#ticklish!cherry

Joe’s head tilted to the side, much like an interested puppy before following his gaze.

“Like Reki.”

“Huh?” Reki looked up from his phone, not expecting to get dragged into the conversation. “Oh, don’t bother. I’m not ticklish.”

A stunned surprise washed over the gang. Perhaps because it was hard to imagine that Reki, the most cheery, bubbly and upbeat out of the lot, was not ticklish. Or it was with what cool confidence he uttered the words that it was hard not to take it as a hard fact.

Reki noticed how tension was building in the silence and knew he’d have to redirect it if he wanted to avoid any questioning. “Let Miya take my place. You’ll have much more fun.”

“What?!” The youngest was quick to get to his feet but didn’t get very far before an unnecessarily strong arm grabbed hold of him. “Let go, you stinking ape- NOoo!”

The way Miya was screaming, one would suspect he was being murdered. Reki was just relieved that nobody had been able to hear his racing heart or had noticed his sweaty palms.

By the time the sun was coming down closer to the horizon, painting the park into a warm, orange glow, the group was back to only two. Langa sat on one of the curb boxes where they had dumped their belongings, sipping at his water as he watched Reki still working on that trick Miya had shown them.

“Ugh, this is impossible. I hate that little rat,” he eventually muttered after landing on his ass again and trudged over to slump down next to Langa.

“You’ll figure it out. You always do.” Langa patted his friend’s shoulder in reassurance before handing him the other water bottle.

Reki huffed as if to disagree with his words but knew that Langa was right. He downed about half of the bottle, not even realising how thirsty he’d been until the water was washing down his dry throat.

A comfortable silence settled between them as they gazed over the glistening water in the distance, each occupied with their own thoughts for a moment. Langa looked over at Reki, mouth opening as if about to ask a questioning but paused. His eyes caught a glint of something by the collar of Reki’s shirt. The redhead noticed the other’s hand coming up but didn’t think much of it, almost expecting another pat before hearing Langa mutter ‘Don’t move’.

“Whyy?” Reki asked wearily, his body tensing somewhat. Without warning, there was a sensation against the side of his neck. A mixture between a tiny feather and a bug crawling over his skin. “Hehey! What do you think you’re doing?!”

Goosebumps shot up on Reki’s arms and he jerked away with an indignant squawk, a hand coming up to rub against the assaulted area. Wide-eyed and confused, he looked over at Langa whose hand was still raised, his thumb and index finger pinched together. That’s when he saw it. A single, glowing red hair, standing almost upright but swaying gently in the breeze.

“Oh, thank god.” Reki let out an audible breath of relief, visibly relaxing. “Jesus, that tickled so bad-” He noticed his mistake too late.

“I thought you weren't ticklish.” It wasn’t a question, but Langa’s words also didn’t hold the tone of mischief or malice he had expected. It sounded more like fond amusement.

Reki dared to glance over at him and Langa was only looking at him curiously. 

“I'm n-not…?” It was no use. “Okay, fine. Yes! I’m ticklish, okay? I lied. Happy?”

Langa just shrugged, finally releasing the hair he had been holding to the wind. “I would have lied too. Joe seems ruthless.”

Reki blinked. Out of all the answers, he had been expecting that one the least. But then again, Langa had never taken any opportunity to seriously tease him, even when it was just the two of them. 

“Wait-... So, you’re ticklish too?”

Langa looked at him, brows creasing slightly. “Isn’t everyone? To some degree, at least?”

Reki thought about it, running a hand through his hair. “I-I suppose. Maybe you’re right.” He still couldn’t quite believe it. “But you’re so stoic and serious most of the time!”

Langa looked confused. “Does that mean I can’t be ticklish?”

“No, I mean- I don’t know, it’s just hard to imagine.”

“Well, by your logic, nobody should have believed your lie then either.”

Reki felt a rush of heat crawling up the back of his neck. “But they did!”

“They did. You did sound very convincing.”

Reki grinned. “Thanks.” 

Langa shook his head with a smile, picking at the bandage around his finger. “So, is your neck your worst spot then, or was that a mild reaction?”

“Langa!” Reki gave his shoulder a shove, only to bring his hand back lower where he could poke at the other’s ribs. “Are you planning on telling me what your worst spot is?”

Langa reacted instantly. He jerked with a surprised yelp, twisting his torso to catch Reki’s hand, his laugh following without hesitation. “No, I’m not.”

The sound of Langa’s laugh took Reki by surprise. Not that he hadn’t heard him laugh before. He already knew Langa had a nice laugh, even if it was rare. There was just something different about knowing that he had caused it. Not by telling a joke or saying something funny, but by a couple simple touches. And now Langa was holding onto his hand so securely, it was hard to think about anything other than how to extend this moment. Or at least not have this one be the only of its kind.

Langa, completely oblivious to Reki’s inner turmoil, didn’t hesitate to make an executive decision. His other hand darted forward, gripping onto Reki’s knee and squeezing with vigorous intent. 

“Wait, wait, no- Ah! Langa! Get off!” Reki was brought back to the present in an instant, crumbling under the rapid waves of electricity that fired through his nerves and up his leg. He tried to fight back but Langa's surprise attack left him too uncoordinated to even think straight. All he could do was throw his head back as the frantic laughter took over.

Only when Langa looked up from his very focused task after what felt like an eternity to Reki (but in reality had not been more than 20 seconds), was it Langa’s turn to freeze up.

The sight of Reki’s beaming face, cheeks tinted rosy with a blush and grin so big, it was hard to make out if his eyes were even still open.

Not that Langa hadn’t seen him laugh like this before, full-bodied and teary-eyed. There was just something different about knowing that he had caused it. Not by being clueless or unintentionally saying something funny, but one simple touch. And now Reki was gripping onto his shirt so securely, it was hard to think about anything other than how to ensure, this wouldn’t be the last time.

Reki seemed to find the coordination to fight back during Langa’s moment of distraction. The two boys grappled at each other for another moment or so, neither wanting to become the defeated party before finally calling a truce.

“You’re not gonna call me out if I’m forced to lie again, are you?”

Langa raised his hand, holding out his pinkie which received an eye roll from Reki. “Only if you won’t call me out either.”

“Fine, but don’t think I won’t take advantage of such delicate information.”