🌹sakura🌹

The younger boy shook the thoughts away, ‘watching’ the movie silently. He tried to ignore the tingling feeling in his skin, along with the almost-painful butterflies in his stomach. If there was one thing Lance hated, it was getting these moods.

Keith glanced to the side, huffing at the brunette’s demeanor. “Why are you pouting?”

“M’not.”

“Lance—“

“I’m not pouting! You wanted me to be quiet and leave you alone, so I am.”

Keith paused for a moment, then sighed, looking back at the tv. He found himself unable to focus, so he turned back to Lance. “Tell me what’s bothering you. You wanted my attention, and now you have it.”

“Nothing. You were right; I just wanted to annoy you.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not a liar!”

‘Tell the truth, Cub… Red worries…’

“I don’t believe you.” Keith scooted closer, closing in on Lance.

The butterflies in the blue paladin’s stomach increased, as did the tingling in his skin. He felt a warmth enveloping him as well—Blue’s bond.

‘Tell the truth… Will make you…’

He shook his head in refusal. What was that supposed to mean?

Lance felt a lump in his throat, and he furrowed his brow in confusion. The lump traveled up… and up… and up… until—

“I don’t believe you. Why were you being such a brat?”

“I wanted you to tickle me.”

Both boys froze at the younger’s honesty. Lance’s eyes widened, and he waved his hands frantically. He wanted to squeak out an excuse, but he found another lump sneaking up and out of his mouth.

“Sometimes I get this feeling in my body, and it means it wants someone to tickle me.” He slapped his hand over his mouth in mortification. Another goddamn lump was coming up. “I was too embarrassed to ask Hunk.”

Lance buried his face into one of the pillows on the couch, turning his back to the red paladin. His ears burned hot, and he shook his head repeatedly.

‘Blue! What the hell?!

‘Told you, Cub… would make you tell truth…’

‘Keith is going to think I’m weird now! He’s going to be disgusted, and he won’t want talk to me anymore!’

‘Cub is wrong… Red’s mood… softer… playful…’

‘You keep getting me into bad situations! Just stop with the advi—‘

“That’s it? That’s all you wanted?” Keith’s voice broke him out of his mental argument with his lion. “Dude, I thought you were trying to piss me off so bad that I would leave.”

Lance buried himself deeper in the pillow, curling in on himself, “Nonononono! I lied! I was just joking, man! Haha! Funny joke! You’re right; I just wanted to bug y-AH! Wahahahahahait!” The younger boy jolted, arms flying to his sides when he felt fingers wiggling against them. “Ihihihihi wahahahahas kihihihiddihihihing! Keheheheheith!”

“Doesn’t seem like you were. Your body just relaxed the second I touched you; I felt it.” Keith’s fingers dug in a little deeper, and Lance squeaked, falling backwards onto his back. He held the pillow over his face, giggling into it.

“Nohohohohoho!”

‘Cub is feeling lighter… Red is playful… enjoying self…’

“Oh man, I can’t believe I didn’t see it. I mean, I know I didn’t grow up with all of the siblings, but I’m pretty perceptive—“ His hands traveled up to Lance’s ribs, eliciting a bark of laughter and a squirm from the younger. “I think anyone could tell you I’m perceptive, but I’m surprised I missed it, Y’know?”

Ugh! Stupid Keith being all casual while totally killing him!

Yeh blue paladin kicked his legs as he tried to trap Keith’s hands against his body. Naturally, it did not stop the tickling; it only made it much worse. Lance squirmed against the couch, body jolting every which way.

“Y’know, you could have just asked me. I wouldn’t have thought you were weird or anything.”

‘Cub worries for nothing… Red is kind… patient… enjoys Cub’s company…’

Lance pulled the pillow impossibly closer to his face, trying to ignore the burning feeling on his skin. His joyful laughter was muffled by the fabric, much to Keith’s annoyance.

“Why are you hiding? I thought you wanted me to do this.”

Lance only whined in response at the question.

“Are you embarrassed?”

“Shuhuhuhut uhuhuhup!”

“Shut up? How rude of you Lance. Not very kind of you at all. Maybe I need to get Shiro out here to—“

“Nohohohoho!” The brunette clamped his arms down further, eliciting a smile from Keith.

Sometimes, during these playful moments, Lance forgets that he and his fellow paladins are trained soldiers for a space war. He had forgotten this when Keith freed one of his hands and yanked the pillow off his face. Lance, in turn, smacked his hands over it instead.

“Well, well, well, this won’t do at all…” Keith’s fingers left his body, and Lance took the moment to breathe. “How am I supposed to see your smile if you have your hands over your face?”

“Shove off! You suck, Mullet!”

“Hey, you’re the one who asked for this in the first place!” Keith argued in return. Lance whined, curling in on himself. “Dude. It’s literally nothing to be ashamed of. Sometimes the body just craves touch.”

“I knoooooow, but… ugh.”

“Will you take your hands away now?”

“No way. I don’t want you to see my face!”

“Well, looks like I’ll just have to make you.”

“Make me? How are you gonna— ACK! AHAHAHA! KEHEHEHEHEITH NAHAHAHAO!” The blue paladin squirmed when the red’s fingers latched onto his tummy. “NONONONONOHOHOHOHOHO!”

“Ooh! Wow. What a reaction,” Keith cooed, snaking his hands underneath Lance’s thin top. His fingers wriggled against the boy’s bare skin, only causing him to turn on his side and squeal into his hands more. “Come oooon, let me see that smile!”

‘Cub is having fun?… Red is enjoying self…’

Lance’s legs kicked wildly against the sofa. Every attempt his body made to escape was only met with the older’s tickling fingers.

“YOHOHOHOU SUHUHUHUCK!”

“I might,” Keith hummed, “but it’ll make you feel better for sure.”

A familiar voice entered both of their ears. “Hey guys! What’s so funny?” Hunk appeared in the doorway as it opened with a hiss, dressed in his pajamas.

Curiously, he walked to the couch and took in the scene. The movie was long forgotten—the credits were rolling now. Keith looked delighted, looking down at something.

Well, someone.

Hunk’s smile widened when he saw his best friend struggling to keep his ‘cool-guy’ composure. With every pinch to his skin, another yelp and fit of giggles would leave him.

“Oh, we tickling Lance?” He walked around the side of the couch to confirm his suspicions.

Stupid Hunk talking about it like it was the most casual thing in the world! Lance felt Keith’s fingers cease their wiggling, instead patting his bare stomach.

“He ask—“ the older boy paused, not wanting to betray Lance’s trust. “He was being a total brat. I figured Shiro would get mad if I actually hurt him, so I did the next best thing. Now, he’s covering his face, and I can’t figure out what to do to make him stop.”

“Oh, is that it?”

There was a shift in Lance’s position. Hunk, as he always could do, manhandled the blue paladin to turn his body. Now with his back to Keith again, Lance peeked through his fingers in confusion.

“You want him to crack? Observe.”

The younger boy felt a weight on his legs, and before he knew it, he was screaming in laughter again.

“NONONONOHOHOHOHO!! HUHUHUHUNK! NAHAHAHAT THEHEHEHEHERE! NAHAHAHAT MY HIHIHIHIPS!” Lance’s body fell backwards against Keith’s, and he was half expecting the other paladin to tickle him too. Instead, he was held gently, an arm around his torso. “NOHOHOHOHOHO!”

“Has he asked you to stop yet?” Hunk inquired casually, tweaking his best friend’s hipbones with his thumbs.

“Mm mnh,” Keith hummed in reply, gently patting Lance’s chest.

“Thought not.”

“STAHAHAP TAHAHALKING ABOHOHOUT MEHEHE LIHIHIKE IHIHI’M NOHOHOT HEHEHERE!”

Hunks fingers traveled upward, thumbs drilling into that squishy spot on his waistline, just above his hips.

“NAHAHAHAHA! HUHUHUHUNK!” Lance shot upward, grabbing at his best friend’s hands.

“Ope! There you go, Keith! You got your wish.”

The blue paladin’s face was overtaken mostly by his ear-to-ear smile. His eyes were open, but they didn’t stay that way for long when Hunk resumed his tickling. Falling backwards against Keith again, Lance barked with joyful laughter.

He was expecting to be able to hide behind his hands, but the older male was quick to pin them to Lance’s torso.

Lance’s loud laughter was not something Keith was expecting to enjoy so much. He felt a warm feeling in his stomach with every squeal and cackle. He wanted to take part in it again… if he could just…

“EEEEYAHAHAHAHA! NOHOHOHOHOHO! KEHEHEHEHEITH!” The blue paladin squirmed against Keith’s body when another hand descended to tickle his ribs.

“Tickle tickle tickle!” Hunk cooed.

“NOHOHOHOHOHO!”

“You just tell us when to stop,” Keith hummed.

‘My paladin, pay close attention to Blue. While he is enjoying himself, he will reach his limit soon.’ Red’s words entered his head, and Keith nodded in return.

Well, might as well go for the kill.

Keith shoved his hands under Lance’s arms, wiggling mercilessly. Immediately, in turn, he was met with a loud squeal of laughter. Lance flopped like a fish against Keith’s body, trying to squirm every which way.

“OKAHAHAHAHAHAY! OKAHAHAHAHAY! NOHOHOHO MOHOHOHORE! STAHAHAHAP!”

Hunk’s hands lifted immediately, and Keith brought his arms down to rest on Lance’s torso again.

“Take some breaths, bud,” Hunk instructed, getting back onto his feet.

Panting with a huge smile, the blue paladin fully flopped back against the red. He caught his breath carefully, his eyes shutting subconsciously.

“Well, my work here is done. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me,” Hunk noted, making his way out of the living room.

Keith looked down at Lance with a soft smile. “Well? Scratched the itch?”

Nodding tiredly, Lance sighed. His eyes reminded shut as he recovered from the attack.

“You can just ask next time, sharpshooter. No need to try to provoke me.” The red paladin’s hand found its way up to Lance’s hair, petting his head gently. “You wanna sleep?”

“Mmngh…. Movie….”

“Movie’s done, idiot. Go to sleep.”

“Mmmmkay.”

Keith couldn’t lie; he quite enjoyed the weight against his torso. Plus, a snoozing Lance was a quiet Lance.

Double victory.