The Ticklish Brotherhood - 3. A Brotherly Bonding Drive

Tony loved the bright sunlight shining down on him as he got his morning exercise by taking a brisk walk around the castle. He rounded the east wing's corner and saw three of his grandsons standing outside the garage. Aiden hadn't seen him, so the family patriarch quickly placed his index finger up to his lips when Anthony and Matt caught sight of him. He softened his steps, and when he was within reach, he quickly latched his hands on the eldest of the trio's sides, and his fingers kneaded just above the younger blonde's hips.

Aiden shrieked, and his knees buckled as his boisterous laughter blended with his brother's and his mate's cackling. He wriggled and twisted, trying to dislodge his giggling tickler's hands. The thirty-year-old squealed when the slightly hairy arms wrapped around his waist, lifted him off the ground in a bear hug, and then slung his toned body over his shoulder like a sack of laundry.

"Good morning, my beautiful imps," Tony said.

"I'm sooo gonna get you, Pappy," Aiden threatened.

Tony giggled and smacked the younger man's firm, jeans-clad butt. "You're gonna do what, Aiden?"

The Octogenarian chuckled and slid his fingers under Aiden's shirt, tickling his grandson's lumbar area. Aiden boyishly giggled and rocked back and forth as his legs kicked the air.

"I...GIVE...PAPPY," the trapped male squealed. As soon as he was back on the ground, Aiden turned to face his brother and mate. "You're both gonna regret not warning me," he stated.

Anthony and Matt giggled as they gave Aiden a double-sided bear hug, then in unison, they said, "We wuv you, Aid."

Aiden wrapped his arms around the innocently smiling duo, shaking his head. "How the hell do you two do that to me? You both have a power that makes me fall for your cuteness."

Tony chuckled.

"You're not the only one, Kiddo."

"You should sleep with one eye open, old man," Aiden said, giggling as he hugged and kissed his grandpa. "I love you, Pappy."

Tony smiled as all the boys wrapped their arms around him and kissed his cheeks. "All of you boys are my world," he said with tears shining in his eyes. "So," he asked, "where are you three imps off to?"

"Antboy and Aiden The Mighty are..." Matt started to say but stopped when Anthony gently grasped his arm.

"It's a surprise, Pappy," Anthony said.

"Oh?" Tony asked with a smirk.

Anthony giggled, waved his index finger in front of his grandpa's face, and said, "You know the rules, Pappy, so no getting any ideas of tickling it out of me or Matty."

The youngest Giovanni male squealed, giggled, and laid his head on Tony's shoulder when the older man lifted him off the ground, bear-hugged him, and kissed his cheek.

"You're right, my sweet imp, I know the rules, so I'll let you boys surprise me." Tony put his grandson down, then hugged and kissed the three young men. "Be careful, and I expect a call if you're going a long distance away to let me know you've arrived safely."

"Anthony and I will be careful, Pappy," Aiden said.

"Love you boys," Tony said before returning to his walk.

"Why didn't you want me to tell Pappy," Matt asked.

"It just came to me to surprise our Pappy. He can ride with you and James when you guys leave tomorrow."

Aiden hugged his brother, ruffled his hair, and said, "You are one of the most mischievous, sweetest, and loving guys I've ever met, baby bro."

Anthony giggled.

"I learned from everyone in my amazing family."

Mattie hugged and kissed Anthony and Aiden.

"I love you guys, and call me when you get to Mikey's."

"We will," the brothers responded in unison as they returned the affection.

Aiden and Anthony got into the pickup. Matt waved at them as they drove away.

*****

The classic pickup had driven its share of roads and passed through changing scenery since it rolled off the assembly line and was bought by its first owners. Through the years, the antique was put through the wringer until Matty got his hands on it and gave the vehicle the love and care it needed to keep it from ending up in a junkyard. Now, it was a shiny candy apple red housed in a climate-controlled garage, being cared for by Matt's twin boys, Aiden and Jordan.

For the past thirty-five minutes, Aiden and Anthony had smiles on their faces. They were listening and singing along to the songs on the radio, with the windows rolled down and the warm fall breeze blowing into the cab of the Ford. Even though the younger sibling didn't have a palatable singing voice and didn't like to sing, there was something about being alone with his favorite older brother that made him forget his dislike for one of the more favored pastimes and even finding joy in belting out his favorite song with Aiden, who was just as bad as he was at singing.

After Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" finished playing, Aiden turned down the music, quickly glanced at his brother, and said, "Alright, time to fess up, little Ant."

Anthony grinned. He hadn't heard the Aiden-coined nickname since he was twelve or thirteen. His soft, boyish giggles filled the truck's cab when the older blonde reached over and lightly tickled the back of his neck. "You're cheating, Aiden," he playfully whined. "No fair tickling when I can't get you back."

Aiden chuckled and ruffled the younger man's hair. "So, do what I told ya to, and fess up, Squirt."

"I'm just about as tall as you are. So nah-nah." Anthony punctuated his statement by very maturely blowing a raspberry and mock scowling at his brother.

Aiden shook his head and giggled at the antics. He knew they both loved and needed this alone time together but didn't know why, at least not on Anthony's end, and was going to find out.

"Don't forget, little brother, I know you completely, and I know when something's bouncing around like the ball in a pinball machine inside that amazing brain of yours," he paused and giggled with Anthony as both of them saw the mental image he just described.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Bro." Anthony scrunched up his face and crossed his arms over his chest. "Aiden," he squealed. His body squirmed and wiggled on the bench seat when his brother's index and middle fingers pressed into the middle of his ribs and wiggled along the soft area.

"Why go to Mikey's now, Anthony, and why choose me to go with you? You could've gone at any time, either with James, Pappy, or one of the other brothers, or even by yourself."

"You're just talking crazy, Aid."

The youngest of the duo couldn't stop grinning and softly giggling because he lived for this playful time with his family. Aiden glanced over and smirked, knowing and feeling the same as his baby brother.

"Antboy, I'm counting down from five, and if you're still being stubborn, I'm gonna pull over, put you in my signature headlock, and tickle you till you give in."

"You wouldn't dare."

The Ford slowed down, "Five, four, three," Aiden put the hazard flashers on as he pulled over and stopped in the breakdown lane.

Anthony was giggling like crazy, holding his hands up with his palms facing his brother. "Aiden, we're both adults, so let's act like it," he said.

Aiden unbuckled his seat belt, "Two," he turned to face his giggly brother and grabbed his passenger's wrists, "One."

"Oh, fuck," Anthony yelped as his body was quickly turned around, and he found himself trapped in Aiden's headlock.

In vain, the young man struggled and tried to pull away, but the hold was too strong. As soon as the fingers dug into his sides and tickled along his stomach, the screeching laughter flew from his mouth as he bucked and writhed in the inescapable hold. Aiden giggled and felt the loving, playful energy flowing between them as he continued tickling.

"Give up, Antboy. You're no match for Aiden The Mighty's superior tickle power."

"You'll never make..." Anthony started saying, but he ended up squealing and laughing even harder when a devious finger worked its way into and around the deep crevice of his belly button. His eyes squeezed shut, his laughter became silent, and his body shivered as the fingernail lightly scratched the edge and wall of skin surrounding the innie button.

"Do I have to pull you out of this truck, pin you down, and tickle your thighs and feet, baby brother? You know I'll happily do it."

"Fine... You... Win... For now," Anthony hollered.

The brothers shared a loving embrace while they calmed down before getting back on the highway.

"I had a visit from Gamma last night," Anthony said.

Aiden's eyebrows arched, and he nodded for his brother to continue.

"She said that it was time to rebuild what was torn down and that Super Mikey and Amazing Antboy and the brotherhood needed a reunion," he paused and wiped the tears from his eyes. "I assume she visited Mikey as well because that's when we sent the messages."

Aiden patted Anthony's shoulder and asked, "Why'd you choose me to go along on the first visit?"

"You're the closest to me and Mikey. Also, we have a new nephew and a new brother to meet. Don't forget, Mikey and I checked out Matthieu and Jordan's mate before anything got too serious. Big brother, Aiden The Mighty needs to give his approval."

Aiden giggled. "From what I've heard about everything they've already been through, I may not want to face down this Cherokee Warrior."

"He's just as ticklish as we are, maybe even more so."

"Oh, in that case, I may have a shot at keeping my title of being the ultimate big brother of the brotherhood."

Around noon, the pair reached the town they'd grown up in and stopped at Applebee's for lunch. After being seated, Aiden ordered a Pepsi and Anthony a Dr. Pepper. They glanced at the menu, and both decided on the baby back ribs and chicken fingers basket with fries.

"Aid," Anthony asked after sipping his drink.

"What's up, bro?"

"Why isn't Jordan into being tickled like the rest of us?"

Aiden sat back against the black bench padding and momentarily thought about how to answer his brother's question. "Well, the main reason happened when you and Mikey were younger. When Jayce and Adam were about fifteen or sixteen, they were very horny and under the effects of puberty. They fully indulged their growing tickle fetish and watched a lot of tickle porn. One day, they overpowered Jordy, tied him up, and tickled him nonstop. I could feel his distress and got there just as they were about to jerk off. I went the fuck off, untied Jordy, then told them I'd beat the hell outta them if they ever tried that again. After I helped our bro calm down, we agreed to never allow that to happen to you and Mikey. He knew I didn't trust Jayce and Adam and might be more authoritative than they needed, so he told me he'd watch and guide them, and I got to guide and watch you guys."

Aiden and Anthony thanked the waitress when she brought their orders, and they started eating before Anthony resumed the discussion.

"So, how come you and Jordan joined in with the others tickling me on Mikey's birthday?"

Aiden hung his head as tears dripped down his cheeks from the resurfaced memory.

"Antboy, to this day, Jordy and I still kick ourselves for not stopping things that day. The only answer I can give is that because it was all of us and because it was in public, we didn't think about things ever going too far. You and Mikey never seemed to have a breaking point, and unfortunately, we reached yours."

Anthony wiped his mouth. He moved to the other side of the table, wrapped his arm around his older brother as Aiden sobbed, and rested his head on his shoulder.

"It's ok, big bro. It still stings but very rarely." He softly chuckled and said, "If it makes you smile, I don't think Mikey's ever reached his breaking point. I'm not even sure Super Mikey has a tickling breaking point."

Aiden dried his tears, and his giggles joined his brother's chuckles.

"I don't think Super Mikey would ever deny tickles."

The guys shared a hug and kiss. Aiden grinned, licked his lips, and tickled the younger blonde's open shirt-clad pit hollow when his brother reached across the table to slide his basket closer to him. Anthony squeaked and giggled before squirming against the padded seat and glaring at his giggly brother.

Now everyone's caught up to what's been written so far. You'll just have to wait for the next chapter like I do. 
@Paladin, hope this chapter answered your query of why the road trip was so sudden. If it did, can you explain it to me?