Work Text:
The girl is a sudden surprise. Langa’s just trying to reply to the question on his worksheet. Chewing lightly on his pen to avoid playing with his new lip piercing. Cherry warned him about it. Langa has noticed in the past tense situations Cherry will bite and lick the left side of his mouth.
He snaps out of his thought when he unconsciously knocks his piercing. Making his focus back on the girl. She’s pretty long black hair and a tanned complex.
“Hello?”
Langa is preparing for a confession. He’s had a few since he’s been on the campus. Reki has been around for a few of them which causes his boyfriend to snort. Langa every time shoots him a glare and then tends to the very awkward ‘I can’t return your feelings because one, I don’t know you well and two, this fuck here is my boyfriend.’ When he’s alone he just says he’s gay and goes back to what he’s doing. Usually does the trick. One girl asked if he was bi which he had to respond with only men.
“Your name is Langa right?” She asks.
Langa breathes a sigh of relief. It’s not a confession… unless it’s a girl relaying the message for her friend. Oh, that was the worst one because that one was done while he and Miya were hanging out. Miya had teased him relentlessly. Reki had just laughed then explained he was very tempted to ask Shadow if he would tell Langa he liked him.
“Yeah, I’m him.”
“Okay cool, I thought I had the wrong person for a second. My friend was wondering-”
Here it comes.
“Are you dating [REDACTED].”
Langa stops for a second. Trying to think of where he’s heard that name before. It nags at the back of his mind like a slight itch that he just can’t reach.
“Who?”
“Your girlfriend?”
“I’m gay?”
The girl seems to do a double-take. Like she wasn’t expecting that to be his answer. Langa is quite sure he doesn’t have a girlfriend because Reki is a boy and Langa is very gay. Reki can’t even be mistaken for a girl, Langa got mistaken for a girl and he didn’t know what to feel at the moment.
“My friend, Ai, saw you kissing a girl she knew as a kid. Said she could recognise the freckles and wild hair. She must have been mistaken.”
“You might have the wrong person maybe. The only person I’ve kissed recently and on-campus is my boyfriend.”
He has a bad feeling about this girl that’s been mentioned by the one in front of him. Langa wants to peer around her and see who’s the culprit. He’s used to confessions and girls normally travel in packs. Girls just weirdly do everything together and he doesn’t understand why but if it makes them happy.
“Sorry for bothering you. Cool lip ring thou, been thinking about getting one, my girlfriend doesn’t want me to.”
Langa chuckles.
“Just do it my boyfriend adores mine.”
The girl laughs and waves goodbye. Langa turns back to his homework and sighs. At least it was an excuse to take a tiny break. It does make his gut roll with an uncomfortable feeling. Making it harder to concentrate on the paper below him. Three years in Japan and he still gets stumped by some Kanji. Once going as far as to facetime Cherry to get the translation to a word.
He shakes the thoughts from his head and digs in his bag for his gum. CHewing helped him focus most of the time.
*******
“Reki, baby. I’m home.”
Langa opens their door to the tiny one-room apartment. Their first house together was not the best but it wasn’t the worst. It had space for a couch, dining table, kitchenette with the bunk beds pushed against the wall. Not that they needed two beds. Choosing to snuggle up on the bottom bunk and leave the top one for storage space.
It doesn’t take long to spot his boyfriend, sitting on the floor, red hair just visible over the back of the couch. He wanders over to see what has him not answering.
Yeah, he’s not going to answer anytime soon. Reki is leaned over a deck painting a new design on the bottom. His headphones leaking small strains of his music. Reki’s music is heavy and loud. Sometimes it mellows out into softer songs but most of the time his boyfriend will adorably headbang and scream into imaginary microphones.
Langa sits down next to him. Making Reki slip his headphones off and puts them on the ground, making his headband slightly askew. Langa has to fight the urge to fix it then kiss the freckles on his forehead. God he loves his freckles.
“Hey, how was class?”
Langa shrugs, eyes casting down to the deck. Reiki’s designs never failed to amaze him. Being on the mainland for uni sucked. Langa missed his mum, Masae and the rest of Reki’s family, Miya, Joe, Cherry, Shadow but most of all the feeling of being at S. There were no illegal skating races that Oka knew of but he said he’d ask his contacts if they knew any. Besides, it might work different to S and it could bring a new wave of danger for them. Having two out of three founders as parental figures came with perks such as no one would pick on you.
Most of Japan wasn’t as accepting as their relationship as S was.
Now they made up for the lack of S by skating into the late hours of the night and Reki made custom boards much like he did back at Dope Sketch.
“It was okay. This girl came up and her friend thought I was someone else. Thought I was dating her childhood friend. Which was weird cause this friend was a girl and the only person I’ve kissed on campus is you.”
Reki puts down his paintbrush. The colour swirling into the almost clear blue water. Mixing it into a more vibrant purple.
“How can someone mistake you for the wrong person. I think you’re the only white blue-haired guy who carries around a custom skateboard.” Reki laughs putting his head onto Langa’s shoulder.
“Got no idea how then.”
“Langa.”
“Yeah?”
“She probably did have the right person. You forgot again didn’t you.”
“Forgot wh- oh I’m a fucking dumbass.”
Reki burst out in laughter, trying to stifle it with his hand. Langa groans trying to see the funny side of this. He shares a literally bed with this man who on hot nights will take his shirt off with nothing underneath. Who he’s had a shower with to have a hot shower and the enjoyment of being close together. He knows his boyfriend is trans, Reki is comfortable showing his body to him so Langa is no stranger to it.
“It’s fine, babe. The girl might have been friends with me when I was a kid but she’s not anymore so she wouldn’t know. Besides Koyomi used to say she had no idea who her friends were talking about. Saying she has two little sisters and a big brother never a big sister. Confused the fuck out of them.”
Langas snorts and snuggles into his boyfriend’s side. Breathing the scent of wood oil and paint. Maybe that was just from the said themes in front of them. Reki is moving around for a minute before SpannerGon is being placed on his forehead. Langa sits up cringing slightly at the feeling of Reki’s sweat on the beloved sweatband.
“I don’t know how to feel about this.”
Reki leans on his shoulder and looks up and the headband. Amber eyes soft.
“You look hot.”
“You’re gross. I can feel your sweat on it.”
“Made of pure love, babe.” Reki kisses his cheek gently then gets up. His back and hips popping as he moves. Causing Langa to cringe. He’s always hated the sound of bones popping. HE was really not made for skateboarding. Bones cracking and blood unsettled him.
He wanders over to their tiny kitchenette. Probably to get a start on dinner. Reki does most of the cooking as Langa feels most confident making ramen from a cup. Granted Reki’s meals are pretty simple. Another thing Langa misses about Okinawa, cooking that isn’t cheap stuff. The rent is incredibly high, his mum believes it might actually be cheaper just to travel from Okinawa every day and back. Langa kinda wishes he could. Now they only go back during the holidays and still have to pay for their apartment. Even nagging Cherry wouldn’t help them in the long run. They’re still here for another four years.
“Reki, when’s Joe and Cherry’s wedding again? I have a feeling that one of my assignments is due on the day.”
There’s a little bit of silence as Reki compares the invitation to the little calendar they have marked with assignments and exams.
“You’ve got an assignment due the day after. You reckon you can email your professor and be like ‘Dear Bleh, if you do not know I have two father figures back home in Okinawa, despite being in love since high school they broke up and have failed to get married and now are getting married the day before x y and z is due, was wondering if I could get an extension, kind regards Langa Hasegawa.”
Langa laughs. If his professor even asked about the story of his father figures it may get a little hard to explain.
“I’ll just do it the day before we go home. Then it’ll be out of the way.”
Reki snorts. Yeah, that was a lie if he ever did tell one. Both he and Reki did their assignments in the upcoming days usually filled with an ungodly amount of caffeine. Or sugar in Reki’s case when the caffeine started to slow him down more than keep him awake. A good make-out session often helped to keep them awake as well. Unless Langa fell asleep when lying flat on their twin mattress. He had woken up to Reki’s hysterical laughter and pouted because he really needed to get that assignment done.
Voices outside the door snap Langa from his thoughts. Reki has perked up at it as well, using the reflection of the fridge to check for any paint on his face. Hair floppy in his face and his nose ring’s stopper poking out from his nostril. He fixes it. Langa unconsciously does a check of his own piercings.
“I’m just saying that is her name on the board.”
Reki stiffens. Langa stands up and walks to his boyfriend. Placing a hand on his shoulder and turning him into a hug. Pressing Reki into his chest and putting a kiss on the top of his head.
“They can’t be talking about you, my love. You’re so manly and handsome. Everyone knows you’re a boy. My beautiful boy who I love so much. Handsome boy.”
Langa knows how he gets when people talk. When Langa’s grandma on his mum’s side had called him a girl because she had been with her friend’s grandaughters all day. Reki has said it was fine but Langa could see the shutdown oncoming the second the word had left his grandmother’s mouth.
“I’m okay. It’s fine. They’re probably-“
The knock on the door makes Langa’s stomach drop. Reki untangles himself and crinkles his nose.
“Might as well fix it up. I just hope she’s not going to pull the whole ‘but I knew her before so it’s okay.’ If that happens I might cry in the shower.” Reki says.
Langa catches the depressed joking tone.
“No crying in the shower on my watch. Kisses and cuddles.” Langa says. “Unless you want to be left alone.”
Reki smiles back at him. Hand resting on the door handle. “I’d like that.”
Langa isn’t sure what he’s liking. He opens the door to reveal the girl from earlier and he’s going to guess the one who was friends with Reki as a kid.
She throws her arms up and wraps them around Reki’s neck.
“[REDACTED]! Oh my god, it’s been so long.”
Reki tenses and Langa feels his body grow hot. The girl from earlier looks uncomfortable as well. Her nose is crinkled up.
“I’m sorry, you’ve got the wrong person. My name’s Reki.”
She holds him at an arm’s length. Studying his face. Langa wants to pull him away from the girl and back into his arms.
“Ai, I don’t think it’s your friend. That’s clearly a boy.”
Langa immediately likes her.
The other one keeps looking at Reki. Langa can only imagine the discomfort on his face.
“No, it's definitely her. She’s always looked like a boy and the short haircut doesn’t help.”
The other one snaps before either Reki or Langa can. Yanking the girl into the hallway. Reki looks back at Langa and all he can do is shrug. Making a gesture he can’t describe.
“You’re being a bitch Ai. I’ve had enough of your bullshit, you can clearly tell that Reki is a boy just because you knew him as kid doesn’t mean he’s the same anymore.”
Reki walks over, grabbing Langa by the hand. Langa intertwines their hands together. Rubbing his finger over his knuckles. Following the line of freckles, he’s memorised.
“I think Ai really is going to regret that.” Reki laughs a little.
“I was getting ready to slam the door in her face.”
Reki snorts. Leaning onto his shoulder.
Ai looks like she’s about to burst into tears. The second girl still hasn’t stopped her yelling.
“Should we close the door now? It’s weird we’re just watching this unfold and not stopping it.” Langa asks.
Ai runs off as soon as it’s asked. The second girl turns back to the doorway. Her face is red from yelling.
“Sorry about That. She’s just… ugh. Anyway, I’m Kimura, let me know if Ai gives you any trouble again.” She gives a small bow.
“Reki Kyan.”
“Langa Hasegawa. And we will.”
She closes the door and they hear her walk down the hallway. Looking at each other and then back to the door.
“She’s cool,” Reki says with a shrug.
“Are you okay? She came on real strong, I know what you’re like as well. Talk to me, my love.”
Reki shrugs. Langa can see the frown on his face. Gently pulling him in front of him. Untangling their hands and putting his on Reki’s shoulders. The sight of his messy hair makes him remember that he’s still wearing Reki’s sweaty headband.
“Baby, are you okay?”
He shakes his head and Langa pulls him in for a hug. Squeezing the smaller boy into his chest. Reki’s hands end up on his shoulders and is squeezing back as hard as he can. Langa feels like crying, he’d been doing so well lately. Enjoying life at uni apart from being his usual homesick. Painting customs boards, enjoying his classes, making friends and spending almost all of his free time with Langa. Reki had worked so hard to be happy sometimes it broke Langa’s heart to even see the glimmer of doubt in his boyfriend’s eyes.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you. My beautiful boy, handsome man who I love so dearly.”
He wasn’t crying, he wasn’t shaking enough for that. It still hurt to how vulnerable Reki had become in a few short minutes. He knows what’s going to happen next, Reki will distance himself plagued with thoughts of self-doubt and hating himself and his body. Which reminds Langa of the painful memory of Reki struggling to breathe because of his binder.
Joe had been the one to yell at him that time. Then hug him tightly making Reki promise he’d never scare him like that again. Both of them cried while Cherry ran a hand through Langa’s hair. Langa’s first panic attack after so long had not been pretty, he was just happy he had people to calm him down and make him feel safe.
“Do you want to sit on the lounge? Or we can cuddle in bed if you want?”
Reki sniffles and leans back out of the protective hold. Not crying but Lnaga can see the haunted far away look in his eyes. Langa swears when he gets upset his eyes turn a darker colour.
“Can we watch a movie? Might help me take my mind off things.” Reki asks.
“Yes, we can. Do want some water as well?”
He shakes his head. Eyes cast down to the floor. Langa puts a hand back on his shoulder.
“I love you. Please don’t you ever forget that. I love you more than anything in this world and I just want to see you smile. Every day for the rest of my life, let me take care of you please so I can see that beautiful smile. That’s my one wish in life.”
Reki stares at him with wide eyes. A blush creeping onto his face. Langa kisses his nose gently.
“Pick out a movie. I’ll get us some snacks.”
“Oh my god, Langa you can’t just say something like that.” Reki hides his face with his hands. The tips of his ears burning bright red.
Langa has no idea what has made him react like this but it’s adorable to see him like this. Hiding away as if Langa won’t kiss his hands to try and get them away from his face.
“What?”
“Dude! You basically just proposed to me?”
Now Langa \’s even more confused. He never said anything of the sort. Besides they’re way too broke and young in Langa’s mind for them to be thinking about getting married. Sure it would be adorable to be married to Reki. Thinking of Reki dressed up in a fancy suit and smiling at him from the aisle… Oh dear god no he can’t think about it or he will impulsively buy an engagement ring.
“I didn’t even mention getting married. The closest thing I did say was back when I ask you to check the dates. About Joe and Cherry, not us.”
Now Langa’s blushing, brilliant. The thought of being married to this boy is making him way happier than he’d like to admit. reki was in the midst of a mental breakdown not even five minutes ago.
“How do marriage proposals go in Canada?”
“Obviously not like Japanese ones. I’m so confused.”
Reki lets out a soft chuckle. His face still red but no longer hiding in his hands. All of his freckles on display as well as the shy smile and his eyes. Langa is so fucking whipped it’s ridiculous.
“I see that we really need to keep talking about cultural differences. Even if… I… actually would really like to get married to you. We don’t even have to go through all the trouble that Joe and Cherry did, we could elope, is it legal in Canada? If not I think it is in Australia and we could get married with a kangaroo as our witness.”
Langa snorts. Imagine them standing in the outback in suits and a kangaroo officiating their marriage. Reki is still going on his tangent. Langa cups his face.
“Baby, we are too young and broke for any of this talk,” Langa could feel his blush worsening. “I wouldn’t care where we are getting married or who was there as long as I have you Reki I’m happy. Yet if we do can we have our parents. Both biological and skater.”
“Well if we have our skater parents, by extension we have to have Shadow and Miya. Which also means Manger Oka.”
Langa smiles at the thought of all of them in the middle of the outback watching them get married with the kangaroo still there.
“We’ll plan it once I actually get you a ring and we are not five minutes after a mental breakdown and someplace actually nice. Not the middle of our one-room apartment.”
Reki laughs and walks over to their bed. Patting the spot next to him. Langa follows, sitting down and turning to face him.
“I don’t care where we are, as long as we’re together and happy. Infinitely.”
“that‘s still as cringey as the first time you said that.”
Reki wrinkles his nose. “I know shut up. I just wanna say I love my boyfriend is that too hard to ask.”
Langa laughs and pulls him in for a kiss. Cupping his face gently and stroking down his freckled cheekbone. Almost knowing every tiny spot that resides on his face. He should try and count them one day. Make it his life goal to know exactly how many freckles Reki Kyan has on his body. From his hairline all the way down to his toes.
Reki pulls away first and nuzzles at his neck. Rubbing his face up and down Langa’s neck makes him sigh in content.
“You still wanna watch that movie?”
“Nah. I just wanna cuddle with you. Maybe some music would be nice. Not your music thou. Sometimes it sucks.”
Langa just accepts defeat at that comment. He’ll never win in an argument about music with him. It’s just a fact of life.