"Oh Maaaaaaxieeeee~"

He didn't even look up from his book. "What is it, Archie?" He knew, that when Archie said his name like that, he wanted something.

"Can we cuddle and watch a movie together?"

Immediately following that was Maxie's first question. "I'll always say yes to the cuddling. But Is it a horror movie? Because if so, then no. I can't handle any more scary movies right now."

"No no, I'm not gonna make ye watch any more scary movies. I was thinking.. maybe we could watch a Disney movie?"

"Oh thank god.." The redhead sighed in relief. "That sounds much better.. yes."

Archie smiles. "Good. Because I've got the perfect one for us to watch."

After a few minutes, Archie found himself laughing hysterically at Maxie's reaction to what they were watching.

It was Finding Nemo.

"Are you kidding me? Of course it has something to do with the ocean! I should've known!"

"Whahahahat?? It's such a good movie, babe! Bwahahahahah! Yer face, I swehehear to god!" He cackled as he watched his husband pout, then put the movie in. "Oh c'mon! Ye'll like it, I promise!"

"Mmmhmm.." Maxie rolls his eyes. "We'll see."

The movie started and played for a good few minutes. The redhead was cuddled up next to his husband on the couch.

"Now, what's the one thing we remember about the ocean?"

"It's not safe."

"That's my boy ."

"Well, there's something the movie got correct." Maxie chuckled.

Archie rolls his eyes. "Of course ye'd take notice to that.. *kiss* yer such a dork. Maybe this movie will make ye look at the sea a little different."

*chuckle* "I highly doubt that, love. But points to you for trying."

The movie progresses on, they make it to the scene where Dory is introduced.

"Oh look hun, I found the fish version of you~" The Magma leader teased, earning a pillow whacked at his shoulder. "Short term memory loss, hm?"

Archie smirks at him. "Oh yeah? If anybody in this movie, ye most resemble Marlin."

He raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"Ye seem like the overprotective dad type." Archie answered.

Maxie glared at him. "..I don't know whether to feel relieved that you didn't say anything worse or insulted."

"Bwahahahah! And that's not all! Like him, yer also super uptight."

"I am not!" He argued, pausing the movie. "Name one instance in the entirety I've known you.. where I was uptight."

Archie cackled in response. "Babe, I don't have all day!"

"You little shit!" Maxie exclaimed, taking his pillow and start whacking the other with it playfully.

"H-Hey! Ye want me to lie?? Hehehey-!" The pillow landed at his face. "Okay okay! I'm sorry babe! Can we continue please?"

Maxie huffs, putting the pillow down. "I suppose."

*kiss*

The movie kept going on. Eventually, they almost made it to the finish. Archie caught his husband tearing up near the end, when he heard him sniffling next to him, cuddled in his chest.

"Babe, ye ok?"

He quickly wiped a tear away. "Wh-what-? Yes. I'm fine. Why?"

"I just saw ye cry a little, so I was wondering if ye were okay."

"I-I- was not crying!" Maxie retracted defensively. "Not at all!"

Archie chuckles at him, pecking a kiss on his cheek. "It's okay, love. This movie gets a little emotional at times.. especially at this point, where Marlin thinks Nemo is dead."

"I wasn't crying.." He said again, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

*smirk*

"Honey. It's not good to lie." Archie knew that he was going to start an argument.

The glare was really harsh this time. "I. Was. Not. Crying." He reiterated.

"I. Don't. Believe. Ye."

"I am telling you I wasn't!!"

"Then what was that sniffle I heard?"

"It's allergy season." Maxie argued back.

Archie started cackling, pausing the movie once more. "Maxie, babe.. just tell me the truth. It's okay to get emotional."

"For the last, and FINAL time.. I did NOT cry!"

Archie just kept staring at him, hopeful that it alone would get his husband to break.

"Are you just going to stare at me until I say I was? I wasn't!"

"Nope. I'm gonna do something else." Archie then got a devious look on his face, one that Maxie knew too well.

"No! Don't you dare! I know that look!"

Archie scooted closer to him, the scary look on his face making him grin wider. His hands raised up, and fingers wiggling.

"D-Don't!" He tried to run away, but Archie was way faster. He darts out and grabs Maxie by the waist, pulling him back to the couch.

"Aw, Max? Where ye going? The movie's not over yet, and ye still haven't admitted anything yet."

"I haven't admitted anything because I have nothing to admihihit!" He squeaked, feeling a finger on his side, tracing in circles. "St-Stop it, Archiehehehe! That tickles! L-let me go!"

Archie positioned his hands into claws. "Not until ye fess up, Max. Come on, don't make this harder on yerself.. cause ye know what I'm bout' to do next."

"Please no!" He begged, starting to giggle already. "Archie please!"

He tsked at him softly, then gently pinned him to the couch. "Ye asked for this, sweetie pie." With that, his fingers made contact with his ribcage, sending Maxie into a fit of giggling.

"Nohohohoho!! Ahahahahahah!!! AHAHAHAH! Ahahahaharchihihihihiiee!! Dohohohohon't- ahahahah- tihihihihickle mehehehehe!!!"

He smirks again. "Tickle ye? Whatever ye say, Max!" He tickled him faster, poking and prodding at his ticklish sides. "Ahhh Coochie Coochie coo~"

"Nohohohohoho yohuhuhuhuhuhu ahahahass!! *snort* Nohohohohoho teheheheeasing!! Quhihihihit ihihihihit!!!"

"The tickle torture will stop, once ye swallow yer pride and admit that ye were crying."

He snorts and tries to wriggle away. "Ihihihihihi wahahahahahasn't cryihihihihihing!!!"

Archie hums contently, tickling his husband without mercy. Then he found a weak spot, Maxie's stomach.

"PFFFFT- NO!! Dohohohohohohon't yohuhuhu dahahahahare!!! *snort* Ihihihihihi'll kihihihill yohuhuhuhu!" He threatens.

Archie positioned himself behind his lover, trapping him in his arms, and his hands came around his waist to his belly, poking and prodding at the very ticklish surface.

"Ahahahahahahahahah!! Ahahaharchiehehe! Plehehehehease nohohohoho!!" That's when Archie began tickling. "AHAHAHAHAH NAHAHAHAHAHAHT THEHEHEHERE!! PLEHEHEHEHEASE!! NAHAHAHAHAHAT THEHEHEHEEHE BEHEHEHEHEHELLY!!"

"Hehe!" Archie's head came around to kiss his cheek softly. "Yes, the belly! Coochie Coochie! I know all of yer most ticklish spots, me sweet Max~"

Archie coos at him and kissed his cheek again, which already had a few tears running down it.

"I got yer tummy! Yes I doooo~ Tickle tickle tickle! C'mon babe! Spill it!"

"NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!"

Damn, he's stubborn. Especially about his emotions. No matter, Archie has the clear advantage, knowing how ticklish Maxie is, and just how to drive him mad.

An idea popped in his head, and he lays his head on the giggling redhead's shoulder, adding his beard to nuzzle his neck. "Hey, mister grumpy gills~ when life gets ye down, ye know what ye gotta do?" He grins, seeing his husband blush.

"HONEHEHEHEHEHEY IHIHIHIHIHI'M BEHEHEHEHEGGING YOHUHUHUHU!! AHAHAHEHEHEHEHE!! IHIHIHIHI CAHAHAN'T BREHEHEHEHEATHE!!"

Archie continued quoting the movie, but changed the lyrics a little. "Just keep laughing, just keep laughing, just keep laughing, laughing, laughing!"

That did it. Maxie was now a puddle of blush, weak at the knees and literally cackling at this point. The combination of his stomach being tickled and his neck being nuzzled was too much. Finally, he surrendered.

"OKAHAHAHAHAY!! OKAHAHAHAHAHAY!! IHIHIHIHIHI GIHIHIHIHIVE!!" Maxie squealed.

"And?"

*SNOOOORT* "IHIHIHIHIHI AHAHAHADMIT IHIHIHIHIT!! IHIHIHI WAHAHAHAS CRYIHIHIHIHIHIHING!!!"

As promised, Archie ceased the tickly torture. He backed off, letting Maxie breathe. It took him a good few moments to fully regain his composure, and wipe the mirthful tears away from his eyes.

"There. It's about time yer stubborn butt gave in. Was that so hard, me giggly magma bear?"

"Ihihihihi.. hahahahate... yohuhuhuhu.." He wheezed, laying back in the couch in defeat. He clutched his stomach, trying to stop laughing. He still felt the tingling sensation on his belly.

He gives him a kiss. "No ye don't. Ye would've divorced me by now, cupcake~" He wraps his arms around Maxie, and hugs him close to his chest. "Now.. Why didn't ye want to admit it? If ye thought I was gonna make fun of ye, then yer wrong."

"Nohoho.. it's just- it's a movie, for god sakes! I shouldn't be weak and cry at a movie! It's.. *sigh* it's embarrassing." He finally caught his breath.

Archie looked at him with sympathy. He saw his glasses on the floor from the scuffle and picked them up to give to him. "Honey.. yer not weak. Especially not for getting emotional during a sad part of a movie.. c'mere."

He has him sit up, and they hug.

"Maxie.. my love. Don't be afraid to express yer emotions in front of me.. ok? I'm yer husband. I'm never gonna make fun of ye. Can ye promise me that?"

He sighs, puts his hand on Archie's shoulder. "Yes. I promise."

"Good. *kiss* Now, let's finish the movie, ok?"

"Ok. But on one condition."

Archie looks down at him. "Yes?"

"You owe me kisses and cuddles.. for tickling me to death." Maxie says, burying himself into the other's chest.

"Awwww, that all?" Archie chuckles and puts his arms around him to cuddle. "Of course, sweetheart. *kiss* I'll give ye all the kisses and cuddles ye want."

"Mmm.."

Once the movie ended, Archie stood up, holding his husband in his arms.

"Wh-what're you doing..?" Maxie sleepily asked, barely keeping his eyes open.

"Carrying ye to bed, love. What else? The movie is over, and it's late." He smirks, kissing him. "Are ye still mad at me? Does mister grumpy gills need to be perked up once more?"

His eyes immediately opened, and he glared at him. "NO. Don't you dare. And no.. I'm not mad at you.. you.. were right.."

"Max?"

"I'm sorry that I didn't open up to you... but.. this movie.. it really touched me."

"Really?"

"Yes.." He starts to tear up once more. "My father and I never had a healthy father and son relationship... it got so bad that it lead to verbal abuse, and me getting kicked out of my own home when I was 17.."

"Whoa- sweetheart.." Archie lays him down on their bed. "Y-Ye never told me about this.. it must've been so hard for ye.."

*sigh* Yes... it was."

"Oh, Maxie.... Darling.. *hug* I wish we told me about this sooner... I know ye didn't like talking about yer family, besides yer sister.. so I never asked. But.. I had no idea that yer dad was an ass.. I'm so sorry.. c'mere.."

He hugs him closer, and presses a soft kiss on his forehead.

"It's alright... I'm sorry I kept you in the dark with it... it's such a sensitive topic for me to talk about.. now, the only family member I have a relationship with is my sister."

"Shhh.. Let's not think about anything negative any more.. ok?" He buries his face and beard into his neck. "Instead.. how about I just kiss ye some more? Mwah~"

"W-wait! Archiehehehehe!!" His red headed husband snorted, squirming and wiggling in his grip. "Y-you're tihihihihickling mehehehe ahahahahagain!!"

Archie chuckles, continuing to kiss the ticklish neck. "Good. That was the plan. I love hearing yer cute laugh~ mwah~ mwah~ I love ye, me sweet little Numel~"

"Hehehehehehehe!! St-Stop ihihihihihit!! Ihihihihihi mehehehean ihihihihit! Ahahahahah- ihihihihihihi'm ticklihihihihish thehehere!!!"

"Never~ Ye deserve all the kisses in the world, babe! C'mere!"

He pulls his husband close, spooning him and covering his face and neck with kisses.

"Hahahahahahahahah-! *snort* Ahahaharchie!! St-Stohohohohop! Ahehehe- ihihihihihihit tihihihihiihihickles sohohoho muhuhuhuhuch!! Ahahahah- AAAH!! NOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!!"

"Ah, I remember that one particular spot around yer ears~ Are ye still ticklish there?"

"Nohohohoho Nohohoho- Not there!! Stahahahap ihihihihihit!!"

He traces his fingers around both of his ears, getting him to jump and squirm even more.

"Babe, this is so cute. Ye have such sensitive ears~ Tickle tickle tickle~"

He shook his head to get his fingers away, but to no avail. "Stahahahahahahap-! Plehehease! Nahahahaht mihihihihihihy eheheeheears!"

His giggling turned into full blown laughter when his burly husband took a new initiative and blew a raspberry on his neck.

"NOHOHOHOHOHOT THEHEHEHEEHE RAHAHAHAHASPBEHEHEHERRIES!!! FAHAHAHAHAHACK- GAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!"

"Awwwww~ Does that tickle, me giggly Teddiursa? Huh? Yer so cute! Pfffffffffffffft-!"

"ST-STAHAHAH- STAHAHAHAP!! OHOHOHOHO GAHAHAHAHAD!! AHAHAHAH-! NOHOHOHOHO-! AHAHAHAHA! IHIHIHIHIHIHIT TIHIHIHIHIHICKLES!!"

Archie was so in love with the cute laughter and snorts he was hearing. "I know ye'll love this!" He raised his shirt up and blew a raspberry on his belly.

Out came the cackles and squeals from the Team Magma leader. "NAHAHAHAHAHA- NAHAHAHAHAT THAHAHAHAHAT!!! EHEHEHEHEHENOUGH!! AHAHEHEEHEEE- IHIHIHI- IHIHIHI'M GOHOHOHNNA DIHIHIE!!"

Archie stopped. He pulls his shirt down and hugs him once more. "Hehe! I'm sorry, baby. I wanted to cheer ye up." He felt a little guilty, seeing his crimson face. "Are ye okay?"

"Hehehehe.. hehe... heh... Y-youhuhuhu're thehehehe wohohohorst..." He giggled, wrapping his arms around his waist. "But Ihihihi love you..."

"Hehe! I love ye too, Max.. *kiss* So much. Feeling better yet?" He asked.

Maxie wipes his mirthful tears away. "Yehehes.. you've tickled me so much, that I've got a permanent smile on my face.."

"Awwww, good!! But I'll let up, babe.. don't worry. I don't want yer lungs to collapse."

"Ha. Ha." He rolled his eyes and curled up in the bed, snuggling very close with his lover.

Archie returned the snuggles. "Are ye sure ye still wanna cuddle with the tickle monster?"

"Mmm~ As long as he keeps his hands away from my tickle spots for a little while, then yes~"

"Ye've got it, babe.. I'm sorry I went a little overboard. You and yer laugh are just so fucking adorable.. and like I said, I wanted to cheer ye up. *kiss*

Maxie chuckled. "I forgive you, you big dork. *kiss* You always know how to make me feel better~"