READER RESTRICTIONS: 13+
Disclaimer(s): language, some sexual references
publish date:
Originally published on August 9, 2026
MAIN TIMELINE
WINTER 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
All was quiet in the dark, homey little taqueria off of Pilar avenue. The smells of handmade corn tortillas wafted through the air. In the dim, orange glow of the restaurant's atmosphere, Arturo found his primo, Teo, sitting at a table towards the back. There were two dark bottles of Modelo already on the tabletop.
"'Ey, man," said Teo as Arturo sat down across from him. The aged leather seats of his booth squeaking as he shifted in place.
"Hey," said Arturo. He sat.
"How you...feeling?"
"I dunno. Nervous."
"Drink." Teo gestured to one of the bottles.
Arturo drank. Wheaty and bitter, but it helped.
"S'not like it's a real date." Teo chuckled.
"He doesn't know that," said Arturo. "And it's not just the date I'm worried about."
"What, that he's famoso?"
"Not just that." Arturo took another drink.
"Then what?" Teo smiled smugly. "The whole kidnapping thing?"
Arturo nearly choked on his drink. "Keep your voice down."
"There's nobody here." Teo reference the rest of the near-empty restaurant.
"And yes, I'm fucking nervous about the whole kidnapping thing. Jesus."
"Take it easy, Churro."
"I mean, what if it goes wrong?"
Teo reached across the table and patted his forearm. "It's not gonna go wrong. Confía en mí. I've done this a few times already. It's easier than you think."
Arturo took a few rapid breaths.
"Ey. Ey. Calmate, primo." Teo's tone grew sterner. "Look, just stick the plan. Just be yourself. Be nice. Be all charming like you are."
"I'm not charming."
"You're very charming," Teo teased.
"He's gonna have security."
"Doesn't actually. Not on the regular. Only for events and stuff. He's not that big, primo." Teo laughed. "And even if he did, Los Coyotes...they're thorough. Got connections."
"What's that mean?"
"It means--" Teo started, but stopped himself when the waitress approached with a basket of chips and salsa. Teo flipped on a handsome smile, ordered some guac and another beer, and then she was on her way. When she was out of earshot, he continued. "It doesn't matter. Just know that Michael'll be riding solo tonight."
"He won't...get hurt, right?"
"Nope." Teo thought a moment. "I mean, maybe his pride a little."
"And this is...legit? You've got paid before?"
"One hundo." Teo pinched his thumb and forefinger together to sign 'okay.' "Money'll be in our accounts as soon as we send over the video."
Arturo took a few more shaky breaths. His heart raced.
"Look, primo," Teo said. "I know it's a little...loco. But it's harmless. A little tickling. That's it. Your favorite, eh?" He slapped Arturo playfully on the shoulder. "This is your dream job."
Arturo blushed.
"I can still feel your fingers all over my feet. All those times you'd tickle the shit outta me when we were growing up." Teo laughed.
Arturo's blush deepened.
"This is the universe delivering you the perfect oportunidad. Who knew something like this even existed?"
"That's what worries me," Arturo muttered.
"It's legit. I wouldn't have brought you in if it wasn't. I look out for you, no?"
Arturo considered this. After a moment, he nodded.
"And think about the money, man," said Teo. "This is how we help our families. Help your mom."
Arturo still remembered when Teo first showed him the text from his alleged 'boss.' What the client was offering.
$10,000. For 30 minutes. Fuck.
He knew there were people out there with all the money in the world. Who owned police chiefs. Who owned government workers. Who owned the underworld of Hollywood. He supposed of all the strange, twisted, and morally questionable things out there, a little tickling wasn't so bad...
Maybe the universe was really handing him something here. He just didn't know why, what he did to deserve the chance to do something out of his wildest fantasies.
Tickle Michael Cimino. In real life. For fucking pay.
"You good?" said Teo.
"As I'll ever be," said Arturo.
"You got this, Churro. Soften him up a bit--"
"Don't say 'soften.'"
"--get his guard down. Then just get him to the corner down the street. Order some ice creams."
"Isn't he vegan?" asked Arturo.
"The ice creams are vegan."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then stay on that corner. Nice bench nearby. Talk for a bit. It'll take about ten minutes for... you know, the stuff to kick in."
Arturo frowned. "Yeah..."
"After that, I'll take you to the rendezvous point. Equipment and everything's all set up. We have some fun with him, film it, then that's it. Our P&D guys'll do the rest. He'll be dropped right back here. Safe and sound."
"This is crazy."
"Crazy..." Teo cracked a wry smile. "But a little cool, eh? Admit it."
Arturo shrugged. "Maybe a little."
Teo chuckled. "Still can't believe this whole Bumble thing worked. That you actually fucking matched with him."
"I can't either."
"Told you! You're a charmer. A catch, cuz!"
Arturo snorted, blushing again. "I dunno."
"You are. Why else would he have wanted to meet up?"
Arturo supposed this was true. He swore up and down that Michael's account was either a bot or a catfish. "Thanks."
"Thomas was a fool to let you go."
Arturo's smile faded.
"Shit. Sorry. I shouldn't have brought him up," Teo said quickly.
"No, no. It's....fine." Arturo let the words waft around in his brain for a moment, then they dissipated. "It was a little weird, setting up a dating profile again. Especially just for this. Doesn't this whole plan seem a bit...convoluted?"
"Yeah, kinda," said Teo. "But when I mentioned that you were on Bumble to Ben, he cooked it up."
Ben. Teo's best friend. He'd been the one to get him involved in all this in the first place.
"Right, right," said Arturo.
"Told me about that video Michael posted promoting Bumble," said Teo. "Timing seemed right."
"And that's another thing that bothers me about this," Arturo said. "He's actually looking to date someone! So, this is even more fucked up. That video was really sweet, man. It was all about trust and meeting the right person and, fuck, it was with his mom! And here I am about to--"
"He'll get over it," Teo interjected. "Not to burst your bubble, but I'm sure your one of many dates, primo."
Arturo sighed. He pulled up Michael's Bumble video on his phone.
"Would you turn that off?" said Teo, trying to swipe the phone from Arturo's hand.
He shut it off. "Sorry. I just feel...weird about this. The more I think about it, you know?"
"That's your problem," said Teo before taking another swig of beer. "Don't think so much. Just do." He pointed at Arturo. "Yeah, it's a little fucked up. But how many times do I gotta tell you, man? It's just a little tickling. That's all."
"And kidnapping."
"For, like, thirty minutes. Then he'll be free."
Arturo sighed. "I guess."
"It's for the family. For us," Teo said again.
Arturo waited a long moment, but then he nodded.
"You got this" Teo clapped him on the shoulder again. "Now, let's stop talking in circles."
"Okay," Arturo stammered.
"Yo, what time is it?"
Arturo checked his watch. Almost a quarter til.
"Shit. He might be early. I better get outta here." Teo slid from the booth. "This is an opportunity of a lifetime, primo. And if you help nail this one, there'll definitely be more." He grinned. "C'mon." He extended his hand and Arturo caught sight of the small pawprint tattoo on his wrist.
The mark of a Coyote.
Arturo hesitated, but eventually he grabbed Teo's hand and reluctantly performed their signature handshake.
"Attaboy," said Teo. "Now, drink up, perk up--"
"But--"
"--and shut up. And just focus on what you need to do. Believe me, tonight's gonna be fun." Teo reached down and snuck a finger into Arturo's armpit. Arturo snickered and wriggled away from him. "Hope Michael's as ticklish as you," Teo said before he walked away.
Arturo sat alone in the booth for a minute or two before deciding that he needed to clean up the table a bit. When the waitress brought a serving of fresh guacamole, he asked her to remove the extra beer bottles, which she did, and Arturo spent another five minutes trying to calm the storm of anxiety stewing in his stomach when at last, a voice from behind caught his attention.
"Danny?"
Arturo froze up. He knew that voice. Sweet. Mid-baritone. He turned and there he was. In the flesh. Donning a black cutoff tee, brown chinos and a silver chain around his neck. His black hair fell in locks around his face. A bit longer than it was in his Bumble video. He wore the same mustache and goatee.
"Y-yeah?" Arturo said, answering to the fake name he'd used on his profile.
"Michael," said the young actor. "Nice to meet you." He smiled. Bright. Beautiful. Then opened his arms for a hug. "You good with hugs?"
"Oh. Um. Yeah," said Arturo. He stood and let Michael wrap his arms around him for a moment. He smelled of sandalwood and cedar.
Two seconds, then Michael pulled away and slid into the booth across from Arturo where Teo had sat only moments before. He rubbed his hands together, still smiling. "This is crazy! I'm not gonna lie--I'm a little nervous." He laughed. "But excited too."
Arturo laughed too. "You have no idea," he said.
Teo had been right.
It had been far easier than Arturo had expected. The dinner had gone off without a hitch. Arturo smiled, listened, conversed, flirted. Michael had admitted that he was still figuring out his sexuality. He identified as straight for now, but was open to, as he put it, possibilities.
I was surprised when we matched, Arturo (d.b.a. "Danny") had said. But I also had a hunch. You said 'people' and 'them' when you were talking about potential dates on that Bumble video.
Michael had blushed. God, the Bumble video.
He really was a sweet young man. And Arturo would've allowed himself to maybe even fall a little bit had he not had his mission in mind.
No N.D.A. or anything? he'd asked.
Nah. Not unless this gets serious. You expecting it to get serious? Michael had asked.
Little did he know how serious it was about to get.
Arturo fought to pay the check--he figured it was the least he could do for what was about to happen--then casually suggested that they wrap things up by getting some ice cream from down the street. Michael was happy to agree.
I love ice cream, he'd said. Do they have vegan options?
Yep.
They stepped out into the cold metropolitan evening. Los Angeles sung around them. Car horns. Sirens. The distant rumble of trains. They made it to the corner--the corner--and ordered from the truck that was stationed there with its colorful menu and bright, neon lights. Then, it was off the bench, as promised.
They talked some more. About music. Art. Movies. Acting.
Michael mentioned that he was suddenly feeling a little drowsy. Relaxed.
Think the beers got to me. He laughed. Usually I'm not such a lightweight.
Arturo attempted to show concern. And, as the minutes ticked on, Michael continued to slip, slip, slip away until he was passed out on the bench beside him. The drugs had taken affect swiftly and certainly.
And that was that.
Teo pulled up in his car. An unmarked van was behind him. Two more men--rather large fellows--stepped out, grabbed Michael, pulled him inside.
Get in, primo, said Teo from his car.
Arturo got in.
And then they were off, driving through the dark streets of L.A. towards their destination. The 'rendezvous point.'
"You did it! You fucking did it!" Teo whooped and hollered.
"This is fucking crazy," said Arturo, over and over again. His heart was racing.
"Just you wait until you see what's next." Teo winked. "By the way, my boss? Very pleased."
"He knows?"
"'Course! I gotta give him updates." Teo flashed Arturo a glimpse of his phone.
"Ah."
"I knew I could count on you, cuz!" Teo said, squeezing his clavicle affectionately. "Now, time for Phase Two."
The building they'd arrived at was in some sort of warehouse district. It looked like an old bank, perhaps? Greco-Roman architecture; a huge, foreboding facade.
"What is this place?" Arturo asked Teo from the passenger seat.
"Not sure. I don't ask those kind of questions. They give me an address, directions, and I show up. Now here." He knelt down and began rummaging through his backpack. From it, he pulled from it a few costume props, including two black eye masks, a pirate's hat, and a black bandana.
"What are those?"
"Our client likes role-play," said Teo. "Plus, we obviously gotta stay anonymous for this one. Just put them on and follow my lead. I get the hat."
Arturo understood the need for anonymity. He and Teo had discussed a change of clothes prior, which he'd switched out after they'd parked--his collared shirt and dressy shoes now replaced with a black sweater and Chucks. But the costume, however, was news to him. "Role-play?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"I don't think I'm good at role-play."
Teo chuckled. "You don't have to be good. It's just to set the mood."
"Huh."
"C'mon, Churro. Don't play dumb. I'm sure your tickle fantasies involve some sort of scenario, don't they?"
Arturo blushed for what was probably the millionth time that evening.
"I'll take your silence as a 'yes.' Now, c'mon. He's ready."
Arturo was nervous again. Almost sick. His heart sloshed around in his stomach. He knew it wasn't just nerves; he was fucking excited. He was practically shaking as he put on the mask and tied the bandana around the top of his head. He checked himself in the mirror. He looked like the Dread Pirate Roberts from The Princess Bride. He thought of a young Cary Elwes and smiled. One of his first crushes behind his gay awakening.
Teo knocked on the window. "C'mon," he said through the glass. "You look great."
Arturo peeled himself from the car and Teo led him to a metal door just off the alley where they'd parked. "Don't tell me I gotta do some sort of accent," he said.
"Nah. I never do."
They stepped inside and followed a dimly lit corridor to a large room.
"Fuck," Arturo whispered, taking in his strange surroundings. He supposed it was an old theatre. Or movie set? Built to look like something out of an old Victorian home? Or maybe a storehouse? In the middle of the expansive space, beneath a halo of stark light, was a small digital camera resting on a tripod.
And lo and behold, it was pointed at Michael Cimino. The young actor was seated on a bench, his legs were stretched out in front of him, ankles locked in a pair of wooden padded stocks. His feet were bare, a few inches apart. Wrapped snugly around his arms and torso was a coil of thin rope. At each side of the stocks rested a chair. Michael was conscious, frantically shouting his panicked questions and pleas for help into the unresponsive shadows, where Arturo and Teo were currently hidden.
"Oh my god," whispered Arturo. "This is... Holy shit."
"Wild, right?" said Teo. "And a little...hot, I'm sure?" He nudged Arturo playfully.
"Y-yeah," he said almost breathlessly and Teo snickered. His heart was back in his throat. He was forgetting how to breathe.
"C'mon. Showtime," said Teo.
A thought struck Arturo then. "Wait."
"What?"
"Won't he recognize my voice?"
Teo hesitated, considering this. "Hm. Shit. When I asked if you could join me, I never considered that. Neither did Ben, apparently."
"So..." Arturo's heart sank. "What do I do?"
"Well, there's two of us. Just let me do the talking. I was planning to anyways. Might actually be a silver lining. That way you can kinda see how these things play out. Shadow me, you know?"
Arturo furrowed his brow. "Do these usually play out similarly?"
"Oh, for sure. There's always the panic, the questioning, the cussing, the resisting, blah, blah, blah..." Teo laughed. "Just watch."
"Okay..."
"You ready?"
Arturo took another breath. "As I'll ever be," he said again, recalling his conversation with Teo at the restaurant.
"Let's go."
Arturo followed Teo out onto the set where Michael was continuing to shout and wriggle in his bondage. When he noticed them enter, he immediately engaged.
"Hey!" he shouted. "Who the hell are you? What is this?"
Teo whirled back to Arturo. "Told you," he said. "Now watch, learn, and stay quiet." He flipped back to Michael. "Hello there, Michael," he said with a sudden bravado that made even Arturo jump a bit.
"Where the hell am I? What happened?" said Michael. "Where's Danny?"
Arturo couldn't help but be touched at Michael's concern for him.
"Now, now, don't worry, my friend," said Teo. "Was Danny that boy you were with?"
"Where is he?"
"He's fine. Back where we left him. Sleeping off the same thing we gave you."
Michael's breath shuddered as the realization dawned on him that the ice cream had been the cause of his current predicament. "Shit," he said.
"Look, he's fine. And you're going to be fine too," said Teo. "I know this is a little...scary. But we're not going to hurt you."
"Fuck you!" said Michael angrily. "Why am I tied up? Where are my shoes?"
"So many questions." Teo drew out the words. He sat himself down in the chair to the right of the stocks. Arturo shakily took the left. His pulse was ringing in his ears.
This is happening. This is really happening...
He took a moment to take in the sight of Michael's feet, in the flesh. He'd looked at dozens of pictures on wikiFeet in preparation for the evening, but this was an entirely different experience. They were beautiful and brown. Soles were pink and looked delectably soft. Nails nicely pedicured. Watching them wriggle in their captivity was cause for immediate arousal. Arturo felt his cock stiffen.
"You're an actor, right?" said Teo.
"Let me out," said Michael.
"We will. In about thirty minutes."
"What?"
"I work for someone who'd like to hire you for a scene."
"Let me out!"
"You do the scene and you're free to go."
"I'm not doing any fucking scene with you!"
Teo tsked. "It'd be so much nicer if you cooperated. Cuz this is happening whether you want it to or not."
"HELP!" Michael directed his calls into the darkness beyond their field of view.
"Nobody here but us, buddy," said Teo. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Arturo sat patiently, heartbeat still heavy, stomach still tumbling. His fingers were itching for the touch of Michael's skin. Teo pulled up a video. "Now," he said. "We have it on good authority--your authority, in fact--that you're ticklish."
Michael snapped to attention. "What? Ticklish?"
"Yep." Teo started the video and turned the phone's screen to Michael.
Michael went oddly silent. Silent and still.
"Good news! Great! You've got the qualifications we're looking for. The part is yours," Teo teased. "So. Here's what's gonna happen. I'm gonna start that camera there." He pointed to the device that was stationed before them. "And we're gonna act out a little tickle scene."
"You're joking," said Michael. The anger in his voice had softened. He sounded more nervous now.
Arturo's erection was stiffer than before. He was still expecting, at any moment, to wake up.
"Nope." Teo shook his head.
"Please don't do this. Please," said Michael.
"Yes, that's good. Use that!" Teo said. "My client wants some of that." He hopped up and started the camera with a soft beep! "Action!" He returned to his seat, then bent down and from his backpack pulled out two large green feathers.
"Oh, no. Just let me go! What the fuck? What is this?" Michael's feet rattle around in the stocks. He tries to twist himself from the rope, but it's apparently tighter than it looks.
"Listen, you little bilge rat," said Teo, suddenly assuming character. This surprised a soft laugh from Arturo. Bilge rat? "We know you've hidden the treasure map. Now you're gonna tell us where it is."
"What? Treasure--? Dude, I'm not doing this!" Michael's anger was back.
"Oh, I'm afraid you are," said Teo. He reached across Michael's wriggling feet and handed Arturo a feather.
Arturo looked at it a moment--looked at Teo a moment--before accepting his gift. Teo gave him a smug smile. His eyes, though mostly masked, twinkled with telepathy. He was saying, This is it, primo. Your dream come true! Arturo was certain of it.
"Help!" Michael shouted again. "Help! Someone! Please!"
"No one to hear your screams, matey," Teo said to Michael.
"I'm not doing this!"
"Just tell us where your crew hid the treasure map! Or me and my first mate here are gonna get started."
"HELP!"
"All right then." Teo shrugged. "First Mate?" He looked at Arturo. "Care to do the honors?"
Arturo was grinning so wide, his cheeks hurt. And it was in that moment that all of his reservations went out the window.
Thank you, Universe. For whatever I did to deserve this.
He handled the feather with care, flipping it around so that its soft bristles were facing Michael's bare feet. Then, trembling, he reached forward and applied them to Michael's right arch.
Michael immediately hissed. "Don't," he said. "Don't fucking touch me."
"We're not touching ye," said Teo, now fully employing a stereotypical pirate's accent. "The feathers are! Courtesy of my parrot, Patches!"
"Stop!" Michael said.
Arturo was moving the feather up and down along the foot. Size 12, if he remembered correctly. Quite large for Michael's height. Beautifully shaped. The bristles sifted against the skin, making a whispery static sound.
Michael struggled against the stocks. His mouth twisted in defiance and anger. He hissed and spit. "S-stop! I told you, I'm n-not playing along. I'm not a f-fucking pirate. There's no treasure. Just let me OUT!"
"Ticklish, are we?" said Teo. He applied his feather to Michael's left foot, following Arturo's lead.
"N-no!"
"Seems that way."
Arturo explored the expanse of Michael's sole, running the bristles down to his heel then back up to the natural openings under his toes, which immediately curled. Wrinkles formed along the ball of his foot.
"S-stop!" Michael's voice shook.
"Tell us where the treasure map is!" said Teo.
"Oh my f-- HELP!" Michael tried again.
"No one around for miles," said Teo. He dragged his feather up to Michael's toes as well.
"H-hehe." The first sign of amusement crept from Michael's pursed lips. His face looked like it was contorted in pain as he desperately tried to twist his feet away from the feathers' touch. But his smile was betraying him. A grimace bordering on a grin. Teeth showing. White and straight.
"Does that tickle?" teased Teo. His words were almost too much for Arturo to handle. His groin nearly hurt from how aroused he was. He was certain that his boxers were wet.
"N-no!" And Michael fighting it? Trying to stave off the laughter? Fuck. Arturo was going to die. He was certain of it. His heart was pounding so heavily, he was afraid he was going to go into cardiac arrest.
"Tickle, tickle, tickle!" Teo said.
Arturo's head swam.
"St-stop it!" Michael said and his voice cracked again. "H-ha!"
"The treasure map!"
"I'm n-not....heheh..."
"Where be ye most ticklish?" said Teo. "Here?" He brought the bristles down to Michael's soft insteps, let them dance there for a moment. Michael's foot flexed away, toes spreading. This, of course, was an invitation. "Or here?" The feather glided up to the base of his toes, causing them to scrunch up again.
"H-heheh..heheh! Stop it!"
"What do you think, First Mate?" Teo asked.
Arturo knew he couldn't verbally respond. So he just focused on his own work, letting his feather curiously explore Michael's right foot. The ball. The outer edge. Between the toes, flossing them lightly.
"Ahhh! Hehehe!" This got a good reaction.
"Looks like he be enjoying it," said Teo.
"F-fuck youhoohoo!" said Michael.
"What if we flip these around?" said Teo, looking back to Arturo, as if for permission.
Arturo nodded. He spun the feather through his fingers, then applied the quill--rounded--to Michael's flesh.
"OH! SHIT!" Michael yelped.
"There we go," said Teo. "Now we'll--"
"STOP! OUCH! HEY! HAHA!" Michael's frantic laughter cut him off, a product of Arturo's impatience. He was dragging the feather around the ball of Michael's foot, tracing the wrinkles that formed there as the toes continued to desperately scrunch up. "Th-that h-hurhurhurts!"
"Does it really?" said Teo. "Or are you just saying that to get him to stop?"
Michael tossed his head back, his black hair spilling around his shoulders. "Nohohoho!"
Arturo couldn't help but chuckle. He was still dizzy with glee. He dragged the feather quickly to the heel, then dotted it around as if he were drawing. Quick, rapid, pokes.
"AHHHAHAHAHA!"
Then up across the instep again. Poke poke poke poke poke poke
"ARHARHAHAHA!"
"Nice technique, First Mate!" Teo cheered him on, then copied him, dotting his feather's quill all around Michael's helpless left foot.
Michael screamed out. Eyes slamming shut, he teetered on his chair, the stocks rattling as he strained in them. His toes were so tightly curled that they were turning white, as was the once-pink skin on the balls of his feet.
"Want us to stop?" said Teo.
"YEHEHEHES!"
"Tell us where the that map is!"
"There is no map! FUCK! STOP! PLEEHEEHEEASE!"
Teo pulled back and signaled for Arturo to do the same. Begrudgingly, he listened. The large space was filled with the sounds of Michael's grateful gulps of air.
"Th-thank you," he muttered, panting.
"Where is the map?"
"I d-don't know," said Michael. It was almost a whimper. "I'm not a pirate. N-neither are you. Th-this is insane. Please. Just let me go. I don't want to do this."
"Still denying us, huh?" said Teo. He lowered the feather to the floor, then wrung out his hands and cracked his fingers, rather theatrically. "First Mate." He turned to Arturo. "Why don't we show him what our fingers feel like?"
"R-really?" said Arturo softly before he could help himself. Fortunately, Michael didn't seem to notice.
"Of course," said Teo.
Arturo let out a long breath. He put the feather down, then, with some trepidation, extended a hand to Michael's foot. He placed the nail of his index finger on the ball of the foot.
So soft! So warm!
Then, he began to tickle. A few quick, curious motions. Centimeters at most. Back and forth.
"No! NO!" said Michael.
Arturo dragged his finger downward along the sole, scritching and scratching away. The foot writhed against his touch. Supple, shivering.
"Heeheeheehee!" Michael's helpless giggles were adorable. "Please!"
"You hear that?" said Teo. "He wants us to tickle him. 'Please,' he says!" He joined in, but not as delicately. He applied all five fingers to Michael's left foot, scribbling along the sole, nails nibbling into the pinkish-brown flesh of his instep.
"AHAHAHAHA!" screamed Michael, thrashing and teetering on his chair, which seemed to be firmly fastened to the floor--and thank goodness, else Michael would've probably fallen.
Teo shouldn't have all the fun, thought Arturo, and he began to scribble away with his other fingers as well, tickling and wriggling around the right foot with reckless abandon.
Michael squealed and squirmed and cried out with helpless hysteria. He tried to pull his feet back, but they had nowhere to go. The stocks held strong. He bent forward, then back, slamming himself into the back of his seat. "STOP! STOPSTOPSTOP! HAHAHAHA!" His skin began to glisten in the halo of light above.
Arturo laughed again. Louder this time. This was incredible. And insane. And...real. He couldn't believe it. Here he was, dressed up like a goddamn pirate, tickling the feet of Michael Cimino. And, apparently, getting paid for it! He would've gladly done this for free, but he wasn't about to say no to a handsome reward for living out a dream.
Bucket list item--check!
"How you holding up there, matey?" said Teo, seemingly pleased with Michael's reactions.
"HAHAHA!" Michael just laughed.
Teo stopped, but Arturo kept going, bringing his other hand up tickle the sole with ten fingers.
"EEEEHEEEEHEEE!" Michael squealed, one eye winking in agony as his entire body attempted to twist away.
"We'll give you a break," said Teo, and Arturo got the message. He stopped. Michael slowly calmed, breathing heavily. His laughter seemed to still reverberate around the room. "So," said Teo after a moment, "what's it gonna be?"
"Enough," said Michael.
"The map."
"This is insane."
"We're gonna drive you insane if you don't tell us."
"I'm n-not.... I can't..."
"Should we kick it up a notch?" Teo looked over to Arturo again. Arturo nodded emphatically.
"No..." Michael moaned. "No, pleeeeease. Just let me go."
"Tell us what we want to know."
"Fuck..." He hung his head.
"Okay then." Teo reached back down into his pack and this time, pulled from it a large plastic tub of Vaseline.
What...? Arturo was intrigued. He'd seen many a tickle video utilize some form of lubricant--mainly lotion or oil--but this?
Teo uncapped the tub and used two fingers to scoop a dollop of the jelly from the container. He applied the Vaseline to the ball of Michael's left foot and began to smear it around the skin. He brought up his other hand and began to work the foot over, thumbs massaging the instep, around the toes, down to the heel. Michael hissed and jerked at random, his foot shaking, twisting, toes scrunching up and then spreading in response to his movements.
"First Mate, get the other one, would ya?" said Teo.
Arturo gladly helped himself. The jelly was oily and warm, catching beneath his fingernails as he scooped. He delicately applied it to Michael's right foot, finding the action strangely sensual. Intimate. He could feel his pulse at the tip of his cock, which labored against the denim of his jeans, desiring freedom.
Michael let out a soft moan.
"Nice, huh?" Teo teased.
Michael didn't reply.
"All right, I think we got these babies nice and smooth, huh?" Teo sat back in his chair, admiting his work. Michael's brown soles glinted with a polished shine.
Jesus. Arturo let out another shaky breath.
"Okay, next." Teo clapped his hands together and reached into the backpack for a third time. Arturo had a feeling he knew what was next. "Ah. Here we go," said Teo, procuring--yep--brushes. Two large black paddle brushes. Arturo was no stranger to these -- they were quite popular across the videos he'd watch time and time again. But in this moment, they seemed so foreign to him. So...beautiful. Teo handed one to him and he took it.
"What are those?" Michael whined. "Aw, no. No.... What the--?"
"One more chance, matey," said Teo. "Where is the treasure map?"
Michael just shook his head helplessly.
"All right then." Teo turned to Arturo. "Ready?"
Arturo nodded.
"Three..."
Michael resorted to begging again. "No... Please don't."
"Two..." Teo held one of the brushes up in front of Michael's foot, bristles ready to land. Arturo did the same with his.
"Please. I can't do this!"
"One..."
"I'm begging, okay? Please! Enough! Cut!"
Arturo didn't listen. He thrust the soft, rubbery bristles of his brush against Michael's shiny, slippery left sole and then he began to scrub.
Up and down. Hard.
Michael's eyes went wide. He arched his back. His reddened face contorted and from his gaping, smiling mouth came the screams. "OHHHHHH F-FUCK! HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
"Where's the map, matey?" said Teo.
"The map!" said Arturo, embracing his character, knowing that his voice would be drowned out by Michael's surprisingly crazed laughter. Arturo dragged the brush unyieldingly across the suffering right sole in front of him, heel to ball, ball to heel, up along the undersides of those gorgeous, pedicured toes. Then he scrubbed at the arch, across to the instep.
The movements were merciless, smooth, meticulous. He could only assume that Teo was doing the same.
"AHAHAHAHAHA! I'M G-GONNAHAHA DIEHIEHIEHIEHIE!" Michael screamed.
"C'mon! Tell us!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Arturo turned his brush sideways and decided to scrub across the ball of the foot again. Teo mirrored his movements, and occasionally the brushes would collide with a soft pop! despite the small space between Michael's captive, writhing feet.
"OHOHOHOHO! I C-CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE! HAHAHA! PLEEHEEHEEASE!" Michael's laughter was constant. He threw his head around, damp hair flailing, eyes now fully shut. His face was redder than before, shining with sweat. His strong arms bulged against the rope.
"Tell us!" said Teo again.
"Yeah!" hollered Arturo. "Tell us!"
Michael's feet were also reddening from the friction, the pressure of the brushes. Their movements mirrored each other too, flailing in tandem, out then in as the bristles glided away.
"STOP! OHOHOHAHAHAHA! PLEASE STOP! PLEASE! NO MORE! THIS IS TOOHOOHOO MUCH!" Michael screamed. "I GIVE UP!"
"Not yet you don't!" shouted Teo. "First Mate. We've got one more ask."
Arturo looked over at him. "What?"
"Give me your brush."
Arturo obliged.
"His feet weren't the only place he mentioned in his video," Teo said.
Arturo's breath hitched in his throat. Did he mean...?
"Get behind him. Get his pits."
"No! NO!" Michael begged.
Arturo didn't need to be asked twice. He hopped to his feet and circled Michael, standing behind him. Again he caught the scent of sandalwood and cedar.
"Ready?"
"NO!" Michael's hoarse voice reverberated around them.
Arturo nodded.
"Go!" said Teo, applying both brushes to Michael's feet again. Despite Michael's arms being bound against his sides, Arturo, with precision and determination, managed to sneak his fingers into the soft, sweaty crevices beneath his shoulders.
"AIEEEEEEHAWHAWHAWHAWHAW!!!!!!" Michael shrieked. "I'M GONNA PAHAHAHASS OUT!!!" He nearly levitated from his chair, throwing his drenched head backwards into Arturo's stomach, his desperate, crazed eyes looking straight up into own. Arturo found the position strangely...intimate. And he experienced the briefest flashes from his past: him standing behind Thomas, tickling him as his boyfriend backed into his embrace.
"PLEASE! PLEASE STOP! STOP, STOP! STOP TICKLING! STOP!" Michael's begging persisted. He was saturated in sweat, and his pits were slick and allowed for Arturo's fingers to slide deeper into them, where they found hair and even more sensitive nerve-endings. Down at the stocks, Teo was still gleefully scrubbing away with the brushes, bristles effortlessly skating across Michael's brown, battered soles.
"OKAY! OKAYHAYHAY!" Through Michael's screeching laughter, he managed more words. He twisted again into Arturo's body, head swaying back and forth against his stomach.
"Okay what?" shouted Teo over Michael's frantic, amused roars.
"I'LL TELL YOU WHERE THE MAP IS!! JUST STOP!!"
Teo stopped, brushes backing off. Arturo, shocked, removed his pinched fingertips from Michael's ticklish underarms.
Michael took in huge gulps of air. His body heaved. "I'll...t-tell you..." He stammered.
Teo beamed. "See that, First Mate?" he said, though Arturo knew he was speaking not to his character, but to him directly. "Eventually, they always decide to play along..."
"Y-yes," Michael whimpered, sweaty scalp still resting against Arturo's stomach.
"I'm really curious. Where is it?" said Teo. "First Mate, get ready. Just in case he's bluffing."
Arturo wanted to bend down and wrap his arms around the young actor, comfort him. But instead, he wriggled his fingers gently into the seams of Michael's underarms again.
"No! I'll t-tell you! No more!" Michael said, jolting to attention.
"Where?" said Teo.
Michael thought a moment. "Uh...erm.... i-it's on the ship."
"Where on the ship?" said Teo.
Arturo fought back an amazed giggle.
"U-um. In the captain's quarters. I swear."
"Oof," said Teo, hissing with mock disappointment. "Too bad there, matey. We've searched there already. You're lying!" He grinned up at Arturo. "Let's punish him."
"No! No! Fuck! What am I supposed to say?!"
Teo didn't answer. Instead he reapplied the brushes--one on each foot--and scrubbed away again. Simultaneously, Arturo resumed tickling Michael's armpits, or rather, as much of them as he could access.
Michael bucked and squealed. His laughter pitched into hysterics as the brushes worked their way around his arches, his heels. He rocked in the chair. The stocks clamored their protest as he contorted away from the tickling as much as he could. He cackled and wailed and cried, "I DON'T KNOWWWHOHOHOHOHO!"
Teo shouted over the frenzied mirth. "Then this is gonna be a long night for ya, isn't it?"
And, indeed, it was.
Or, at least, until the timer went off.
Arturo wasn't sure how much longer they engaged in this volley of mock questioning, Michael begging, then crying and laughing as they tickled him again and again and again. But it went by far too quickly. And then, during one particular length of silence--during which Michael was trying to catch his breath for the hundredth time, his skin now drenched in sweat, his cheeks red, his eyes tired--there came the sound of beep beep beep beep beep...
"And that's our cue," said Teo. He stood, rounded the digital camera again, and stopped its recording. He collected it from the tripod and matter-of-factly deposited it, along with his tickle tools, into his backpack. "You did great, Mike."
"Ohhhhh god," Michael muttered. "Oh my god... Oh fuck."
"See? Wasn't so bad. You survived."
Arturo was dumbstruck. He stood in silence, watched his cousin nonchalantly pack up and prepare to leave, Michael--reduced to a sweating, dribbling mess--remaining in his restraints. After a moment, Teo turned and said, "First Mate? You ready to go?"
Arturo looked back and forth between Teo and Michael a moment before reluctantly nodding. He followed his cousin, disappearing into the shadows from whence they came...
2 DAYS LATER
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
The text came relatively early. Arturo was still scrolling Instagram in his bed, not yet having the energy to face the world, when he was alerted by Teo, with much excitement, that their payment had come through.
Yo! Check your bank account!
Arturo scrambled to find his banking app. He pulled up his account.
There it was.
He was, officially, five thousand dollars richer (of course having to split payment with Teo).
There had been nothing in the news of Michael's apparent kidnapping and return. In fact, Michael had posted an Instagram post the day before and all seemed...normal.
So, so strange...
Arturo would have chalked it up to a (wet) dream had it not been for the number now staring back at him from the screen of his phone. Coupled with his and his mother's income, this was more than enough for a few months' rent.
Teo had been right.
This is still unreal, he wrote to his cousin. I still can't believe it.
Believe it, primo, wrote Teo. And I've got even better news. You ready?
Arturo furrowed his brow. Sure.
Boss was really pleased with your work. Says he wants to get you another gig.
Arturo sat up, the comforter shifting from his upper body. Really?
Hell yeah! Told ya! You interested?
Arturo was about to answer him, when his phone vibrated again. A notification from his Photos app. A memory. From a year ago.
Without thinking, he tapped on the notification and his phone pulled up a photo:
The last photo he ever took with Thomas, though he didn't know it at the time. At a little restaurant in Barcelona.
His heart sank. He could hear Thomas's sharp, hearty laughter peeling in his ears. An echo that both thrilled and haunted him.
What do you say, primo? Teo messaged him again.
Arturo closed out of the photo. He tried to stay in the moment, but his brain was buzzing with old heartbreak now, and with the memory of his fantastical tickling session with Michael--the actor's frantic feet, his manic laughter...
Arturo began to wonder at all the possibilities.
Who else would be able to experience this with?
His aching cock stirred. He'd relieved himself almost ten times in the last two days. With a drunken, tired smile, he replied to his cousin.
I'm in.
APRIL 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Nico Greetham sat across from Michael in the patio of a streetside café. He contemplated all that Michael had just divulged to him, tapping his fingers against the coffee cup in front of him. Then, after what seemed like forever, he nodded. "Sounds like you had it way worse than me," he said. "I mean, mine was weird, sure. But I wasn't fucking kidnapped. Jesus Christ, Mikey. Why did you never tell me before?"
"I haven't told anyone," Michael said. "Have you?"
Nico hesitated, then shook his head. "I'm still hoping nothing gets out."
"And that Ben guy?" asked Michael. "Nothing from him?"
"No. What about you? Did you ever reach out to Danny? After that night?"
Michael crossed his arms and sighed. "Yeah. But he ghosted me. I mean, I don't blame him. Fucking traumatic."
"Yes, Mike. But for you too!" Nico said. He sounded concerned. "How have you--? How do you even come back from something...like that?"
Michael offered up a small smile. "I'm fine, man."
"How?"
He shrugged. "I mean, yeah, it was scary at first. I don't remember much after it ended. The guys that were tickling me...they took their camera and left. Then someone came up behind me, put a bag over my head and--"
"A bag?!"
"Yeah." Michael nodded. "They let me out of the stocks, but kept my arms tied up. Told me not to run. And, I dunno why, but I listened. I was exhausted and I was afraid they had a weapon or something."
"Shit," Nico whispered.
"And they marched me back to their car. I assume it was their car. I was put in the back seat, and after about twenty minutes, they let me go. Untied me, opened the door, pushed me out." Michael delivered his play-by-play as if on autopilot. "When I took the bag off my head and turned around, I just saw this van driving away. White. No windows in the back. And no plates or anything."
"Typical." Nico shook his head.
"But I was back by the restaurant where I'd met up with Danny. Except he was gone."
"And...that was it?"
"That was it."
"Nothing happened after that?"
"No. Nothing."
Nico blew out a puff of hair that teased the strawberry locks of hair over his own forehead. "Well, that's good, at least. Hope it'll be the same for me."
Michael bobbed his head. "Hope so. I kept thinking maybe Danny would've called the cops or something. Kept an eye out for it in the news, but there was nothing."
"I'm surprised you didn't go to the police."
Michael laughed. Bitterly. "I dunno. I wanted to. But...they filmed me, man."
Nico crossed his arms. "Yeah. Damn. I wasn't filmed--at least, I don't think I was."
"Yeah. I was scared it was gonna get out. Or that someone would try and blackmail me or something."
Nico's concerned expression intensified. "And you're sure no one's ever reached out to you since? About any of this?"
"No!" Michael was excited now. He placed his hands on his head. "That's the strangest part!"
Nico chuckled. "That's definitely not the strangest part. But I get you."
There was a long beat between them. They each took sips from their coffees and looked out across the bustling streets of the city.
"Just...so insane, man," said Michael.
Nico agreed. "So insane." He cleared his throat and after a long moment, he said, "You don't think...they're connected, do you?"
Michael tilted his head. "What?"
"I mean, think about it: we both go on dates with random guys and both get tickled in pretty strange circumstances. And...don't you think it's a little weird that we know each other."
Michael considered this. "You think that this was maybe done by the same...people? Maybe someone that knows us?"
Nico shrugged. "Wouldn't be impossible, right?"
Michael shook his head. "No, I guess not."
Something crossed Nico's expression then. Something determined. He pulled out his phone, thumbs bouncing away on the screen.
"What are you doing?" said Michael.
Nico smirked. "I'm gonna get to the bottom of this."
"What?"
"Start writing down our mutuals," said Nico with more fervor than was probably warranted.
"Mutuals? What are you talking about?"
"Yeah," said Nico. "We're gonna do some investigating."
Michael let out a skeptical laugh. "How are we gonna do that? You're just gonna start asking our famous friends if any of them have been kidnapped and tickled too?" When Nico's serious expression remained, Michael started to worry. "No. No, Nico. C'mon. That's crazy."
Nico grinned. "Gotta fight crazy with crazy, right? Now c'mon." He reached across the table and tapped at Michael's overturned phone. "Start writing down all the magic names you know."
Author's notes:
We finally have a continuation of the story started in "One More Curtain Call"! I've wanted to write a Michael Cimino tickle fic for quite some time, and his Bumble promo alongside the Cameo that was provided to me by @michael.jha44 provided great inspiration for the direction of this particular narrative. Additionally, this was a fun exploration of a tickle fetishist's perspective as they're thrown into the wondrous, twisted world of role-play and fantasy realized.
Last updated: August 8, 2026
DISCLAIMER:
Though this story features actual persons and references actual events, it is entirely a work of fiction and is in no way affiliated with, or endorsed by, those individuals. It is written solely for the purposes of entertainment and should not be taken seriously.
READER REACTIONS:
"The Master is back! That was a fun story dude! Loved that you incorporated some unique pit tickling to push [Michael] over the top. Can't wait for part 2!...I'm so intrigued! By the coyotes and by the originals. Arturo seems very sweet, and I'm a little curious about his ticklishness and the background with it."
-TickleNerd
"I hope people like the Cameo from Michael!! I enjoyed the story! I like how you do [Michael's] voice!"
-michael.jha44
"Love the new story, dude. Great that [Michael's] video could inspire it."
-tarantinofanguy_
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