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Cute. The little thing felt warm and soft under his fingers. Ash’ touches were rewarded with cute little sounds. His hand moved all over the small body, inviting it to lean into his touch with every rub and stroke.
While these could’ve been his exact thoughts when he was petting his boyfriend Eiji lovingly, Ash was right now spoiling a little stray cat with attention. He found it outside their flat, and showered it with love when it meowed and rubbed against his leg. Once in a while, this wasn’t so bad.
“Hey hey! Look who’s made a little friend~” Ash looked up to see a very cheerful Eiji arrive home from work, carrying his camera as well as a bag with donuts he had seemingly scored on his way home.
"Ah, you’re home. Yeah this little thing was wandering out here. I think it’s a stray,” Ash said fondly. Eiji kneeled down by his side, kissed his lips as a greeting and then also started to pet the cat.
“She’s so cute. Look, all cuddly,” Ash said, smiling when Eiji scribbled his fingers over the soft fur.
“Ooooh, she wants me to tickle her belly,” Eiji chanted when the cat rolled on its back and welcomed Eiji’s little scribbles. Ash stared at the movements Eiji’s fingers made. Oh. He felt that... Why did he feel that? A soft fluttery feeling in his chest caught him off-guard, and he quickly got up.
“Ah, let’s not get too attached to it,” he said, and Eiji looked up at him but continued to tickle the cat with wiggling fingers. That was not how you should pet a cat! Ash didn’t know why he was blushing so much as he watched Eiji’s hand, and he turned away to head home.
“We may see the cat again,” Ash said formally.
“Oi, wait for me!” Eiji finally joined him and together they went back home. For the rest of the afternoon, Ash couldn’t shake off the tingly feeling. Eiji had only been petting a cat. What the hell was wrong with him? Was he jealous, was that it? Of a cat? No, it couldn’t be. Ash associated jealousy with a negative stinging feeling. That wasn’t what he felt right now. It had to be something else.
“Is there something on your mind?” Ash was pulled from his thoughts when Eiji sat down next to him, handing him a mug of coffee to go with the donuts he had brought home.
“Oh? No. Cat was cute,” was the quick reply he gave, blushing slightly. Eiji giggled.
“I like it when you get along with cats. You seem like family.”
“...Because of my name Ash Lynx?” Ash glared at Eiji, but Eiji laughed and patted his shoulder.
“No way, because you seem alike,” Eiji giggled. Ash felt his body lean into Eiji’s subtle touch. His entire body tingled and strange enough, he suddenly saw Eiji’s hand again, in his mind. The way it wiggled its fingers all over the cat’s tummy, scribbling and scratching it fondly. Ash stared at his donut he had only taken one bite of.
Could it really be... He craved the same affection? The same sort of attention? What was he? A child? Ash quickly took another bite, too hasty and he choked.
“Oh, Ash! Take it easy,” Eiji said, taking away Ash’ coffee and donut and patting his back until he recovered. Phew! Ash was sweating a little, feeling all squirmy and embarrassed now he realized this was probably his problem.
“There, are you alright? Need some water?” Eiji asked, caressing Ash’ back slowly. Ash relaxed under the touch and shook his head.
“It’s fine. I’m alright,” he sighed. He closed his eyes and leaned further against Eiji, welcoming the touch.
“Heh, you’re like a little cat as well. Told you,” Eiji said, softly petting Ash’ back, his fingers tracing down and caressing him through his shirt.
“Don’t tell me you would like to be petted too?” Eiji joked. Ash felt his face immediately explode.
“Whー！N-no way,” he gasped, blushing like crazy. Eiji stopped caressing him and looked at him in surprise.
“You do?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“I said no!” Ash squeaked, sitting back and staring at Eiji in horror. Eiji chuckled.
“But your face is all red! And I know those eyes. There’s no need to be ashamed, come here. I’ll tickle your belly for you~” Eiji said playfully spreading his arms. Ash was mortified, sitting there like an idiot and gaping at Eiji.
“...... It will tickle,” he murmured shyly. Eiji shrugged.
“And what if it will? If you like it, no problem right?”
Eiji’s smile was blinding, and Ash was literally dying of embarrassment, but the craving felt real. Really real. Was this what he was feeling? He wanted Eiji to pet, er, tickle him? Ash shyly moved towards him and when Eiji patted his lap, he slowly found himself lying down, leaning into Eiji’s arm as if he was a big baby.
“Hehehe, alright then! Here we gooo~” Eiji chanted, and he started to tickle Ash’ tummy exactly like he had done to the cat earlier. Ash immediately convulsed and covered his lips.
“OHhehehehe,” he giggled behind his hands. Eiji had a fond look on his face and he smiled.
“Your laugh is really sweet Ash. No need to hide!” Eiji softly scribbled his fingers across Ash’ stomach, and Ash kicked his feet and laughed softly.
“Hahahahah buhuhut!” He felt really weird, but the uneasy feeling was slowly slipping away. This was really what he had wanted apparently, and he couldn’t believe Eiji had figured it out so soon and was just... giving it to him.
Although his first objective had appeared to be to treat Ash like a kitten to continue the joke, Eiji was now more and more tickling Ash deliberately, especially when Ash started rewarding him with more and louder giggles.
“Hehehehehe n-nahaha wahahait! Eheheiji!” Ash laughed when Eiji’s fingers traveled to the side of his torso.
“For what? I can’t just keep petting your tummy,” Eiji said matter-of-factly, and Ash yelped when Eiji’s fingers found his sides and squeezed.
“HEheh! AHahahah wehhehe it tihihickles!”
“You’re the loudest cat I have met so far,” Eiji commented, smirking as he continued the tickle attack. Ash was struggling and squirming so much he ended up sliding off Eiji’s lap, but that didn’t stop the playful Japanese from climbing on top of him to trap him even more successfully.
“HAHAH! Whahaha hohohold on!” Ash squealed, his arms moving all over his torso to cover up his weak spots, but Eiji’s fingers wiggled rapidly up and down his sides and ribs, and he just couldn’t keep up.
“But this is so much fun! I should thank the cat for the inspiration, otherwise I wouldn’t be having fun like this,” said Eiji playfully, his fingers clawing at Ash’ lower sides and making him jump.
“HEHeh!” Eiji then pinched his hips. “HAHAh!” Ash moved his legs and arms clumsily to defend himself, but Eiji proved to actually be quite the skilled tickler, and he chased easily after each new spot that was revealed.
“HEhehehey not thehehere!” Ash cackled when Eiji had swiftly caught his ankle and used his other hand to tickle the bottom of his foot.
“Such a ticklish foot~!” Eiji chirped merely, making Ash cackle hysterically as he continued the tickle attack. Ash felt so embarrassed and happy.
“Eijehehehe! Nohoho!” Ash protested hysterically, reaching out for Eiji who was scribbling all over his sensitive soles. Eiji noticed him and chuckled.
“Oh, you want me to come over there? Sure thing~!” he teased, and Ash let out a loud laugh in surprise when Eiji climbed back up again, this time aiming for his underarms with wiggling fingers.
“HAHA! EIJAHAHA!” Ash freaked out, flailing his arms and kicking his legs, but he was too flustered to properly fight back, and... he was also enjoying himself way too much.
“Oh this is a good spot. No no, move those out of the way please,” Eiji said, taking Ash’ hands and moving them to the side before going back to tickling those hypersensitive armpits.
Ash hadn’t laughed this much in a long while.
“Eheheheeijehehehe!” he squealed when Eiji continued to dig his thumbs under his arms while his other fingers continued to wiggle and scribble, making Ash twitch weakly beneath him.
“I gihihive! Ehehenough pehehetting!” Ash laughed tiredly, gasping for breath. He heard Eiji mewl in surprise and he quickly climbed off him.
“Ash, I’m sorry. Did I take it too far?” he said sweetly, helping Ash back into a sitting position. Ash panted and wheezed, but he continued to smile. He shook his head.
“I’m fine,” he sighed. “That was... uh...” He blushed.
“Fun? I hope?” Eiji cocked his head. Ah that cutie. Ash giggled and nodded slowly.
“It was fun,” he said. The craving feeling was gone. It had been this after all. Ash just wanted to get tickled after seeing Eiji do it to a cat. What kind of mood was that?
But before he could continue worrying, feeling ashamed and ridiculing himself, Eiji called out his name with a soft and gentle voice.
“Hey.... Ash.”
Ash looked at Eiji, still blushing like crazy, and he gasped when he saw the bright smile on Eiji’s face.
“I really like it when you laugh. You are cute and adorable like a cat after all,” Eiji said. Ash rolled his eyes fondly, but Eiji continued: “But rather than a cat, you’re like a pretty flower. Bright as the sun. A sunflower,” Eiji said with the brightest smile of his own. Ash felt his heart flutter and covered his face shyly.
“...Look who’s talking,” he muttered.
“Hmm?” Eiji asked, having failed to hear the soft reply Ash just said, and Ash sighed and pulled him close into a tight hug.
“You can’t just say things like that Eiji,” he sighed, ruffling Eiji’s hair. He then smirked and lowered his hand to knead Eiji’s side playfully, making him jump.
“Hehehey!” he giggled.
Ash smiled when Eiji didn’t even warn him to stop, and he continued. “What? Isn’t it your turn now?”
“Whehehen did we eheheven - aahahaha Ahahhaash!”
While tickling Eiji, Ash still continued to process that compliment. He, Ash Lynx? A sunflower? That had to be the sweetest thing anyone had ever told him, and he just felt overwhelmed with love for his dearest most precious boyfriend.