Work Text:
The sun, a blazing inferno, amplified by the recent fleeting rain, shimmered off the distant rainbow from the damp concrete road. Its brilliant shine caught Reki's eyes as he held onto Langa's shoulders, completely ignoring the slight dampness clinging onto their clothes, the comfortable press of their bodies as they neared the convenience store. Just a little further , Reki thought, then, ice cream!
Despite the lingering promise of cold, sweet ice cream, he still couldn't shake the sting of losing Karuta against Miya and his devilishly clever little sister! They were an unholy alliance! How did they even come up with those strategies from the moment they met? He cant get over it, thinking over what an unlikely and evil pair they made.
A shiver ran down his spine, not just from the rain.
Right now, what mattered most was the simple, undeniable contentment of being close to Langa, his head resting loosely on his, utterly carefree. He mused over his warmth, like a walking heater. He could stay like this forever, if he could.
As they approached the convenience store, Langa stopped and lowered Reki from his back. Reki made a funny noise as he landed on his feet, stretching to destress his body from the piggyback, ‘Woah! We made it! Now, mission for today; get my annoying sister her victory soda ice cream. And us, obviously.’ He nudged Langa’s arm with a warm smile, hoping he’ll also want the same too.
‘Hmm... I want to get a burger!’ said Langa excitedly, his eyes mysteriously sparking. A hamburger? Seriously? Reki's smile faltered slightly.
‘Dude, it’s way too hot for a burger!’ They walked through the detached doors, the fresh wind of the air conditioner hitting them. The store was pretty much empty, probably because of the earlier weather. Perfect, thought Reki, more options for us!
Operation Hidden Ice Cream is a go! he told himself, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. ‘Let’s get a huge tub of ice cream, just for you and me! We just can’t let Miya or Koyomi know about it.’
They walked through the familiar aisles, straight towards the ice cream section. Reki noticed Langa lagging behind, a clear pout on his face. He’s still sulking about the burger, Reki thought, sighing internally. He knew Langa's guilt trips were a dangerous weakness, one he consistently fell prey to.
Reki mentally groaned. It’s not his fault he looks so… adorable right now. Langa's soaked state from the earlier rain only amplified the effect, making him seem small and impossibly sweet. And then it hit him—Langa was wearing one of his shirts. Oh, God! Reki’s inner voice screamed. He's playing dirty.
This is a disaster. I'm doomed.
Reki sighed, scratching the back of his head in early defeat, ‘Alright, alright. We’ll get you a burger.’ He knew he was a pushover, but Langa's happiness was worth it, wasn't it?
Langa’s eyes widened in glee, his smile a warm and sweet sight, a sight Reki was hopelessly addicted to. Damn it, he's too cute , Reki thought, his heart doing a ridiculous little flip. How does he do that?
It was moments like these that Reki enjoyed the most—him and Langa simply being, getting ice cream (and burgers now, apparently), debating flavors and discussing new skateboard tricks they wanted to try out. Just us, a quiet warmth spreading through him. Moments of bliss, uninterrupted, just them. He was starting to appreciate the fact that they'd lost the game now.
Nowadays, their quiet intimacy was a rare and treasured thing. Too rare, thought Reki, a slight frown creasing his brow. When Langa usually came over, his sisters would bombard them with games and questions, an endless barrage that stretched into what felt like hours. Langa, bless his oblivious soul, didn't seem to mind. He’d even developed a strange sixth sense, freezing in place and announcing, ‘They’re here,’ with a distant, almost haunted look. It was funny... at first.
Then, it had devolved into a routine, a predictable pattern Reki was starting to dread. He loved his sisters, truly! But sometimes, just sometimes, he just wanted to hang out with his best friend.
A best friend he found endearing and sweet and cute and, uh… his crush, a secret he’d take to his grave.
Reki’s cheeks flushed internally.
After checking out with the cashier, their precious goodies clutched in hand, they left the supermarket with warm smiles. The sun, a brimming presence, beat down on them as they started the trek back to Reki’s house. The neighborhood was stirring, coming alive under the revitalized sun, with people emerging in light, summery clothes. Reki mused over their skateboards, thinking how perfect it would be to skate under the scorching sun.
He'll ask Langa when they get back.
Melted ice cream would be a tragedy, declared Reki, urgency sparking in his steps. Knowing the potential for culinary disaster, they broke into a run.
‘Race ya!’ Reki called out, already sprinting up the godforsaken hill. He needed the head start.
‘Wah! No way!’ Langa exclaimed, hastily folding the paper around his half-eaten burger, and then he was right behind him, a determined glint in his eyes. He was surprisingly fast, Reki thought, a grin spreading across his face.
This was going to be fun.
-
Finally, in a matter of breathless minutes, they reached Reki’s house.
Reki’s chest felt like it was being wrung out dry, a painful squeeze as he clutched his knees, gasping for air. He was definitely out of shape, a wave of dizziness washing over him. Langa, however, stood upright, hands on his hips, also panting, but with a far more composed air. Of course he’s not even that tired, Reki grumbled inwardly.
‘No fair!’ Reki rasped, pointing to himself with a shaky thumb. ‘I was carrying the ice cream!’
Langa chuckled, a light blush on his cheeks giving him a radiant glow. He almost looked smug, but the sight was… undeniably charming. ‘You wanted a race, Reki. I simply won.’
Reki huffed, leaning back with a dramatic frown. ‘Ah, yeah. You’re right… Skateboard later?’ He needed a rematch, something where he had the edge.
‘Definitely.’
‘I’ll win.’
Langa chuckled, ‘I'm sure you will.’
‘I will! You’ll see!’
He could feel his competitive spirit rising, fueled by exhaustion and a stubborn refusal to lose.
They entered the warm house, familiar voices bouncing off the walls, a comforting welcome.
The rest of their afternoon breezed by in blissful contentment. Himself, Langa, Miya, and his sisters were all huddled around the family fan, their hair pulled back with one of Reki’s many hair bands. The ice cream, thankfully, hadn't completely melted, despite Koyomi’s initial complaints. But while the others were distracted by their treats, Reki quickly slipped his and Langa’s enormous ice cream bucket into the freezer, just barely squeezing it in.
Operation Hidden Ice Cream: Success! he thought with a triumphant grin.
They continued their games, a fantasy RPG with three characters that look suspiciously familiar, and playful mishaps until the sun began to dim. Miya rose from his cross-legged position in front of the television, announcing that he should probably head home before it got too dark.
‘Oh, you have to go?’ asked Koyomi, her voice laced with disappointment. Reki’s ears perked up from the screen.
Miya stretched with a sigh, ‘Yep. I have a test tomorrow, so I should probably look over my notes. But um…’ He awkwardly shuffled his hands, looking away, ‘I... had a lot of fun.’
Reki realized he was blushing, a rare display of shyness, even for the usually composed Miya.
Reki’s sisters cooed, Koyomi especially, smiling knowingly at Miya’s words. Reki, ever the dramatic storyteller, placed a hand over his heart and pretended to weep. ‘Oh, Miya! No need to thank your amazing host!’ He then pretended to blow his nose into his shirt, sending his younger sisters into a giggly fit, also making Langa giggle beside him at the over-the-top display.
‘Yeeaah, sure, whatever, dude.’ Miya stated blankly, grabbing his skateboard and belongings. He said his goodbyes and started heading for the door, before Koyomi insisted on walking him out.
Reki perked up then, leaning backwards on the couch towards the door to eavesdrop on his sister and friend’s hushed conversation. Langa noticed this and casually leaned on his shoulder to see what was happening. ‘They seem to get on well,’ he whispered.
‘Eh?’ Reki said, startled by Langa’s closeness. Yes, he was used to them being close, but not this close, where Langa was practically laying on him. It made Reki’s body acutely aware of itself, a heat rising on his cheeks. ‘U-uh, well, I suppose so. But I don’t like it!’ Reki whispered back, being the protective brother.
‘I think they’d be sweet together,’ Langa finished, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
‘You kidding? That’s my sister , dude! If he tries anything, I swear I’ll—’
Koyomi walked back into the room, a definite blush tinting her face. She leaned against the side wall with a dreamy smile. ‘Miya is so cool! He was telling me how he really enjoyed hanging out today! So I said he can come over whenever he wants to!’ She was practically beaming at this point, making Reki squint his eyes at his sister.
‘Uh, since when the hell are you inviting my friends over, Koyomi?’ asked Reki.
‘Since now,’ she smiled. ‘Besides, Langa practically lives here, and I don’t need to say anything about that. Anyways, I’m going to my room. Bye!’ She swiftly left, skipping on her tippy toes as she headed to her room.
Reki’s curiosity spiked. What else did they talk about? He better not try anything. Anything at all!
‘Psh,’ he huffed.
Beside him, Reki could feel Langa’s weight, a casual drape that sent a familiar warmth spreading through him. Langa chuckled, seemingly amused by Reki’s visible dismay. Was he still this close? Reki’s heartbeat quickened, a subtle flutter he tried to ignore, reeling from the way Langa seemed completely unfazed by their proximity. He's so oblivious , he thought, a mix of fondness and frustration swirling inside of him.
Eventually, Reki’s mother walked into the living room, ushering his two younger sisters towards their bedrooms, preparing them for the night. Which meant that Reki and Langa had to get up from the couch so his mum could watch the television.
‘Wanna head out to skate?’ asked Reki, eager to dispel the lingering awkwardness. Langa, usually the embodiment of skate-enthusiasm, surprised him with a shake of his head.
‘Huh? Since when do you not wanna skate? We said we would.’ Reki pressed, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
‘I know, I just feel really sleepy,’ Langa replied, his voice soft.
‘Wanna crash at mine for tonight, then?’ Reki offered, trying to hide the eagerness in his tone.
‘Can I?’ he asked, his eyes lighting up slightly.
‘Of course! One thing my sisters are right about, you practically live here. And besides, my mum won’t mind! Watch!’ Reki called out to his mother, who appeared around the corner with a warm smile.
‘Yeah?’ she asked.
‘Can Langa stay over tonight?’
‘Sure he can! Does his mother know?’
‘Not yet. Just wanted to prove a point,’ Reki admitted, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
‘Oh,’ she chuckled, shaking her head. ‘Then make sure his mother knows where he is! Sleep tight, boys.’ She disappeared down the hallway.
‘Huh,’ said Langa, a hint of surprise in his voice. ‘That easy, huh?’
‘That easy,’ confirmed Reki, a small, satisfied smile playing on his lips. Perfect.
They got ready for the night, Langa texting his mom to let her know where he was. True to form, she was happy to know he was safe and confirmed she’d see him tomorrow. As much as Reki had craved a skate session with Langa, he realized that simply doing nothing but hanging out, like they had earlier, was exactly what he needed. A sanctuary, a place to escape from everyone and everything. Just them.
They retrieved the bucket-sized ice cream and settled around Reki’s laptop, diving into a chaotic mix of YouTube clips—from skateboarding fails to surprisingly engaging essay videos on the state of the world. They were entirely invested and utterly exhausted, simultaneously hating and loving the planet in equal measure. Gradually, Langa began leaning into Reki again, their arms brushing, then pressing together as he leaned further. It took Reki a moment to fully register the closeness, but then Langa suddenly felt so near that he could feel the vibrations of his voice resonate against his own body. Too close, Reki thought, his own heart doing a strange little dance.
‘You feeling sleepy?’ asked Reki, his voice soft.
It took Langa a moment to process the question, his eyes half-lidded, his body continuing to lean, almost of its own accord. Without a word, he simply nodded.
‘Alright,’ he murmured, shutting down his laptop and setting it aside. He slid under the covers, pulling the sleepy Langa with him.
They bundled themselves under the duvet, lying side by side. It was a familiar routine, something they did with an easy, unthinking naturalness. Back then, the first time they'd shared a bed, it hadn't stirred anything in him. It was simply what he did during sleepovers with any friend. And the thought of making someone sleep on the floor always made him feel vaguely guilty. So, when Langa began staying over more frequently, sharing his bed hadn't felt awkward or strange.
Until, of course, Reki’s feelings for Langa had shifted in the last few weeks.
It was complicated, a tangled knot of feelings Reki couldn't quite unravel. But Langa, bless his oblivious heart, never questioned, never pushed. And now, lying beside him once again, a profound longing, a raw, almost primal instinct, held Reki captive. He wanted to hold Langa close, to anchor him after a day of social whirlwind and an obscene amount of ice cream. Just being with Langa, outside the adrenaline rush of skateboarding, felt intensely, achingly intimate.
And at this point, Reki wasn’t complaining. Not even close.
After a few moments, the day's weariness finally crashed over Reki, his eyelids fluttering shut. Just as he drifted, a gentle hand clasped his arm, a light shake pulling him back to consciousness. ‘Hm?’ he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.
‘I had fun today,’ Langa said, his voice soft, almost a whisper.
‘You did?’ Reki murmured back, his own voice barely audible.
‘Hm. I did,’ Langa yawned, a small, contented sound. ‘It’s always a fun day with you.’
Reki’s smile bloomed, a warm, radiant thing that filled his chest with a familiar, almost painful fondness. ‘Heh. That’s good to hear.’
By the dim, ethereal glow filtering through his window, Reki could see Langa’s small, serene smile. It was a smile that held the warmth of a thousand suns, a smile that made Reki’s heart ache with a longing he couldn’t name.
‘Night, Reki.’
‘G’night.’
From the unexpected rain to the cunning cat, from the sugary rush of soda ice cream to the quiet intimacy of the convenience store, this was Reki’s best place. No. It was more than that. This was his favorite place. This, right here, with Langa.
For infinity.