Work Text:
Three years.
Its been three years since that first kiss.
Three years of being happier than he ever has been. three years having reki as a lover rather than just a friend.
Ever since that first kiss, Langa knew Reki was the one. Once he tasted Reki he knew for a fact that nothing else would taste as good. He may have been only 17 then, but now he was 20, and still as sure as ever.
The past three years have been a dream. Skating around Okinawa with Joe, Cherry, Miya, Shadow, and of course, Reki. Langa wouldnt have it any other way.
Reki and Langa had been able to go public about their relationship, Langas mom being very supportive. It took rekis parents a while to come around, but now they love langa more than ever.
Thats why Langa knew it was time. He was certain of it.
He had a plan, a great one, but couldnt execute it without inside help. He confided in Cherry, who had grown to be a close friend and father figure to langa.
“Cherry, I need your help.”
“Hm? with what?”
“I want to propose.”
Cherry let out a small gasp, trying to contain himself and keep his demure appearance.
“To Reki? Already?”
“Yeah.. i know it sounds crazy but i cant stop thinking about it and i.. i have to. i know hes the one”
Langa seemed so sincere that it was impossible for Cherry to come up with a mature excuse on why he shouldnt.
“Well then.. of course ill help you.”
Langas smile grew wider in an instant. Fuck, he was really doing it.
-One month later-
Its a warm August night in Okinawa. Reki and Langa drive to S on the same electric bike they always did. They could both drive cars now, but this was better. Langa drove while reki held on tight from behind, his head on Langa’s shoulder. It was like any other night at S, at least, thats what Reki thought.
He sat there completely unaware of the ring in his boyfriends pants pocket, of how Langas heart hasnt slowed for a second all week.
When they arrive at S around 11pm, Cherry is there, the only other person aware of what tonight would hold. He locked eyes and smiled at Langa the second he saw him.
Miya was there too, playing a game on his phone like always. He was 16 now, a proper teenager. He’s far more mature now, though he never lost that iconic attitude or style of his. Langa cant help but smile thinking of how he will react.
Joe and Shadow thankfully arrive soon, giving Langa time to talk to Cherry in private.
“Is everything ready? Are you sure its all gonna work because i-“
“Langa. Breathe. Its all set up, everythings gonna work exactly how we planned. Just relax, its gonna be perfect.”
Langa let out a small nervous laugh
“Right.. sorry.. im just so nervous”
“I know.. of course you are, its okay. Lets go, Reki will notice if you’re gone too long”
Langa did everything he could to calm his nerves, taking deep breathes while fiddling with the small box in his pocket. Fuck. This was actually happening. He and Cherry rejoin the group right before a beef starts. Reki spots langa instantly, as if hes been looking for him.
“Langa! where have you been?”
Langa cant hide his anxiety.
“Ah- just with Cherry.. yknow..”
Reki furrowed his brow, grabbing one of langas gloved hands
“Are you alright? you seem.. tense?”
Everyone knew Langas always struggled with anxiety, so seeing him like this wasnt a dead giveaway that something was happening tonight.
“I.. im okay, yeah. dont worry about it love..”
“Alright..if you start feeling worse come get me okay?”
“Of course.. thanks Reki”
An few average beefs happens before Langa asks Reki if he wants to race him before the night ends. Obviously, Reki agrees, happy to skate with Langa whether its just in the street or on the big screens of S.
This was it. By the end of this, hopefully, they’d be engaged. Cherry whispers something in Langas ear as they walk up to the start line, but Reki doesnt think much of it.
“Just breathe Langa.”
Cherry pats the boy on the back, sending him off to the race.
Reki and Langa lock eyes at the start line, both holding their skateboards up under one foot, ready to go the second the light turns green. Over the past few years, the feeling of competition between them died down. When Reki watched Langa skate it wasnt a look of jealousy or self deprecation, but rather a look of pure admiration, of love.
“Ready?”
Reki asks, the same glisten in his eye he always has when he looks at Langa. Langa just nods. Truthfully, he wasnt. He didnt know if his plan would work, if Reki would even say yes (though logically, langa knew he would). Before Langa has time to get in his head about all this, the lights start blinking.
3…
2..
1…
The boys take off as usual, the crowd cheering, completely unaware. Langa tried to just skate, but he was clearly not performing his best, not that he really cared right now. Reki looked back at Langa, who had fallen behind him already.
“Cmon Langa! At least try!”
Reki laughed as he shouted to Langa. He really was so blissfully ignorant it was cute. Langa touched his side to make sure the ring was still in his pocket before speeding up.
Meanwhile, Joe and Cherry stand close together, watching the two race on the screens above.
“Whats wrong with Langa? He seems.. off?”
Joe comments, pointing to his tense posture and unusually sloppy performance.
“Ah.. dont worry about him, just wait for it”
Cherry smiles, his eyes not leaving the screen
“What? Kaoru, what the fuck are you doing?”
“Just wait.”
Back on the track, Langa tries his best to skate normally, still going over exactly what he wants to say in his head. As they make it to the warehouse, the finish line in sight, Langas still a few feet behind Reki, and decides to just let him win.
The crowd cheers as the two cross the finish line, langa very shortly after Reki. Honestly, Langas always been a faster skater than Reki, so the fact he was able to beat him so easily make Reki a little suspicious. He figured Langa was just letting him win, something he did more often than he should.
Reki turns back to meet Langa with a smile and a dap like always. Just because they were a couple didnt mean they didnt do simple friend things like handshakes anymore.
“Langa, youre off your game tonight”
He says, no ill intention behind his words, connecting their fists
“Ah I know.. Ive been distracted”
“What do you mean?”
Langa puts an arm around Rekis back, turning and pointing to the big screen above the finish line with a shaky hand.
Will you marry me?
The crowd gasps. Reki just stares for a second, his mind flooded with a million thoughts but not able to express a single one of them. Was this actually happening?
“Langa..”
He turns to look at Langa, whos suddenly holding a small red box in his hand. He smiles down at Reki, feeling anxious at Rekis confused expression.
“Reki.. Ive been meaning to ask you this for a while..”
Oh my god. this was actually happening? Reki couldnt form a sentence. What?! Langa was actually proposing?
“Langa oh my god..” He looks back and forth between the box and langas eyes.
“I know we’re young.. but ever since i met you i knew.. i knew that i never wanted to have to live in a world without you again..”
Rekis hand involuntarily went to cover his agape mouth. Reki wanted to speak, to just say something, but he couldnt. Langa pushed through all his fear and kept going.
“Reki.. i.. Im never happier than when im with you. As stupid as it sounds you really do complete me..and..”
“Langa.” is all Reki can manage to say
Langa shakily opens the box to reveal a silver band ring, the metal engraved with a small infinity sign in the middle.
“and we.. we promised to “skate together infinitely”.. so.. will you please, keep that promise.. and marry me.”
Langas hands shake and his mind swirls at Rekis silence.. until finally.
Reki takes his hand away from his mouth, his eyes glistening with tears but a smile on his face.
“I- oh my fucking g- Yes! Yes, obviously yes!”
Before Langa can reply, Rekis arms are around him, holding him tighter than ever before. He pulls away after a few seconds to meet langa face to face and kiss him.
Meanwhile, in the crowd…
Joe is screaming both out of excitement and anger at cherry for not telling him sooner
“OH MY GOD?! KAORU HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME!”
Cherry just stood there with a smile on his face, more proud of langa than anything
“Langa came to ME with this, i promised him”
“Still! what the fuck? this- holy shit!”
He was far too shocked to really make an argument, Joe just grabbed Cherry by the arm and dragged him through the crowd, going to find Reki and Langa.
Shadow was off celebrating already, screaming and making a fuss, while Miya stood there mostly in shock, but filled with so much emotion that he didnt even know how to express. These were his best friends, getting married. He always wanted to cry, but he didnt, just walked, silently with a hand over his open mouth, behind Cherry to find the two boys.
The three of them push through the loud surprised crowd until they come to the opening around the finish line where Reki and Langa were still standing.
Langa pulled away from their kiss after a little while, a bigger smile on his face than most people have ever seen.
“Reki, here.”
He took Rekis hand and put the ring on his finger before taking his glove off to put a matching one on himself.
“This is so.. so perfect langa.. I love you. oh my fucking god i love you.”
Reki wiped a tear from his eye and hugged Langa again.
Just then, Joe ran up to them, grabbing both boys by the shoulder as they separated.
“Langa! why didnt you tell me! im so happy for you two what the hell?!”
Joe rambled on with his mixed emotions for a while while Miya approached then with a look of such overwhelming excitement that he almost seemed sad.
“You guys.. youre..”
With an energetic smile, Reki grabbed the smaller boy and hugged him.
“I know! Miya im so fucking happy!”
Miya smiled with a single tear in his eye, hugging Reki back and smiling over at Langa.
“Yeah. Me too Reki.. im so so happy for you..”
Cherry got a hold of Langa, even with Joes rambling still happening.
“Langa, i really am proud of you.”
“Thank you.. thank you Cherry.. really.”
Cherry gave him a fatherly nod of approval and a pat on the back right before Miya came over with Reki to formally congratulate them.
After the initial shock wore off, the group lingered there for a while, explaining and planning for the future. As S emptied, The group slowly made their way back to the entrance where their cars and motorcycles were still waiting. Reki held langa back a little longer after everyone left.
“Langa.. I dont even know how to say what i want to right now.. this is all just so.. so crazy? you know?”
“Yeah.. i know.“ Langa sighed. “And i know what you’re thinking..”
“Oh.. yeah..” Reki sighed, looking down and playing with the new ring on his finger before speaking again;
“Its just.. we dont know how long it’ll be until we even can get married for real..”
Same sex marriage has never been legal in their country. Langa grabbed Rekis hand, causing him to look up and meet Langas gaze.
“I know.. but.. im willing to wait for that.. i just couldnt wait any longer to ask you..”
Reki couldnt help but smile at the sweetness of the boys words. He nodded and spoke;
“Yeah.. okay.. im willing to wait..as long as its with you.”
“Are you sure? because if not i-“
Reki cut him off
“Im sure.”
Reki spoke with such certainty, running his thumb over the engraving on langas ring. Infinitely. He’d wait infinitely if i meant he had a chance at a life with this boy.