#I really leaned into the childish Langa and emotional rollercoaster Reki for this I had absolutely no brain while writing this

[reki-of-the-valley]

@rancherss I might have made a mistake.

For legal purposes, this is a joke and they are legally old enough to drink in this. And even if I have no obligations to anyone, a reminder from a flush-faced dumbass to anyone reading: drink responsibly, have lots of water, and make sure to eat! Your body will thank you!

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“Man, this shit is disgusting.”

Langa watched as Reki downed another shot, crinkling his nose and squeezing his eyes shut as he slammed the glass down harder than necessary. He watched as he shook his head, fluffy red hair a mess. He watched as Reki leaned over the counter, eyes big and bright as always.

“If it’s gross, then just don’t drink it. We’ve got other things in the fridge if you want.”

“Nuh-huh! I’m no coward! And I feel absolutely nothing and I will feel something by the end of the night.”

“You…”

A small smile pulled at the corner of Langa’s mouth as he took Reki’s face in his hands. Flushed cheeks burned against his cold fingers, big eyes staring up at him. And giggles broke from Langa’s lips as he dropped his arms onto the counter, burying his face in them.

“You’re, you’re not-!” The giggle fit made it hard to talk, words choking him. And no matter how hard he tried calming himself, the giggles didn’t cease. If anything, they only got more persistent. They had his head swimming in an intoxicated haze, his face burning from everlasting laughter. Or maybe those were the shots. His alcohol tolerance was surprisingly high except when it came to shots; those never passed right. “There’s, there’s no way you’re sober, Reki. No way.”

“You sure you’re not the one who’s gone?”

Langa’s eyes snapped up, his suddenly pouty face still half-buried in his arms. “M’not drunk. You are, not me.”

Reki frowned as he squished his cheeks. Another giggle fit began to bubble at the sight, at the soft, squishiness of Reki’s face. He had such a pretty face. A pretty face that Langa very much wanted to kiss.

Langa wasn’t sure how it happened, but another glass of sweet danger had found itself in his hands as he made his way to the couch. He watched the ice float around the tall glass, clinking the sides. And with the ice came weird reflections in the electric pink drink, shapes of all kinds that had him giggling once more. Light reflecting on ice was so weird. And the ice was pink and pretty because of the drink…

“And then Nanaka had to go through my things again and I’m just gonna-!” Reki groaned as he chugged half his drink. “I’m gonna kill her one day. I don’t know how many times I have to tell her to stop stealing my shit and just ask me and I’ll let her borrow them but no! No, she has to get them herself because asking her big brother for the good supplies is way too much work! But then she’s… she’s giving me her drawings because she wants to be just like me and I, I just… I just…”

Tears rolled down Reki’s as he slumped back into the couch, covering half his face with his arm. Langa slowly sipped his drink as he watched the emotional rollercoaster sitting across from him. Up and down and around Reki went, from fits of anger to tears to who knows what else.

“You’re crying again.”

“I know that! You don’t have to tell me! It’s not my fault I’m an emotional mess.”

“Mmk.” Silence. “I’m hungry.”

The laughter was loud, laughter mixed with choked sobs. Up and down and around, uncontrollable and opposing emotions fighting to dominate the atmosphere.

“You’re-!” Laughter or sobs? Langa didn’t know as the tears continued rolling down Reki’s cheeks. “You’re always hungry, man! Do you ever not eat?”

Langa bit the inside of his cheek. Obviously, he wasn’t always eating. He just… He had skipped lunch today and, despite the terrible mistake that was downing more alcohol than what was recommended, he knew that food would help try to avoid a hangover in the morning. So it was normal to want food. It wasn’t… It wasn’t because he was always hungry. He just… had to have a slight moment of responsibility.

Langa set his glass down, the pretty pink half gone, as he got up. “Should I call Joe?” He pulled the fridge open, looking around at the half-empty shelves. “Maybe he could drop off some leftovers from Sia La Luce. Or we could order takeout. I just want something to eat. Reki?”

Langa looked back at the couch where Reki still sat. The low light of the apartment glinted against the pretty pink in Reki’s hands, glass brought up to his lips. And as he took a sip, Langa gasped, slamming the fridge door close.

“That’s mine!”

Reki cradled the glass, turning away from Langa who was rushing to him. “Sharing is caring, man!”

“You can’t steal my drinks! You have your own!”

“But I finished it! And yours is way sweeter than mine!”

Reki chugged the rest of the drink, spilling half of it onto his shirt and lap in his determination to not let Langa have the end of it. And Langa pouted, huffing as he leaned over the back of the couch, cheek pressing into the cushions.

“I don’t wanna make a new one…”

Reki stuck his tongue out playfully, putting the glass down before poking Langa’s cheek. “Big baby.”

“M’not a baby…”

“Well you’re acting like one, man.” A smile pulled on the corners of Reki’s pretty mouth. “You gonna stop pouting like Chihiro whenever my mom tells her she’s not allowed to have dessert before dinner if I make you a new drink?”

Langa pursed his lips as he thought over the offer. As tempting as the offer was…

“I’m still hungry. Can we please call Joe? Kinda craving his cooking…”

“Aw, dude, he’s so gonna give us shit for this if we call him. I mean, it’s not like he’s much better than us. Just because he has fancy wine glasses and expensive wine and we have-”

“Cheap vodka mixed with over-sweetened juice.”

Their eyes locked for a moment before they both broke down giggling. Langa felt the burn in his cheeks, fire unlike any he had ever felt before, but he wasn’t quite sure what it was from. Maybe it was from the alcohol. Or maybe it was from the flush of Reki’s face, his sweet laughter, his pretty smile. Maybe it was from all of those things. Maybe that was what had Langa burying his face in the couch cushions.

“Imma skateboard to Sia La Luce then. I really want Joe’s food.”

“Langa, no.” Langa looked up at Reki. A flash of sobriety came across in his eyes, amber bright rather than slightly hazed as it had been moments ago. “I am not letting you out of this apartment.”

“But I want food!”

“You’re always going on and on about wanting food! Legit all the time! Just-!” Reki inhaled sharply, exhaling slowly. “We’ll order takeout for you. But you… you are not allowed to even consider touching your skateboard.”

“I’m sure I could pull an ollie. I have total control over myself.”

“Bro, you’re upside down on a couch. You do not have control over yourself and you’re gonna end up eating pavement.”

“At least I’d be eating.”

Langa yelped as he rolled off the couch, dodging Reki’s attack. But once on the floor, he was open for more, the pillow repeatedly hitting him as he choked on his laughter.

“Stop! Thinking! About! Eating!”

Giggles. Endless giggles erupted from Langa as he pulled Reki down onto him. Giggles and snorts mingled as they laid there on the floor, a pile of limbs. Chests heaved as they slowly calmed, Reki’s head against Langa’s shoulder, a mess on the ground. And once there, neither one had the intention of moving.

“So...” Reki looked up at Langa, pretty amber eyes so close as he raised an eyebrow. “Can we call Joe now for some food?”

Reki snorted as he buried his face in Langa’s shirt. “Fine! Tell him to just come in. I don’t wanna move.”

“I wouldn’t let you even if you wanted to.”