Brianna’s realisation

(A sequel to Operation Bambi-rossa by AkuBlossom)

Yet-One-More-Idiot

Brianna sat cross-legged on the couch, the soft glow of the nightlight in the hallway casting long shadows across the living room. The house was finally quiet—except for the occasional sleepy murmur from Bethany or the soft rustling of blankets as Bambi shifted in her sleep. Brianna let out a breath, stretching her arms over her head before letting them fall into her lap.

She replayed the tickle fight in her mind, smiling to herself. The giggles, the shrieks, the way Bambi and Bethany had teamed up against her—it had all been so typical of them. But then she frowned, her fingers tapping idly against her knee. Something about Bambi’s actions didn’t quite add up.

At first, she had assumed Bambi had turned on Bethany in a bid for dominance, the way kids sometimes do. But no, that wasn’t it. Brianna closed her eyes and replayed the moment again, seeing it in her mind’s eye from a different perspective. Bambi had been so quick—too quick—to double-cross her partner. She had turned against Bethany at exactly the right moment, breaking their alliance and shifting the chaos in a way that allowed Brianna to escape.

Why would she do that?

The more Brianna thought about it, the clearer the answer became. Bambi had put herself in that position on purpose. She wanted to be tickled.

Brianna’s lips parted slightly as the realization settled in.

Bambi hadn’t asked outright, but she had orchestrated the entire thing to ensure she ended up on the receiving end. She could have let Bethany keep her pinned down, but instead, she had deliberately shifted the odds against herself, putting herself at Brianna’s mercy.

A quiet chuckle escaped Brianna’s lips.

“You little rascal,” she murmured under her breath.

It made sense now—how Bambi had practically collapsed the moment Brianna and Bethany had turned on her, how she hadn’t truly fought back, how she had giggled herself into exhaustion. It hadn’t just been a game to her; it had been something she wanted but hadn’t known how to ask for.

Brianna shook her head fondly, smiling as she leaned back against the couch.

Well, if Bambi ever tried that again, Brianna would be ready. Next time, she wouldn’t wait for the younger girl to hatch some elaborate scheme. Next time, she’d scoop Bambi up and tickle her silly before she even had a chance to get started.

With a satisfied sigh, Brianna rose to her feet, stretched one last time, and padded toward the stairs. She peeked into the bedroom where the girls slept soundly, Bambi curled up with her thumb in her mouth, Bethany sprawled out with her arm thrown over her cousin.

Shaking her head, Brianna whispered, “Goodnight, Bam-Bam. Next time, just ask.”

Then, with a soft smile, she turned off the light and headed to bed.