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“Can I kiss you?” Langa asked.
Reki felt his face heat up. The thought of Langa wanting him like that made his whole body feel electric. At the same time, the thought of kissing made his stomach drop, and not in a good way.
“I... don’t know.”
“What do you mean?” There was no judgment in Langa’s voice, but Reki still felt a hot shame at not being able to answer yes without hesitation.
“I like you a lot Langa, and I,” he stopped and looked down, embarrassed, “I want to be with you, for as long as you’ll have me. I just… don’t know if I’m ready for that yet. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Langa rushed to say. He held both of Reki’s hands in his own and Reki felt himself flush harder. “Reki, I feel the exact same way. And it’s okay if I can’t kiss you now, or ever. As long as we’re together, I’ll be happy.”
Reki smiled and shifted closer to Langa. The feelings inside him were bubbling to the surface and needed some kind of release, so he surged forward and hugged Langa tightly.
“You’re the best, man. You know that?” Reki mumbled into Langa’s shoulder.
“No, I’m pretty sure you are.” And even though he couldn’t see Langa’s face, he sounded slightly smug.
Reki snorted out a laugh and leaned back just enough to plant a soft kiss on Langa’s cheek. The reality of what he just did hit him and he jumped back as if shocked.
“Um...” he started, with no idea on what sentence could follow.
Langa’s face was its usual stoic blank, but his cheeks were redder than Reki had ever seen them.
“I want to kiss you like that, too. Can I?”
Reki didn’t know how he was going to make it out of this conversation alive. How did Langa ask these things so calmly?!
When Reki nodded, Langa immediately stepped forward into his space and cupped his cheek. They stared at each other for a brief moment that felt much longer, before Langa was leaning in and kissing Reki’s cheek. His lips felt cool against Reki’s face, which was most definitely on fire now. It was only a moment of contact, and then it was over.
“That was okay?” Langa asked, still holding Reki’s face. Reki wordlessly nodded again before ducking down to bury his face in Langa’s chest and wrapping his arms around his waist.
Langa held him again and ran his fingers through Reki’s hair. Reki felt safe, and like he could grow in his own time.
He could get used to this feeling.