[ bolting upright, onto his toes, he moves in a fluid motion from kneeling at abel's side to standing above him, expression alight now that the other man has noticed what devilry he's been up to. he crows, delighted and wildly playful as he claps his hands together, voice prideful: ]

Of course it was me! I couldn't let them pick on you, strangers would only upset you.

[ he remembers. abel, the sheltered son of a family, had explained by his own words that he was not used to being teased. ]

I was going to put them on your nipples, but a cold belly button is way worse! I wish I'd done it now though, it'd look like a silly little face on your shirt, like this!

[ and he pushes his cheeks together with his palm, mouth open and eyebrows raised. it's emulates edvard munch's "the scream", if the screaming gentleman was shaking with barely-contained giggles. ]