Renga Oneshots

bruises

Langa's POV

I didn't notice at first. Not until we were lying in bed, tangled together in the comfortable silence of his room. Reki had been distant tonight, quieter than usual, but I didn't want to push him.

Then, as he shifted to get comfortable, his sleeve rode up.

The bruises were the first thing I saw.

Dark patches of purple and blue covered his arms, some fading, some fresh. My stomach twisted. I'd seen him scrape his knees skating, sure, but this? This was different.

I reached for his wrist before he could pull away. "Reki... What's with all these bruises?"

He stiffened against me. His other hand instinctively tugged his sleeve down, but I had already seen too much.

"They're nothing, Snowflake. Don't worry about it." He forced a laugh, trying to bury his face into my chest like that would make me drop the subject.

But I couldn't. Because the more I thought about it, the more I realized these weren't just on his arms.

A few nights ago, I had noticed faint bruises along his collarbone when his shirt had slipped. I thought maybe he had taken a rough fall while skating, but then I started seeing them more often—on his knees, his legs, and even near his ribs when he stretched and his hoodie lifted.

And now, seeing them all over him, the reality of it hit me like a punch to the gut.

Reki wasn't just getting hurt. He was hiding it.

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening slightly around his wrist. "Reki, this isn't normal. You never used to have bruises like this."

He tensed, and I felt him press closer to me, like he was trying to disappear.

I lifted his hand carefully, turning it over to examine the fresh bruise blooming across his knuckles. It looked like he had slammed it into something hard. Or fallen. Hard.

My chest ached.

I knew Reki. I knew how much he loved skating, how much he threw himself into it. But he had always been careful. He had always landed on his feet—figuratively and literally.

So why was he getting hurt so often now?

I reached out to push his hair back, but my fingers brushed against his cheek—wet.

"Reki...?"

My hoodie was damp.

He was crying.

The realization sent a sharp pang through me. I quickly sat up, pulling him with me. "Hey, hey—what's wrong?" My voice came out shakier than I intended.

He kept his head down, his red bangs shadowing his face, but I could see it. His flushed cheeks, the way his body trembled slightly, the way his breathing hitched as he tried—and failed—to keep himself together.

I wiped away the tears streaking down his face, but when I pulled him in for a hug, he whimpered in pain.

I immediately loosened my grip, panic setting in. "Oh—Reki, did I hurt you?" My mind raced. Is he injured? Did he break something?

He shook his head, but he still wouldn't look at me. He just sat there, sniffling, hands trembling in his lap.

I didn't know what to do.

So I took his hand, squeezing it lightly. Letting him know I was here.

After a long, shaky breath, he whispered, "Langa... I'm sorry for keeping things from you."

I tensed slightly but nodded for him to continue.

"I know we tell each other everything. And I want to, but... this is different." His voice wavered. He squeezed my hand so tightly I could feel the faint tremor in his grip.

I felt my stomach drop. What could be so bad that he had to hide it from me?

"You don't have to tell me if you're not ready," I said softly, brushing my thumb over his knuckles. "Just... please don't cry, okay?"

Reki sniffled, rubbing at his eyes. "But I want to tell you. I just... don't know where to start."

I lifted his hand and pressed a soft kiss against the bruised skin. "Start wherever you want. I'm listening."

A weak smile flickered across his lips before disappearing just as quickly. His gaze dropped to his lap. "I got these bruises because... I've been trying to get to your skating level. So we could be equal."

My breath caught in my throat.

Reki let out a bitter laugh, but it came out more like a sob. "I've been overworking myself. Pushing too hard. I keep trying and trying, but I always end up falling—badly. And every time, I just... I get hurt." He took a shaky breath, his fingers curling around mine like I was the only thing grounding him.

Then, in a voice so small it broke me, he whispered, "Langa... I'm not good enough for you."

My entire world seemed to freeze.

"You're amazing at everything," he continued, his voice thick with emotion. "And I'm just... nobody."

Those words hit me harder than any fall ever could.

How could he think that? How could he not see how incredible he is?

I didn't hesitate—I cupped his face in my hands and kissed him.

It wasn't rushed. It wasn't desperate. It was slow, lingering, filled with every unspoken word in my heart. When I pulled away, I rested my forehead against his, our breaths mingling in the space between us.

"Don't you ever say that again," I murmured, my voice firm but full of love. "Reki, you are amazing. You don't need to 'get better' for me. You're already incredible just as you are."

His breath hitched, his eyes searching mine, like he was trying to find some reason not to believe me.

I wouldn't let him.

"I love you," I whispered, pressing another soft kiss to his temple. "Reki, you're the only one for me. I couldn't even imagine being with anyone else."

Reki's lips trembled, but this time, a real, genuine smile broke through. He leaned against my shoulder, exhaling shakily.

"...You really mean that?"

"With everything in me." I wrapped an arm around him, careful not to squeeze too tight. "And honestly? I'm the one who doesn't deserve you. But I love you, Reki. I always will. So please... stop hurting yourself trying to prove something to me that was never even a question."

Reki let out a soft, watery laugh, wiping at his eyes again. "You're such a sap, you know that?"

I chuckled, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. "Only for you."

His cheeks burned at the nickname, and he groaned. "You're the worst."

"Mm. But you love me."

Reki sighed dramatically, snuggling closer. "...Yeah. I do."

I kissed the top of his head, feeling him relax in my arms.

And for the first time in weeks, I felt like he was finally at peace.