#baldurs gate 3 tickle

[ticklesandawkwardness]

For your consideration: gently tracing along Astarion's tummy, just enough to have him smiley and giggly but still light enough to be relaxing

[sideshow-cellophane-blog]

I just had to say that your tickling fic "wylls enchanted boots" was just... *chef kiss* very nice, very cute! Loved it!!!

Aww thank you so much!!! 🥺❤🪶 I love the idea of making those loons laugh. Everyone in the party deserves some form of fluffy stress relief!

[fluffy-ami]

✧ Astarion + “wake-up” tickles

(the cute aggression i feel whenever i see him is endless, i just wanna make my man giggle i wanna see him happy i wanna play with him i-)

Ik that elves don't need to sleep, Star was just feeling all comfy, heehee. I think eventually he would feel safe enough around Tav & others to let his guard down and let them be playful with him <3

[feathergail]

[ astarion - baldur’s gate 3 ]

soooo i’m replaying bg3….

[angelatmidnight1]

Could I request a Karlach x Tav reader? Where Karlach accidentally discovers Tav who normally acts tough is actually embarrassingly ticklish?

Put 'Em Up

Fandom- Baldur's Gate 3.

Pairing- Karlach Cliffgate x Reader (lee!reader, ler!Karlach, tiny bit of lee!Karlach at the end). Reader puts on a tough personality and is strong like Karlach. Reader and Karlach are also in a romantic relationship.

Word Count- 2,216.

Warnings- None really, besides tickling and swearing.

Karlach asked to train with you, but she isn’t taking it very seriously. Instead, she uses it as an opportunity to flirt and get closer to you. You try to stay focused, but she accidentally finds out that you’re ticklish. It’s going to be a long match..

“Alright, babe. Hit me with your best shot.”

Karlach circled you with a bright grin, fists up. The two of you were training, and she was only too excited to tussle with you. Sure, she knew how important training was to you, but she’d take any excuse to get closer to you. You sized her up and hummed.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” You took a swipe at her when she got too close, and she parried your blow. Karlach huffed.

“I should be saying that to you,” she chuckled. “But fine, just know that just because you’re playing nice doesn’t mean that I will.”

You smirked. You and Karlach were still early in your relationship, and there was a lot that she didn’t know about you. Although she was much taller and muscular than you, you could hold your own in a fight. In fact, you were known for your fighting prowess in Baldur’s Gate. You didn’t buy into the hype; you could rarely tolerate the company of others. But, Karlach was the exception. And she was in for one hell of a surprise. 

“Damn, you’re strong.” 

Karlach grunted as you pinned her on her back. Both of you were out of breath from wrestling each other. It wasn’t easy to get her down, but you managed. You straddled her waist and had her arms pinned above her head. “Way stronger than I thought..”

“I know,” You forced her arms back down when she tried to pull away. “I've flattened more people than I can count in Baldur’s Gate.”

Karlach breathed out a laugh. “At least you’re modest about it, huh?” She continued fidgeting in your grip, making it harder for you to keep her down. “I’ll be honest, I can’t remember the last time anyone’s pinned me. Usually it’s the other way around, heh. But, I could get used to this…”

The tiefling gave you a cheeky grin. One that made you exhale slowly through your nose. 

“Karlach,” Your cheeks flushed slightly. “Don’t start.”

“Ooo, bossing me around now?” Karlach’s grin widened, and her engine glowed.  “That’s hot..”

You shook your head, your blush darkening. “Shut up.” 

Karlach craned her head up to you with a challenging smirk. “You gonna make me?”

You stared at her, flustered, but you didn’t back down. Instead, you met her halfway and kissed her lips deeply. She hummed in surprise and happily returned the kiss. Her lips were warm, soft, and familiar. You got lost in that kiss. And, she had the opportunity to flip your positions. 

When your back hit the ground, you grunted softly. Karlach pinned your wrists by your sides and gave you a triumphant grin. 

“Gotcha.”

You groaned. “I should’ve known you would cheat.”

“Hey, all’s fair in love and war! And, I uh, really love you.” Karlach’s voice softened as she gazed down at you. “A lot.”

“I love you too.” The love she expressed to you was still overwhelming. Not in a negative sense, but it still felt a bit foreign to you. Before the nautolid, you were content to spend your days alone. Now, you weren’t sure what you’d do without Karlach’s bright presence, even if you didn’t express it. You ended the tender moment by adding, “Now let me up so I can kick your ass.”

Karlach threw her head back with a laugh. “I don’t think so. Maybe I like you here, with me on top.” She shot back, wiggling her eyebrows. You bit back a smile, giving her your best stern look. 

“We’re supposed to be training,” Your voice came out strained as you tugged against her grip. Your arms moved a couple of inches, but Karlach held on tighter, now using much more of her strength. “Not goofing off.”

“I know, but who says we can’t have a little fun too?” Karlach leaned down towards you. You leered at her. “Don’t give me that look, (Y/N). Gimme a smile.”

She kissed your cheek. Your forehead. Your nose. Your other cheek. You wiggled your head as she attacked your face with kisses, unable to stop your smile.

“Thihis isn’t training!” You protested. You continued squeaking and struggling until she moved the kisses to your neck. The kisses got sloppier, and each one ended with a loud ‘mwah’. You shivered and inadvertently squealed when her lips found a ticklish spot.

Karlach froze. There was a curious glint in her fiery eyes. 

“What was that?”

“Er, nothing.”

“Nothing? Are you sure?” A worried look came over Karlach’s features. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No.” Your cheeks flushed again, but this time for a different reason. One of your closely guarded secrets was how ticklish you were. And it was for a good reason; you, alongside Karlach, were the muscle of your party. It was often said that you learned how to fight before you could walk. Any enemy that wasn’t afraid of you changed their tune when they saw the thrashing you’d given their friends. You didn’t want anyone to know that you could be taken down by something as embarrassing and childish as tickling. 

With a deep breath, you pulled down hard against Karlach’s grasp, freeing your wrists. Your feet found purchase on the ground and you sat up. You parried her attempts to grab and re-pin you and, after minutes of back and forth grappling, Karlach suddenly hoisted you in the air. Her claws dug into your sides with enough pressure to tickle, and you inadvertently wheezed. Karlach froze again and turned you around in her arms so that you faced her. 

“Am I tickling you?” The curious glint in her eyes turned playful as she held you in the air. Your heartbeat quickened as you stared back at her. 

“No, you aren’t. You’re just squeezing a bit hahard—” A slight giggle escaped you, and you coughed to mask it. Karlach held you in a gentler grip, giving your sides a much softer squeeze. You gasped, “P-Put me down..”

“I don’t know,” Karlach obliged by setting you back on the ground. But she kept her hands on your sides, squeezing just below your rib cage. You batted her hands away with another concealed giggle. “That sounded like a laugh to me.”

“It wasn’t!” You held one arm closer to your torso protectively and resumed your fighting stance. “Enough talk, let’s keep at it.” 

“Right, sure.” Karlach chuckled. There was something about her tone and the way she now sized you up that made you feel wary. But, you pushed the feeling away, charging her and initiating another grappling session.

Instead of responding how you thought she would, where maybe she’d drag you back to the ground or pick you up again, her hands ended up on your torso again. She gripped your hips, squeezing and prodding them, and you choked back more laughter. 

“Whahat the hell ahare you doing?” You grabbed her wrists, fighting with her grip, but she didn’t let up. Your laughter was getting harder to hold back. You accidentally stumbled backwards during your attempt to free yourself from her grasp. Karlach happily followed you down. 

“Not ticklish my ass, you’re laughing!” She accused, poking randomly along your torso. You frantically grabbed at her wrists and grit your teeth. 

“Noho I’m not!” You arched your back when she prodded at your belly, squealing again. “Stop thahat!”

“Then why’re you laughing, huh? What’s so funny?” Grinning, Karlach straddled your waist, trapping your flailing arms at your sides. Her hands descended onto your ribs and she scritched up and down the bones. You bit your lips to halt your impending giggle fit. 

“N-Nohot laughing…” You gasped, trying to tug your arms free. Now, Karlach was utilizing her full strength on you, and she was determined to keep you down. You arched your back when her hands scampered back down your sides. She alternated between poking and squeezing and you pinched your eyes shut. It tickled so badly, but you were determined to hold out. Your partner’s giddy, teasing voice echoed in your ears. 

“(Y/N), baby, I know you wanna laugh..” Karlach smirked. She pinched your hips again, kneading them, and you wheezed. She giggled. “Better admit it before I really start tickling you.”

You tried to ignore her, your feet drumming against the ground as she kept tickling. A silly grin spread across your face. She clawed at your belly again, and the dam finally broke. 

You tossed your head back, giving in to your loud, wheezing laughter. “FUHUAHA! KAhaharlach, stahahahp!”

Karlach’s eyes brightened. “Oho, I knew it!” She cheered. She drilled her thumbs into the sides of your belly, and you wheezed again. 

You were laughing too hard to answer her. You shook your head back and forth as you fell into a deeper pit of laughter. Eventually, you were able to give her a minimal response.  “FAHahahaha offhahaha! Gehehehet off of mehehehehehe!”

“Mm, maybe later,” she snickered. She eased off your stomach and pulled your arms above your head with one hand. You tried to yank your arms free before she could fully pin them, but she moved fast, and your squealing fell flat. She wriggled her claws at you tauntingly. “All this time, and I had no idea you were ticklish!”

“Youhuhu wehehehren’t suhuhposed tohohoho!” You fired back, still giggling from the previous attack. You watched her claws and squirmed under her. “Dohohn’t you dare! Let me up!”

“Oh, I dare, soldier,” Karlach chuckled. She hovered her hand just inches away from your torso. “Besides, I still got a match to win here.”

Again, you shook your head. You were nothing if not stubborn. “Karlach,” you started warily. “Let me up. This isn’t what wehehehe agreehehed toohoo-”

Karlach alternated pokes between your sides, earning yelps and squealing giggles. “Say uncle!”

You squealed louder as she suddenly reached up and scribbled into your underarms. You tugged at your arms with all of your strength, but they didn’t budge. You made a poor attempt to hold back the giggle fit that overtook you. 

“Kahahaharlahahach!” You whined, giggling harder when she increased her efforts. “Nohohoho tickling! Youhuhuhu chehehater!”

“Say uncle,” she repeated, smiling widely. Your underarms didn’t seem all that ticklish, so she went back to your torso. Your giggling turned frantic, and when she poked into your tummy, you wheezed. Her tail wagged behind her as she did it again, again, and again. 

“NOHOHO-” You snorted, which amused Karlach even further. She switched from poking to kneading her thumbs into the sides of your stomach. You laughed loudly and bucked your hips. 

“Damn, no wonder you were able to pin me,” Karlach was saying as she squeezed and scritched over your tummy. “You’ve got all this muscle!” She added to her comment by kneading her thumbs back into your skin, which earned her another wheeze. You blushed deeply.

“NOHOHOT FUHUHUNNY!” 

Karlach snorted. “I’m serious! You’re the whole package: strong, smart, attractive. Oh, and adorable. Heh. It’s a miracle my engine hasn’t given out sooner ‘cause of you.” She slowed down the tickling, stroking her claws just above your belly button. Your laughter died down to heavy giggles, and you were able to catch your breath. “I’m still waiting on that ‘uncle’ by the way.”

You didn’t plan on giving it to her; you were nothing if not stubborn. During her tickle attack, she’d eased up on her grip on your arms. You were tired, but your tenacity gave you just enough energy to pull yourself free from her hold. What you did next was out of your norm, but as far as you were concerned, it was completely warranted. 

“You wanna play like that, huh?” You threw yourself at her, sending both of you crashing on the ground. It was harder to get her pinned down like you did earlier. But, once your fingers dug into her sides, Karlach burst into loud laughter. 

“It wahahahahs wohohohohrth ihihihihit!” Karlach squealed and bucked her hips as your hands darted all over her torso. She was hot to the touch, but it didn’t burn, and you were gonna have your revenge. Soon enough though, Karlach was able to reverse your positions again, aiming straight for your belly. She held you in her arms this time, and she didn’t let up. She buried her head into the crook of your neck, kissing and nuzzling into your skin, and you finally tapped out.

“ALRIHIHGHT! Okay! Uncle!” 

The tickling stopped and you laid your head back to catch your breath. Karlach held you flush against her chest. The sparring session was a workout for her too, and she was almost as breathless as you were.

“That was fun,” Karlach said after a while, chuckling. “We’ve gotta do this sparring thing more often. I haven’t had that much fun in, well, ever.” 

“I don’t think our enemies would expect us to tickle them, Karlach.” You answered, shaking your head affectionately. There was a small part of you that wanted to be angry at a sparring session turned tickle fight, but it was difficult for you to be angry with her. “You, on the other hand, are in for it once I catch my breath.”

Karlach grinned, and you could feel her engine glow behind you. “Bring it on, (Y/N)."

A/N: I'm sorry this took so long to post, but I hope you like the story!

[red-dead-sakharine]

Tickles - Part 7

Raphael x Tav, RaphaelPOV, soft!raphael, gn!tav, fluff, hurt/comfort, body worship, conflicted!cambion

Part 1 | P 2 | P 3 & 4 | P 5 | P 6 | P 7 | | P 8

Raphael sat at his desk in the boudoir. He had sent Korrilla to to keep an eye on the adventurers again. While he had an avid interest in keeping them alive before, his investment has now skyrocketed to new heights. The mere thought of losing his little mouse has become unbearable to him.

He wrinkled his nose. The fact that he had become so... attached to this mortal bothered him somewhat. It was a weakness. It was un-devil-like. It was pathetic. That was his fiend blood talking, and he knew it. His mortal side longed for Tav's affection. Their touch. Their understanding. He's had a long and difficult life. But never in all his years, has he felt as whole as he did last night, when his little mouse held him tight and told him he was perfect. He had craved this. And he feared it. And he hated it. The thought of killing the mouse crossed his mind. It would prevent him from more mistakes. From indulging in this weakness. But he could not bear the thought.

He sighed. No matter how much his father's blood rebelled against it, he would keep his mouse safe. And once the brain was defeated and he had the crown, he would keep them close and never let go again.

He threw a glance at the clock, almost midnight. His fingers drummed impatiently on the desk - just once. But that already was something that irked him. It was unlike him to be restless. When you live for thousands of years, you perceive time differently. But today he was eager to act, but he had to wait for the right moment and it made him antsy. A feeling he rarely experienced.

Finally, a knock on the door frame announced Korrilla. Raphael's insides were doing handsprings, but he kept his composure and projected a picture of calm superiority on the outside. Though as the dwarf approached, his nose wrinkled again, "What is that smell?"

"Your favorite misadventurers have been trudging threw the sewers all day." Korrilla grumbled slightly.

"Ah." That explained things. "I take it, they are back at the tavern now?"

The dwarf nodded, "Yes. When I left them, they were fighting over the rights to the bathtub."

The devil's nose flared in disgruntlement. This would mean he'd have to wait even longer for them to all get to sleep. He tried not to let his frustration show, "Did anything of note happen today?" "They seem to have found the entrance to the temple of Bhaal but couldn't get through the door." Korrilla reported. Raphael hummed in acknowledgement, "They'll figure it out, I'm sure. Good work." he waved the warlock off, and she nodded and left. No doubt to go burn her clothes. That sewer stench would never get out.

The devil's fingers drummed on the desk once more. How could a day feel so impossibly long?

He waited several more hours - the finger drumming on the desk slowly increased in frequency as the night dragged out. In the early morning hours, Raphael finally stood up. Surely, the tadpoled mortals have had enough time now to get clean and fall asleep.

Still, to not end up in another embarrassing disaster, he decided to appear outside their room. And so he did. With a flash of fire and ash, he appeared right in front of the door to their room in the elfsong tavern. The place was quiet for the most part. He could hear some drunkards from below, but at this time of night most of the merry folks had already passed out. He cautiously put his ear to the door. Nothing. Good. Slowly, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. He scanned the room for the vampire spawn, but he wasn't there. Probably out feeding. Next he looked for the animals. He didn't see them at first, but a few steps further into the room, he spotted them: Curled up at the foot of the tiefling's bed. A quiet spell later he could be sure they wouldn't wake, and disrupt him.

Now for the reason he was here...

[mood music]

He turned to where he had been during his first visit, and there they were. His little mouse. He quietly moved over to them - and frowned. There was a bruise on Tav's face, that hadn't been there last time he saw them. Who dared to hurt you, mouse!? He was angry at whoever caused the damage, but he was also quite confident that the culprit was already dead. His favorite mortal probably cut their way through several Bhaal cultists today. The thought made him smile. He made a mental note to try and watch from the shadows sometime. He found the image of his mouse covered in the blood of their enemies incredibly arousing.

He took a deep breath and shook the thought off, though. This was not why he was here. He knelt down in front of Tav's bed and looked them over. They were lying belly-down, the uninjured side of their face squished against the pillow. It looked a bit funny, but also incredibly endearing to the fiend. He smiled at the picture and just drank it in for a while.

When he had memorized every detail of the sight, he began to act. He gently pulled the blanket down to their waist and snaked his fingers below the nightshirt. He leaned in, hoping the mortal would smell his perfume, and he whispered every so quietly into their ear, "O apple of my eye..." He meant to wake them as gently as he could, to avoid repeating that calamity from last time. His fingers gently stroked Tav's back. He enjoyed the feeling of their skin. Soft. Vulnerable. A few battle scars here and there, that told tales of victory and prowess. "Little mouse... I'm in your house." he whispered and smirked at his own rhyme. His fingers ran across their shoulders, one by one, tracing the shoulder blades. "You're so fast asleep, little mouse, you don't even wake at this..." He whispered against their ear, and his fingers traced back down their spine. Perhaps they are too exhausted. It didn't matter. He kept caressing their back, their sides. And he looked at their face. That beautiful - squished - face, looking so peaceful and without worry. Looking so kissable. He leaned in, "Little mouse, you're such a sight." His words were barely audible, and he followed them with a gentle kiss to Tav's cheek.

That finally caused them to stir. They inhaled deeply, and without even opening their eyes, a smile formed on their lips, "Raphael?" they mumbled into their pillow. He smirked to himself. They knew his smell. "Yes, little mouse. I was in the area and thought, I'll stop by..." he lied in a whisper, and stroked their back gently. Their smile widened, "Glad you did." they mumbled sleepily. He brought his face close to theirs and placed another kiss on their temple, "Just relax, sweetling." And they sighed happily. His hand moved up to run through Tav's hair. Another sigh. He could not help himself but to place another kiss on their cheekbone, and their smile grew even wider. They liked what he did. He felt proud and happy. He caused them to feel good, and it was his accomplishment.

His hand trailed down their back. Now that Tav was at least somewhat awake, he became more daring. He placed his hand at their waistband and waited - an unspoken request, like the ones before. He looked back into Tav's face, and their eyes were open now. Looking at him in the darkness, still smiling. He had his answer. His hand slid down into their pants, gently stroking over their butt cheeks, one by one. The mortal's eyes closed again. Enjoying the attention.

His heart swelled with pride. Never would he have thought that he'd feel so good, just from causing some mortal pleasant feelings. But he did. He felt elated to be the cause of their happiness. And after all, this wasn't just some mortal. This was his little mouse.

For a short moment, the feral fiend inside him wanted to tear off their clothes and ravage them on the spot. But he calmed the monster and pushed it away. This was not why he was here. His fingertips ghosted over the mouse's rear, and he heard them sigh. It made him feel so good. This was better than a short moment of sexual relief. This was... soft.

He began to like soft.

He looked back into Tav's face and they were still smiling. Likely drifting somewhere between waking and sleeping. He would be gone by the time they woke up in the morning. Perhaps they will think this was all a dream. He wasn't sure if he liked that idea, or if he wanted them to remember his visit. He pondered over it, while he continued to caress their butt cheeks, then their back again. Trailing down their right arm - the only one he could reach. His kissed their hand. Another sigh. He trailed kisses up their arm. That happy smile never left their face. Their beautiful face. He leaned in again to place a kiss on their bruised jaw. They hummed. Another on their cheek. The smile grew larger again. Another on their temple. On their nose. And after a moment's hesitation, on their lips. They kissed back lightly. Obviously more asleep than awake, but still reacting to his touch. He was filled with love. He kept going, gently stroking and kissing them, until the sun poked their first rays of light into the room.

He finally stood up to leave. But he hesitated. He wanted them to know, he decided. He wanted them to know, it wasn't just a dream. He used his powers to nick a single rose from a bouquet he had in the devil's den. It appeared between his fingers, and he left it on Tav's bedside table.

Then he bent down to place a parting kiss on Tav's cheek, and pulled their covers back up to their shoulders. He drank in the picture for a few more moments before he vanished. Leaving behind the smell of his perfume, ash and sulfur.

His heart sang with delight,

he had enjoyed this night.

👉 Part 8

[bunnidarling]

Averyll took to the sea and Angelus went to find him

Beautiful art comm by @annat-art of @thatcerealkiller 's boy as the daring Corsair that heeded my boy's siren song.

[sakharine-den]

Tickles...

Butt under the cut

Fanfic

[squealing-santa]

i'm dangerous cause i'm a fool for love

authors note: at last, at last, wrestling-anon is here with my gift for @august-anon -- and great minds think alike, because i was DELIGHTED to discover that we had submitted remarkably similar prompts in the best possible way. I'm Bloodweave trash, so I just had to go with the Astarion/Gale pairing you requested, but I hope I've worked in a couple of your other ideas too. title from Lord Huron, music absolutely made for BG3 at all times. also yes--that's obviously your Tav at camp with Wyll at the start <3

word count: 2739

fandom: Baldur's Gate 3, BG3

pairings: Wyll/Tav, Astarion/Gale, Bloodweave

content warning: discussion of past trauma

summary: Astarion knows he doesn't know half of what he's missed out on. Gale knows all too well.

* * * *

“Stop–STOP!”

Wyll’s voice rang loud and frantic through the camp, a tone they all recognized by now.

Gale glances up from the book he was poring over, Astarion sprawled over the seat behind him with his own book in hand. Gale calls out, a fond grin on his face,

“Oh dear. And whatever has our Blade of Frontiers done this time to deserve such torture?”

Wyll shrieks again, desperately grabbing for Tav’s hands as they snaked up his shirt again, tweaking the base of his ribs.

“Tav, PLEASE! I d-didn’t mean it!” he insists, his cheeks aching from the huge smile they’re forcing onto his face with each delicate touch. 

“Oh you didn’t? Then why did you say, and I quote, that you could take anything any of us dished out?” Tav asked, their own face bright with laughter at the sight of Wyll thrashing and pleading, nearly going to his knees.

“N-no more, no more!” Wyll gasps, the loudest noise still flying unbidden from his lips when Tav’s fingers find the weak spots near his navel.

Astarion moves closer to Gale, remarkably quiet for once as he watches the two lovers playfully tussling, a look of…longing? Confusion? on his pale face, fingers twitching at his sides as they do when he’s deep in thought.

The playful torture ends with Wyll finally capturing Tav’s wrists and planting kisses on their palms, and Tav fondly kissing the tears off his cheeks with a smile.. “There we are, a happy ending indeed,” Gale says, closing his book and placing it carefully back into his pack, glancing back at Astarion. “You’re suspiciously quiet.”

Astarion starts slightly, letting out an airy chuckle. “Hardly, my darling. Why, our lovely Wyll is loud enough to drown out anyone, there was no point in me trying to talk.”

“That’s never stopped you before,” Gale teases, leaning in to plant a kiss on Astarion’s curls. Astarion rolls his eyes. “Are you sure you’re not speaking of yourself, hmm? I’ve never known you to be quiet in any setting. And I do mean any setting,” he adds with a leer.

Gale recognizes that shift in tone, the way Astarion deflects off to flirting more outrageously when he’s feeling something he’s not yet prepared to delve into, something Gale has had to come to terms with over their slow, strange courtship. He knows the best way forward is to leave it, knowing Astarion will come to him when he’s ready to unravel another layer, heal another wound.

“I have been known to be rather verbose, yes, but last I checked you didn’t exactly object to the long odes of praise,” Gale retorts, and Astarion grins. “That’s my Gale.”

Astarion wanders off to his own bedroll, that look still in his eyes, as Wyll scoops Tav up and over his shoulder with a cry of “revenge!”, carrying them off to his tent as Tav playfully swats at his back.

* * * *

Astarion comes to him rather sooner than expected, in the end.

The moment dark falls over the camp, Gale casts the usual soundproofing spell lest any of their companions–noises in the night draw anyone or anything closer than they’d like, retiring to his tent with a bottle of wine, a second glass already poured in case Astarion decides it’s one of the nights he’d like to spend tangled in Gale’s sheets rather than simply trancing on his own.

Gale hears the rustle of the tent flap pulling back as Astarion enters, giving him a fond smile and gesturing to the wine.

Astarion grins back, immediately seizing the glass and taking a sip, Gale’s eyes following the movement of his throat and the pleasured sigh he lets out as he swallows.

“My my, it’s like you knew I was coming.”

“I rather hoped you would. The bedroll feels rather empty when you don’t, hard though that may be to believe.”

Astarion preens, but his eyes are soft. “You flirt. You know you don’t have to work to get me in bed any more, hmm?”

“Nevertheless,” Gale says, “I never tire of complimenting you. And you never seem to tire of the compliments. We are…complementary, that way.” He looks especially proud of his little joke, Astarion groaning in reply even as he covers his mouth to hide a laugh.

“You are impossible. Absolutely impossible.” Astarion takes another drink, then quiets, staring into the liquid as though he’s trying to conjure something there.

Gale hesitates a moment before he moves closer, stroking a hand through Astarion’s hair, still not pushing him to respond, though every bit of Gale is sending out all of the “you can talk to me, I love you, you’re safe” signals he possibly can without words.

Astarion leans into the touch, his eyes drifting closed, a soft, pleased noise in his throat as Gale’s fingers lightly scratch at his scalp. Without looking up, he says, almost to the glass, “I… it’s hard, still. Even after…even after killing him. To feel as though I learn every day some new thing that he took from me without me even knowing I missed it.”

Gale feels the same dull ache in his heart–and his scar–that he does every time Astarion talks of his life before, of not just the obvious cruelties inflicted upon his scarred back, but the small, insignificant ones.

“I…all of us, but especially I…we’re here to help you find those things again, my love. If you want to find them. To learn together. I…hardly know sometimes who I might be without what my goddess made me…”

Astarion looks up at him, eyes slightly shiny with unshed tears. “Oh, my love. What a pair we two make,” he says, running his fingers along Gale’s jaw, toward his neck, Gale snorting out a small laugh involuntarily. “You know I’m ticklish…”

“That…reminds me,” Astarion says, looking back into the glass again as though it might perhaps be encouraging him. “I…look, I don’t even know how to…well, what I mean is…”

“Shall I tickle you, then?” Gale asks, and Astarion nearly chokes on the sip he’s about to take. “I…noticed how you were gazing at Wyll and Tav earlier. It was rather hard to miss, I’m afraid, though I suspect those two were rather preoccupied.”

“I don’t…I can’t remember. If I was ever ticklish, if anyone ever tried. Before. Certainly not since. I rather doubt that I am, honestly.  But…”

“We can start quite gently,” Gale promises, “I can tell you what I’m going to do, how I plan to touch. So I don’t startle you.”

Astarion sets the glass down with a nod, still not quite able to look up. “Yes. That…I think that might help.” He laughs again, a bit embarrassed. “All of the debauchery I’ve explored with so many and here I am blanching at the idea of asking for something so silly.”

Gale tilts his chin up, pressing a soft, warm kiss to his mouth, feeling Astarion not simply yield to it but answer it back hungrily, his fingers wrapping around the back of Gale’s neck as he sighs into his mouth, the kiss not something to be endured but something Astarion wants, and Gale can’t help but smile against his lips.

“Something funny, wizard?” Astarion breathes, his fingers shifting from a wrap to a tickle, making Gale scrunch up with a rather sweet giggle.

“N-no! Nothing funNY, I swear!” Gale insists, unable to still the giggles as Astarion’s fingers caress the sides of his neck, moving to tease under his chin.

“Perhaps I should simply tickle you instead, hmm?” Astarion purrs, but the purr turns to a yelp when Gale slips his fingers under the loose hem of Astarion’s shirt, just barely grazing his waistline.

Gale smiles in earnest now. “Sorry. Didn’t warn you properly. But…I’m already getting the sense that you might have been wrong about that whole not-being-ticklish bit.”

Astarion smirks back at him. “What was it Wyll apparently said earlier? I can take anything you dish out? I’m quite certain I can, you just caught me off guard.”

Gale taps the tip of his nose with a grin. “Lie down, hmmm? On your back to start, if it’s comfortable. And simply say…hmm…light, I suppose? If it’s too much to bear, I don’t actually want to torment you.”

Astarion obeys, biting back the temptation to make a lewd comment about Gale wanting him on his back, and raises his arms up, crossing them behind his head to pillow it in his hands.

“I think I’ll start with your stomach, then…” Gale muses, and Astarion feels a rather pleasant stirring in his chest at the idea of Gale narrating such a thing, the intention of comfort and warning nonetheless reminding him that when Gale puts his mind to it, he can tease Astarion to new heights of frenzy. Before he can remark on it, however, Gale’s soft fingers draw circles along his waistline and up toward his navel, and Astarion’s whole body jolts.

“What the HELL–?”

Gale can’t hide the look of glee on his face. “Oh, dear, dear me. I’ve only just started and you’re about to squirm out of your skin?”

“F-far from it, I just…didn’t expect…oh, GODS!”

Gale draws light, relentless paths, every touch shooting straight through Astarion’s nerves, like so much sparkling light, Astarion would swear Gale was casting some sort of spell as he laughs harder than any of the times he’s teased the others with Tasha’s Hideous Laughter.

And Gale simply will not.

Stop.

Talking.

“My, my, such a sensitive stomach, hmm? I suppose it makes sense to try your ribs next…lucky for you they’re not as exposed as they were when we first found you, eh?”

Gale strokes along the bones of his ribs, wiggling nails into the grooves between them, and Astarion’s laughter softens slightly but doesn’t fade completely.

“Ah, I see, not quite so ticklish there, are you? I’m a bit deadly around the ribs myself, if you haven’t noticed, quite a liability if someone thought they might want to sneak up and put a knife into them, eh? It’d catch them quite off guard for me to laugh, I expect–keep those arms up, would you, love?”

Gale’s fingers find their way to the soft tufts of hair in his armpits and Astarion practically howls, though he manages–barely–to keep his arms behind his head, tears springing to his eyes, but nothing resembling “light” rising from his mouth.

“Oh, this might be the best spot yet, hmm? You’re not simply ticklish, you’re terribly so, you may even rival me…or Wyll, for that matter!” Gale beams, and the fact that he isn’t intending to tease only makes the effect worse–well, or better, but Astarion thinks it might take more than a little tickle to get that confession from him.

“Hold on. Bit of an unusual spot, but…” Gale slides his fingers up Astarion’s sleeves to flutter softly over his biceps, and Astarion’s laughter goes from howls to the sweetest, most bubbly giggles Gale has ever heard, his eyes squeezing shut as he says “Y-you are vicious at this, Gale Dekarios!”

“Vicious? Me? I’m wounded, you know! After all, you were the one who asked for this…though I suppose you couldn’t have known you’d be quite this dreadfully ticklish…I may take a bit of convincing to stop, hearing you laugh like this!”

Gale immediately contradicts himself by pausing the attack, watching Astarion closely. “Still with me, love? I’d like to try your legs a bit, though I’m not sure if I dare to try your feet…”

Astarion clears his throat, adjusting his shirt as Gale withdraws his hands. “Do your worst, darling. Though don’t think I won’t enjoy every moment of my revenge…I don’t think I’ve explored your particular weakness to this nearly enough, now that I think on it.”

“Then I suppose I may as well earn it,” Gale teases back, leaning over to press a quick kiss to his forehead before sliding down to perch between Astarion’s thighs. “I normally might do this facing away from you, but I don’t…well. I want you to be able to see what I’m about to do, at least this first time.”

“You…you sweetheart,” Astarion says, voice fond but slightly shaky, a part of him still never sure that he deserves to have what he wants, what will bring him comfort, and Gale leans up to kiss him again, fingers cupping his chin as he murmurs, “I love you…”

“I love you too, even though you’re about to try tormenting me again…perhaps you’ve already found everywhere, however,” Astarion says, his eyes rather suggesting he hopes that isn’t the case. Gale grins as he rearranges himself between Astarion’s bent thighs, resting his fingers on his hips, making him twitch.

“Let us see,” Gale muses, returning to his narration as he lightly tickles, then squeezes at Astarion’s hips. Astarion jolts again, a few short laughs slipping out, but he shakes his head, looking almost disappointed. “Not much, I’m afraid.”

“Next time I have you undressed I may have to try one of my quills,” Gale says, half to himself, and Astarion’s eyes widen at the image before he lets out a loud, shrill squeal of laughter when Gale’s fingers start scribbling over the backs of his thighs, his back arching off the bedroll.

“GODS, that, that–” Astarion half-yelps, half squeals, barely managing not to slam his thighs down to protect the spot, and Gale all but lights up.

“Ohh, ticklish thighs, is that it? That’s a rather dangerous secret, you know…your thighs are so tempting to me already, but knowing I can hear your lovely laugh if I simply tickle you? You may have unleashed a monster,” Gale teases, fingers flying up and down, darting occasionally to his inner thighs which only makes him laugh louder.

“I’ll! I’ll get yours twice as MUCH–” Astarion tries to sound threatening, but the way his voice trembles with laughter slightly undoes the effect, the laughter spiking to a shriek when Gale teases behind his knees. “NOT that!”

“Not that? Not what, your knees? But that doesn’t sound like light, not at all! In fact, I’m starting to suspect you’re enjoying this a bit more than you’re letting on, love–you’re not fighting me a bit, are you? Haven’t tried once to put your legs down, or even grab my hands…”

Astarion only shriek-laughs in response, his head falling back, his hands slipping from behind his head to cover his face.

“Oh, no. That won’t do at all–”

Before Astarion can react, Gale wriggles his fingers into an exposed armpit again, and this time Astarion does snap his arms down, the howling from earlier repeated louder somehow as he writhes.

“You, you ass, you brat!” Astarion yelps, the insults lacking a certain sting, laced with giggles as they are.

“So which is worse, would you say? Hmm? After all, as your partner, I should know these sorts of things…under your arms, or your knees? It’s certainly hard to tell!” 

Gale punctuates the question by wriggling the fingers of his trapped hand in Astarion’s armpit, his other hand slipping behind his knee again, and Astarion cries out “Light, damn you!” before dissolving into hysterics.

Gale stops immediately, the tickles turning to firm rubs, though even those draw small hiccups of laughter as Astarion starts to relax, his eyes bright as he opens them to look at Gale.

“That…well. You are truly a vicious thing when you want to be, aren’t you, treasure?” Astarion says, wiping the tears off his cheeks, giving Gale a little wink.

“And you’re far more ticklish than I ever expected. It’s absolutely delightful, you know. You sound…it’s lovely, when you laugh like that. When you just let go. Just…just lovely.”

Astarion pulls him down on top of him for a long, slightly giggly kiss, his hands skimming along Gale’s back as they stroke up and down, murmuring a soft “...thank you” against his lips before letting his eyes close, enjoying the warm weight of Gale on top of him.

“I plan to have my revenge, you know,” Astarion mumbles, yawning hugely.

“You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t. I’ll be ready. Besides, I’ve already got a few more spots on you I’ll be itching to try next time.”

Gale hides a smile when Astarion doesn’t retort anything about there not being a next time, only holds him tighter, face burrowing into Gale’s sensitive neck.

“That’s what I thought.”

[choccy-zefirka]

TikTok is a fascinating place

[ticklesandawkwardness]

To add on to your Astarion idea: when he says 'Stop' while tickled, ler immediately stopping and waiting for his clear permission to keep going. While it can help him to be more comfortable during it, since he knows it'll stop the moment he wants it to stop, it also can be pretty flustering when it slipped out accidentely or he just needed a breather, but wants to keep going, since he has to ask for tickles again.

ough that's so good, definitely flustering in the best way possible, I feel like the fact that the ler is practically going out of their way to make sure he always has an out and never feels like he can't escape would in a way make it that much more flustering. as soon as his ler can tell that he wants to ask them to keep going they're teasing again, maybe hovering their hands over him but not touching him until he tells them clearly that he wants them to <3

[sideshow-cellophane-blog]

Flirting With Pranks

Because I wanted these two to laugh and be happy together

"Gale!" 

"Astarion!"

The pale elf doubled over in his bout of hysterical laughter. He dropped his book on the ground in favor of holding his abdomen, which was tingling as his nerves were toyed with. He tried to fight the bubbling laughter before giving in to the urge - it was too strong. The tingling was turning into invisible yet solid touches, pinching up his hips and sides. 

Astarion collapsed to his knees. "Whahat the FUCK Gahahale?! It tihihickles!"

"It does? Good! It's supposed to."

Astarion slapped a hand over his ear as some invisible soft instrument flicked over it. "Whyhyhy?!"

"I wanted to hear you laugh, darling. And I wanted it to be fun for you." He put his hands on his hips with a satisfied grin. He had never seen Astarion so out of control - the elf had flopped face-first to the ground and was writhing. "It lasts about as long as that laughing curse you keep casting on us in camp."

"Yohou're awful!" Astarion squealed as the tickling moved into his armpits, and his legs kicked out in wheels. 

"I can't help but notice you aren't begging for it to stop, darling. Where does it tickle most? I want to know so I can focus the magic there."

Astarion was not about to tell Gale the magic all seemed to jump around his worst spots, making him spasm and twist in his giggle bouts. He couldn't, and didn't dare, imagine what it would be like for all of his worst spots to be tickled at once. His arms went up and down as his hands tried to soothe his tingling skin. "Fuhuck you!"

"More experimentation it is. I don't mind! You had me cackling like a damn loon yesterday, you know? Wyll and Karlach got the best cuts of meat for dinner and I got bone broth. Clear. Bone. Broth."

"I'm sohohorry!"

"Well yeah, you are now."

"Aha! Heh. Heheh…" The tickling slowed and disappeared, leaving Astarion panting hard on the ground. He was not left alone for long though - Gale sat himself down on the other's thighs and wriggled his fingers into the exposed stomach lying before him. "GAHAHALE!"

"I had no idea you were actually ticklish dear, I simply must try this for myself."

"Oho no you dohohon't!" A struggle ensued, or started to, because Astarion was still a panting mess from the magic tickle attack. He tried to grab Gale's hands as they snaked up his sides and to that bottom rib, but he was too clumsy and panicked to stop the wizard from making him cackle. He squeezed his eyes shut and caved as the other played his ribs like some instrument. "Nohohoho! Gale, haha, GAHALE, stahp! NAHAT THERE! THAT! HAHA! FAHACK! Yes, yehehes, gohoho bahahack dohown! Get awahay FROM OHAHAHA! THEHERE!"

Pinches turned into loops and swipes, then stopped, and Astarion's cackling slowed to gasping giggles. He managed to open his eyes and give Gale a pleading look. 

"Your real laugh is adorable, you know that?" He said fondly. 

"Yohou're an insufferable asshole."

"Are you going to stop casting that laughing spell on us around camp now that I perfected one of my own? Because I can tickle you all day long, darling."

"I…" His smile faltered as he thought, and it returned as a playful and practiced smirk. "As awful as that was, darling, I think it is awfully strange that you created such a playful spell just for me. That wasn't designed to be a one time use, was it? I mean, here you are, on top of me-"

"Oh my gods Astarion."

"And you know? I rather like the attention. And I think you want to make me laugh. Keep making your teasing, playful spells for me Gale, it makes me feel special. Now get off of me so I can exact my revenge when you least expect it."

"It makes you feel- oh you do want another round is what it is? Projecting your feelings onto me, like you aren't the one making us laugh first, I see right through you," His hands began to glow, but the vampire had time to recover. Astarion twisted and threw Gale off, and they wrestled for control. "I'm not giving in!…NO!" Giddy giggles filled the air as they jabbed at each other, and Gale found himself weakening to protect his sensitive stomach. "I'll blow you up you ass, you get that finger OUT of my AHA! SHIRT! "

"Found the tickle button," Astarion had gained the upper hand, literally, and kept wiggling his finger in Gale's navel. The wizard's hands fell to protect himself. "Now we…are…on…the saaaame page. I may be ticklish, but you seem to be far worse off than I. Is that why you felt the need to cheat with magic?"

Gale was giggling too hard to answer. The tables had turned and he was drained from his earlier magic use.

"This is fun dear, and now that I know you're enjoying yourself here too," Astarion paused to admire the man below him. He ran his hands over Gale's stomach to soothe his nerves. "Well," he chuckled. "I prefer being the one to make you laugh. Remember that next time you start a fight I will always finish." He collapsed beside Gale on the ground. They caught their breath together, and Astarion broke the silence once they were quiet again. "So can you teach me that spell? I want to see if Lae'Zel is-"

"No."

"But-!"

"I hate wasting a revival scroll, dear. If that power were in your hands this whole camp would either be at your mercy or I would have to keep bringing you back after they kill you."

"What if I only use it on you?"

"Even worse. If you want to tickle me you have to be brave about it."

"A challenge…I accept. Now cuddle me, if the group isn't back by sundown we can keep playing."

"Gladly, darling."

[notkirstinetheartist]

"Its just business, & I'm Employee of the Month."

Finally, a full ref' of my hellish warlock, Mouse!

[feathergail]

[ gale | baldur’s gate 3 ]

the weave doesn’t touch ppl in canon but we can dream just for lee gale…

[angelatmidnight1]

hii thank you for feeding us with your bg3 tickle content 😫🙏🏼 I’ve been starving. Do you have any headcanons for ler!Gale with a stoic/tsundere lee!tav? Or really any of the other companions if ur not a Gale girly. tysm ❤️ [ps. tell me if I’ve crossed any boundaries / done something wrong, first time sending an ask 🙂]

A/N: Hi! You didn't cross any boundaries. I know you said headcanons, but I hope a fic was okay instead? This prompt works nicely with my favorite tav and her relationship with Gale- she's a stoic, snooty sorceress. I kept the fic gender-neutral though. I hope you like it! 💜

Pillow Talk

Fandom- Baldur's Gate 3.

Pairing- Gale Dekarios x Reader (ler!Gale, lee!reader). For the purposes of this story, reader is a sorcerer.

Word Count- 3,723.

Warnings- Spoilers for Acts 1-2 (ish), swearing, rivals to lovers in the beginning, and tickles.

As a noble-born sorcerer, there’s very little you don’t know about magic. It’s flown through your family’s veins for centuries. But, Gale’s different. He knows way more than you’d ever expect. As much as you try to deny it, you fall for him, and channeling the Weave together confirms it. Much to your surprise, the feelings are mutual. As your new relationship blossoms, Gale realizes that he’s never heard you laugh before, and he seeks to remedy that. 

“Can’t I just break it?” 

Karlach whined as she jostled the lock on the door. The lock glowed as she touched it and suddenly sent out a pulse of magical energy. She staggered back, yelping. “Shit! Guess not.”

You maneuvered around her, shaking your head. “It’s a magical lock, Karlach. I told you smashing it won’t do anything.” You stepped closer to the locked door and held up a hand. It glowed as you channeled into your magic. Closing your eyes, you traced your fingers along the lock’s sigils. “This lock is enchanted with psychic magic,” you hissed when the lock pulsed at you, stinging your hands. “And powerful psychic magic at that.”

Gale approached you from the side, humming skeptically. “I hate to be the one to disagree, but these are illusion sigils.” He traced his fingers over the same sigils as you, nodding to himself. “It’s more of a puzzle, judging by the patterns.”

You gave him a side glance, frowning. This was a recurring pattern in your journey. When it came to magic, you and Gale always had disagreements.  “...Perhaps. But there’s psychic magic at work here, Gale. Not illusion.”

Gale raised a defensive hand. “There’s room for overlap, surely. However, I think I know the solution.” His eyes glowed as he reached into the Weave and mirrored the patterns on his palm. “If I follow the patterns, like so, I believe it’ll spell out the missing key.”

“Or,” You interjected and charged up a psychic pulse between your hands. “I can overload the sigils with psychic energy and destroy them. I understand this may not have been in your textbooks though.”

“Oh, charming.” Gale’s eyes flitted over to you disdainfully. “I had not planned on mentioning rank, but since we clearly are, I spent a considerable amount of time as Mystra’s chosen. Dismantling puzzles like these was my bread and butter.”

You weren’t backing down. You went through with your spell, directly interfering with Gale’s. “Don’t you mean former Mystra’s chosen?”

“Hey, c’mon, knock it off!” Karlach scolded. “If you two put half the energy into opening the door that you use to argue with each other, we’d be on our way back to camp by now! Now, hurry up.” Her stomach growled mid sentence. She sighed. “I’m starving.”

“Gladly.” Gale sunk deep into the Weave and figured out the patterns needed to unlock the door. Your psychic magic definitely helped smooth the path forward. Karlach cheered once the door opened. 

“Fuck yeah!” She turned to both of you, beaming. “See what happens when you put your magical minds together?”

You followed her out of the dungeon, giving Gale a once over. “I see what happens when you pay attention at the wizard academy. The teachers must’ve adored you, Gale.” You huffed sarcastically. “Such a diligent schoolboy.”

Gale shook his head, smirking. “That couldn’t be any further from the truth! I slept through most of my lessons. And the trouble I found nearly got me expelled.” He chuckled. “Nevertheless, we can breathe fresh air now, thanks to our combined efforts. I hope we can work together again in more pleasant circumstances.”

“I’d sooner kiss a mind flayer.” You marched ahead of him, grumbling.

Wizards were so infuriating. Pompous, book-ridden, and proud. And yet, there was something to this Gale of Waterdeep. Something that interested you. 

His hubris, as suffocating as it was, was tempered with true expertise. Passion, even.  You’d never met anyone like him, not even in Baldur's gate. Magic was everything to you; it shielded you and brought your enemies to their knees. It was thrilling to meet someone who could match you. Plus, he had a gentle heart. 

You didn’t plan on saving tiefling refugees, but beating up goblins was fun. During the attack, a tiefling child lost their parents. Neither you or Gale could bring them back to life. Still, he comforted them the best way he could. 

“I’m sorry for your loss.” He hugged them when they ran into his arms. “These are horrors that no child should have to go through. I…can’t bring them back, but I do have something that I hope can bring you some comfort.”

The tiefling child pulled away, sniffling. “You do?”

Gale conjured up a necklace of illusion magic. He handed it to the child. “This necklace is just for you. I’ll teach you the incantation to trigger the magic. Before doing the incantation, you need to think of a happy memory you have with your parents. Then, you’ll be able to relive that memory so long as you keep the necklace on.”

The child took the necklace and slipped it on. They toyed with the gem at the end, which glowed with a pleasant warmth. They smiled sadly, “Thank you.”

Something stirred in you. You didn’t name the feeling, but it was potent all the same. You felt hot and your heart raced. You’d never say it out loud, but you had a crush on Gale.

Instead of joining the festivities at camp, you turned in early for the night. You grabbed the first book you saw and settled onto your bedroll. Reading usually distracted you, especially when you read about magic. And yet, your mind was occupied by Gale. After failing to get to even the second page, you slammed the book shut. You tucked the book under your arm and ventured out to Gale’s tent. If you couldn’t benefit from the book, maybe he could. 

Gale’s tent was a short walk away from yours. The party was dying down, but Gale usually stayed up studying. When you arrived at his tent, though, there was a conjuration of Mystra in his palm. He gazed at the image longingly, not realizing that you were watching. You stepped closer.

“Paying tribute?”

He flinched and whirled around. Mystra’s image disappeared, and he exhaled. “You startled me, (Y/N).” he breathed. “I suppose you could say I am, in a way. Though I can’t say my soul feels any lighter.”

You gave him a questioning look. He continued. 

“I hope we can put our earlier disagreement behind us, (Y/N).” He said, taking a few steps towards you. Your heartbeat quickened. “It’s just been so long since I’ve collaborated with anyone regarding magic. I understand that we may have different approaches when it comes to wielding it.”

You waved your hand dismissively. “What’s done is done. Why were you just conjuring an image of the goddess?”

“Oh, that. Well..” He trailed off as if he was unsure of what to say. Then, he cleared his throat. “The longer we embark on our journey, the less connected I feel to the Weave. And, it’s everything to me. It always has been..”  He sighed heavily, then looked at you with a sudden air of curiosity. “I know we haven’t seen eye to eye, but from one arcane user to another, would you like to channel the Weave with me? It’s a wonderful experience.”

You put down the book you were carrying, shifting awkwardly. “I’ve never done it. I never feel far from the Weave’s embrace, so I haven’t felt the need to.”

“Lucky you,” Gale chuckled. “Still, my offer stands. I can show you how to do it. What do you say?”

This was usually when you’d rebuff him. Not this time. Your curiosity piqued, and he did look handsome in the candlelight. 

“Show me.”

Gale’s eyes brightened. He smiled. “As you wish. Follow my lead.”

Channeling the Weave was effortless. Gale was a wonderful teacher: patient, eager, and generous with praise. The air was sweet, and you felt safe in the Weave’s embrace. You closed your eyes, and your mind wandered again. To home. To Gale. To the thought of your lips pressed together in a passionate kiss—

The connection flickered. You forgot yourself. Your eyes snapped open and found Gale. He looked back at you with an equally surprised expression.

******

It took a week for you to face Gale again. You were terribly embarrassed. All of that melted away when, surprisingly, he reciprocated your feelings. 

“I must be a powerful wizard indeed,” He was saying quietly to you during another one of your travels. “If I managed to charm the likes of you. I’m flattered, truly. And, might I say, you have incredibly good tastes.”

“Shh. Do you ever stop talking?” You returned in a hushed whisper, holding back a smile. You and Gale were walking behind Karlach and Astarion, and you didn’t want to catch their attention. Gale noticed the hint of your smile and gasped. 

“Is that a smile I see? Oh, I’m afraid you’re done for.” He smirked and leaned into you. His breath tickled your ear, and you shivered. “I haven’t even begun to work my full array of charms on you.”

“What’re you two talking about?” Astarion cut into the private conversation, a curious glint in his eye. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen (Y/N) speak so much.”

Your smile instantly fell. You frowned, “It’s nothing that concerns you, Astarion.”

“Oh, come on.” The spawn pouted. “You’re no fun at all. What’s a bit of gossip among friends?” He looked at the two of you expectantly, but he didn’t get an answer. He huffed. “Ugh, fine. Be that way.”

Once he turned away, Gale whispered to you again. “Let’s continue this conversation in private tonight, hmm? I could prepare a meal.”

“Fine,” you agreed, nodding. “I’ll bring the drinks.”

After dinner, you stayed in Gale’s tent to read together. Many of your companions were either asleep or involved in their own pursuits, so they didn’t notice your empty tent. You were buried under a purple blanket with a book on your lap with him beside you. 

“Comfortable?” Gale asked as he cozied up to you. You nodded and pushed half of the blanket to him, which he happily accepted. “Excellent. Now, tell me, when did you realize you were hopelessly enamored with me?”

You looked up suddenly, and he was grinning. A blush creeped up on your cheeks. You smirked. “I believe I could ask you the same thing.”

“You very well could. But, since I asked first..” Gale’s grin widened. “I’ll admit, it is a long list. There are the impassioned debates we have, my words, my award winning smile…”

“Awards?” You shook your head in disbelief. “Who’s given you these awards?”

“Three people, actually.” Gale feigned offense. “Why, there’s me. Myself, who’s a great fellow…”

“Stop.” You nudged his arm, giggling.  “You can’t give yourself awards. They don’t count.” 

“According to whom?!”

You covered your face, muffling your giggles. “Gods, you’re ridiculous.”

Gale laughed. When you uncovered your face, he was smiling warmly. “I’ve never heard you laugh before. It’s a beautiful sound.”

Your blush deepened. The truth was that you didn’t laugh much, if at all. You usually spurned the company of others, but you felt comfortable in Gale’s presence. You shifted, turning your attention back to your book. “Thank you. Now, are we going to read, or am I to sing your praises all night?”

“Both sound wonderful, though I’d settle for hearing you laugh again.” He slid close to you so that your arms touched. You smiled, keeping your eyes down on your book. 

“I’m sure there will be something I can laugh at you about soon.” You chuckled lightly and turned a page. “All in good time, love.”

“You’re terrible, you know?” Gale gently squeezed your side with his free hand. You fidgeted and jostled your book. A metaphorical lightbulb went off in his head, and you eyed him suspiciously. 

“(Y/N)?”

“Yes?”

“Are you-”

“No.”

Gale chuckled. “I haven't finished my question.” He discarded his book to the side. He leaned into you with a small, knowing smile. “Now, before I was so rudely interrupted, are you ticklish?”

You shook your head. “I’m not.” You pressed your arm against your side, settling for holding your book with one hand. “You just startled me.”

“I see.” Gale hummed, rubbing his beard in thought. You thought that would’ve been the end of it, but after a brief pause, he was smiling again. “I do apologize, but I again disagree with you. The signs point to the opposite, I’m afraid.”

“There aren’t any-” 

He squeezed your side again. This time, you squeaked and squirmed out of his reach. Gale smirked. 

“Right. No signs.” He answered coyly, extending an arm out to reach you. He idly wriggled his fingers and you leaned away even further, unable to hide your grin. “None at all.”

“Gale,” You started warningly, propping yourself up onto your knees. This made your book tumble off of your lap. “I’m warning you. Don’t try it.”

“Surely there’s no harm in a bit of experimentation, is there?” Gale was testing the waters. He observed your body language. If he noticed the slightest bit of discomfort, he’d back off. Your gaze was sharp, but your wobbly grin told him that he hadn’t pushed too far. “You make one claim, I make another. Yet, it’s impossible for both claims to be correct.”

You put your hands out defensively as he inched closer. “D-Don’t come any closer.”

Gale stopped moving. His smirk broadened. “Of course. If that’s what you want, I will humbly oblige.”

Something was off. As a sorcerer, you could detect magic, and he definitely had a trick up his sleeve. It just wasn’t one you were expecting. 

The sneaky wizard conjured a hologram of himself behind you. It had crept up behind you while you backed away from Gale. By the time you noticed it, it was too late. It fluttered its fingers into your sides, and you shrieked. 

“Gahahle-?!” You let out a short laugh and curled into yourself. You shoved away the hands and whirled around to see the hologram. “Youhu bahahstard.”

“You’ve quite the mouth on you, don’t you?” Gale clicked his tongue, watching you and the hologram with amusement. “It’s actually one of the many qualities I like about you. That, your strength, and your obstinance.” 

While he spoke, Gale’s hologram lightly poked at your torso, earning gasps and curses. If it reached a ticklish spot, it was rewarded with a startled giggle. Both Gale and his hologram wore the same smirk. “Are you absolutely sure that you’re not ticklish, my dear?” The wizard spoke over your snickering. “Based on my observations, that theory gets weaker with each passing minute.”

“I’m nohohot!” You bit your lips, muffling any would be giggles. You were losing the battle with the hologram’s hands. Instead, you checked it with your shoulder, trying to bump it hard enough to make it disappear. That tactic not only failed, but gave the hologram the opportunity to pull you in close. Now, with one arm around your waist, it gently pinched and scampered its fingers along your ribs. You exhaled sharply and bit your lip harder. “K-Knohock it off, Gahale-”

Gale held up his hands, feigning innocence. “I’m not doing anything. I haven’t moved, just like you asked.” 

“G-Get rihihid of the holograham!”

“Oh!” He made a big show of realizing what you meant. His eyes flicked to the hologram and he charged up a spell in his hands. Or, it looked like he did. You knew better than that; he did nothing. He chuckled sheepishly. “Apologies, I’m afraid he has a mind of his own. There’s nothing I can do.”

“Youhuhu are deahad-” 

Gale’s hologram teased your upper ribs with his fingertips. Hissing through clenched teeth, you squirmed in its hold, winding your arms tight around your torso. His fingers were trapped now, so he scribbled his fingers in a side to side motion along your ribs. The laughter was begging to be free, and it made itself known the longer you fought it off. But, if you were going down, you were going down swinging. 

As a last ditch effort, you channeled your magic and sent out a small shockwave. It didn’t do any damage, but it did blow things around. Your goal was to break Gale’s concentration on his hologram spell, and it worked. Gale yelled as he stumbled back, and the hologram disappeared.

“Did you just-” Gale looked bewildered. He wasn’t hurt, but his scrolls and books were in a disarray. “Certainly a bit of tickling didn’t warrant an attack on my person!” 

“It absolutely did.” You breathed. You rubbed the ticklish sensations out of your skin. “You attacked first, and I responded accordingly.”

“You did not respond accordingly!” Gale picked up one of the books that fell. He dusted off the cover. “You could’ve put a crease in my Magical Histories book.”

For whatever reason, that amused you. It amused you so much that you busted out laughing. Gale made the quick decision to cast a sound barrier spell around his tent, so that your loud laughter wouldn’t disturb your companion’s sleep. You laughed and laughed, collapsing on the floor, and Gale’s cheeks flushed. 

“What is so funny?” Gale had to resist the urge to laugh along with you; your true laugh was highly contagious. Once you calmed down, you pushed yourself up into a seated position, wiping your tears with the back of your hand. 

“You’re-” You couldn’t get through your sentence without snickering. “Youhu’re such a dork.”

“Wha- I will not stand for an attack on my person and my character.” Gale suddenly teleported to you, wrapping both of his arms around your frame. He scribbled across your sides, ribs, hips- anywhere he could reach. You squealed and, arms flailing, fell back into a fit of giggles. 

Despite your ticklish panic, you still had some fight in you. While he was invested in tickling your ribs, a highly sensitive spot, you took the opportunity to tickle him back. You shot a hand up and buried it in the crook of his neck, tickling with purpose. Thankfully, he was ticklish too. 

He immediately scrunched his neck, giggling hard. “O-Ohohoho nohoho you don’t!” He yelped and abandoned tickling you to wrestle with your hands. You grinned triumphantly. 

“You left me no choice,” You wriggled your hand free from his neck and found his side, squeezing repeatedly. Gale giggled louder and gripped your wrist, but this didn’t deter you. 

A tickle fight was on, and Gale was determined to win. There was a war of flailing arms and hands before the wizard emerged victorious. With a sudden burst of strength that was sure to make him sore in the morning, he pulled you down to the floor with him. 

He set you on his lap, using one arm to pin your own arms to your sides. He didn’t hold on too tightly; you could’ve gotten away if you really wanted. He only held on with just enough strength to keep you from tickling him. Now, with his free hand, he kneaded into your hip bone. You lurched forward, giggling loudly, and he put his leg over yours to keep you put. 

“Nahahahaha!” You squeaked as he jumped to your other hip bone. The floodgates were open now as you squirmed in his hold. “Gahahahahle!”

Now, it was his turn to grin triumphantly. He snaked his fingers up your sides, tweaking them with the lightest touch. He nestled his head in the crook of your neck.  “There we are, dearest. Much better.” He chuckled into your skin, which only made you laugh louder. “And, if you won’t say it, I’m happy to do it for you. You,” He scampered up to your ribs, playing them like a piano. “Are,” A hand burrowed into your underarm, earning him yelps and cackles. “Definitely ticklish.”

You didn’t realize it at the moment, but the longer he tickled you, the more you sank into his arms. Soft, playful moments were a rarity, especially given the journey you were on. You’d never, ever say it out loud, but you were enjoying yourself. As smug as he was, Gale was being very gentle. “What do you say, (Y/N)? Do you think we could at least agree on that score?” 

You hid your face with one hand, letting out a squealing laugh when his hand landed on your stomach. “NOHOHOHO!” You returned, laughing loudly, as you squirmed harder in his lap. He prodded into abdominal muscles and held you a little bit tighter. 

“The signs are all there,” He whispered into your ear, teasing you, while he scribbled and poked into your belly. He let go of your arm so that he could use both hands to tickle. You didn’t realize the shift, so you curled into his arms instead of pushing his hands. “There’s the squirming, the squeals, and the laughter, which is quite enchanting…”

You finally grabbed onto his wrists, but still didn’t really stop him. It wasn’t until he gently kneaded his thumbs into the sides of your belly that you finally relented. “OKAHAHAHAY! I’M TIHIHCKLISH, GAHAHALE!”

He immediately stopped, rubbing his palms over your abdomen. “I’m happy we can finally agree on something.” He chuckled. He moved his hands off to the side. “And, I’ll let your cheeky comment slide. What’s more interesting to me is that you had the chance to move my hands, and yet you didn’t. I’m going to make another claim and suggest that you enjoyed yourself.” 

You laid your head against his chest, breathing deeply. “And…if I did?” You tried to sound defensive, but there wasn’t any venom in your words. Gale smiled, resting his palm against your cheek. 

“Then you’d only be more adorable to me, if that’s even possible.” His thumb rubbed along your skin as he took you in. “Gods, you’re beautiful. And that’s laugh- it’s something of the heavens, truly. I could listen to it all night.”

“But not tonight,” You tapped his nose, chuckling. “I’m exhausted.”

“No matter. I’m sure we’ll have many more nights like these to come. If you’d still like to join me, that is.”

You shifted in his lap so you could face him. You grinned. “I think I could make the time. Shall we seal the deal with a kiss?”

“I would love that.” Gale’s smile widened as he leaned into you, and you met him halfway, pressing your lips into his. Maybe it was because you’re both spellcasters, but the kiss was nothing short of magical.

[red-dead-sakharine]

Tickles - Part 8

Raphael x Tav, RaphaelPOV, soft!raphael, gn!tav, fluff, hurt/comfort, body worship, conflicted!cambion, bath time Loooots of body worship both ways, bathing. This one's long. Grab a snack. (5066 words)

Part 1 | P 2 | P 3 & 4 | P 5 | P 6 | P 7 | P 8

It was truly a sight to behold. His little mouse gutting the Slayer - Bhaal's chosen. Orin had bitten off more than she could chew, when she decided to provoke the mouse. Kidnapping one of their companions was possibly the worst decision she could have made. Raphael knew his favorite mortal. Tav had a fierce protective instinct towards their friends that was not to be underestimated. While they were ultimately a kind soul, they were also uncompromising when wronged. Something that reminded Raphael of himself; he also knew no forgiveness for those who wronged him.

He smiled at the thought. Oh, how well he and his mouse fit together. It was hard to believe that his mouse could be so soft when with him, and yet so vicious on the battlefield. Perhaps, he mused, perhaps he should see it as an example. He had always tried to hide and suffocate his mortal side. The part of him that enjoyed Tav's softness. But if his mouse was anything to go by, soft and viscous could go hand in hand. He ran a clawed finger across his chin, deep in thought.

A sudden movement and swift motion pulled him out of it though. Of course, Raphael himself was safe in the House of Hope, lounging on a bench in his boudoir. With his eyes closed, he was using his patronage of Korrilla, to see through her eyes, as she watched the ongoings in the Bhaal temple. One of the cultists had found her lurking in the shadows, but she swiftly dispatched him. Raphael frowned - he didn't care to watch some useless cultist be taken out, he wanted to watch his mouse!

Thankfully, just a moment later Korrilla turned her attention back to the battle. Just in time for Raphael to watch Tav deliver the final blow to Orin's monstrous form. The beast collapsed before them; his mouse drenched in the enemy's blood. What a sight they were. Raphael contemplated calling Haarlep to tend to him, so he could get rid of his excitement, but ultimately decided against it. He didn't need the incubus' nagging and teasing comments to ruin this moment. He preferred to watch his mouse alone. It was something he enjoyed immensely, and something he refused to share. His mouse was his, and his alone.

As the battle at the temple slowly died down and the remaining cultists dispersed, Raphael watched the tadpoled adventurers claim Orin's netherstone, and free their shackled companion. He knew they would make their way back to the tavern now to rest and clean themselves up. Between the sewer stench and the gore, they surely needed it. Raphael smirked to himself. He knew just what to do...

By the time the tadpoled adventurers arrived back at the elfsong, Raphael had made himself comfortable on Tav's bed. Sitting leisurely, with his back against the wall and his legs crossed, while reading the book he had noticed on Tav's bedside table the first time he was here. Not that "The Hells Unleashed" was a particularly enlightening read for him. He was more interested in the annotations his little mouse had written all over it. The chapter about Avernus was littered with comments like "Karlach mentioned this place. Hard to get to?" and "Avoid!", "Safe?", "Sightseeing - ask R." Then there was Dis, dotted with comments like "Bring earplugs", and "Bring oven mittens". In a chapter about the Fetters, there was a notation Raphael found particularly entertaining: "Market? Find gift for R." "Never mind, AVOID!"

The fact his mouse was thinking so much about him gave Raphael no small degree of pleasure. He smirked to himself as he flipped to the next page, looking forward to seeing more of his favorite mortal's thoughts. But just in that moment, the doors opened and the merry band of mortals started filing in. Wyll was the first to notice Raphael and froze, causing the others to bump into him. "What's the hold up?" he heard the tiefling ask. "It seems we have a guest." the warlock responded.

Raphael just smirked at them, waiting for Tav to push their way in, "What? Who?" Their eyes met his and they froze. His smirk grew a bit wider. He closed the book and put it in his lap, "Hello, little mouse." It took a moment for the shock to wear off, before Tav finally managed to respond, "Raphael!" They came over to him, as if his presence were the most normal thing in the world. A sentiment their companions didn't seem to share. Some kept staring at him, as if they expected him to attack them at any moment. A few others were busy fussing over their recently kidnapped friend. "What are you doing here-- hey, is that my book?" Tav pointed at his lap. "Mh, yes." he lifted the book and regarded it, "A fascinating read." He smirked at Tav. "Oh gods!" they groaned and snatched the book from his hand, "How... how much did you read?" "Enough." his smirk grew even more. A groan and a furious blush was all he got in response, as his little mouse turned away, smacking the book into their face. "Now now, no reason to bruise that pretty face even more." Raphael cooed, enjoying their reaction immensely, "I found the read quite... entertaining." More groaning. He enjoyed the teasing. Though a small part of him wanted to also express that he felt flattered, that his mouse expended such effort on his behalf, but he wasn't sure how to do so without making it sound like he was mocking them. At best it would sound as if he was belittling their efforts. So he just said nothing on the topic. Instead, he got up, snatched the book back out of Tav's hands and put it on the table. "Little mouse," he said softly and moved closer to them, invading their space. He lowered his voice to a seductive purr, "You look ravishing covered in entrails. But I imagine you would prefer to get the sewer stench washed off." He paused to see their reaction. They looked at him - first with caution, then with curiosity and a raised brow. "You need not squabble with the other mortals over that pitiful little bathtub over there." He flicked his head in the direction of the wooden tub, then offered a hand with the slightest of bows, "Come."

A smile grew on their face, and they took his hand. His heart soared and he snapped his fingers, teleporting them both to the House of Hope.

They materialized in the entryway of his home. Raphael kept Tav's hand in his and turned to them, "I will gladly help you scrub off those guts, chosen-slayer, if you let me." He placed another kiss on Tav's hand. "Will you bathe with me?"

He could see his mouse chew their lower lip. It was an undeniable step forward in the level of intimacy between the two of them, he knew that; and the longer his mouse took to respond, the more anxious he grew. Had he gone too far? Was this too much for them. He didn't want to scare them off! He felt like he was trying to gain the trust of a shy animal that could flee at any moment. He felt incredibly insecure all of a sudden. He knew how to seduce someone, to get what he wanted, and he had put on some of that charm. But now it quickly crumpled away. Tav was different. He wanted to be honest with them. He trusted them to see who he really was, and he trusted them to understand his damned mortal feelings. But he didn't always know how to express himself. He had spent too much time pretending his mortal half was a mere footnote, unworthy of mention. He lost track of time as he waited. It could have been seconds or minutes - his thoughts were racing now, spiraling into the abyss. He was about to say something, anything to try and save the situation, when Tav responded: "If you'll respect my boundaries, I'd love nothing more." His stomach made cartwheels, and it took a great deal of effort for him not to sigh and cheer in relief. He kept his composure and instead kissed the mortal's hand again, "Always." They smiled at him, exhausted from the fighting, but with such happiness in their eyes - his heart joined his stomach in doing cartwheels, and had he been an entirely different person, he'd have bounced his way to the boudoir. He beamed back at them and kissed their knuckles a third time, before putting their hand on his arm and leading the blood-drenched mouse towards his room. They didn't leave their hand on his arm, they grabbed it elegantly but greedily with both hands and pulled closer to him as they walked. It made his heart soar. The mouse's affection was the best gift he had ever been given. It was like a drug that made his head spin.

"I know, you must be exhausted. But the water will help, I promise." he filled the silence on their way. "Haarlep isn't going to be there, is he?" Tav asked with some trepidation. "Certainly not! I would never share you." he said immediately. They gave an amused snort, "You make it sound like I'm a bottle of whiskey." "Oh if anything, only the most expensive of wines, my dear." They laughed. He smiled. He was proud and happy. He made them laugh. "I don't mind Haarlep in general," Tav added back on topic, "but I don't quite trust an incubus around me naked." He smirked at them, "And you shouldn't. I knew you were a smart one." They grinned back, "If you ask my companions, they'll tell you I'm the biggest idiot in Faerûn, for being with you." He gave an amused smile back, unsure of what to say to that. Maybe they were right. It was certainly foolish for a mortal to get this close to a devil, even if he himself knew that they could trust him. He was a rare exception to the rest of his kind. It certainly took a degree of either boldness or stupidity to be with him. He chose to believe the former of his mouse. They were far from stupid, after all.

As they entered the boudoir, Raphael raised his voice, "Out!" which was quickly followed by movement from the direction of his bed. Haarlep stalked over, all smiles and seductive walk, "I see you brought your favorite guest." they cooed on their way past them, "Is the cat finally going to eat the mouse?" "I'm going to eat your liver if you're not gone in two seconds." Raphael snarled, and Haarlep grinned impishly as they slunk out of the boudoir.

[mood music]

Tav watched them go, then looked at Raphael as he sealed the door. He looked back at them and cupped their face with one hand. He wasn't sure what to say, and they looked at him with such expectation. Expecting what? He didn't quite know, so he just leaned in and offered a kiss. Pressing his lips cautiously and gently against theirs. His mouse kissed back, and he could feel them smile. He could taste blood; though he didn't know if it was Orin's or that of his mouse. He gently ran his tongue over their lips, tasting, checking for injuries. He couldn't find any. Orin's blood. The thought was arousing. Almost a shame he would wash the gore off soon. His mouse looked so, so delicious covered in the blood of their enemies. It was a testament to their prowess in battle. He gently started tugging on the straps, holding Tav's armor together, and they didn't complain about it. On the contrary. Their arms snaked their way up his chest and began unbuttoning his doublet while never breaking the soft kiss. Only when he had to pull their chest armor over their head, did the two of them step apart for a moment, but their lips met again right after. It took longer to undress this way. Raphael had to feel for all the straps and buckles; and he thought more than once that this armor had way too many of them. Slowly but surely the armor came off, piece by piece. As did his doublet and shirt. He knelt down to take off Tav's boots and legplates. Their hands ran through his hair as he did. He almost purred.

He got back up, gently putting his hands on Tav's shirt. He looked his mouse in the eyes, they smiled at him. The shirt came off. Hands on his belt. He smiled back. His pants came off. Then Tav's pants. He kissed them again - more passionately this time. They reciprocated. Hands roamed his chest, gently ruffled the fluff of hair there. He smiled into the kiss. His hands explored the mortal's waist - up and down. Their shape was perfect. A thumb brushed his nipple. Two thumbs brushed both his nipples. He could feel the mouse smile into the kiss. Mischievous little thing. He reciprocated. They sighed. He swallowed the sound with his kiss and wrapped his arms around the mouse, pulling them close. They grunted, and he broke the kiss for a moment to look at them. They smiled apologetically and looked down, so did he. Only now did he realize how bruised his little mouse was from all the fighting they had done today. He looked back into their eyes, feeling his brows knitting together into a frown. He didn't like the thought of someone - anyone - hurting his mouse. He knelt down and gently kissed one of the larger bruises on their ribs, gently brushed his thumb along another. He looked up to them, concerned. It suddenly hit him (again) how fragile their life was. How mortal the mouse was. He got back up and took their hands to lead Tav into the pool. The water was warm, and the healing qualities would get rid of the unsightly bruises and any other injuries they might have that he hasn't discovered yet. His mouse sighed as they submerged their body in the water, undoubtedly feeling the pain diminish and their strength slowly replenish. He moved around them, his hands never leaving them. He didn't want to let go - as if they'd vanish into thin air, if he did - so he gently kept a hold of the mouse's waist as he moved behind them. He started trailing kisses along their shoulder, across their neck and onto the other shoulder. A hand reached back and found his hip. He pressed a long kiss into the nape of Tav's neck, and he heard them sigh deeply. "Feeling better?" he whispered next to their ear. They hummed a positive response. "Good. Then let me scrub those pieces of bhaalspawn off you." he added with a low voice. "Eugh," Tav chuckled, "that makes it sound more disgusting than it should be." "On the contrary, my dear," he corrected them, as he glided to the side of the pool to pick up a soft sponge, "You're covered in the blood of a god. You should revel in it." He arrived back at their side and lustfully licked their neck, "Because I surely do, chosen-slayer." he purred in their ear, and he could feel them shiver. But he stepped back, soaking the sponge in the water before bringing it up to Tav's shoulders. Gently scrubbing the grime, blood and sweat away.

"I suppose I did kill the chosen of two gods..." Tav mused, "Though honestly, I regarded both Ketheric and Orin as just one more cruel monster who chose to be in my way." Raphael moved on to scrub their back, "I'll make sure to step aside when you walk down the hallway." He joked. They laughed, "As if!" He grinned at their back, not saying more on the matter. They knew him well. Of course, he expected everyone to get out of his way, but that would've ruined the joke. He gently lifted one of Tav's arms and started scrubbing it down. He did so in silence for a bit, until the mouse spoke up again, "I'd make people get out of your way." He paused and looked at them. They stared at the water. He stared at them. The sudden silence dragged out, only interrupted by the gentle splashing of the faucets. He was still holding Tav's arm up, the sponge frozen in place. It sounded like a scenario for the future. After the netherbrain is dead. Did the mouse mean to say, they wanted to stick with him? Stay with him? Be at his side? He didn't know what to say. Though he had told himself, that of course they would stay with him, he had his doubts. He certainly had dreamt of them joining him after they dealt with the netherbrain. He did not want a future without his mouse, so he had not entertained any other scenario. But in the back of his head he knew, it wasn't set in stone. He longed for his mouse to come willingly. Willing was the important part. He could make them stay, but that would just turn them into another Hope. But for the mouse to imply... He didn't dare believe that this was what they meant. He didn't dare ask either. He didn't know what he would do, if his mouse refused to join him. Somewhere in the very far back of his mind, he heard Hope's voice refuse him over and over, even though he knew his mouse was different. After a long pause that felt as if time had lost its meaning, he just continued scrubbing Tav's arm without saying anything. Too afraid to ask for clarification.

He moved on to their other arm in silence. Gently scrubbing every inch of their beautiful limbs. As he washed off the soap, he couldn't help but to press another long kiss on Tav's knuckles. Their other hand came up around his neck, pulling him in, and kissing him lovingly on the lips. Long and gentle. They smiled at him, but there was something... a spark of uncertainty in their eyes. He smiled back with adoration, not understanding the doubt in their expression. It seemed to vanish slowly as they looked at each other. He kissed them again. Whatever was on his mouse's mind, he'd make it go away ...he hoped. When he pulled away again, he saw success. They just smiled now; happiness the only thing he could see.

His eyes wandered up to Tav's hair, sticky with blood. He looked back down into their eyes, and they seemed to know what he was thinking. Putting one hand above their collar bones and one behind their head, he gently made them lean back. They let him. They trusted him. He gently submerged their head until all the hair was in the water; making sure that their face remained above the surface. It was a slow and delicate motion, and his mouse closed their eyes and seemed to enjoy the feeling. Being in the hands of a devil. He gently ran his hand through their hair, to make sure the water could get to all of it, before he eventually pushed them back upright. Then he put the soap to it. Orin's blood - Bhaal's blood was all over the little mouse's head. They had stabbed at the larger beast, and the Slayer's blood had rained down on them like a gory shower. Raphael had relished the sight. But he also relished this. Cleaning his mouse. Touching them everywhere. Gently and softly. He began to understand soft. He liked it. The devil blood inside him screamed at the softness. Would prefer to rip and tear and torture. But when he was with his mouse, his mortal half was emboldened. Given strength by his sweetling. It strangled the fiend in him and allowed him to be soft. And enjoy it. He admitted it to himself, as he spread the soap through Tav's hair: He enjoyed it. He had suppressed his mortal desires for a long time, and he had always felt like something was missing to make him truly happy. He thought it to be power, as a fiend would. The crown would fill that hole, he had decided. But right now - as he took his mouses head gently in his hand to lean them back into the water again - right now he realized, the hole he tried to fill was mouse-shaped.

He flared his nostrils as his mind reached that conclusion, his fiend blood screaming at his weakness. Thankfully the mortal in his hands could not see the turmoil inside him. They had their eyes closed and enjoyed his touch, as he gently rinsed the soap out of their hair. It would be all to easy to drown them now. Push them under and end them. They would have no chance to react or to escape. Something in him conjured up an image of them struggling, splashing, flailing helplessly, as he held them effortlessly under water. He wrinkled his nose at the unbidden thought and pushed it aside. He'd never do that. Never! He pushed the mouse back upright and pulled them in, claiming their lips greedily. Kissing them. Drowning the fiend inside him in a wave of love and gentleness. Tav seemed to be taken by surprise but swiftly recovered and reciprocated. His father's blood quieted down, unable to oppose the intensity of his affection for this damned mortal.

When he eventually broke the kiss, three words were on the tip of his tongue. But he couldn't say them. Could not manage to spit them out, for a multitude of reasons. So he just looked at Tav and tried to say it with his eyes. They smiled back at him. He didn't think they understood.

"Now you." He blinked, startled. Ripped out of his thoughts, and his brows rose in surprise. The mouse must've noticed, for they leaned in and kissed him again, before taking the soap out of his hands. He let them, and just looked at them wordlessly. Tav picked the sponge from the water, where he had let it drift off, and wrung it a little, before they moved behind him and started soaping up his back. His surprised confusion gave way to a warm pleasant feeling, as he felt them pay special attention to the base of his wings. It felt sublime and he couldn't suppress a soft sigh. It made him realize that it was an area he had trouble to reach himself, and all he ever felt there were Haarlep's rough and greedy claws raking over his back. Until his mouse came along. Thousands of years, and only now did he find out that he liked his wings touched. Touched by his mouse, he corrected himself. How could he have found out earlier, when he had to wait all this time for his mouse to even exist!

Tav began rinsing the soap off with hands and sponge, finishing with a kiss between his wings. He sighed deeply, and he knew his mouse heard and knew. Knew exactly, what they did to him. Knew he liked it. They gently pushed him backwards into the shallower part of the pool to gain more access, but then paused suddenly.

"You have... little swirly ridges on your thighs." they commented with a delighted expression. He looked at them confused. "...yes? Don't say you didn't notice them before." he wrinkled his brow. "I actually didn't," they leaned in closer and whispered, "I guess I was too distracted by your beautiful butt." He couldn't help but crack a smile. "Which also has ridges. Right.... here," and as they said it, Tav ran a finger along the lines on his lower rear end. Raphael automatically closed his eyes. "Mhm," he hummed, "I have a lot more of those all over." he stated, as if it wasn't obvious. He could hear Tav's smile as they responded, "Yes, I've noticed. Here..." A hand trailed along the ridges on his lower back. "...here..." another hand ran over the ridges on his legs. "...here..." fingers gently ghosted towards his wings. "...here..." kisses on his sides. He hummed with every gesture, his eyes still closed. "...and here." a whisper, and the soft touch of a hand running down his arms. "Mhm." He couldn't say anything more than that, kisses on his shoulders, and hands roaming his body distracted him too much. "And scales like armor here," soft fingertips traced over the base of his tail and a soft moan escaped him. They lifted the rest of it out of the water and kissed it gently. It took effort, to not let his knees buckle under him and collapse into the water. They gently lowered his tail back down and let it go. A moment later the soapy sponge was back, trailing circles over his thighs. "I love these swirls," he heard his mouse say, as they paid them special attention. His eyes were still closed, and he lost himself in the sensation of their gentle touches. "Glad you do," he replied, "You may admire them anytime you like." After he said it, the full extent of his own words hit him, and judging by how Tav froze, it hit them too. His mind started racing. Should he clarify? Retract? Should he-- "I just might take you up on that." The mortal's voice interrupted his spinning thoughts, and he could hear the impish smirk in their voice. His mind quieted down. "Within reason," he added more sternly. "Of course."

Back to soaping. They stayed behind him, taking care of his thighs, his butt - paying that special attention, too. They soaped the base of his tail, causing him to moan again. So sensitive, and he never knew - never knew the gentle pleasure this world had to offer. The wonder of soft touches and loving caresses. It overwhelmed him. His mind was still learning to cope with being loved like this.

Tav's hands lifted his tail again, soaping and scrubbing gently along its length. Then they dunked it underwater to remove the soap, lifted it back up and gently kissed it once more before letting go for good.

A moment's pause, then he felt a gentle tug on his wing. He looked over and acquiesced, lowering it so his mouse could reach it better. They began at the outer spine, gently spreading the soap with the sponge from the tip up to the joint. Then down the next spine. They moved away, pulling his wing along to spread it out, so they could take care of the leathery membrane in between. He closed his eyes again and leaned his head back slightly. The soft touches and scrubs sent tingles down his spine, all the way to the tip of his tail. He wished he were in bed, so he could clutch at the sheets. Clutch at anything. It was good. Too good. The sponge gently scrubbed around the claw at the top joint; squeezed into the creases along the veins. He felt light-headed. His wing was pulled lower, dipped underwater. A gentle hand brushed over it to rid it of soap. His brows knit together, and he had to realize that this part of his body has been thoroughly neglected throughout his entire life. Bar the occasional scrub when he washed himself, nobody had ever touched them like this. Cared for them. Of course, nobody had ever been this gentle with him in general. Sex, he knew. But it was always wild and untamed. Rough and possessive. A means to a quick release of pent-up energy. This... this was... His wing was moved out of the water again, and his train of thought snapped. A frown snuck on his face. He wished Tav would do the entire thing again. Didn't matter if he was already clean or not. The frown dissipated as his other wing was pulled into a spread. It received the same loving care. His mouse knew no hurry, and every touch and every rub was just as good and gentle, as it had been on the other wing. He sighed deeply in contentment. Another tingle ran down his spine, as if the mortal's touch had some magical quality to it. He balled his fists. He felt like he needed to hold onto something; unable to handle these wonderful feelings. Now this wing was submerged, rinsed of soap. As Tav pulled it back out of the water, they placed a kiss on the outer spine. Raphael moaned. He couldn't help it. He'd scream in bliss, would he not feel so weak and light-headed. The mouse took note, and trailed more kisses along his wing. His entire world was reduced to a pair of hands and soft lips of a little mouse roaming over him.

He felt the disturbance and gentle burble of the water as Tav moved in front of him. Hands took his, and he was pulled forward. He opened his eyes, looked at his mouse and complied. Going back into the deeper parts again. They kissed him while their hands fished the sponge from the water again. Then they pulled back and started soaping up his chest. He watched them; watched their expression as they took such gentle care of him. The smile never leaving their face. It even grew wider as they took care of his chest hair. Tracing it with soap and sponge all the way down below his belly button. They bit their lower lip before they returned their attention to his chest, rinsing now. They watched the water trickle down the fluff of hair as if mesmerized by it, and they followed up with a hand gently running through it. He couldn't help himself and caught it, placing a gentle kiss on their knuckles.

He smiled at them and they smiled back. A sudden urge overcame him, and he pulled them into a gentle and loving kiss. His arms wrapped around their form, holding them tight, and pressing them against him. Feeling their skin against his.

He wanted never to let go again. Keep them forever in the devil's den.