🪶Live To Laugh🪶

"Don't smile."

A simple command. Something he accomplished daily. Barely a challenge.

Except it was actually an extremely difficult near-impossible challenge right the fuck now.

Alastor's fingers were delicately placed along his jaw, holding his face in place, as he painfully slowly pressed a soft kiss to every single one of his freckles.

That alone was sweet enough to turn him into a smiling smitten mess right on this couch, except those fingers were expertly placed to be applying just enough pressure to specific points beneath his chin that were horribly ticklish. It was astounding how pressure that wasn't even moving, just completely still and steady, could tickle so goddamn bad.

Vincent was trained in television, in acting. Learning not to break on camera was expected. But boy, was it one of his worst exercises in classes. He couldn’t help it. The moment he knew he was supposed to keep a straight face it became borderline impossible. Thankfully his roles on television usually required a confident charismatic grin, though he had sometimes struggled when he was a newscaster during a more somber story. His mind would supply him with 'don’t smile' and he’d fight tooth and nail to keep a frown.

So when he vented this struggle to Alastor, his partner had told him he'd help him.

He wasn't stupid. He knew Alastor had something up his sleeve. The man took great pleasure in tricking him, making him stumble or stutter, catching him off guard.

He just hadn't expected it to be this fun.

He chomped his molars down on the inside of his cheek as his lips quivered with the need to turn upward.

Alastor planted another soft kiss to his forehead and pulled back with teasing eyes. "No biting, dear, cameras can see that, can't they? We're not leaving until you master this whole 'no smiling' thing.

Vincent wanted to quip that he would happily stay here forever, but he knew he'd start giggling the moment he tried to speak.

He let his cheek go and could feel his lips trembling with the immense effort and focus this was taking. Honestly, he should be commended for accomplishing this much. He wanted to melt into a happy puddle being showered with kisses and attention, not to mention that ticklish feeling that just wouldn't let up.

Alastor's grin widened before placing a comically quick kiss to the tip of his nose.

Fuck, he couldn't help it! His face pulled back into a big stupid grin. Knowing he'd failed, he let himself burst into giggles at the adorable gesture.

"Come now, Vincent, you were doing so well!"

"Ihihihi'm tryihihing!" He squirmed, letting his head duck back to avoid those maddeningly ticklish presses beneath his chin, but Alastor followed him perfectly. His giggles grew, the mirth bubbling as his chin tried fruitlessly to escape the tickles. He playfully batted at Alastor's arm with comically little force, like a kitten pawing at string.

Alastor snickered and sat back, hands at his side, and let his partner recover.

With some deep breaths, Vincent sat back up, forcing his traitorous lips back into a straight line.

"You should at least let me finish counting all your freckles. I think I've finished all the ones on your face, just leaving the ones... here." Alastor leaned forward and angled his head to be just below Vincent's jaw, his lips less than an inch from his neck.

He was already a sputtering giggling mess. "A-Ahahal! Ihi KNOW Ihi dohon't have any freheheckles dohown there!"

"Can't be too sure," he cooed before planting light pecking kisses in quick succession.

Vincent squealed like a mouse before erupting into silly laughter. His hands grabbed Alastor's shoulders and pushed back, but with so little force that it was completely negligible.

Kiss after kiss, peck after peck, Alastor trailed over his neck and below his jaw making Vincent lose his mind laughing.

Vincent's neck had always been crazy ticklish. When he was with women before he was very careful to not let them kiss him there, lest he spoil the mood with his stupid giggling.

Now he was happy to be giggling stupid, as long as Alastor was the one making him. The man moved forward, wrapping his arms around his neck to hold him closer as he kissed even quicker. Vincent couldn't keep himself from squirming and wriggling beneath him as he laughed out every thought in his brain. All that was going to be left soon was the knowledge of how badly this tickles.

Especially cause Alastor decided to be even more evil and switched to light nibbling at the side of his throat hoLY FUCK-

"AHAL! WaiwaitwaitWAHAHAHAIT! AAAIIEE! TH-THAHAT TIHIHICKLES! THAHAT TIHIHICKLES SOHOHO BAHAHAD!" Vincent howled in laughter, falling backwards onto the couch arm as he kicked and tossed side to side. Alastor wasted no time following him back, still locked onto his target with maddening precision.

His body screamed at him to stop it but his endorphin-blasted brain begged him to let it continue. His hands clawed at the couch, straining with the desire to shove Alastor away from his ticklish spots. Eventually he found the compromise, his arms wrapped around his partner and squeezed, putting all that ticklish energy into keeping him close.

Tears grew at the corners of his eyes before flinging off his face from his tossing but he didn't care. He was in Heaven. Alastor being so overly affectionate, peppering him with loving kisses and nibbles, and tickling him until he laughed himself silly? He wanted to stay here forever even if he ended up laughing himself to death.

Oh, shit, he felt Alastor's claws start skittering up and down his ribs! He threw his head back and cackled. Alastor switched his nibbling to a mix of kissing and nuzzling, still hitting each weak point with deadly accuracy.

"Laugh for me, darling. Maybe if you get out all your giggles you'll finally complete our little exercise."

The exercise was long gone from Vincent's mind, which was currently taking a trip through La La Land, a place that made his core ache wonderfully and brain leak out his ears.

As soon as those tickling fingers started attacking his underarms he wheezed before exploding right back into loud raucous laughter.

Heavens above did it tickle! He couldn't hold himself back anymore! His hands grasped Alastor's biceps and harshly shoved him away. His partner relented, moving his hands to support his weight on the couch rather than drive Vincent mad with laughter.

Vincent gasped for air, body melting into the couch cushions, utterly spent.

"I'll be honest, you lasted longer than I expected you to," Alastor snickered.

"Honestly," he panted deeply, "me too." He dramatically threw an arm over his forehead and groaned. "You really put me through the wringer."

"You loved it."

---

His little laughing fit didn't end for a while, only ceasing when Alastor playfully growled in his ear. "Should I give you something to really laugh about?"

"Oh, doll, we'll see whose the one laughing." Vincent's hands travelled beneath Alastor's rear and hoisted him up. Years of familiarity took over and his partner instantly wrapped his legs around his waist. "Let's take this to the bedroom, hm?" He didn't wait for a response, he was already walking to his favorite room in the house.

Alastor grinned something suspicious. "Are you sure this is the way to the bedroom?"

He scoffed. "Uh, yeah? I know the house, Al." He walked up to that same door he always knew, and opened it...

Well. That was unexpected.

"What the Hell?" Vincent shouted as Alastor snickered.

That was no bedroom. That was the goddamn bayou. Cicadas chirped, leaves rustled, toads croaked. The trees, the grass, the heat, it was like he was really there.

"Did you just have a portal to Earth this whole fucking time?!" He sputtered. If it was indeed a portal, his partner had some massive explaining to do. Mostly why their time together after his death was so brief and why he had to manage a fresh kill every two weeks.

"Don't be silly, dear. It's simply a copy from my memory."

"Yeah cause that makes so much more sense, forgive me. How could I have forgotten your memory manifestation powers?" His voice was bathed in sarcasm.

"A little trick of mine, nothing to worry your square little head about." Alastor giggled at Vincent's deadpan look. "Go to what was our guest room in life, that's the new master bedroom."

With a roll of his eyes, Vincent kicked the door closed and carried his little shit of a partner to the new bedroom. When he opened that door, he sighed. That was more familiar. And oh how good it felt to share this room once again. With a light jog, he tossed Alastor onto the bed who squeaked and laughed happily at the bounce he made. Vincent wasted no more time before pouncing, clambering on top of him with playful growls and sweet kisses peppered over his face. Alastor continued giggling under the onslaught of affection, laughing even louder as pointy claws gently skittered up his sides.

"Ohoho nohoho yohohou dohohon't." Alastor grabbed Vincent's hands and pushed them back, locking them in a test of strength. Vincent quickly found he wasn't stronger like when they were both alive, and he wasn't weaker like when he summoned Alastor in the rituals, they were matched, keeping them in a standstill.

But he knew how to end that. He leaned down and nibbled at his neck. It was much more difficult now with all the extra bulk, but Alastor's demon form was flexible, allowing his neck to bend for Vincent's new sharp teeth to reach one of his many weak points. As soon as he began rapidly nibbling along the side of his throat, Alastor bleated and erupted into happy snorty laughter.

He missed certain things about Al from when he was alive, sure, but the bleats were beyond adorable.

"Ohohoho GOHOHOD!" Alastor cackled and released Vincent's hands in order to harshly push at his chest.

"What's the matter?" Vincent placed his hands on the mattress for a better angle. "Too ticklish for some itty bitty nibbles? Then maybe I should tryyyy..." His exaggerated inhale was enough to pull frantic protests from Alastor before sending him into hysteria with a loud raspberry.

"DEHEHEAR HEAVANS! SNRK! THAHAT'S BAHAHAD!"

Vincent snorted and hummed into his skin. "You seem extra ticklish today. What gives?"

"Thahahat stahahatic! SNRK!" He giggled and snorted whilst squirming like a worm on a hook.

"Ohhhhh," Vincent gleefully said. "My static electricity is extra tingly? Good to know." He crept his fingers to gently skim over his sides. His shirt dampened the ticklish sensations but it was enough to keep him grinning ear-to-ear. "Think we can take your top off? Shirt and overcoat? You never let me do that when I was alive. Just what are you hiding, dollface?"

"F-Fihihihine!" He tittered. Vincent sat back and allowed Alastor the space to shimmy off his coat and shirt. "I'll allow it. You've been so patient to wait until after death."

He watched with shameless adoration and lust as Alastor stripped his upper body bare.

Oh, Lord.

Chest fluff. His belly was covered with a very fine layer of fur, but his chest was much more pronounced with longer fluffier fur.

Vincent wasted no time plunging his hand into the patch of fur.

Oh, if he thought his belly fur was soft, this was another level.

"I figured you'd be taken by something as silly as fur on my chest." Alastor sounded a familiar mix of smug and fond. He laid back, letting Vincent explore the new discovery.

"Not silly. Amazing. Incredible. Perfect." He leaned down and nuzzled his chest, letting that soft fur envelope his screen. He could still feel through the glass, and the gentle tickle of silky-soft fur felt like heaven.

He heard that fizzling sound again and grinned, knowing what that meant. When he leaned back, sure enough, his fur was standing on end, full of static electricity.

"Pffftaha! This static thing is amazing. You look so cute all poofed up!"

"That'll get old quick."

"Not a chance. Now come here." He grabbed those furry shoulders and yanked Alastor into a hug sitting up. He nuzzled and kissed his neck, letting the static fluff up his hair as his partner shrieked and snorted happily in his arms.

Some motion caught his eye. A blur of red and black. Vincent looked down, and peeking out of his pants...

"YOU HAVE A TAIL?!" He shouted like a child on Christmas morning. "A cute fluffy little deer tail? And it WAGS?!"

He could hear the smugness in Alastor's voice. "Was that worth the wait?"

"By a mile! By ten thousand miles!" He brought his hands down to cup the fluffy appendage. So soft, so fluffy, so adorable. "Hmmm... do the tickles make it wag?" He nuzzled back into the spot at his throat, giving it light nibbles while he watched the tail out of the corner of his eye. Yep it started rapidly swishing side to side.

"Snrk! Yohohohours wahahahags tohohohoo!"

Now that he mentioned it, Vincent could feel his tail wagging side to side along the bed. Although instead of being an adorable tiny tuft of fur it was a firm rubber cord with metal prongs at the end. Significantly less cute. Significantly more in danger of whipping the side of their legs.

"My tail is irrelevant, little deer. I've got you right where I want you. No more surprises."

There was that grin again. The 'fucking with Vincent' grin.

There was a tap on his shoulder. He scoffed.

"Nice try, Al, I know your body's all weird and bendy. That's probably just your foo-OOF!" The wind was knocked out of Vincent as something cold grabbed his middle, squeezed tight, and knocked him flat on his back. As the world went sideways and his heavy tv case thumped against the mattress, Vincent would swear his eyes were swirls as he tried to figure which way was up again.

Well, 'up' was probably where those tentacles were.

...Tentacles?

"Wait- the fuck?!" Vincent sputtered. Two large inky black tentacles hovered above him. Alastor sat up, one leg crossed over the other, and waved his little fingers at him. The jerk.

"I hope you didn't think my fluffy deer features were your only surprise this evening?"

Alastor ignored Vincent's eloquent 'uhhhh' as he continued.

"I admit, this is something I've been awaiting eagerly." He snapped his fingers and the two appendages wrapped around his wrists and hoisted them above his head, pressed to the bedding.

Then two MORE appeared and stationed themselves just a mere inch above his ribs.

He couldn't help but giggle like a little kid, lightly squirming with a big silly grin. "N-Now come on, Al. This is a little excessive, don't you think?" He chomped down on his lip like a lifeline. Wait, was it a lip? Screen? Oh who cares, he just needed to press his teeth into something to try and suppress his goofy sounding giggles.

"Hmm? Excessive? Compared to what? Maybe... to that time i made you count to eighty while i targeted your armpits? Orrrr when we learned how hard you laughed from a spiny hairbrush? or how about that time i used two hairbrushes at once on both your underarms? Funny. All three of those instances you didn't call out our stopping word, 'mulberry'. That doesn't sound excessive to me, now does it?"

Vincent was burning with fluster, lightly kicking his feet and wriggling with nerves and excitement. "You know what I mean!" His voice came out whiny and high-pitched.

Alastor hummed again, acting like he was deep in thought. "All that whining seems to be jogging my memory but i still haven't the foggiest clue what you mean by 'excessive'."

Those tentacles slowly crept downwards. As soon as they touched down on his ribs and Vincent jumped from the cold, they began lightly pressing and poking over each rib bone.

The ticklish sensations washed over him with a flood of nostalgia and comfort so strong he almost started crying. He was here again, on the bed, with his partner, laughing and squirming with that teasing grin eyeing him. It was the same story with new visuals, a story he would never tire of reliving.

His laughter grew very quickly from happy giggles to loud laughter. He didn't fight it for a moment, simply surrendering his mind and body to ticklish merriment. A loud thump-thump-thump rang out, both of them quickly spotting it was Vincent's tail happily wagging against the bed.

"Hm, Excessive... oh! Would... this spot count as excessive?" Both tentacles pressed firmly into his lowest ribs prompting an amusingly loud squeal along with helpless wriggling and squeaking.

"EEE! Not there! Al, I'm so ticklish there!" His protests were more hollow than a rotting cypress log and they both knew it.

A genuine chuckle. "Oh, I know quite well, my dear, and that's exactly why it's our next destination."

Damn those maddening little circles, massaging into his floating ribs. He arched his back and shrieked with desperate laughter, kicking and thrashing this way and that.

Zzt. ZZZT!

The sound of sparking electricity.

"How curious, your little antennae... they're sparking!"

"IHI- EEHE- CAHAN HEHEAR! Ihihit feheheheels TIHIHINGLY- PFFTAHAHA!"

Abruptly, the tickling stopped. The tentacles attacking his ribs simply held their place above them. Vincent whined in obvious disappointment, not bothering to hide it.

Alastor laughed loudly. "Don't worry, Pet, we'll continue. I just wanted to see if it affected the sparking, and it does!" He maneuvered closer to Vincent and reached a claw to his antennae... which Vincent still hadn't actually seen, and ran his claw along the tip.

His whole body shivered and his breath caught in his throat.

"Oh?" Alastor grinned like he'd found a new weakness to exploit, which knowing him, he probably had.

Vincent's breath was a shudder. "They're... sensitive, apparently."

"Sensitive how?" He asked with narrow eyes.

"Kinda like my sides when I was alive... but even more. Tingly and-"

He was cut off by Alastor running his claw up and down one of the antennae. He could swear his eyes rolled back in his... screen? He turned to jelly on the bed, eyelids fluttering.

"Oh my, what an interesting development."

Along his trail he seemed to have stimulated a few specific nerves, maklng Vincent's smile quirk up and a few small chuckles escape.

"Oh, that kind of sensitive, hm?"

"A... a little. M-mostly just... feels nice." His words were close to a slur. If he had the capacity to he was sure he'd be drooling.

Alastor hummed and leaned closer, speaking softly and low. "Relax, Vincent."

"Don't... hafta tell m'twice..."

He got even closer, relaxing onto the bed beside him with his head held close to his. "Breathe in... breathe out... breathe in.... breathe out..."

Vincent followed along thoughtlessly. It was like every muscle was just turning to pudding. His brain was tingling in the most delightful way. It was like a really good buzz after a few drinks, but softer and calmer.

"Breathe in... breathe out... breathe in... breathe... OUT!" Next thing Vincent knew those claws of Alastor's were viciously clawing at his underarms.

He screamed absolute bloody murder before erupting in forceful cackling with every muscle in his body.

"AAAAIIIE! WAHAHAITWAITWAIT WAHAHAHAHAIT! FUHU- AHAHA!" He screeched in pure hysteria, his body thrashing like a fish about to be gutted.

ZZT! BZZZZT!

The top of his case heated and crackled and Alastor flinched back with a quick bleat. Through his hysterics he could see a bit of smoke coming off one of Alastor's fluffy ears.

"AHA- AHAHARE YOHOHOU- EEEEE- OHOHOKAY?!"

Alastor chuckled, not stopping his tickle attack in the slightest. "Don't worry your giggly little head, Squeaks. I've been through much worse pain than your little shock." He gently flicked his ear. Vincent could now see the tip has been singed. "A small burn. Nothing that won't heal in time."

"IHIHI'M SOHOHORRY!"

"It's adorable that you insist on apologizing whilst laughing yourself into a tizzy."

"IHIHIHEEEHEHE- WOHOHOHORRY AHAHABOUT YOHOU!"

"I know you do, mon cher. As I do you. Now... enough with the sentiment."

The tickling stopped, letting Vincent desperately suck in gulps of air as his body went slack. But Alastor wouldn't let him get too comfortable, because the tentacles before reminded him of their presence by resting on his lower ribs. Meanwhile ANOTHER pair of tentacles (How many tentacles did he have? Infinity??) slithered up his upper rib cage. And on top of all that, Alastor had his hands resting at his underarms.

"Laugh," He said in a borderline snarl, eyes darkening and shifting into the shape of radio dials. "Laugh until you can't remember your own name."

Vincent swallowed and smiled nervously. "...I think you'll be able to help me accomplish just that."

No more words. The four tentacles and Alastor's claws all got to work tormenting his terribly ticklish nerves.

He screamed- screamed like his goal was to rip his throat to shreds -and absolutely lost his mind. He howled in hysteria, tears immediately threatening to spill. He thrashed with every ounce of muscle in his body, the tentacles struggling to keep him contained as his tail whipped and flailed every which way.

He loved it: Loved the thrill; loved the rush; loved the ache in his stomach; and most of all, loved the man putting him through it all.

It went on and on, putting Vincent's new form through an absolute workout. His nerves, throat, and muscles were all being pushed to their limits through their silly little tickle games, and Vincent was having the time of his life, or afterlife.

After what felt like a lifetime of tickling, it all stopped, leaving him floundering at the lack of physical sensation. His head was so fuzzy he could swear his brain got electrocuted.

"I think that's enough for my little squeaky toy, don't you think?"

Vincent was gasping for breath, body completely slack against the mattress. Almost immediately he could feel the heaviness in his eyelids and call of slumber at the edges of his mind.

Alastor snickered. "You look about 2 minutes away from falling asleep."

"No," his voice was whiny and raspy, "so much more to do... to catch up on."

"We have eternity down here, Squeaks, as I've reminded you many times. Rest. You will wake up on this same bed with me beside you."

"Promise?" He spoke hoarsely, eyes big and pleading.

Alastor smiled something painfully genuine. "Promise." He leaned down and pressed a heart-wrenchingly soft kiss on his screen, just beside his mouth. "Let's get you ready for bed, hm?"

Vincent nodded and started to hoist himself up but Alastor pressed a hand to his chest to keep him down. Before he could ask how the Hell he was supposed to get ready while laying down, Alastor snapped his fingers and...

"Whoa..." Vincent looked down at his body which had magically been changed into pajamas in an instant. They were nice, too, just like the silk ones they wore when they were alive. And a navy blue... God he could be sweet when he wanted. "Can you just... summon anything you want with your fingers?" His voice was still uncomfortably hoarse, but no one could say Vincent Whittman didn't have good pain tolerance.

"More or less," Alastor responded, "We can discuss more tomorrow. You have a full stomach and an empty head with a throat as raw as a bloody steak." He grabbed at the hem of the blankets and ripped them out from under Vincent before gently pulling them over, tucking him in.

Vincent flushed at the care, being doted on like this was rare from Alastor and never failed to make him blush.

Alastor's smile regrew its teasing quality. "There's that sweet little blush. I could get used to the cyan on my bashful beauty."

Vincent smiled shyly and looked to the side, face growing in temperature. "Al, c'mon, quit teasing."

Alastor shuffled himself under the covers right beside him, nosing at his neck which was just this side of ticklish. "Don't pretend you don't love it. You adore when I embarrass you."

He sputtered, eyes looking everywhere but his partner. "Uh- I- I do not."

"You admitted it to me while drunk once."

A quick gasp. "Wait, I did? I told you that?!"

"No, but you did just now."

Vincent groaned as Alastor chuckled against his neck, making him smile widely but he was thankfully able to hold back his giggles, his throat and core couldn't take much more laughter.

He sighed, wrapping an arm around Alastor and holding him close in a comfortable silence that urged him to close his eyes and drift off.

"If I wake up and this is all just a dream-"

"Don't." Alastor said firmly. "This is real, as real as real gets." He embraced him and cuddled closer, their bodies pressed so tightly there was no room for air between them. "I've had dreams of this before, too."

He blinked, eyes suddenly wide. "Really?"

"Yes. My dear, I've dreamt of this since the day I died. To have you here with me again." He nosed at his neck and sighed. "I'm never letting you go. I hope you know that."

"Fine with me." Vincent ended his sentiment with a small coughing fit. Seemed his throat was really done for the night.

"Quiet. Close your eyes. Sleep."