bakerstreet | Snuggles

[ platonic & shippy ok. x-canon too! ]

[ in retrospect, competing against one of the most renowned skaters alive and a literal founder was a very, very stupid idea.

he didn't just lose, riddle was annihilated-- the crowd's disappointed griping over him not even lasting long enough to be love-hugged was probably the most difficult part of all. every word out of adam's mouth after that was a mere twist of the knife; at that point riddle didn't even have it in himself to rage over being likened to a rose with its thorns stripped.

of course there are injuries, but they're all superficial, nothing compared to the indignity of getting his ass handed to him-- his cheek and one of his arms are bandaged, but otherwise he's fine. what really hurts is the fact he couldn't defend reki or miya's honor. the both of them said it was unnecessary to begin with, but the idea of them still being disappointed in him won't leave his head.

but still, selfish as ever, riddle can't sequester himself for longer than a few hours. reki is asleep by the time he emerges from his hiding place in the triplets' room (they had "queen practice", reki wasn't allowed to partake). wordlessly, riddle wiggles his way beneath reki's blankets, plops himself next to the other boy, and lays down to bury his face in his shoulder. ]

[ is he asleep? he certainly was trying to be. it's not his fault that every time he closes his eyes, all that he can see is riddle falling, riddle's cute little face contorted in pain, the blood, the bruises, the cutting despair. he's exhausted, yes, but the cold clutch of fear and the molten rush of anger keeps him suspended uncomfortably between the two. it's not really sleep that's got him now—it's a quiet, solitary torment.

there's not even anything to say, which is why he keeps his eyes closed as riddle slips into the room. "i told you so" would just be mean. he can't make any promises to avenge riddle after his last loss. and telling him, hey, welcome to the club, isn't it so fun to be the easiest of marks will undoubtedly not be reassuring. he sucks at finding the right words in situations like these. there has to be an alternative.

he's lucky that riddle gives him the opportunity to figure it out. there's a way to say all the things he can't and it's as simple as reaching out his arms just as riddle's drifting into the harbor of his shoulder. he can squeeze this tiny body in his embrace and convey exactly how much he values riddle over a few stupid insults, shaking with anger and concern and the reality of how close a call tonight really was. he can clutch at him like they're both drowning and maybe then riddle will see that the only thing that'll ever hurt him is losing this. and he can stroke his fingers through riddle's hair like despite it all, it's going to be okay. it'll always be okay, as long as they make it home together. ]

[ reki may not realize it, but he knows exactly what to say and what not to say-- maybe not all the time, but there's rarely ever a consistently right answer when it comes to riddle. right now though, he's perfect. when he turns and pulls riddle into an embrace they've shared countless times before under countless other circumstances, the complicated mess of feelings start slowly unraveling.

with a tiny, anguished little noise, he presses his face in deeper as he clings to him like a small animal would its mother, red nails twisting into the other boy's shirt in a silent demand to stay where he is. riddle has the heart of a crybaby, it wouldn't be the first time reki's seen him so vulnerable and hurt that he loses sight of his so-called regal bearing to wail like a child-- but he doesn't do that right now, as much as he wants to. ]

...I want to talk to Cherry.

[ his tone is petulant but determined. he clearly has Some Shit on his mind. ]

He'll know who Adam really is. He can tell us where he lives.

[ curious how this suddenly turned into a 'we'. ]

We'll go there. I'll bring a kitchen knife.

[ oh ]

[ reki doesn't need the nails to keep him exactly where he is, but he likes that they're there. even if riddle feels like he does good work, there's always that voice eating away at him inside, telling him there's no way he's doing enough, that someone could do it so much better, and that, with about 110% certainty, probably someday someone will.

but for right now, riddle keeps him grounded in this moment with his tiny, heart-breaking sounds and his small, delicate hands. none of that matters because tonight, he's in reki's arms, in his bed, in his room. sure, his heart is shattering for riddle because he knows exactly how it is to feel almost comically impotent, but he can be strong for him because it's his shoulder soaking up riddle's tears. ]

Baby... [ he says slowly, carefully, stroking the hair just above riddle's ear as he presses kisses against the top of his head. as much as he'd love to entertain riddle's homicidal fantasies, it's probably unhealthy. right? ] He'd also see that stabby look in your eyes a mile away. Let me see...

[ he tilts riddle's chin up. breaks his heart all over again, seeing how beautiful he looks even with a flushed and crumpled face, but here it is. this is his cross to bear now. he gives riddle a theatrically pained hiss. ]

Oh. Yeah. I don't think they'll even let you in the gate like that.

[ he should have waited until his eyes cleared up, should have washed his face and redone his makeup even though he's positive they're going to lose consciousness here in reki's bed, he should have made himself up a bit before slinking in here-- because anytime reki looks right down at his face, into his eyes like this, riddle's heart does this stupid little thing that makes his cheeks go red. he looks like he's been boiled alive right now. who can blame him? all the kisses and squeezes, and just reki looking at him like he's still his awesome queen is would be enough to reduce him to brainless, love-struck goo on a good day.

maybe reki doesn't feel good about indulging riddle in his desire to destroy adam on a more intimate, less competitive level. sucks for him, because riddle isn't so eager to let go of the idea.

he does smile though. reki can have that much. ]

Is that right? One look at me, and they would know what I would do to him?

[ when he makes another noise, something closer to a whine than before, he jams himself back against reki's body, twining their legs as he nuzzles into the other boy's neck. ]

I want to kill him, Reki. I want to cut his head right off. I'll have you mount it on the front of my board for me. We'll see how well he skates without it.

[ it's almost startling, how riddle bounces back and forth between all these moods and emotions. at least he isn't lost in his self-loathing anymore. how could he be when he feels so loved in spite of his colossal failure? ]

[ ugh, but this is his favorite thing, juggling all of these emotions at once. everything outside of this is so exhausting, so slow that it makes his brain race and race and race to fill the empty hours until his whole skull hurts. with riddle, there's so much to focus on, so many people to be and things to say and new expressions to learn. just like when they skate together, it's exactly the right speed.

he can be riddle's partner in crime even as he's holding riddle in a comforting squeeze, even as he's listening to the sound of his breathing to make sure it's evening out, not raspy enough to prompt him to fetch the water bottle he's got on the nightstand. baby him and conspire with him and empower him all in the span of one affectionate sigh—it's his favorite brand of chaos and that smile is his greatest reward. ]

Mhm. That'd add way too much drag. Better to just cut off his face and nail it to the deck. We gotta make sure we're the same, y'know?

[ so much motion to keep track of, riddle's got a face burying against him that he needs to trace, legs twining with his that he needs to lock together with one decisive snap. not confining, because both of them can't sit still for long enough to feel trapped; more like a place to hold and be held. ]

We gotta stay together.

[ he chuckles affectionately, because reki takes always his craft seriously, takes the wonderful rush of skating so deeply to heart that sometimes riddle finds it miraculous that there's even room for him in there. the strange thing is, riddle is certain he would still love this wild-hearted and beautiful boy even if there wasn't a place for him in there.

while he's infinitely grateful for reki's adoration, right now he's only interested in basking in it. reki holds him tight, accepts the way their legs twine and how everything about them fits together; even when riddle pulls back slightly it feels natural, because he gives reki a full smile now, weary from the demands of trying to outskate the unoutskatable, but still undeniably warm. happy, even. ]

You're right. If I start to slow down, you'll reach back for me to pull me along, won't you? Then Adam's big damned head will slow us both down. Better to nail it down, or stretch his skin out into a vinyl so I can step all over it while we skate together.

[ this isn't the sort of thing he says often. riddle is do or die, victory is always, always the goal. but reki, the only force crazy and fiery enough to stand up to him, the only person on this big beautiful planet who has ever made riddle want to live for more than the next one line of praise from his mother-- reki has turned him around (somewhat) and made a gentle heart out of him. ]

That's what matters the most, right? The two of us, staying together no matter what. Forever.

That's what I'm saying.

[ there's no thrill that matches the euphoric rush of them being so perfectly synced, no high-flying aerials or daredevil dives that could ever compare to the way reki's heart gets going when it's just the two of them weaving through traffic or exchanging looks under the covers. doesn't matter where they are or what they're doing; this connection is what truly makes him feel alive.

he's so glad to see that smile again, like a beacon in the dark for how much light it lets into riddle's rosey face. he reaches out to appreciate it with his touch, mapping the soft curve of his cheek like he's trying to learn the look of it blind. no, he's not naturally violent and the thought of hurting someone on purpose makes his stomach twist, but he can't say that if this smile was on the line, he wouldn't do practically anything to keep it there. because of that, the grin he flashes isn't the purest one in his arsenal. ]

I'll even dress it up with roses for you so it doesn't harsh your aesthetic. I'll make sure everyone still knows you're the queen, even if you've got some poor sap's skin ironed across your deck. I won't let you be anything but breath-taking.

[ he already sounds so proud, and he is, earnestly and impossibly. his gaze drops down to riddle's perfect heart-shaped mouth imploringly, but he doesn't kiss him yet; he'd rather press in closer and just let their mouths brush so that he can feel that smile for himself. ]

[ god, he loves this boy so much it makes him crazy sometimes. normally riddle wouldn't need a reason to want to peel some idiot asshole's skin off anyway, but there's a whole other high that comes from wanting to do it for reki; reki, who pulled him out of that dark and ugly place he built to hide from his mother, reki who actually thought the real him who learned to skate in pretty heels of all heights because that's just who he is, reki who's never let him go after the first time they embraced.

adam is the furthest thing from his mind now. the only thing riddle can think of and see and feel is the dumb, sunny creature right in front of him that adores him more than anything. he sees the way reki is eyeing his mouth, but there's one thing riddle wants to give him before letting him have it. ]

Reki... I love you.

[ he's going to look so pretty standing on top of off with your head, the most perfect board reki's ever crafted as far as riddle is concerned. honestly, he could be flying down sidewalks and streets on a hunk of cardboard. as long as reki has his hand, like he promises he always will, it's bound to be a good day.

riddle gives the other boy a squeeze, leans up, and gives him that kiss he's been longing for. it's long and warm and adoring, it feels just like true love should. ]

[ You know, sometimes it's a good thing that Reki's room was so easy to break into, this was one of those times.

It had been a truly miserable day, he forgot his phone back home, and was stuck in Akito's room all that morning. Akito apparently wanted attention from someone, and Haru was the poor unfortunate soul their eyes laid upon first. He sat in that room in silence for most of the morning, only offering a comment here and there when Akito spoke to him directly. He hated it. All the taunting and the name calling, and the touches, it made him sick, but he still kept his mouth shut. It wasn't until Akito noticed Haru looking at the clock more and more that things went downhill (Akito didn't like knowing Haru would rather be anywhere else). Haru was finally free from that room, but at the cost of his face being roughed up.

Reki would probably still be in school, or just getting out, but Haru didn't care. He just wanted to see him, see those bright eyes he adored, that goofy smile he always pulled when they talked about whatever was on their minds. He just needed Reki... so he made his way to Reki's home, and snuck into his room from his bedroom window and just dived right into his bed. ]

[ yeah, today's been pretty crappy. not for any reason reki can honestly complain about, but he's in a sour mood all the same. it's just that haru missed their good morning text, which is no big deal. he's probably busy. he's got a big, important family and so many cousins to look after, it's no wonder that he has precious little time to spend staring at his phone. but that missed text colors reki's entire day. every stern word from his teacher feels hellish, the silence from his classmates is more abrasive today than ever, and sitting alone at lunch like he always does is an agonizing torture. all he can do is sit and stare at his bento box and wonder when he became so needy and sad that something like a text message can sap the color out of his world like this.

he can't take it anymore, so he ditches. his teacher is powerless to stop him, disappearing so quickly, his voice drowned out by the ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk of his board speeding down the walkways. he was too tired getting in last night to put down the ramp under his window, and he's glad for it now, slipping into the quiet of his room without a single witness to inquire why he's home so soon. with a huge sigh, he peels off his sticky shirt and—

haru. he's here, in his bed, like a dream. reki has to blink a few times to make sure he's real, and then he's tumbling into bed too, winding his arms around haru so that he can squeeze him tightly. and just like that, all the color is restored; his heart feels whole again as he breathes into haru's hair: ]

You're amazing.

[ haru was ready to just bury his face in reki's pillow all day and wait for him to come home. what he didn't expect was for him to sneak up on him in his own room and squeeze onto him tightly. he was surprised, but all those concerns he had early quickly vanished the moment he realized it was reki (and not one of his little sisters who found out haru snuck in.) ]

Aren't... you supposed to be in school?

[ says the one who should also be in school but decided to ditch the rest of the day. he doesn't bother to move much, his arms still wrapped tightly around reki's pillow, as if he claimed it as his own now. ]

Hell with that. You're in my bed.

[ as if reki knew. maybe a part of him did—or, at least, knew he wasn't where he was supposed to be anyway. reki leans his face into the back of haru's shoulder, breathing him in slowly. sure, he's surrounded by nothing but his own home, but it's only like this that he really feels it. ]

You get out early today or something?

[ haru smiles into the pillow, only tilting his head a little so he could get a tiny glance at reki. he didn't mind all the nuzzling, and in fact he actually welcomed it. reki... he was his happy place, and already he was feeling like all the shackles he felt earlier were unlocked.

he awkwardly shifted so one of his hands were free, letting it fall onto reki's bed while his fingers wiggled, as if silently asking reki to grab his hand.]

I didn't go. Didn't feel like going I guess...

[ reki drifts his fingers down haru's arm, stroking his thumb over his wrist before he clasps their fingers together. he doesn't want to stop holding haru, though, so he tucks their linked hands against haru's chest and squeezes him again. ]

Me neither.

[ it'd probably be super lame to spill everything, to tell haru that he missed him and the world was just too much without him, so he'll do this instead. just soak in his warmth and press kisses to the shoulder he's snuggled against, wrapping a leg around him too. ]

Don't feel good?

[ haru fell silent for a moment, thinking of how to reply. he wasn't wrong that haru didn't feel good, but it wasn't because he felt bodily ill or anything, it's just— ]

I felt like I was suffocating...but when I thought about you, it felt like I could breathe again... so I came here. Even if you weren't home I thought, this felt much better.

[ haru sounds the way he always does, but there's something beneath it all that reki feels deep in his chest. whatever it is, reki doesn't like that it's here. it doesn't belong in this quiet space with them.

he works his other hand up, brushing his fingers through haru's hair. ]

You did the right thing, Haru. I'm glad you're here.

[ that felt... so nice. haru shifted a little, burying his face more into reki's pillow. he was grateful that reki decided to ditch. he may not know why, but he missed this already, missed him already. in the chaotic world of his family, reki was the one thing that definitely put his mind at ease. ]

Sorry... I didn't text you today... I was pulled away before I could even grab my phone.

[ his words were muffled, but he's sure reki could hear him anyway. ]

You don't... have to apologize for that.

[ it feels selfish to even think about that now. it's not like haru owes him that comfort. he's just become spoiled, that's all, missing it when it's absent.

except that haru wouldn't just stop doing something like that, he thinks. it makes sense now, with him here, his face pressed into reki's pillow as he scratches haru's scalp and smooths back his hair. ]

You have so much to deal with compared to me, like. I'm just happy with whatever I get.

I'd rather be here, melting under your fingertips...

[ he let out the softest sighs as he turns his head again to look at reki, his eyes softer than before. ]

You smell really nice...you know that?

[ reki smiles, much bigger than he means to. it's just nice to have haru look at him the way he always does. ]

You...

[ his fingers reach out for haru's face, stroking the swell of his cheek, wisping along his jawline—pausing suddenly. his smile dims. ]

... Haru.

Mmm...?

[ Honestly, he forgot what he must look like. He was so focused on reaching Reki's home that everything else just slipped past him. He probably should have cleaned his face up a little before coming, but it was too late for that now. ]

Stay here.

[ he doesn't have to. reki's revoking his hands, which are shaking with a sudden surge of anger anyway. he doesn't want haru to feel that. instead, he presses a very ginger kiss to his shoulder again and slips away to dig his first aid kit out of his bag. ]

Please. Just stay.

[ he doesn't leave, nor was he planning to, but he does slowly turn around and sit up in reki's bed. the pillow still hugged to his chest as he watches reki go through his bag. he looked like he was... shaking. was there something he was hiding? maybe someone at— oh. that was a first aid kit he was pulling out. it was then that he realized his face must have looked like he got into a dumb fight. ]

Reki...

reki kyan | sk8 the infinity | ota

ughhhhh did someone order angst

i see ur angst & raise u FLUFF

https://i.imgur.com/wSRgyS9.png uGHHHH YO UGOT MEEEEEE

u got me too u kno I 💜 knifeplay

sk8 2 - riddle n reki escape from alcatraz for 1st degree murder

reki out here tryna take the heat for his boy and everyone just lmao

just let him go apeshit reki its ok man just lay back and let it happen

god babe ur gonna get his ass kicked

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nyooom

oh i love this

♥

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