doveafterdark - Tumblr blog

doveafterdark · 4 months ago

Text

5 - Rival

4K isn't the only demon in the world. Another demon wants to challenge 4K and take the mountain for themselves and despite HD's instance to help, 4K won't let him. HD isn't going to let this rival demon ruin his deal, or hurt his 4K.

Chapter 5 finally here and it is a LONG one. I mean it, I think this was one of my longest fics ever for this site. Regretably there isn't a lot of tickling in it but the tickling that is in it is worth it I would say. There's more a focus on 4K and HD's feelings and their backstories on this one but please do enjoy it.

4K was a demon who wore his expressions so easily. He had his heart on his sleeve and said whatever he was thinking. It was always easy to see what mood he was in because the demon had the worst poker face. HD had kept his guard up that 4K’s constant smiling and positive attitude were just a front for something, but after months of living together he could only believe that it was just truly how 4K was.

So when 4K woke up that day with a down turned lip and no shine in his eyes, HD knew something must have been very wrong.

The sunlight streamed in tiny beams through HD’s thicket, shining on him and slowly drawing him awake. It was past noon and he was alone. Usually 4K would wake HD or he’d be somewhere close by in the glade, waiting for him to wake up. It was the first time in a while HD woke up and the demon was nowhere around, but he tried to quell any worries as he shimmied himself out the thicket and walked into the cave.

It was a warm day outside but the cave felt cold and darker than usual. HD drew his grass cloak more around himself as 4K walked out from the deeper cavern.

It was clear to see something was off with the demon. His smile and bright personality was gone, but even the way he stood and walked seemed slow. His shoulders slumped and his steps were hesitant. It even seemed like his wild hair, kept in its tie, had lost it’s lustre.

4K didn’t even notice HD at first until he stepped closer. He seemed lost in some sort of trance, snapped out as he looked over to HD. “Oh…h-hello.”

His voice was cold and distant, such a turn from his usually upbeat tone that HD’s concern turned to full out worry.

“There’s fruit for breakfast in-”

“Is everything okay?”

HD cut in, too on edge to wait for 4K to finish, but it seemed to snap 4K more out of his trance to be interrupted. His eyes had more life in them as he blinked to HD. His jaw hung slack and open before he quickly shut it, taking in a slow breath through his nose.

“There’s a dead body in the mountain…”

Out of the long anxiety list that HD made up in his head, he didn’t have this on it at all. Of course it was a worrying situation but it was so far out of HD’s possibility. “Oh…” He kept the hesitation out of his voice, trying instead to sound sorrowful. “Do you know when or…how?”

“It was sometime last night, they weren’t there before I went to sleep. A-And…” 4K hesitated with an uncertainty HD had never seen the demon have. He pursed his lips, a part of it catching on his snag tooth and drawing blood. HD opened his mouth to mention it when 4K continued. “They were put there by another demon.”

“O-Oh…”

Oh.

Despite only knowing 4K for a few months, it never really occurred to HD that the other demons wouldn’t be like 4K. But of course demons weren’t just good natured and kind usually. His whole point of striking up the partnership with 4K was specifically because he knew that reason. His gentle time with 4K seemed to make him forget.

“I need to take care of it.” 4K’s voice was sure, but heavy with his resistance.

The offer came so easily, HD didn’t need to think about it. “Do you want help?”

4K looked almost shocked HD even offered. “You… You don’t have to.”

“I want to help.”

4K’s dim eyes glowed for just a moment, and a grateful smile finally lifted his face. “Th-Thank you.” He sighed. “If it’s alright, could we deal with it now? I just… I don’t like knowing they’re there.”

“Of course. Lead on.”

The two went down the cavern, venturing deeper into the tunnel than HD had ever gone. There were still a few candles lit and lanterns hanging from the walls, but the deeper in the went, the fewer there were, until eventually the caves slowly became rougher and the only light was from the occasional crystal peeking out the stones. It got colder the further they travelled in, enough for HD’s skin to prickle with goosebumps and he wished he’d taken his cloak with him.

HD always thought he had good eyesight for the dark but that was always under a night sky. In a cave he was practically blind, yet 4K took such confident steps ahead of him. It was only when HD started to slow down did 4K reach back and link his hand with HD’s.

“Stay close. The caves open up and have some holes to the surface further in. Just a little bit more to go and we can get our bearings.”

4K’s hand was warm, and his calloused palms were a grounding comfort in the darkness. HD held on tight and followed each step. “Where is the body exactly?”

“I… I don’t know.” 4K admitted.

“You don’t? I thought you knew everything on this mountain?”

“I do. I’m supposed to. It’s tricky with other demons, they can hide themselves from me if I’m not paying attention. But this body… I should be able to know where they are but I don’t.”

It was clear it worried 4K. If not from the mood he was in then from how concerned his voice was. Or…was it mournful?

Eventually the caves did open up, as 4K said. The tunnel lead out to a wide open cavern. The ceiling was impossibly high, with stalactites dripping water down to the jagged rocky floor and small speckles of sunlight shining in. There were a few pools of water flowing into an unsteady stream further in the cave.

“Do you have an idea where to look?” HD asked hopefully. Of course he offered his help and would gladly do it, but he could see the caves inside the mountains were bigger than he thought and there were more tunnels he could just about make out in the darkness. He was starting to doubt if they could find the body today.

“They’re close.” 4K sounded sure, which HD was thankful for. “I can’t explain it but I can feel them. They’re… There they are!”

Some morbid relief swept through HD until he saw the body. Then he felt sick.

The body was stuck between some sharp rocks in the stream, but it was bloated and pale, having been in the water probably all night. Even from a distance across the cavern, HD could see the lashes and tears all over the body, though their skin was a muted grey from the water and the wounds were a pale white. They had been torn a part before placed or thrown into the mountain.

There was an easy enough path to get to the body, though the closer they got the more 4K’s steps faltered until he had stopped altogether. He wasn’t far from the body, but he kept a few feet between him and the water’s edge while HD carefully stepped further. The ground was jagged and uncomfortable, but HD was too focused to care.

The injuries all over the body weren’t random as HD had thought before. While there were deep cuts and slashes along the body, there was also symbols carefully marked out along the bloated skin. They seemed like runes though not any HD recognised.

“They’re demonic scripts.” 4K answered the unasked question. HD looked up and saw the demon still hadn’t moved any closer. “That’s how I couldn’t see them.” He mumbled.

“This ones covered in them.” HD pointed out. It seemed any space of skin not marked with a wound was given the mark. The scripts seemed old compared to the other cuts. They looked more like old scars, paler and more raised up against the skin with a slight shimmer to them. Though it was hard to judge from the state of the body.

“Just one of them would be needed. The demon is trying to send a message.” 4K concluded grimly.

HD gave a quickly look up and around the caves. The stream the body was on split further down, one leading off to one of the pools which lead deeper into the cave and another that went towards and under the mountain walls. “Does that stream lead out?” He asked with a point.

“Y…Yes…” 4K answered unsure, but HD trusted it. He knew the mountain best.

“If we move the body out, let it float down and lead it down that stream, we can get them out of the mountain.” He explained. HD quickly looked around and saw an opening on a platform further up that could take them out the mountain. It wouldn’t be too far a climb down and it should be close to the stream.

“I-I…” 4K’s voice shook and HD turned towards him. “I… I can’t touch…”

HD understood. “I’ll handle it.” He quickly stood up, trying to look around for something to help.

“I’m sorry. I…”

“Don’t worry about it.” HD kept his voice soft. “Just keep watch.”

There was a slim stone broken off from a boulder that HD quickly grabbed. It was sturdy enough for what it needed as he manoeuvred the body away from the rocks. He managed to use the stone to keep the body slow down the stream, leading it down the right path and out. The two quickly climbed out then, heading out to a small ledge at the side of the mountain that was an easy enough climb down.

This side of the mountain was thick with shrubbery and low trees. There was no marked path but there was some elephant path through the trees that they followed. There was a bridge over a river the two followed it towards the mountain to find the stream leading out of it, and the body slowly floating down.

It was the part HD wasn’t looking forward to, but he gathered what strength he had and reached down to the body. The skin felt slimy and awful. Every part of HD wanted to gag and wash himself of the feeling, but his thoughts of this poor victim kept him still. How awful to be used as a warning. They deserved a proper burial at least.

Even as the body was hoisted out of the water, HD couldn’t even tell if it was a male or female. They’d been mutilated so horribly and their bloated skin hid all of their features.

“I’m going to make a small grave for them.” 4K spoke. The first time in a while since HD started dealing with the body. “Just for now. I just need to grab a shovel.”

“No it’s fine.” HD said and quickly looked around. “Let me just…find somewhere.”

“A-Are you sure? You’ve done enough.”

“No no, I can get it. Just…”

There was a spot not far from the stream where the thickets thinned just enough space. With effort HD dragged the body closer and held out his hand over the earth.

It had been so long since he had to use his magic but just like with making the deal it came so naturally. He was a fair folk and the earth responded to him; the soil shifting to his call and slowly crawling out of the way to make a small grave.

“Wha… What is…” 4K marvelled and slowly stepped behind HD.

“Faes have magic.” HD explained, almost amused by 4K’s interest if not for the situation they were. “I’ve never had to use it much. Never thought it would come in handy for…this.”

The dirt moved to the side, creating a makeshift grave. HD rolled the body in, having the dirt cover over them. It was deep enough for the body, but the grave would be noticed from the road.

HD stood and wiped his hands off on his tunic. He’d still need to wash to get the feeling truly off his skin, but it would do for now.

“Thank you for that.” 4K spoke as the two made their way back to the mountain. It was quicker back through the caves than walking around. 4K hoisted HD up to the ledge and climbed up after him. Only then he spoke. “I didn’t mean to make you deal with all that.”

“No, it’s alright.” HD quickly soothed. “I’m just…upset something like that happened. Due to another demon, you said?”

“Yes.” 4K voice was grim again. “That will need dealt with soon.”

They made their way back to the dark tunnels, walking slowly to avoid the sharp stones.

“What’s going to happen?” HD asked. He was trying to keep slow and watch for the rough ground, but he tried to keep up with 4K, only being about to make out a vague shadow. “Why would another demon do…that?”

“It’s a warning.” 4K replied. “They mean to challenge me.”

The light of the lanterns came just into view. HD had never been so relieved to see them. His steps were more confident and the tunnel opened up enough he could walk beside 4K.

“The runes all over the body were a message.” 4K continued. “This demon wants to challenge me for the mountain I’m assuming.”

“But…why leave a message? Why not just attack you outright?”

“It’s not how it’s usually done. If it was a pack coming for my territory they would have as they have the numbers. If it’s a lone demon they’re probably trying to scope it out and finding the best way to attack.”

The tunnel finally opened up to the first cavern of the cave. It felt like the first breath of fresh air HD had for a while. Safe, but still unclean. They kept their hands tense and far away from their body, something that 4K took notice when he turned to look at HD.

“Sorry. You probably want to wash. I didn’t think.”

“Don’t worry about it.” HD resisted the urge to shake his hands. “Let me quickly wash at the waterfall.”

“I’ll get you soap.”

4K returned with one of HD’s favourite soap - the rose scented one - and despite HD’s assurance he’d only be washing his arms, 4K left for HD to bathe under the waterfall. While he’d give himself a full wash later, HD quickly got to work lathering up his arms and washing the suds off. It took a few tries for the slimy feeling to really go away, but HD worked fast. 4K was so unusually uncertain, HD worried at any moment he could close himself off when the threat of this demon was clearly bothering him. Even if he was curious, HD was also sympathetic. He wanted to help 4K anyway he could.

Luckily, his fears seem unfounded. As he washed off his arms for the last time and returned back into the cave, 4K was waiting with a towel at the ready at the nest of furs by the wall. HD’s heart was elated, but he didn’t let it show as he settled down in the blankets beside 4K. Before he could talk though, 4K took one of his arms into the towel and began to dry him.

“You don’t have to…” HD’s cheeks flushed. He felt almost bashful to the soft attention.

“It feels like this is the least I could do to help.” 4K laughed softly. He gently worked his way down HD’s arm, careful around his wrist and finally going to his hands.

“Almost feels like I’m being pampered.” HD pointed out as 4K seemed to take great care with his hand. It felt like a massage as 4K’s thumb pressed into his palm and soothed out over his thumb. HD had to suppress a moan when the towel ticklishly traced down each of his fingers.

“You deserve to be pampered. Especially after helping me.”

HD gave a careful look up to 4K, who was focused on HD’s other arm now. “The runes… Do they make it so you can’t touch the body?”

4K’s lip twitched and his hands faltered. HD wanted to take it back, but 4K spoke. “No. I just… I can’t handle dead things. It’s like a phobia I guess.”

“Oh. I’m sorry…” HD quickly apologised. “I didn’t realise.”

“No it’s fine.” 4K finished drying and set the towel down. He ran his hand over HD’s arm as a sort of last check that made the fae shiver, but 4K ever mentioned it. “I have to thank you properly, I really don’t know what I would have done.”

He pulled his hand back from HD’s arm and he looked up to the fae with a bright smile. “How can I make it up to you?” He asked but then was struck by an idea and quickly added. “How about you can ask any questions you want today? No tickling required.”

That was an offer HD was more than happy to accept. He pushed aside the small part disappointment that he refused to acknowledge and clarified. “You sure you want it to be any amount of questions? What if I run out for the future?”

“Aw, well…” 4K hummed. “Okay. three questions then.”

Three. HD could manage three and still find more to ask. Three was good. Especially after today, he had a lot of questions.

“The rune on the body, what did it mean? I thought it might be a spell but I couldn’t feel anything. Is it a language?”

4K gave a half shrug. “Yes and no. It’s like a specific language to each demon. A rune for us is a mark of ownership. Each demon is born knowing a symbol. That’s your rune. Demons use it to mark…” 4K looked at HD and bit his lip slightly. The words caught in his throat, and he cleared it to speak. “It can be used to mark any thralls. Sometimes demons take servants and mark them. The mark shields them from being tracked by other demons and it means they can always know where their servants are.”

It wasn’t news to HD that demons took people to serve them, but the rune system he hadn’t even the slightest idea about. “Do you have a rune?” He asked, and 4K nodded. “Can you show me?”

4K looked around as if he’d suddenly find ink and paper, until he turned to the wall and settled there. He half turned his body, bringing his claw up to scratch a mark in.

It was almost like an ‘X’ shape but not quite. There were two lines running parallel to one another from top right to bottom left. The line above had a hook, connecting to the other line. The line going left to right was also slightly off. The tip of it had a hook shape as well, and when it touched the second line it split into two. One went down, the other carried on the path.

It was a nonsensical symbol, nothing HD had ever seen. It looked like an almost X but then when he blinked it could almost look like an ‘M’ shape, and then almost like an ‘A’.

“Mine couldn’t just be simple, huh?” 4K chuckled and drew his claw back. He was admiring the symbol like he hadn’t seen it in so long. Maybe he hadn’t.

“I’ve never seen this before… Do you mark the mountain with it? Do you keep it hidden?”

4K gave an awkward shrug. “No. Most demons don’t use the ruin for territories. Living in a pack means there will be many runes. And marking as a lone demon makes you a target. Plus I wouldn’t be opposed to sharing. Don’t get me wrong, the mountain is mine, but if another demon needed shelter, or even if they wanted just the caves inside I wouldn’t mind that arrangement.”

HD studied the mark some more. He opened his mouth but was quickly cut off as 4K spoke again.

“That is all I will answer about runes.” He said and quickly added when he saw HD’s panicked expression. “You still have two questions. Of course I’ll answer any small follow up questions and they won’t count. But if you want to talk about the rune anymore, it counts.”

HD pouted in an expression he could only hope was cute as he asked. “Can I just have one more about the rune? Please?”

4K tried to look stern, but it was useless. It was so lucky HD knew how cute he was. He knew just how far to push it. The demon sighed. “Fine. One more.”

“How come you never…put the rune on me?”

4K’s face twisted as HD expected it would. “You are not my slave, or thrall. You don’t belong to me.”

“I mean…technically I do.” HD pointed out. “I’m your tickle toy for as long as our deal lasts.”

“It sounds almost like you want the rune.”

“I’m just curious.” HD quickly defended. “Did you ever think of use it on me? Even for just a split second?”

4K paused before he answered. “Yes. I did. When you first offered up the deal. I thought for one moment maybe I should have it as safety, so you couldn’t just cancel the deal at any time. But our marks are permanent. They cannot fade, or be removed unless the demon dies. It was an extreme thought and your deal was fairer, were we both agree.” He looked over at HD with a softness that moved the fae’s heart. “I’d never want to trap you where you don’t want to be. I’d never want to force you to stay with me. A rune would have been too much to ask.”

HD suddenly realised that if 4K had been a crueller demon, had just offered the rune and not explained everything then there was a chance HD would have been stuck with it. He would like to believe he would be wary and question and refuse if it happened but he couldn’t be sure. For now he was just grateful 4K had the heart he had.

“Now, that’s your last question of the rune gone. You’ve got two more left.”

HD accepted that. He had more questions at the ready anyway. “You said there you’d be fine with a demon living on the mountain, or under it I guess, but you said demons were territorial, only being allowed in packs. Have you ever been in a pack before? With other demons?”

“Nope.” 4K shook his head. “Never.”

“Is that common? For demons to go without a pack?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say common. It’s…situational.” 4K struggled to find the right words. He had been slowly leaning back against the wall, getting himself comfy now as he answered. “Packs are only made up of family. Siblings specifically. Demon parents aren’t uh…well nature wise they aren’t great at raising the kid. They’ll look out for them until they reach a certain age, but then they’re on their own. If they have another child, it becomes the oldest’s responsibility to take care and look after them. It all depends on how many kids the parent has.”

HD blinked rapidly, his mind processing the information. “So you’re packless because…your parents didn’t have another child?” He asked.

“Pretty much.” 4K shrugged. “I mean, they could have and just couldn’t find me so sent the kid out. Personally I think that’s more likely.”

“Have you ever seen your parents since going out on your own?”

“No, and I don’t really want to.” 4K’s voice was colder. “They weren’t great when I was with them. Dad only showed up every once in a while to throw food at us. Mom was…well lets just say when they told me I was on my own I wasn’t upset. That’s the last I saw of them.”

The concept was so alien to HD but understandable. It wasn’t like he was even in contact to any of his own now, but in the beginning HD was as close to his kin as any fae was. Blood or found, a family was important to a fae. It was ingrained into the fairie folks being to adore, love and seek out family.

Well not so much now he was the kin killer, but before that HD was never far from any of his siblings. The idea of a small family also seemed so alien. HD’s own family had countless half-siblings to him.

“Some lone siblings do try and make a pack together but it never works out. And I was never really interested in that. But those in a pack usually stay until they find a mate, then they go off as a couple.”

HD eyed 4K warily because they knew how he was take the question. But still HD took in a quiet breath to ask. “Do demons mate for life?”

4K’s eyes were on them and even as HD tried to brace themselves for the tease, the normal question threw him off.

“I’d say that counts as a new question.”

“Wha-No!” HD snapped. “That still counts to the last one!”

“I don’t think so. Last one was about packs now it’s about mates. Different topic.”

HD huffed, letting out a little whine of annoyance but he relented. “Fine.” He pouted. “Last question. Do demons mate for life?”

“Hmm. We can, but I’ve honestly never seen any actually do it.” 4K explained. “Our runes can also be used on other demons. On anyone else it’s a mark of ownership but if it’s placed on another demon, and they also place their mark on you, it’s an equal showing of love. The mark isn’t coming off unless one of them dies and demons live for a long, long time.”

HD filed that information away, but he had so many more thoughts on the nature of runes to demons. They were more important than HD had thought, but that was also useful information should he ever need to hunt a demon down. If he could find anyone marked, or if a territory had these runes it could give him an advantage.

“I’m personally not a fan of it.” 4K continued on. “As romantic as it might seem in theory, I like the idea of a partner choosing to be with me. Not locked in through a ritual or something binding them. If I’m with someone I want them to know I’m choosing to be by their side.”

HD could understand that, though he’d honestly never given much thought to the idea of mates. The faes were free and experimental with their love. It was encouraged to follow your heart, a sentiment HD never really took on. Of course he had partners and people close enough but none of them ever jumped out at the idea of a mate to him. Nothing serious.

“Do faes mate for life?”

The question pulled HD out from his thought. He gave a look over to 4K lounging back on the furs. He had one arm resting up behind his head, the other lazily lay over his stomach. His legs crossed at the ankles. He looked calm and relaxed, not at all like he’d gone through the trouble this morning. It was tempting for HD to lay down with him, but he kept himself up.

“Some do. We don’t have any sort of ritual or marks but there are some fae who keep a partner for life. Or lose a partner and never take another. Faes are very open when it comes to love an relationships so there's a mix.”

4K’s eyes were half lidded when he spoke next. “Have you ever taken a partner before?”

HD’s heart thumped in his chest. “In the past, yes. Not for years.”

4K hummed in thought and HD studied his face for anything. Though he wasn’t even sure what he was looking for.

“Have you ever taken one?” HD asked, excusing it was only fair to ask it back.

“In the past.” 4K responded with a smirk. “Only a couple that were serious. Demons I’ve met haven’t been the nicest so not a lot of options there. And no-one else wants to really get close to a demon.”

While HD would have loved to explore that more, he was suddenly reminded to the situation this morning. The other demon who had threatened and challenged 4K for his mountain. A sour mood took HD and he knew he wouldn’t be able to shake it off.

“Speaking of other demons…”

The smirk fell from 4K’s lips. He knew where this was going.

“The demon that did that…what now? What’s their plans now?”

“I really don’t know… They’re crafty and sneaky. I assume they’re trying to scope out the mountain more.”

“Can you not get them then?” HD asked hopefully. “They would have had to come on the mountain sometime if they’re scoping it out.”

“Not exactly. I can only see demons on the mountain if they’ve been on it a while. If they’re smart they’ll keep themselves hidden as long as possible. I suspect they’re trying to figure me out. My patterns. When I leave. If…”

4K’s eyes wandered to HD, then an uncommon bashfulness pulled his eyes away and turned his cheeks a light red.

“Wh-What?” HD blinked to the sight. It was unexpectedly adorable to see the usually boastful demon so shy.

“They’re…just p-probably…” 4K drew in a breath of fresh air and regained some courage to look back at HD. “Kind of funny we were just talking about this… They’re probably trying to figure out if you’re my mate. Or…maybe they already assume you are.”

“W… Wh-What?!”

Now HD’s face flushed red and they were sure it was already brighter than 4K’s. They kept opening and closing their mouth, thinking of anything they could say but nothing was coming to mind.

“I can’t tell how long this demons been tracking or scouting out, but even if it’s only been for a few days they probably saw you here, all the time. Since they see you here so much they might assume you’re my mate.”

“But they’d know I’m not a demon!”

4K shrugged. “Demons take mates from anywhere. Human, fae, another demon. We don’t really care about that.”

HD’s face was hot and he turned away. Technically it could be possible to believe they were mates. Even the fae HD had gone to deal with had made the assumption just on the scent of 4K on him. The two were affectionate with one another constantly even between the tickling. Oh dear gods the tickling. HD wondered if the demon had saw any of it. It was an embarrassing thought, one HD let himself think of for a moment and shove away. He couldn’t focus on it now.

“Okay s-so…” HD cleared his throat. “They think I’m your mate. Then what?”

“Well they’ll use you against me. Or kill you, if they can.” 4K voice sounded calm, but HD could see the worry in his eyes. He looked down at the furs, biting his lip slightly in thought before looking back to HD “You have your time away coming up, right?”

HD hadn’t even thought of that. It had been the furthest thought from his mind at that moment, but he saw the idea spark in 4K’s eyes. “I can hold it off.”

“The deal was you would have a minimum of a week off. In a couple of days there’s only one week left of this month.”

The time line was muddled in HD’s head when he usually kept such a good count. “We can change the deal.” He quickly thought. “I can change it, you just have to agree.”

“No.” 4K quickly shut down and pushed himself to sit up. “Its better if you aren’t here.”

“Aren’t here?!” HD almost gasped at the suggestion. “You’re in danger! I’m not leaving you if there’s a demon who wants to kill you.”

“You’re in danger if you’re here, especially after that warning. If you’re gone I can deal with this without putting you in harms way.”

“I can help you.”

“I don’t want your help, I want you safe!”

The argument was going nowhere, which worked against HD. He couldn’t change the deal without 4K agreeing and the demon wasn’t budging. He had not outright said it, but HD couldn’t help but worry. 4K meant to deal with this demon alone.

“Please just…promise me, while I’m gone, you won’t go fighting the demon.”

4K didn’t want to agree. His lips pulled into a tight line, but his eyes softened as he looked to HD again. A conflict of wanting to keep him happy, and wanting to deal with this as soon as he could.

“I promise… I will not start the fight.”

It was the best HD could hope for, so he agreed to that for the time being. It was nothing official, but he trusted 4K to keep his word. At least he wouldn’t be throwing himself into danger, and now he could defend himself if the demon tried anything.

“Now, lets take back the day at hand.” 4K’s tone quickly shifted. He lay back down over the furs, stretching his arms up and legs out. As he relaxed, with his hair flayed out on either side of him, he looked inviting.

“You up for a nap?”

HD felt too frazzled for a nap, but at the same time the offer was too tempting to refuse. He slowly crawled his way down by 4K’s side, pressing his back to his side as the demon turned over and wrapped his arms around them. They had cuddled before in their naps but this felt…protective. 4K’s arms were tight around him, holding him so close HD could barely move.

It was comforting in that moment but worrying. Worrying that 4K had to hold them tight enough.

“I think I have enough to make us some pancakes when we get up.” 4K’s voice was soft against HD’s ear. His beard tickled in the spot just under HD’s ear, making them squirm. “Just sleep for now.”

It took a while for HD to fall asleep. He kept listening out for any signs that 4K had fallen asleep, but eventually couldn’t keep himself awake and fell into and uneasy slumber.

When the two awoke they found out it there was not enough mix to make pancakes. At least not full sized ones. 4K instead made each of them small pancakes in fun, wonky shapes. He tried to make all of HD’s flower shapes, to varying degrees of success and HD couldn’t help but laugh and smile and for that one moment he felt normal again. Everything felt right.

The next couple of days blurred together with the same feelings. There were no more warnings, or none that HD could pick up and while 4K kept up his cheerful attitude, it was a front. During the first night, 4K asked HD to sleep in his bed with him, as a just in case and HD agreed. It carried on like that for the next night as well. HD slept close but nothing happened.

HD had been around the demon enough to know that while 4K was all smiles and warm, it was a front. He was never relaxed and never allowed himself to just rest in the moment. He hadn’t even asked to tickle HD at all, or even tickled him in small moments. No squeezing of his sides or skittering on his ribs. He wasn’t exactly himself but whenever HD offered to talk or help, 4K would brush it off. He’d say it wasn’t for HD to worry about and refuse to talk. All HD could do was just be by 4K’s side.

And finally the day came for HD to leave. He had never felt so nervous, not even for his first time away. Of course his first time away didn’t have a demon trying to kill 4K.

“Have you got everything you need for your trip?” 4K asked.

HD was sitting outside their thicket, looking over their pack. They usually packed specifically, but now they practically had nothing. They threw a few clothes into their pack and that was all. “Yes.” They lied.

Usually HD left early on the day but it was coming to noon and he was dragging his feet. He just pulled his pack on when 4K started speaking.

“Hey, if its not too much trouble…” 4K asked. “Could you ask in the town if anyone was missing? Just if there’s a chance that body is from the the town I’d like them to have a proper burial.”

HD’s heart warmed and sank at the same time. He gave a slow nod. “Of course.”

“Thanks again.” 4K sighed softly. He drew HD into a side hug. “I’m going to miss you…”

HD’s heart thumped uncomfortably in his chest. “I can come back early. We can still change the deal.”

“No.” 4K said firmly and still held HD tightly into his chest. “You have a minimum of a week away. I assume you don’t want to take the next week off right away.”

“No!” HD quickly responded. “I’ll be back after seven days.”

4K chuckled, his arm fully falling away. A little spark of hope rose in HD as he offered. “You could come with me.”

He watched the temptation rise in 4K’s eyes, but he gave a sad smile and shook his head. “I can’t leave the mountain with this going on. If they mean to take over I can’t let them.”

HD knew that would be the answer, yet he couldn’t help but keep that hope. He knew this mountain meant more to 4K than anything. “Please just…keep your promise.” HD begged. “Just don’t go after them.”

“I promise, I will only fight to defend myself.”

It was as good as HD was going to get and he kept reminding himself that seven days wouldn’t be that long as he left the mountain. It was the only thought that could keep him even slightly calm.

The first stop HD took was to the town, as 4K asked. He wasn’t looking forward, especially since the last time he had to speak with them their distant for him was clearly evident, despite the fact he technically took care of the problem.

As soon as he stepped in and the people saw him, their faces twisted to distaste. They were already thinking “why are you here” before he had a chance to talk to anyone. The town only had elders that acted as the official “leaders”, but even as HD went to speak to them he was followed by half the town. HD didn’t fear them, but he couldn’t lie it put him on edge.

HD asked if anyone from the town was missing, and the crowd spoke in hushed whispers between them.

“No-one has gone missing. A few have gone out for trading but we have confirmation they’ve made it to the city.” One of the elders answered.

“When was that?” HD asked.

“The letter came yesterday. They’re not expected to travel back for another week.”

It was safe to assume it was none of them. Unless the demon had really committed and set up the mail system somehow. But then that meant it was some random traveller.

“Why do you ask?” Someone in the crowd asked.

It was no use to lie, especially when they already suspected so much. Anything but the truth they probably wouldn’t believe.

“There’s a body buried off the main path, close to the river. They were killed.”

An uneasy murmur worked through the crowd till eventually someone asked. “Was it that demon who killed them?”

A spike of anger shot through HD. He controlled his voice while he spoke. “A demon killed them.” He corrected. If they were going to find the body, the markings on it would be evident enough the murder was demonic.

“There’s another demon?!” Someone shouted and the crowd erupted into panic whispers.

“It’s not bad enough we have that monster on the mountain!”

“How do you know it wasn’t that demon?”

“You were supposed to deal with him!”

His frustration boiled up. HD whipped his head round. He didn’t know who had spoken, so he addressed all of them. “When was the last time someone else was taken by him!” HD almost demanded though he knew the answer. The crowd knew it as well as they all averted his eyes.

“But he still lives.” One of the elders pointed out and HD turned back around.

“I never said I’d kill him! I said I would take care of the problem and I have! He’s not taken any of you since.”

He could feel the energy of the crowd around him swelling. Distrust and suspicion were in their whispers, along with unkind names. Killing 4K wasn’t a solution HD wanted, though he knew it might have been a possibility. But he had never discussed that with anyone from the village.

“But he’s brought the attention of another demon. A demon who does kill.” The elder who spoke before continued. He had a cross scar on his chin.

“Even if I hadn’t stopped him, this other demon would still be an issue. You can’t blame everything on 4K!”

“He knows the demon’s name!”

It was a slip up HD couldn’t catch in time and he cursed at himself for being so careless.

“Are you with the demon now?” Cross-scar asked.

“I have an arrangement with him and he leaves you alone.” HD defended himself before the absolute absurdity of it hit him. “This isn’t about him! I’m telling you there is another demon prowling around and has already killed someone, and you all look for any excuse to blame 4K!”

“He’s a demon!”

“He tickled a few of you! There’s a demon out there actually killing people so 4K seems like a saint in comparison!”

There was no reasoning with them. There was nothing he could say or do to make them not see 4K as the problem. In fairness to them they were right to be wary even if he was just kidnapping them to tickle them. But HD still hadn’t forgotten his talk with 4K months ago. The lies the village had told about being taken away for longer. 4K was used as an excuse. For what, HD didn’t care to know. These people weren’t his problem.

There was nothing more he could do for them.

“The body is close to the bridge over the stream. Take care of it or don’t.” HD said.

The elders looked puzzled at him before sharing a look between them.

“You can’t just leave!” Someone shouted.

“This demon is our problem too!”

“You have to deal with it!”

A bile of anger gathered in HD and he spat out before he could calm himself. “You’re welcome to try and make me.” He challenged. He almost wanted them to try but even with the mob mentality running, none of them were stupid enough. The crowd slowly broke off, avoiding looking at HD as he left the town.

He could not help them. He didn’t want to help them. Whatever he did would never be enough. HD’s only focus now was to help 4K, but that seemed impossible.

HD had never felt so helpless as he had in that week. While usually he’d travel and try and get as much done as he could, he instead stayed by the mountain for the five days he was out. Five days of keeping himself by the mountains path, wandering it up and down till he knew the position of every piece of grass and rock.

Sometime between those five days, the body had been taken from their shallow grave and HD only hoped it was put to proper rest.

The first thing HD did on the first day was grab his obsidian dagger. His stuff was still hidden under the rocky slope and he was careful to place it all back perfectly. The dagger fit nicely into his pocket and with his cloak over his shoulders it was completely hidden. Next was to try tracking.

There was very little to track around the mountain which HD couldn’t be sure if that was a good or bad sign. Animal tracks were common yet there were some unknown that lead nowhere. HD’s frustration grew and it irked him more that he didn’t even know if it was the demon he was tracking.

Helpless. The mountain so close, and HD could do nothing. The glade and 4K so close and HD had no power to help. Not until the two days were up. For five days HD roamed the mountain path, taking quick naps between the grass and then he was up to roam again. Every day he found nothing, until the night of the fifth day.

HD was awoken on the fifth night by a roar. It was dark when HD jolted up from the grass. The sky was thick with clouds threatening to burst into rain. His cloak hung awkwardly off him as he quickly stood up and as he righted it as there was another roar.

It couldn’t be. It wasn’t. Surely it was far off thunder, or some tree blown by the wind somehow making the noise. It wasn’t…

A scream this time. High pitched, vicious and scared. And then another scream. It was deeper, more in raged. It was a scream HD knew.

He’d never heard it before, but he knew who it was. He’d heard the voice so many times laugh and tease him. Even without ever hearing it before, he knew that scream. It was 4K’s. It was a fight.

HD sprinted off to the path around the mountain. He wasn’t close to the path up to the glade, but he could make it there quick. He constantly kept looking up for any sign of movement but it was dark and the moon completely covered.

Another scream, louder and closer but not 4K’s. He continued running the path, coming to the turn that would take him up the mountain when he spotted them. Both of them.

The demons.

4K stood on the rocky slope, higher than the demon who was half slipping down the mountain side, holding onto a small cluster of loose stones and thin tree growing out between them.

It was not 4K as HD had ever seen him. He was much bigger. Tall and thicker with muscle. He was a shadow against a clouded moon with only his orange eyes truly visible.

The other demon might have been the same height, but they kept themselves on all fours. They were spindly, but their hands elongated into powerful claws. A mop of deep black hair draped down their back.

They were about twenty feet above HD. Or maybe more. Neither of them saw him, giving HD enough time to get closer under and hear them speak.

“Last chance…” 4K’s voice growled with a deep rumble HD had never heard. It felt like his bones shook from it. “Walk away or I kill you. Leave the mountain or you die here!”

The other demon hissed with their words. A poisoned honey voice that made HD’s skin crawl. “Where’s your pretty mate? Where’d you hide it?” The demon taunted. “Was going to kill it as the last warning. Keep its pretty head as a trophy and give you its body to use one last time.”

4K lunged faster than HD could keep up with. One moment was on his ledge and the next he was tackling into the demon and sending them both tumbling. 4K tried digging his claws into the side of the mountain to slow the drop. He almost stopped until one of the demons claws dug into his chest. It ripped into his flesh and 4K screamed as he fell.

HD’s heart leapt into his throat, yet as the demons tumbled down the idea struck him. If they fell off the mountain, HD could help.

The demons fell from the mountain, knocking off some loose stone and rocks that HD had to press right into the side of the mountain to avoid being hit by. By the time the rocks had fallen the demons were fighting again.

4K had the demon grappled. They were trapped, struggling uselessly against 4K’s arms. Perhaps HD didn’t even need to help; yet despite having the demon trapped, 4K didn’t end it. The demon’s neck was perfectly in his grasp but 4K hesitated. The demon did not.

They twisted enough to get their claws in 4K’s shoulder. He roared again in pain, his arms loosened enough for the demon to slip out. They pulled 4K forward from his shoulder, flipping him onto his back. HD heard 4K grunt with pain, and saw the demon’s claws rise to strike for 4K’s neck. That’s when HD grabbed a rock and threw it.

It struck the demon’s head. It wasn’t a lot of damage but it was enough to distract them. Their focus snapped up to HD. Small yellow eyes gleamed from the shadows and a matching yellow set of razor teeth grinned.

“The pretty mate…”

The demon stepped over the dazed 4K. They were just a bit shorter than 4K, but their limbs were elongated. Spindly arms that lead to claws and legs that seemed more like an animals than humanoid. Their skin looked thin and stretched over a frail body that was covered in rags. Their claws dripped with some kind of liquid that shimmered even in the dark. A silverish shine that HD could see over 4K’s chest and shoulder.

HD already had the dagger out and ready, but he ran on adrenaline as the demon lunged at him. Or…tried to lunge for him.

They took one quick step and suddenly they were on the ground. It took HD a second and quick blink to realise that 4K had grabbed the demon’s ankle.

The demon screeched, managing to twist enough to drag their claws along 4K’s side. 4K screamed again, and let go but by then HD was at the demon’s side and the dagger was in their throat.

Their long mouth stretched out into a scream, but there was no sound other than a horrid wet gurgling sound.They reached their claw up in some weak attempt of a slash but HD pulled out and stabbed the dagger in again and again. In their shoulder, their chest and finally back to their neck. The damage from the obsidian burned them, making the skin bubble and melt. There was a hiss, HD couldn’t be sure if it was from the demon or from their skin burning but HD pulled out his dagger for the last time, and the demon fell limp on the ground. They gave one twitch and then went still.

Dead.

Relief flooded HD so intensely that his legs turned weak and he fell on his knees. He felt like laughing and crying all at once. His first kill on a demon, not as clean as he would have liked but the job was done. But instead of celebrating his attention was pulled to 4K who rose himself up.

This 4K before him was a demon. He was much taller, with HD barely reaching his chest. His skin wasn’t shadowed by the clouds at all, it was like molten ground. Black cooled lava but whenever he moved it would glow like magma in motion, rippling thorough his body and settling again. His horns were longer in his fire hair and his fangs seemed almost too big for his mouth. He still had his right fang just a little longer than his left. The sight of it warmed HD’s heart, but that feeling quickly dropped when he saw 4K’s glowing eyes were staring at the dagger in his hand.

4K flicked his eyes up to HD’s and his voice growled. “HD…”

“4K.” HD lowered the dagger, and put his other hand up. “Just…let me explain.”

“HD…” He growled again and he tried to take a step forward but pain surged through him. He gave a shout in pain and collapsed.

“4K!”

The dagger was forgotten and dropped as HD rushed to 4K’s side. He was a behemoth compared to HD but the fae still tried to help keep him up, letting the demon lean on him. The slashes on 4K’s chest, shoulder and side shimmered with the silvery fluid.

“Your wounds need looked at. We need to…” HD looked up the mountain, the situation hitting him. “I… I can’t go on the mountain. I…”

“Tea…house…” 4K rumbled. “There’s a tea house…abandoned…on the road.”

HD had seen the tea house. It was not far from the path and while it was abandoned it was still good for shelter. HD had checked it during his patrols around the path but there was no sign of anyone there.

“I know where it is.” HD nodded. “Can you walk a little? You can lean on me…”

It was awkward with 4K’s size but he was able to hunch over and lean on HD’s shoulder. Every step towards the hut made 4K hiss in pain, but he never complained and kept up pace as they made their way to the hut. HD kept the pace slow, until tea house came into view.

It was a very small hut, with four walls and just one room. Some of the wooden walls had holes in them but they still stayed standing and kept the half rotted roof staying up. The path to it had been overgrown but it was an easy divert off and they were there.

During the walk HD could feel 4K slowly shrink, feeling lighter and lighter with every step. Just as they reached the door of the hut, 4K had shank back to his original size. When they stumbled inside and towards the mat which was half covered in moss, the magma sheen of his skin was gone and the fire in his hair settled to the jet black.

4K lowered to his knees, or more like he collapsed as soon as he could. While the mat seemed okay, and the moss wasn’t old exactly, HD still hesitated to lay 4K down. “Hold on.” HD worked out from under 4K’s arm and shrugged off his cloak. He laid it out over the mat, and helped 4K lay down.

Blood mixed with the silver oozed from the wounds. HD felt his hands shaking, but kept his voice steady as he could. Which wasn’t much. “I-I need to g-get my things. I’ve got supplies. J-J-Just stay here, I’ll be right back.”

It wasn’t like 4K could go anywhere, but still he nodded as HD quickly ran out the hut and made his way back on the path. It was the dead of night with no-one around, yet HD panicked and over thought every panicked thought his mind wouldn’t let him escape. He thought of anyone finding 4K so helpless and his heart thundered uncomfortably in his chest.

The demons body was still lain on the path, as HD should have expected. It still came as a small scare when he saw it again but the demon was certainly dead. It would have to be dealt with sooner or later but HD didn’t even want to think about it in that moment.

By some miracle his dagger still lay on the side of the path from where he’d dropped it. Or thrown it. He had been so scared when 4K saw it, his voice unsure and careful like a warning. HD just needed to explain, but he couldn’t now. His focus was on making sure 4K could live through the night.

HD sheathed away the knife, leapt over the demon’s body blocking the path and quickly made it to the rocky slope where his stuff was hidden. He had no care for tact as he yanked the rocks and stones away, quickly gathering what he needed and then just placing the stones back, hoping they’d hide it enough.

When he returned to the hut, he could hear 4K grunt of pain. HD came through the door to see 4K half way on his side, and HD rushed over.

“Don’t move! You’re going to make them worse!” HD tried to pull 4K to lay on his back. He was fighting it but his strength waned with his wounds and he was rolled on his back.

“Sides…hurtssss…” 4K hissed. One hand clutched to the four slashes along his right side.

“I need to clean the wound on your chest first. Then you can roll over.” HD promised, though looking to the wound on 4K’s chest that would take time.

It was almost a perfect slash right down the centre of 4K’s chest. It wasn’t long, only going half way down but the wound was deep and the blood mixed with the silver fluid like they were oil and water.

“The silver… It was on the demons claws. Is…”

“Venom.” 4K grunted, and HD felt the panic rise in him. “Don’t-ngh…w-worry.” The demon quickly assured. “It won’t kill me, but you need to be careful.”

At the assurance 4K wouldn’t die, HD sighed in relief, and the worry for his own safety was touching but unneeded. “I can’t be poisoned.” He said.

Even though the fog of pain, 4K gave an unsure look to HD. “Are you…sure? This is demon venom.”

“I’m fine, I promise.” HD nodded, getting his supplies ready. “Faes blood is pure. Blessed. Some dumb legend.” He shrugged. “We can’t be poisoned. I’ll be fine.”

While 4K would live, it would probably help to clean the wound of the poison as much as he could. HD readied a cloth with herbal mix, his face twisting as he looked to 4K. “This is going to hurt, but it’s going to help.”

“Just…do it.” 4K’s already grit his teeth in preparation for it the pain. “Please just make it quick.”

It was easy to say he would, but as soon as HD placed the cloth onto the wound 4K screamed. His back arched and HD could see his body start to thrash, but he controlled himself, trying to keep himself as still as possible for HD to work.

“Fuck! That…hurts!” 4K screamed.

“I’m sorry…” HD’s hands shook but he worked fast as he could. The wound was as clean as he could get it. He mixed up a separate herb, something to keep the wound clean and numb the pain, and laid the cloth over the wound before wrapping it in bandages. It was awkward as 4K could only lift his left arm up, but the wound was covered. One less to go.

“There, you can roll over now.” HD said softly, readying the next mix on the new cloth. “Although…it’s still going to hurt.”

“I can handle it.” 4K grunted as he turned over on his side. He gave a slight hiss as he settled but his body was tense. “It’s best to get it over with.”

HD agreed, no matter how much his heart ached for 4K. He tried to be quick, yet when the cloth pressed to the wound in 4K’s shoulder he flinched again, letting out a low growl.

“Fuuuck! FUCK!” The pained shouts came through breathless gasps. His fists beat on the wooden floors. “Fuck-fuck….t-talk…”

“T-Talk?” HD’s hands faltered as he wiped away the blood. “About what?”

“Something-Anything!” 4K grunted again. “How…what did you do on your time away?”

HD cleaned around the edge of the slash, as he spoke. “I was just staying around the mountain.” He admitted. “Just in case…well, just in case this happened.”

“Kind of a blessing you were here.” 4K’s voice had an almost lift to it. His grimace of pain faded for a moment, and turned into a smile as he looked up to HD.

“Wh-What?” HD paused mid cleaning of the wound.

“You like me.” 4K’s voice teased. Almost like a sing-song he carried on. “You like me more than the humans~”

“Oh shut up!” HD would have smacked his arm if not for the wounds. Instead he got back to cleaning while 4K gave a breathy chuckle.

But then there was a silence. Not even a wince of pain as HD covered the wound on his shoulder and began to wrap it up.

“HD…the…” 4K’s voice came out carefully. “That dagger.”

The same worried feeling swept over HD again, but he had a better chance to explain himself now. He could think rationally and the words came out calmly. “I know what it looks like, but the dagger was never to be used against you, 4K.”

4K gave a little snort, which HD almost did a double take to. “Believe me, Starlight, I wasn’t thinking that.”

HD blinked, but kept to the task at hand, readying another mix to clean the slashes on his sides. “No?”

“No. Well,” 4K’s voice was thoughtful. “At first. When we first made the deal and you said one of your conditions was to know more about demons I thought for sure it was to find out how to kill me. But I thought ‘fuck it, let’s see how long this goes on’. Just seeing how much fun I could get out of it. If your plan really was to kill or harm me then I’d deal with it then. For the time being it was kind of funny I was tickling my would be murderer silly.

“But then you…” 4K’s voice became soft. “You began to…let your guard down. Maybe it was a big act, that’s what I thought. But you were kind, and thoughtful and gentle with me. You’d say the sweetest things, you’d fall asleep in my lap. I thought if you really wanted to kill me you were being awfully cuddly about it.”

4K spoke without a wince or hiss of pain. HD looked down to the first slash on 4K’s side that he had just cleaned. Only three more to go and it seemed if 4K was the one talking, the pain wasn’t an issue.

“When did you stop thinking I’d kill you?” HD asked, readying another cloth.

“I don’t know honestly. I think it was a collection of moments I guess. I think the first time I thought it was when you told me you didn’t want to sleep in the caves. You were so worried I’d be upset or offended. Made no sense you’d care about that if you wanted to kill me.

“We had taken a few naps together. Perfect time to kill me in my sleep, yet I’d wake with no wounds and you curled in my arms. There was no act while you were asleep. You’d hold onto my like I was a lifeline.”

HD’s cheeks burned. Thankfully 4K couldn’t see him, but it wasn’t like HD could deny it. He was drawn to 4K physically. He was never more calm than when he was in the demon’s arms.

“Did you ever plan to kill me?” 4K asked.

HD shook his head and pressed the cleaning mix to the third cut. “No. I knew and prepared myself it might be a possibility but I never went with the intent to kill you.”

“Well, lucky for me-NGH!” 4K’s words cut off with a grunt, and HD quickly thought of a question. One he was actually burning to ask.

“4K, when you grappled with the demon you had their throat in your hands. You could have killed them there but…you hesitated.”

4K went tense and HD knew it wasn’t from the pain. “Suppose if I hadn’t I wouldn’t be so cut up…and you wouldn’t have had to finish the job.” His voice was ashamed and HD quickly cut in.

“I’m not upset. I would have killed them ten times over. I just want to know why. What stopped you? Did you know them?”

“No.” 4K shook his head. “Never seen them before. I just…” He sighed. “I hate touching dead things. That extends to making them dead too. I hate killing. And fighting in general.”

HD’s hand hesitated in surprise. Of course it wasn’t like 4K was ever out looking for a fight, but HD had always assumed from the size of his muscles and his strength that he was well versed in fighting.

“Well…” HD was slow wiping the cloth away from the wound. “I’ve seen you hunt for our meals, so it’s not a complete no killing rule.”

“Yes, okay, you got me there.” 4K gave a light huff, but HD could see his lips turned up to a smile. “I hunt for food. And I have fought and killed when I’ve needed in the past. My time as a young demon, trying to make it on his own, wasn’t exactly a pacifists path. There wasn’t a day I wasn’t fighting for survival.”

“Is that why you’re so fond of tickling?” HD asked as he wiped the last cut. The wounds had hardly any of the venom in it and would heal alright. HD readied the cloth to place over them and got the bandages for the last time.

4K chuckled. “Yeah… Sort of. I just…” He hesitated and HD waited in the silence. He would not push 4K to talk on such a tender subject for him, but would be here to listen if he needed. “Every day, since I could remember, I just had to fight. My parents never hit me or anything but mom took me out on hunts specifically to get into fights. Other demons. Humans. Anything bigger than me I had to fight it. And I couldn’t just beat them, I had to kill them. She said it would make stronger. All it did was make me feel horrible. When I went out on my own I thought it would change. But no matter where I went or who I found, they wanted a fight. Humans feared me and demons took me for a challenge. I couldn’t just exist.”

4K moved without prompting as HD wrapped the last of the bandages around his side. When he could lay back down he sighed gratefully, slowly rolling on his back.

“It was not long after I made the mountain my home when I started my…obsession lets call it.” He continued. “No other demon took the mountain because it was so close to town. A lot of them didn’t see the hassle worth it. I had no intention of taking the town so just moved in. But a human did come up to the mountain. I think they were a hunter, I just remember they had a knife and when they saw me they were just…they already hated me!

“I tried to explain I wasn’t going to hurt him, that he could sleep on the mountain for the night if he needed it but he came at me and refused to listen. I got so mad. I know I should have killed him, every lesson my parents taught me was to kill him but I was tired of that. I didn’t want to kill, I just wanted to be left alone. So I grappled thee human and then I…” 4K shrugged. “I just started tickling.”

It was not the backstory HD was expecting, though honestly he couldn’t think of one that made more sense. HD could sympathise with the treatment. No matter what 4K did or how he came across, people saw a demon and already made up their minds. HD was no stranger to that.

“How did you even know about tickling?” HD asked curiously.

“I don’t know. It was so long ago I couldn’t remember. Honestly I think I just squeezed his side or something to try get him to stop or just in frustration and he laughed. I carried it on from there until he was weak enough not to fight back, and he just bolted as soon as I let him go. It was fun and weird but in the moment I felt a strange joy. That I could deal with something like that without killing.

“More people came to the mountain and I avoided them when I could. When the odd one or two did find me and try anything I just tickled them till they stopped. Eventually the rumours started that a terrifying demon lived at the mountain and people avoided me. But I craved it in a way. To tickle someone. It was like I was taking control back, from those years of being forced to kill. It made me feel good to have a power over someone and not harm them. Of course it was wrong, but it started with only going after smugglers and bandits on the road. Got a few of the townsfolk too on accident and then – well you’ve went to them, you know.”

Yes. Then the rumour of the terrifying demon who stalked the town and took people back to his mountain to tickle them for days on end started. Then HD had climbed the mountain to strike a deal with the terrifying tickler.

And now he was here, tending to the wounds of that tickle demon and letting said demon cosy up to his side.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to just unload all that.” 4K apologised. His laugh was sheepish and slow. “I blame the venom. It’s made me all loopy.”

“Is that all with the venom?” HD asked, his worry coming back. Of course 4K said he wouldn’t die, but surely it would effect him somehow.

“Well yeah.” 4K’s face fell. “I won’t die, but it’s not going to be pleasant. I’ll just be really weak and feverish for a few days.”

“Well, that medicine on your cuts will probably make you sleepy. Hopefully you can sleep through the worst of the fevers.”

While HD spoke, 4K slowly shuffled over till his cheek rested on HD’s thigh. HD’s hand sought out his hair without thought, stroking through the inky black locks and twirling them around his finger. He could feel 4K melt against him.

“Didn’t mean to badmouth humans in front of you.” 4K mumbled.

HD gave a snort. “Go ahead. They’re not my favourites either.”

“No?” 4K asked, sounding actually surprised. “Thought they were special to you. I thought they’d love you as a hero.”

HD gave another laugh, this one more cruel. “Gods no.” The two had spoken just in passing about what HD did on his time away before. It was no use hiding it and HD was honest in saying how he helped humans or any towns and villages under fae influence. The demon never commented on it, good or bad, but he gave a questioning look at first. He never asked more, and HD never told him more. Now with the sharp words of the town still in his head, it came boiling over.

“I think they hate me more than any other fae. Having to live with the fact another fae solved their problems. They hate it.”

4K slowly blinked. His eyes were unfocused but still aware enough. He frowned in thought. “You went to the town about the body. Did they…give you trouble?”

HD pursed his lips. “…yes.”

“Does every town and village you help treat you this way?” HD hesitated to admit it, but he nodded. “Then why do you help them? Why put yourself through this?” 4K asked.

“It…” HD’s eyes averted 4K’s. The painful look squeezed at his heart. “It’s not a good story.”

“If you don’t want to say it, I won’t push.” 4K offered, though HD could hear the soft tone in his voice. The tone that was pleading to be trusted and let in. And HD found he wasn’t shying away from that thought as he usually would. He wanted 4K to know.

“Some…fae…some fae leave their children to be raised by humans. Sometimes they’ll swap out their child for a human one. Other times they just leave their child to be found. I was left as the latter. My fae parents left me to a village who raised me without question. They thought I was one of their own.” HD’s voice already felt heavy. “I thought I was one of their own…”

4K said nothing and just watched HD with intense eyes. As intense as they could be as he fought off a drowsy sleep.

“I was raised by them for years. I was an adult when the faes…when my birth family came for me. Told me who I was and told my parents too. The people who I thought were my parents. And everything I knew crumbled. My fae family wanted me to go back with them and call them family; but they were strangers to me. No matter how much I tried I wasn’t going to fit in. So whenever I could I ran off, back to my real family. But even they…they hated me.”

HD’s voice was rough. “They looked at me like I was a monster. Like I was the liar. The faes who left me claimed I wasn’t swapped out for a child but they didn’t believe it. Honestly I didn’t either. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for the faes to miscare for a human child and the just wipe the parents memories. My family couldn’t be sure I wasn’t just replaced. They’d never love me again. But I loved them. I loved humans. I was raised by them and suddenly I was expected to forget all of that.

“It hurt, but I didn’t care that my family hated me. I loved them still. I just wanted them safe. I’d watch them whenever I could. Even if I couldn’t be in their lives anymore, I just wanted to see them live it. That would be enough.”

“B-But…” A choke almost leapt in HD’s throat. He stopped and swallowed it down. Not now. Not yet. “The faes didn’t like that. They told me no fae ever went back to their human lives. It was an insult to the faes that their own child would reject them, and prefer the humans. I didn’t care. When they asked me to choose I chose my real family. No hesitation. And they…hated that. Enough that they killed them. My real family.”

It was fast and monotone. That’s how HD always had to say it. How he always had to think it. He didn’t risk looking down and seeing 4K’s expression. He didn’t trust himself not to crumble.

“They slaughtered them. My parents. Grandparents. Siblings. Aunts, uncles and cousins; any close bloodline to them, they were dead. The faes said this human fascination would pass. I’d get over them. But in that moment it didn’t feel like I’d ever get over it. I’d never felt such a rage. Every drop of blood and cell in my body was white hot with hate and pain. I didn’t realise what I had done until I felt the blood on my hands.

“My fae father, the one who lead the slaughter, was dead. Half my siblings who followed him, who helped destroy my family were dead too. I don’t know how I did it. A moment of rage they were unprepared for. The siblings who lived fled and told stories of what happened. Kin-killer they called me. A name meant to shame me, and I wore it like a badge of honour. Faes feared me and avoided me. I was basically banished.

“So I used my time to protect humans from them. And so another fae child wasn’t raised in a lie. I gave back fae children and returned human ones when I could. I hunted and chased away faes who went after humans and killed them if I had to. I’d make sure I could limit the amount of hurt they could cause.”

4K had not moved through the whole story, and now he shuffled and tried to push himself up. His arms were weak and wobbly and he could barely push himself up before HD placed a hand on his chest.

“Careful!” HD warned. He could hold down the demon so easily, the strength from him all gone.

“That’s why you help humans…” 4K’s words slurred. His eyes were focusing and unfocusing. The medicine was kicking in and 4K was fighting it.

“HD…” 4K slurred again.

“You need sleep, 4K.” HD tried to reason, though he had feeling 4K wasn’t up for listening. He still couldn’t tell what got 4K so worked up. Was it in sympathy from the tale, or was it anger for saving humans? HD didn’t even want to think of that now. He just focused on trying to keep 4K laying down.

4K was powerless to fight, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try. Like a child refusing sleep he fought every step of the way to keep his eyes open.

“4K you’re going to sleep whether you fight it or not.” HD huffed. “You might as well make it easy for-”

It was one last attempt. A last burst of energy from 4K. His arm shot up, grabbing onto HD’s collar and pulling him down until their noses touched and their lips just a breath away. HD was stunned as he felt 4K’s words.

“You don’t have to save them all.” 4K’s voice was quiet and soft. “You aren’t to blame.”

It felt like a cannon ball launched into HD’s heart. It winded them, made their mind turn blank. “I… I…”

“Not all fae are those monsters. Not every human is your family.” The grip on HD’s top loosened, but they were still stunned there. “It’s…not…”

The medicine was getting too strong for 4K to fight it. His eyes struggled to stay open and HD was grounded again.

“You need sleep, 4K.” HD’s voice was calm, despite his hands shaking as he lead 4K’s own hands back down. “You will recover faster if you sleep.

“He…mmm…” 4K tried to speak again, but the words faded to a soft sigh and finally his eyes fell shut. HD tried to move him to a comfortable laying position. He didn’t know how strong the venom would affect him, but for now the least HD could do was make sure 4K was safe while he slumbered.

He’d keep watch and protect 4K for the days to come. But for that night, HD let out a flurry of tears and wails that had been locked inside for years. For that night, for the first time in centuries, he cried for his family.

The night passed by slowly, but uneventfully. HD didn’t dare let himself sleep. He was too frazzled with everything to settle down and now the sun was rising; the threat of them being found was higher.

There was not much HD could do to hide the old tea house from the view of the path without moving literal trees, so all he could do was make it look so destroyed and undisturbed as possible. Any tracks made from himself or 4K were covered, and he could use some of his magic to sway the bushes more to keep the path blocked. Enough to hide, but not enough of a change in the forest to be noticed.

While HD kept himself awake, 4K slept through the night and well into the next morning. That was fine for HD. Sleep was probably good for him, working the venom through his system. He’d make small noises in his sleep, just huffs and whimpers through the night and by morning his skin was hot and sweaty. HD tried not to panic as he wiped the sweat off and kept the demon comfortable as possible. 4K said he’d be feverish. This was normal.

All they had to do was get through this night and at midnight tomorrow they could make it back up the mountain.

The paths weren’t too busy during the day. Due to 4K’s reputation very little would actually use the path, instead going the long way. HD was over alert, making sure no footsteps came close but so far there was only a few people who walked by.

The sun started to set and HD let himself relax. He wouldn’t sleep but at least he didn’t have to stay alert. He let himself lean back, just closing his eyes for a moment when 4K screamed.

He didn’t just scream; his body jolted like a rush of electricity surged through him and his arms flailed in a panic.

HD ducked to avoid getting smacked by a stray arm. He was trying to grab 4K’s arms when he could hear the words between the screams. 4K was shouting for him.

“HD!” 4K yelled in complete panic.

“Shhh! I’m here, 4K!” Once HD got control of the flailing limbs, he pushed himself forward. His hand gently touching 4K’s face to wake him. “4K! Wake up!”

4K roused from his sleep slowly. It took a moment for his eyes to open, and then a moment more for him to blink the sleep from his eyes and realise where he was. As soon as his vision focused on HD, his expression swept up into teary-eyed relief.

“I’m here.” HD’s voice soothed. “It was just a nightmare.” They brought themself in closer to 4K’s side. Their thumb still soothingly rubbing over 4K’s cheek.

“I… I’m sorry…” 4K’s words were slow. His eyes were still hazy and unfocused. “I had a nightmare. It was horrible. The demon was still…i-it--”

“Shhh, calm down.” HD hushed the demons rapid words. “You’re safe.”

“I-It-It got you…” 4K brought a hand up to HD’s. With little strength he had he pulled the fae down to lay by him. His warm arms wrapping around HD’s waist. “It got you… I was so scared. I’d never felt so…”

“I’m okay, I’m right here.” HD assured him. “The other demon is dead. You’re safe.” He reached a hand up, touching 4K’s forehead. “It must be the venom effecting you. You’re still really warm.”

“Can…can you stay with me?” 4K mumbled. “Until I fall asleep…”

“Of course.”

The sigh 4K let out was so soft, HD wouldn’t have known it if he hadn’t felt the soft breath on his shoulder. The two rearranged on the mat, shifting over slightly so HD could fit on. 4K rested his head over HD’s shoulder, another soft sigh escaping him as he pressed himself in further. His tightened around HD’s waist and his lips pressed into the nook between HD’s neck and shoulder.

HD shuddered as 4K whispered against his skin.

“My little star…” His voice was soft, sleepy. “I can’t lose you.”

His lips pressed against the soft skin in front of him. It only lasted for a moment, but it was too long to be an accident. It was purposeful. A kiss.

4K had been affectionate before. He’d pressed kisses over HD’s head, and teased him by kissing his hand. But he’d never kissed somewhere so intimate and close.

“4K…?”

There was no response and the soft snore a second later confirmed he was asleep.

HD relaxed then. Honestly he wasn’t sure what he would have said if 4K hadn’t fallen asleep. The kiss wasn’t unwelcome but it felt sudden and being in this situation HD didn’t have the mental will to think of it right now.

He stayed with 4K for a while longer. His fingers played with 4K’s black hair, but he shuffled himself out of the demon’s arms when it reached night. He could feel the want of sleep trying to pull him back, to lay at 4K’s side and cuddle again but HD wouldn’t risk it. He’d protect 4K until they were safe in the mountain.

The night passed without incident again, and so did the next day. 4K was still in the process of recovery. His skin was clammy but he woke up more and more, this time not from nightmares. By the time the sun was setting, 4K was staying awake more often though the pain still racked through him. HD tried to keep him comfortable until, finally, it hit midnight.

The path was completely empty and the sky was clear to show the crescent moon. By the moon’s light and the twinkle of the stars, the two made their way to the mountain’s path. 4K still struggled to walk so it was a slow climb, leaning over HD’s shoulder like how they made their way to the hut.

HD took notice that as they walked the path, the demons body was completely gone. There were some drag marks along the path, along with heavy footprints so HD could only assume they had been removed by someone, and not taken off by some feral animal.

The walk up the mountain took most of the night. Every step was taken slowly, and sometimes the pain made 4K immovable. Despite how much he insisted to go on, HD kept him still until the pain had passed and they continued on.

As they came up and could see the familiar glade and trees, the relief almost floored them. It was like a breath of fresh air as they made their way around the pond to and into the cave. After the final climb up the slope, 4K slumped into his own bed, with a sigh of relief so long it must have expelled all the air from his lungs.

HD didn’t want to spoil the moment, but he couldn’t stop looking at the bandages, all worn and yellowing. “Your wounds will need rebandaged.” He softly brought up.

4K gave a noise half way between a scoff and groan. “Nooo… It’s fine.” He mumbled into his pillows before rolling over.

“It’s not fine, they’ll need cleaned.” HD said, thankful now they were in the mountain and had proper medical supplies.

“They’re probably healed by now.” 4K responded casually and lifted his arm. He winced as his shoulder twinged and pulled it back down. “I-It’s just the venom now…”

HD opened his mouth to argue, but 4K’s eyes were on him like properly seeing him for the first time.

“Wh-What?” HD asked, self-conscious.

“Have you slept?”

HD could only imagine how he must have looked for 4K to notice. His eyelids were heavy and he was exhausted, but 4K’s safety was his first thought. He shook his head, surprised by the almost worried expression on 4K’s face. “I needed to keep you safe.”

“Have you not slept at all?”

HD shook his head. He could not allow himself even a moments rest, fearing he’d sleep too long. Now there was no doubt bags under his eyes, and his skin paler.

4K reached out, softly petting the back of his fingers over HD’s cheek. “You must be exhausted.”

He was. Sleep was not needed the same it was for humans, but staying up near three days in a row was still a stretch even for faes.

“You need sleep. We are safe in the mountain. The demon is dead, and I will know if anyone comes.”

It made sense, and 4K’s voice was so so soft. HD could already feel his body leaning, and finally falling into the furs at 4K’s side. 4K reached his hand up, softly stroking through HD’s hair and scratching over his scalp. HD was out, but not before he could hear 4K whisper.

“Sleep, my Starlight. I will keep you safe now.”

HD wasn’t sure how long he slept for. Judging by the sun it was just coming to noon, though it felt like he’d slept for longer than a day. 4K was up as HD awoke, unwrapping what he could of his bandages and checking on the wounds.

As 4K had said, there were no wounds left. The cuts had been completely healed without even a scar. The only noticeable mark left of the wound was…

“I’m afraid it’s taken some of your chest hair.” HD pointed out. His fingers ghosted over the patchy smooth spots laid over 4K’s chest.

4K chuckled and pushed HD’s hand away before he looked down himself. “Aww…was proud of that hair.” He pouted. “Well, it’ll grow back.”

“What if it doesn’t?” HD pointed out, giving a dramatic gasp. “What if the venom makes it so you can’t grow hair where it stuck!”

“Don’t say that!” 4K gasped, and covered his chest. “My whole charm is in my chest hair! You couldn’t stop staring at it the first night we met!”

HD’s face burned red. 4K laughed at it till a pillow smacked in his face. He still laughed after that as the pillow smacked and smacked against him and even HD was laughing as his cheeks were red.

Things almost felt normal again. So carefree and playful. But HD couldn’t shake the feeling not everything was right.

Something was off but he couldn’t quite place it. Most of normality had slipped back into place, though most days was spent in 4K’s bed. The demon still need a few days rest though neither of them complained. 4K was happy to be given a few bed days. HD was happy to keep 4K still for them to readjust their deal.

Being kept away from the mountain for a week as too close a call. If the demons hadn’t fought on that side of the mountain, or if they’d just been sneakier in their attack; HD didn’t even want to think of the outcome.

“A week is too long to be away.” HD was half mumbling mostly to himself.

“It was you who wanted a week.”

“But it was you who wanted a week minimum.”

“That’s cause I didn’t want whatever curse this thing would put on me if you were late coming back!”

It wasn’t a serious argument. In fact it was barely a conversation. Majority of it had been HD talking his thoughts out loud and 4K nodding with a hum. They were lounging on 4K’s bed. 4K was on his back, as he said it was better for his pain and he wanted to watch his chest hair grow back (which it was starting to fill in). HD lay on his front, leaning on his elbows to keep himself up and laying beside 4K.

“Two days minimum is better.” HD decided.

“Fine.” 4K gave a half shrug. His other arm stretched up with a yawn.

“Though…actually!” HD second guessed, missing 4K rolling his eyes. “What if a demon attacks you on those two days.”

“No demon has attacked me for years. That one there was a chancer.”

HD knew they were being paranoid, but in their defence it was a perfectly reasonable thing to be paranoid about. Their friend being in trouble would make them worry, but they also wanted to keep the deal fair for both of them.

“Maybe just one day. A minimum of one day.”

“How about…” 4K started and turned over on his side towards HD. He propped up his elbow so his head leaned on his hand. “You come and go on the mountain as you please? You no longer need a time frame.”

The offer stunned HD to a moment of silence. “Is that…okay?”

“I don’t see why not.” 4K shrugged.

“But…that could be any amount of time I’m away.”

“I’m aware.”

“What if I never come back?”

“Do you want to leave?”

The question was instant, and just as instant HD answered.

“No.”

“Then what’s the problem? You’ll come back, that’s all I need to know.”

“But what if something takes me away for a long time? Like months?”

It was just the worst case scenario HD could think of. His mind working in a panic over everything he could think of, though now under 4K’s stare he wish he’d kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t that 4K looked upset but he looked deeply thoughtful at HD, like he was searching for something.

“Are you still going to help humans?”

The question wasn’t judgemental, yet HD still felt unsure with the intention. “I don’t…know.” He answered honestly. The night with 4K made him wary of his help to the humans. It reminded he would never win their favour or avenge his family. Yet HD wasn’t sure he could stop helping them, if just to get back at the fae.

And he was also questioning 4K’s whole view on it. While he was soft in that moment a petty voice in HD’s head was telling him he was just being soft because of the venom. What if it really was in anger, or frustration, and 4K was too weak to show it.

4K just watched HD for a moment, before he answered. “Well even if you’re far apart, we can still communicate through the bond thing.” 4K pointed to his chest. HD had almost completely forgotten about it. The little knot around his heart just felt so normal to him now. Another part of him. “So let’s say you just tug on the heart when you’re coming home. Then I’ll know.”

It was an agreement on complete trust, and it set HD’s skin on edge.

“Okay.” HD kept their voice steady. “Then the new agreement. No time frame on when or how long I’m away for. I can come and go on the mountain as I please. Do you agree?”

4K nodded. “Sure. Yes. I agree. Considering it was my id-” His words caught in his throat as he could feel the tie around his heart shift just ever so slightly.

It wasn’t anything like a tug or squeeze. Just like the knot was readjusting and then it settled back.

“Your powers keep surprising me.” 4K marvelled and pushed himself up. HD followed him up. “So that’s it done? I’m not gonna… I dunno, turn into a frog if you come home early?”

HD snorted. “No. My curses are a little more powerful than that.”

“Well, I’m never going to find out.”

It wasn’t said like a boast, or challenge. 4K said it so naturally like it was common knowledge. The words settled like a warm flame in HD’s heart. Something comforting about it.

And yet the anxiety of it all still ebbed away at the fae. Because even as things returned back to normality, and 4K healed from his injuries and regained his strength, things weren’t the same.

It had been over a week now, and HD hadn’t been tickled.

It was wild how normal tickling was to HD now that to go without it left him almost feeling crazy. His skin felt overly sensitive and he craved that soft touch to just ghost over him. It felt like 4K could just look at his sides, or feet, or armpits and HD would be giggling. Yet 4K made no such move.

After the wounds had healed, 4K’s chest hair had grown back in and the demon flaunted his achievement by keeping his shirt off. It wasn’t that different from his usual attire. He always had his kimonos half off or the ties done so loosely his chest was just out in the open; but before that was just 4K how he usually was. Now he flaunted his chest.

He had caught HD watching his chest and teased them over it. HD blushed, but they defended their actions. It was a flimsy lie of trying to spot which hairs were the new grown in ones, but rather than the usual following of teasing, leading to playful pokes and finally tickles - 4K just laughed. He laughed it off and continued what he was doing and HD felt…empty.

HD never brought the issue up. It was embarrassing to ask why they weren’t being tickled and honestly they were afraid of the answer. They were scared 4K had just grown bored, or maybe he hadn’t even noticed the issue. No matter how hard they shook their head, HD couldn’t escape the thoughts that maybe all this was marking the end of their deal.

A pang of cold sorrow settled in HD’s chest and he wrapped himself in his grass cloak and moss covers to chase it away. It didn’t work.

HD had returned to his thicket bed a couple days after they returned. As nice and relaxing as it was to finally sleep in his own bed, HD could only now think of how far away he was from 4K. He was only mere steps away, yet the distance felt like miles to him. He couldn’t know what the demon thought anymore. Usually he would have thought the smile 4K would give him was honest but now he couldn’t help but think it hid something more. It was like a show the demon was putting on. Keeping up the appearance that everything was okay. It wasn’t.

“You need to speak to him…” HD whispered into the moss under him. Holding it off wasn’t doing any of them any good. Tomorrow, as soon as he’d wake up, HD would find 4K and discuss everything he could. Tomorrow they would sort it all out.

Or…perhaps sooner.

HD heard the footsteps approach. He had heard them as soon as 4K had stepped out of the cave and onto the grass. The demon made his way over to the thicket, but then he stopped. Curiosity took HD before nerves could and he picked himself up to turn around. He could just see 4K out of the small thickets opening. He had knelt down peeking in and almost looked surprised to see HD.

“S-Sorry…” He quickly said. His voice was soft, like he had to keep quiet. “I wasn’t sure if you were still up. Or…if I woke you.”

HD shook his head. “No, I’m up. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. It’s just…” 4K scratched at his other arm. He was nervous. The boisterous tickle demon was nervous. “I-Is it alright if I sleep here with you tonight?”

“S-Sure.” HD replied. He could never have expected 4K to be nervous of something like this. They had slept in the same bed loads of times before. “Do you want me to come in, to the caves? If you’d rather sleep in your own bed tonight.”

“No, no. It’s fine. The fresh air might do me some good, honestly.”

“Well…okay, sure.”

HD shuffled himself forward and 4K slipped into the thicket. It was intensely cramped with the two of them. 4K’s chest pressed up against HD’s back but the fae didn’t mind. He did notice 4K’s arm hesitate before he asked.

“Is it alright if we cuddle?”

4K had never asked before and HD was stunned into a moment of silence before he nodded. 4K’s arms wrapped around him slowly. He was hesitant yet HD couldn’t help but sigh. This was good. This felt familiar, but he couldn’t ignore 4K’s hesitance.

“Is everything alright? Do you want to talk or just…sleep?”

4K didn’t answer for a while. The arm wrapped around HD’s waist held him in close, as the other softly traced lines down HD’s arm.

“I’m…afraid.” 4K gave an almost laugh. “And I can’t even face you when I say this, so I’m a coward too.”

HD wished they were facing one another so he could give some comfort, but he wanted 4K to feel comfortable enough to speak. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m… I’m scared…” 4K spoke slowly, trying to find the words. “I’m scared that I’ve made you afraid of me.”

“Wh-What?” HD couldn’t help the question blurting out.

“You saw me. My…true form. You looked afraid.”

“What?” HD was puzzled. He tried to search his memory, imaging 4K in his tall imposing form again. Skin black as coal and glowing hot as magma. Horns and fangs sharp and hair blazing like fire. HD wasn’t afraid of him at all. He was in awe of him. But in that memory he could also remember the fear.

“I was scared when you saw the dagger. I was afraid you thought I was going to hurt you. Or thought I was ever planning to.” HD brought his hand to 4K’s, lacing their fingers together loosely. “If you had just asked I would have explained.”

“Was a little busy with that whole venom stuff.” 4K’s huff laugh hit the back of HD’s neck. “Then afterwards I was scared of the answer.”

It was ironic how HD was worrying himself over the days, 4K was also worrying just as much. Or maybe even more.

“I worried you were scared of me.” 4K continued. “When you didn’t sleep around me and only slept because you were exhausted, I thought you were being protective but I couldn’t shake that doubt. I didn’t want you to feel trapped. I-I really do want you to see this mountain as your home. I want you to come and go as you please but I admit I offered it as a test. To see if you would take the time away but the more days that passed the more scared I got it would be true.”

His arms tightened around HD’s waist and his lips mumbled into HD’s neck. “I’m terrified you’ll leave me…”

The hand holding 4K’s squeezed tightly and then HD unlaced their hands. “Let me turn around.”

4K was hesitant, but his arms loosened and allowed HD enough room to slip forward and turn himself around to face the demon. 4K looked so unsure. His eyes were soft and pleading, his lips pulled down to a worried frown. He looked so frail and HD couldn’t help but take cup both hands around 4K’s face and hold him softly.

“I could never leave you.” HD admitted. His heart thumped awkwardly in his chest. The small voice of doubt worried to lay himself so open but 4K was reaching out with that same vulnerability. They were equal, and honest. “Nothing could make me leave you, or this mountain.”

Hope flittered across 4K’s eyes, but it wouldn’t draw a smile to his lips or even ease his worried brows. “Really?” He asked softly. “Y-You are bound here with the deal…”

“I offered the deal. And even with the freedom to leave, I am still here.” HD swiped their thumb under 4K’s eyes. “These months with you, they are the happiness I’ve ever been in all my years of living.”

His eyes lit up then and he leaned into HD’s hand. “You are…important to me.”

HD was reminded of the kiss to his neck, and the whispered words when 4K was delirious with sleep and sickness. His skin tingled just to the memory. “I’ve never cared for anyone as much as I care for you.”

4K’s arms around HD’s waist pulled him in close to a tight hug. His chin rested over HD’s shoulder and he gave a breathy laugh. “You don’t know how long I spent trying to work up the courage to come out here. How long I worried if everything was still good between us.”

HD smiled, relief easing his tension at 4K’s laugh. “If it makes you feel any better, I was planning to talk with you tomorrow if you didn’t come out here tonight.”

“Damn.” 4K joked. “Crumbled too soon.”

“Well I’m glad you did.”

The arms tightened around HD’s waist, and he could feel 4K’s tail softly curl around his leg in an attempt to hold him closer. It made HD’s heart flutter. He stroked a hand through 4K’s thick hair. “Do you want to sleep?”

“Honestly, I’m tired but I’m so relieved it’s turned into excitement! Think I’m too buzzed to sleep.”

HD felt a similar way. His heart beat happily in his chest and a buzz worked through his nerves. Usually in a mood like this, HD would subtly offer himself up for tickles. He’d only ever done it a handful of times, wearing an outfit that showed off more of his skin or stretching out in front of 4K. It always worked, yet just as fast as the thought for tickles came into his head another thought took it’s place.

An interesting thought.

HD pet through the wild mane of hair again. “4K…” The demon hummed against HD’s shoulder in response. “Are you ticklish?”

The tail that had been so happily flicking away stilled to the question. He could feel 4K tense up for a that one second. A second of silence that felt much longer until 4K coughed and answered.

“I uh… I don’t know.” He replied, his voice unusually shaky.

“You don’t?”

“No. W-Well…” He pulled back just slightly as he answered, but he kept his arms around HD. He wore a sheepish grin and a light pink blush as he spoke. “I’ve been tickled by things before. Like if I walk out and the grass is covered in dew it tickles my feet. Sometimes if cloth or something brushes against me it feels tickly.”

“But you’ve never actually been tickled?” HD pushed.

“No. Not a lot of people really think to tickle the demon tickling them.” 4K gave a laugh. Nervous, but giddy.

“Would you like to be?”

4K’s eyes widened just ever so slightly and HD could feel his tail start its twitching again. He pursed his lips, catching it on his snagged tooth before his sheepish smile came back and he nodded.

The thicket was much too cramped for what was planned so the two shuffled out to the glade. The night was warm and the grass was dry as 4K splayed out. He laid on his back, stretching out his limbs. HD took position straddling over 4K’s waist.

He couldn’t help but stop for a moment, and just stare at 4K’s body as he lay out so trustingly for him. 4K was bulky but not overly muscular. He didn’t have defined abs but his arms and legs were strong. His kimono top was tied so loosely it was showing off his chest so proudly. Ever since his hairs had grown back he’d been happily going topless or keeping his robes open to show off.

“See something you like?”

4K’s voice snapped HD out of his thoughts. He looked up to 4K’s grinning face.

“I was just deciding where I should start first.” HD quickly responded, and watched 4K’s grin drop. “I think your chest maybe.”

4K tongue poked out just slightly between his lips. “Y-Yeah?”

“Yes. I noticed it a few days ago when I was touching over your chest. Tracing over the smooth skin. You laughed and pushed my hand away.”

4K shuffled uneasily. Clearly a detail he hadn’t noticed or he hoped HD hadn’t.

“Or maybe your armpits. Actually…” HD watched the demon’s arms in thought. Laid at his side, but his hands nervously playing with the grass. “It’s best you keep your arms up. So I can get at all the spots.”

“Right.” 4K slowly raised his arms up over his head. “I-I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep them up. Thrashing around, you know?”

“Yes you will.” HD said confidently. His hands poised over 4K’s sides and he could feel the skin under his hand jump. A rush of power overwhelming him. “You’ll keep them up because you want to be good and do what I tell you.”

4K’s eyes widened as his cheeks became pink a pinkish hue. The colour fluttered down over his neck and chest and reached the tip of his ears. Yet still his arms went up and his hands clasped together.

“Good boy…” HD praised and he could feel 4K’s tail whip back and forth behind him. “Now…where to start? Do you have any preferences?”

“Mmm...a…” 4K almost sounded breathless. HD watched his Adams apple bob as he swallowed to regain his sense. “I…I… What about my sides? They drive you mad, and I always wondered how it feels.” He teased. HD’s could feel his cheeks blush, but he smiled widely and the confidence wavered in 4K’s eyes.

“You can tease all you want, but it’s going to be you laughing.” HD pointed out. His hands pushed up 4K’s top and found a place right at the demon’s sides. Fingers digging ever so slightly. It wasn’t enough to fully tickle him, yet 4K still jumped with a a soft yelp. “Until you’re begging for mercy.”

4K still had enough confidence in him to boast. Even flashing a cocky smile as he spoke. “Begging? Me? I think you’re jumping ahead of yourself a little. I get you begging because I’m a seasoned tickler. Takes years.”

“Yeah?” HD cocked his head. “You want to wager that? I bet I can get you begging me to stop.”

“Oh?” 4K’s tail flicked with interest, curling around HD’s ankle. “What do I get if I win? Just to remind you, you’re already my tickle toy for eternity.”

“You can have…a full day of tickling me. No trade or questions required.” HD offered, and lay it on thick as 4K raised an eyebrow. “That means a whole day of whatever kind of tickles you want. Trying out all your brushes. Tying me down. Hell, even blindfolding me and going at me with all those feathers while I’m tied to that chair. Whatever you want.”

That got 4K interested. His face went red once again as the tip of his tail flicked back and forth against HD’s ankle. It tickled only slightly but HD could put up with it.

“Yes. Instantly agree, yes.” 4K quickly nodded.

“You’ve not even heard what I’ll get.” HD pointed out.

“Doesn’t matter.” 4K smirked. “You won’t win to get it.”

“How cocky! I’ll make sure you regret that.”

4K opened his mouth to give another quip, but any words he had were caught in his throat. A sharp gasp as HD pressed his fingers into 4K’s side, kneading up and down just slightly and the response was fireworks.

His hips bucked as the a laughter took him by surprise. “PHGN! F-F…Fuck! WAIT! HAHA! Thahahat! That! That tickles!” His arms shook and almost fell down to protect him but HD could see him focus and forced himself to kept them up.

“Well you are ticklish.” HD took note. His hands didn’t stop their tickling, but he switched from kneading to skittering, letting the tips of his fingers and nails just lightly brush over the sensitive sides.

The struggling changed from bucking to gently wiggling. 4K swayed his hips side to side, not really trying to knock HD’s hands away but enough to let out the pent up energy coursing through him.

“I think you might be more ticklish than me!” HD teased, clearly a lie but it worked at well, riling 4K up so.

“NAaaha-HAHA! N-No I’m n-no-nohohot! Y-You are the-EEEEEEEEEEHEHEHEAHAHA!”

HD dug in again, fingers dancing into the nerves of his sides. “Hard to tease me when you’re laughing, isn’t it?” He cooed, noticing how 4K’s laugh hitched up higher in pitch. “Are you more ticklish when you’re teased? How very fitting! You tease me all the time yet you’re so sensitive to it yourself.”

“Not! Not more…! AAhahaa!”

He spoke out in little gasps. His words breathless between the spouts of laughter. He still kept his arms up, which HD had to admire. Though maybe he hadn’t found the right spot to bring them down. While the main point of the challenge was to get 4K begging, HD couldn’t help but set himself his own challenge. Get 4K to bring his arms down.

Best place to start then would be right at the source. HD shuffled himself up slightly and dug into 4K’s pits. He had a patch of black hair in his pits, but it wasn’t so course HD couldn’t skitter his claws through; each of his fingers moving on their own, never finding a rhythm.

4K gasped out a wheeze, then his laugh returned in little giggles. Like hiccups, each giggle surprised him and made his voice squeak. “Weehehe…! H-Heh! My-My pits aharen’t that t-tihicklish!”

“Still ticklish though.” HD quickly said. It wasn’t exactly disappointment in finding out his armpits weren’t ticklish, but they glared at the arms staying defiantly up. Stretching out the skin as if to ask for more tickles.

This might have been harder than HD thought. Not only was 4K a tickling fiend, it seems he also loved being tickled as well.

They weren’t going to let that stop them though. HD still had a wide expanse of the demon to tickle, there would be plenty of spots to try. He pulled his hands back from 4K’s underarms, letting the demon’s giggles fade out before he spoke again. “I’m going to tickle your chest.”

4K gave another high giggle, though HD suspected it wasn’t from the ghostly tickles left behind. “O-Oh…?”

“Yes. Your stupidly buff chest which you flaunt in my face every day.” HD almost huffed with his words, but his hands roamed over 4K’s chest, pushing away his robe to show it off. “I’d say you’re asking for it to be tickled.”

“Maybe I’m just trying to subconsciously influence you to show yours off more. Your chest is quite tickly if I remember.”

HD’s face burned remembering when they discovered that. 4K was quick to test out all the feathers and tease him. HD thought now though he could just tickle him back and an idea sprung to mind. Each of them tickling each others chest to see who would give up first.

“I think you know your chest is ticklish.” HD said. The idea of 4K gasping and begging for the chest tickling to stop subdued the blush on his cheeks.

4K gulped again. The bravado lost. “M-M-Maybe…”

“Maybe?” HD coaxed. He shifted his hands just to rest over 4K’s pecs and watched in delight as the demon wouldn’t take his eyes off HD’s hands.

“W-We-Well…” 4K cleared his throat. “I do keep my chest exposed for a reason… Especially the centre of my chest. It’s very…sensitive.”

It was what HD hoped for, yet he felt almost dizzy with the possibilities. He watched his hands move like he was possessed and carefully trace feather light touches down the centre of 4K’s chest.

4K sucked in a breath as though to hold in his laughter, but it was no use. HD hadn’t even traced a full line down before he was sputtering with laughter.

“O-OhHOOhohoho n-nohohoho! Th-ahat -! EEEheheehehe!”

HD moved quickly. He skittered, kneaded and fluttered his fingers all over 4K’s chest, picking up every different sounding squeak and giggle, focusing on those spots for a a second more before moving on.

“AHAHAHAHA! YOUOUOU! That-that’s nohot faAAHAHAHAHAIR! NAHAHA! DON’T-DON’T TIHICKLE MOHOHORE WHEN I’M TAHAHALKING!”

HD waited for any words to stop. His ears perked for any signs of 4K voice changing or any sign he wasn’t enjoying it, but there was nothing. 4K’s voice was hysterical, but not distressed. So HD continued.

4K’s arms shook now with the effort to keep them up and HD was sure he could get them down. His nails skittered down till he dug in under the pecs, right where 4K’s ribs met his chest, and kneaded in.

The laugh that came from the demon was more like a howl. He arched his back, trying in vain to knock HD off but it felt like nothing could take his hands from that spot.

“HEHEEHEEEDEEEHEHEHE!”

“Do you give up? Are you begging me to stop?”

A wheeze, and a whimper, then 4K shook his head vehemently.

His arms were struggling to stay up; half way pulled down but keeping strong. But for how long.

He kneaded up and down 4K’s ribs, skittering over each bone and 4K howled.

“GOHOHOHOD! GOHOHAHAHAHA! THAT-That t-ticklessss… Thahahat tihickles soho muhuUAHAHAHAHA!”

“Does it tickle so much?” HD gasped in mock shock. “Oh what will you do? How will you escape? If only there was a way to stop it.”

“F-FUHUHUCK- FUCK! OHhohohoHOHO! P-Please! Plehehease! T-Take ihihit-!”

Like a shock coursing through his body, 4K glitched. His arms came down in an instant protecting the one spot that undone all of his will. His laugh was so sudden it was a silent scream. He bucked hard enough to knock HD slightly off and half turn himself away. Luckily HD caught himself before he could fall, but the two stared at each other in silence.

4K hands cupped around his rib. His lowest rib on the right side.

4K’s eyes were wide. HD’s eyes were wide. Then he grinned.

“Arms up.”

A nervous smile broke out over 4K’s face. “Be-Be reasonable, HD.”

“Up.” HD repeated and 4K still hesitated. “Arms. Up. Or I count that as a forfeit.”

4K giggled nervously and hesitated to move his arms. HD was almost sure he wouldn’t move, yet very slowly 4K began to lift his arms up again. As soon as the rib was unguarded, HD launched his hands in and tickled right away.

Even knowing it was coming, 4K screamed. He bucked his hips again but HD was prepared this time. He quickly slipped off 4K’s side, kneeling beside him as he wrecked that one rib.

“AAHA! UGHGHAHAA! PLEASE PLEASE! MERCY!”

“You know how to make it stop!” HD had to almost shout over the screaming laughter. Between the screams 4K was making silent laughs and deep gasps. He was absolutely at his limit. His arms went back down, trying in vein to protect himself but HD was too prepared to let himself be pushed away.

“I GIHI-AAHAHAHA! I GIVE UP! OOOOHOHOHO STOP STOP!”

HD stopped tickling right away. A part of him didn’t want to stop which he felt a deep guilt for, but he saw 4K curl up into himself. His hair was a mess, not only was it wildly laying out over the grass it was stuck to his skin which was slick with sweat. He was panting, trying to gasp for air and between his small giggles.

The want to tickle 4K more was suddenly overpowered by the utter need to comfort him. HD scooted himself up more to 4K’s head, running his hand through his hair and scratching over his scalp. 4K sighed softly to the touch, leaning in more to HD’s legs.

Was this was 4K felt whenever he’d stop tickling? Just an urge to comfort and cuddle.

“You okay?” HD asked. “That wasn’t too much was it?”

“That was… intense.” 4K’s gave tiny pants between words. His eyes finally opened, though half lidded. Tired, but bright. “But I liked it. I really liked it.” He smiled. “Just that rib. God damn that tickled so much. It was like a button straight to my nerves.”

4K shifted, his hand still half patting over his rib and half protecting it.

“But I really did like it.”

HD’s eyes travelled up, away from the rib to see 4K was staring up at him. The urge to coddle him was intense and HD pet through his hair. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t mind being tickled again.” He thought about it. “Maybe not tonight. That…took it out of me.”

HD knew that feeling well. Of being utterly overloaded with tickles to a bliss, softness. 4K always took the time to make HD comfortable then, to get him whatever he could ask for and keep him comfy. HD felt the same instinct to make sure 4K was taken care of.

“Do you want to sleep?” He offered, running his fingers through 4K’s hair again. “Or do you need anything? I can run and grab you a drink if you need it.”

“No, no…honestly I could sleep.” He made a point to stretch out his legs and softly sigh into HD’s lap again. “I’m not sleeping in your thicket though. I’m far too big.”

Yes, it was a rather tight squeeze with both of them in it. But… “Well that just means we have to cuddle real close.”

“We can technically cuddle anywhere.” 4K pointed out. “Here…”

4K raised his arm, wrapping it around HD’s waist and pulling the fae down. HD squeaked, but they relaxed and let themself be moved as 4K got comfy. He turned on his side, facing HD and bringing the fae in close to his chest. He tucked HD’s head under his chin, sighing contently as he rested over it. His arms wrapped around HD’s back and one leg lay over HD’s.

It was warm and comforting. It lulled HD to relax, almost melting into to 4K’s chest.

“See? We can cuddle anywhere.” 4K’s voice rumbled, HD feeling the vibration of his chest on his cheek.

“I see…” HD responded, watching as 4K’s tail lazily lay over HD’s hip. “You want to sleep here? Outside where it can rain?”

“It’s warm enough.” 4K half shrugged. “A little rain won’t hurt.”

It did feel warm enough, though HD was sure that was from 4K’s body pressed so close to him. He could hear the demon’s strong heartbeat, lulling him to sleep as 4K’s tail trailed further around his waist, as though trying to tie the two together.

“Sleep.” 4K purred and following his command, HD did.

Just as their luck would happen, it actually did start to rain just before sunrise. 4K woke up as soon as the first drop was on him, like a cat hissing to the water. The rain wasn’t heavy and it was actually rather pleasant to HD but he still followed 4K to the cave and was thankful that as 4K laid out over his bed, he pat his chest and drew HD forward to lay down on top of him.

4K fell asleep first this time. His face looked so soft as he slept. No big grins or a put on of bravado. He was just…4K.

I’m going to keep you safe. HD promised. For as long as I breathe, as long as you are with me, I’m going to keep you safe from all of them.

He gave a small kiss to 4K’s cheek, and then he fell asleep.

15 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 4 months ago

Text

Chapter 4 art

6 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 4 months ago

Text

Chapter 3 art

5 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 4 months ago

Text

Chapter 2 art

7 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 4 months ago

Text

4 - The Heart Grows Fonder

The date is approaching for HD's time away from the mountain, and he's shocked to learn that he feels...sad to leave. For two weeks he'll be travelling alone, and he'll miss 4K. But it seems 4K will miss him too.

Sorry this was late tumblr would not let me post anything for days but it seems to be fixed now. Anyway, here is my favourite chapter so far. Please enjoy.

The closer and closer the date came for HD’s time away, the more nervous he became. He had only been with 4K for such a short while, but he was already adjusted to life on the mountain. He could say he and the demon were friends, or at least they were heading towards it. Really, it was hard to put a name to a relationship that began with a deal to be tickled for eternity. But HD thought – hoped – that their time together was making them closer.

4K never seemed to notice the time approaching, or he never showed that he did. It was hard to tell the mood of the demon sometimes. In the quiet moments, HD couldn’t tell if he was just enjoying the comfortable silence or he was restless. When he’d tease and smile at HD, he couldn’t be sure if it was just the demons usual flirting to make him blush or if 4K actually meant those words.

Even the tickling HD had become accustom to. He would absolutely not admit that he liked it but it was a sort of settled in routine for the two. HD was getting enough questions answered to get an idea on demonology.

He had asked what the signs were for a demon taking territory and his payment for the answer of ‘none’ was to have 4K kneeling on his arms raised above his head, and his armpits and ribs absolutely wrecked.

He had asked if there was any reasons for demons to attack humans. The answer was complicated because of course it would be different for every demon. Some demons avoided humans to live undetected while others could despise having to share the world with mortals and do something about it. They were similar to fae in a sense where if a human trespassed or took something from a demon, they would be haunted until the item was returned, or the mortal made up for it in some other way.

HD’s payment for that answer were to be tickled with feathers. All different kinds of terrible feathers. 4K had came up to him excited to show them off. Some were long, fluffy and light, others short and firm and a few others in a mix or in-between. They had solved the rope issue by using silk to tie HD’s hands together, so the fae found himself with his arms tied behind his back, at the mercy of those feathers.

4K loved exploring HD’s tickle spots with each feather, seeing which ones would make him laugh and giggle and snort. They did not tickle as badly as the brushes. The worst one of them all was the stiff white feather that 4K brought to his feet. He pulled back HD’s toes, flicking it just at the very top of the ball of his foot and watched with a grin as HD struggled and laughed and pleaded.

All of his spots were mapped out and noted on, with each kind of feather. Also turns out his chest was ticklish. A new fun discovery 4K absolutely enjoyed giving quick tickles to during the day.

Still in all the tickling sessions, HD had never uttered the safeword. He couldn’t even remember a time he was close to saying it, though when he was pushed to the edge of his sanity with tickles he couldn’t remember much. He’d pondered if that was a bad thing to let himself get to that point, but quickly disagreed with himself. He was never uncomfortable and he never felt weird or bad when he’d regain his senses again or woke up. He just felt that warm soft feeling that wanted to be coddled and taken care of which 4K was always happy to do.

In their head, HD knew they should keep some sense of distance between themselves and 4K but that was sort of hard to do. They had so willingly agreed to be his tickle toy, it was hard to not form a bond.

But bonds are dangerous for faes. HD reminded themselves.

Fae’s are creatures of feelings. They want comfort, safety and merriment. They seek out companionship of others. They would love hard and when the love wasn’t returned, or betrayed, they’d destroy.

HD was confident in himself he wouldn’t succumb to the excuses his kin had. All of his actions would be his own, not blamed on his nature. He was friends with 4K, and while it might not have been what others could consider a friendship, it didn’t matter because it worked for them. He had agreed to be with 4K for eternity, but eternity was a long long time. In the worrying nights HD couldn’t help but wonder if 4K would ever grow bored of him. He was bound to the deal as well but 4K could just as easily ask for the deal to be broken. HD surprised himself as his concern wasn’t for if 4K would go after someone else. His concern was in his sadness from losing 4K. He’d miss the demon.

They were just thoughts of “what-ifs” that did nothing but make HD worry. If 4K got bored or wanted the deal broken in the future, that was for them to deal with in the future. They were not the same fae and demon they were the night they met. They’d grown close and they could talk things out. HD was sure of it.

Instead of focusing on useless what-ifs, HD busied himself packing for his time away. He never needed a lot when travelling before and he wouldn’t need anything more now. Clothes and a map really, which he was looking over now.

HD lay on his front, over the moss bed in his thicket. The map of the land lay in front of him, marked in ways only he knew. Towns, cities and villages marked down that he had visited before. The circled ones were marking fae activity. Either a group or one lone fae was active but not yet causing trouble. Just causing fear. The places with a single strike through them were fae marked, were the activity was strong but HD had dealt with it to drive them out.

Now he’d need to expand his marking method. He had demons he could look out for now, though even with 4K’s information he wasn’t confident if he could really take one on or drive out out. Still, having the knowledge for it already helped out more than enough.

He was trying to plan out his travels for the two weeks when the thicket bush rustled and 4K was leaning down, looking through.

“I knew you’d be out here.” 4K said as he laid down.

“There’s not many places for me to go.” HD pointed out, but he was smiling as 4K shuffled in. “And I thought you knew everything going on, on the mountain.”

“If it’s something new on the mountain.” 4K corrected and settled in. He was crawled in to his waist, his head close to HD’s. “You are a regular on this mountain now.”

HD’s heart warmed to the words. He distracted himself with looking over the map again, which 4K was also interested in.

“What’s all this?” He asked. “Are these places you’re planning to go?”

“No, not exactly.” HD shook his head. “At least not in these two weeks. These are places of interest. I’ve already been to the places marked, but some I will go back to.”

“You’re quite the traveller.” 4K commented, his eyes never leaving the map. He was looking over each mark like he was studying them.

“I used to travel before I settled here.” HD pointed out. “Though settling is quite nice. A home to nest in is comforting.”

4K hummed in thought. His eyes flicked over the map but his attention seemed to drift off.

“What?” HD asked.

“I’m...going to miss you.” The demon admitted and looked up to HD. “And not just for tickling you. I’m going to miss you.”

If HD’s heart had warmed from 4K’s words before, now it was on fire. It thumped so loudly in his chest he was sure 4K could hear it. “I won’t be gone for long.”

“Two weeks will seem like a lifetime without you.” 4K sighed. He sunk his head down to rest in his folded arms. “Though I suppose, I can use all that time to plan all the tickles you’ll be getting when you get home.”

That thought had crossed 4K’s mind as well. Two weeks for 4K to plan, for his mind to run wild with a ll kinds of ideas. And HD would be stuck with two weeks of imagining all the ways he’d be getting wrecked when he get home.

“The time will fly by.” HD quickly excused. “You won’t even know I’m gone.”

“Of course I will! Who am I going to talk with over breakfast? Who’s humming am I going to listen to while you read?”

“I hum when I read?”

“Yes. The softest hums when you read. My favourite thing to listen to.”

The flutter in HD’s heart only settled as he forced himself to focus on 4K’s words.

“I mean, next to your laughs of course.”

“You’ve survived without me before. You will again.”

“It won’t be as fun…”

The conversation felt too close and HD quickly came up with the excuse he needed to pack. He asked 4K if he could take some of the bandages and ointment on his travels for a just in case and luckily 4K offered to help him pack the last of his stuff, leading them both to shuffle out of the thicket.

HD honestly expected he’d be tickled the night before he left. He expected 4K to come at him, asking him to get a question ready and he’d be wrecked. But that moment never came. They ate dinner together, HD assuring 4K he could be home in the two week time frame and 4K reminded him about the extension to the deal. They went to bed separately and in the morning HD was off.

He had done well to ignore the pang of loneliness in his heart on his last night, but now it would be a challenge. HD only hoped he could keep himself busy to ignore it.

And busy he was.

HD planned for his first week to check up on the villages he had been to before. He had warned them of fae activity, giving them iron and telling them to avoid the forests close to them. Especially the large lake. It seemed in his absence the fae grew bolder, and the villagers ignored his warnings. Each night human after human walked to the forest and only half of them were found alive. Babbling horrors but alive.

Somehow that was HD’s fault. Somehow the humans blamed him for not dealing with their problem. Somehow no matter how much HD helped and kept them safe for as long as he could, one wrong move on their part and he was just like all the other fae.

A huge part of HD wanted to leave them to their fate, but his hate for his own kin outweighed his pettiness. It helped when he drowned out the villagers yelling, instead imaging he was relaying the story to 4K. They had never spoken much on 4K’s opinion of humans, and HD had not even tried to ask why 4K was doing what he did, but he could guess from the few conversations he had he wasn’t fond of them. He could imagine 4K scoffing over the humans blame and cursing them. HD knew the demon would absolutely be trying to talk him out of walking into the woods at night and helping these people, but HD would persist and push on. He could not let a fae’s actions go unpunished.

The walk through the forest was made much harder by the iron HD carried out with him. It was heavy and even wrapped in two layers of thick cloth, he could still feel it burning his hands ever so slightly. It was nothing like the warmth of 4K. This heat stung, like tiny bites against his skin.

The lake was not hard to find as a clearly well used path had been worn into the forest floor, bringing HD to the lake’s edge. It was sad how beautiful the lake was. The trees thinned out the closer it got to the lakes edge. The patches of grass were long and soft and the water was so still and calm. So inviting. The only thing ruining it was the smell. The rotten smell of death hung over the water, clinging to it.

How many humans had this fae taken? How many bodies were still drowning down at the bottom of the lake?

The smell was going to make him throw up, so HD quickly tried to untie the cloth for the iron. He tried to imagine the pond on the mountain. How calm it was. How it smelt so sweet. He would be back there soon, away from this horror. But something pulled HD out of those thoughts. A voice. A raspy, dead voice.

“Kin killer…”

Somehow having the fae know him made HD feel better. The could skip all the boring ‘why’ and ‘how’.

“Heard you were dead.” The fae continued. HD looked around, finally spotting them. They were perched on a branch on a tree around HD’s right. The tree was close to the water’s edge, the branch low. Their skin was the colour of swamp water, a murky green. Their hair was like grass water, slimy looking and wet. They looked completely drenched, like they’d just come out the water. Their hair covered most of their body and hung over the branch. Their eyes were pure black and looking dead at HD.

“Well I’m not.” HD spoke carefully. He could fight, but he never liked to. It was a risk he’d rather not take. He very slowly moved his arm holding the iron, trying to keep it out of view. He studied the fae a little more. A water nymph perhaps? Or some sort of selkie? “Which Court do you belong to?”

“It doesn’t matter.” The fae’s voice warbled angrily. “Are you here for the humans?”

“If you mean the ones you’ve no doubt drowned. No. If you mean I’m here on behalf of the humans...maybe.”

The fae hissed, climbing onto another branch of the tree as if to come closer. “Kin killer… Human lover! Have you no shame for what you do?!”

“You’re killing humans.” HD said calmly. His hand out of sight was trying to untie the cloth slowly, but it was hard when the iron was burning his skin and shaking his bones. “This is their world.”

“It was ours!” It almost sounded like the fae was weeping. Maybe they were. Their face was already wet it was hard to tell if it was from tears or water. “This place was ours! We had dances here. Parties. Then humans came and took it. They trampled all of our rings. They dumped their filth into the water. Ruined it!”

“We already have a world. We have our forests. Our lakes and ponds more beautiful than anything here. You came to their land.”

It was no use trying to talk sense into them but it kept him distracted long enough. HD had almost undone the cloths. He’d have to move fast and throw the iron in before it could burn him too badly.

The water fae sniffed. HD first thought it was in some sort of huff, until they did it again. And then again. HD worried they had smelt the iron, until they spoke. “You stink…”

He was relieved, though insulted. It was a common thing he was told. “Yes. Being around humans would—”

“No. Demon. You stink of demons.”

HD froze. It was unexpected and yet seemed to obvious. HD had been around 4K so often he never noticed the demon scent anymore. Of course it would be his own now.

“Do you love humans so much you’d protect them from even demons?” Their voice a mix between a taunting hiss and a genuine question. “Or…do you hate your kin so much you’d jump into a demon’s bed?”

He took in a sharp breath through his nose, which probably gave the fae their answer. Or what they believed was the answer. HD felt it rather pointless if he tried to explain himself and how could it really be explained.

‘No, I’m not sleeping with a demon. But I did make a deal with one to be his tickle toy to learn more about them.’

“Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!” The fae sneered. “How many of us have you killed with no remorse, while the humans kill and take our land! How many demons have you lain with to spite us!”

That irked HD more than the fae thinking he and 4K were sleeping together. “I don’t do anything for you!” HD hissed back. He felt the last tie of the cloth pull free. The iron almost fell out of it, but he caught it with his hand. Only one cloth lay between him and the iron. It burned only for a second because in the next second HD used all his strength and threw it into the lake. As soon as the iron touched it, the water bubbled like a boiling cauldron and the iron sank down to the bottom.

The shriek from the fae almost deafened HD. It shook the birds from the trees and probably woke up the village, if they weren’t awake already. The fae crawled to the end of a branch to pounce but they weren’t going for HD. Instead they pounced out the tree and crashed into the water. Their body disappeared into the bubbling water and HD was too stunned to move. He had not expected it and couldn’t imagine a scenario in which they lived from it.

The water bubbled over, simmering as though the entire lake was about to burst and then the water calmed. The bubbling all dispersed at once, leaving the waters calm and still again. The smell of death was gone, leaving behind a rich earthly scent. HD knew then the fae was dead. Perhaps they could have crossed over to the Otherworld but if they had they’d be on the edge of death and most likely wouldn’t have survived.

There was no way the fae would have left peacefully with the lake’s connection destroyed. It was best this way, HD convinced himself. Though he had already made the choice not to return to the village. They could live in fear for a bit until they were brave enough to investigate. That would be his revenge.

HD walked passed the lake and deeper into the forest. He walked until the sky was just about to burst with the morning sunrise and then he found a bed of grass to settle in under a tree and slept.

The start of his week had already soured HD’s mood for the rest of it. He visited the other villages marked on his map but he kept his distance this time and tried to sneak in to pick up gossip or anyone talking about fae activity. Nothing as bad as the first village. It would need looked into later but it seems people here were keeping themselves safer.

His first week passed by and HD had so far killed one fae and warned off three others. He knew the warned off faes would be back later but he had done his part for now. HD forced himself not to care for now. However, he did learn that the rumour had spread around that he was dead. Apparently a three week absence was enough for the faes to assume he was gone for good. That put a small dent in the power he once had. Before the faes feared him for daring to kill one of their own, but now they assumed he had some kind of weakness. HD convinced himself it didn’t matter. The news of the fae he killed would reach the others soon and he’d be treated cautiously again.

For the second week, HD put 4K’s information to good use. He had a few hidden spots around the place, just outside of towns or deep in marshes. The one was hidden under a pile of rocks by a stony hill. Spare clothes, some money he had ‘just happened’ to come into possession of and importantly of all his grass cloak.

It was one of HD’s most prized possession, even though it absolutely gave away he was a fae. Sometimes he could pass himself off as just a traveller, but people were more suspicious. He had hidden it before going to the town under the mountain to give him the best chance and it was too far out to retrieve before.

It was like a comfort blanket to put it on again. Cool but warming. His tension for the week before was already melting off his shoulders, and HD was off to make a plan.

There were a few shops HD knew of that could sell him what he needed. Magic shops with talismans, trinkets and crystals that could ward of evil. With the money he collected, HD had enough for a few talisman papers. There was a book on different demons and the blessing that could ward them off, which HD got as well. The last one HD didn’t think he’d be able to get for a while, but his search through the shops were lucky.

An obsidian dagger. It was small, the blade probably only a bit bigger than his hand, but it curved slightly at the top. Small white runes were carved into the blade, some HD knew as protection and he had to assume it did more damage. It took the remainder of HD’s money he had, but he purchased the blade and a small sheath for it.

It was a lot more than HD expected to get but it helped jump-start his plans. He could expand beyond keeping faes away from humans, and keep demons away as well. Though he had a feeling driving off a demon would be harder than a fae.

Faes used tricks and deals to work around fighting. They’d charm or placate their targets. Demons seemed to go for the straightforward battles. At least 4K did…in a sense. In their first meeting 4K had tried to go straight for him, and it was only with HD’s bluff they got into the deal. He imagined other demons would be similar. Though their methods would involve something a bit rough than tickling.

But still, this week was a success. Now HD wouldn’t feel so helpless, coming across a cursed town he knew wasn’t from a fae. He didn’t have all the knowledge, but he would be prepared. He could help.

Not that they will ever thank you for it.

HD shook off the dark thoughts. This was a positive week. They had saved humans. They’d found an obsidian dagger. They got their grass cloak back.

They were lonely…

Work could keep them busy with planning and occupying their mind, but when they laid down to sleep and their mind wandered. They missed the mountain. It had become their home and comfort. While they settled under an old tree, wrapped in their cloak, they imagined their thicket bed, warm and cosy. They thought of the beautiful pond, a clear reflection of the night sky. And they thought of 4K.

Never had HD imagined he would be friends with the demon when he made the deal but it was hard not to like 4K. His warmth and endless positivity were infectious. He was also kind, and soft when he needed; even though his body was pure muscle.

HD didn’t know if it was blessing or pure luck the demon he was bond to was 4K, but he was thankful for it either way.

Sleep was slowly pulling HD’s eyes closed, but with the last of his energy he reached out to the bond around his heart. He could feel the knot woven around it. It gave him a sense of comfort knowing it was always there. And yet as he shut his eyes to sleep, he could feel the knot again.

A soft tug on the bond. Not like something trying to undo it, but instead like a gentle pull as though softly reaching out.

“I… Can feel that.”

4K’s words rang in his head when HD had first reach out to the bond. 4K could feel whenever HD touched upon it...so HD could feel whenever 4K reached back.

His heart warmed and he gently reached out again. After a few seconds he felt the tug again on his bond again, and HD was practically giggling into his arm. Giddy with glee.

4K was thinking of him. Enough that he responded to the touch upon his own heart. Enough to tell HD that he was always there.

HD didn’t think he could sleep, excitedly thinking of returning home – his real and true home – but his thoughts of the mountain lulled and calmed him enough that he finally fell to a restful sleep.

It came upon the last day of the two weeks away. HD had already made his way back to the mountain, after finishing up some last minute things. He couldn’t find any signs of demon activity but he had some places to keep an eye on for next time.

As soon as the mountain came into view, HD’s heart fluttered and they quickened his steps. The deal was to allow him two weeks from the mountain, and he wasn’t going to risk breaking it by setting foot on the path up. Instead he kept to the dirt path around the mountain for now. There was a rocky slope just off the path behind the mountain. It was hard to spot with the mossy forest floor covering over majority of the stone, but HD carefully slipped down it till he was under a small overhang of stone. It shadowed over the cluster of rocks and kept them out of sight. Perfect for hiding his things.

He had a box for the talisman papers which he also wrapped up in a thick piece of cloth. Along with his blade and the book on demons. He had spent a second considering taking the book with him to read, but quickly decided against it. He wasn’t going to risk breaking the deal and since the book was literally telling him how to harm demons he wasn’t going to chance it. Instead he wrapped up his stuff and placed the rocks back around it. A few ferns grew close by which HD moved just ever so slightly and the spot was out of sight. Perfect.

It was late afternoon and HD found a tree root to rest under just a little ways off the path. His plan was to sleep now, wake up close to midnight and as soon as the new day hit he’d return to the mountain as soon as he could. It had taken him only a couple of hours to reach the top the first climb, now it felt like he could sprint up there in seconds.

HD didn’t know how he was suppose to fall asleep. His giddiness from a few nights ago felt like nothing to to excitement of today. Sleep felt like it would never come, yet as HD opened his eyes, blinking a few times, the night had come. The moon was high in the sky and a new day had started.

It was past midnight.

HD nearly tripped over himself when he got up and quickly set off for the mountain path. He could not wait to crawl up into his thicket bed and listen to the crash of the waterfall. He couldn’t wait to get back to the cave again, and see what more goods 4K had managed to swipe from the humans.

He couldn’t wait to see 4K again.

The closer the top of the mountain approached, the more HD debated with himself over what to do. Every cell in his body wanted to run into the cave and wake 4K up, but a more sensible part of him reasoned that wouldn’t be fair. 4K would be sleeping since the demon was always an early riser. HD could wait by the pond and surprise him in the morning.

Yet when HD came upon the picturesque scene of his home, he couldn’t help himself. The pond was perfectly still, reflecting the night sky. The waterfall looked almost glowing with the moons light. A wash of joy overcame him and HD decided he couldn’t wait.

So he wouldn’t wake up 4K but right now he just had to be inside the cave. Being close to 4K would be good enough, and he’d be a nice surprise for the demon when he woke up.

HD carefully stepped past the waterfall, slipping into the cave. His eyes took a second to adjust, but it was a second too late to see the hand quickly reach out and grab his arm.

He was pulled further into the cave, but his steps didn’t stumble for long before arms wrapped around him and he was lifted up into the air. Before HD had even a moment to get a sense of his bearings he was being spun around like a sort of princess, while 4K’s voice squeaked happily.

“You’re back! You’re back!”

HD was giggling as he tried to speak, but it was hard not to. 4K’s voice was too joyful. “Stohop! You’re making me dizzyyyy…” His arms braced onto 4K’s shoulders as the demon still spun them around and around.

“But you’re back!” 4K squeaked with joy. He stopped his spinning slowly, grinning up to HD with soft eyes. “You can’t expect me not to be excited.”

HD’s heart fluttered, but he ignored it as he saw 4K’s attention draw to his cloak. “What’s this?”

“My cloak.” HD said almost proudly. A giggle still in his voice from the spin. “I left it behind before I came here. Picked it up.”

“It’s nice.” 4K complimented as one of his hands ran over the grass. “Soft.” He turned the grass inward, brushing it along HD’s arm and the fae giggle and pulled away. “Tickly.” 4K grinned.

“Wh-What are you doing up?” HD quickly asked to distract from the moment.

“You think I was gonna sleep when you’re coming home?” 4K almost scoffed. He gently lowered HD down, his hands still roaming over the grass cloak. “I nearly raced down that mountain as soon as you took your first step here.”

HD’s cheeks felt warm, and his head was floaty. 4K was an early riser, almost always rising with the sun. He’d always go to bed before HD, who preferred the night, but now he was keeping himself awake. Just for the chance that HD would have came back.

HD felt a rush of affection for the demon before him. He wanted to swept up in 4K’s arms again. He wanted to jump into 4K’s arms and never let go. But all of these wants fizzled out when 4K spoke. His hand came up to HD’s face and the fae leaned into the palm without thinking.

“Do you want to sleep?” 4K’s voice was soft and his thumb trailed just under his eyes. Gods his hands were so big and warm. “Are you tired?”

HD slowly shook his head. “I slept in the afternoon.” He half lied. But only because he couldn’t really know. He didn’t remember ever falling asleep but he was certainly not tired. “Are you tired?”

“Not at all.” 4K’s soft smile morphed into a grin. His head leaned just a little closer to HD, like he was whispering a secret. “Do you have a question ready?”

The words prickled over HD’s skin with a new kind of excitement as 4K quickly added.

“Don’t feel like you have to agree, especially if you’re tired from travelling here. If you’d rather chill I’m fine to do that as well. We can sit outside, and watch the-”

“I have a question.” HD quickly cut in. The tingles of excitement still ran through him; growing even more as 4K’s grin grew wider. Suddenly he was lifted up into 4K’s arms again. His time the demon’s arms were under his knees and back, lifting him like a sort of princess.

“4K!” HD squeaked and quickly wrapped his arms around 4K’s shoulders.

“You better ask your question now while you can.” 4K’s voice held a low growl. HD could feel the excitement radiate off him as he walked further into the cave. Past the kitchen and his old room. “In fact, I’ll let you have two. Because this will be intense.”

HD could feel his heart flutter with a warmth he was so unused to. It made him squirm a little which 4K probably took to be he was nervous as the hand on his back made a soothing motion. In truth he was nervous, but he was still swept up into feelings of affection he couldn’t concentrate.

It took HD a few moments to get the question right in his head.

“Are deals common with demons? Between other mythical creatures, or mortals?”

“No. At least not compared to faes.” 4K hummed, almost sounding actually thoughtful. “A lot of more peaceful and docile natured demons will just try to avoid mortals rather than strike a deal. Most demons probably don’t see worth in it, and the ones that do are probably in it more for their own gain.”

HD supposed that was the nature of all deals. Trying to make sure you had more than the person you made it with, or at least keep it even.

He never really had a second question to ask, but there was something like venom in his heart, ruining his warm, fuzzy mood. It struck just for a second, but HD knew what he wanted to ask.

“Have you ever made a deal like this with anyone before?”

4K’s steps halted for just a second. He paused mid-step before carrying on like nothing happened. Instead of facing forward, he turned his head to HD, and kept eye contact with the fae as he answered.

“No. You’re the only one I’ve made a deal with, little star.”

The venom in his heart fizzled out, and the warm fuzzy feeling came back tenfold. HD wanted to blush and hide away in 4K’s neck, but the demon took them into another cavern and his attention was taken away.

HD had never seen the cavern before, but then he’d never explored much of the cave from 4K’s warnings. The walls weren’t so rough as the others, and were smoothed out to almost look like a normal room. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, bathing the room in a soft orange glow. The cavern could almost be called nice, but HD’s attention was so fixed to the centre of the room.

There was only one thing in the room, and it sat so calmly against the stone floor. HD thought it was just a chair at first, and to be fair it was. A soft looking cushioned chair that had some...features. Past the cushion, the seat still stretched out, leading to rather ornate looking set of stocks. HD didn’t need to measure to know it was the perfect distance for his feet to be locked into. Quickly looking away, he saw the back of the chair was also much taller than needed. The top of it reached passed where HD’s head would sit, and each end stretched out slightly, with straps hanging off them.

It was quite clear what the chairs intention was for, and yet HD’s mind was racing with so many thoughts and questions. The only thing to come out of his mouth was. “When… Wh-Where did you get this?!”

“I made it.” 4K boasted proudly as he lowered HD down. HD never took his eyes off the chair, hardly noticing he was standing now. “Well… Okay I had some help.” 4K seemed huffy to admit it. “I had to get the stocks specially made. But the chair was all me.”

“You had someone make stocks for you!” It wasn’t a question at all but the absolute absurdity of it had HD reeling. So many scenarios played in his head.

“Of course. I wanted something perfectly made to make sure it wouldn’t hurt your ankles. Got it all perfectly made to your measurements.”

“When did you measure me?!” That HD had to ask because he would have absolutely remembered if 4K ever came at him with a measuring tape. Or, funnier to think, that 4K had somehow measured him while the fae was asleep. In the times between 4K’s early rising and HD snoozing until noon, he’d tried in vain to measure a sleeping, tossing and turning HD.

The thought was so funny HD gave a small snort of laughter.

“I didn’t have to measure you I can look at you, and know your height and measurements perfectly.” 4K’s voice dropped low, and he leaned in a little just so his lips were grazing over HD’s ear. “I know your body perfectly.”

HD wanted to rush as say that wasn’t true, but he thought better of it. He could only imagine the teasing questions 4K would have to follow that. “Is that a demon thing, or just a 4K thing?”

“That sounds like another question.” 4K’s voice rumbled, with a mixed up purr and growl. “You want to make this more intense than it already is?”

HD’s cheeks went red and his head was floaty but he was tethered to earth by 4K’s chuckle. “I think it’s just a me thing. Though I didn’t ask anyone.”

The attention came back to the chair, because how could it not. It was ominously waiting for use. HD hadn’t realised he stepped closer till he could see the details in the wood. Very fine details of flowering vines around the curved corners of the stocks. The insides where his ankles would sit were cushioned for comfort and – the most pressing detail of all – there were small ties just above the holes, which were no doubt perfect distance to keep his toes tied up.

“How… How-How the hell did you ask someone to make this?”

“There’s a nice little carpenter a few villages away. He didn’t ask too many questions either.” 4K mused like he was relaying some sort of fond memory. “I mean he could probably guess it was for some torture but he didn’t ask. I made myself look important enough that maybe he thought I was an interrogator for some royal.”

“How did you convince anyone you were human?” That also implied that 4K had been travelling. While HD had of course, he just assumed 4K was some sort of hermit, that all demons had to stay at their territory at all times.

“I can hide these very well.” 4K whipped his tail and pointed up to his horns. Even still, HD couldn’t believe anyone could look at 4K and think he was mortal. He was just so...otherworldly. “And I dressed up real nice.”

HD wondered what ‘dressed up nice’ meant to 4K. The most HD had seen him in was some casual robes or a thin top and shorts. It wouldn’t be unbelievable that 4K would have ‘found’ some nice or important looking clothes.

“You can still back out now.” 4K’s voice had dropped his playful lilt and he was looking at HD with a serious look. “I understand I sprung this on you. I was planning on waiting to talk to you about this and show you it in a gentler way so if you want to call it off now that’s fine.”

HD was so focused on the circumstances of 4K going through the trouble of making this thing he had not really considered how it would be used. And it was absolutely going to be used on him. Maybe if not tonight, but for sure in the future.

“I’m fine…” HD said, tearing his eyes from the chair for a moment to look up at 4K. “I still want to.” HD meant it.

4K looked like he could burst with giddiness, but he was keeping himself in check as HD approached the chair. Very slowly he pulled himself up to sit on it. It really was made to his measurements. It was the perfect size to lock his ankles in place.

4K had opened the stocks and HD tested out the feel of the cushion before he allowed the demon to place them back down and lock them in place.

“I want you to use your safeword if it really gets too much.” 4K spoke seriously. “This will be intense.”

“You say that every time.” HD rolled his eyes. “I am aware I can use the safeword at each time.”

“And each time you never use it.”

“Isn’t that a good thing for you?”

4K looked up to HD after he was done checking the lock for the stocks. It was a simple latch that came over, connecting the top half to the bottom. Nothing complicated. “I don’t want you pushing yourself.” 4K softly admitted.

HD’s heart thumped. “I never am. I trust you.”

4K came to a full stop. His body froze, arm mid way pulled back and then he turned to HD with soft eyes and an almost lopsided smile.

“How do you do that?” He asked, and came up to HD’s side before the fae could answer. “Why is it whenever you’re tied up, that’s when you’re most honest?”

Goosebumps prickled all over HD’s skin. 4K suddenly felt too close and yet not close enough. Conflicting emotions raged in HD but he tried to focus on the words. Focus on speaking. “I tell you these things all the time.” He spoke slowly. “Without...b-being tied up.”

“No. You roll your eyes and wave it off while you say you understand.” 4K leaned in just a bit closer, leaning by HD’s legs. “But when you’re like this you let out soft words. Let things slip out you wouldn’t normally.”

Had he? HD had only been tied up a few times during their time together. A lot less than he thought but it seemed 4K much preferred wrestling and actually manhandling HD around. But there was something...intimate about letting himself be tied down. Letting himself submit. Maybe he had been a little softer in those moment because it was a soft thing.

4K took HD’s silence for panic. He placed a hand over the fae’s knee. Firm and grounding. “Want to stop?”

“No…” HD shook his head. If he was tickled, then he didn’t have to think. “I want to keep going.”

“So eager.” 4K’s voice so easily dropped back into a teasing purr and he moved himself off the chair. “You have been two weeks without being tickled, you must be going absolutely crazy.”

He took a step down, back to the stocks, and HD felt an almost impulsive urge, rush up his throat and out his mouth. The words were spoken before he even realised what he was saying. “Who says I’ve not been tickled?”

4K stopped mid-step. HD watched the words hit his brain. The muscles on his back tensed and he turned his head to look at HD over his shoulder. “Have you…?”

The demons orange eyes were inquisitive, but intense. Staring with curiosity and...anger?

Jealous. He’s jealous.

“Maybe.” HD shrugged. “You keep telling me I’m so irresistibly ticklish. Maybe someone else saw that too.”

4K’s jaw tightened. He swallowed slowly, his Adams apple bobbing as he gave a slow, dangerous grin. “I want a new rule.” He quickly stepped round to the end of the stocks, right by HD’s feet which suddenly felt more vulnerable. “No-one else gets to tickle you.”

“What if I don’t agree to that?” HD asked, trying his hardest not to curl his toes or bend his foot. He was not going to let 4K know how hard his heart was beating.

“Then I’ll just have to remind you how good I can tickle you. No-one else will ever compare.”

His left foot was grabbed and HD had no time to stop the whimper. 4K hadn’t started tickling, but he did slowly push HD’s big toe up and looped the small strap around it. Trapped. There was no time to get used to it as 4K moved onto the next toe. Eventually all five of his toes were tied up, his foot helplessly stretched out.

HD’s other foot tingled slightly, preparing for the same, but 4K actually stepped back and began walking around the side of the chair.

“Wha… Aren’t you going to tie the others?”

“It will be more maddening for you if one foot is so helplessly tied and the other free to struggle and shake as much as it wants. But it can’t do anything.” 4K flashed a grin to HD as he passed. “Just like when you were tied to the tree. Your free foot couldn’t do anything but stomp and shake.”

HD remembered that so vividly. The shiver ran through him while 4K positioned behind the chair and simply said “Arms.” and HD raised them without a fight. And then his arms were secured up as well. HD tugged on the straps just to confirm it. Trapped.

He knew the tickling would start then but 4K was deliberately keeping himself out of sight. Still stood behind the chair, the demon didn’t move and HD could feel himself start to wriggle. His nerves were failing him and it didn’t at all help when 4K came into view.

It was just his hands that HD could just make out. Lowering from above, getting closer and closer to his armpits.

“N-Nohoho!” The giggling started before 4K had even touched him. It was humiliating how much his body responded even without touch. Just knowing the tickling was coming, having the memory of it in his mind, was enough to make him laugh.

They reached HD’s armpits, and instead of the all out assault HD was expecting, 4K just stretched out his pointer finger on each hand, and tickled the armpits with one finger. Slowly dragging his claw up the hollow pit, reaching the top, and then going back down to repeat the same motion. Again and again.

“N-Naha-AHAHA! Noo-oohohoho! That-ngh! That-That tihickles! THAT TICKLES!”

His ankles and wrists were held in place, but it didn’t stop his waist wriggling from side to side, trying his hardest to pull away.

“Hmm… That won’t do.”

The tickling stopped then and HD barely had time to catch his breath before another strap was wrapped around his waist. He was pulled back against the chair, tightly bound. Trapped again.

“Much better.” 4K admired before his hands came around again. He ran his knuckles up and down HD’s ribs, watching with delight as the fae laughed and tried to howl out his pleas between them.

“THAHAT TICKLES! Tha-haha...o-ohohoho! That-That tickles so much! PLEASE! HA-NAAAAHAHAHAHA! PLEASE!”

4K’s hands travelled down. Skittering along HD’s sides. Thankfully they never stayed on the worst spot for long, moving quickly down to HD’s hips and kneading into the bones. HD swore his skin tingled more from his waist now locked in place. He could barely move his hips at all and even if he could, 4K was a master tickler by now. Knowing each way HD would move and follow it without mercy.

It took a moment for HD to realise the tickling had stopped. His chest heaved and laughter still teetered on while 4K came around to the end of the stocks again. HD curled one foot.

“You ready?” 4K’s voice rumbled in HD’s mind, pulling him from the brink of madness and into sense.

“Wh...For what?” HD gasped.

“The intense stuff. I told you it would be intense.”

4K leaned down, grabbing something from a pile beside the stocks HD hadn’t noticed. Though to be fair his whole attention couldn’t be on anything else but the chair. He could see a few of the brushes he’d been tickled with before, as well as the feathers and a small container HD hadn’t seen before.

It was the container 4K grabbed, bringing up and presenting it with a grin. “You know what this is?” He twisted the container around just a little.

HD shook his head. The container wasn’t too big, about the size of his palm and about an inch or two tall. It reminded HD of makeup compacts but he knew 4K wouldn’t have something as simple as makeup in there.

“Itching powder.” 4K finally revealed as he carefully lifted the lid.

The mention of the word made HD’s skin crawl, and his feet shook slightly in their holds. His left could do nothing but give a slight wriggle and his right cowered.

From what HD could see of the powder it was a deep orange colour. A bit of a darker shade than 4K’s eyes. Even the colour of the powder seemed like it would itch. That powder was going to itch. That powder was going to be put on HD’s feet.

It was the first time the safeword became a thought in HD’s head. It wasn’t on his tongue or caught in his throat. It remained in his mind, planted there as a reminder. A reassurance that no matter what, he had an out. Just one word and it would stop.

HD said nothing as 4K raised one of the round brushes that had attacked his armpits once before. The demon coated a lavish amount of the powder on the brush, wiggling it slightly in front of the fae as a taunt. HD giggled then, but the word never touched his tongue. It was kept, folded away in his head as 4K lowered the brush closer and close to his left foot and finally made contact.

The feeling was immediate on the first brush over. Tingly. Mind shatteringly tingly that spread over the entirety of HD’s foot with each swipe of the brush. It only took a few go overs before HD’s foot was covered, shaking in their bonds, unable to move or provide any relief from the unbearable itch.

“I-It-It...mmMMMMMM! ...Oh-ohohohoho! It’s so-It’s s-so i-itchyyyy….” HD gasped.

Itchy couldn’t even begin to describe what it felt like. The feeling of a thousand tiny feathers brushing over every inch of his foot. It was sometimes too light to be tickly, but it made his skin jump; and then other times it tickled so madly it was the only thing HD could think of. Rewriting his entire brain to only focus on his left foot.

The fact his right was itch free was somehow worse. It was free to move and shake but it did nothing to quell the tingling.

“I-I’ll… It-It tickles so...n-ngh! I’ll-I’ll die! It tickles!”

“How can it tickle? I’m not even touching you.”

4K pulled up another chair, settling by HD’s feet. Another thing HD just hadn’t noticed. He leaned down again, this time picking up one of the feathers. A long, stiff blue feather. HD recognised that feather as the one that had tortured his ribs before. Now it was waving ever so close to his tortured sole.

“Pleee...ehehase. Please not-not that! If-If you ti-ihickle me softly I’ll dieeeee…” His voice came out in whiny cries and HD couldn’t find any part of himself that cared in that moment.

“Well we won’t know till we try.”

The feather flicked over HD’s arch. It was barely touching his skin, like it was just testing out the waters and there was no words in any language that would ever describe how much it fucking tickled.

It didn’t feel like a laugh that tore out of their throat. It was more like a high pitch scream from deep within their chest. It hiccuped in their throat, coming out as a whine and then a deep hysterical laugh even as 4K pulled the feather back. It was like some cruel left over ripple effect. The tickly tingles still ran over their skin and their voice broken up by giggles and laughs.

“Ah...Ahahaha…! N-Noho! Not-Not thahat...ngh…!”

The feather returned, this time over the ball of his foot. 4K flipped the feather on it’s side so the edges ran along HD’s skin. Then he flicked the feather up so the soft edges got at all of the fae’s toes. 4K sawed the feather back and forth, up and down the length of HD’s toes; just lightly brushing over that spot where toes met his foot and HD was seeing stars.

“THEEEEEHEHERE! NOHOHOT THEEEHEHEHERE! EHEHE-AAAHAHAHAHA! PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEEAAAAHAHAHAHAHASE! I’LL-I’LL DIEEEEE!”

“Well, you’ll die laughing.” 4K purred. In his mercy he did pull the feather away, bringing it back so just the tip of it licked over each of HD’s toes. “Is that not a good way to go?”

“NOHO! NOOHOHOHOHOHO! IT ITCHEEEEES! IT’S-IT’S TOO MAAAAAHAHAHAHA!”

4K dipped the feather between each of HD’s toes. Flicking just once and moving onto the next space.

“PLEHEHEASE PLEASE PLEASE! DOHON’T-DON’T TICKLE ME GENTLY!”

“No? How do you want me to tickle you?”

He pulled the feather back, letting HD have a moment to regain his senses. His chest heaved with each breath, his foot still maddeningly tingly.

“PLEASE! P-Plehease… Scratch… Scratch my f-foot. Please-Please. I-I’m begging yohou!”

“Is that all? Well of course.”

The elated hope that swelled in HD’s chest burst almost instantly as 4K did scratch over HD’s foot. The foot not covered in itching powder. He pushed back the free foot, scratching over the ball and down the arch while his thumb scratched along HD’s heel.

“EEEEEEEHEHE! PLEASE NO! PLEEHEEEEEEEEEASE!”

The feather returned again, slowly brushing up and down the length of his poor trapped foot. It could do nothing but shake in its hold, forever at the mercy of 4K and his terrible feather.

“NOT THAAAAAAAT! NOT THA – Ahaha… Not THAHAT ONE! I’M BEGGING YOU! I’M BEGGING YOU! PLEASE STOP!”

“Beg more…” 4K’s voice sounded lower, the purr mixing into a deep growl. “Tell me how much it tickles.”

“IT TICKLES!” There was no sense or logic to HD’s words. His one compreheniable thought was if he listened to 4K, the itching would stop. “IT TIHIHICKLES! I CA – AHAHAHAHA! I CAN’T THINK!”

“You can laugh.” 4K taunted, flicking the feather back and forth over HD’s itchy heel. His other hand scratching up and down his free foot.

HD couldn’t believe it could get worse, but somehow having his non itchy foot being scratched and tickled just made the itch more unbearable. It was a constant taunt to his other foot. Experiencing the sweet relief it could be having.

“PLEASE! MERCY! Oh-Ohohoaaahahaaha! St-OP! STOP! MAKE IT STOP!”

“Could anyone else ever tickle you like this?”

There was the growl again; the jealousy. HD’s head was too far up in orbit to pick up on it. The only two thoughts running through his mind were ‘IT TICKLES IT ITCHES’ and ‘Make 4K happy and he’ll stop the itching’.

“NOHOHO! NONONONO! NEVER!”

“Would you ever let anyone tickle you like this?”

“NO! NOHOHOHOHO!”

“So no-one tickled you while you were away?” The growl had lessened in his voice, taking on a more taunting lilt that HD couldn’t pick up on. His mind was too focused onto the feather not running up and down the length of his foot.

“NOOOOO! N-NO-ONE! NO-ONE! Ah...AAAHAHAHAHA! No-one could! I w-wohohouldn’t lehehet them! Just-JUAAHAHAHAHA! JUST YOU! ONLY YOOHOHOU!”

HD rambled, only half aware of the words he was really saying as the feather explored over every inch of his slender sole. It returned up to his toes, the spot that made the colours dance in his eyes and his laugh screech like he was being tortured. His voice had left him. All reasoning and senses beyond the feeling of his poor itching sole was gone. He was nothing but a true tickle toy in that moment. At the whims of 4K’s every demand as he orchestrated the laughter he wanted with that awful awful feather.

But there was some relief from the itching. Something in the words HD rambled out gave 4K mercy. He abandoned the feather with the other tools. HD only heard the slightly sounds of rummaging before 4K’s attention returned and HD screamed.

A hairbrush. A hairbrush that could almost cover the entirety of HD’s foot, raked mercilessly along the trapped sole. It tickled madly but it scratched that forever itch, swirling into a confusing sensation of relief and torture. It felt like he’d died, and gone to divine bliss all in one motion.

“EEHEHEEHEHEEEEEEE! IT’S TIHIHIHICKLING MEEEE! IT TIHIHICKLES! STOP TIIHICKLING MEEEEEE!”

“Doesn’t this feel good?” 4K had to raise his voice over HD’s screaming, but his words forever had a constant route, right to HD’s ears.

“Y-Y-YEEEEES YEHEHEHES! MY…! MY FOOOOOOT!”

“What about your foot?”

The brushing continued. Scrubbing away HD’s sanity again and again.

“IT TICKLES! IT TICKLE!”

“Huh… Why does it tickle?”

“YOU’RE TICKLING YOU’RE TICKLING! MY FEEEHEHEHEHEHET ARE SO TIHIHICKLISH! AAAAHAHAHAHAEEEHEHEHEHE! STOHOP! MAHAHAKE IT STOHOHOHOP! I’LL DO ANYTHIHIHIHING JUST STOOOOHOHOHOP!”

“Anything? Well… I want you to laugh.”

The brushing continued.

Minutes. Hours. HD couldn’t be sure. He’d never be free. He’d never know anything but this. The blissful torture of his itchy foot being scratched and tickled again and again.

Time pressed on. Their pleading and begging was mixed with praise and affirmations whenever the brush passed over a particularly itchy spot. Small flashes of relief from the itch kept them aware. Their body refused to let them pass out.

All the while 4K’s words continued.

“You beg me to scratch your foot and now you beg me to stop. You’ve giving me mixed messages here, little star. I should tickle this foot for eternity over that. I should do nothing but tickle this little foot right here. I wonder how long until you go mad. Until you can only think of tickles. Until you can think of nothing else but me tickling this little ticklish foot.”

HD couldn’t respond. He could only laugh, and howl, and scream.

The safeword had never been said, but the brush was finally pulled away from their feet. HD’s mind still scrambled for sense, as they continued breathlessly laughing. They could vaguely feel their toes loosen for their ties. The stretched and curled instinctively to the newfound freedom.

The small remnants of the itching powder over his left foot were calmed and wiped away with a cold wet rag. Even though the touch was firm and so soothing, HD couldn’t help but giggle hysterically to the softness.

Finally, his foot was free of the itch. It still lingered as a memory of course and HD’s foot would be twitching for a while, but his skin felt like it could breathe again.

The ties on his wrists were undone but his arms were caught before they could uselessly fall at his sides. 4K brought them down gently as he undone the strap around HD’s waist and gathered the fae up in his arms.

“You did so good.” His voice whispered so softly against HD’s ear. It flicked a little, but twitched to hear more. “You were amazing. Still never said the word that would make it all stop. You’re amazing.”

4K’s thumb swiped under his eye and down his cheek. HD could feel now they were stained with tears. Even as he tried to blink, his vision hazy, he could feel the last few teardrops slide down his cheek.

He was brought out of the room, though he could only tell because the orange glow of the lanterns had faded and the silver light of the moon took their place. HD thought they’d went outside, but he was lowered to the nest of furs that was 4K’s bed. He had no shame to cloud his wants and he nuzzled into them right away, drawing them up around himself as he felt another fur being pulled over him.

“So cute. You’re so cute.” 4K’s voice rumbled, and HD could vaguely feel a kiss press to the side of his head.

A warmth slid up behind HD and pushed against his back. Warm and firm but also softly comforting. It wrapped around his waist as well, pulling him tighter against the warmth on his back.

4K was holding him. Holding him so softly and affectionately that even in his blissed out state, HD swooned.

“Sleep, Starlight.” 4K purred and another kiss pressed to HD’s head. “Have the softest dreams.”

Like a command HD had no choice but to follow, he fell asleep into a blissful darkness.

It was still warm when HD woke up. He could feel the sun’s warmth creeping just ever closer over the opening through the top of the mountain. The furs were a mix of being wrapped around him and kicked away during the night.

The memories of last night came sweeping into HD all at once. It wouldn’t be one he could so easily shake off, even if he wasn’t lucid for all of it. It was a rather abrupt way to wake up. His cheeks were red and he giggled to the memory that felt just a little too real. Like he could still feel the tingling shocks of ticklishness coursing through him but...no, he could.

Something was tickling him.

It as just a light scratching on his sides, barely even a touch but it made HD squirm and giggle all the same. He blinked the last of the sleep from his eyes, coming fully into reality as he tried to inch just a little bit away and gather his surroundings. The warmth around him decided it did not like that very much and effortlessly pulled HD right back in, the tickling continued.

4K pressed up as close as he could against HD’s back. His arms wrapped around the fae’s waist with his hand lazily lounging by the fae’s sides. His fingers were twitching but the motion was too precise to be random. Yet even so, 4K was still deep asleep, snoring happily into HD’s hair while his claws brushed along the oversensitive skin.

“Eheheven in your sleep yohour a tickle fiend.” HD whisper giggled. He tried to move forward again and the grip was tightened. The snoring was broken up by a soft whine and the tickling just ever so slightly pressed in further, kneading a little into the soft sides. “H-Hehey! Stohop. Stop that.”

HD grabbed 4K’s hands and moved them off his waist. The demon disagreed with this move, grumbling sleepily but he settled again when HD turned around to face him and slowly drew him in. 4K shuffled forward, till his face leaned against HD’s chest and he sighed happily. HD kept the tickling hands far from his sides, instead placing them on his back so he could still be wrapped up in the demons arms. The scratching tickled a little, but it was more calming than tickling, so HD let himself relax.

Judging by the position of the sun above it was just coming to noon. HD still felt the tugs of sleepiness and it would have been so easy to slip right back into his peaceful slumber, but his attention was pulled to the demon curling up in his chest.

4K’s expressions were vastly different when he was asleep. His lips usually so stretched out into a grin were softly parted with his slow breaths. His intense eyebrows relaxed, smoothing out his face overall. HD had seen 4K asleep before, but he seemed so vulnerable and soft in this moment. A vast difference from the merciless tickler just a few hours ago.

“Of course I’d never let anyone else tickle me…” HD whispered to the top of 4K’s wild hair. His horns just poked out of the wild mane and HD gently ran his fingers over one of them. Smoother than what HD expected to feel. His other arm wrapped around 4K’s neck, cradling him into the fae’s chest. “You think I’d trust anyone like I do you?”

4K couldn’t hear the words. It was the equivalent of whispering them into a brick wall. Yet HD meant it. He had trust in 4K that he had never had with anyone else. Maybe long ago, the days before he was labelled ‘kin killer’ he had a couple friends he could trust, but never to the level he had with 4K. Never to the extend he would have willingly gone into a chair with straps on them.

HD could feel the knot around his heart shift with the beating of it. It wasn’t a strange pressure like before but it felt almost like a blossoming flower. A soft warmth growing from his chest, making his face red and his heart beat faster.

He had so willingly gone into the chair and let his feet be held in stocks for this demon. And he would probably do it again if the demon asked. This wasn’t just trust. This was affection.

A groan stopped HD’s thoughts wandering any further. Rather thankfully, though he pushed those thoughts and feelings aside for now as 4K awoke.

Usually 4K rose with the sun and he was always so annoyingly energetic. Now the demon seemed groggy. He whined and stretched his arms out. He pulled back from HD and rolled onto his back, landing in a spot of the bed where the sun beamed directly in and he groaned again as he threw his arm over his eyes.

“Too bright…”

HD opened his mouth to speak, but he watched instead as 4K lazily pulled up his other arm. He gave a lazy wave and the opening at the top slowly began to close. Like stone growing, the opening shrunk and shrunk till it was just a tiny sliver. Enough light was coming through to see, but the beam disturbing 4K was gone.

“Much better…” 4K sighed.

“This is-a…!” HD tried to speak, shocked to the sound of his own voice. HD already had a deep voice other didn’t expect, but now it was somehow deeper and gravelly. It didn’t hurt to speak but he could feel how rough his throat was with each word.

“Seems that little session did a number on your voice there.” 4K teased with a chuckle.

HD gave a slight smack to 4K’s arm. “No...wonder.” He said. His voice wasn’t sore, but it still felt weird to talk.

“Honestly surprised you have a voice at all after that. I do fully believe the town must have heard you screaming. If not, then the Gods must have.” 4K teased again, but his eyes were soft as he looked to HD. “How are you, by the way? Aside from the voice. All good?”

The hand that had waved the mountain closed now reached over to HD, softly rubbing over his arm. His skin prickled with goosebumps as he answered. “Y-Yes… why?”

4K rolled his shoulders in not quite a shrug. “Wanted to check in on you last night but you were kind of...far out, shall we say. And sleepy. Just wanted to make sure everything was good.”

“Is that because I never said the safeword?”

The sheepish smile told HD he’d hit the nail on his head.

“If I didn’t say the word, then it’s all good.” HD affirmed again. He tired not to sound annoyed, though really he couldn’t tell what his voice truly sounded like at the moment. 4K’s constant checking in was out of concern and HD appreciated it no matter how many times he had to assure him.

“I know you know that now. I just want to make sure it’s all good then. You were pretty out of it last night I couldn’t even be sure if you could have remembered the word.” 4K rolled onto his side facing HD. He propped himself up on his elbow, lazily leaning his head on his hand. “Maybe we should have another tell when you get like that...something physical – Ah! But you probably won’t remember the action either.”

While HD felt touched to the suggestion, he quickly cut into 4K’s wandering thoughts. “I don’t need anything else. The word is enough, I just...never felt like I needed to use it.”

4K raised an eyebrow. More curious than unbelievable. “Really?”

“Yes. It’s like…” HD stopped and pursed his lips as tried to find the right words. “Like… I know last night I was...w-well my mind was fried. But like I could still know it was there. Just a word that stops it all. I don’t think I see it as word at that point it’s like...It’s an off switch. That no matter how intense it gets I always have that out. That I know I can be pushed further because I have an out if I ever needed it. I guess that’s why I never use it because I know I can.”

He risked looking to 4K who just stared back at him, and HD’s words suddenly felt stupid in his gravelly throat. “Just forget it. That’s dumb.”

“No, it’s not dumb.” 4K quickly shook his head. “I get it. Well, I kind of get it. And whatever makes sense for you is fine with me. I just wanna make sure you’re all good with it. After I stop you’re always sort of spaced out, like it takes a bit for you to come back. Just wanna be sure there’s no bad thoughts after or anything uncomfortable.”

HD shook his head. “No it’s… It’s not like I pass out or anything but things feel sort of...fuzzier. I’m not all there but I slowly come around. And I never feel bad when I do I just feel...like soft? And I’m not worried about any time lost or when I wasn’t all there because I know you’re there. I’d be different if it wasn’t with you.”

HD risked a look over, to see 4K grinning like an idiot and expected some sort of taunting remark. Instead, 4K voice was surprisingly soft as he nodded. “Then we’re good.”

4K rolled over onto his back again, and stretched his arms up while HD’s thoughts wandered a little. “Just hypothetically…” He started. “If I did ever safeword...what would you do?”

“Well stop, of course.” 4K said like it was obvious and lowered his arms. He put one behind his head, the other lazy over his chest. “Then if you were tied or pinned I’d let you up. Then check-in. Like, did you safeword because it was too much, or did I trigger something, and we work from there.”

There was no need to ever worry, but HD was pleased to know his out was soft and comfortable.

“Ugh...hate waking up late.” 4K groaned and brought his hand up to wipe over his face.

“I was going to say. This is a little late for you.” HD pointed out.

“Well I was up late.” 4K chuckled. “Was tickling you for hours.”

“Hours?!” HD almost gasped. Of course he didn’t really have a concept of time as he was screaming.

“Well your foot needed attention. It was itchy. And you were begging me to scratch it. Had to do something.”

HD’s face flushed to the memory. They were sprinkled about little memories in his mind but he absolutely was begging for his foot to be scratched. More than once.

4K groaned again. His hand came up to wipe his face again, as though that could get rid of the fatigue. “Too tired. That’s it! Today is a bed day.”

“Bed day?” HD asked as 4K seemed to lounge himself further on the bed and taking up more space.

“Bed day.” 4K confirmed. “I’m not leaving this bed…” He hesitated a bit, his eyes flicking back and forth with some thought. “Well… Okay, I need to leave to get snacks and water and some stuff but after that, I am not moving.”

HD gave a half hearted scoff, but he could feel 4K’s tail tap lightly over his legs, and 4K looked at him again.

“You could join me… The bed is big enough for both of us to have a bed day if you want.”

It was a very tempting offer that HD was swayed to right away. “Oh, how could I refuse?” He slipped down to lie on the bed, ignoring the way 4K’s tail curled around his leg as he sank down. “A bed day sounds nice to rest my throat.”

“Perfect.” 4K’s voice purred and he quickly pushed himself up and off the bed.

HD fell back down into the furs and the demon returned less than a few minutes later with his promised items. He brought food and a jug of water for them, as well as some books and paper with sketching charcoal.

It was a perfect first day back on the mountain. Spent napping between eating and reading to pass the time. The two would talk in passing the time, or they’d share a book together before dozing off. HD would wake up wrapped in 4K’s arms, listening to the demon softly snoring and lulling him back to sleep.

There was no word to describe it other than bliss. It was like a missing piece of himself finally fit into place. The mountain was home. And 4K was a part of that.

19 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 4 months ago

Text

3 - Under the Open Sky

HD and 4K test more of their connection together. It's only been the first few days of eternity but slowly an amicable bond is forming. HD gets to really experience what it's like living with a tickle fiend and 4K is just thrilled he has a toy to tickle at any time he wants.

Sorry this took so long. This chapter was finished months ago but since I wanted art with each chapter and I was so busy with work, updates just weren't happening. However, I have up to chapter 6 done and I won't be writing anymore until chapter 5 is up at least. Promise.

The grey clouds above finally rained the next day. It was a light rain so it didn’t stop HD’s plans from heading back to town despite 4K’s worry. It seems the demon did not like the rain.

HD took his time walking back down the mountain. The path down was different in the morning light, still beautiful but less mystical. HD enjoyed the walk, and the rain gently falling on his skin. He was going to enjoy as much of the outside as he could, now that his life was tied to the caves.

The town was quiet on the rainy day, so HD could sneak off for his stuff without question. He had not stayed in the town when he arrived, instead finding a sturdy enough tree to settle in at nights. He couldn’t trust staying in the town and turning the peoples whispers and glances into full out suspicion. It was safer to come and go.

His stuff was still safely under the tree and untouched. It was only a few extra clothes, nothing overly personal. It was hard to keep personal items on a nomadic lifestyle and HD was never one for sentimental items. He preferred memories.

He made the trip into the actual town as fast as possible. He sought out a few of the people who told him of the demon or been his victim and explained the demon wouldn’t be a problem anymore. They demanded proof the demon was dead and HD just repeated he wouldn’t be a problem. They did not trust HD. They eyed him with suspicion and gave him worrying looks as he left the town. None of them thanked him but that was usual. HD had done his part, now he only hoped they’d still fear the mountain enough to keep them away.

The rain had picked up when HD returned to the mountain. He was in a foul mood from his talk with the humans but as soon as he came into the cave, 4K had a towel waiting for him and a thick heavy blanket which he warmed himself. By the time HD was dried, in changed clothes and wrapped up warm, he’d forgotten his mood with the humans.

Adjusting to living together went a lot smoother than HD had thought. It turns out 4K wasn’t lying and there was a path around the back of the mountain that smugglers used to stash their haul until they could move it. Every once in a while 4K would take a few of their stolen goods, the smugglers either not knowing or knowing full well they couldn’t really report their stolen stuff as stolen. Most of the time it valuable human things that neither demon nor fae found any use for and they got rid of it. Other times it was an assortment of things. Books, paints, clothes and cloth.

When he had made the deal, HD had filled his mind with images of himself being tickled every day, at every waking hour; but that was far from it. In fact most days, HD was reading, or making something from the cloth and clothes they found. 4K would let him have his own time and space. But it didn’t mean the tickling moments didn’t happen.

HD was reading in the front cavern of the cave. He sat close by the waterfall, enjoying the white noise of the crashing water. He’d made a small nest for himself by the wall, of soft pillows and blankets where he lounged on his front and read one of the books he picked up.

4K had silently joined beside him. He had his own book he was reading, but HD noticed he’d stopped not long after he joined. HD tried to keep reading, still keeping an eye on 4K when he could but when he got lost in his book, that’s when 4K struck.

It wasn’t a surprise attack at all, and he wasn’t subtle. He very brazenly held HD’s ankles, shuffled himself closer and placed them back down on his lap.

HD was paused mid reading now. He knew what was coming, yet his body was in a battle between pulling his ankle away and letting it stay. He had agreed to letting himself be tickled randomly through the days, so perhaps that helped keep his nerves together, knowing it wouldn’t be as intense as before.

He started out soft, just poking HD’s feet with his claws and softly tracing the pads of his fingers over HD’s toes. It absolutely tickled, but it was a softer feeling than the intensity of before. Instead of his nerves being plucked and tased, this felt more like being caressed and massaged. His feet would twitch and his toes curled whenever 4K found a sensitive spot, but he’d slowly uncurl them or tickle down his soles till they stretched out again.

Reading was abandoned as HD tried to muffle his laughs. There was a perfectly placed pillow under him that he could bite into when a particularly tickly spot demanded he laugh.

“HD…” 4K’s voice drawled out in that specific soft tone that just made HD weak. “You’ve got tickly little feet, HD.”

“I...ngh-kn-knohow…” HD panted though the giggles in his throat. “You tihickled them when...ha...haha...when we met.”

“Yes.” 4K purred. “My favourite memory I’m never getting rid of. And I remember nibbling over your thigh too… What a blessing.”

A soft flutter tickled along HD’s toes. HD knew immediately it was that damn tail. The fluffy end of it brushed his toes again.

“4K…” HD’s voice squeaked.

“What’s your book about?” 4K asked so casually, like his tail wasn’t swishing along HD’s sole.

“Thahat’s...d-don’t make me...haha-tahalk…”

“No? That’s fine. I’m perfectly happy to tickle you in silence. Just the sounds of your sweet giggles filling my ears.”

That was somehow worse to HD so he slowly tried to speak, without giggling so much. “A-Aha...A man is sh-shipwrecked and m-m-makes a deal with a godly being to g-gehet home…”

He surprised himself with how much he controlled his voice, though 4K’s tail was just lazily moving, deliberately avoiding his toes which had been marked as the worst spot.

“Oh, fascinating. How did he get shipwrecked?”

“Eeeheehe! It-It was a stohohorm.”

“And what deal did he make?”

“Wahaha-! Wh-Why doho you...ngh...want to knoohow!”

“I really don’t care. I just wanna hear your giggly explanation as you try so hard not to laugh.”

“Yohou di-AAHAhaaha! Not-Not there! NOT THERE!”

4K’s claws easily pulled HD’s toes back as his tail swiped the spot right under them. The fur could get in at the spots between each toe without trying and while it nowhere near rivalled to the feeling on his sides or armpits, it was enough to get him on his side and try to curl up.

4K stopped that by simply grabbing onto his ankle. “Too tickly?” He teased.

“Pleehease...stop…” HD giggled into the pillow under him, and to his surprise it did stop.

4K pulled back his tail. He placed HD’s feet back on his lap, but he was rubbing his thumb over the top of the fae’s foot. In more of a soothing motion rather than tickling.

HD didn’t trust it was over, but the sound of the waterfall and the gentle touch was making him too relaxed to keep his guard up.

“You can go back to your book. I won’t tickle again.” 4K spoke softly, but HD had long forgotten the book and was settling in for a lazy nap instead.

Small moments like that would happen frequently during the days. 4K would squeeze HD’s sides or tickle up his ribs if they walked by one another. It made him squeal every time but HD couldn’t deny there was some fun to it. Never knowing if 4K was just striking up conversation because he wanted to talk or wanted to tickle him. HD could be tense for hours and nothing would happen, yet sometimes be completely off guard and 4K would pounce. It was exciting not knowing, though HD would never admit it.

The only true adjustment HD really needed to mend with their life on the mountain was getting used to the cave. While they hated to be so reminded of their nature, HD was a forest fae. They lived out in the open, surrounded by fresh air and flora. They would sleep beneath the stars and wake up in a bed of flowers. Such a deep cave was maddening.

His first proper nights sleep in the caves had been rough. The cave was void of any light and while the crystals on his wall gave a soft glow, it wasn’t the same as the glow from the moon and stars. The furs were warm and HD just buried himself in them enough till he fell asleep, but he woke a few times during the night.

Even 4K took noticed how sluggish HD was and would ask if there was something wrong, but the fae never relented. They would say everything was fine and try to make the caves work; but each night they could not rest.

It was like any other night when HD woke up to the dreary darkness of the caves. He’d turned down the lanterns before sleeping, so it was just the glow of the crystals giving some light and with them burning so dim it wasn’t much.

The cavern wasn’t cramped, but in that moment HD felt it was too small. He couldn’t tell what time it was and while the caves were never uncomfortable before the air felt clammy and close in that moment. HD needed to be outside.

With one of the furs bundled under his arm, HD carefully walked out his room and down the tunnel to the open cavern. There wasn’t much light through the waterfall so HD assumed it was still night. He gave a glance over to the slope leading up to 4K’s bed. He could hear the demon just lightly snoring. He entertained the idea for a moment of walking up there but he quickly shook that thought away and headed to the waterfall.

It was just before dawn as HD slipped out. The sky was bleeding into a mystic purple hue as the sun was just barely breaking over the horizon. It was beautiful, and HD already felt at ease just breathing in the fresh air. There were some clouds gathering that looked like rain, so HD set himself up under a few trees just a bit off from the pond. The leaves would be thick enough to keep the rain off him, and the ground should keep dry enough, or at least the fur under him would take most of it.

HD settled over the fur blanket and almost instantly fell asleep. The swaying leaves were hushing him and the wildflowers smelt so sweet. He melted into the furs, let out a soft sigh and finally fell into a peaceful sleep.

When he woke, the sun was shining high, but there was still a light rain trickling down, softly falling onto the pond.

HD stretched and quickly realised he wasn’t alone. He could feel the heat on his back and a soft humming mixed in with the wind. HD turned around and 4K was sat by the tree, humming and reading to himself before he noticed the fae up.

“Hey there sleepy head.” 4K’s voice was warm, almost a purr. His tail flicked up and rested softly on HD’s hip. “It’s just after noon.”

HD wiped the sleep from his eyes. “How long have-” he paused as a yawn came, “-you been here?”

“Two hours, I think. Woke up and done a few things before I checked up on you and saw you were gone.”

HD stretched again, feeling his back pop with a satisfied groan.

“Was the cave too warm?”

4K sounded genuine with his question, yet a worry of doubt still plagued HD’s mind to admit it. He bit his lip before finally speaking.

“I can’t sleep well in the cave.”

4K’s soft eyes melted to confusion. “Was the bed uncomfortable? I can get you more furs. Or pillows under it.”

“No it’s…” HD frowned. His heart ached that 4K’s first reaction was to try and help him. “I’m sorry it’s just...I can’t sleep properly in caves. It’s fine for naps but I’m more comfortable outside.”

4K blinked and HD was still expecting some kind of anger. Instead he just seemed confused and his tail softly traced down HD’s hip. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

HD just felt worse. “I never knew it was a problem honestly. I’ve only ever been in shallow caves. And I didn’t want to offend your hospitality to me.” His mind panicked. “I am really grateful for the space. It’s just me, I can’t-”

“Relax, HD. Breathe.” 4K cut in. “I won’t be mad at you if you can’t be comfortable. The space is yours to use but you’re not bound to it.” His tail rested over HD’s side, making a soothing petting motion again that actually felt rather nice. “You can sleep outside. I could help make you something.” He hummed and tapped on his chin as he looked around the open space. “Not sure how to keep you out the rain though…”

HD looked out to the clearing as well. His eyes scanned over the rocky walls till he saw a thicket bush under the shadow of a couple trees sitting close to the rock wall that spread from the cave. It was a good spot, close enough to the cave but not so close the waterfall would disturb him.

“Do all fae prefer sleeping outside?” 4K asked curiously, drawing HD’s attention away from the design forming in his head. He looked up to the demon idly watching him. His tail still lazily resting over HD’s hip.

“Well...no.” HD had to really think about the question. He wasn’t exactly welcome to most of the fey folk so his knowledge of those other than him and his own kin were through research and human myths. “Most forest fae prefer the forest, of course. Sleeping in trees or fields. But a cave is just as much part of a forest and wild growth too. And then there are faes specifically found in caves. Some water faes make their dens in the caves by lakes or rivers.”

4K gave an interested hum while his eyes wandered to the sky. Specifically the dark clouds that were almost disappearing over the horizon. “Can’t stand water. Couldn’t think of anything worse.” He thought out loud.

Given his distracted state, HD voiced his question carefully, trying to come off as easily with his question as 4K had with his. “Is that a demon thing? To hate water?”

“Nah.” 4K answered as his tail tip flicked. He shuffled himself down so he was more lying against the tree than sitting. His hands clasped behind his head. “Not that I know of anyway. I just hate the cold, I guess.”

It wasn’t exactly useful information, but it was still information none the less. And at least it was something personal 4K was perhaps willing to share. “I’ve seen you bathe before. So you’re not physically hurt from it.”

HD didn’t realise his words until 4K was grinning at him, then his face turned red. “I wasn’t watching you like that!” He babbled. “I just saw you at a glance! I didn’t look!”

It was a half truth technically. One night HD came out from reading in his room, finding the cave was oddly quiet. He went to look for 4K past the waterfall when he noticed the demon was bathing in the pond under the setting sun sky. It had only been a glance – at first. He had turned away, to go back in the cave, but his eyes wandered back for just a moment, watching the muscles over 4K’s back work as he reached up to scrub his hair.

So it had been two glances technically but it still wasn’t a look. The water was settled around the demon’s hips, so there was nothing to look at. It didn’t stop HD’s mind from filling in the blanks, but he defended it still wasn’t a look.

“Of course,” 4K sarcastically chuckled. “If I’d have seen you there I would have asked you to join me.”

HD’s brain short circuited and it took a few resets for him to realise 4K was still talking. Took a few more to realise he still wasn’t understanding the words. “H-Huh…?”

“I said,” 4K explained, “that while I might not enjoy water I still need it. Bathing, drinking, that’s fine. Just my idea of relaxing isn’t soaking in it.”

The topic had moved on and when with his cheeks still flushed and mind still wondering about how that scene could have played out, HD focused to the task at hand.

“I see…” HD’s voice had regained itself. “What about caves? Do demons dwell in them often?”

“I’d say mostly.” 4K shrugged. “Demons are territorial, so it makes sense to choose a territory they can defend. Caves are easy to hold. Only a real powerful demon would take a mountain. Less would even attempt to hold a town.”

HD didn’t miss how 4K casually bragged over himself. His voice carried a bragging snark while he made sure his arms flexed behind his head. HD didn’t mind stroking the demon’s ego for a bit, if it got him more information.

“So you hold the mountain? Or do you count the town in your territory as well?”

“Mountain is mine. Town is just a bonus. Though if a demon did try and take the town, they’d be too close for my liking and I’d have to drive them off. Same I would assume they’d try and drive me from the mountain.”

“So demons don’t like to be close to one another? No deal or agreements between them?”

“If they’re in the same pack, then sure. But demons really don’t like to share close spaces. Sometimes packs will break over territory.”

HD was filing away each piece of information. Answering some questions he had but opening up more. He opened his mouth, to risk asking another, as a quick tickling sensation touched on his chin and he squeaked.

HD didn’t need to look down to know it was that damned tail. It flicked under HD’s chin which the fae tried to stretch away from. He realised too late that was a mistake as it gave the tail more access to his neck. It swiped at the spot where his neck met his shoulder and he tried to hunch up in defence. The tail just quickly changed target, and went for HD’s nose.

“S-Stohop!” HD giggled, swiping away at the tail. It just narrowly avoided getting a smack.

“Do you have a session question ready?” 4K asked.

The giggle in HD’s voice had faded out so fast as the air suddenly felt tense. “Wh-Why…?” It was a dumb question, but he was stalling.

“Because, you look adorable this morning and I really want to tickle you. Creatively.” 4K spoke patiently, his tail still swaying above HD tauntingly. Then he turned to lean in more, his nose almost touching HD’s. “And I’m done being generous.”

A tingle ran up HD’s sides, remembering the tickling he endured before and from the thrill of being caught. Perhaps he wasn’t as sneaky as he thought, or 4K was far more observant. “O-Okay. I’ve got a question.”

“Perfect.” 4K’s voice practically trilled with his excitement. The end of his tail twitched happily as he stood up in one graceful motion. “I need to get a few things from the cave while you can get your question ready. Just some tools. And you better make it a good one,” 4K warned with a growing grin, “because I’m not giving anything else away today.”

HD’s mind immediately ran wild with the thought of what those tools could be. He tried to distract himself by focusing on his question. Feeling his first question had been wasted, HD had made a list of all the questions he wanted to ask and ranked them on how importance. He already had a few answered today so they were off the list, and given how 4K could be coaxed into answering a few personal questions, HD felt he’d save them for another time. He was sure he could get 4K to rely some more information in the future if he just distracted him a little.

When 4K returned HD couldn’t see any ‘tools’ on him, but he was uncurling some rope as he approached.

“How are you with ropes?” The demon asked.

“Uh… Well I’ve never had them used on me.” HD admitted with a shrug. He slowly pushed himself to stand up.

“Would you be willing to try?” 4K asked, this time his voice a little more hopeful.

HD was looking at the ropes, knowing full well they were going to be binding him down. Being pinned by 4K was bad enough, but at least he had to have one hand holding him and the other could tickle. With ropes, both his hands were free to roam.

HD felt light headed as he asked. Just curiously. “If I say no…?”

“Then we don’t use them. I’ll still have fun pinning you down without them.” 4K shrugged. “I don’t mind getting to wrestle you again.”

His mind played with the idea that he still had a chance wrestling with 4K, even though he knew that was just wishful thinking. HD had no strength when he was tickled, and if he had signed himself up to be this demons tickle toy he might as well see how far his sanity could really go.

“I’m willing to try…” HD spoke slowly. His mouth suddenly felt dry.

“Perfect!” 4K’s tail whipped happily behind him. “Now, let’s try and find a good tree.”

Apparently the trees they were by weren’t good enough but HD didn’t ask why as he followed. 4K went by a few of the trees littered around the mountain top, humming thoughtfully and eyeing each one before he finally found a good one, in his opinion. It was on the other side of the pond from the waterfall and only stood by two other trees.

“This one could work.” 4K said, eyeing some of the low branches. “Stand under this branch.”

HD moved as he was told. The branch was high out of his reach, he could see that even before 4K said, “Stretch your arms up. Like trying to reach it.”

Just as he thought, he couldn’t reach it but HD kept his arms up as best he could. The long sleeves of his top slipped down his arms, exposing his armpits just slightly. 4K obviously took notice, not even hiding the smirk as a thousand ideas were probably running through his head. But he said nothing as he reached up and threw the rope over the branch. HD understood what the rope was for then.

One of his wrists were tied up in the rope, then the rope was looped a few times around the branch and his other wrist was tied up. 4K made the rope just a bit too short to reach him, so HD was stretched out as far as his body could be, standing on the ball of his foot to reach comfortably. He gave an experimental tug on the ropes and they wouldn’t budge.

“You better ask your question now…” 4K reminded him. His voice going low again. “Cause I’m not gonna keep my hands off you much longer.”

HD’s mouth was dry again and it took a few swallowed before he could speak. “What ways can someone ward off a demon? Apart from selenite crystals.”

4K paused midway through checking the ropes. His eyes fell to HD, losing their playful shine before. “You are...interesting, HD.”

“How so?” HD asked carefully.

“You’re all cuddly and soft with me one moment. You’re afraid to offend me and then you can so casually ask for ways to get rid of me.”

“Not you.” HD quickly defended himself. “I made the deal I can’t bring things to harm you.”

“No, not here. And how long before you lure me away from the mountain, and I find a knife in my back-”

“I’m not going to hurt you. I’d never hurt you.” HD quickly cut in. He kept eye contact with 4K as the demon pulled away. “And if you want to talk more about this we can do so when my arms aren’t tied up.”

4K gave a low hum that almost sounded like a growl. “Nah.” He finally spoke. “I’d much rather tickle you silly than talk this out now.”

A somewhat promise that they’d talk about it later. HD could live with that. “And my question?” He prompted.

“Talisman paper can ward us off, though it’s a specific blessing needed for specific demon kinds.” 4K’s eyes turned up as he thought about it a little. Like trying to remember. “Apotropaic magic keeps us away. Selenite you know, can harm and keep us away. Obsidian can as well. Bloodstones act as a shield against us too.” His eyes came back to HD. “An obsidian knife can do some serious damage to us.”

It seems strange he would give that information so freely, when 4K was just moments ago almost accusing the fae of trying to harm him. Was it a show of trust, or was he almost daring HD to use this information against him?

HD didn’t want to think about it, because he didn’t want to know the answer.

“Now,” 4K’s voice suddenly picked up with a chipper tone, “if the ropes start to hurt or burn, just safeword right away. Don’t tough it out.”

“I know…” HD huffed. “But my arms are already getting tired, so are you going to start?”

4K grinned. “Well if you insist.”

The demon dropped to his knees, in such a swift motion that it reminded HD of their first meeting. HD squeaked, as he had back then, before his words came out in sputtering mess of giggles and laughter as 4K went for his ribs.

“AHACK! HEEEEEHEEHEHE! F-FUHUCK!”

4K’s claws skittered up and down HD’s ribs. They sometimes wandered a little lower to his sides, but kept majority to the same spot.

“FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! STOHOHOHOHOHOP!”

“I thought your ribs weren’t a bad spot.” 4K teased.

Suppose it was all relative. Compared to his sides, the ribs were a breeze. Compared to not being tickled at all, it was the worst tickling he’d ever felt. Made worse by the fact that no matter how hard he pulled his arms they wouldn’t protect him. He couldn’t move, apart from slightly shaking back and forth. He would stumble on his tip-toes, moving back and forth but it did nothing to stop 4K’s terribly tickly claws.

“Pleehease. Please… I-I cahan’t breheathe…” HD tittered between his breathless giggles as 4K’s fingers slowed their assault.

“I’m never going to get tired of hearing you laugh.” 4K’s voice had a direct line right to HD’s ear. It felt like a whisper against his brain, even though his lips were practically pressed against HD’s stomach. “It’s like every tickle is a surprise, like your body is experiencing it for the first time.”

The fingers slowly came to a stop and HD hung from the branch, panting breath after breath. His arms were already getting tired but there was no ache in them yet. It felt like he barely got a minute to think before 4K was pushing up his top, slowly exposing his tummy inch by inch.

“N-NO!” HD gulped, sucking in his stomach and trying to arch away. Both useless attempts as 4K just pulled him right back and poked at his stomach.

“Is your tummy tickly, HD?” 4K’s voice was almost singing with his joy. “Is it just so tickly you can’t stand it?”

“Yes! Yehes! T-Tickles! It tickles bad!”

“Where was that spot?” 4K hummed, his eyes glued to HD’s stomach like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Suppose for a tickle fanatic like 4K it truly was. “That spot that made you scream last time.”

That spot right beside his hip. It tingled just from the mention and HD had to bite his lips to keep in the whimper.

“It’s around here somewhere.” A finger rose up and poked into HD’s bellybutton. He jumped with a surprise squeak, and then gave another when 4K poked just a little lower. “Where is it?”

He knew where it was, he absolutely did, but the game just made HD more frantic.

“D-Dohon’t! Don’t! No! No!”

“Just tell me where it is.” 4K purred. “You can stop all this if you just tell me.”

“No! Thehen you’ll t...tickle it…”

“I would never!” 4K sounded insulted to the very idea. “How rude!”

“You will! You will! You will!” He shook his head to each word.

“Well now I will.” 4K huffed and poked again. Not the spot. “In fact now I’ll tickle it more!” Another poke. “And more.” Another poke.

Each spot attacked was deliberately not the spot. He got so close to it a few times but it was always a miss. Just right on the edge.

“Oh where oh where could it be.” 4K taunted.

“Yohou knohow…” HD giggled breathlessly.

“I’ll find it~” The demon purred. His tail slowly flicked up behind him. “And when I do, oh, I’m going to tickle it so good.”

“P-Please. Oh Ple-EHEHE!”

He found it. The spot right by HD’s hip, where it met his stomach. 4K gave just a quick poke but it was enough to make HD scream and try to pull his legs up in some weird attempt to curl up and protect himself.

“Noohohoho…”

“Oh yeeees~” The black tail flicked vigorously once again. “That magic little spot~”

HD shook their head again, but their words failed them. They babbled between giggles and gasps; a mixture of pleas and offering anything not to be tickled again.

“Let’s see how well that magic little spot does against this.”

4K’s voice was down to a growl, his lips brushing against HD’s skin until he opened his mouth and pressed his fangs right on the spot.

They had tickled HD the first night he had came, when 4K had demanded to test how ticklish HD really was. Somehow in the mess of sorting out actually living together with the demon, he’d forgotten how much those fangs had torn him apart.

“PFFFEEEEEEHEAAAAAHAHA! N-No-no-NOOOONONONONONO! PLEASE! Please! Not th-thehere! Nohot with the fa-AHAHAAAAHAHANGS! OHOOHOHOHO GODS PLEASE! It-It-It ti-IHIHIHIHIHICKLES! IT-IT TICKLES SO MUCH!”

Once again, he had no filter when he was tickled. His brain threw out every word he could think of to beg for his life. The fangs tickled madly, but it felt more like a giddiness than the full on shock like the tickling to his sides. His laughs were broken up, between hiccups of giggles and while 4K purred to his work, he pulled back with an almost grumble.

“Wow… Most people absolutely lose it with my fangs on them.”

“I… I am...l-lohosing it…” HD panted.

“Not like the others.” 4K’s hands were still on HD’s hips, but they crawled slowly up his sides. “I’ve had people scream till they lost their voice. Some even passed out. But you give me cute little giggles.”

“S-Sohooorry to disappoint…”

“Oh that’s not a disappointment at all, little star.” 4K chuckled. “Just means I get to nibble you longer.” He finished by pulling back his lips, showing his fangs once again.

HD screamed as the fangs came close again. “NONONO! PLEASE! P-Plehehease not there! Not there! Anywhere but there!”

“Anywhere?” 4K stopped just in time before the fangs touched skin. His tail curled with the question as he smirked, moving over from HD’s hip to his side instead.

“NO! NONO! WAIT! Not-Not there!”

“You said anywhere…” 4K reminded. “I chose your sides.”

He had no time to beg again before the fangs went right into his sides, nibbling up and down his skin. HD expected to scream again, surprised when he gave a little yip, and giggles flurried out of his lips rather than howling laughter.

“N-Ahah-eheeehehe! Wahait! Oh-Ohohoho! I-It tickles…!” Pulling himself away was no use with 4K keeping firm hold of him. He could get some pull by standing over 4K’s lap, curling himself up just slightly but it wasn’t at all helping. 4K’s fangs tickled without resistance, but at least it wasn’t driving him to madness as straight tickling upon them.

“It doesn’t tickle enough.” 4K almost huffed as he pulled back. “You only giggle there. But I bet if my fingers started drumming up and down those sides you’d be screaming so loud the town would hear you.”

“D-DON’T! Pleeease. Not my s...s-sihides. No-No more nibbling… Pleehease.”

“Fiiiine.” 4K sighed. His hands fell from HD’s hips, but not before pushing the fae off his lap. He was back to stretching up on his toes again. “I still have tools to use.”

4K leaned back, reaching towards his pockets and pulling out a few instruments HD hadn’t noticed. Paintbrushes. About four of them, each with different shaped bristles.

HD remembered those brushes. They had been in one of the boxes 4K had brought to the caves. A box full of artwork, but also ink and paints, brushes and pallet knives. 4K hadn’t shown any interest in it but it was one of the boxes they kept. HD had done some art before, so it was always something he could use to if he was ever bored. Now he was watching those brushes and wishing he had insisted they get rid of them. Or just got rid of them himself.

“Do you know how much these tickle?” 4K asked as he picked one brush up, and laid the rest on the ground. It was a simple brush, the bristles forming an almost perfect teardrop shape. 4K ran the brush over his fingers like he was testing it. “Do you know how ticklish your belly button is?”

At the very mention of it, HD sucked in his stomach like that would help him in any way.

“Cute.” 4K chuckled. “Let’s see how long you can keep that up.”

He twirled the brush a little before bring it in to HD’s stomach. It didn’t go right for the bellybutton, instead it swirled around HD’s tummy, not touching but just inching ever closer and closer to his navel.

“Haha...ha! N-Nahahaha! Wahait. Wahahait. That’s-That’s...EEK! It-It tihihihickles!”

“Have you ever been tickled with a brush?” 4K asked like the fae wasn’t giggling his brains out.

HD couldn’t remember ever, though it was a little hard to think when the brush never slowed it’s circle. He certainly had been tickled by a feather before, but for no longer than a second. Even then he remembered how much the soft bristles had made him jump. It was a similar feeling to now, only now HD couldn’t jump away to safety. He was tied to the spot, forced to be tickled again and again as his giggly pleas went ignored.

4K switched up his technique, taking note of each of HD’s reactions. He swished the brush over his lower belly, giving quick tickles to the side of HD’s hips with each swipe but never staying for long. He made a slow, methodical path up to the spot under HD’s ribs and then zig-zagged back and forth between each side of his stomach. He took note of each gasp and whine and scream, making sure to focus just at the right spot but never overworking it.

Just as HD threw his head back as the terrible spot just beside his hip was tickled yet again, he missed the demon quickly pull back the brush and bring it back right into his bellybutton. HD gasped as the brush started to swish.

“NO! Hah-AAH! Haha…! Thahat’s n-ngh! Nonononononono! Thahahat feeeeeeels weird!”

4K pulled the brush out, just enough that the tip was still in the navel and swished it around. It was a softer tickling and that somehow made it more maddening. He was just on the bridge between laughing and giggling that it drove him wild. Not enough to break out into howls but just enough to keep his voice just above titters.

“Gehet out-GET OUT! N-Nohohot thehere nohot thehere!”

“Not there? Well I’ve got another couple spots to try.”

HD was given a break as 4K placed the brush down with the others. From the three left, he chose a very thin looking brush, but the head of it had the bristles flared out like a fan.

HD couldn’t imagine where that brush was going. It was a perfect shape to go anywhere really. He could imagine it stroking over his stretched ribs, or fluttering in his armpits. Maybe even the edges of the brush could trace along the outline of his hips. He worked himself further and further into a frenzy imagining what 4K could do, noticing too late that 4K had already moved into action.

The demon lay down in the grass, his attention focused to HD’s feet and HD panicked.

“Nono! Not there!”

HD tried to move his feet away, but there was no way he could move away far enough. He instead tried to pull himself up more, but that just exposed more of his feet. There was no winning this.

4K took his time with his latest brush. He was lounged over the grass, laying on his side with his head lazily resting on his hand. He grinned up to HD before his attention went to the feet in front of him. Instead of a full on attack, he simply brushed the fan bristle over the top of HD’s toes.

It tickled, but only enough to make the fae squirm and giggle. It was sort of like a tickle on the tip of his nose. Annoying but not as bad as he knew it could be. Knew it was about to be.

“S-Stohop that…”

“The tops of your toes aren’t as ticklish as the bottoms.” 4K spoke like he was taking notes. “What about here?”

He brushed up along the top of HD’s foot. It tickled more but HD wasn’t sure if it was from nerves, the fact the foot was so stretched, or he really was ticklish there. The brush travelled up to his ankle, creating a steady flow of giggles then which HD shook his head to.

“Naha! Ha… L-Leave m-my fehehet alooone…”

“Not on your life. Which, I remind you, you’ve given to me to be my tickle toy.” 4K purred. “But I guess I’ll stop teasing.”

HD didn’t even entertain the idea that meant the tickling would stop. He knew what was coming. He fruitlessly tried to move away again, but 4K shuffled himself ever so slightly so his free hand caught the evading foot. He held it firmly in place while the fanned bristles inches closer and closer until they brushed along the stretched out arch of HD’s foot.

The giggles of before had dispersed, replaced with full blown laughter.

“NAHahahaha! AAHAEHEHE! Not-NOOHOhohohot thehehere! It-IT TICKLES!”

While his poor tortured foot could not move, it did not stop his other one from trying. HD pulled up free leg and stomped it back to the ground over and over again as though it was letting out all the frenzy in his other foot. It did not distract him from the tickling at hand but it was something at least.

The brush seemed so perfectly shaped to HD’s feet. The fan was wide enough to cover all of HD’s arch, not leaving a space untickled as 4K slowly dragged the brush up and then back down. On his third trip, he switched it up, instead zig-zagging the brush back and forward, up and down from the ball of HD’s feet up to his heel.

“NOT THERE! NOT THAAAHAHAT!” HD gasped, bouncing around in his binds for all the good it would do him. “PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!”

4K did stop, though it took a moment for HD to notice from their ghostly tickles, and giggles still pouring out of their heaving chest. They were slumped in the binds, absolutely too tired to even hold themselves up. They watched 4K move through tear-filled eyes they tried to blink away.

The demon had went for the last two brushes left. These paintbrushes were the same sizes, but the bristles at the end were thicker and it was a wide flat end at the tip, similar to a make-up brush.

There was a moment for HD to catch his breath as 4K quickly stood up but HD was in the daze by the time he realised what was going on. 4K had manoeuvred his top up, placing it just behind his head to keep it in place and kneeled in front of the fae again.

HD’s face flushed red and could feel his body tense when 4K’s hands came back on him. HD was never self conscious about his body but somehow the mood had shifted. If 4K noticed it, he never mentioned. He looked up to HD, both of the fluffy brushes in his hand with a confident smirk on his lips.

But while the demon boasted confidence with a smile, his eyes were searching HD’s. Looking for something to tell him he’d gone too far, or that HD was hesitating. Somehow just seeing that calmed HD enough. His body relaxed again and he gave just the smallest nod.

He’d never take it too far. He’d never make me uncomfortable. HD was sure in those thoughts. Even though it was hard to hear them when the confidence smirk reached the demons eyes, and he reached up with the two brushes to swish into HD’s armpits.

“OHHGAHAHAHA! NO! GODS NOHOHOHO! THAT-THAT-THA-HAHAHAHAHA!”

The brush was just wide enough to fit into the deepest crevice of HD’s armpit which 4K absolutely lapped up. He altered between rotating the brushes right in the spot and then swiping the brushes up and down; keeping HD forever guessing what was coming next.

HD’s laughter came out in wails and howls. It was a ticklishness to almost rival his sides. The bristles were so soft against his skin, bursting his nerves with fireworks. He attempted to shake himself away as best he could, but 4K’s knees were placed so carefully around his ankles, making it impossible to step away. The most he could move was arching his back, trying to push 4K away, but that just proved to work against him.

His tummy was pushed right into 4K’s face and of course, how was the demon supposed to resist? 4K kept his promise and kept his teeth off HD, but that didn’t stop him pressing his lips to HD’s stomach and blowing a long raspberry.

“EEEEEHEHEAAAHAHAHA! NAHAHAHAHA! S-ST-STOHOP! STOHOHOHOP! IT...A-AAAHAGH!”

He pulled back as much as he could but 4K did his best to follow the movements, and turns out he could be rather relentless. He gave smaller raspberries to each different spots but stopped not long after. His brush technique changed as well; instead of swirling into the hollows, now he gently brushed outside them, getting right at the edges of HD’s armpits, sometimes just catching at the fae’s chest or ribs.

“UUHUH! Ha..haha! S-Stohohop! Stop! Stop! M-Mehehercy! This is tohohortuhure!”

“Oh this will be nothing compared to what I have in store for you.” 4K chuckled. “You know how many things I want to do to you? How many ways I want to tickle you? And I have all the time in the world to do it!”

HD definitely felt his skin tingle to the teasing and his laugh go higher.

“Oh?” 4K also noticed. “Are you more ticklish when you’re teased?”

“Nohoho!”

“No?”

The tickling lessened only slightly as 4K rose to stand up. He pressed his lips in close to HD’s ear, the brushes rotating again. “Tickle...tickle...tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle…”

He absolutely was getting more ticklish. With each word his skin prickled, and jumped, growing more and more sensitive. It was like a direct button right into his brain. Each time the word was said, another press that made his nerves shudder and overrode every feeling to just one thought.

It. Fucking. Tickled.

“NOOOHOHOOHOHO! O-OhHoOhOHHoOHOOHOO! D-DON’T! DON’T! THAHAHAT’S! THAT’S NOT FAAAAAHAHAHAHAIR!”

HD screamed and howled, not even sure if his words were making sense anymore, but at the same time he wasn’t even caring. His mind was close to snapping. His senses knew nothing but the tickling, and 4K’s words. He couldn’t even hear what the words were anymore. They just knew 4K’s voice, and felt his warmth and it was enough to melt his body and light up his senses.

He was still laughing even when the tickling stopped. He was still laughing even as he was untied from the tree. And he was still laughing in 4K’s arms as the demon held him close.

HD could vaguely feel his wrists be moved, and he heard some words but his mind felt like cotton at the moment. It took a while to push through the haze and look up at 4K, blinking with confusion.

“Your wrists.” 4K said it like he was repeating it. He held up HD’s wrist in one and he could see the problem. The ropes left burn marks over his skin. They weren’t bad or really noticeable and it hadn’t hurt at the time, but now knowing it was there HD could feel the slight sting on his skin. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Cooo...uldn’t...feel it…”

It was a herculean effort to talk. He didn’t want to talk in that moment, he wanted to melt into soft blankets and cuddle into something warm.

Someone warm.

“Fucking… Alright. Let’s get you up.” HD felt himself lifted into 4K’s arms again. “I’m gonna need to take you back in the cave so, sorry about that.”

The more 4K talked, the more of the world came back to HD. The cloud lifted from his mind, leaving behind a gentle mist. He could feel his head lean over 4K’s shoulder. He could feel the demon’s warmth surround him, making him sleepy. But sadly that also meant he could feel the sting of his wrists that much more.

“I’m not… I don’t hate the cave.” HD word still slurred ever so slightly. “I don’t mind being in the cave, it’s just sleeping.”

“Well good. Cause the cave has all the supplies so this is easier.” 4K said as he manoeuvred both of them through the waterfall.

HD expected to be taken to his room – if he could even still call it that – but 4K instead took them left, up the slope to his own bedroom. The nest of a bed was a mess with furs, silks and pillows which HD was carefully placed onto.

“Figured this was a good compromise.” 4K shrugged and motioned to the open skylight above. “Keeps you in the cave while still gives you that sky above. Now, I’ll be right back.”

He left before HD could respond, but no words really came to HD in that moment. They stretched out over the soft materials around them, soaking in the warmth and buried their head into the pillows. Everything smelt like 4K; spiced smoke and warm musk. They sighed softly, letting their body relax and watching the sky above through the mountain.

HD was sure he’d fallen asleep, or at least went into some kind of trance until he heard 4K approach again. He held a small tub that HD recognised from one of the crates they found full of simple medical supplies. Some kind of ointment.

“This will help sooth the burns and heal it.” 4K explained while he crawled onto the bed. It seemed impossible for HD to sit up at that moment, and luckily 4K never asked him to. He just took the fae’s wrist and placed it over his lap, carefully rubbing the ointment in. The stings twinged just a little bit, but it was soothing after. “Do you heal fast? Is that a fae thing?”

HD slowly nodded. “Uh-huh…they’ll be gone by tonight...maybe.” His voice felt far away and dreamy. His eyes kept looking up to the sky above, watching the clouds slowly move.

“Say...how do you keep the rain off your bed?” HD asked. It was a question he’d had since day one, but he never found a time to ask when he was adjusting. Being all floaty while 4K was taking care of him, somehow his brain thought that was the best time to ask.

“I just close the mountain top when it rains.” 4K answered simply, moving onto the next wrist.

HD blinked at him, making sure his brain had heard him correctly. “You just...close? You close the mountain?”

“Yes.” 4K almost smirked. “This mountain is my territory. I’m connected to it.”

“Are… Are all demons connected to their territory?”

“Yes. If they’ve been there a while. It takes maybe a year before the connection forms but then the demon is linked to the land. Which is why only strong ones go for mountains or towns. More land to keep control over. I know every spot of this mountain and when something changes.” He looked down to HD with a small grin. “Soon as you stepped foot on the mountain I knew you were coming.”

HD flushed and looked away as 4K chuckled. “Why… Why’d you answer that question?” HD asked, part in curiosity and also to distract the thumping in his heart. “That’s another piece of info you’ve given me freely.”

“Because I felt generous.” 4K replied, setting down HD’s wrist and closing the tub. “And you’re being very adorable, so you’ve earned it.”

Another rush of heat to his face. HD wanted to bury his head in the pillows but he wouldn’t let himself.

“Now. What would you like to do?” 4K asked. “Do you want to nap? Just relax? I can bring up a book for you or a… Wait a minute. Did you eat breakfast before you went out?”

It took a moment for HD to remember. Remembering anything before the tickling seemed like it happened so far away. He definitely hadn’t, and now reminded of it he felt the small pang of hunger. “… No.”

“God damn it why didn’t you tell me! Alright, don’t move. I’ll get you food.”

HD was left alone again but it wasn’t for long. 4K returned quickly, with a plate of fruits and a glass of water. He felt too tired to eat but the hunger was more pressing than his sleepiness. HD lazily ate while 4K shuffled in close beside him. He propped himself up, pulling HD to lay back over his chest. It was comfortable. Bliss. HD fell asleep with 4K’s warmth on his back, his purrs rumbling through HD’s mind and soothing him to sleep.

It was mid afternoon when HD woke and he wanted to start on making his new den right away. He was surprised when 4K wanted to help, but it was not unwelcome.

The thicket bush was just about thick enough to keep the rain off, but they added on a few more leaf branches at the top. The branches of the bush had curved around the side, making a natural open that was easy enough to shape a little bigger. The inside of the bush was just about big enough for HD to kneel in, and about his height and a half in length.

It was perfect. It was close and cosy, but it wasn’t so closed up as the caves. The leaves let dapples of sunlight and breeze carry through. They had found a bed of moss to fit in though 4K still insisted he have some more furs. 4K also helped make a small barrier of thick twigs at the bottom of the entrance to keep the rainwater from getting in.

HD crawled in to try it out and already knew it was perfect. Everything felt right, like it just fit into place as he lay over the moss. Everything felt soft and HD only stopped himself from nuzzling further into the moss and furs as he saw 4K half crawling through the opening. He watched HD with a soft smile over his face and his tail lazily flicking behind him.

“What?” HD asked.

“You look so cute.” 4K replied so softly.

HD blushed and hid his face into the moss as 4K chuckled.

16 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 4 months ago

Text

dude i’m sorry i keep tickling you but it’s not my fault??? do you not see how soft your skin is or the way your body jolts or how pretty you are when you’re giggling or how your hair tosses around all over the place or the panicky whining thing you just did or the way your muscles just finally gave out because you realized you’re pinned and now you’re just laughing uncontrollably underneath me or

365 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 6 months ago

Text

wanna tickle a cute guy until he's squealing, crying, & begging me to stop 💕

108 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 6 months ago

Text

there’s just something about ticklish men that makes me so fucking feral and i genuinely do not know what it is

131 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 6 months ago

Text

forcing someone to break down in laughter and begging me not to tickle them would fix me, i think

124 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 6 months ago

Text

bro just lemme tickle you a bit

where's your fkin whimsy, bro

214 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 10 months ago

Photo

229K notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 1 year ago

Text

2 - Ground Rules

HD and 4K need to work out some ground rules between them for this new life together. And HD has to experience his first tickling session.

Had to finish off last minute things to get this out. Namely the updated art for the blog. But with that done now the next chapters should come a lot smoother, just a matter of finishing art for them.

As always, please enjoy.

HD had woken up early morning, as far as they could guess. The opening to the sky above showed gray clouds but it hadn’t rained yet. Birds were out singing in the distance, slowly drawing HD from their dreamless sleep. They weren’t one to usually lounge in bed but today they felt like he needed it. Today was a lot.

The events of yesterday were clear in their mind the moment they woke up. They remembered everything. The deal, the agreements, the...tickling.

HD’s face flushed again and he buried it into a pillow by his head. It wasn’t so much the tickling he was embarrassed by but the moments after. When he was so soft and meek and let himself be so easily carried to bed. He wouldn’t be able to shake that one off for a while.

But while his thoughts swam in the embarrassed he also took the time to take in everything.

Overall, his plan had worked and that was something to be thankful for. It would be an adjustment to be the tickle toy – as the demon so crudely put it – to 4K but it was a sacrifice he could make.

Now the question was...where was the demon?

HD knew the deal wasn’t broken, so he had no need to worry but he was...curious. He didn’t really know what 4K did outside of kidnapping people. There was no good time to ask last night if he had any hobbies.

Or maybe he was just lurking somewhere in the cave, waiting to pounce HD down and tickle him silly.

No. He couldn’t think like that. That would just make him paranoid. With a wakening shake, HD pushed himself to sit up. Seemingly just at the right time as 4K came up the slope.

“Oh good! You’re awake!”

The demon was all smiles again as he came towards the edge of the stone bed. He wore simpler clothes today; a long black robe over duller red top and loose black trousers. His hair was pulled back into a more managed ponytail, but it was still flicking out wildly at the sides.

“I wasn’t sure how long you’d sleep for. Didn’t wanna wake you but I made breakfast if you want it. Just some eggs and fish, nothing fancy.”

“You...cook?”

Somehow that was that should have been the last thing to focus on, but HD somehow latched onto the fact. It was something personal about 4K apart from his love for tickling. It was new.

“Of course! You think I survive on herbs and berries?”

Not with those muscles. HD thought, thankfully keeping it in his mind.

“You want the breakfast, or not?” 4K asked, almost sounding annoyed.

The pang of hunger was slowly gnawing at HD’s stomach though he had tried to ignore it. Gratefully he accepted with a, “Yes. Please…” and 4K lead HD back down to the cave.

While still shadowed the cave had a different feel in the dim light of morning. It was less ominous. The rocks weren’t so jagged or misleading. 4K took HD down the walk way on the right and went into the first small cavern. It was a kitchen room, or at least trying it’s best to imitate a kitchen room. There was an old wooden table in the centre of the room, an off-white cloth thrown over it in an attempt to hide the stains and scratches. The chairs were in just a bit better condition but neither were the same type of wood to match the table. A small campfire lay off to the side, currently cooking a line of fish that hung from their skewers.

There were plates on the table – once again mismatched – with cooked eggs on top.

4K tended to the fire and fish while HD eyed over the furniture and eggs with suspicious. “Where did you get the table and chairs?” He asked. “And the eggs.” He added, noting he had not seen or heard a single chicken.

4K gave an almost smug smile. “Human stuff. They leave it lying around.”

He knew what the answer would be, and yet it still didn’t make it any better. “We made a deal. You wouldn’t harass the humans.”

“No. I said I wouldn’t harm humans, so long as they didn’t harm me first. And, since our little deal is still in tact, seems your terms and conditions don’t consider stealing as harmful.”

He knew the deal hadn’t been broken, and yet HD still reached out to his heart just to check. Still there, the knot in his heart that bound him to 4K.

“I… Can feel that.” 4K’s voice wavered slightly as he took the skewer from the fire.

“You can?” HD asked, genuinely surprised. “When I… Just there?”

“Yes. Like a little tug on my heart. Or...maybe like a squeeze.”

That was a new feature. Though perhaps not. HD had never kept deals long enough to know really, the transaction was done or broken in the same day. He’d have to keep aware of it.

“And even though it’s none of your business. I didn’t steal the furniture.” 4K said matter-of-factly while he divided the fish between them. “I think this cave used to be used for smuggling or...something. When I got here there were no humans but a they left a bunch of stuff.”

“And the crates out front? Were they left here?”

HD knew they weren’t. 4K knew HD knew they weren’t but it didn’t stop his smug smile. “Maybe. Anyway, enough of that.” He sat on one of the chairs and motioned to the other. “Sit and eat. We have a few things to discuss.”

HD raised one eyebrow, but he moved over to the chair opposite. “Discuss what?” He asked as he sat down.

4K was already eating, tearing into the fish with his fangs as he spoke. “We need to lay some ground rules.” He spoke between mouthfulls.

“Those should have been set last night, when the deal was made.” HD said, somewhat annoyed. There was a spoon laid by the plate of eggs that HD picked up after making sure it was clean.

“These aren’t deal breakers, relax.” 4K quickly assured. “It’s like...house rules. Boundaries. Since we are going to be with each other for eternity we should make this as smooth as possible.”

That made more sense that HD could agree to that. “Okay…” He slowly nodded. “What are they?”

“You’re going to need a safeword.” 4K said instantly.

HD blinked. “A...what?”

“A safeword. Something you can remember easily so you can use when you want sessions to end or…”

“I know what a safeword is.” HD quickly corrected. “I mean like...why would you want me to have that? I thought the whole idea was I was for...that.”

4K’s lips curled into an almost scowl and a flash of what looked like hurt passed over his eyes. “I’m a demon. Not a monster.”

A sweep of guilt overcame HD. “I-I didn’t mean it that way.”

“It’s fine.” 4K shrugged. “It’s natural to assume.”

But it wasn’t fine. A deep pit of shame swelled in HD. He knew the sting of people assuming. Even as he helped humans he saw the way they whispered about him or gave his wary looks. No matter what he did he’d always just be a fae creature to them. No matter how many people he helped, it wouldn’t be enough.

“I… I am sorry for assuming. I didn’t mean it to come out that way.” HD apologised. “I just meant that since I agreed to the deal, that would be consent for...all that.”

“Well I...do appreciate it.” 4K sounded almost surprised the apology was genuine. HD wondered how. “But consent today doesn’t count to tomorrow. You still need a safeword.”

HD paused his eating to think. A flurry of words came to mind, but only one stuck out. “Clouds? Would that work?”

“Yes, that should be fine.” 4K said after thinking for a second. “It’s short so you can say it quickly and it will be easy to remember.” He looked over at HD, his eyes growing serious. Or as serious as 4K could look. “You use that whenever you need. If you want the tickling to stop, or even if you just don’t want me to touch you for the day. I won’t ask questions.”

This didn’t feel like the same demon HD talked to last night. This didn’t feel like the demon the morals told him stories off.

“Were you this kind to the others you’d tickle?”

4K paused mid eating. His dumbfounded look quickly melted to a grin as he looked over to HD.

“Is that your question for the session?”

It took a moment to click what 4K meant, and HD’s confused expression changed to a blush. “N-No!” HD quickly flustered. He couldn’t waste his question on that. “That doesn’t-!”

“Relax, Starlight!” 4K couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m teasing you. No. I was not this nice to the others.” He lifted one of his fish back up, which was already torn apart with only the tail left. “Though, I didn’t have any others for long. But you I have for life.”

Another question popped into HD’s head and he had to bite his lips to stop himself from blurting it out without thinking again. “Can I ask another question? That doesn’t count to...the session.”

4K paused eating again to look at HD. His eyes flicking back and forth over the dae like he was thinking, before he spoke. “If I can ask you one?”

“Okay…” HD said unsurely.

“Since you want your questions before the tickling to be saved, that’s means they’re specific, right? What will your specific questions about?”

There was no use lying, though that was HD’s first response. 4K would figure it out anyway when the time came to ask him. “Demons…” HD mumbled, though 4K’s ears twitched to hear him. “I have some about you but...demons mostly.” He admitted.

4K gave a dangerous smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Seems I was right to make sure you couldn’t bring anything to hurt me.”

“I’m not going to hurt you…” HD tried to assure but even he didn’t believe his own voice. It was a demon he was dealing with. A demon that seemed to only be tickling his victims than doing something worse, but it was a demon non the less.

“Sure.” 4K’s voice was distant and his focus was back onto his food. “What’s your question?”

“What was the longest time you’ve kept a human?”

4K gave a shrug. “I think a couple days.”

HD blinked. That couldn’t be right. Some of the victims reported being kept for a week. The maximum was ten days. Was 4K lying? Why would he need to? Then that could only mean the humans were but...why?

“You think so loudly.” 4K suddenly said, pulling HD from his thoughts.

“The… In town. Humans are claiming you’ve kept them for a week. Sometimes longer.”

4K blinked now. His eyebrows shot up to his hairline as he huffed. “Well they’re lying.”

HD was careful not to sound accusing, but he had a feeling it would be taken that way no matter what. “There are a few who said it’s been multiple days.”

“Then a few are lying.” 4K quickly retorted. “I only kept the townsfolk less than a day. The ones I kept for a couple were bandits but never longer than that.”

HD didn’t know if demon lied as often as fae, but he believed 4K. Something about his shock seemed real and he knew humans were no strangers to lying either.

His paused must have came off wrong to 4K as his lips twisted to an almost snarl. “Suppose because I’m a demon, I’m lying about that.”

“No.” HD spoke calmly. “I believe you.”

The fight left 4K then, though he kept his guard up and eyed HD warily. “You believe the demon so easily?”

“We are going to be together for life, as you said.” HD pointed out. “Best we make it as smooth as possible.”

That was something 4K could agree to. He hummed, partly in agreement and partly in thought. He was already distracted, looking off into the distance before looking back to HD again. “We have a few more things to discuss, but that should be after we eat. I have to show you around the place.”

HD had picked at his food though the conversation but now the pang of hunger came again and he quickly ate. It tasted a lot nicer than he thought it would, though he kept that thought to himself. He made note that 4K was a surprisingly good cook.

The first part of the tour had 4K lead HD further down the tunnel. It wasn’t far from the kitchen and the cavern was just a bit bigger but it was decorated more cosy, and HD realised it was a bedroom.

“This will be your space.” 4K explained while he vaguely motioned to the room. “You can change and decorate it how you like, this was just so you had a bed.”

Despite it still being a cave, the room was actually cosy. There was a small indent in the ground, where furs and some pillows were set up like a bed. A dim lantern hung from the ceiling but there was a small clump of light blue crystals growing from the wall beside the bed. They gave off a dim glow which HD was fascinated with.

“They dim and glow at random periods. Or maybe they have a pattern and I’ve never seen it. I’ve not been in here much to know.” 4K explained.

“How many caverns does this cave have?” HD asked curiously while he felt over the furs on the bed. They were invitingly soft.

“A lot. A lot I’ve not gone into much. Some are deep into the mountain. Nothing but bats down there.” 4K shrugged then half turned in the doorway towards the hall. “Come on. Let’s go outside.”

The mention of outside was enough to pull HD away from the furs and quickly follow after 4K. They had not realised how much they longed to be under the open sky again. Caves were fine for shelter against the cold, but nothing would compare to the freeing open air.

The clouds were still overcast, but the day was warm and the air was cooling. As they slipped passed the waterfall and out into the open glade, HD gave a soft sigh. The tension in his shoulders melted away. It helped the demon also happed to live on such a beautiful mountain.

“The mountain is your home now as well. You can roam around it freely.” 4K carried on explaining. He walked slowly around the pond and HD joined him. “You are not bound to it, leave and return as you like, though I would advise from bringing anyone here or letting them follow you back. Humans don’t usually react favourably to demons and I’d hate to have to defend myself against your companion.”

“I won’t bring anyone here.” HD quickly promised, surprised 4K even allowed him that freedom. “I won’t leave the mountain.”

The demon hummed, sounded half interested and half disbelieving. “No? No friends to visit?” 4K asked. “Family?”

“No.” HD quickly replied, and spoke again to not draw attention to it. “I just need my one week in the month. For the rest of the time I’ll be here.”

“Yes.” 4K’s tone shifted, less quizzical and more serious. “While you bring that up, we should discuss that. You’ll need to choose your week. Unless you want it to be different each month.”

HD was relieved for the conversation shift. “Well, I actually have a proposal for that.” He started, and quickly added. “Which I don’t think you’ll like.”

“Okay? Well you’ve been very convincing before. Let’s hear it.”

It was an idea HD thought of in the morning, when his mind was trying to distract him from thinking about anything other than the tickling last night. And though it would be a hard sell to 4K, it made sense over all. “I propose that I take the week off at the end of the month. And then, the week off at the start of the next month.”

As predicted, 4K looked wary to the suggestion but he wasn’t outright refusing it. Instead he asked, clarifying. “So, you want two weeks essentially.”

“Technically yes. But, it would still be just one week each month.” HD reasoned. “And it will solve the issue of me returning on time. I can finish up what I need to do in two weeks easily.”

HD expected questions, or arguing, or even just the slightest disagreement, but 4K looked convinced right away. He hummed again, with his hands on his hips before nodding. “Yes. That would be fine.”

“Really?” HD asked, shocked.

“Yes.” 4K nodded again then looked to the fae. “While being without someone to tickle for two weeks will absolutely suck, just means when you get back, I have a full six weeks to take out aaaaaall that pent up energy.”

4K grinned and HD could feel the heat rise up through his chest, across his neck and settle over his cheeks as usual. He had no time to retort, or even hide his face before 4K stepped towards him and suddenly the demon was towering over him.

“Speaking of,” his voice went soft and he tapped one of his claws against HD’s nose. “You better get a question ready. Because you’re absolutely getting tickled today.”

Even if he hid his face, HD was sure he was absolutely glowing by now. His whole body felt warm, not at all helped by 4K grinning wider, clearly noticing the effect it had on him.

Trying to regain some control, HD cleared his throat. “What’s your...plan...exactly?” He asked.

“Is that your roundabout way to ask, how I’m going to tickle you?” 4K was straight forward and blunt. Especially when it came to tickling. That was something HD had to get used to. He was here for that reason after all. “Nothing too fancy for your first time.” 4K explained while he backed off from HD. “I figure we could start of with old fashion wrestling. I’ll even make it worth it. If you manage to pin me down, I won’t tickle you.”

That was an interesting proposal. People underestimated HD for his looks but he could handle himself. He was strong. He had a chance. Though as he looked at 4K, with his height and muscles tightening under his clothes, his chance seemed slim. But a slim chance was still a chance.

4K stepped around HD, heading back to the cave and HD quickly spoke up. “Can – Can we do it out here?” His voice was squeakier, spoken in a panic and 4K stopped suddenly. Blinking back at HD in surprise.

“You want to be tickled now?”

Shit.

4K grinned again. “I was gonna give you time. I’m not opposed to going now though.”

Part of HD wished he’d said nothing, then he could prepare himself. But another part of him convinced himself this was best. Getting the tickling out of the way for the day would make HD less on edge and he could know what to expect next time. Yes, by the time 4K turned back to face him, he had convinced himself this was the best outcome.

“What’s your question then?”

HD had a whole list of questions he had ready to ask, but all of them seemed a jumble of words when faced with the prospect of being tickled just minutes later. They tried focusing and calming his thoughts. They’d have more chances to ask more questions, so it made sense to get this one out of the way.

“Do you get energy from tickling?”

The question was a surprise to 4K as his eyes widened just slightly. But surprise was replaced with amusement. He gave a quick laugh, but it wasn’t unkind. “If you’re asking if I do this because I need to, no. I don’t get any benefits from tickling.”

It was an answer but it muddled up the plan HD had in their mind. “So-So you just...tickle? But why?”

“Ah!” 4K tapped his finger against HD’s lips. “That’s two questions. Unless you’re up for a double tickling session today.”

HD’s cheeks quickly went red. “N-No!”

“Thought not. Then you have your answer and you can save your next question.”

It wasn’t the answer HD expected but it was one of the most burning ones out the way. The disappointment of the answer was quickly overshadowed by the knowledge that he was about to let himself be tickled.

“H-How do…?” While HD could tell himself this was for the best to get it out of the way, his voice still betrayed him and gave away his nerves so easily.

“How do we start?” 4K finished for him and chuckled. “We’ll get to that. Just want to go over some things.” His voice went serious again and while it had put HD on edge at the beginning of the day, now it gave him comfort. “You have your safeword now, and you can use it any time. Do you remember it?” HD nodded to the question. “Say it.”

“Clouds.”

“Good. Any time you’re uncomfortable or even just unsure, you use it.”

HD nodded again, this time more confident in the motion.

“Alright. Then we start.”

HD opened his mouth to ask exactly how, but all that came out was a surprised squeak and the world turned on it’s side. His back hit to the soft grass and HD only had a moment in his daze before realising 4K was on top of him, then survival kicked in.

4K didn’t have a good hold on him yet so HD quickly scrambled away. He pushed off 4K’s shoulders, almost slipping away until a hand grabbed around his leg.

“You’re a slippery one!” 4K was laughing and pulled HD up.

His first instinct was to resist, but after a split second thought, HD instead moved with the momentum. 4K was unprepared, over pulling enough to roll himself ever so slightly. HD took that chance, rolling himself out from under 4K and managing to perch over the demon’s back.

It was not a pin at all. HD barely got his legs on either side of 4K’s waist and his arms were still free.

He just needed to pin him somehow. If he could get at 4K’s arms for just a moment he could win. HD convinced himself he could.

However, while he was trying hard to think of how to pin those arms, he wasn’t paying attention to those arms. In one quick motion the hand reached back, grabbing onto HD’s thigh and squeezing.

“GACK!”

The tickly shockwave through HD’s body was enough to jolt them off 4K’s back. They rolled just slightly on their side and before realising their mistake but it was already too late.

It took less than a second for 4K to roll over. He scooped HD up into his arms, pulling the fae’s back against his chest. One arm wrapped around HD’s shoulders, pulling him tight against the demon. 4K’s legs wrapped around HD’s, pulling them tight together.

He could still move his arms just barely, but HD was stuck.

“W-Wahait!”

“Far more slippery than you look.” 4K purred against HD’s ear. His chest rumbled against HD’s back and HD wasn’t sure if he was just too sensitive, or if it was from nerves, but it felt like it tickled along his back.

“Hold-Hold on!” HD begged, grasping at the arm around his shoulders. He hadn’t even considered the fact that 4K had two arms until it rose up, placed high above HD in a claw form. Like an animal poised to strike.

“W-Wa-Wait! Wahait! W-Wahait!”

His pleas fell on deaf ears as the hand struck. HD tried to flinch, but he wasn’t allowed. His body was stretched out, open and vulnerable for 4K to pluck and play with. And play he did.

The hand came to HD’s hip. 4K had wrapped his arm around HD’s waist, so he was holding HD extra tightly as he tickled and kneaded the hip on HD’s right side.

HD didn’t even know if his hips were ticklish, but now he could absolutely confirm they were. He shrieked at first as the tickly shocks ran through him, but it was from the surprise of it. His tensed up nerves suddenly felt alive, struggling in 4K’s arms for release.

“EheheHEHEHEHE! T-Tickles! Ihihit tickles!”

“Oh? Does it tickle?” 4K’s voice sounded surprised, even selling it with a small gasp. “Oh I’m so sorry. What about here?”

The hand moved up, positioning right over HD’s stomach digging his tickling fingers in once again. The shriek wasn’t as loud this time but the laugh was deeper. 4K’s fingers found a spot just beside HD’s hip. Like a direct button into his nerves HD laughed, sputtering out confused whines and pleads. He knew he was ticklish. He never knew how ticklish he was.

“OHOH PLEHEHEEASE! IT TIHIHICKLES IT TICKLES TH-THEEEERE!”

“It tickles again?” 4K’s voice had dropped his surprise. His voice was warm, rumbling like a growl almost. “Well aren’t you just a tickly little thing.”

“G-GOHODS! ST-STOHOP STOP!”

“Not a chance.”

There was no stopping the tickling hand, even as HD’s hands tried to bat and pry at it. His strength he was so confident in was gone.

In a blessing, 4K stopped tickling over his tummy. HD was given just a moments of giggly rest before 4K’s hand came back, this time squeezing and tickling up his sides.

HD howled. He was sure he was begging for his life at that moment, but all the words were lost on him. He only had some semblance of self when the tickling travelled up to his ribs. It still tickled, but it was more a soft drumming against his nerves than the shocks again and again.

“What a spot to find!” 4K voice practically trilled with his glee. His tail whipped under him. “I thought you were about to lose your mind there!”

It already felt like he had lost his mind, but there was some small thread of conscious thought working with HD to free him. 4K’s arms were immovable but he still had a chance.

4K’s legs were strong around HD’s, but with HD struggling and wiggling he could feel just a little give. Enough that in that moment he pulled his leg free. He kicked it off 4K’s legs, enough to get his other leg free as well, but before he could plan any more for his freedom, 4K quickly acted.

He rolled himself and HD so now HD was laying on his front on the ground. The grass tickled at HD’s nose, disorienting him for a moment as 4K moved him. The demon was no longer lying on top of him, but sitting on his lower back. Both of HD’s wrists were grabbed, easily, in one of 4K’s hands and pinned to the ground above his head.

Struggling was pointless yet HD still tried. He could move his legs at least but that was no use. He couldn’t kick high enough to get to 4K, and he couldn’t get any grip onto the grass to even try push himself up. Even then it wouldn’t matter. 4K’s weight wasn’t going to budge.

“You almost got out there.” 4K taunted. His finger just pressed ever so slightly on HD’s back through his top. HD squeaked, already giggling even though the touch wouldn’t normally be so ticklish. A worrying realisation hit HD that he couldn’t see. He couldn’t see where the next tickle was going to hit.

“Please! Please...d-dohon’t!”

“Don’t what?” 4K asked casually as he walked his fingers up HD’s spine.

It tickled so madly. It wasn’t intense, like the tickling on his sides, but more like an itch he just couldn’t get too. It felt worse in that moment, but HD had a feeling that opinion was about to change when 4K chose his next target for his attack.

“T-Tickle me! D-Dohon’t tihihickle me! Please!” HD pleaded, uncaring how high pitched his voice squeaked. He tried to turn his head just enough to look back at 4K, but that was a worse mistake.

The black mane of hair had untangled itself from the hair tie. It fell around the demon like a curtain. It shadowed them both from the dim light of the clouded over sun, but that just meant his orange eyes glowed so brightly and made his grin more maddening. Those orange eyes were just watching his own fingers, slowly crawl up, further and further up HD’s spine. When 4K’s eyes just flicked up to HD’s face, HD quickly looked away. He only hoped his hair was hiding his blush.

“Are you ticklish?” 4K asked.

“Y-Yeesss…”

“How ticklish?”

“V-Vehery!”

“So very ticklish.” 4K said it like he was confirming. His fingers stopped their slow walk between HD’s shoulder blades and instead he drew a lazy circle around and around HD’s back. “A ticklish little thing like you couldn’t handle being tickled over and over.”

“N-No!”

HD didn’t know where it was going or if he should have even been agreeing with 4K, but his mind was in a jumbled mess, wanting to do anything to get out of the situation. His skin wouldn’t stop tingling knowing the tickling was coming. Knowing at any moment those fingers would be attacking his sides, or his armpits, or his ribs. And he had no way of knowing.

“Yet you came to me willingly.” 4K’s voice purred again. “You practically walked into my arms and made a deal to be tickled. Again and again.”

That wasn’t something HD could agree with...or deny. Because it technically was true and yet hearing it being said still sent a shiver through him.

“And I think to myself ‘why’.” 4K carried on. “Why has this gorgeous fae offered themselves up to be my tickle toy for all eternity? What do they get out of it? And the only conclusion I could come to is you want to be tickled.”

Heat flushed HD’s face again and he opened his mouth just in time for the attack. The fingers tracing shapes on HD’s back now dug into his armpit. Attacking his left one first, 4K’s claws skittered into the hollows under his arms. Then quickly moved and tickled the right one, this time using the calloused pads of his finger. He moved between each pit and HD roared in laughter.

His armpits tickled furiously. He had no idea how ticklish they were. Now he was cursing the choice to wear a sleeveless top. He was cursing his skin for ever being so ticklish. And he was cursing himself for offering himself up to a mad demon, hellbent on tickling him into insanity.

“AH! AHAHAHAHAHAHA! OOHOOHOHOOH! NOT THERE NOT THERE!”

“Say you like being tickled.”

It wasn’t a request. HD shook his head, though that could just be from the tickling through his body. He was surprised that the words spouting out between his laughter weren’t deny it. They were agreeing.

“EHEEEEEHEHEHEEHE! TICKLEEEES! I-I like be-beeHEEHEHEING TICKLED!”

Another purr from 4K. This one was deeper, like a growl. His tail softly flicked on the back of HD’s leg. Tickling just ever so slightly but not enough to overtake the tickling in his armpits.

“PLEEEHEHEASE!”

“Say you like being my tickle toy.”

“IHIHIEEEE! I LIKE BEHEING YOUR TIHIHICKLE TOHOHOY!”

“And why did you make a deal?”

“BECAUSE-BECAUSE I WAHAHANT TO BEEE TICKLED!”

“And who do you want to be tickled by?”

“YOU! OHHOHOHOH! AH-AHAHAHAHA! NO! NO! IT TICKLEEEEES! IT TICKLES SOHOHO MUHUHUCH!”

His armpits were tortured for another ten minutes, though HD had lost all sense of time, space or sense. The only thing he knew was tickling. His thoughts and entire being was only being consumed by how ticklish he was, and how even despite the same spot being tickled over and over, his body wouldn’t let him get used to it.

“You alive, little star?”

4K had let go of HD’s wrists, and moved himself off the fae, yet HD was still face first into the ground as he mumbled.

“Noooo…” He winced at the sound of his own voice. It felt scratchy and dry. He couldn’t even muster up the strength to turn himself around, but he could still squeak as he felt 4K’s hands on him again.

“Alright. Let’s get you up.” 4K said as he helped turn HD over.

The thought of having to walk was dizzying, so HD was both parts pleased and embarrassed when 4K curled his arms under his shoulders and knees and hoisted HD up.

He shouldn’t have been so calm in the arms of the demon who just tickled him to the edge of his sanity. But 4K was so warm, his voice was so calming and HD couldn’t help himself from leaning his head on 4K’s shoulder.

“You get real cuddly after you’re tickled.”

That voice just moments ago was teasing HD and working up his nerves, but now he found comfort with it. It felt safe and warm and soothing. HD only hummed in response, only because he didn’t trust his voice wouldn’t squeak again.

4K began a slow walk to the cave entrance that HD couldn’t help but think was for his benefit. He tired not to focus on that fact though, and instead focus on 4K’s words as he kept talking.

“I wasn’t going to tease you so much but, well, you’re just so darn cute. Especially laughing your head off and trying to struggle away. Couldn’t help it.” He gave a breathy laugh, which rumbled in his chest slightly. HD could almost feel it against his ear. “And don’t worry about what you said in the moment. Anything said under tickle torture is through coercion and doesn’t count.”

HD didn’t want to even think about what he’d said during those moments, but the words were sadly running through his head, tied to the memory of him laughing so hard. He didn’t want to have to sort through them, deciding which of the things said were to get the tickling just to stop...and which were real.

“And you didn’t use your safeword either! I’m impressed.” 4K said while he shimmied himself and HD past the waterfall and into the cooling air of the cave. “Honestly thought I’d get you to use it for your first time.”

HD shook his head with the very little energy he could muster. “I’d die of embarrassment if I used it on my first session.”

“Ah! So you can speak. Thought I’d done a number on your voice...or maybe you’d fallen asleep.”

HD’s mood drooped slightly as he realised 4K was taking him to his own cavern room, and not to 4K’s. Of course he was grateful to be given his own space. But he really wanted to be under the open sky at that moment. He wanted to feel the sun and smell the trees as the wind blew by. But he kept his mouth shut and let himself be carried. His room was still nice and the cosy closeness just made HD curl up more.

He was lowered onto the bed nook of soft furs and he instantly melted. In a more aware sense, HD would have been ashamed to be so vulnerable in front of another but right now he couldn’t care. He needed to be soft and coddled and warm. He stretched out over the furs, feeling the tension in his limbs slowly fade before turning on his front and curling into the fur.

“I’ll be right back.” 4K said quickly. True to his word he returned not even five minutes later. He had a cup of water – which HD gratefully gulped down – and his other hand held a plate of food. Fruits to be more specific. A mix of apple and orange slices, with berries.

“Not sure what you like. I hope it’s alright.” 4K’s voice was less confident and he put down the plate beside the bed, within HD’s reach, and sat beside the bed. “I’ll need to get you stuff in you like, so you’ll need to tell me. If-If you don’t like it I can make the eggs again…”

4K rambled in a sense so unlike himself and HD realised he was nervous. “It’s fine.” HD quickly soothed him, watching the tension melt from the demon’s shoulders as he looked over to HD.

“Y-Yeah?”

“Yes. I like these.”

As though proving a point, HD took a raspberry of the plate to eat. Though while it did well to soothe 4K’s worries, he was also hungry. It was unusual to find out that tickling worked up his appetite, but he wasn’t complaining.

“That’s good.” 4K practically sighed. “But I’ll still need to get stuff for you. Food…” He gave a look down to HD, and poked his claw just slightly into his arm. “Some clothes as well. Though I certainly don’t mind you in these. Very easily accessible to your tickle spots.”

HD blushed again, quickly finishing the strawberry he was eating. “I can get myself clothes. I’ve got some in the town. And while I’m picking them up I can tell the townsfolk you won’t be an issue anymore.”

“Oh. You going to tell them the deal you made?”

It was teasing that HD should have expected by now, but his face was still lit up red. “I will tell them you won’t be an issue.” He insisted again, ignoring 4K’s laugh. “I’ll go later today.” His legs wobbled at the thought. “Mmm...maybe tomorrow.”

“I think you should rest for now. Surprised you’re still awake.” 4K’s voice went soft again, and HD felt himself melt. He tried to resist it, but it was hard when the demon also reached his hand over, slowly stroking through HD’s hair.

His claws just gently brushed against HD’s scalp and he settled further into the furs with a low hum.

“Do you need anything?” 4K’s voice whispered.

“Just this...please…” HD mumbled back, and shut his eyes. He let himself finally give in to the floaty, soft feeling in his chest, melting his cares away and finally pulling him into a comfortable nap.

14 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 1 year ago

Text

Stained Glass

Somewhere Only We Know

Word count: 2184

Warning: Nsfw and angst!!! Very nsfw!!

Always so overwhelming. George whimpered and whined, unable to hold back a single embarrassing sound. XD was everywhere. A thick, all-consuming eight inches was filling him up and the two longer tentacles wrapped around his body. They writhed along his skin, making him unable to stop moving. He threw his head against the back of the couch, seeing stars. He moaned and cried and god only knows what other filth left his lips. No one in the world could give it to him this good.

XD’s mouth attacked his neck as soon as it was exposed. Open mouthed kisses and playful nips just gentle enough to never leave a mark.

“Is that good baby?”, was muttered against his hot skin, burning him further. His body convulsed against his will as the tentacle inside him was able to tease that little spot inside of him so thoroughly. The pleasure was unbearable and life giving.

There was a loud bang, then a gasp. In an instant, all feeling left his body and he was left limp on the couch. George looked around dazed. XD had vanished. His entire body gave a lurching shudder at the confusing feeling.

Now fully in his line of sight; Sapnap. The boy had a hand over his face while the other blindly felt around for the doorknob. George huffed, choking a little as reality set in.

“I’m sorry!”, Sapnap yelled as he turned around.

“Fuck…”, George said softly. He looked down at his body. It was completely naked and his legs were thrown wide open. He was out of breath and flushed.

George scrambled up to his feet, but his knees were wobbly so he swayed harshly.

“Fuck.”, he whined.

It took him a bit to get to his room and throw clothes on. He stared in the mirror for a second and cursed his fucked-out appearance.

When he finally was ready to face the world again, he found Sapnap sitting in the kitchen. Normally they would sit on the couch, but he guessed he might have traumatized him a little too much for that.

“I’m really sorry, George.”.

“It’s okay.”, he said shortly. Sapnap stared back at him nervously.

“You really miss Dream, huh?”, he asked softly. George actually did choke then.

“What would any of…that…have to do with Dream?”.

“Oh, c’mon dude. I’m not an idiot.”.

“Actually, you are.”.

“Dude.”, Sapnap deadpanned. George pouted and shook his head. He was nowhere near ready for this conversation. He was pretty sure Sapnap didn’t know that XD had been here, so he wasn’t ready to give anything up.

“Why are you saying Dream?”, he asked softly.

“Because you guys were…”, Sapnap wiggled his fingers at George.

“I don’t know what that means.”.

“George.”.

“Sapnap…”, he whined. How did he even know any of that??

“You guys aren’t very subtle! And you’re both my best friends, so obviously I can tell when something is going on!”. George only shook his head again. Sapnap groaned. “Just admit it already so that I can help you.”.

“I’m not admitting anything! I have no idea what you’re talking about.”.

They both crossed their arms and glared at each other.

“I’m sorry that you walked in on that. I was just trying something. But, it has nothing to do with Dream.”, George said.

“You were like. Ugh. Screaming his name, dude.”, Sapnap struggled a little to get out the words. George stared back at him in shock. Then, he clapped both his hands over his reddening face and groaned loudly. He had never been so embarrassed in his life. “Dude, I’m sorry! I’m just worried about you!”, Sapnap sounded a little frantic. “You didn’t know? I’ve never been going solo on myself and like made sounds like that…I’m sorry!! I’m sorry George!”. George could cry, curling up into himself on the kitchen stool. Had he really been saying Dream’s name? He's hoping it was at least ‘DreamXD’…but then again Sapnap knows who that is and definitely would have caught on to a lot more. How humiliating.

George jolted as two hands clasped on to his shoulders, tuning back in to Sapnap’s repeated chanting of apologies.

“It’s okay.”, he said softly, letting his burning face be seen.

“I really am.”.

“It’s fine, you didn’t mean to walk in. I guess I was thinking about Dream. I, like. Um. We were like…”, George waved one of his hands weakly. Dream and him had never agreed on any kind of label. Dream would always say ‘In love.’…but, George couldn’t say that. “Kind of together?”, he settled on. Sapnap nodded.

“Have you seen him?”, Sapnap asked softly. He was pretty sure he knew George hadn’t gone to see Dream, but he didn’t want to make assumptions. George shook his head.

But, it was more complicated than that. He had seen Dream’s face under XD’s mask. He had heard Dream’s voice through XD’s mouth. His dreams each night were filled with sweet memories and bittersweet could-have-beens of Dream put there by the god. He shook his head again.

“I don’t know what I’m doing.”, he said softly and closed his eyes, dropping his arm against the table with his palm up. Sapnap grabbed his hand and held it right away, despite picturing what that hand had probably been doing when he had walked in on George earlier. George wasn’t normally one to reach out for help or comfort. He leaned his head back until it found Sapnap’s chest and just let himself feel the warm touch for a few seconds. The human touch was a little foreign. Well, basically human. Sapnap was a blaze-hybrid, but he was mortal. And he understood George more than anyone. “We should hang out more.”, he whispered. Sapnap’s hand tightened in his.

~•~

George didn’t spill everything…but he spilled quite a lot. He settled on telling Sapnap about the past, but not the present.

Boyfriend…basically; the label he settled on. They kissed and had sex and talked about their future together, so. What else is that?

“He loves you.”, Sapnap said with certainty, nodding like it all made sense.

“He loved me.”, George corrected. Sapnap shook his head and sighed.

“I really don’t think that kind of thing goes away, George.”.

“But he-“.

“No. I know he took away your crown, but it wasn’t because he doesn’t love you.”, Sapnap interrupted.

“He changed.”.

“I know. But, he still loves you. And I’m sorry.”.

“It’s okay.”, George shrugged.

“I love you, too. Not like that, but I do.”.

“I know.”, George grinned and scrunched away.

“Georgie.”, Sapnap coo’ed and moved closer to make George giggle.

It felt good to let Sapnap in on his big secret. Sure, he had already known…apparently. But, George was taking baby steps. He felt like he could breathe better with the weight of the secret off his chest.

There were more secrets that he still held too close…but this was a start.

~•~

“We’re alone.”, George called out a few hours later. XD came out from behind a corner, fully clothed. George sighed, knowing he heard everything.

“Are you okay, baby?”, he asked with outstretched arms.

“I’m fine.”, he murmured as he slumped forward into the hug.

He squealed and shoved against his chest as sneaky fingers suddenly crawled up his shirt. Of course, he wasn’t able to break away. He burst into giggles and twisted as the tickles persisted.

“Don’t!!”, he cried.

“I want to see your smile.”, XD purred the words as he leaned down, almost cocooning George’s squirming body. “You deserve to be happy.”.

“This…isn’t…happy!! Stop!!”, George shrieked and laughed as XD’s fingers worked in between his ribs. He crumpled against him and squealed hysterically. “Get out!!!”.

“You look and sound happy.”, XD smiled, soaking in George’s laughter.

In one quick movement, XD threw George over his shoulder like he weighed nothing. George screamed and grappled at XD’s shirt.

“Let me down!!”.

“I will.”, XD grinned and jostled him to make him yelp. “I’m going to tickle the sadness out of you!”, he said cheerfully as he spun around and headed to the bedroom.

“No!!”, George screeched, filled with giggles. “Let’s just finish having sex!!”.

“Nah.”, XD’s mask lit up the dark room with a bright green flash before he flicked the light on and tossed George on to the bed.

“XD!!”, George cried as he crawled backwards up the bed, only to be grabbed and yanked back down. The movement pulled up his shirt and XD was quick to dive in and blow a loud raspberry against the pale tummy underneath. George immediately screamed and shoved at his head. “No! No!! Please!”, he twisted against the bed and burst into hysterical laughter. The lips that attacked his tummy were ruthless. The god had no need for breathing, so it was unending and maddening. George screeched and bucked, but the god only shook his head and squeezed into George’s sides to keep him still. The poor mortal screamed with laughter and squirmed helplessly against the blankets. There was never an escape when XD had him pinned and he could only hope the god would have mercy.

George kicked and twisted and begged, but there was no budging him. The god lifted up only for a moment, just to drop back down and aim for George’s ticklish side instead. He screamed so loud he was sure the whole server could hear him. XD sat up, laughing.

“George, you’re so loud!”, XD shook his head in amusement, laughing happily. George giggled crazily through his gasps for air. The raspberries had left behind a terrible buzzing sensation and he couldn’t stay still for even one second. “It’s so good to see you happy.”.

“I’m not happy, I’m pissed!”, he squeaked out, face burning. There was already little tears rolling down his cheeks from the intense attack. XD grinned and his mask flashed a warning of green and white. “No.”, George commanded.

“I want to try some new stuff.”.

“I don’t care!”.

XD crawled backwards with that evil little smirk and grabbed George’s bare ankle.

“No please!!!”, George begged as XD stood and lifted his foot in the air. With XD being seven and a half feet tall, George was left feeling very helpless with his foot so high above the rest of his body. He whined and squirmed, but he knew there was no stopping XD from doing whatever he was doing. The butterflies in his tummy from being held like that made him burst into frantic giggles. “I hate you!”. The feeling of XD’s hot breath on his foot made him squeal. “What are you doing!”.

The feeling that came next was unlike anything George had ever felt. XD’s tongue pressed between his big toe and second toe, then slowly winded through the rest. George nearly tore his own hair out as he grabbed it, screaming and twisting against the bed. It tickled in such a startling way that he couldn’t find his laugh. His leg shook from the feeling, but there was no budging his ankle in XD’s inhuman grip. His vision fizzled out into fireworks of light as he lost his mind. When he felt the tongue start to slip out from between his toes just to wind it’s way back in, he found his laugh. Loud shocking laughter ripped from his chest as he writhed against the bed. He clawed at the blankets as he lost his mind, letting everything else go. No worries, no problems, nothing to miss. Maybe just his breath. He tried to gasp for it before his laughter sucked it out again. That’s all he needed; to know how to laugh and scream and squirm against the bed.

“I’m not sure you can handle that.”, came XD’s voice from above him. Oh, it had stopped. He was shaking and giggling breathlessly, gripping the blankets he had yanked closer and bunched around himself. His foot wasn’t in XD’s grip, but instead among the messy blankets and shaking. George giggled, dizzy as he dropped back into the blankets and covered his grinning face with both hands. XD laughed and crowded closer. “Did you have fun?”, he coo’ed.

“Shut up! You’re so stupid…”, he giggled and shook his head, turning and hiding in the blankets.

“C’mere…”, XD growled and grabbed his sides quickly, just to startle him. George squealed and snapped his arms to his sides, revealing his face for XD to coo at more. “I’m so happy to have you George.”.

George groaned weakly and smiled, beyond tired. The whole night had been a rollercoaster and he let his eyes close and head drop against the bed. He knew XD would read his skin.

Without fail, XD wrapped him up in warm arms and settled them beneath the blankets. It didn’t take long for George to fade away into dreamland. He curled happily into XD’s chest and let the god fill his dreams with all kinds of sweetness.

Tonight was simple. Nothing that George could twist with complicated feelings. Just darkness and peace. Echos of giggles and faint conversations. The feeling of warmth and happiness.

3 notes · View notes

doveafterdark · 1 year ago

Text

Go support them or I'll take your ankles

1 - THE DEAL

The fae HD goes to make a deal with the demon 4K. A lifetime of being the demons personal tickle toy if 4K doesn't go after humans again. But what does HD get out of this deal? And why is he willing to risk it for humans?

So a few people will know, this has been in the work for...a while.

This was just a dream I had, started writing for fun and now it's a planned story. 4 chapters are done so far and there are more planned.

Without anymore delay, please enjoy the first of many chapters~

It was not heroism that pulled HD up the mountain.

The sun had set a couple hours ago and the full moon hung high in the inky black sky. No stars tonight. The mountain almost looked silver under the moons glow and the small patches of clearing, with a little bit of moss and grass, looked ethereal. Almost heavenly.

The mountain was beautiful; but it was untouchable.

It loomed in the distance as a nice backdrop to the town below, yet the locals looked at it with dread. Rumours swirled around the town that to look at the mountain on a full moon night meant they’d be spirited away and put through gruesome work in the spirit world before they could return. Of course HD had no interest in these rumours. He wanted the truth and it took a little more digging than usual for him to find it.

The mountain was home to a terrifying demon. This demon kidnapped locals from the village or sometimes travellers on the path that went by the mountain. While still an awful case of kidnapping, the upside to it was that the demon wasn’t killing the humans or eating them. It would seem to be a random amount of days later, the demon would release the humans back unharmed and they returned to their lives.

That was odd for a demon. There were many demons that didn’t kill but to let a human go was almost unheard of. Usually it would be years of servitude or their souls trapped as a battery for the demon. But to let them go?

HD knew he needed to investigate as soon as he heard about it. Being one of the fair folk himself, he was familiar with human kidnappings. But demons and faes were two completely different beings. HD could handle a fae causing trouble, but a demon? Not impossible to deal with, HD supposed. He had made it his mission to protect humans from the influence of otherworldly creatures. Demons were on that list.

However, as he was trying to get more details on the demon, the humans that had been kidnapped were being annoyingly tight-lipped. Despite his asking and others of their family pleaded to tell, the victims were hesitant and some only agreed if they could tell HD alone.

The demon would kidnap these humans and...tickle them.

When the first victim told him, HD’s face was unchanged but that’s only because the shock of it struck him speechless. He had never heard of such a thing in demons before. He knew a few fae who would tickle wanderers on their paths but they’d never kidnap for that reason.

With a few of the victims opening up, HD put together a sort of timeline. The demon would grab people on full moon nights and keep them to tickle. Some were kept for a week while some were let go the very same day, but in each case they’d be tickled by the demon almost relentlessly.

That put a snag into HD’s plans. Could the demon get power from tickling? Or was it simply something to mess with humans? Each of the victims claim the demon never spoke much other than teasing them while they were tickle tortured. They’d be tickled to the brink of exhaustion and then they’d awake up back to their home, or put back on their path.

HD pondered these strange events before forming a plan and he was off. Up the mountain on the full moon night. When the demon would strike again.

It was a long climb to the top, but HD cleared it a couple hours. The top of the mountain was a wide expanse of land. A perfectly crystal clear lake lay under a waterfall, surrounded by the mountain walls and a few patches of grass and trees.

Despite the cloudless night and full beam of the moon, it was a rather warm evening. HD had only a sleeveless kimono on with trousers just reaching past his knees. It was a blue colour, almost the same shade as his hair, with small lighter blue stars over the material.

The scene would have almost been romantic, and HD was tempted to enjoy the moment for just a little longer. But he had a mission to do.

Behind the waterfall, HD could just about see the entrance to the cave where the locals said the demon’s lair was. All of them remembered the waterfall and so HD slipped in close to the rocks, passed the waterfall and stepped in.

The moons glow illuminated the cave a little, but didn’t give much. The cave’s rocks were jagged and unrefined but it was very much lived in. There were wooden crates laying around as well as some furs over a few rocks and the ground. Some of the crates were open, showing various foods which the demon must have taken from traders wandering by.

There was a deeper part to the cave, leading to a small rocky slope that looked perfectly sculpted to climb. HD debated whether he should go that way, or try exploring more of the open area he was in, when the voice spoke.

“I’ve never had prey just walk into my arms.”

HD paused mid-step. The once calm, relatively peaceful atmosphere of the cave shifted. HD couldn’t see the demon until he dropped down from the slope of the cave so easily.

The demon was tall. Very tall. He was clearly a foot higher than HD and his wild mane of black hair made him seem taller. Between the waves of inky black hair, two horns stuck up. Starting as a deep red, they changed to a teal blue at their tips. Not only was the demon tall, he was muscled too. His shoulders were board, his muscular arms on full display from his sleeveless kimono that hung open just a little bit to show a slip of his wide chest. His top and trousers were covered in a wavy design, of reds, orange and yellows making it look like flowing lava.

“This saves me a trip.” He spoke again. His voice was a rumble, like thunder echoing off the cave walls. His orange eyes were glowing, watching HD like a monster had just found his prey. A grin stretched over his face, showing his array of sharp teeth, with one fang a little longer on his right side.

The demon stepped forward and HD took a step back. “I’ve come to talk.” He spoke quickly. Probably too quickly from his mix of nerves and a genuine fear. Hearing about the demon was very different to actually meeting face to face with the demon.

“I don’t talk.” He replied and his steps never faltered.

HD took another step back and quickly reached back. He gripped the small pouch attached to his sash and pulled it forward. The demon faltered then, only as he realised HD was prepared. But the hesitation only lasted a second and he tried to quickly close the distance between himself and HD. But HD was faster.

HD pulled the string on the pouch and turned it upside down. White beads fell from the bag, pouring over the ground. There was enough to make a semi circle around HD and the demon instantly stopped.

His eyes scanned over the beads, taking a step back as they rolled ever so slightly outwards till there was a good few feet between the beads and him. He scanned over them again, then looked up to HD. “Selenite beads…”

“So you know what happens with selenite and demons.” HD let himself breathe, trying to hide his nerves. Some of the beads had luckily rolled out, making an almost circle around him. At least for the moment, he was safe.

“I do.” The demon brought up his hand, and scratched over his jaw. He had a tuft of a beard on his chin and some stubble running along his jaw. His nails were like long black claws that HD was sure would cut at his beard, but he skilfully avoided losing any hairs. “So you’re from the town.”

“No… What is your name?”

The demon hesitated before he finally answered. “4K.”

It wasn’t the strangest demon name HD had ever heard. At least it was pronounceable.

“Your name?” 4K asked.

“HD.”

4K hummed at the name, and tapped his chin. A black shape softly lashed behind him and HD realised it was a tail. A long black tail with the tip more fluffier than the rest. “Is that short for anything?”

“No.” HD answered quickly, pulling his eyes away from the tail. “Are you willing to talk now?”

“Looks like I have no choice.” 4K shrugged. He folded his arms over his chest, and waited expectantly. “Can’t promise I’ll be much of a conversationalist.”

“That’s fine. I’ll get through it quickly then. I’m not from the town you’re terrorising but I know what you’ve been doing. Took a while to get them to tell me, but I did.”

“Oho! I wondered what they’d been saying.” 4K grinned again, almost like he was proud of himself. “I figured since no-one was sending the guards after me, they knew I wasn’t harming them. Wasn’t sure if they’re be completely honest about what I did though.” He chuckled.

“They weren’t exactly shouting it from the rooftops. And even if you’re not harming them what you are doing is still wrong.”

4K studied HD, his expression pulling back to curious before he grinned again. “What am I doing?”

HD blinked, confused. Was that a trick question? Or was the demon curious how much research HD actually did. “Well you’re kidnapping people.”

“Aaaand?” 4K lead, waving his hand slightly. “What else am I doing?”

HD could feel his cheeks flush, and 4K pounced on that weakness instantly. “Can you not say it?” The demon asked.

“I can!” HD snapped far too quickly. Not curiosity at all, but teasing. Just hoping to get a rise out of HD and the fae cursed that it was working. “You’re...tickling them. You’re kidnapping people to tickle them.” He spoke fast, but found it was much easier to say the word again once he’d already said it.

“That’s a nice blush you got there.” 4K chuckled. “Do you get more red the more you say the word?”

“No!” HD fumed. He was losing control of this...discussion? It was hardly a proper conversation to begin with but he couldn’t let it derail. “Enough! I’m here to offer a deal, so you’ll stop terrorising those people.”

“Oh? Want to stop me? You’re gonna have to bring a bit more than selenite beads if you’re planning on stopping me.”

4K flexed his muscles in a show of strength. His arms, already so thick, expanded and his chest pushed more against his kimono, letting it slip open a little more. HD was thankful he was already blushing or the sudden rush of heat to his face would have been beyond embarrassing.

For all the demons that HD had met, 4K was very strikingly...not demonish. If he could hide his horns he’d almost look mortal. When he’d asked for details of the demon from the victims none of them gave much of a description apart from a few who said he wasn’t monstrous. HD didn’t realise “not monstrous” meant handsome.

HD shook his head, ridding himself of such thoughts. Thankfully while 4K noticed he took that to be an answer to him and he raised an eyebrow. “If you recall…” HD cleared his throat. “I offer a deal. A deal means it’s beneficial for both of us.”

4K looked unsure. His eyes narrowed in suspicion before something clicked in his head that this would be worth his time. He gave an almost amused smile. “Let’s hear it then.”

HD took in a slow breath before talking, wanting to make sure this was perfect now. “You will stop kidnapping and tickling. You won’t go after anyone again.” He could see 4K snort. “In return… I offer myself up.”

4K was blinking this time. Confusion written all over his expression as he fluttered his eyelids a few times before speaking. “Come again?”

“I offer myself.” HD repeated. It was actually easier saying his plan out loud than he thought considering he’d only ever said it internally to himself. “You can have me, to...tickle. For eternity.”

The demon made a snort, which HD took to be him holding back a laugh as his shoulders shook too. “Well. What an offer.” He chuckled. “As cute as you very much are, your eternity and mine are vastly different. Plus I like to let my victims go before they...tire out, shall we say.”

It was HD who raised his eyebrow now before it clicked in his head. “I’m one of the fair folk. A fae creature. Our eternities line up perfectly actually.”

The amused look fell from 4K’s face, a mixed look of surprise and bewilderment taking it’s place. It had been a while since HD had to announce himself on what he was. Usually people guessed from his night sky blue hair and rather opalescent skin. Though, as he thought about it now, he was in a shadowed cave.

“You’re...oh…” 4K tilted his head, eyes roaming HD like he was fully taking him in for the first time. “I suppose that explains why you’re such a looker.”

Heat flushed to HD’s cheeks again which made 4K burst with laughter. “Stop that!” HD snapped. His mind fumbled to find the words, crumbling over 4K’s words and the other half of him chastising himself for being so blushy over a demons honeyed words. “Knowing that now, that makes us rather compatible time frame wise. You have me to tickle for eternity as long as you leave everyone else alone.”

4K rose a hand up to his chin, his finger stroking over his beard in thought. “Hmm… How very noble of you, fae HD.” He spoke calmly. “I recall most fae would hardly leave their lush forests, much less sacrifice themselves for humans.”

“I am not most fae.” HD hurried the conversation along. His teeth itched to the thought of being compared to other faes. “Do we have a deal or not?”

“Well, hold on. While I admit your offer is very tempting...how do I know this isn’t a trick?”

HD tilted his head. “Trick?”

“Yes. I believe your kind are known for that as much as mine. Say I do agree to your deal, and then discover you aren’t even ticklish. Seems I’m at a loss.”

The sane reply would be to assure the demon he was in fact ticklish, but then HD realise he would be admitting to it, and that was somehow more embarrassing than swooning over 4K’s words.

“I-I give you my word.” HD quickly spoke, trying to hide his pause.

“Your word means as much to me as pebbles. No.” 4K hummed again, deep in thought before he suddenly smiled. He lowered his hand, resting both on his hips as he spoke. “I want a tester.”

“Excuse me?”

“A tester.” 4K said again, like it was the most obvious thing. “I want a chance to know what I’m agreeing to. To put it simply…” he grinned, “I want to tickle you right now.”

It wasn’t where HD thought the conversation would go. He had already accepted he was setting himself up to be tickled by the demon yet doing a ‘tester’ to his ticklishness somehow made him more nervous. Goosebumps prickled on his skin as he swallowed the lump in his throat.

“And then you’ll agree?” HD asked hopefully.

4K shrugged. “Maybe. Let’s see how responsive you are and then consider it from there. Though the prospect of having a cute fae to tickle forever is very...tempting.”

HD’s heart thumped in his chest, rushing the blood to his cheeks and down his neck. “Alright… To prove I am…y-you can test.”

“Perfect.” 4K purred. The rumble seemed to echo off the cave walls and shook in HD’s bones. He shuddered just so slightly but 4K hadn’t noticed as he asked. “So you wanna get rid of these?”

It took 4K motioning down to the white beads for HD to realise what he meant. “Oh.” He waved it off. “Those are just white marbles.”

“M-Marbles?”4K gawked. “You brought marbles to demon?!” He seemed more amused than insulted, laughing as he spoke. “What was your plan if I called your bluff?!”

“Fight you, obviously. But thankfully it never came to that.” HD shrugged. “Now, are you going to test this or not?”

“Oh absolutely I am.”

HD tried to ignore the delighted trill in 4K’s voice. Instead he watched as the demon looked around. He did walk forward and give an experimental kick to the marbles just to test but then his eyes scanned the cave till they rested on a sloped rock. “Here. Sit up here.”

They moved over to the rock. HD kept himself cautious the closer he got to 4K, though it was hard to focus when all he could notice was how much taller the demon was to him. His arms were thick with muscle and his hands were so big. His palms looked like they could cover HD’s whole stomach.

As instructed, HD hopped himself up onto the rock, trying not to look at 4K grinning down at him.

“You’re being very brave for just admitting the beads you brought were fake.” 4K made his voice smooth again, to the point it felt like it was softly caressing HD’s ear.

“I don’t need to be brave.” HD kept his voice steady and looked up to 4K.

“No? You don’t even have that liiiittle bit of worry that I could just snatch you up right here?”

“No. Because then the deal would be off and I’d have to fight you. And I think you’d much rather tickle than fight me.”

HD was surprised he could keep his voice so even. Of course he wasn’t doubting his strength if it came to a fight between him and 4K, but the whole feel of the conversation felt...weird.

“Well you’re right about that.” 4K chuckled. “Shall we start then?”

“I’m waiting on you.”

HD felt proud he was matching 4K’s quips with his own. All that pride left when 4K grinned and suddenly dropped to his knees.

The shock and surprise made HD jump, which just put his ankle closer to 4K’s reach and he snatched it up.

“What-Whahat are you doing?!” HD stuttered and fought with his urge to kick his leg out.

“Testing.” 4K replied so easily, like he wasn’t shuffling closer between HD’s legs. “Just like we agreed.”

HD wanted to sputter this was not what was agreed at all, but he was suddenly too focused on watching 4K’s other hand move.

His ankle was still firmly in 4K’s grasp, but the demon’s other hand softly caressed up the HD’s calf. His touch was so soft, almost ticklish but not enough to make HD laugh. Just send goosebumps up his leg. The hand made it up to the hem of HD’s trousers, which lay just past his knees, and pushed further till they were halfway up HD’s thigh.

“Is this okay?”

4K’s voice was a mix of soft and rumbling. Like a deep purr. It took HD a few minutes to really understand what the words were. He was so focused on 4K’s hands.

“H..Huh…” HD breathed finally. “I-I thought you were going to tickle me…”

“I am.” 4K purred again. “Are your legs ticklish?”

The air felt warm suddenly, though that could have just been from the heat radiating off 4K. “Not really…” HD lied. Well, not truly a lie. His legs had never been the focus of tickling before so he couldn’t really say. Though when the long grass swayed over them he would giggle.

“Your very nervous for a ‘not really’.” 4K pointed out.

“Are you going to tickle me, or not?!” HD snapped. Somehow talking about how ticklish he was was more embarrassing than being tickled.

“Of course. I just needed to distract you.”

HD’s mouth opened for some rebuttal, or maybe to ask what 4K meant. He honestly didn’t know what he was about to say because his thoughts and words, were overtaken by sudden laughter, as 4K’s nails started tickling HD’s foot.

He hadn’t even realised 4K had let go of his ankle. He was too focused on watching 4K’s other hand to notice anything. Now even as his foot was being tickled HD only kicked it out slightly, yet 4K naturally followed its weak kicking and fighting. Scribbling his claws along the soft sole.

“Whahha! W-W-Wahait! Wait! NNG!”

HD’s hand flew up to his mouth, clasping over his lips and muffling the laughter for what good it did him. It didn’t make it tickle any less. When he had the thought to actually move his leg away, it was held steady by 4K’s other hand. Slipping under his thigh and keeping him in place, but the wasn’t tickling him.

“Y-You...Yohou…! F-Fuhuahaha!”

It was hard to speak when the nails just kept on tickling. They found a very sensitive spot at the ball of his foot, focussing right there. Somehow HD had the stupid thought that the more it would be tickled, the less sensitive it would be, but that seemed to be the opposite effect on that little spot.

In the distant past, HD had only ever been tickled in small spurts. A squeeze on his sides or a tweak at his ribs. He’d giggle when he walked over the grass if it was particularly soft. He knew he was ticklish but he couldn’t be prepared for just how ticklish he was.

“I-I thought yohohou were ti-! T-T-Tihickling my lehegs!”

“I can multitask, little star.”

The name swept a new heat through HD. Burning his face and making his skin just ever more ticklish. His leg tried to kick out a little more, yet 4K followed with no problem.

HD’s hand clasped over his mouth again, trying to drown out the sounds of his own laugh. A high squeaking sound he was not used to hearing. It made him feel vulnerable...and light. Weightless.

It was an intoxicating feeling HD could have floated on just a little longer, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Fangs pressed against HD’s thigh. It was on the inner part, the spot right where his knee connected to the thigh.

HD gasped at first. A soft sound which was followed by hysterical uncontrolled giggling as the demon moved; nibbling further up his thigh.

“NOHOHOHOHO! OH! OH G-GOHOHODS! NEEEEHEHEHEHE!”

“Wow!” The words were said against HD’s leg, but at least that took the fangs away from his thigh. “You really are ticklish huh?”

The buzz through HD’s nerves, shaking his brain and draining his reason, took a moment to pass. It dulled slowly, though he was still giggling he could at least take in his situation. The nibbling on his thigh and the tickling on his feet had stopped. The respite period was short though – or at least short in terms of HD noticing it – as the hand that had only been holding his leg was now tickling.

4K’s fingers began slowly kneading in, like a soft massage that pushed in at just the right spot to make his muscles soft and tickly. His other hand now tickled up HD’s shins, kneading like the other hand before they stopped just below HD’s knee. Tickling and squeezing around the bone.

“Oh this is going to be fun.”

“Stohohop! Stop! Stop! Stop!”

4K did stop, much to HD’s surprise but he wasn’t one to question it. When the demon pulled back his hands and stood up, HD curled in on himself. He rubbed over his leg and pulled the leg of his trousers back down. Though his uncovered shins and feet now felt more vulnerable than ever.

“Okay. I accept.”

HD slowly uncurled himself and looked up to 4K. His face must have been a mess but he couldn’t care. It was hard to focus when his body was still tingling. His nerves electrified. “Wh...Whahat?” He asked with a giggle still in his voice.

“I accept your deal. Getting you as a personal tickle toy for eternity? That’s a dream!”

HD’s head was swimming and in a better state of mind he would have retorted with something smart, yet he couldn’t think on that now. Half of his brain was wired and reminding him how serious this was. The other half wanted to curl up and melt and chase that soft, tingly feeling again. With great effort, HD pushed down the latter half and forced himself to sit up.

“H-Hold on…” HD sighed. The ghostly tingles still lingered but at least he could speak without laughing. “We need to set some terms.”

“Surely terms are set before the deal has been made?” 4K raised his eyebrow but his tone wasn’t annoyed. More curious than anything. While he was still imposing, the whole mood of 4K had shifted. He was less guarded and the smile over his lips didn’t seem so showy.

“The deal hasn’t been made yet.” HD pointed out, gaining more authority in his voice. “I am a fae. Deals and bargains are our thing. No deal is done till we have full agreement on the terms.”

4K seemed to think for a moment. His fang hanging over his lip scraped along his skin before he shrugged. “Alright then.” He nodded and then suddenly leaned down.

His face came impossibly close to HD, so much that the fae had to quickly lean back to stop their faces mashing into each other. His back hit onto the stone when 4K finally stopped. Now the demon was leaning over him, both his arms braced at HD’s sides and their noses touching. “What are your terms?”

It was another game 4K played to make HD blush, or to hold some sense of control. Well while HD’s cheeks were still red, he looked into 4K’s orange eyes and spoke.

“One. You will not harm humans at all.” HD rose one finger up between himself and 4K. Partly in show and another to keep some physical distance between them. He rose a second finger. “Two. Each month, I want a week of freedom. I’ll leave for one week and come back.”

4K’s eyebrows rose to that one. HD knew that one would be a fight to make him agree. “And three,” HD rose his third finger, “before each tickling...s-session… I want a question answered.”

4K took a moment to think. His lips pursed as he gave a low drawn out hum. “Well of course I have some counter offers.”

HD expected that and he could agree it was fair. “Alright. They are?”

“In terms of harming humans, sometimes it’s not me who starts it. I’d like it so I could at least defend myself should the need arise.”

That should have been obvious to HD but he excused it as his flustered mind not thing straight. He gave a nod. “Okay. Except in the case of self-defence, no harming humans.”

“Perfect.” 4K nodded in agreement. “As for the questions, we need to define what would count as a session. Sometimes I’ll just want to spontaneously tickle you, or just tweak your side if you walk by. Other times I will plan out some elaborate methods to tickle you with.”

A new feeling of heat and tingling nerves rushed though HD. He squirmed just a little as he allowed his mind to run wild, imagining what sort of ‘elaborate methods’ 4K had planned. It took a moment before he trusted his voice to speak. “A-Alright… Let’s say then before any of the elaborate ticklings, I get to have a question answered. That fair?”

“Fair.” 4K nodded again. “As for you leaving for a week...why?”

HD had expected this question and planned to answer as little as he could. “I have responsibilities I still need to take care of. Things to check in. I’ll only need a week and then I’ll be back.”

Despite his voice trying to assure the demon, 4K still didn’t seem convinced. He hummed again and his eyes narrowed so slightly. “I’ve heard stories of your kinds of deals. And what happens when they’re broken. Let’s say the minimum time you can be away is a week. I don’t want this deal breaking and me getting a curse because you got held up on travel back here.”

HD was shocked by the suggestion, though he knew it was partly from 4K’s own self preservation. He was curious why the demon let it go so easily but he wasn’t going to question this blessing

“But I have a term too.” 4K quickly said and brought up his own finger. “You cannot bring anything here that could hurt me. No real beads, or magic item or weapons. Nothing that could harm a demon.”

That...might complicate thing. HD squirmed again, though this time with less pleasant feelings. It would make things harder, but it wasn’t impossible. “Fine. I agree to that. I won’t bring back anything that can harm a demon.”

“Great!” 4K grinned widely, but he didn’t move from his spot. “So, Mr Fae. How do these deals work? We seal it with a hand shake?” His grin widened. “With a kiss?”

“You wish.” HD snapped back. “Nothing like that. Just speak when needed.”

It had been too long since HD had ever made a deal with anyone though it was a power he could call upon easily. It was in his blood as a fae and while he hated how natural it came to him, it was a necessary evil this time.

“I, HD enter a pact with the demon, 4K.”

The air in the cave changed. The warm evening air was swept away as a stale, sickly sweet wind took it’s place. The smell used to make HD gag, but now he was more controlled.

He watched as 4K felt the change as well. Goosebumps ran up the muscles of his arms and his nostrils twitched ever so slightly, but he kept his eyes locked onto HD’s.

“With the agreed upon terms, the contract is made. Under the law of the Unseelie Court it is bound. I, HD, agree to the pact.”

4K spoke slowly. “I, 4K, agreed to the pact.”

“And it is sealed.”

It was like a knot tying around his heart. It wasn’t painful or uncomfortable it was just there. A small twinge of pressure as the strings pulled towards one another, and tied together. After a second, the pressure faded and then HD couldn’t feel the knot unless he focused on it.

“W-Woah…” 4K voice became breathy. Almost whispery. He had pulled back and placed a hand over his heart. “That’s...something.”

“Yes…” HD own voice was breathy. He was suddenly more tired as he pushed himself up.

“You alright?”

4K placed his hand on HD’s back. It was warm, and he wanted to melt into it but he forced himself to push against it and move off the stone. “I’m fine…”

“That deal took it out of you, huh?”

Deals never usually did, though it had been a while since HD had to actually use one. He felt strangely tired yet it was...a soft feeling. Somehow comforting.

“Ah, I see. Okay.” 4K said.

HD couldn’t possibly think of a reply. He wanted to not speak for the rest of the night, but that wasn’t an option as 4K quickly swept him up off his feet.

“Wh-What!” He made a squeak he couldn’t help, but he couldn’t be embarrassed about it now as he tried to adjust.

He was lifted up in 4K’s arms in a bridal carry. One arm under his knees, the other supporting his back and keeping him somewhat upright as 4K walked deeper into the cave.

“Where are you taking me?!” HD asked with a sudden panicked though 4K was going to tickle him again. He felt like he couldn’t handle that.

“Relax, little star.” 4K chuckled. “You’re tired. I’m taking you some place to sleep.”

That did relax HD somewhat, but only somewhat. His skin felt overly sensitive and on edge. Even the touch on the back of knees felt tickly but he distracted himself by looking around.

They went to the slope in the back of the cave where 4K first dropped from. He easily walked back up, revealing a rather normal room.

It was a moderate sized space, but the ceiling of the cave was high up, and opened in a jagged circle. The moon was shining in, making a silver spotlight onto a makeshift bed.

There was a wide, flat stone platform in the centre of the room covered in a mix of furs and blankets and pillows. Nothing matched together but it was unbelievably soft as HD found out when he was lowered to the bed.

Soft...so soft. HD practically melted into the furs and while a small voice was saying he should be ashamed of himself for letting his guard down, he couldn’t find the energy to care. Everything just felt more intense. Things were softer, the air was warmer. Even the moons glow seemed more beautiful.

“There you go.” 4K said proudly and drew his arms away.

A snappier HD would have retorted back with something, but this HD was too calm. Even 4K’s voice felt softer on his ears.

“I need to prepare things. But you sleep here for now.”

A ticklish feeling ran over HD’s scalp and he realised, through heavy eyelids, that it was 4K playing with his hair.

“Under the moon your hair is like starlight…”

HD hummed something that might have been words but even he couldn’t tell. His eyelids were heavy and something soft pressed up against his face. He realised it was a pillow and curled his arms around it instinctively as his mind slipped more and more.

“Sleep, Starlight. I’ll be right back.”

The touch in his hair was gone and HD might have whined to it’s loss. He couldn’t tell though as his conscious mind slipped further and further away. And then HD was asleep.

#dove loves her friends 💕

12 notes · View notes