The Ticklish Brotherhood - 13. The Family That Plays Together

Dakota's eyes fluttered for a second before opening. The brunette lightly smacked his lips together, yawning as he sat up and stretched before gazing at his new grandpa, who softly snored beside him. He smiled, leaned down, kissed the elder's cheek, slid his feet into his slippers, and shuffled into the en suite. When the twenty-nine-year-old returned, he softly chuckled because his deeply slumbering Pappy was on his stomach, sprawled out across the bed. The patriarch's size thirteen bare soles hung over the edge of the mattress, and his twitching toes pointed to the light ash hardwood flooring.

Unable to resist, the half-Irishman crept closer to the queen-sized bed frame, knelt on the floor, and placed his arm across the blonde's ankles. He started with the right foot, his index fingertip lightly stroked across the five toe pads, then moved to the base of every toe. He repeated this action, going from one foot to the other, and in a teasing, sing-song tone, said, "Wakey, Wakey, Pappy."

Ten plump olive-like toes scrunched and flexed, causing the unblemished creamy soles to wrinkle and smooth out.

"C'mon, Pappy, ya know you want to giggle too," Dakota softly said, chuckling.

The dark-haired man added to his fun by exploiting different spots with random ticklish actions. Tiny light scratches along the center of the curved arches started the endeavor, which resulted in two squirmy feet, some unintelligible mumbling, and a futile repeated attempt at protection as one foot covered the other. Next, his fingernails barely touched the fleshy terrain as they danced across the balls of Tony's feet. This time, his actions garnered full-body wriggles, the pulling and pushing two muscle-toned legs, low-toned, groggy, raspy giggling, and soft squeals, and the tops of the trapped feet flapping back and forth against the mattress. Dakota's final method of fingernails, rapidly dragging up and down the entire length of both soles, then switching to slow movement, brought out the Giovanni male's boisterous, cackling laughter. Tony's limbs and body flailed and thrashed as his upper body rocketed up and down on the high thread count, sage cotton sheets, and wild hyena-like laughter echoed throughout the room.

"You're soooo gonna get it, my adorable Cherokee Grandson."

Dakota stopped tickling, jumped onto the mattress, crawled up to the headboard, wrapped his arms around the family elder, and kissed his cheek. He looked into his grandpa-in-law's eyes, smiled innocently, and said, "I didn't want you to miss all the morning fun, Pappy. Mikey told me about your ticklish wake-up calls, so I thought it'd be fun to help you get everyone up."

"I always did have fun giving my grandsons a ticklish wake-up call in the morning." Tony chuckled and added, "I wish you could've met my exquisitely beautiful wife, Catherine, and saw the looks she'd give me. Almost every morning, she'd stand at the doorway watching us having a tickle fight. Then she'd shake her head and say, "I'll never know which of you is the biggest kid."

"Was your son, Matty, ticklish also?"

Tony chuckled and said, "No, surprisingly, he wasn't ticklish at all, but I still had fun and creative ways of getting him up in the morning." He smirked and added, "I'll tell you when you're older."

Dakota chuckled before taking his grandpa by surprise. He trapped him in a headlock and gave the older man a noogie. Tony yelped and grunted while struggling to loosen the vice-like grip. He grinned and wiggled his index and middle fingers between the center of his grandson's ribs. The brunette jumped and doubled over, laughing, with his arms wrapped around himself.

Tony's sapphire blue eyes sparkled and shined brightly with pure love for Mikey's soul mate. He giggled, then ruffled the thick, shoulder-length, raven hair before getting up and heading for the bathroom. When he returned, the curtains were open, and his grandson was busy with his phone, so he quietly snuck up on the younger brunette.

Dakota placed the Samsung Galaxy on the night table and felt a presence seconds before getting tackled by Tony. The childish pair struggled and grunted as they wrestled for dominance until the senior's six-foot-three muscular body pinned the six-foot muscle-toned frame of his junior face down on the mattress and straddled his waist.

"Damn, I must be slipping in my older years. I used to be able to maintain complete silence while sneaking up on someone," Tony said as he grinned.

Dakota never stopped trying to knock his captor off balance so he could turn the tables to his advantage.

"Oh, you were damn good, Pappy. I had no idea you were there until seconds before you tackled me. It's just I felt a slight change in the room's atmosphere. I've been working with a powerful Wiccan High Priestess named Chaunaugh Malloy, and she's also extremely knowledgeable about the workings of the Cherokee Shaman. Chaunaugh's teaching me how to become a Wiccan High Priest and Shaman so I can follow in the footsteps of my Cherokee and Irish ancestors, including those of my late father and mother." Dakota giggled and continued struggling and asked, "How the hell are you still so freakin' strong, Pappy? There's no give in your grip on my limbs."

Tony's eyes sparkled with mischief as he released the half-Cherokee's wrists. Then, without warning, his nimble fingers latched onto and kneaded just above the squirming male's hips.

Dakota's eyes squinted shut, ten toes scrunched, causing the off-white soles to wrinkle, and his legs furiously kicked the mattress as the rest of his body wriggled and writhed side to side. A second or two later, hearty laughter flew from his parted lips, filling the room as he hollered, "No! Not... There...Pappy!" He then loudly admitted, "My hips are soooo ticklish."

"I never would've guessed that, Kota," Tony teased.

The Italian stopped tickling and pulled his new boy into a love-filled bear hug.

"No wonder my brothers, Papas Bry and Max, and husband said you were the best tickler ever."

Dakota chuckled as he buried his head in Tony's chest, allowing the man's comforting and loving energy to flow between them and create an unbreakable bond.

"I love you, Dakota. I also know that you truly are Mikey's only complete soul mate."

"He's mine too, Pappy. I've also felt that Anthony's one of the two platonic and brotherly soul mates for me."

The statement didn't surprise Tony, but it did intrigue him.

"Do you happen to know who your other soul mate is, Kota?"

"I don't know his name or when he'll show up, but I'm almost sure he'll be Anthony's complete soul mate, and he'll have the same brotherly bond with me and Mikey that Ant does. I don't know how, and I can't fully explain this feeling I have that when he does come into our lives, he will complete the circle connecting Antboy, Mikey, and myself."

"You must be a very gifted young man, Dakota. I'm looking forward to learning all about you and what you wish to share about your present and future abilities."

"Thank you for loving me, Pappy. A man can never have too many uncles and grandpas to lean on and learn from."

Tony smirked as he trapped his grandson in a headlock.

"Hey, you, oldster... This is sooo not fair," Dakota childishly whined while trying to loosen the grip on his neck.

"Oldster, really? You want to insult me when I can do this..."

Dakota's shrieking, high-pitched laughter flew from his mouth the second his left side and stomach were tickled. Tony chuckled and continued to tickle and tease the squealing, childlike grown man who squirmed and struggled in his clutches.

Dakota lasted a few more minutes before hollering, "Okay... You're not an oldster... Brave Cherokee Warrior gives... At least, for now."

"Still didn't hear the magic word, baby boy."

Not expecting what came next, Dakota's eyes bulged when Tony's index finger invaded his belly button. As the slender digit's nail lightly scratched along the cavernous walls of the innie's crevice, his laughter became shrill squeals, and his body rocked back and forth, shivering and quaking. Finally, he couldn't take it and cried out, "Uncle... Uncle... I... Give."

Tony giggled as he cuddled the giggly man for a few minutes and said, "Love you, Kota."

"Love you more, Pappy." Dakota narrowed his eyes and added, "Pale-faced Pappy will face warrior grandson's ticklish retribution."

"Of that, I have no doubt, my beautiful grand kid." Tony chuckled and asked, "You ready to go wake the rest of the boys?"

Dakota smiled, grabbed his phone, and responded, "Let's start with Airen and Mickey because they have school."

"I take it Amazing Antboy and Super Mikey will be last?"

Dakota positively confirmed the question, then opened the door and led his grandpa into the hallway. He stopped midway between the rooms and said, "Let's get Aiden and Mattie first. They'd hate missing out on the fun."

Tony chuckled and said, "You're sooo hooked by your new brothers already."

Dakota sheepishly smiled and nodded. "It's like my heart is quickly becoming whole with every new brotherhood member I've embraced and been embraced by."

"You're mine now, Mattie The Masterful. I've finally outsmarted your genius, beaten your cronies, and tickled you into submission." Aiden exclaimed.

Mattie was pinned under his childlike mate, face down on the bed, squirming and kicking his legs while laughing like crazy as the back of his thighs and hips were getting one hell of a ticklish treatment. Just as Aiden was about to get off of the giggling victim, he was grabbed from behind and trapped in an unbreakable headlock.

“Fear not, Mattie The Masterful. I'm here to rescue you. Quick, I'll subdue this hero while you get the mind-altering device on Aiden The Mighty's head."

Aiden's eyes sparkled like Mikey's and Anthony's as he struggled against his captor. "You're supposed to be one of the good guys, Pappy The Playful."

"You heroes are so gullible and quick to believe your eyes. I'm not Pappy The Playful. Dakota The Dastardly trapped him in a pair of stocks, and my minions are tickling him into revealing the secret location of Super Mikey and Amazing Antboy's most hidden third headquarters."

Aiden gasped.

"It can't be. You're Pappy The Poser."

An invisible band was placed on Aiden's head, and Mattie pressed a button on the TV remote.

"You fiend. You'll never get away with this."

"Time for Aiden The Mighty's tickle hypnotism," Tony said with an evil cackle.

"No...You...Can't…"

The trapped hero squirmed and laughed as Dakota and Mattie tickled his stomach and sides. A minute later, his body stopped struggling, and he stood still.

"What do you command, Masters," in an emotionless, monotone voice.

Tony giggled as he released his grandson. Before he could do or say anything, Dakota wrapped his arms around him, forced him to bend forward, and pinned his upper body to the mattress.

"You're gonna pay for this, Cherokee boy."

Dakota chuckled as the older man's feet slid along the oriental rug, trying to find traction. "Guys, hurry, tickle him," he said.

Aiden pinned the upper legs to the side of the bed, tickling the parts of his feet that weren't protected by the slippers. Mattie smiled and went for the exposed and vulnerable sides and hips. "Coochie coochie, Pappy," the overgrown boys-at-heart teased.

Tony struggled to free himself while giggling uncontrollably and issuing threats of the ultimate retaliation. After a couple minutes, he got released and was the happy recipient of a three-sided bear hug and kisses on his cheek from the three giggly young men.

"You guys wanna come and watch Pappy tickle the actual boys and our heroic grown boys?"

"Wait, why not make it really fun for all of us," Aiden said.

"What's your idea, Aid?"

"Pappy, the boys, Anthony, and Mikey would love the scenario we've already started."

"I agree with Aidenator. For Mikey and Ant, it'd be like they were kids again. We know they've gotten out of bed earlier because we heard the toilet flush. I guess they're back in bed, waiting for a ticklish wake-up."

"Mattie's right," Dakota said. "Mikey and I usually get out of bed to pee before Mickey comes to tickle us awake in the morning."

Aiden giggled and asked, "Kota, is there a second entry into Mickey's room?"

"Yep. The bathroom's a Jack and Jill style."

"Let's split up and make this fun for the boys, and then we'll all capture and tickle Super Mikey and Amazing Antboy."

The four men chuckled when they stood outside the boys' bedroom and heard giggling coming from the closet, which happened to be beside the room's entry. Aiden and Mattie went to the other bedroom and waited in the bathroom with the door cracked.

"Mickey, you're giggling again," Airen said, giggling with his brother.

"I can't help it, Awesometastic Airen. I know someone's gonna come in to tickle us awake, and knowing we can trap them first is making me giggly."

"Wait, I hear someone talking," Airen said.

"Get ready."

Dakota and Tony were at the closet door, with Dakota's hand on the doorknob, waiting till he felt it turn. When it did, he pulled at the same time the door was pushed from the other side, and a squealing pair of boys tumbled forward.

"Ah, we've found them, Pappy The Poser," Dakota said.

"Give up! There's nowhere to run, Mickey The Mischievous and Awesometastic Airen."

"Never, Pappy The Poser."

"Double A, run for the other exit and get Super Mikey and Amazing Antboy's help."

Airen opened the bathroom door and squealed as he was grabbed and thrown over one of the hidden captor's shoulders.

"You'll be sorry when the big heroes rescue us."

Mattie evilly laughed as he carried the struggling youth to the bed and pinned him to the mattress.

"At least Mickey The Mischievous got away. He'll get Super Mikey and Antboy, and they'll take care of you bad guys."

"You're cheating, you big bad guy."

Awesometastic Airen shook his head as he saw his heroic partner being carried in and trapped beside him.

"Are the bands ready?"

"They are, Pappy The Poser."

The boys struggled as the invisible devices were placed on their heads and turned on. Not two seconds later, the room filled with squeals and giggles as their feet were tickled until they were under the bad guys' control.

"You two will lie there and be bait for the ones we're really after."

"Yes, scary evil guy. We will obey," the boys responded in monotone voices.

Anthony and Mikey loved watching their playful family from outside the boy's room. They heard the boys squealing and giggling, then realized what the others were up to and couldn't wait to join in.

"C'mon, Antboy, let's try this room."

"Right behind ya, Super Mikey."

The heroic duo leapt into the room and posed in a fighting stance as they looked around. Amazing Antboy pointed to the bed, saying, "Look, it's the Jr. Imps."

"Hang on, guys. We'll free you."

As soon as they reached the boys, Super Mikey and Amazing Antboy were tackled and pinned face down on the floor by Dakota The Dastardly and Mattie The Masterful, straddling their butts. The heroes struggled as hard as they could, trying to escape.

"Release us, you big apes," Antboy hollered.

The two captives started laughing and struggling even harder once the tickles began. Their blonde and brunette-colored hair looked like a lion's mane as the duo's heads bobbed up and down.

Pappy The Poser appeared from the shadows and ordered, "Now, Mickey The Mischievous and Awesometastic Airen, pin their legs and tickle their feet while we get the hypnotic bands on their heads."

"No!" Super Mikey and Amazing Antboy hollered as their laughter increased when their proteges obeyed the evil one's command.

Aiden and Mattie giggled and used their best TV narrator voices to do a tag-teamed narration.

Aiden started with, "Is this the last hoorah for our heroic team?"

Mattie added, "Will Super Mikey and Amazing Antboy figure out a way to escape and save the day?"

Together, the husbands said, "Tune in next time for the exciting continuation of The Ticklish Adventures Of Super Mikey and Amazing Antboy, featuring the next generation of heroes, The Junior Imps, Mickey The Mischievous, and Awesometastic Airen."

So, this chapter got a few rewrites before I finally got the perfect idea. I'm really excited and happy with the outcome.
 
As with the previous chapter, I'm not responsible for any sugar overdose that results in reading this chapter. Always know that I can be chased and tickled for any occasion. 
 
Thanks to everyone who reads, reacts, and comments. 
 
Love y'all