She shrieked, laughter tearing out of her throat as her legs kicked wildly. "N!! YOuHuhu- YOuhUHuu JeheheHEErk!! StohOhOhOP!!"

Her tough-girl mask shattered. She bucked against N's hold, twisting with every ounce of gremlin energy in her body.

N laughed gently, keeping the pace playful rather than overwhelming. "Wow, you're loud. I'm impressed!" Thinking he'd give her hips a break, N shifted his hand, brushing along the edges of her wings.

Uzi screeched. The sound cracked halfway between a laugh and a startled yelp. Her wings snapped tight against her back, but not before he traced just along the sensitive edges.

"Ohhh, that's even worse, huh?" N teased, his tone light, curious, affectionate. "You're all curled up already."

She couldn't form words, just hiccupy laughter and growls, squirming so hard she nearly toppled both of them.

After a few moments, he slowed, pulling his hands back, tilting his head with concern. "Hey, you still good?"

Panting, Uzi shot him a glare through her flushed face. "Youhuhuhu're... dehehead," she wheezed, even as she was still giggling.

N released her wrists, stepping back with a satisfied smile. "It's more fun when you just trust me."

Uzi slumped against the workbench, hair sticking up in every direction. "Bihite me..." she muttered, but there was no real venom in it.

He chuckled, straightening. "I'll take that as a thank-you."

Her eyes narrowed. "You know you're not getting away with that, right?"

N blinked innocently. "Getting away with what?"

Before he could react, Uzi lunged forward, fingers aimed at his ribs. "Your turn, idiot!!"

"I'm not even-"

"If you say you're not doing anything one more goddamn time Matt I'll kill you."

This has been going on for days.

Matt - sweet, clueless Matt - had gotten a bit too adventurous with his hands about a week ago when you were engaging in your standard sickening amount of PDA, touch just a little too light and a little too fast. And you'd flinched, because of course you had, and he'd given you that puppydog-tilted-head look that anyone else might find sweet but you knew meant he'd taken note of the reaction and would be making you regret it later.

Only, later never came.

Sure, there had been small things here and there - the hand on your waist when he needed to get by you being suspiciously teasing, the kisses he pressed to your neck getting lighter and lighter, the casual pokes when you had to stand on your toes to reach something he'd yet again decided to hide on the highest possible shelf. But nothing beyond that. No evidence he knew what he was doing aside from the amused grin on his face and the fact that he'd never done any of that before.

And god help you, it was driving you insane.

"Really, honey. I'm not sure what you're talking about," he tries again, voice placating and confused. But the look in his eyes, you'd know that smug amusement anywhere.

And, okay, maybe you're beginning to crack a little.

"Listen, I- if you're going to do something, just do it already!" You're ranting at this point and you know it, equal parts nervous and infuriated (and, okay, maybe a little amused) in the way only he could make you. "I'm pretty sure this is like, psychological torture or- or gaslighting, or something! Not to mention you-"

The words stop coming only when the world tilts on its axis all of a sudden, the ceiling taking over your vision as your weight works against you, one light but intentionally placed little push to your shoulder, a foot behind your ankle, and you're laid out flat on your back on the couch.

You don't have time to process before Matt follows you down.

"Psychological torture? That would never hold up in court, y'know."

His fingers are digging into your sides gently, and it's all so sudden you almost forget to laugh. Almost.

But you don't forget to laugh. Instead, some high pitched sound between a squeak and a scream is all you can manage before your words are crumbling to giggles.

"MATTHEW!"

You use the last of your breath to put as much venom and accusation in his name as possible, like it's a curse. He seems a little too entertained to care.

"What? You gave me permission and everything!"

"Ihihi did nohohot-!"

#augtickletober2025 by @august-anon

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

#sana's tickletober 2025 by @itzsana-kiddingmenow

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.

“By a minute…” Reed trailed off, sitting down next to his wife, Sue, who took his hand in hers.  She squeezed it, looking at him with a genuine smile.

“Babe, are you alright?”  She asked him sympathetically.

“Let’s eat and we can all discuss why you’re so mopey lately.”  Johnny said as he started to grab a dinner roll.   

Reed let go of Sue’s hand and start to eat with the rest of them.  “I’m fine.  I’m having a bit of trouble calculating the sub-terannual”

“Blah, blah, blah!  Didn’t you calculate that already, professor?”

“Johnny, quit being an ass!”  Sue snapped back at her younger brother, who had a shit-eating grin on his face.

“What, it’s the same thing every day!  You need to take a break, loosen up!”  Johnny spat back, while Ben ate silently, shaking his head.

Ben, finally commented, “Hey, I’ve been your best friend forever.  I know you.  If it can be figured out, you will figure it out.  But for now, just relax an eat.”

Reed shook his head in agreement but still seemed very tense and withdrawn.  The rest of the time was spent silently eating, very differently than previous dinners. 

Finally, when everyone was done and the dishes were put away, Reed went back into his office and shut the door.  Sue sat on the circular couch with her brother and Ben and watched Franklin play on the floor in front of her.

“I’m really worried about Reed.”  Sue said, looking at Ben, who nodded in agreement.  “If we could only get him out of the mind of his, even for a few minutes, it might help him re-theorize.”

“Yeah, but how do we do that, Sue?”  Ben asked with sincerity.

Johnny was on the floor playing with baby Franklin, making noises and making him laugh.  Sue looked down and smiled.  “To be a baby, without a care in the world.”  Sue commented.

“I know, to laugh, sleep eat, poop, repeat.  Must be nice.”  Johnny said joining the conversation with a smile on his face.

“What do you mean, that’s what you do now, Johnny!”  Ben laughed as he pinched Johnny’s side, making his gasp and swat away his big friend.  Then Johnny stopped, almost froze like he saw a predator ahead.

“Wait, Ben, that’s it!  We make him laugh!  Like really laugh!”

“I’m not sure that’s possible,” Sue said, smiling.  “He doesn’t laugh too hard for that long.”

Johnny stood up fast.  “And that’s because you never asked me!  I can make him laugh!  You just made me think about that when Ben here tickled my side, which PS, I didn’t laugh, it just made me think.”  Johnny said looking at his friend, who had a big smug smile on his face.

“Sure, sure, Flame Boy.  So, what!  You want to tickle him or something?  Is that even possible, Sue?”

“Well, um, to be honest, we never really tickle each other, at least nothing like what you’re talking about Johnny.  He’s much more mature than when you and I were younger.”

“But that’s it!  He won’t expect it!”  Johnny was giddy with excitement.  Ben was nodding his head now in agreement.

“I like it!  And now that I think about it, we did mess around as kids, although, not for too long, like Sue said.  But the man’s got to be ticklish!  Nice plan, Johnny.”  There was a pause for a second as Ben seemed to think.  “But how, he can practically pull himself out of any grip?”

“Yeah, but he has a hard time saying stretched for long.”  At this point Sue got up as Johnny had said that. 

“I’ll leave you two to figure out the details.  I’m going to put Franklin down for a nap.”

“We got this, Ben!”  He gave Ben a high five. 

They sat together for the next half hour or saw and came up with their plan.

About an hour later, Reed came out from his lab, sat down on his bed and sighed.  He hadn’t gotten much further, but his brain actually hurt, so he took off his button-down shirt and shoes and laid back, closing his eyes. 

“Hey Stretch!”  Ben yelled to him from the living room.  “Come on out here.  We need to ask you a question.”

Reed put his fists on his closed eyes, pressing hard and sitting up slowly.  “Hold on.”  He said as he walked out in the living room.  There he saw his brother-in-law and best friend, with a bunch of papers scattered on the table.

“Come look at this.”  Ben gestured over.

Reed walked over and picked up on the papers, which had nothing but drawings from Franklin on them.  He looked up at his friend.  “What is this?”

“We want to help you rewire your brain.”  Johnny said from the side as he reached out quickly and poked his side, making Reed move suddenly.  Ben now was standing next to his friend, on the other side.

“Yeah, buddy.  You seem, stressed, tense, and not in a normal Reed Richards way.”  Ben said, poking his other side, making Reed shift again.

As he did this, Johnny poked him again and Ben did the same.

“So-so what, you thought poking me would help me relax?”

“No, no, nothing like that.  We want you to laugh hard.”  Ben said calmly, poking him again.

“Yeah, Bolder over here thinks it will rewire your brain or something like that!  I just want to see you squirm.”  Johnny said staring straight at Reed, grabbing his hip and squeezing hard, but not too hard to hurt, making Reed audibly gasp, and a small upward curve of his lip seemed to form.

“I-I don’t think that’s possible Johnny.  Not scientifically anyway.”  Reed siad, looking down and trying to step back, but Ben was right there to stop him.

“You just seem so tense,”  Ben said, putting his big, rock hands on Reed’s shoulders.

“Yeah, yeah, enough foreplay!”  Johnny all but yelled as he lunged toward Reed’s midsection, where out of instinct, he stretched his arms towards him to stop.  As he did this though, Ben picked up his friend in his armpits and started to tickle him there, immediately causing Reed to snap his arms back into place and try to remove Ben’s big hands, which wouldn’t move, and his legs were no longer touching the ground.

A puff of air escaped his mouth, and his sad resting face immediately began to form a smile.  “St-stop it!”  Reed gasped.  Johnny was now back at his tummy, vibrating his fingers as Reed was trying to move his whole body away.

“Oh, come on, Mr. Fantastic!  You can handle this!”  He continued to tickle his belly and Reed’s arms reached around Ben, trying to find a way for him to let go.  Then his legs started to stretch out and wrap around Johnny and pulled him away from his body.

Now, Johnny could have easily turned into a giant flame and hurt Reed, but Ben told him no fire!  With Reed’s legs wrapped tightly around Johnny’s waist, he could reach his socked feet.

“Thanks buddy!”  Johnny called out from about ten feet away from the rest of his body stretched. 

Reed immediately looked up and Ben stopped tickling his armpits, just long enough for Johnny to grab his friend’s socked foot and tickled it hard.

“No-no!  St-stoppp!”  Reed yelled and laughed, reached an arm over there to Johnny.

Before his arm stretched that far, Ben flopped his friend on the ground, kneeled on his legs and started to tickle his ribs.  His stretched arm snapped back and he curled into a small ball trying to make the places Ben could reach small, with his big hands. 

Johnny grabbed his other foot and started to tickle that one now, and the other leg snapped back to his original self. 

Poor Reed was barking out a laugh hard, turning into a wheezing sound as his poor socked foot was mercifully tickled and Ben was tracing now light circles around his scrunched neck and ears, turning Reed all red.  His head felt like it was going to explode.  He couldn’t think, or at least think clearly of how to counter attack, and just laid there taking the tickling.

Johnny finally stood up and let his leg go, and Ben stopped tickling his neck, torso and ribs.  Reed was laying on the ground now, with his head, on one of Ben’s large legs, eyes closed hard, with a huge smile on his face.

Johnny all but leapt over to his brother-in-law and squatted next to him, smiling ear to ear.  “Did we do it?  Did we rewire your brain?”  He asked as excited as a child asking if he liked a drawing.

The two men were looking face down at him, admiring their work.  They rarely got the upper hand on their friend and were genuinely proud of this.  Right then, Sue appeared next to the boys, kneeling over here husband as well.

With a sweet smile on her face, “Babe, did they help you?”  Still no answer but he did open his eyes and look up at his beautiful wife. 

She slowly patted his thigh and squeezed, which made him jump in the air, and a large laugh escaped his mouth, as he said, “Yes, -yyyeesss!  Puuleease stttoopp!”

“Wow Sue, holding out on us.”  Johnny said with a look of interest.

“I never said he wasn’t ticklish.”  She stood up and walked away.

Ben helped up his old friend to his feet and patted his back softly.  “Hopefully this helped you out!”

Reed was nodding his head yes, gaining his composure again.  “Yes, yes it did.”  He started to walk away, stopped, quickly turned around and looked at both of the men.  “Don’t do that again, please.”

Everyone just smiled, laughed to themselves and walked away.  This family was truly fantastic!