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ellioooot-8 · 2 years ago

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the meeting of XD and 4K is finally here!! If you haven’t read this already, you are missing out!

I still can’t get over the way you write them, they’re just so. Damm. Perfect. I love how soft HD was in this, and how he’s just naturally protective of XD :((( and both of them just completely destroying XD! Their dynamic is everything and I just loved it🫶🏼

and the new lore :0 XD finally knows about HD being the god of the overworld!

Intertwined

DreamXD knew, in his head, that there would be a God of the Nether, but he never gave to much thought into who that could be. He certainly didn't expect to meet them. Sapnap4K is loud, incredibly open and upsettingly tall, but he's so friendly with HD, so XD tries to give him a chance.

The fic people have been waiting for and I was dying to finish.

Before you start reading I must warn you this fic is LONG. It's a bit over 12k words. So please get yourself a drink. Some snacks maybe. Or read it in chunks. Enjoy it the best way for you. I hope you enjoy the canon meeting of XD and 4K and for anyone curious, these events take place just a small bit before Dream gets locked in prison.

---

The air of the Overworld was slowly growing tense. It seemed to build up every other day, and then would settle down to a stale standstill. DreamXD, trying to keep as neutral as possible, deliberately didn’t involve himself and tried as hard as he could to avoid knowing anything going on, but of course that was impossible. He could hear the whispers of gossip and talk of the day float his way and while he might not have known the whole story, he knew at the centre of it all was Dream.

It was harder to push down to a feeling of neutrality when it involved his brother. Torn in three ways between wanting to protect Dream, wanting to scold him for his actions and wanting keep out of it all was exhausting to manage. DreamXD tried as best he could to keep it all calm. He’d meet with his brother with smiles and keeping calm as he could, but the growing unease couldn’t be ignored anymore.

There was no way XD could keep ignoring it all, but it was a little easier to do if he just wasn’t there.

Despite what excuse XD used, eventually his visits to GeorgeHD in the Godly Realm became more for himself than to check up on his friend. It wasn’t like it was completely selfish though. He could still check on HD while avoiding his troubles; it didn’t have to be one or the other.

Visiting GeorgeHD was almost like a mini-vacation. With only the two of them they were locked away in their own world, of flowing soft colours.

XD was just making his way through the Godly Realm, watching the area dissolve into a void of colours. The realm was peach oranges and soft pinks, meaning HD was awake and in a good mood.

His steps hurried along the coloured void, his joy lifting immediately as though taking in the colours around him. He came to the familiar spot, where HD lay with his blankets and XD’s steps slowed.

There was an unfamiliar shape sitting by HD’s blankets. A large shape of mostly black but the closer XD’s unsure steps got, the more little details he could make out. This other shape was a person, or humanoid at least. They had on a large black coat, with thick black hair that faded out to a glowing fire orange down his back and two horns poking through the thick mane of hair.

A twinge of worry plucked in XD’s chest. If this person was here where was HD. But the closer XD got, he could finally see HD. The starry haired God was there, lounging over the lap of this new figure.

XD stopped in his tracks.

HD had never been the social kind of God. XD’s friendship with him had been about as smooth as trying to bring a cat into a bath, and the smaller God had never once mentioned any other relationships that XD was convinced he didn’t even know any other God. Yet here he was, so easily lounging over someone else’s lap.

The new figure said something that was too far for XD to hear. Whatever it was HD scoffed at it and rolled his eyes and the new figure grinned so wide with his shoulder’s shaking in a small laugh.

Jealously wrung it’s nasty head but XD swallowed it back down their throat and carried on. They didn’t know this new person, but HD did and HD was kind to them, and that was enough.

XD only had to take a few more steps forward until he was noticed. While the figure looked down to HD, their pointed ears twitched and orange eyes flicked up to catch XD approach. And they grinned again.

When the eyes were upon him, XD stopped mid-step. The stranger’s eyes were warm and sparkling with delight, like he was looking at prey. This figure was a God, clearly, and they were powerful.

“Finally. The God I’ve heard so much about.” The new God’s voice rumbled from his chest. Deep and rich.

HD tilted their head up, leaning over the God’s leg to look at XD. Their expression switched to a mild surprise. “XD. I didn’t think you’d visit so soon.”

XD took in a breath, taking a slower step forward. The new God chuckled slightly. “You don’t need to be scared. I don’t bite.”

“I’m not scared.” XD replied, hating how defensive he sounded but he was thankful his voice came out evenly.

The black haired God grinned again, slower this time. It wasn’t in a taunting or malicious way but XD felt like it held power. Like this God knew something more.

“I’m…at a disadvantage.” XD admitted. He stopped a few feet away from the two. “I don’t think we’ve ever met.”

“Hmm. No. We’ve not. At least not formally.” The new God looked down to HD, still lounged over their lap. “Usually the gracious host would introduce us.”

HD had been casually watching the two as they spoke. Suddenly addressed, his lips pulled into a scowl and he reluctantly pointed up to the figure looming over him. “XD. This brute is Sapnap4K. God of the Nether.”

The Nether God. XD thought, gaining some confidence as he stepped forward. XD knew there was a God for the Nether, or at least had assumed their was. It would have been rather selfish to think he was the only Realm God. The Nether surely had one. Maybe even the Overworld.

For the time being, XD pushed those thoughts aside as 4K extended a hand out. He shook himself off and quickly brought his own hand forward.

“I’m DreamXD. The God of the End.” They quickly introduced themselves, and shook 4K’s hand as he offered it. The Nether God’s hand was warm and his grip was strong. His fingernails were jet black and just a little bit longer than XD’s own. Something more akin to claws.

“I’ve heard about you!” 4K beamed and drew his hand back. He smiled a little softer than his grins, showing his array of fanged teeth. One fang, on his right side, grew just a little longer than the others and snagged over his bottom lip a little. XD was focused on it as 4K spoke again.

“How is the End Realm?”

It wasn’t a question XD was used to hearing. It caught them off guard for a moment, but they regained themselves quickly. “It’s…fine.”

“Really?” 4K’s head tilt. “Visited it at all?”

The question didn’t sit right with XD. A defensive tone surged through him, puffing up his chest but he, thankfully, kept his voice calm. “I’ve looked in on it recently. Nothing changed.”

4K went to open his mouth again but rather than words a surprised squawk came out instead. 4K, and XD, looked over to see a white hand by 4K’s arm, poised in a jabbing shape and quickly disappearing as HD huffed.

“Forgive 4K, XD.” HD said as he pushed himself up from 4K’s lap. 4K leaned himself back to allow him by. “He means well but he comes across as a nosey, brash fool.”

HD shuffled himself over to his pile of blankets as 4K shrugged with a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I’m a working God. Can’t turn it off.” He looked back up to XD. “No hard feelings, I didn’t mean to give you a hard time.”

XD nodded as the flare in his chest died down. “It’s fine…” He gave a half shrug and hoping his voice didn’t betray his mood.

It seemed to have worked, as 4K’s smile softened; his eyes not glowing with such intent anymore. “Speaking of which,” He sighed. “I have to get back to the Nether. Can’t leave it alone for too long.”

HD gave a ‘tsk’ sound as his lips raised in a low scowl. The sleepy God seemed genuinely mad 4K was leaving. “It’s not going to implode.”

“No, but I can’t let the in-fighting get too rough.”

4K stretched out his hand to the ground beside him. The colours of HD’s realm swirled and mixed together, forming into an off purple colour before popping with light pink particles and the space under 4K’s hand formed into a small Nether portal.

The black haired God gave a final look over XD, smiling widely again. “It was good to finally meet you, DreamXD.”

XD gave a slow nod. “You too…”

4K nodded, to both XD and HD before he leaned back and fell into the Nether Portal. The purple vortex disappeared as soon as the Nether God was through and the ground turned back into the swirling colours of pinks and orange. He left a thick silence behind before HD let out an annoyed huff.

“What’s the point of his visits? He only ever stays for an hour, then he’s off.” HD complained while he rearranged his blankets. When he’d moved them into a position he was happy with he fell into them, letting the plush pillows and blankets break his fall as he huffed again.

When he had settled again, HD tilted his head to XD. “Also, what about you? Everything alright?”

“Alright?” XD repeated and looked over to HD almost in a daze. “What…?”

“You were here not long ago. Usually your visits are more…spaced out.”

“Oh. Yeah I’m fine.” XD shook his shoulders, shaking off the weird energy that was left behind. “I’m alright…” His voice trailed off, distracted.

Since laying eyes on the Nether God, and knowing who he was, XD’s mind was racing with a thousand thoughts and trying to carefully chose his words for how to ask HD how he knew 4K.

A low hum pulled XD out of their thoughts, just in time to see HD give a soft pat onto the blankets beside him, and XD took the invitation to sit down. They were no closer to sorting out their words, but they spoke anyway. “ I didn’t know you were friends with the Nether God. I didn’t even know you knew him.”

HD’s head slightly tilted over to XD and hummed softly. His expression was still passive so XD couldn’t get a good feel on the smaller God’s mood. “No?” HD hummed and stretched himself out. “I’d thought you had met him already…”

“I’ve not met many Gods.” XD admitted. It wasn’t like it was a terrible thing to admit yet their words still faltered slightly. They had assumed HD was similar, just from how anti-social the God was and how no-one else ever visited him before.

It was silent for a bit, but it wasn’t a bad silence. With HD, they were often quiet which meant XD had to quickly learn which silences were good and bad. Some meant he was just thinking and others meant he had nothing more to say. But this was a silence of thought, and after a moment, HD spoke again. Softly.

“That’s right. I always forget that.”

“Forget what?”

“How young you are. How much younger you are compared to us.” HD’s fingers began playing with the edges of his blanket, absent-mindedly running it through his fingers.

A horrible feeling welled in XD’s chest and it was a struggle not let it show in his voice. “How…long have you known 4K?”

The starry haired God paused and gave an annoying shrug. “Long time. Well, I’d say I only really started to know him recently but I’ve known of him. Seen him before. We weren’t close back then though.”

XD opened their mouth to speak again, but HD quickly sat up, and his ethereal hands all appeared to either straighten his robes or rearrange his blankets and pillows. “Can’t get comfy.” He huffed, spinning himself around and resettling by XD’s side again, this time on his front. “Do you want to nap? Couldn’t sleep at all with 4K here, rambling on about nothing.”

XD softly nodded, laying back onto the blankets and few pillows laid out once the hands finished working. He went to lean his head back and settle but he felt a hand tugging at his cloak, and another curve around his shoulder and push. XD looked down to see the few ethereal hands on him, pushing him towards HD who opened his arms and hugged around XD waist.

XD was surprised by the affection but it wasn’t unwelcomed. He settled more into it when he felt HD settle, melting against his side and falling fast asleep.

It wasn’t the visit he had exactly planned, but XD was thankful for it and let his eyes shut for a moment of peace.

***

DreamXD’s wish for the situation on the server to be solved by itself was no sooner to coming true. The blonde God was trying to keep out of it all, which sadly meant avoiding his brother and friends more and more. He still kept an eye on things, making sure the server wasn’t falling apart, but without the comfort of friends, it was a very lonely task.

They tried so very hard to resist going to the Godly Realm and visiting HD again. While HD hadn’t exactly shamed them for it, XD felt self conscious the other God had noticed they were visiting so often.

It was a rather pleasant day on the SMP. A rare chill day of no fighting and the sun was comfortably warm. XD spent most of the day in their glade, but even that was getting too moody so they ventured out.

The loneliness of the walk was taking over enough that XD was beginning to cave on his alone time and tried to think of someone, anyone, he could spend time with. Dream and George were of course an obvious choice but it was only a growing matter of time with Dream until XD said something to him, so he thought better of it. Perhaps Phil and Techno would be a good visit. He hadn’t seen them in a while and it would be nice to visit them for a non-threatening reason.

XD was just talking himself into making his way over to the snowy biome, when he heard his name being called.

“Hey! DreamXD!”

It was a voice he hadn’t heard much, but one XD knew. One he had committed to memory since he’d first heard it.

“Thank Prime I found you.” The boisterous voice of 4K called out again as XD turned to address him. “I didn’t want to wander around the Overworld looking for you. Lord, this place is huge!”

XD turned, trying to hide his surprise to see 4K here but the surprise he so desperately tried to bury bloomed again, re-emerging in near complete shock.

DreamXD was tall. Even among the Gods he was fairly tall in his humanoid form. So then if he was tall, the only word to class 4K as was huge. The Nether God easily towered over XD, at least another foot taller. Probably more. For the first time XD experienced having to look up at someone.

If the surprise was obvious by XD’s manner, 4K either didn’t pick up on on it or he was very polite and didn’t mention it. He stopped just a bit in front of XD and clasping his hands together.

“Listen! I know this might be a little forward, considering we’ve just met and all, but I could really use a favour.”

No words came to XD’s mind, much less out his mouth. He could hear himself making a stupid, quiet “uhhhh” noise but all his brain could think right now was: how is he so fucking TALL?!

The top of XD’s head just about came to 4K’s shoulders, but even then XD couldn’t be sure. The Nether God hadn’t looked so tall when he was sitting down, but he had his coat blocking most of his legs, and even the parts not, HD was draped over them.

4K’s expression switched from a polite greeting smile to a confused look at the silence. “You alright?”

“Uhh…gh. Y-Yes!” XD shook himself out of his thoughts, cursing under his breath. “Sorry. It was a surprise to see you…here… What-What can I do for you?”

4K’s smile came back again, this time as a wide grin. “Listen, I know it sounds real odd, but I’m hoping it’s alright with you if I could go mine for a few pieces of iron.”

“I-Iron?” XD had prepared himself for anything when 4K asked for a favour, but he expected something a little less mundane. “Mining? I-I can just give you some.”

“Aww, you don’t have to do that!” 4K made an almost cute snort. “I don’t mind mining for it.”

“Well that’s…fine. I mean s-sure.” XD shrugged. They were never more thankful for the mask on their face because their eyes were mostly just glancing up to the top of 4K’s head and to the broadness of his shoulders and wondering how HD could just casually not mention how tall this God was.

“Great! Also, I know this one might be a bit of a stretch, but can I take a few bees back with me to the Nether? And some flowers too?”

“F-Flowers? Bees? Uh… I guess that’s fine but if you don’t mind me asking why?”

4K’s smile grew wider, eyes glowing in excitement. It was like he was waiting for this question and immediately bounced with energy just to answer it. “Okay! So I really really want to give cooking a try! I wanna try experiment with a few foods but, I mean, the Nether doesn’t have much food options. So I need to borrow just a few things from ya to start of. I really wanna try honey recipes.”

The God could make himself look like the pinnacle of terrifying if he wanted, and instead he was in the Overworld, absolutely gushing excitedly over the thought of cooking.

“U-Uh…huh. And the iron you want?”

“Just for a few buckets and cauldrons. Water doesn’t last long in the Nether so, gotta work with it how I can.”

It was weirdly endearing to see a God tackle a problem so naturally. 4K could have probably made anything he wanted from just a thought, just like most Gods, but he was so set to do it all himself; from mining to setting up the water to having the bees make honey for him. It was commendable and XD was almost distracted from the other God’s height to admire him for a moment.

“That’s all fine, sure.” XD nodded. “I’d just try and mine away from the busier areas, if that’s okay?”

“Sure! Whatever you want!” 4K grinned and he brought his hand to pat over XD’s back. His palm felt huge against the green cloak and XD couldn’t remember it feeling so big when they shook hands before. Not to mention the hit was powerful. XD controlled himself not to move much. “I owe you one! Promise! I’ll see you around!”

4K took his hand back, then took two steps in front of XD and suddenly disappeared in a fiery vortex. The flames were harmless and sizzled out as soon as 4K was gone, leaving XD alone again with his thoughts.

XD must have stood still, in the middle of the forest path, for a good ten minutes after 4K left just processing everything. His thoughts tried, very hard, to focus on 4K’s cooking journey but they all just wandered back to the shocking realisation of ‘he’s TALL’.

His first clear thoughts went to blaming HD. Not once had the sleepy God ever mentioned 4K’s height, or at least the fact he was taller than XD. It wasn’t an important detail of course but it was something that they could have at least mentioned. Just casually bring it up.

The blonde God drew their cloak around themselves in a half huff. It wasn’t jealousy, they convinced themselves. That was ridiculous. So what if 4K was taller, it didn’t matter. It was just a shock to see it the first time.

The plans to visit anyone were out the window but XD wasn’t dwelling so much on his loneliness now. He wandered back to his glade, laying on the grass and partially wondering if maybe he should have offered to help 4K mine the iron, or collect some bees.

“Suppose I don’t need to.” XD mumbled. “He could probably pluck the birds right out the sky just standing up.”

The shame hit him in a wince. Okay, maybe he was a little jealous.

***

A few days more and XD caved. They zipped off to the Godly Realm, uncaring if HD commented about it or not. They almost wanted to beg HD to be allowed to stay longer, for days or even months, anything to keep him away. They just couldn’t stand to be alone on that server anymore.

The vast colourful horizon was broken up once again by a large black coat. XD played off the slight slow in his steps and let the frown on his covered face melt away to neutrality again. 4K was sat by the bundle of blankets that HD was laying over.

The two God were talking softly between them until they noticed XD approach. HD noticed him first, turning his head just slightly but 4K followed his eyes and turned to the blonde God too. When he realised who it was, he was suddenly grinning. “XD!” He called over. “Finally! I was visiting every day waiting for you!”

XD came to a stop a couple feet away. “M-Me? Waiting for me?”

“Yes, you.” HD mumbled from his blankets. He lay over his front with a few pillows bunched in his arms to lean on. He pulled his face up from the plush pillows to speak. “He’s annoyed me everyday asking when you’d visit. And ignoring me when I tell him to just go the Overworld and get you.”

4K scoffed to HD’s words, literally waving it away and addressing XD again. “Listen, I wanted to talk to you.” He stood up tall and XD held himself back from trying to strand up straighter.

“I feel bad how we first met. I didn’t mean to give you a hard time with the End, you know. I was just curious and I’m sorry I came off as brash.”

“O-Oh…” XD had not expected the turn of the conversation. It seemed 4K was just full of surprises, or XD had just judged him too hardly. “It’s okay. I wasn’t offended or anything.”

“Even still, I was wrong for how I acted.” 4K’s shoulder shrugged lazily. “I really want us to be friends.” He clapped his hands onto XD’s shoulders. “So, fresh start?”

The Nether God was so blunt and open with his feelings, which caught XD completely of guard. XD wasn’t shy about expressing himself but words never really came to him easily. 4K was so open and honest with it all, saying whatever came to his mind.

The honesty was refreshing and swept XD’s mood from unease to optimism. “Yeah,” XD smiled softly, hoping it was heard in his voice. “Of course!”

4K’s smiled wide and his eyes seemed to glow with his glee. “Fantastic!”

One of 4K’s arms hugged around XD’s shoulders and pulled them into the Nether God’s side. He was near meltingly warm and so much larger, but he wasn’t intimidating. XD had to stop himself for just leaning into 4K’s side as the taller God lead him to HD’s blanket pile.

“You all done being a giant sap?” HD muffled into their pillow.

“Well excuse me for broadening my friend circle!”

The two Gods bickered, but 4K spoke with a smile and HD’s cheeks were bright colours. The taller God led XD over, before taking his arm back and sitting down by HD. XD followed and sat opposite HD, closer to his other side.

4K had shrugged off his long coat and took off the armour on his chest and legs. He kept on his metal bracelets which seemed to be glowing on the underside against his skin, but other than those he was lounging in a ripped orange t-shirt and loose black trousers with black boots.

HD’s goggles were off too, leaving only the wraps around his eyes. Not wanting to seem overly formal, XD removed his mask and shrugged off his own cloak and folded it off to the side. Despite losing cover, HD’s realm was always warm and XD stretched out his arms a little to enjoy it. That’s when he noticed 4K’s eyes on him and the Nether God was grinning again.

Until one of HD’s helper hands appeared and began slapping into 4K’s arm.

“I told you not to stare at his arms!” HD hissed from his pillow, and looked near enough ready to hit 4K himself with one of them. “I! Told! You!”

“I wasn’t staring! I wasn’t! OW! Stohop!”

4K tried batting away the hand hitting against his shoulder and arm but it would always worm his way around and hit him again. Even despite the hits, 4K was smiling and laughing throughout them.

A self conscious shiver ran up XD’s spine. They suddenly became more aware of their lower set of arms and folded them over their legs just as 4K caught at the hand smacking him.

“Would you stop-I wasn’t staring! Not in a bad way!”

“I told you not to stare at all!” XD had never seen HD look so heated. His hair seemed to ruffle more from his anger than his usual bed head. XD remembered the times he met 4K and both times he had his cloak wrapped around himself, his arms completely out of sight. No chance to stare there.

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way. The extra arms are cool!” 4K repeated and XD realised he was addressing them now. “I’m sorry if I was staring. I really didn’t mean to make you self conscious it’s just that��well it’s cool!”

“I…th-thanks…” XD mumbled just not knowing what else to say. His arms felt awkward and heavy.

“No I mean it! It’s real cool. I mean, much better than having say - I dunno - a bunch of little white ethereal hands to control - OHOW!”

The whack to his arm was very obviously coming. 4K even flinched before the hand hit him but even still he was smiling and giggling all the while HD huffed.

“You behave like a child!” The hand disappeared and HD settled back into his pillow. “You just say stupid stuff to get attention.”

“Stop giving me attention then.” 4K practically had his tongue poking out, but HD just scoffed him off. “But back to my point!” His head turned back to 4K. “So, did you form with those arms? Like when you took a natural form?”

“Uh…yes. Well I guess.” XD hadn’t expected the question and tried to think. He was going back into memories he hadn’t thought of in years. Years of years.

“You guess?” 4K asked curiously.

“Well… I was made in this form so I see this as my…true form.” XD hesitantly admitted, though he really shouldn’t have been embarrassed. XD didn’t speak to many other Gods but he knew some, especially those choosing to live in the Godly Realm, would shrug off their more normal form to be in their true form.

Most were snobbish about it, but 4K’s eyes widened with interested.

“Oh really?! That’s rather cool.” The Nether God smiled. “Amazing. So you knew your form already.”

“I didn’t know that…” HD mumbled, trying not to sound surprised by it but he was clearly as curious as 4K was.

“A fact about DreamXD not even HD knew. Hmm.” 4K grinned smugly again. “Guess I’m the new favourite.”

HD scoffed again, and 4K tensed in perhaps expecting another hit but it never came. Once he relaxed again, he carried on. “But anyway, that’s rather cool. I always thought more limbs would be more handy. More hands to help, you know.”

“Does come in use for some stuff…” XD agreed. He wasn’t exactly ready to admit his arms had recently been more useful to hold someone down and give them tickles. He gave a small little glance to HD and even though his mask covered his face, he was sure his look was felt as the starry haired God’s cheeks flushed a little pinker but they said nothing. XD focused back onto 4K. “Being tall is also really useful.” He added.

“Yeah…I guess nothing is ever out of my reach.” 4K gave a snort laugh again. “Think I’d prefer the arms though…”

“Well it’s not like you’ve got nothing.” HD spoke up. He watched 4K with an expression XD couldn’t decipher, but it seemed to send the right message as 4K grinned.

“Oh yeah, I can do some things.” 4K turned back to XD, still grinning. “Watch.”

4K sat himself up straight and brought up his arms. He angled his right arm down and the glow under his metal bracer seemed to seep out, past the metal and running down 4K’s arm to his hand. XD blinked and realised it wasn’t just a glow; it was lava.

The lava drooped like thick syrup from the bracer, never breaking apart. It stayed in one shape as it ran over 4K’s hand. The black haired God’s other hands positioned under to catch the lava, but before it could make contact, the lava curved before touching skin and began to pool together and swirl into a ball shape. Just as the lava stopped pouring out of 4K’s right bracer, the God shifted the lava orb to hover above his palm in a perfect ball shape. It wobbled sometimes, a little drop falling out one way or another but it would right it self again and continue the cycle.

“It’s…lava. You can control lava?” XD watched the lava as he asked. It was almost hypnotising seeing the way the colours of fire would blend and melt together, giving it a warm glow.

“Yeah! But this isn’t regular lava!” 4K moved forward excitedly. “This lava doesn’t burn!”

XD threw up his eyebrow in a quizzical look. It wasn’t something too far-fetched to believe. Gods could do amazing things, but something in XD’s mind wouldn’t separate the look of lava from the heat of it.

“Look! Just try it!” 4K held his hand, offering the lava orb to XD.

“This feels like a trick.” XD admitted, their smile turning shaky. Of course 4K didn’t seem like the kind to hurt them, but they were sure there was some trick here.

“No! It’s safe, I promise. Look!”

4K shuffled himself back closer to HD, holding out his palm with the lava as offering. HD scoffed, almost giggling, but 4K pushed his hand forward and after a moment HD sighed and held out his own hand.

The lava dripped onto HD’s hand, and despite the sleepy God’s calm nature, XD worried when the first dropped touched onto his skin. But, HD didn’t scream in pain, or react at all. The lava melted onto his hand and HD even closed his fingers around it, giving a squeeze before handing it back to 4K. The lava returned to it’s ball shape in the Nether God’s palm.

“You see? It’s perfectly safe. Try it!”

Still with a sliver of doubt and precaution, XD slowly offered up his hand. 4K dropped the lava onto his palm, the same way he had with HD, and the lava melted again.

It flowed over XD’s hand as it did with HD. It was warm. Comfortingly warm. XD couldn’t really describe the feeling of lava and it probably wasn’t this. It was almost soft, and with it’s added warmth, it was like the feeling of being cosy in a physical form.

“It’s…nice!”XD’s voice sounded more surprised than he meant it to.

“Well of course! I wasn’t going to let it burn you!” 4K playfully scoffed. “Watch what else it can do.”

4K’s tone was worrying, almost teasing. XD didn’t have time to worry about it though because the lava in his hand started moving. It was no longer flowing like liquid, but it actively moved, curling around his wrist and up his arm. XD would have been more worried if not for the calm expression on HD’s face and the excited look 4K was giving him. This was clearly supposed to happen so XD calmed himself and watched the lava slowly expand up his arm.

When the lava reached to his elbow, it stopped moving and started stretching. The blob of lava thinned out as it stretched up to XD’s shoulders and around his back and draped over him like a large blanket.

“Th-This is…” XD shrugged their shoulders slightly, not to move the blanket off but to resettle it on them. It took on a more solid state, not drooping or dribbling but instead flowing down him like it was an actual cloak.

“Don’t tell him it’s good. He’ll never shut up about it.” HD huffed. “He’s been bragging and boasting about that lava blanket for months.”

“Uh! Excuse me! I didn’t hear you complaining about it when you were wrapped up and cosy in it a few weeks ago.” 4K’s acted offended but his voice was light-hearted. HD made a grumbled response into his pillow, his cheeks flushing slightly before settling back down.

“It is really good though.” XD complimented.

“You can keep it on for now, if you want.” 4K offered kindly. His smile took on a sweeter look, almost more warm than his grins. Though even with his fangs hidden, the one fang on his right side still poked out over his lip.

“You don’t mind?” XD asked, rather hopefully. The blanket was warm and comforting and they had unconsciously started wrapping it more around themselves.

4K gave a small chuckle, which XD blushed to, but 4K’s tone was warm and not teasing. “Yeah it’s fine.” His voice almost purred. “You look too cosy to take it away, anyway.”

XD hummed a thanks, wrapping the blanket till it was fully engulfing him, then he relaxed; slowly relaxing his muscles that he had no idea were tense.

Talk continued between the three, though XD was rather out of it conversation wise. Every once in a while the lava blanket would roll over one of his muscles, working out a knot and relaxing him down even further. His eyes were fluttering closed, straining to keep open as the other twos voices became distant and mumbled. He was still engaging in conversation as much as he could though, watching 4K with interests as he spoke so calmly to HD and looked so gently to XD. He felt warmed and safe.

In all honesty XD didn’t know where the conversation was by the time they’d fluttered back. They could have kept in that warm happy daze but 4K’s voice rumbled in his ear, warmly chuckling. “Enjoying yourself?”

XD blinked out their haze. The blanket was still around them but they had moved. XD was once sitting opposite HD and 4K, but now they were by 4K’s side, leaned against the Nether God as he had his arm around XD.

4K chuckled. “Good huh?”

XD’s cheeks burned a deep pink, but despite the shame they could feel themselves sinking further into the blanket. They went to talk, but the only sound they could make was low hum and soft sigh. Had they fallen asleep? How long for? They certainly felt groggy.

“Sorry…” XD pushed through the sleep heavy on his tongue.

“It’s alright, no need to be sorry.” 4K assured him. His voice was soft, warm and comforting, just pulling XD further into the pools of sleep. Trying to form words just made XD hum again. “You want to wake up?” 4K asked and, because his vision was blurred from sleep, XD couldn’t see the mischievous smirk upon the taller God’s lips. “The lava blanket can help with that too.”

XD’s ears twitched in interest and he looked up to 4K. “Oh?” He asked curiously, pulling himself to try and sit up.

The smirk had pulled back to a warm smile by the time XD looked up to him, and 4K nodded. “Yeah.”

HD’s hands gripped onto his opposite arms, watching the two like a hawk. XD just happened to noticed when the lava blanket slowly tightened around them. It wasn’t uncomfortable, more like being extra tucked in to a bed. The warm lava pushed XD’s arms into their sides and tucked under their chin. XD was still working through the haze of sleepiness, but they were aware enough to realise they were immobilised. Their arms gave an experimental push, finding the lava didn’t have much give.

Sleepiness faded not to alertness but to the realisation that something was going on. XD giggled, just to let out the nervous energy bubbling in his chest, but as he opened his mouth to speak a higher pitched, squeaking giggle came out of his mouth instead.

There was a definite poke into his side, but his eyes were on HD and 4K and he knew it couldn’t be from one of them. His first thought was one of the HD’s ethereal hands had jabbed at him to wake him, but there was nothing at his side. XD looked down and the only thing on his side was the lava blob wrapped around him.

The poke happened again, drawing out another squeak and XD clicked that it was the lava blob poking him. Again…and again and again and XD’s giggling just got louder and louder.

“Wh-wahaha?”

“I knew you were ticklish.” 4K voice was dangerously low and when XD looked over, the Nether God had a wide smile on his face. A smile like a predator just caught it’s prey.

“Wh-Whahat…?”

The lava poking had stopped now, but it didn’t unwrap itself. XD pushed at it with his arms again and it was still unmoving in their hold. “I-Ihihi’m…”

Saying he was not ticklish was a lie, and it had just been proven moments ago. XD just started talking to let out the nervous giggles in his throat but now he didn’t know what to say.

“I told you he was!” 4K carried on talking. He uncrossed his legs while looking at HD, talking as if XD wasn’t even there.

“I said he was! I wasn’t doubting you.” HD huffed.

“I heard doubt in your voice! There was doubt!”

XD tired to push his arms again. He found out he had more wiggle room moving his arms up and down and tried to get his arms up to his chest, but he either moved too much or 4K looked over at the wrong time.

“Oh no you don’t.” 4K said so casually and just gave one little poke over XD’s forehead.

The world suddenly fell out of view as XD was easily pushed onto his back. His head hit a soft pillow he was sure wasn’t there before and his legs unfolded from underneath him. Stuck with an idea, XD tried to get his feet on the ground for balance and give himself a push, but his ankles were quickly grabbed and his legs stretched.

“Ah, ah, ah. None of that.” 4K tutted.

The lava blanket stretched again, going further and further down XD’s legs till they were pulled together and immobilised as well. The lava ended just above his knees then it stopped again.

“Wh-What’s happening?” XD didn’t speak again until the giggles were out of their voice. Didn’t stop them bubbling up in his stomach though.

“Well!” 4K’s grin widened and his eyes were suddenly on XD. It was somehow worse than having him just talk over XD like he wasn’t there. Now those glowing orange eyes were trained on him, making XD feel smaller than he’d ever felt. “I make it a personal mission of myself to know the tickle spot of everyone. A tickle connoisseur, you could call me!”

An indignant huff came from HD still nested into his blankets, which 4K ignored. His full attention was on XD. “So, I wanna know every tickly spot on you. But mostly I find out your worst tickle spot. The spot that drives you insane.”

4K’s eyes rounded with excitement and XD felt the ghostly tickles just starting in his armpits. His skin tingled and he tried his hardest to fight off the urge to curl in on himself. Not even sure the lava blob would have let him anyway.

“So, are you gonna tell me your worst spot right now?”

“N-Noho!” XD stuttered.

“Perfect! More fun this way.” 4K gave a small clap before pushing himself up. He hooked his fingers onto the front of the lava blanket wrapped around XD and pulled him up.

He moved about XD so easily it was like the End God weighed nothing to him. XD was turned and placed back on the ground but his head was now by HD. He gave a shy look up to HD, who was smugly smiling above him.

“Hiya XD.” The starry haired God taunted, his voice unusually light.

XD’s cheeks flushed red and he tried to sink down and hide his face in his shoulder. “Nn-Wait! Hehedehe, help mehe!” He tried pleading, and his hopes for rescue quickly dashed as HD shook his head.

“Nope.” HD said with the same light playful voice. “I’m neutral in all this.”

“B-But…”

Whatever excuse XD was trying to cobble together flew out his mind when he felt the lava blanket lift off him. It unwrapped itself and pulled away, floating towards 4K’s outstretched hand. XD was too distracted by the sight to realise he was free, and when he did and tried to quickly push himself up, his wrists were suddenly grabbed.

Two of his upper arms were grabbed and hoisted up over his head. His lower two were pulled out and slightly up. XD looked up and around frantically, trying to find out what had held him down and saw his wrists held down by HD’s ethereal hands.

“Wah?!” XD’s voice came out in a part question and mostly a noise of pure surprise and betrayal. He quickly looked back up to HD. “YOU! Yohou said you weheren’t hehelping him.”

“Hmm…nope.” HD made an overly fake hum of thought before smiling. “I said I was staying neutral, and you assumed I wouldn’t help him. But honestly XD, this isn’t an equal fight at all. You’d be held down whether I helped him or not.”

Any argument XD had meant to say was suddenly forgotten as 4K sat down by XD’s side suddenly. One of his arms stretched over XD’s waist to lean on the colourful ground and lean over XD. The other hand held up the lava blob which turned into it’s smaller form. It seemed impossible that small blob stretched out so wide to entangle XD.

“So!” 4K’s spoke. “Here’s what I’m going to do. This little blob,” he lifted his hand slightly with the lava blob, “that you got so friendly with is going to travel up your body, starting with your feet, and tickle over every tickly spot it finds till we find your worst spot.” His grin widened, showing his full array of sharp teeth. “Then…oh when I find that spot I’m going to tickle you until you’re on the edge of madness!”

XD would have shrank down, if they physically could, but HD’s hands held tight and there was nowhere for XD to shrink in to. They were making a string of high squeaking giggles though, letting out their nervous energy they couldn’t let out through their body.

“Or… you could just tell me your worst spot now and I’ll be much more merciful.” 4K’s voice tried to take on a sweet tone but it was hard to describe him as ‘sweet’ when he was still grinning and his eyes were wild.

“Nnn…B-But you’ll still tihickle mehe…” XD voice squeaked.

“Of course!” 4K nodded.

“N-Noho!”

“Well suit yourself, that was your last chance.” 4K shrugged.

The Nether God turned his attention around. Down to XD’s legs. The blonde God’s eyes followed 4K’s line of sight and tried to curl his legs up, in some useless protection. It didn’t protect him at all when 4K swung one of his legs over XD’s thighs and held them down.

The lava blob was moved closer and closer down to XD’s feet. 4K watching for XD’s expression and even through the giggly nerves were running through every part of the End God’s body, he still managed to stutter out.

”W-Wahait! Wahait! Mihiy feet aren’t ti-tihicklihish...”

The blob stopped it’s terrible decent as 4K looked back to XD. His eyebrow cocked up and he looked up to HD for confirmation. XD just managed to see the end of HD’s shrug when he looked up.

“I dunno. I’ve not tickled him there.” The starry haired God mumbled. It was infuriatingly flustering to see the sleepy HD lounging so casually, and the ethereal hands holding down XD’s arms so tightly.

“Well, we’ll see anyway.” 4K turned his head back and the lava dropped onto XD’s feet.

Even though his feet weren’t sensitive, XD still yelped as the warm lava touched his skin. The lava moved like it knew it’s mission. It covered over XD’s feet, the warmth of the lava quickly heating them up. XD could feel the lava experimentally poke along his soles and trace up to his toes. He curled his feet a little, seeing how much movement he had and shaking off the goosebumps feeling.

His feet were hardly every touched, and XD honestly worried that maybe they would be ticklish after all this time. But thankfully his giggling died down completely, and the touch on his feet did nothing.

4K’s grin returned at XD’s yelp, hoping it had been a lie, but it fell again when XD stopped giggling. “Hmm…” They hummed. “Fine. So you’re feet aren’t ticklish. But no matter. We have other placed to try~”

The sing-song tone sent a small shiver through XD and he made another attempt to pull at his arms. His armpits were so open and vulnerable and the lava would surely be there in no time.

“Well that’s not going to work.” The soft tone of HD came from above XD and the End God looked up. He must have been some sight with his face burning red and hair a mess from his attempted struggles, but HD just gave him a gentle smile. Not a taunting one.

“P-Plehease… Let me go?” XD tried begging to HD’s softer nature.

“Hmm. Nope.” HD gently shook his head. “As sweet as you are, XD, I fear 4K’s tickly retaliation more than I sympathise with your plight.”

4K made a scoff at that and brought XD’s attention back down. “You’re just as excited to see this as I am.”

The blob started moving again to 4K’s demand. It moved on from XD’s feet and stretched over XD’s ankles and up to his shins, encasing him from below his knees to his ankles. It moved as it had on XD’s feet, giving a few pokes, traces and tickles over every piece of skin it could get, and this time it was the response 4K hoped for.

A loud squeak came first before XD descended into giggles. The lava had poked at his ankles first, surprising the blonde God who hadn’t even realised his ankles were ticklish. Then the lava poked up and down his calves, tracing shapes into his shin and igniting his nerves.

“W-Wahait! NnnapphhAHAHAhahaha! S-Stahap! STahaHAP!”

“Well your feet might not be ticklish, but your ankles sure are.”

The rumbling, amused voice of 4K felt like it shook XD’s bones and tingled over every nerve on his skin. The tickles along his shins and ankles seemed more sensitive and his skin broke out in goosebumps.

“N-Noho! Pleeease! Pleheheahase dohohon’t!”

He pulled at his arms, and tried kicking his legs but the lava acted well to tickle and hold him down, while HD’s hands were locked onto his wrists. Then most movement he could get was shaking his head and wiggling his waist slightly but that wasn’t really working to free himself. It just really served to work out the squirming energy building up in him.

“Buuuut,” 4K carried on. “While your ankles are ticklish, it’s clearly not your worst spot.”

At his words the tickling slowly stopped, the lava blob laying still for just a moment before slithering upwards. Instead of stretching out, like before, it gathered all over both of XD’s knees, pulling them in together as 4K moved his legs to lay over XD’s ankles.

One of 4K’s claws was lazily tracing over XD’s sole, following the End God’s foot whenever he tried to shake the claw off. It didn’t tickle, but it certainly didn’t help the tingling feeling crawling all over his skin.

The lava settled over his knees, covering just above his knees and below. Even though it was only warming his knees for now, it didn’t stop XD’s blabbering and pleading.

“W-WAHAIT! Wait wait!”

“You keep asking me to wait, but you’re not offering any reason to.” 4K’s voice had just the hint of a disappointed sigh. “Why would I ever want to wait when your adorable giggles are just one tickle away?”

Despite trying with all their might, XD couldn’t hold back their giggling. Their face was already blushing red, now it felt like their cheeks were burning. “I-I cahan g-giggle without being t…t-t-tihickled…”

“But they’re not as cute that way.” 4K smiled, and though it seemed completely soft and sincere, the wild look in his eyes was anything but. He looked at XD like the younger God was food, and he was hungry.

XD tried to sink further down, but it offered no help to the worming feeling squirming around in their stomach. Their arms were held too far away so they couldn’t even hide their blushing face. They were open, vulnerable; and helpless.

The lava chose that moment to strike. Content with warming up XD’s knees, the lava poked into the side of XD’s knee which caused his yelp to come out in a scream. The curious little lava tendril slipped under XD’s knees, giving soft as feather traces to the sensitive skin while the lava just above XD’s knees began squeezing and kneading over them.

XD’s back arched as much as his bindings would allow. His squeak turned into a silent laugh for one small second before mad howling laughter burst from his chest and he squirmed as much as his binds would let him.

“NOOO PLEHEHEASE STOHOHOP! N-nOHOhohoT THEHERE!”

“Not there?” 4K’s grin widdened. “Is there a bad spot?” His voice rose with excitement but it was mostly drowned out by XD’s loud laughter.

XD’s knees were rather sensitive but they were never so bad he’d ever shriek. Honestly his knees were a favourite spot to be tickled, but something with that lava had turned them from a sweet spot to a direct link with his nerves, coursing electricity through him and giving him no relief from the tickling.

If this gets to my armpits, I’ll die. I’ll surely die!

The lava blob, which XD was sure was some kind of devil, stopped squeezing above XD’s knees and instead made a skittering feeling along the front and back of his knee. It wasn’t as maddening as the kneading and squeezes but still being on edge and overly ticklish, XD’s laughter came out in deep cackles.

“Have we already found your worst spot?”

XD could hear 4K’s words that time. He sounded almost disappointed though when the End God could muster up the strength to peek one of his eyes open he could see the taunting smile still.

A plan took root in XD’s mind. If he pretended his knees were the terrible spot he could handle more tickling there. It had been unbearably maddening at first but now XD knew what the lava could do, he could handle it easily. Much better than he could with it in his armpits.

But all hopes of that plan were surely dashed, as HD’s voice spoke up.

“No, they’re not his worst. He likes his knees being tickled.”

XD gave a gasp just as the tickling subsided and the lava fully stilled.

“Awwww, but his knees were so fun.” 4K pouted.

XD took a moment to catch their breath, grateful for the small rest, before looking up to HD accusingly, though it probably didn’t hold as much power as his hair was dishevelled and his face was blushing red.

“Th-This isn’t neutral! Thahat’s helping him!” He accused.

HD gave a slow shrug, annoying shrug. “Maybe just a little.” He grinned back.

“Hardly!” 4K spoke up. “I asked you for ages what his worst spot was and you wouldn’t tell me. I even tried tickling it out of you and you held out!”

The calm sweetness of HD’s demeanour melted away as his face turned red and he looked up to 4K with an expression mixed with flustered and annoyance.

“I told you I wasn’t sure and you didn’t believe me!” HD defended.

“Yeah, but you’ve tickled him before, you know some of his spots at least but you kept clamped up no matter how many times I squeezed your sides.”

While XD felt affection to HD above him, it was still mixed with thoughts of betrayal as the God’s ethereal hands were holding XD down. It was a fun, more playful side of HD that XD so rarely got to see, unfortunately he couldn’t enjoy it much as the lava started moving again.

It crawled up from his knees to his thighs, laying out over the legs and warming them up. 4K had moved from his legs, taking his own leg off XD’s but it was quickly replaced by two more of HD’s helper hands clamping around his ankles. XD wanted to hiss ‘traitor’ again but 4K started talking.

“Well, if you react to that on a spot you like, I think we got a good idea how you’ll be when we DO find that bad spot. So, lets speed up this process shall we?”

XD opened his mouth to protest, but his words were cut off by a squeaking laugh as the lava instantly started squeezing all up and down his thighs. It wasn’t a spot he was tickled a lot in, but XD knew his legs were sensitive.

The lava squeezed up and down the side of his thighs while few tendrils squeezed between and skittered his inner thighs.

“NAHAhaaha! Nohoho plehease! PLEASE! STOHOHOP!”

“Oh, a good response. But not the one we want.”

The lava stretched up, though it kept on tickling at his thighs, now squeezing down the back of them. XD fully tugged at the hands around his ankles but his leg was annoyingly unmoving.

XD felt a surge of sympathy for George for ever tickling him on the back of his thighs.

That lava had now reached his hips, drilling into his hip bones and sending shock wave after shock wave through his body.

“Nohoho! NOHOHO! STAHAHAP! I’ll-I’ll dieeeehehehehehe!”

HD cooed something above him, but XD couldn’t make out the words. He could just hear the older God’s soft tone while the lava continued up and up it’s climb. It slowly stopped tickling XD’s thighs, and shifted further up so now it was fully wrapped around his sides and stomach.

He had just a moments rest, the lava settling over his stomach, before it started tickling again. This time the blob was vibrating just ever so slightly. Mostly his tummy and sides would elicit soft giggles from being tickled, but being so overly sensitive and warm, his giggles turned into desperate yelps and chitters.

“Plehehease! Plehehease plehehehehease!” XD helplessly yapped. “Dohohon’t! Plehehehease! DOHOHON’T!”

“You give the cutest reactions to your tummy being tickled.” 4K cooed. Finally being able to hear the two didn’t help XD’s already sensitive nerves. Even worse was him risking to peek out and watch 4K grinning above him, or completely ignore his ticklish plight and talk over XD to HD.

“Not a lot of space left on him.” 4K hummed. His voice as warm as the lava kneading into XD’s lower stomach. “Must be reaching that special spot soon.”

“I’d say so.” HD hummed in agreement. “He’s getting more and more squirmy the higher you go too.”

Were they? XD hadn’t even noticed. They’d honestly not been fully aware how their body was reacting. They pulled and tugged on their restrains but without being able to get free they tried not to focus on it so much.

XD had never felt the full jaws of helplessness. He’d been in weakened states before or maybe been surprised a few times with hands in his armpits, but he’d always had the power to fight back. In the past he’d let the tickling last for so long because he wanted it, knowing at any time he could have overpowered his ticklers and gotten out of it. But this was nothing like that.

He was fully trapped, unable to move and at the complete mercy of two older Gods who showed off and boasted how helpless he was. His skin prickled and felt overly sensitive to every little touch. Not even touch, even 4K’s teasing felt like it was tickling. Being tickled by words was something beyond fluttering.

Was this how it felt to be truly helpless? Was this how Dream or George felt whenever he held them still and tickled them?

The tickling stopped over his stomach and sides, but the lava never moved. It settled more softly over XD’s stomach, like it was a warm cat laid out over his tummy. But the second XD caught his breath, and sighed for his muscles to relax, the lava started moving again.

XD near shrieked. “NONononono! STOP!” He pulled at his legs, only managing to twist himself ever so slightly. “You cahahan’t!”

“Oh? Can’t I?” 4K leaned over XD, further driving in the helpless point. The wide grinning fangs of 4K came closer and closer and XD couldn’t slink back far away enough. “Cause it looks like I can. It looks like I can keep tickling your tummy if I want. And then, go up and tickle your ribs, then your armpits, then your chest and back, and then your neck. And then, if somehow I’ve missed your spot, the lava can go aaaaaaall the way back down and we do it again.” His grin widened. “And again, and again, and again…”

“No! Please…” XD gasped, his armpits tingling already from just the thought of that lava blob settling there. It would tickle him, beyond what he felt with his knees or his thighs. Beyond anything he had ever felt before. He’d go mad. “I’ll-I’ll do anything!”

“Well I want to tickle your worst spot so you’re already doing everything I want.”

“No!”

Panic and desperation flared in XD’s chest. His mind pulled for any excuse, any reasoning he could offer the Nether God to stop the terrible lava on it’s way. It was crawling half way up his ribs, nearly at his lower set of armpits. If it touched him there, he would die. Absoutely die. It wouldn’t even have to tickle him, if it just touched him he’d fall into hysterics right away.

The lava had just touched under his armpit, and XD screamed out of pure survival instinct.

“NO! MY ARMPITS! My armpits are ticklihish! They’re the wohohorst spot! Plehehehehease!”

The terrible lava stopped completely and pulled back. XD felt an elation of relief and joy, yet the triumphant laughter from 4K dropped all that into a nervous pit in his stomach.

“I knew it! I knew it!” 4K cheered. He pulled himself back with such force his wild hair went flying and he looked to HD with the widest grin. “I told you he’d cave before we got there! I told you!”

“Oh shut up!” HD huffed, but his cheeks were flowing with colours of soft blues, pinks and oranges. There was a light blush under them too. “I was so close.”

“Not close enough~” 4K sang in a teasing tone. Not even directed at him and XD was overcome with goosebumps. “I knew it’d get it out of him. Just a little teasing and he sang for me.”

His attention turned to the blonde God underneath him and XD couldn’t hold back his giggle from the stare.

“Just to let you know, your armpits being your worst spot is like the cutest thing ever. I assume it’s both sets of them, yeah?”

The ethereal hands around XD’s wrist didn’t let go, but the ones around his ankles faded off. It didn’t matter though as 4K swung his leg over XD’s waist and set himself down onto XD’s lap.

“Hah-wait wait!” XD frantically shook his head. “I-I told you! I said the spot!”

“Exactly.” 4K widely grinned. He reached out and gave a soft boop against XD’s nose. “And now I get to tickle your armpits to my hearts content.”

The sinking feeling came back. “N-You! You said you’d go easy on me.”

“Oh, no…” 4K’s eyes half lidded. “I said I’d go easy on you if you told me your spot. Buuuut, I also told you that was your last chance to tell me.”

The pit in the bottom of XD’s stomach seemed to open up and swallow them whole. A deep sinking feeling they were forever falling into.

“N-No! Please!”

“Don’t worry, I won’t use the lava though.” 4K quickly assured him. The lava had been resting in 4K’s hand, but at his words the lava slipped back into the metal bracer around his arm. With the monstrous blob finally out of sight, XD felt his muscles relax ever so slightly, but they tensed up again at the sight of 4K’s long black nails.

They were similar to XD’s, but just slightly longer. He’d always scoff when HD would call his nails claws whenever XD would tickle him with them, but XD couldn’t see them as anything but. They were claws. Terribly tickly claws that were about to dig right in and skitter into XD’s horribly ticklish armpits.

“W-Wahait! Ahaha…n-no! D-Dohon’t!”

“Ohhh and your armpits are so wide open for me as well. How thoughtful of you XD~” 4K continued to tease.

“N-NO! I cahan’t geheee…”

XD looked up to HD again. The starry haired God was still watching the scene but instead of the soft expression from before, he was looking almost excitedly towards the two. Waiting to see what would happen and grinning to XD when he looked up for help.

“Well let’s get started then.” 4K said excitedly, snapping XD’s attention back to him. 4K’s fingers were wiggling in anticipation, sending tingling tickles all through XD’s skin. He near yelped when the fingers slowly came down, but then all at once the fingers stopped. 4K pulled his hands back and he looked calmer.

“Ah! Wait. What’s your safeword?”

4K’s voice came out so genuine it was almost whiplash from his teasing voice. It took XD out of the moment for a second, dumbfounding him into silence.

“Wha…what?”

“Your safeword? When you want it to stop. What is it?”

XD’s felt his cheeks flush with affection rather than anticipation. “Uh…Green…”

4K paused for a moment before letting out a low hum and shaking his head. “Nah, that won’t work. Sometimes we use the colour system to check in, and green means good to go. It has to be something different.”

XD racked his brain for another word. Something that he could remember but not just blurt out. Something that meant safety…

“G…Glade? Would that work?”

4K and HD both hummed together before 4K nodded. “Yeah, okay, that works.” He gave an easy shrug. “Now, let’s start.”

There was no build up or warning this time. 4K’s hands were suddenly in XD’s armpits, his claws scribbling all over the hollows, and XD howled.

“FFFFFFUHUHUHSSSKHAHAHAHA! HAHAHHA STAHAHAHAP!!! STAHAHAHAP!”

“This is the reaction I hoped you’ve have!” 4K yelled above the laughter. His voice didn’t sound at all bothered, as XD was struggling under him like a mad bull. He bucked his hips and squirmed side to side like he was trying to turn over, but 4K’s strength was not letting it happen. He did well to hold down the flailing End God.

“I think you’re really killing him.” HD commented, not looking up from watching XD’s hysterics. “I’ve never seen him this bad.”

“There’s another set of armpits for you to join in?” 4K offered. He was talking so casually as he started drilling his thumbs along the bottom of the armpits.

“I think that would really kill him.” HD mused, but he smiled afterwards. “Maybe just before he’s about to tap out.”

“PLEEEEEEHAHAHAHASE! STOHOHOHOP PLEHEHEHEHEASE!”

The drilling into his armpits were not nearly as good as the scribbling. While still laughing he didn’t struggle as hard, though it was getting harder to tell if it was because of how much it tickled or from XD getting tired. His face was red, his hair sticking to his forehead and cheeks.

4K switched between vibrating and spidering his fingers into the End God’s underarms. The claws along his pits definitely had more effect than with fingers. Poor XD’s laughter jumped up to shrieks and his begs for mercy became more incomprehensible.

“FFFFAHAHAHAHAHAAASHHHH! FUHUHUCK! OHOHOHO PLEHEASE! Please! D-Dohohohohon’t! Have-HAHAve mercihIHIHIY! NOHOHOHO! NOHOHOHOT AGAHAH-AHAHAAHAHAHA!”

XD had never felt tickling like this in their life. Not even when Dream or George had gone for their armpits had it ever been this bad. With the two tickling them, they were always safe with the knowledge they could stop it at any moment. They were never fully trapped or helpless. But here, against two older and stronger Gods, there was nothing they could do.

He pulled at his arms but HD’s hands were firm. His legs kicked, hips bucked and knees struck onto the back of 4K’s back and the Nether God barely reacted. XD had barely even moved him. All he could do was shake his head, laugh helplessly and plead for mercy from two overjoyed ticklers.

Tears fell down his cheeks from under the wraps of his eyes, giving him some sort of grounding feeling to focus on, but even that was a slipping comfort. The longer 4K attacked his armpits, the more he could feel his mind snapping. And yet he never uttered the safeword. Perhaps it was a delusional sense of pride, thinking he could outlast the two Gods torment and teasing. And there was a lot of teasing.

“Ya know your lower set of armpits seems much more tickly than your upper ones?” 4K pointed out while he was switching between tickling the two. Sometimes he’d tickle the right upper and left lower pit and switch every once in a while. Though there was never a set time for him to stay. Sometimes he’d tickle for seconds and other times it felt like hours. “That’s honestly really cute.”

“Your nose does a little scrunch whenever your lower pits are tickled too.” HD added. He poked at the tip of XD’s nose and tickled ever so lightly with his claw to re-enact the nose scrunching again. “You just become so cute when you’re tickled.”

XD made a sound between his laughter. Something between a bark and a hiss. It was possible he was trying to say words but 4K suddenly scribbling claws into his upper underarms mumbling up any words he could actually say into his laugh.

“I think he’d gonna tap out~” He could hear 4K tease. “I’m almost certain of it~”

Something about the taunt made XD strengthen his resolve he was going to last. They would give up before he would. Though perhaps he was only believing it because 4K switched from scribbling to vibrating again. He focused and tried to collected his mind even though it was being zapped by tickle after tickle.

“You want to join in now~” 4K grinned to HD again. He spoke in a softer voice, deliberately quiet to not be heard over XD’s laughter.

“Hmm… Maybe.” HD slowly grinned as well and resettled themselves up on his pillows. They brought their arms out from under them, not yet leaning them over in case XD saw.

“He will legit die after this though.” HD warned again. “So you can’t tickle him too much. You need to be able to let him speak, alright?”

“Yes, yes.” 4K nodded. “Ready?”

The laughter was louder than their talking, making XD helplessly ignorant to what was coming. He still pleaded between his laughs for them to stop while his mind was trying to stay determined. He could outlast them, he could. He just had to hold on a little longer. Just a little but more…

All four of his armpits were suddenly attacked. A hand in each pit, scribbling and vibrating into his most sensitive spots.

Their back arched as his laughter turned silent. Their eyes welled with tears which added to the stains on their cheeks. They could feel their fangs, growing in a panicked response but just shrinking in time as the shrieking laughter gained sound, and XD finally hand enough breath to scream.

“GLADE! GLADE! GLAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHADE!”

The tickling stopped as soon as the first word was said. His arms and weight on his legs were gone by the third scream and he turned on his side, curled up tight into a ball as the laughter died down and the ghostly tickles settled on his skin.

XD was giggling into the pillows. His arms wrapped around him, rubbing into his still sensitive armpits when he felt a hand on his back and his whole skin prickled with goosebumps.

“You alive?” 4K purred.

“Nnn-nooo…” XD forced himself to speak, despite how much his throat hurt in that moment.

The hand never left his back, but suddenly there was a poke at his cheek and XD looked up. One of the helper hands was above him, pinkie stretched out to poke while they held a glass of water. XD didn’t bother to think of where HD could have got that from and instead took the water gratefully, gulping it down.

“Okay, you definitely did die.” 4K spoke. “But your tickly armpits are like one of the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

The Nether God lay down behind XD, pushing his chest up against XD’s back. He was warm, and horribly comforting. XD couldn’t help relaxing back into him. A fact 4K could obviously feel, but never commented. He just wrapped his arms around XD waist.

“Do you know if they’re tickly to feathers?” 4K asked. “Or maybe like soft fluffy puffballs? Do you think you’d laugh with them?”

“N-Nohoho…” XD giggled. He tried to curl up more but all he did was push himself further into 4K’s chest.

“No more tickle talk.” HD said. They had rearranged themselves, turning around and settling down in front of XD. “That’s enough.”

“Aw come on. I’ll be fair. I’ll let you tickle me next.” 4K offered, the grin evident in his voice. “That’ll be fun! Tickled with four arms. I’ll even tell you my bad spots so we’re totally even!”

The offer was in both parts tempting and flustering. He’d never had such a lee willing to offer themselves up and his mind was racing. But HD quieted all of that with a hand brushing through his hair and a warning tone to 4K.

“No more.” He said again. “Now it’s time for a nap I think.”

4K huffed, but even he agreed. “A nap would be swell, actually.” He settled onto XD’s back again. “And blondie is falling asleep in my arms already.”

XD tried to mumble he wasn’t, but it came out as “mmnt…” and he couldn’t care to elaborate. He could feel HD laying in front of him, and without thought he opened his arms and the smaller God scooted in. 4K’s arm under him stretched forward, slipping under HD as well so he was holding both the Gods.

XD had never felt so safe. It was like a warm blanket enveloping him, soothing him down and coaxing him into a gentle sleep.

The warm gentle heat on his back was gone, slowly bringing XD out of his wonderful sleep. HD was still in his arms, though now he was turned on his back and his arms stretched up and covered over his head. The only one missing was 4K. Though when XD turned around, he saw the God slowly putting his long coat back on.

XD wasn’t sure if he should have said anything, but 4K caught sight of him as he flipped his hair out of his coat, and he gave a sheepish smile.

“Sorry I woke you.”

XD wanted to say he didn’t, but 4K carried on. “I need to get back to the Nether. I can’t leave the place alone for too long.”

XD was surprised he was disappointed at that. He really did want to know 4K better. “Will you visit again?”

“Yeah, of course. Always gotta keep an eye on the grump.” 4K motioned his head to HD, but his voice was affectionate. He came over to the two still laying down. “Of course you can visit the Nether any time. I can give you a tour.”

“That’d be good. I don’t go to the Nether much.” XD shyly admitted but 4K didn’t seem to take offence to it. He just nodded, then his eyes turned back to HD again, and he just stared for a long moment before he spoke again.

“You convinced him to go back to the Overworld?”

XD’s mouth opened to reply, but he was so caught off guard by the question. He had to really think a few times before answering. “I… Oh? HD? Well, I don’t know if I convinced him but I offered to take him to the Overworld one day and he said he’d think about it.”

“He never thinks about thing if he doesn’t want to do it. If he’s thinking of it he’s already decided yes and is just planning it out in his head.”

“Oh…” XD replied, unsure what to say. It was surprisingly to see how close 4K and HD were. How they acted so carefree to each other and knew each others actions and thoughts. XD wanted to ask how long they had been friends, but another question popped in his head as the words of 4K rolled around in his head.

“Sorry. Did you say ‘go back’ to the Overworld? HD’s been there before?”

“Well of course he has.” 4K looked to XD with a smile, then seemed to read something in his expression and he looked confused. “You don’t know? HD is the God of the Overworld.”

In XD’s mind, he knew HD was a God of something. He knew they were an old God, and very powerful, but XD never asked because HD never seemed to want to talk about it. XD assumed it was the God of sleep, or stars. He couldn’t imagine it would be for…well everything of the Overworld!

“I-I had no idea! No!” XD stuttered, and tried to keep quiet as HD shuffled in his arms. “I…he never told me.”

“No… I think he’s ashamed of it.” 4K’s voice sounded sombre and he looked back down to HD. “He never talks about it. Certainly not with me. I’ve tried for years to get him to go back to the Overworld but he always refused me. But you got through to him.” The Nether God almost sounded jealous. “I know I’m pushy, and maybe I wasn’t gentle with him about it. Whatever reason he had I know it hurt him. But… I don’t know.”

Suddenly 4K stood up and XD was annoyingly reminded of his height. He gave a little shrug before looking down to XD again. “I gotta get back, but I mean it when you should visit. I’d love to show you around. And after HD’s visit to the Overworld maybe he can join us too.”

XD just nodded to that, his mind racing too fast to form words. The tall God then waved before stepping back into a glowing purple Nether portal and vanishing out of sight. The portal along with him.

His mind was too alert to sleep, but he wasn’t so energised as to wake up HD. Instead XD lay his head back down, holding HD close into his chest and just thought. He felt foolish for not knowing who HD was, and he felt embarrassed he’d boasted to HD so much of the Overworld stuff when HD no doubt already known about it. But then HD never once stopped him, or corrected him. The sleepy God just let XD ramble, and listened and even asked questions.

XD was confused. He’d need to ask HD and get some answers but for now he let the God sleep. And not long after, he fell back asleep too.

#It took me far to long to get round to reading this #But I loved reading every word #It was far too flustering🫠#I had to put my phone down so many times #Oops just realised how long this is😅#But anyway #Perfect as always <3

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