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The sticky-sweet summer air makes Gokuraku's clothes stick to his skin. He's watching Ichi drop in and out of the bowl hitting the same tail slide each time- sliding across the lip of the bowl for longer and longer periods of time- trying to perfect it. Gokuraku doesn't mind watching, letting his feet dangle as he rests his elbows on his knees and his chin in the cradle of his intertwined fingers.
There are a few other skaters in the park, chatting in a group around some stairs as they take a break from the heat, passing a joint between themselves. He knows them, vaguely, but his attention is drawn back to Ichi as he slams into the concrete painfully loud.
Gokuraku grimaces and slips into the bowl to check in on his friend, picking up Ichi's board on his way to where he's already sitting up. His face looks intact as he smiles up at Gokuraku, taking the hand he offers and letting himself be pulled into a standing position. There's a new scrape on his knees and elbow from the fall. Gokuraku doesn't understand why Ichi wears those jeans skating- there's so many holes it does nothing to protect him.
"I shoulda bailed," Ichi bemoans, the smile on his face betrays his sincerity, "Dess is gonna kill me, dude."
"She's, like, always trying to kill you, Icchan."
Gokuraku passes Ichi's board back to him, fingers brushing as they make the exchange. Ichi doesn't pull away quickly, just stands there holding the board with Gokuraku, seemingly not in any hurry to get back to what he was doing before. He wonders if Ichi hit his head or something and lets him linger, waiting several seconds before clearing his throat and letting go of the board.
(He still remembers that time Ichi got a concussion and he couldn't be handed things without dropping them for a week. Gokuraku had made the mistake once and it ended with a broken bowl and cereal splattered on the floor.)
"You gonna try another run? I think the guys over there-" Gokuraku points at the group, who see and wave and holler at the attention "-were saying something about wanting to see what you were 'putting together' or whatever."
"I'm, like, never putting anything together," Ichi says, a little loud to address the guys behind Gokuraku. "I definitely don't think that far ahead. Messes with my flow."
"Riiight."
Gokuraku laughs shaking his head and moves to pull himself out of the bowl, they're in a deeper part, but he's got enough height to manage to get out without putting in too much effort. Ichi follows him, jogging towards the wall and tossing his board so it bounces and rolls on the concrete before grabbing the lip and pulling himself up and over.
Ichi pulls at the collar of his shirt and uses it to wipe the sweat from his brow; Gokuraku take the opportunity to ogle at the thin strip of skin that shows. His skin is tanned from days spent outside and Gokuraku imagines how it would feel to touch Ichi- would his skin be soft? What would the flex of his abs feel like under Gokuraku's palms?
Ichi announces that it'll be his last run for the day and pushes off quickly, gaining momentum before popping an ollie into a successful tail grind on the curve of the bowl before finally dropping in. Gokuraku vaguely knows what's going on from years of being Ichi's friend- he's seen countless X-games highlights and clips from Thrasher and old skateboarding movies, and yet, every time he sees Ichi skate he can't help but marvel at something he really doesn't understand.
He's skateboarded before, cruised down the boardwalk on a longboard trailing casually behind Ichi as he flies ahead practicing tricks while weaving through people. Gokuraku knows enough to understand Ichi is good- better than good- he could be a professional if he wanted.
Ichi rides through the bottom of the bowl, gaining momentum before curving up with the ramp and flying into the air, spinning as he does so. He nails what Gokuraku thinks is a nose grab and based on the excited cheers from the group watching it's a cool trick. Ichi keeps his flow, flying up another wall to land a kickflip before moving to try out a 50-50 grind against a straighter part of the bowl that makes his trucks shake so much Gokuraku thinks they're going to snap clean off his board.
He looks beautiful.
Ichi manages several more seconds- finishing his line with a sketchy backside stalefish before the board slips out from under his feet upon landing. Ichi laughs as he slides down the wall to chase after his board. The noisy tap-tap-tap of metal trucks on concrete signifies that the other skaters enjoyed the show despite the failed ending.
Ichi runs up to him, board in hand, with a shine in his eye.
"Gokuraku, did you see that nose grab 360 I did-" Gokuraku nods along, he thinks he knows which trick that was "-I, like, totally have that on lock now."
"You looked real cool, Icchan," Gokuraku compliments, slinging his arm around his shoulders in a half-hug.
"And that 50-50 was sooo sketchy I thought I was gonna have to bail," Ichi continues excitedly as he lets Gokuraku lead him out of the park. "I think I could have landed that last stalefish, but I was going, like, wayyy too fast, I shoulda spun or something, dude, I totally had enough air time."
Gokuraku nods and waves bye to the guys as Ichi throws his board in the backseat of Gokuraku's fancy convertible- courtesy of his dad- and jumps into the passenger seat. Gokuraku rolls his eyes and opens his door to get in his car like a normal person.
"Burgers or is it a family dinner kinda night?" Gokuraku asks as he turns his keys in the ignition, appreciating the smooth purr of his engine starting.
"Burgers, but I gotta get food for Dess cause she's working late and, like, she is so not gonna want to cook," Ichi explains bucking his seatbelt.
Gokuraku hums and lets Ichi fiddle with his radio as he peels out of the parking lot. The intro to "Lounge Fly" blares through his speakers when Ichi switches to the output to whatever CD he put on earlier. Ichi turns the volume up to ear splitting levels as Gokuraku speeds though the streets towards their go-to diner.
He flies through a handful of yellow lights and just narrowly avoids hitting a bird picking at some garbage in the middle of the street. Ichi, used to his reckless driving, just nods along to the music. Gokuraku splits his attention between the road and watching Ichi bob his head to the music as the wind whips his hair out of his face.
They turn into the parking lot and Gokuraku swerves into the first open space he sees, keeping his car idle as the last minute or so of "Silvergun Superman" plays out. He and Ichi rock out and "play" along with air instruments. When the last drums sound out he turns off his car and pulls the keys out of the ignition.
Ichi jumps out before Gokuraku and races to the door, an unspoken rule that whoever gets in last pays (Gokuraku always walks in last unless Desscaras is there, just to annoy her). Kumugi is working today, he can see her from the window- her bright green hair flies as she turns around to greet Ichi.
He pushes through the glass doors and sighs in relief as the cold air conditioning hits his skin. Ichi is talking with Kumugi where he sits at the bar, leaning over so he's in her space. A pang of jealously resonates through Gokuraku and he sits in the stool next to Ichi. His knees hit the bottom of the bar.
Gokuraku leans into Ichi and grins at Kumugi. "What's up, Mugi?" Gokuraku asks, interrupting Ichi's story about how he scraped his knee earlier.
"I want to go home," Kumugi complains, idly drawing circles on her ticket pad with her bedazzled pen.
Gokuraku and Ichi hum in sympathy. "You off soon?" Ichi asks, playing with the kandi bracelets around Gokuraku's wrists; Gokuraku lets Ichi slip a few off to wear himself.
"In, like, three hours. I'm going to cry if anyone else walks through those doors." Kumugi clicks her pen against the counter a few times, then asks, "the usual?"
They both agree and Kumugi writes their ticket so she can give it to the kitchen. Gokuraku can already hear and smell burgers cooking but Kumugi is nothing if not thorough. She gets them their drinks while telling them about the group of high school kids she served earlier that made her want to rip her hair out.
It doesn't take long for the cook to set their burgers out and ring the bell. Kumugi drops their plates off and disappears to check on the other two tables she has. No more than three bites in, Ichi's phone rings, blaring some Spice Girls song that he knows means Desscaras is calling.
Ichi steps out to talk to her out of respect to the other patrons because they always end up yelling at each other over something- they don't necessarily argue, but they do get loud. Kumugi comes back and raises a brow at Gokuraku.
"So, like..." Kumugi prompts- waving her pen in the air like a conductor- trailing off to look between Gokuraku and Ichi. "I know you keep telling me soon, but you've been saying it for-" Kumugi counts out four fingers "-like, almost four months now?"
Gokuraku scoffs, twisting his fries in ketchup as he tries to avoid eye contact. "You calling me a coward?"
"No... Yes- well, not necessarily." Kumugi says slowly. "I'm just saying, you've been putting it off for ages. He likes you."
Gokuraku drops his fries and runs his hand through his hair, pushing his bangs out of the way. "Icchan's not into me like that."
Kumugi opens her mouth to object, but the bell on the door rings signaling Ichi's return to the diner effectively cutting their conversation short. Ichi plops back down into the barstool next to Gokuraku and takes a bite of his food.
"Dess says 'hey, losers' and that she wants the turkey pesto panini with an extra order of fries," Ichi says still chewing his food.
Kumugi grimaces as she writes down the order and Gokuraku pushes Ichi's face away. "Eww, Icchan, don't talk with your mouth full."
"S'nothing wrong with it." Ichi grins and shoves two fries in his mouth.
Kumugi walks away from them to actually do her job as Gokuraku and Ichi get into a slap fight over manners.
They spend an hour and a half there before Kumugi basically kicks them out ("Ichi, I'm sorry, but you literally stink so bad it's costing me tips.") with Desscaras' takeout. Gokuraku pays for their food as Ichi heads out to sit in his convertible and choose a CD. He's signing the receipt when Kumugi clears her throat to get his attention.
"You should tell him now," she suggests gently, taking the paper from Gokuraku and putting it somewhere behind the counter.
"You should mind your business," Gokuraku retorts, pulling some loose change and a few bills out of his pocket to throw in the tip jar. "Like, I have as much of a chance with Icchan as I do pulling, like, Gerard Way."
"As your friend, I don't think you could pull-" Kumugi does air quotes around the word "-Gerard Way. No offense." She pauses for emphasis. "Ichi, though, very probable."
Gokuraku rolls his eyes and puts his whole body into it, so much so his chains and belts clink together like a shitty tambourine. He says goodbye, basically running out of the Diner.
Ichi waves his Franz Ferdinand CD at him as he approaches, "I was thinking this but also I swear you had that All American Rejects album and I, like, cannot find it.."
"Oh, yeah, that CD is in my stereo at home." Gokuraku shrugs, taking his seat behind the wheel and starting his car up.
"Bummer."
Ichi exchanges the discs and the quiet solo vocals of "Jacqueline" pour from the speakers. Gokuraku pulls out of the parking lot, honking goodbye to Kumugi who waves through the window at them. Ichi carefully puts the other CD away as he nods along to the music.
Gokuraku watches Ichi rock out the entire drive back to his house. They draw a few looks from pedestrians passing by but that's not entirely out of the realm of normal. Between Ichi's skate park delinquent look and Gokuraku's own brightly colored scene fashion they're pretty much the stars of every suburban mom's worst nightmare.
Desscaras and Ichi's house is the back half of a duplex owned by a picture-perfect elderly lesbian couple with several cats. Gokuraku has never met or even seen this couple because they spend most of their time traveling but one day he wants to. Just because they sound way cooler than Desscaras and Togeice and Gokuraku wants to be able to say they're the lamest lesbians he's met and for it to be true.
When he pulls into the driveway Gokuraku is a little disappointed to see it's empty-one day he'll meet those ladies. Ichi grabs his board from the backseat and moves live he's going to jump out, but he goes still in his seat, staring at Gokuraku. He can practically see the gears turning in Ichi's head.
"Dess told me I should, like, talk to you." Ichi says it slowly, like he's not sure he wants to have the conversation.
Gokuraku considers Ichi's words and he puts his car in park. "'Bout what? Did you, like, piss someone off again?"
"Nah, no, not this time." Ichi waves him off and pauses, tapping his fingers against his board. "So, like... I had this dream-"
"A dream?" Gokuraku interjects.
Ichi nods and averts his gaze, focusing on the cats lounging on the concrete. His cheeks flush pink as he chews on his lower lip. It hits Gokuraku that this is probably a serious conversation and switches to considerate-best-friend mode. He turns his car off completely.
"Okay, lay it on me." Gokuraku waves his hands at himself and tries to give Ichi the most inviting smile he can manage.
Ichi considers Gokuraku, scanning his face with such scrutiny that Gokuraku can feel his own blush starting to form.
"I had a wet dream about you."
And that was not at all what Gokuraku was expecting.
"And, like, I asked Dess about it because we're-" Ichi points at Gokuraku and then himself- "-friends and she just laughed at me," Ichi continues, refusing to meet Gokuraku's eye. "And I don't want to, like, make things awkward but every time I look at you for more than a few seconds I think about us fucking."
Gokuraku doesn't know what sort of expression he's making, but Ichi looks at him and quickly lowers his gaze to his hands which are fiddling with the wheels on his skateboard.
"So, like, I guess, not to be weird or anything. I just thought you should know or whatever." Ichi mumbles, getting quieter with each word he says.
"Huh." Gokuraku tries to reply, completely at a loss for words.
Ichi nods and smiles tightly as he gestures behind himself with his thumb. "Cool, sorry. I'll, uh, leave now."
Gokuraku's brain finally catches up and he's throwing himself over the center console to grab Ichi and stop him. He wraps his hands around Ichi's shoulders, holding on so tight Gokuraku is worried he might hurt Ichi.
"I think about fucking you, like, all the time so- uh..." Gokuraku's eyes widen as he realizes what he just said. Ichi looks equally shocked at his confession. Well, there's no way this conversation gets any worse. "I also think about kissing you and taking you on dates and, like, being your boyfriend and all that domestic shit. Not just fucking." Nailed it.
"Oh."
"Yeah, so..." Gokuraku squeezes Ichi's shoulders lightly and looks him in the eye as he asks, "Wanna make out?"
Ichi jumps forward, grabbing Gokuraku's face with both his hands and crashes their lips together. Gokuraku adjusts and move his hands from Ichi's shoulders; one goes to rest along the junction between Ichi's neck and shoulder and his other hand goes to Ichi's waist, trying to pull him closer despite the physical barrier that is his car.
Ichi kisses like he skates: passionate yet casual. He licks into Gokuraku's mouth without a care in the world, swapping spit between their mouths, and biting his lip as Gokuraku tries to savor the feeling. It's messy and not technically the best kiss he's had before, but it's the best kiss Gokuraku's ever had because it's Ichi who's kissing him.
They make out until Desscaras pulls up behind him and blares her horn until they pull apart.
"Can you two punks do this not in my driveway?" Desscaras shouts out her window.
Ichi rolls his eyes as they separate and Gokuraku turns to face Desscaras' car behind them with a smirk. She flips him off and honks again.
"Whatever, don't get your panties in a twist!" Gokuraku shouts back, starting his car up so they can swap spots.
When they're done with the cars and Ichi has handed off Desscaras' order from the diner Gokuraku kisses Ichi again. This one is chaste, just a peck on the lips because Gokuraku can do that now. He drums his fingers against the steering wheel.
"So, wanna come back to mine? I can make all your dreams come true."
Ichi barks out a laugh and Gokuraku can't help the wide, dopey grin that splits across his features.