Chapter Text
Rikki was going to kill Cleo.
First, Cleo had coerced her into letting her do her hair. Second, she didn’t move any faster when Rikki told her she was going to be late for her date with Zane. And third, Cleo had intricately plaited all her hair, pulling in her fringe and the wispy curls Rikki always left out when she styled her own hair.
She had no choice to leave her hair as it was as she rushed to meet Zane, knowing he was going get on her about being late since she always got on him about it. Rikki was generally impatient, but she especially didn’t like waiting for people because she was always scared that they wouldn’t actually show up.
But there Zane was, waiting for her with his signature smirk on his face. Hopefully, he only got on her about being late and not about how stupid her hair looked.
“Miss ‘what are watches for’ finally makes her grand appearance.”
“Shut up, Zane,” Rikki huffs, shoving him lightly before melting into his open arms and accepting the hello kiss he pressed into her hairline.
“I mean, how can I be mad you’re late when you clearly got all dolled up for little old me,” Zane tells her as they begin to walk down the beach, no real destination in mind.
“Dolled up for you? Try more like fell victim to the trickery of Cleo Sertori.”
“You expect me to believe that Cleo tricked you of all people?” Zane laughs.
“Don’t underestimate Cleo, she can be conniving when she wants to be,” Rikki warns, though the thought of Zane learning that lesson the hard way appealed to her.
“Whatever. Regardless, I like your hair style. You look really pretty,” Zane says, squeezing her hip gently, a signal to Rikki that he was being genuine. She can’t help but blush at his compliment still not used to him giving them, despite how long they’d been dating and how often he liked to do it.
They continue to walk and chatter about their days and Rikki embraces the comfortability that came with being around Zane. She loved the time they spent together. They were so similar that when they clashed, they clashed hard, but when they didn’t, they fit together seamlessly, and Rikki couldn’t think of anything better.
But as they walked, Zane kept looking over at her, thinking he was sneaking these glances. It wasn’t entirely unusual he was looking at her, but he usually was all doe-eyed like he was moonstruck, and right now, she could see the wheels turning in his head, like he was trying to figure something out. And she didn’t like not knowing what he was thinking.
“Why do you keep looking at me, like I’m some type of math problem to figure out?”
“I’m not doing that,” Zane says, even though he looked guilty, clearly thinking that Rikki hadn’t noticed his extra glances, but under her near-pissed glare he finally fesses up to, “Fine, I was trying to figure out what is so different about your hair today.”
“Cleo plaited it, that’s all,” Rikki says, shifting a little uncomfortably, wondering if Zane was going to say what she thought he might.
“No, I was thinking about all the ways you do your hair. And then I figured out why it looks different. Your hair normally covers your ears.”
That was exactly as she feared. Rikki could handle almost all of Zane’s teasing and pushing because she doled it back just as quick, and she even considered it part of their love language. Foreplay even. But she really didn’t want to hear him, her person, tease her about her ears.
Rikki was absolutely going to kill Cleo and she was definitely never going to let her do her hair again. Not wanting to confirm what Zane said, even though it was true, Rikki just starts walking again and feeling for the pins in her hair, aiming to pull them out.
“Rikki, wait. What’s going on? Did I say something wrong?” Zane asks, catching up to her, completely bewildered by her sudden change in attitude.
“Not yet you didn’t, but I know it’s coming.”
“Care to enlighten me on this thing you know I’m going to say, because I’m not following at all. I just said I noticed your hair and then you stormed off.”
“I didn’t storm off,” Rikki says indignantly, toying with the one pin she’d managed to take out, which meant a piece of her hair was probably sticking out like a feather, making her feel worse.
“Well, you didn’t stay put either, so explain,” Zane says, his tone careful, like he didn’t want to push her too hard but was expecting a real answer.
“You were going to tease me about my ears,” Rikki tells him bashfully, not meeting his eyeline. They were trying to be more honest with each other lately, but she didn’t think she could handle if she could see him about to laugh at her.
“Riks, I really wasn’t going to do that,” Zane says, taking the pin ever so gently from Rikki’s hand and tucking her hair feather back into place with more ease than Rikki thought a teenage boy would have. It was endearing and incredibly sweet, but she knew Zane and knew that wasn’t completely true. He would’ve taken the opportunity to tease her. Rikki finally looks up at him and narrows her eyes, letting him know while not fully angry, she didn’t fully believe him.
“Okay, fine yeah, I was going to, but not after I saw your reaction. I know the line Rikki and I never want to be the person who hurts you on purpose,” Zane says softly, his thumb gently caressing her cheek. Damn Zane for being exactly who he was.
“I’ve always covered my ears with my hair. In kindy and prep, that same asshole Erik that I told you about before with the granola bars and my clothes, he taunted me all the time about it. I figured it had to be true, so I got in the habit of wearing my hair different so no one at any new schools I hopped around to could do the same,” Rikki explains, wrapping her arms around Zane’s waist and leaning against his chest. Zane’s arms naturally snake around her, holding her tight, and Rikki relishes in the comfort.
“If it makes you feel any better, I won’t swim or anything without covering up my scar. I didn’t like all the questions people were always asking about it or commenting at all. It’s easier to keep hidden.”
Rikki knew exactly what scar he was talking about that ran from his stomach to the top of his thigh. He’d gotten it from an injury during the car accident that killed his mum. She never put it together why he always wore swim shirts or hopped in the water fully clothed. Because the times that mattered, when it was just the two of them, he didn’t seem to care.
Rikki’s hand subconsciously traces it and tells him, “You’re always fine when it’s just me.”
“That’s because it’s you, and I don’t want to hide from you Rikki.”
“So what I’m hearing is that I’m special?” Rikki asks playfully, happy they had this moment together, even though she had to be vulnerable.
“Yes, you Rikki, are very special to me, your freakish ears and all,” Zane laughs, holding Rikki tighter and mischievously kissing her ear, laughing even more as she half-heartedly attempted to push him away.
“Zane, you’re such an asshole.”
“But you love me anyway.”
“It’s quite unfortunate, but I do,” Rikki says, sneaking her hands to behind his head, pulling Zane down to kiss him properly.
Maybe she wouldn't need to kill Cleo after all.