Chapter Text
Reki hates clowns. He doesn't really know why. Maybe it's the way that their smiles are always painted on, or maybe it's the huge shoes, or maybe it's the fact you can't tell who is underneath the face paint and ridiculous wigs, but no matter what it is he can't stand them.
And this movie stars some kind of demon clown hybrid and a bunch of kids trying to stop it. He shivers a little as the movie starts, already dreading what is going to inevitably make him paranoid every time he passes any sort of opening in the concrete.
He risks a glance at Langa to find him staring excitedly at the laptop screen. He doesn't realize he was staring until Langa says something.
“Hey Reki?”
“What's up?”
“Is there a bug on me or something?”
“Oh no there’s not.” He started to turn red and looked away when he realized how long he had been looking at Langa in the eyes. He was always bad at eye contact, but sometimes those crystal blue eyes made him want to look at them forever. And sometimes he couldn't make himself look at his bed friend, because that felt like he would be telling him how he feels. That he likes him so much and maybe even loves him and he can see himself being happy for the rest of his life with Langa and how they could get an apartment when they go to college together and-
Reki makes himself stop. He can't let himself go there. He just can't.
“You were just looking at me a long time.” Langa puts his hand on the back of his neck and turns his head slightly away from Reki. Then he mumbled something so quietly Reki almost didn't hear him. “I like when you look at me though.”
The red head pretended not to hear, because if Langa didn't say it louder than that, he probably didn't want him to hear.
They get back to paying attention to the movie and Reki winces as Pennywise holds up some poor kid’s arm. He hates blood, even if it's fake. She knows he should be used to it, skating injuries and all, but it still makes him feel a little uneasy.
The first time Pennywise pops up on the screen, Reki jumps into Langa's side and wraps his arms around him. Reki felt arms wrap around him too.
“We can watch something else if you want to, Reki.” Langa sounded a little concerned. Reki guesses that even with the last movie, he hadn't retreated to the comfort of Langa that soon. It was only logical that he would be worried about him. Still, it didn't stop him from turning a little pink.
“No, it-it's okay.” Reki does his best to keep his voice stable, but it cracked a little bit, and now his face was getting redder.
Langa paused the movie. “Reki.”
“Yeah?” Reki looked up at the blue haired boy and as soon as he met his eyes, he could feel his face get hotter and even more red. Reki noticed Langa was starting to turn a light shade of pink too.
“We can watch something else if you want to.”
“I'm really fine, Langa I promise I-”
“Reki, your arms are shaking and you're not even looking at the screen most of the time. I promise I won't be upset if you don't want to watch horror movies.”
“It's okay! I'm fine, see?” Reki smiles at Langa, and he hopes it is convincing enough to pass. Even if Reki did hate horror movies he didn't want to look scared and he didn't mind getting to hold Langa, either.
“Alright, but if-”
“But if I need to watch something else we can change it at any time.” Reki finishes and grins at the taller boy, getting a smile and a joking nudge in the ribs. Reki loves the way Langa doesn't shy away from lightly shoving him or patting his shoulder or maybe even a high five after a really cool trick, and he hopes Langa doesn't mind when he returns the gestures.
Langa clicks play again, but it doesn't take long for Reki to get scared again and tuck his head into Langa's side. Langa wraps his arms tighter around Reki, and it calms him a little, even if he still hates the movie.
“Look at it on the bright side” Reki thinks to himself, “At least you got to hold Langa twice this week which is two more than usual.”
The redhead smiles at the thought and scoots in even closer. Langa loosens one arm from around him and Reki almost pouts like a kid who didn't get the toy they wanted from a store, but any protest he would have given stops short when he feels Langa’s fingers running through his hair. It felt so good he didn't even pay attention to the movie, relishing the way Langa was so gentle with him, gently picking apart all the tangles he obtained while they were out skating, rubbing his head in a way he knew only Langa could. He relaxed into Langa’s fingers running softly through his hair.
They stayed like that through the rest of the movie. Reki didn't even know what was going on for most of it, but he did see some of the funnier moments the kids had. He had to admit, Richie was pretty funny, and Eddie made him laugh sometimes too, even if he really hates clowns and horror movies and the endless suspense he endured before Langa cradled him in his arms and started messing with his hair. Reki would watch this movie over and over again if it meant he could stay like this forever.
He heard the laptop shut, and only then does he realize the movie is over. Langa still didn't let him go, and he wasn't about to say anything that could mess that up. His heart started to beat faster, and he cursed himself for being so easy to fluster. He couldn't stop himself from getting excited like he had just won a huge prize or finished an amazing round at “S.” But he guessed he did feel like that because Langa still hasn't let him go. If anything, he's holding him just a little tighter, like he doesn't want this to end either, and Reki’s heart speeds up a little bit more.
“Um, Reki?” Langa starts. No. how he's going to have to let go and they're going to have to go do something and he wants to lay here and stay wrapped up in Langa and surrounded by him.
Reki starts to think of other scary movies they can watch on Friday before he realizes he still hasn't responded, “What is it Langa?” He doesn't dare look up at his friend, because he is determined not to turn bright red again. It would be too embarrassing twice in one night. And the night was still young. It's only about six in the afternoon.
“The movie’s over.”
“Yeah, I guess it is.” Reki chuckles and finally caves and looks at Langa, who is staring with his beautiful crystal blue eyes. He quickly ducks back down, because he can already feel the heat returning to his cheeks, even though he would stare at Langa's eyes for hours if he could.
Reki kept waiting for Langa to move or suggest they go out to get some food, but he never did. In fact, at some point he started brushing Reki's hair with his fingers again. This was like a dream come true. Reki didn't understand how this was real. He doesn't know how long they stay like this, tangled up in arms and blankets, and somehow their legs were also in a knot. It was nice.
Eventually. Langa stops messing with his hair, and just kind of lays there, and his chest starts moving in a slow even pattern, and Reki can only guess that he has gone to sleep, so he just lays there. After some debate, he slowly moves his arms from around Langa’s arm to his sides and lays his head on his chest, and listens to the soft sounds of Langa’s heart beat. He could get used to this, he thinks.