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Summer nights and skating were perfect to Reki.
He adored them even before he had met Langa. When the only sound he could hear were the wheels of his board clattering against the concrete ground of the skate park. How he could totally immerse himself into his practices. Majority of the times he had first landed a trick it was when he was practicing late at night.
Now, he had Langa with him too. No longer was it just the quiet spinning of the wheels, in fact, he could hardly hear his board most nights. Sure, he got way less practice done, but it was worth it to just talk and laugh with Langa.
The atmosphere always had romantic undertones, to Reki at least. Langa never seemed to notice how Reki could never fully make eye contact, or how he’d always turn away when they’d laugh, or how quickly he would let go to Langa’s drink when handing it to him if their hands brushed ever so slightly. If Langa ever did notice, he never voiced it.
Tonight, though. Everything was beyond perfect. He wished he could pause time and stay in this moment forever. He flipped the tab of his can of soda and took a sip, the fresh bubbles sizzling against his tongue. He looked up towards the dark blue sky, wisps of purple laced throughout it in a way Reki had never seen before. He closed his eyes, listening to the soft ambiance of Langa's board running across every groove in the park. He opened his eyes quickly, though. Can't go making it too obvious you're in love with him, right, Reki? I mean, you could just tell him tonight? It seems the stars have aligned in such a perfect way that it would be a shame to waste such a pretty sight.
He adjusts his sight to the floor, not wanting to remind himself just how nice this night truly was, even though the gentle, warm breeze against his skin was enough to flood his mind with all sorts of romantic one-liners he could start up a conversation with.
He never gets the chance to, because, Reki, ever so deep in thought, fails to notice Langa skate over and sit beside him. Taking his respective drink and cracking it open, he brushes the hair out of his eyes before speaking up.
“Reki?”
By the tone of his voice, he hadn't notice Reki was battling with his brain to not send the message to say something stupidly, yet romantically, cheesy to Langa. He quickly snaps out of it when he hears him.
“Yeah?” He simply enquires back, still staring at the smooth concrete.
“I wouldn't dream this any other way.”
Reki has to stop himself from spitting out his drink. Wow, and he was worried about saying something cheesy? Regardless, he can't hide the stupid grin that appears instantaneously. He breathes out a laugh, “Really?” His voice is higher pitched than he imagined it to be, and he quickly takes a sip of his cold soda to hopefully cool down his now roasting face.
Langa simply nods. Finally taking a sip from his own drink, Reki can see from the corner of his eyes that Langa is looking up at the sky just as he was minutes prior.
“You don't see sights like that in Canada, huh?”
He still manages to sound cheesy, and not even remotely romantic. Thankfully, Langa responds before Reki gets a chance to mentally beat himself up for such a stupid line.
“No. Does the sky normally look like this in summer?”
Reki groans slightly, lowering his head further. “No..” He awkwardly answers. “Just tonight, I dunno. I've never seen anything like it.” His brain can't take it anymore, forcing his head upwards so that his eyes can once again indulge in the pleasant concoction of colours. Despite such a wondrous beauty being cast in front of him to gaze upon, he wanted to look at Langa. He was clenching his fists and pressing his feet into the ground trying to keep his body still. It wasn't helping at all that he could physically feel Langa shifting closer. Finally, Reki forces himself to say something.
“I— Uh. I feel the same.” He pauses. Then realises how that sounds, rapidly following up with, “Like— I wouldn't dream this any other way either.” He lets out a soft sigh, mostly one of relief, however, that relief doesn't last long as his brain now decides to go rouge and start spewing out words before he can properly think about them beforehand. “Tonight is perfect, Langa.”
The extra addition of saying his name at the end all but kills Reki. Just the way he says Langa’s name all but screams that he's very clearly, painfully obviously, hopelessly, sickly, in love with him.
Langa hums in agreement, “It's warm.” Reki can't help but laugh. Is that what he thinks he means. “Yeah, but, more than that.” Reki, jesus, you might as well give him a whole one man show displaying all of your feelings for him in great detail.
Langa doesn't pick up on what Reki is trying to say, turning to face Reki and tilting head. Reki instinctively moves his head to stare back at him, and that makes everything so much worse.
He could finally get a look at Langa under the hazy light for the first time. Reki isn't sure what it is, it could've been the way his soft blue hair reflected against the harsh light of the lamppost and the juxtaposition of the dark blue night, the way his soft skin made him look ghostly - ethereal, even - with his confused expression staring Reki down, the way his eyes literally shimmer when he sees something that amazes him. - Reki wonders if his own eyes sometimes did this too, if they did, they would be shining just looking at Langa right now - It's most likely a combination of all of them, whatever it was it solidified in Reki’s mind that he definitely was in love with his best friend. Though, you didn't need me to tell you that, I’m sure.
All he can do is stare at him, he gets so distracted by Langa’s stupidly pretty face and contemplating how someone like Langa is allowed to exist that he doesn't even notice when his mouth falls slightly agape and he barely registers the words that slip out of his mouth in a breathy whisper, “Per..fect..” He blinks once, then twice, “Uhh..” He mutters out, louder than before but more alike to if he was muttering to himself. Luckily, it seems Langa didn't hear his whisper.
“What did you say?” He softly asks, voice lower than it needs to be, and practically killing Reki. Langa had described to Reki how his heart raced when he skated - coincidentally, leaving out the part where that only applies if Reki is skating with him. - and Reki only can assume that he is feeling that same thing right now, as they both sit perfectly still, not on their skateboards, whispering to each other for literally no reason.
Reki clears his throat, ready to completely dismiss everything prior and shove away the thumping of his heart, but as he moves to turn away he catches a glimpse of the sky, and as a particularly heavy gust of wind knocks down his now empty can, he can't deny that fate has handed him a perfect confession on a silver platter, and he just needs to take the bite.
“Uh—” Of course, now his throat closes up, this was never going to be as romantic as Reki pictured in his head, - but there was a lot that Reki pictured in his head - he still could try and make it work though.
“What do you mean by ‘more than that?’” Langa cuts Reki off before he gets a chance to speak, turning his attention back to the sky.
The silver plater was a sparking diamond at this point. Everything aligned too perfectly, wait, fuck, was Reki dreaming? Oh, reallll funny, dream. Come on, you can wake up now.. No? No, okay, Reki supposes he can humour this dream for just a little while longer, until he inevitably wakes up.
“I mean, like, everything! Everything that has led up to this moment.” He playfully knocks his shoulder against Langa’s, and then tries to ignore how goddamn real this feels. This shouldn't feel real, right? Reki still doesn't believe this is real.
“I wouldn't dream this any other way..” Reki repeats, mostly to himself with a slight chuckle on the end of it, Langa for sure heard him this time, Reki didn't mind, dream-Langa could listen to him pour his heart out in the awkwardest way, it wasn't like anything was gonna change as soon as his alarm goes off.
“I don't think I could dream this any other way. I mean, I know I can't. It's like, this is everything I wanted, sort of, I was expecting us to hold hands or something by this point. Damn, my mind is cruel, making me think all of this is real.. I almost believed it too.”
“Reki, what are you talking about?”
Something about Langa's amused yet concerned voice made something in Reki’s brain snap back into place and really wake him up. He. Wasn't. Dreaming.
“I mean! I’m, like, really tired, dude. Hey, maybe we should head back now? Cool? Yeah, cool! I’ll— uh— See you tomorro..”
Reki trails off, just as he gets ready to bounce up and grab his board so he can get home and scream into his pillow, Langa grabs his arm and forces him to stay seated. It’s an uncomfortable grab, especially since there was a conveniently placed bruised right where Langa was digging his fingers into. Reki attempted not to wince but he figured this wasn't going to hurt nearly as much as the conversation he was going to have to sit through.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Great! Yeah, just.. really tired.”
“Reki.”
He sighs. He didn't want to waste the night. If this was real and he wasn't dreaming (he was still only 85% sure he wasn't dreaming) then something in the air truly was trying to force this confession out of him for some reason, that's a good sign, right?
“Langa—”
“Wait. Did you say we would be holding hands?”
“LANGA!! We— No— I— Ugh. Okay. I did say that, but let me explain,”
“Should we be holding hands for this?”
Before Reki can respond Langa has already outstretched a palm. Reki looks at it, then to Langa's blank expression. It's embarrassing, but he really wants to, so, he wipes his hand on his trousers - God, it's not that warm out here, there is no reason for his hand to be that sweaty. - and intertwines it with Langa’s. Langa's hand is cold, like usual, and it works wonders in cooling Reki down and stabilises his breathing just slightly, only if he ignores the fact he's holding Langa's hand and just on the fact that it is cold.
“This is stupid..” Reki mumbles, before loudly, and finally, saying what's been on his mind the past couple months.
“You're perfect. It's stupid, it's all so stupid. I can't— You deserve to know this Langa.”
His squeeze on Langa’s hand slowly tightens with every word until he's gripping like his hand will fall off if he lets go.
Langa doesn't say anything, Reki feels time slow down as he waits for him to say or do literally anything. Reki feels the hold that Langa has on his hand lessen slightly and he makes an effort to not show on his face how his heart completely shatters. He doesn't get time to process anything, however, as suddenly Langa throws his hand to the side, forcing his body to turn and face Reki, whilst also forcing Reki's hand to let go of his out of pure shock. Langa, with both hands now free, takes them to cupping Reki’s face and pulling him in for a kiss.
Reki almost screams, he doesn't, but he does pull away instantly and gasp abnormally loud. Langa can't help but laugh and he feels Reki raise his hands and gently place them over Langa's. Langa tries again, this time slowly inching closer to Reki, who still hasn't fully recovered from the first kiss but is very eager to let the second one come to him.
It's awkward but sweet, their mouths clash in a way that clearly demonstrated both of their inexperience. Reki didn't really care, as long as it was Langa he was kissing it was perfect.
With hands intertwined, and their boards in the other, they finally begin to leave the skate park.
“So, you don't think you could've dreamt that any other way?”
“Shut up..”