Work Text:
You're alone
You're on your own
So what, have you gone blind?
Have you forgotten what you have and what is yours?
It had been a week since Reki distanced himself from Langa and he still didn’t know why. What it something he said? Or did? He couldn’t think of anything. The only thing he could think about was how much he missed Reki. Langa didn’t think he would get this attached to the boy, but now he wasn’t around anymore it was like a part of him was missing.
Nothing was fun anymore.
Glass half empty, glass half full
Well, either way, you won't be going thirsty
It wasn’t really a surprise for Reki’s mom to see Langa at her door, so she didn’t think twice before letting him in. “I’ve been worried about him. Maybe you can make him feel better” she gently said. Langa nodded, slowly walking in the direction of Reki’s room. He knocked, but there was no response, so he opened the door slowly.
“Reki?” he called, his voice in a low tone. Langa’s heart skipped a beat when he saw his best friend, shrunk in his bed watching something on his phone. His bedroom was a complete mess and he was murmuring something to himself, not even acknowledging Langa’s presence.
“I can’t keep up. I can’t keep up. I can’t keep up” Reki kept repeating, his knees touching his chest while he held his legs. Langa got closer to see what Reki was watching and took a step back when he saw himself on the screen. Reki was cheering for him on the video, while he nailed a trick Reki had just taught him.
You don't get what all this is about
You're too wrapped up in your self-doubt
Finally, the redhead noticed Langa’s presence and locked the screen on his phone. He tilted his head up, his eyes were watering.
“What are you doing here?”
Langa’s heart hurt at the sight of his friend like that. He instinctively got closer, “I was worried about y-“
“Leave me alone” Reki murmured, looking away. His hands were shaking.
“I’m not gonna leave, Reki. You’re clearly having an anxiety attack” Langa got closer, sitting on the bed next to his friend. “Let me help you…”
“Help me? You only make everything worse!” Reki yelled, tears running down his cheeks. “Before you, I was actually someone. Now I’m nobody! I’m nothing but a shadow of you... Snow this! Snow that! Oh, and who’s that? Some loser he brings along for some reason! I’m pathetic next to you! Only a few months ago you couldn’t even stand on a skateboard and now it’s like I don’t even know what I’m doing when I’m with you”
Langa touched his friend’s hand, not backing down when Reki flinched to the touch. They locked eyes for a second and Langa could see the pain in the other boy’s eyes, like something stole the brightness inside of him. “I never meant to make you feel this way”. Reki blushed and looked down, drying his tears in his sleeve. “Reki, you are someone” Langa continued, “you’re amazing”.
“You can’t say such things” Reki sniffled, looking away, “specially if they’re not true”.
“I’d never lie to you, Reki”
Langa fully held his friend’s hand, reassuringly squeezing it. Reki couldn’t help but stare at their hands, it made him smile weakly. I know, he thought. You’re too good for that.
There's method in my madness
There's no logic in your sadness
You don't gain a single thing from misery
Take it from me
“You’re so much better than me…” Reki whispered, “in everything, I mean. Your skating is amazing and you’re such a great person… there’s just- there’s nothing great about me”.
“Reki” Langa held his friend’s jaw, forcing them to stare at each other. His heart was racing, he had to do something. “There’s nothing about you that’s not great. If my skating is so amazing, it’s because of you. Everything I’ve become since we met, it’s because of you. Reki, nothing is fun without you”.
The redhead was blushing now, his eyes still watering as he got lost in Langa’s blue eyes. He wanted to kiss him. Badly.
“To me, you are someone” Langa continued, their stares still locked. “Is that enough?”
Reki nodded, not finding any words to say. He looked down at Langa’s lips and then back in his eyes. Maybe more desperately than he was expecting, he closed the distance between them. The kiss was rushed, but gentle, and tasted like mint and tears. Reki used his free hand to touch the nape of Langa’s neck and deepen the kiss. After a few seconds they stopped, breathing each other’s breaths for a few more, before Reki broke the silence.
“Thank you, Langa”
Langa tilted his head, “for what?”
“Not giving up on me, like I did with you… I’m sorry I pushed you away and-“ Reki was shushed by another kiss in his lips. Langa smiled at him; he did the same. The smiles turned into giggles and soon they were laughing at nothing at all.
“Will you let me speak?” Reki said.
“Nope” Langa answered in English, still laughing. “I’m just so happy we kissed!”
Reki smiled even brighter. “Oh, you idiot!”
They continued like that for a while. Their hearts full and warm inside, finally beating in a steady rhythm. Two young souls that finally accepted home on each other.
You've got it all
You lost your mind in the sound
There's so much more, you can reclaim your crown
You're in control
Rid of the monsters inside your head
Put all your faults to bed
You can be King again