Work Text:
Paul had only been dating Ted for a couple of weeks, but he’s already learned quite a few things.
He’s learned that Ted isn’t the asshole he portrays himself to be. Well, to be fair, he already knew that. If he didn’t he wouldn’t have asked Ted to go to Beanie’s with him that Saturday. But he’s learned that Ted’s actually a huge softie. A major-league sap. Ted keeps granola bars on him for when Paul forgets to eat, he orders the iced caramel frappe at Beanie’s so that Paul doesn’t have to, and he remembers the little things that Paul likes so that he can surprise him later.
But, above everything else, Paul had learned that Ted is extremely affectionate. Like, to a degree that Paul has never witnessed before in his life.
Ted leans into touch like a dying man with water, drinking it in until he’s sated, which he seemingly never is. He’d always kept his distance before, curling into himself in a way that Paul now knows was to stifle the urge to reach out, but now that he’s been given permission, he’s constantly reaching out.
It’s not even all romantic. Sure, they’ll kiss and hug, but Ted’s a big fan of the casual stuff. He’ll nudge Paul’s shoulder with his own, or knock their knees together, or put a hand on his back when he’s trying to reach something behind Paul.
The touching has spread to the other members of their little crew, although to a lesser extent which is something Paul is not-so subtly pleased with.
Ever since the nearly world-ending apocalypse, things have changed. They’ve changed. Ted opened himself up a bit, offered bashful apologies to the rest of them with promises to try and be better. He and Charlotte stopped seeing each other, and Charlotte got a divorce from Sam. Alice moved in with Bill and he and Deb have started to get along.
And Paul knows all this because he finally stopped saying no to all those times people tried to invite him places. Well, mostly. He still sometimes says no, but Ted tends to find a way to convince him.
According to the others, something in Ted has truly settled down now that he and Paul have gotten together. Paul begs to differ. He thinks that they only think that because Ted now has someone to direct all his annoying attention onto who is obligated to fondly put up with it.
Which brings him back to the last thing he’s learned about Ted: the never-ending affection.
Apparently, Ted’s fond of one very particular kind of affection. He never passes up the chance to tickle Paul if the opportunity arises.
Paul really isn’t that surprised. It makes sense if you think about it for more than two seconds. Ted’s an older brother. He’s annoying, bothering people is basically his main love language. His primary goal in life is to make other people laugh, which he’s gotten significantly better at now that he’s not borderline-harassing them.
Above all, he loves getting his hands on Paul and forcing him to eat, go out, and generally do things a human being needs to in order to survive.
In Ted’s defense, it worked. Paul loosened up, learned to smile a bit more often, stopped to chat with people he could now call his friends.
And, surprise of all surprises, he got with Ted.
But recently, Ted’s been antsy. Restless. He’s been poking and prodding at Paul more and more often. Squeezing at his knee under the table when they’re in a meeting together and smiling innocently when Paul flinches and tangles their hands together. Tracing his neck when they’re watching a movie together and pretending that he has no idea what Paul is squeaking and squirming over.
To be fair, Paul doesn’t entirely mind it. He likes being close to Ted. He likes laughing at the hands of the very mischievous man. Before they’d officially started dating, Paul may have developped a bad habit or two so that Ted would appear and tickle him until he agreed to take a break or eat some food.
And he might have been encouraging this behaviour after they got together, pulling Ted into a breathless kiss once Paul got his lingering giggles under control.
Anyway.
The last straw came in Ted’s latest attack, where his little brother, Peter, got home while Paul was cackling and frantically trying to shove Ted’s hands away. It was…embarrassing, to say the least. Thankfully, Ted stopped immediately and declared that he was going to the bathroom.
Peter simply looked at him, sympathy mingling with something that looked like gratitude before he stepped forward and flung his arms around Paul.
“Thank you,” he said to Paul’s immense confusion. “Thank you for making him happy.” Peter pulled back to look him in the eye. “Just know that, if you hurt him, I’m dating the mayor’s daughter. I’d never get caught for what I’ll do to you.”
“Oh, uh, thanks? And, I won’t,” Paul stammered. He didn’t know that a seventeen-year-old could be intimidating, but here they were.
The sound of the toilet flushing echoed from the bathroom and Peter’s grin stretched into something that made him look uncannily similar to his older brother.
“Also, if you want to get Ted back, go for the ribs,” he said. talking faster with each of Ted’s approaching footsteps. “Or the knees. And his neck makes him snort.”
Ted walked back into the living room just in time to hear the end of that sentence, jaw dropping as his face rapidly burned red. “Pete, you little shit, I’m going to kill you.”
“Gotta run, bye!” Peter was out of the room before Paul could fully process the change.
Which was fine with him, because all of his attention quickly fell on Ted, and Paul could feel an eager spark start to burn in his chest.
“Uh, Paul?” Nerves started to creep into Ted’s voice and he took a half-step backwards. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Paul took a step forwards. “I think you know.” Then he shot out an arm and grabbed ahold of Ted’s wrist yanking him towards the couch and then shoving him down.
It was hard not to notice that Ted didn’t exactly fight back. Like, at all.
He just looked up at Paul with this stupid grin slowly inching across his face, anticipation sparkling in his eyes.
And, well, who was Paul to deny him?
Peter’s advice was sound, because Paul clawed into Ted’s ribs and nearly flinched at the volume of his screech.
“Wow,” he said, “I can’t believe you’ve been pulling the shit you have when you’re this ticklish.”
Ted flushed even more at his words, if that was even possible. “Shuhut up! It’s not my fault you’re so fucking easy to mess with—no! Pahahahaul don’t!”
God, the audacity of this man. Not that Paul was surprised, but you’d think he’d lose some of his attitude in this position.
“Well then, it sounds like I’m owed some revenge,” Paul moving back to ‘crack an egg’ over Ted’s knee.
And another point in Peter’s favour, because “FUCK! Nonono Paul shitshitshit—wahahahait!” He threw his head back, laughter shaking out of him, and suddenly Paul understood.
He understood why Ted always seemed compelled to reach out and squeeze at his waist, because Paul’s never seen Ted smile quite like this. It’s beautiful, and Paul wants to be able to see him like this forever.
“C’mon Paul!” Ted cried out, flailing weakly against the attack. “You liked it!”
And then Paul understood some more.
“What? And you don’t?” The more he spoke, the more confident Paul got. “This is why you’ve been tickling me more often, isn’t it? You wanted me to get you back. How long have you been itching for this? Weeks? Months? Probably ever since the first time you poked me in the office. Well, I’m happy to oblige.” Paul leaned in close, brushing his lips against Ted’s ear in a way that made his giggles pitch up. “And I don’t plan on stopping until I feel like you’re done.”
What? Paul felt like he was allowed to be a little mean about this, especially after everything Ted’s put him through. And he doesn’t mind the small rush of power it gives him.
That’s something to be unpacked a little later.
To his credit, Ted lasted longer than Paul thought he would. It was a little impressive, not that he would ever tell ted he thought that.
But all good things must come to an end.
“Alright!” Ted finally wheezed out. “Mercy! Uncle! I can’t breheheathe!”
“If you can talk, you can breathe,” Paul informed him, but proceeded to immediately get off of Ted and head into the kitchen to pour him a glass of water. After a second of deliberation, he grabbed a granola bar too, just in case.
Walking back into the living room, Paul found Ted mostly sitting upright, his face a less concerning shade of pink and a smile still glued to his face.
“Here,” he said, handing the food and water to Ted, “you should hydrate. Especially because I’m pretty sure you were actually crying at some point.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Ted said. The impact was immediately lessened when Ted drank three quarters of the water at once, before opening up the granola bar and shoving half of it into his mouth.
Paul wasn’t exactly sure what to do now, so he just sat down next to Ted and waited patiently.
Fortunately for him, he didn’t have to make any decisions. The second Ted was finished he slumped down against Paul, practically draping himself over the other man.
“Man, I am wiped,” he said, maneuvering them both so they were lying down. “Wanna watch a movie?”
Ted’s hair was soft when Paul ran his fingers through it. “Sure, Ted.” He fumbled for the remote with one hand, unwilling to remove the other from Ted’s head. Soft hums of appreciation were emitting from Ted, and he’d basically gone boneless from where he was pressed against Paul.
Paul made a mental note to thank Peter later, because this was a perfect end to the day. Ted was drifting off, curled into him while The Goonies played in the background.
After a while, Paul felt his eyes slip shut, and he let Ted’s comforting warmth and weird half-snores lull him to sleep as well.
It didn’t get much better than this.