Chapter Text
So much of Reki’s life makes sense now that he knows that Langa is his soulmate. Everything about the way he’d been drawn initially to Langa, about the way he had known with unshakeable certainty that nobody would ever complete his heart the way Langa had— it all added up. Coming together with Langa was like two puzzle pieces fitting together, like the completion of some beautiful picture that Reki hadn’t even been able to see all of before.
Having the freedom to hold Langa’s hand, to kiss him good luck before a beef at S, to see the way everyone smiled at them in the hallways at school— every bit of it made Reki unbearably happy. And no matter how much Reki continued to tease Joe about falling in love with his best friend, he knew there was absolutely nothing better.
Because there really wasn’t. Being in love with the person who had been his best friend before he’d found out they were soulmates was the best thing that had ever happened to Reki. Because they understood each other— they already had a pre established language that only the two of them spoke, gestures that nobody else would understand. Reki could take one look at Langa and know what he was thinking and Langa was getting exceptionally good at putting Reki’s feelings into words when Reki couldn’t do it himself.
Everyone always said finding their soulmate was like becoming whole and Reki understood that now. Because he felt whole with Langa by his side, with Langa writing little messages to him in the middle of class or before the sun rises for the day. He feels whole when he sees Langa leave him a reminder of something that he knew Reki would inevitably forget.
He even felt whole when he pulled away his wrist band to reveal the cramped writing of Langa on the inside of his wrist.
What did you put for #5?
Reki glances out of the corner of his eyes at Langa who is hunched over their test but absolutely not writing anything and he can’t stifle the smile that comes with the sight of it. It’s a short-lived smile, of course, because Reki also has no idea what the answer to number five is.
Their study session last night might have turned into a skate session instead which turned into laying on top of the half pipe under the stars, making up constellations and ridiculous stories that go with them. Which was a wonderful experience, but certainly didn’t boost either of their GPAs.
A?
He scribbles the answer as quickly as he can, settling his wrist bands back over his wrist to hide the writing again. Reki didn’t wear them often anymore because he liked seeing the writing of his soulmate on his wrist. It no longer made him feel like an ache was opening up inside of him, no longer felt like a knife cutting him off of everything he wanted. But there were times— like times when he definitely did not study for a test that he’d known about for weeks— where he felt like the wrist bands were necessary. And he wore them a few other days too just to avoid suspicion.
Reki stares down at the question before him as he waits for Langa to say something in response. Langa makes a quiet noise as he reads over the question, and then he lets out a sigh, placing his wrist over top of his paper so it looks like he’s answering his test instead of writing to his soulmate.
I don’t even know what the question is asking .
Despite his best efforts, Reki can’t stifle the laughter that he feels at the statement. He slaps a hand over his mouth immediately but the damage is done and their teacher is already heading down the aisle towards him. Langa scrambles next to him, pulling the sleeve of his hoodie down but it’s too conspicuous to get away with.
The moment their teacher reaches them, he grabs each of their wrists and holds them out. Reki tries to smile innocently, his mind whirling for some excuse as to what he was laughing at, but nothing is coming to mind. Not that it matters anyways. Their teacher lets go of their wrists, only to yank Langa’s sleeve up and pull Reki’s sweat band off, staring at the very blatant writing on the insides of their wrists.
“Cheating?” Their teacher asks in a way that isn’t actually a question at all because the truth is written in front of all of them and there’s no denying it.
But that’s not going to stop Reki from trying. “No, we were—”
“To the principal’s office.” Reki is cut off, but he doesn’t care. It wasn’t going to work anyways. “ Now .”
To further emphasize his point, their teacher yanks both of their half finished tests out from under them and stares at them with crossed arms. The rest of the class stares at them, too, and Reki knows he should be embarrassed or upset but he finds that he’s not really put out by it as he stands up and grabs his back, heading for the door. The class snickers around him as Langa comes to join him and Reki thinks that his life has always been like this— but this time, he has someone by his side.
“You know,” Reki glances at Langa as they head down the hallway together. “My mom’s not going to love you when she sees what a bad influence you are on me.”
“ I’m the bad influence?” Langa steps closer to Reki so he can bump Reki’s shoulder and throw him off step. “The principal knows you by name.”
“I’m her favorite student.” Reki adjusts the straps on his backpack, shooting Langa his most award winning smile.
Langa is unaffected by it, his face remaining impassive as he jabs back at Reki. “Her favorite delinquent.”
“Hey now, don’t sell yourself so short.” Reki pats Langa on the shoulder and laughs at the glare it gets him in response. “You’re definitely up there in her favorite delinquents.”
“She’s going to kill us.” Langa warns as they round the final corner and come face to face with the principal's office.
“She’s not.” Reki replies.
Reki’s right.
She gives them the same stern lecture she gives them every time they get sent to her office, but it’s never worked in the past and it’s not going to work now. Reki knows it, Langa knows it and the principal knows it. She forces them to wash the writing off of their wrists and then sends them out with a roll of her eyes and a hidden smile behind her hand. Reki waves to her as they go.
To be proper students, they should return to class. They should go back and apologize to their teacher and set up a time for them to take their test again. But the moment the principal’s door shuts behind them, Reki and Langa reach for their boards in unison, turning towards the front of the school instead of back towards their classroom.
And if this is what Reki’s future holds— days of him ditching classes to go skate with Langa, days of having Langa by his side for the good and the bad, just days of Langa in any and all aspects— well, Reki can’t wait for the future.
Having a soulmate is absolutely everything everyone said it would be and so much more. Reki had spent some time at the beginning wondering if everyone felt this way about their soulmate but quickly concluded that it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had Langa at his side as he leapt off the stairs at the front of school, that he had Langa at his side as the sun beats down on their exposed arms while they dash across the city, the rest of their school day completely forgotten.
And when he goes home tonight, facing his mom and the consequences that come from this decision, Reki knows that he’ll have Langa just a quick message away.
And for Reki, that’s more than enough.
For Reki, Langa had always been enough but this? This was greater than his wildest expectations.
The skate park comes into view and Reki stops at the edge of the half pipe, turning to look at Langa and his windswept hair. “I like this.”
Langa smiles down at him, leaning down to kiss his response into Reki’s lips instead of whispering them back. And Reki knows what he’s trying to say, knows that he feels the same way. He knows that Langa is as addicted to this bond they share as he is, that Langa loves the freedom that comes with having the unwavering support of someone else. Reki can taste the happiness on his lips, can feel it in the press of his fingers as he places a hand on the small of Reki’s back.
Everything about this moment, this day, this life that they get to live together is absolutely perfect.
And when they separate, Reki reaches for Langa’s arm. This time, when he writes on the inside of Langa’s wrist, it’s intentional. This time, he knows the words are going to show up on his own wrist, knows that the sentiment is going to be reflected.
He draws a pen out of his bag and carefully, with all the feeling he has, draws elegant characters against Langa’s skin.
I love you.
Langa traces the words with his fingers, a wistful edge to his smile before he takes Reki’s wrist and gently extracts the pen from Reki’s hand, writing his own response with just as much care.
I love you back .