#Kaladin with earring/s means so much to me...

[just-another-t-word-blog]

Ups, Downs, Mischievous Spren

Authors note: I do not own the Stormlight Archives series by Brandon Sanderson. This is a tickling fanfic, if that bugs you then scroll on past

Summary: Kaladin is extremely prone to low moods, especially on rainy days. Syl, however, is getting rather tired of seeing the young bridge leader so down and decided to do something about it. (Takes place around the middle of the book)

Kaladin sighed deeply, the icy rain gently tapping against the top of his head and shoulders as he sat, staring blankly into the distance across the Shattered Plains. Yet again a high storm had come, went, and now left him with ice cold rain that the storm wardens predicted wouldn’t stop until the next day or so. How fitting that for all he suffered he is rewarded with more sorrow.

Though only 19, he’d experienced horrors and tragedies that scarcely a man in his later years would have seen, normally he carried this burden gracefully but every rain reminded him of the weeping. It reminded him of Tien, of the lives he promised to save and failed, of every man he’d lost on the battlefield or on his fathers operating table. Despite the sadness and reflection the rain continued to fall, uncaring and cruel.

He sat a few feet away from the edge of a chasm on the boarder of Sadeas’ war camp, knees tucked to his chest and arms crossed atop his knees, chin resting on his forearms. His scraggly beard itched against his arms and his long brown hair was plastered to his face with water, deep dark eyes staring blankly forward as if daydreaming. His eyes didn’t change when Syl appeared before him, taking the form of a young woman and standing in the air in front of him within eye line. Though only a few fingers tall, she should have been hard to miss with her seemingly glowing blue form, but Kaladin continued to stare straight through her. She hovered in the air for a moment before striding forward, seemingly on an invisible platform, moving to wave a tiny hand in front of his blank eyes.

Kaladin blinked, jumping slightly as he noticed Syl, and straightened his back slightly. He knew that his bad moods upset her, there was no hiding it but he could at least pretend everything was fine. As fine as they could be for a bridgeman. He offered her a weak smile and got a look of concern in return. “Kaladin,” she started slowly. “You know you can’t hide from me.” He slumped his shoulders “I know. Worth a shot though” his voice was quiet, just barely audible above the rain. She walked over to sit on his shoulder, watching the rain fall and life spren dance around small patches of plants peaking out of cracks in the rock.

“Why does the rain upset you so much?” She asked genuinely, “it seems every downpour after a high storm gets you this way, you leave the barrack and find a place to be alone.” He shrugged, shifting to sit cross legged. He’ll admit that subtlety wasn’t his forte, but he also didn’t expect anyone to follow him. Syl always did, it didn’t matter where he went, but the men probably didn’t spare a glance when he left as soon as the storm was over. He allowed himself to feel this heaviness openly, knowing that only she would see it. “It reminds me of too many things that I’d rather not remember.” He said honestly, turning his head slightly to peer at her. “It’s nothing new, Syl, just my past coming to haunt me.” He closed his eyes and tilted his head upwards, hoping the chill water would distract him from the painful twist he felt in his heart at his own words. He wouldn’t cry, not here, not now. “Is there anything I can do to help?” He gave a small smirk despite the pain. “Stop the rain?” She snorted, standing to move in front of him again. “There must be something to cheer you up. Tell me how I can make you smile.” He shook his head, still facing the sky. “I’m afraid we’ll just have to wait this out, the only person who could get me out of these moods was my brother.” “Well what did he do?”

He paused to look at her, confused. “What did he do to help you? I can try.” He shook his head again. “It wasn’t what he did so much as who he was. He was always happy about something and somehow found ways to share that joy with me.” He swept back his wet hair from his face, smiling sadly. “He used to collect rocks, claiming each one was special. He’d give one to me every once and awhile. He’d come and sit with me wherever I went to sulk and brought me out of my thoughts. Mostly just him talking with me helped.” He sighed again, fidgeting with his fingers, trying to keep himself from getting emotional. He huffed lightly. “Once I decided to be stubborn and shut him out, that didn’t end well for me.” Kaladin smiled warmly, remembering that day. “He found it rather rude that I was ignoring him and tickled me as punishment. He was especially ruthless when it began to cheer me up.” Syl cocked her head, confused.

“What?” He asked as she kept looking up at him, puzzled. “What does ‘tickled’ mean?” He froze, heat rising to his cheeks. Did she really not know? He supposed she didn’t know a lot of things, but of all things to explain it had to be this? “Kaladin, why are you blushing? Do you have a fever, I told you the cold could make you sick-“ “I’m fine, Syl.” He cut her off. “Do you really not know?” She shook her head, sitting in the air as if on a stool, legs crossed and arms folded. “If I did I wouldn’t have asked” he sat up trying to compose himself. If he explained, she may try it on him, if he didn’t she might find out anyway. “Well, it’s uh” he cleared his throat. “It’s when you gently touch someone in certain spots and it makes them laugh. It’s an unbearable feeling that makes you panic and you laugh as a result.” He felt like his face was on fire, instinctively wrapping his arms around his middle. Syl smiled. “If it makes you laugh, then can I do it to you? Unless it hurts.” He wrapped his arms tighter, a nervous smile threatening to pull at his lips. “It doesn’t hurt, no, it just feels very strange. It just tickles, I don’t know how else to describe it.” She hummed, standing again. Anticipation spren began to appear around him, twisting in the wind mockingly. “You’re getting nervous.” She observed, watching him as he shifted around, trying to not squirm. “I can’t help it- please don’t.” The last part was squeaked as she started to get closer. A wobbly smile began to spread across his face. “Why not? It’s already working.” He was sure she didn’t intend for her words to seem teasy, but that didn’t mean they weren’t. “Just tell me how to do it, unless you want me to just figure it out on my own.”

Kaladin tried to force himself to relax, she was just a spren, he wasn’t even sure if she could physically touch him. How bad could it really be? He forced his arms to unfold, stiffly trying to bring them down to a resting position. “Alright, you can try.” He gripped the fabric of his trousers, still sitting cross legged. Why couldn’t he just calm down? “The motion is mostly fingers, poking and scratching. Different spots are sensitive to different things.” He flinched hard when she darted forward, placing small hands against his ribs. She must be doing something new, he could feel where her hands were. The anticipation spren around him grew and fluttered as an anxious pit in his stomach formed, strained titters escaping his lips. “Why are you laughing? I’m not doing anything yet.” She asked sincerely. “S-shut up. Teasing makes it worse.” He risked a glance down, seeing her smile up at him mischievously. “If you hit me I’m going to be very mad.” And then she dug in.

Kaladin was surprised when a squeal left his mouth, tiny scratching hands sending electricity shooting up his spine. He fell onto his back, clenching his fists in an attempt to not swat her away. She was quick, scratching and poking and kneading as she darted around his torso, doing her best to not let him get used to any particular sensation. Though he tried to fight it, he was already giggling. She darted up to his neck, scratching at the skin below his ear. “Aww! See? You’re happier already!” He turned away, snickering, half hearted pleas for her to stop slipping in between breaths. He hated to admit it but she was right, his clouded mind was clearing by the second. Kaladin gasped suddenly when Syl shot back down, worming her way under his bridgmens' vest and teasing the bare skin underneath. He couldn't see her but she grinned as he switched to wild cackling, laughter spren zipping through the air around them. His eyes squinted as his face twisted into a mirthful expression, but he could still see the glowing yellow specks flying around him. He would have been happy to see them if it weren't for the small blue pest climbing up and down his ribcage, creating unbearable sensations he couldn't halt for fear of hurting her. "Please!" He gasped out, a squeal following after. "Please stop!" He kicked out, starting to lose control. "Just a little more? You seem like you're having so much fun!" She chided, moving down to poke at his taut stomach. His cackling fell into deep belly laughs, a joyful and playful sound, legs trying to tuck up to his chest as he gripped his hair, still fighting to not try to squish her. He rocked side to side on his back, unable to keep still. This couldn't possibly get any worse.

Then she decided to shove her hand into his bellybutton.

A loud shriek exploded from Kaladin, silent laughter following after. Syl quickly zipped out of his vest, fearing she had hurt him, but smiled when she saw his bright red face. He kept giggling as he calmed down, sitting up in a relaxed but equally exhausted manner. "You-" he breathed, trying to compose himself. "Are way too good at that." Syl giggled lightly and bowed as if she had just completed a grand performance. "Glad to be of service, Kaladin Stormblessed." He smiled back at her, looking up and noticing the rain had stopped, the sky starting to turn shades of purple and orange as the sun began to set behind the thin layer of clouds. "Not a word of this to anyone, understand?" He tried to sound stern but the smile plastered this face took away any venom in his words. "Not even to Rock." She rolled her eyes and nodded, moving to sit on his shoulder again.

"Not a word, I promise."

Bonus:

Rock and Teft went looking for Kaladin once the rain stopped, though it wasn't abnormal for him to disappear he normally came back once it got close to time for the nightly campfire. It wasn't until they heard sounds of struggle and shouting that they began to worry, hustling to find the crew leader. Needless to say they were very confused to find Kaladin on the ground, rolling around and laughing like mad, begging to seemingly no one to cease what they were doing. Teft squinted, making out tiny laughter spren whizzing around in the air around the younger man, but no one else there with him. Rock, however, smiled fondly. He could see Syl clearly, and how happy Kaladin seemed to be. They both winced at a loud shriek that split the air, Teft scoffing and Rock shaking his head amusedly. "Must have finally lost his mind, poor kid." Teft grunted, turning to make his way back to camp. Rock glanced at him incredulously. "Why do you think this thing? He seems to be very happy. He and the spren that follows him are simply playing, it does the heart good." Teft snorted, turning back briefly to stare down the taller man. "Say what you want, but any man sat on the edge of a cliff laughing his ass off in a storming puddle is mad. And I don't care if there is a spren behind it, it's just not natural." He began to walk away again, leaving Rock to watch Kaladin struggle from afar. He chuckled fondly, turning to walk back to camp as well.

"Airsick lowlanders."

#tickle fic #tickle #tickling #the stormlight archive #kaladin stormblessed #rock stormlight #Teft Stormlight #Syl Stormlight #the way of kings #fanfic #fanfiction