OVERFLOW / OPEN

[rekd]

TFLN / OPEN RP / THREADTRACKER

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[rekd]

[ that is, unfortunately, not going to be an option for him for long. the two of them are distracted as can be for a moment, jumping and splashing in a pooling ditch just beyond the lawn. reki grabs koyomi's hand and gives her a twirl, and she's laughing, then pointing, and then both of them are slowly advancing on qi fang with the same troubling look on their faces. ]

Hey, man...

[tongxue]

[ in retrospect, he should have seen this coming. to his credit, he steps back into the threshold proper, making the gamble that they probably won't try to bring that mess in inside, right? right?? ]

Let's think about this, guys — I'm stronger than both of you.

[rekd]

[ the two exchange glances, and then reki's eyes are back on qi fang, darkened by the storm and the challenge. ]

We just wanna talk— [ he says, and koyomi darts off as he advances. they pin qi fang between reki's grasping hands and koyomi's tickling fingers, bullying him in synchrony toward the rain. qi fang's gamble was unfortunately very wrong. ]

[tongxue]

Bullshi—

[ he never thought he was that ticklish, but koyomi proves that to be a big fat lie when he suddenly cuts himself off with a pretty embarrassing half-shriek, half-laugh. after that he's an easy mark, dragged out into the rain as if he weighed nothing at all. he's pitifully at their mercy for a good handful of minutes before he decides enough is enough! it's time for the turns to table — first thing's first, for for the weakest one.

koyomi is smaller and easier to grab onto. she goes over his shoulder in a sharp shriek and taken quickly to the ditch where she will be unceremoniously dropped (gently! he does still need brownie points after all). once that's done, he turns to the elder kyan, lips split into a wild grin. he runs his hand over his face, shoves his hair back and out of the way but droplets still fall all over. ]

You, [ he announces through the rain. ] Any last words??

[rekd]

[ loyalty is hard to come by on the battlefield. koyomi shrieks for her brother's aid, but is met only with hysterical laughter. and then qi fang's turning on him and it's not so funny anymore, is it?

his eyes narrow. ]

Yeah.

[ he scoops one bare foot through the pooling water to give qi fang a big splash and then he's off like a bullet. ]

Eat dust, fuckface!

[tongxue]

[ first of all: there ain't no dust here. second of all: oh he's gonna get it. reki might be scrappy, but his legs are still shorter, and qi fang has the benefit of being forced to do laps every day after school so as far as speed goes? he's got reki beat

the water to the face gets a sharp hey! but it doesn't stall qi fang for too long. fortunately he'd been anticipating such a dirty move, throwing his arms up just in time to catch most of the spray. then he's off, charging after reki like the man on a mission that he is.

as soon as he catches up he's throwing his arms around reki's waist, using the full strength of his core to lift the other boy off of his feet. he swings them around but the momentum and the water makes his footing slip, and down they both go into a nearby puddle, kicking up a whole wave of muddy rain water in their wake. ]

[rekd]

[ reki has a few choice words to say about qi fang and his stupid long legs, but all that comes loose is one disgruntled yelp. he tries desperately to pry his arms off of him, but by then it's too late, he's up in the air and has no choice but to cling, terrified of falling.

which is exactly what happens. it's good, though, now he can wrestle back the upper hand, surely. that's what he thinks, but before he can make his move, a shadow falls across them and reki realizes with a sting of fear that they've forgotten something.

all he can do is throw up his hands in surrender as koyomi hollers and pounces them both, her thin arms wrapping around him too. now they're all laying in a muddy puddle, but reki really can't complain when koyomi's laughing like the sweet little kid he remembers again, proudly proclaiming, "gotcha!" ]

Yeah, you did. Punk.

[ he puts up a meager struggle. ]

You guys can let me go now.

[tongxue]

[ he definitely swallowed a good couple of gulps worth of mud water but that's cool, that's fine. above the clamor of laughs and squeals and rain he can hear their mom shouting for them not to drown each other but more importantly please, please try not to track in that much mud. without even knowing what they look like qi fang knows that plea is a lost cause.

glancing over reki's shoulder, he and koyomi catch eyes. all at once, the two of them grin, and qi fang holds reki's arms back while koyomi cackles madly and runs her tickling fingers all up and down the other's torso. ]

Suffer, fuckface!!

[rekd]

Stop, no!!!

[ it doesn't help that he taught koyomi to be ruthless. add to it the fact that reki's embarrassingly ticklish and he's got no choice but to writhe and kick and screech. the one small comfort he has is that all his struggling is making great big splashes, not that they're not already all soaked already. ]

Mercy... [ he pleads, shooting a vulnerable look at his sister, who's hovering over him with her hands curled like a velociraptor. she pretends to consider it, and then she's back at it again, wriggling her fingers under reki's chin until he's choking himself on his own laughter. ]

[tongxue]

[ at some point, they all need to take a breath in. between the laughter and the accidental swallowing of water, it just becomes even more of a necessity. by then, qi fang is willing to relent, considering this a win thanks to his and koyomi's combined effort. mama kyan is already beckoning them to come on inside before they bring the whole storm in, and considering qi fang feels like he weighs about ten pounds heavier in water alone, he's apt to agree.

he loosens his hold on reki, allowing the boy to roll off him if he has the energy too, and spends just a few more moments sucking in some air before pushing himself up to a seat. yeah, they're fully soaked and stained in mud and man, he liked these shoes too. but honestly? 1000% worth it.

he dips his hand in the water, sparing one last half-hearted splash towards reki's face. ]

Let that be a lesson to you.

[rekd]

[ qi fang's not the only one who plays dirty; reki's doing the same fucking thing, except his hand is cupped and he's not above spiking a handful of water at his better half's face. ]

Get fucked.

[ "language!" reki's mom sings from the doorway, holding out a towel to wrap koyomi up in. next is qi fang; she flicks reki roughly in the forehead when he steps forward out of turn, reminding him cheerily that guests come first. reki sulks darkly as his mother insists on wrapping qi fang like a burrito, but she wipes that look off his face when it's his turn to be snuggled up, her soft, warm arms squeezing him tightly. it's so nice and he's so happy and he's smiling at qi fang so hard.

at least until she tousels up his hair and asks, "don't i just have the cutest boy in the world? shame he's such a grump," and gives him a big wet kiss on the cheek. ]

Stop.

[tongxue]

I dunno, he's kinds cute when he's grumpy too.

[ and this is qi fang, taking full advantage of the fact reki's still burritoed up to reach over and lightly pinch one of his cheeks. ]

[rekd]

Stop!!

[ why does this keep happening? of course then koyomi is in on it too, and he's pinched and kissed until he can't stand it anymore and storms into the house, bitching harmlessly beneath his breath. ma calls out that there's hot tea on the table, so that's where he's going, pausing only to narrow his eyes at koyomi jealously as she darts into the bathroom first. ]

Hurryyyyy, I'm freezing my ass off.

[tongxue]

[ surely one day reki will learn that the more he fusses, the more he's a target for these kind of things. surely one day, but that day is not today. qi fang just laughs along behind him, his own pace leisurely as he's sort of resigned himself to the fact he'll be last in the bathroom and thus determined to be as comfortable as he can soaked right down to the bone. ]

Is this a good time to remind you this was all your idea?

[ just, you know, in case reki thinks he's going to get off scott-free here. qi fang gratefully takes a seat at the table to pour himself and reki a cup of tea each. ]

[rekd]

[ that's a lesson reki learned a long time ago. it's why he does it; attention is his bottom line. even if it leaves him with wet cheeks and ruddy little pinch-prints all over his face, you gotta be willing to do what it takes in a family this big.

it's probably not easy to tell he's in the best of spirits when he shoots qi fang a sharp look, but there are hints. that glow on his cheeks isn't all from being squeezed mercilessly. ]

Nah, it's never a good time for that. Honey, please.

[ you know, if qi fang's insisting on pouring the tea. ]

[tongxue]

[ but why be obedient when you can be a dick instead? ]

Yes, dear?

[ he slides the tea over, plain. he's all the honey you need, right? ]

[rekd]

[ reki gags theatrically and reaches out for the honey, squeezing it with a vengeance. flatly: ]

Thanks, darling.

[tongxue]

Ooh, I just got a chill... [ qi fang holds his hands up, rubbing at his arms. ] Guess someone must've left a door open.

[rekd]

[ reki gives his tea a few fierce stirs. ]

Don't worry. I can hear doors just closin' left and right for you.

[tongxue]

So cold...

[ he scoots his chair closer so he can lean his head down on reki's shoulder and burrow himself into the crook of his neck, shivering. ]

Need warmth, need kisses...

[rekd]

[ oh no. and this is all his fault, too. reki wraps an arm around him and presses a kiss to the top of his head. ]

Here, take my tea.

[tongxue]

[ qi fang just sits up, reaching for his own cup to sip at. ]

No thanks, I don't like mine with honey.

[ sniff. ]

[rekd]

Suit yourself. Enjoy your shitty tea.

[ he puts his cup down, then, and wraps both arms around qi fang now, squeezing him tightly. ]

[tongxue]

What's this? Rainy weather gets you all cozy huh? [ considering how it's become sort of an unspoken agreement not to be too obvious with their relationship around reki's family, despite literally everyone knowing ever, but qi fang isn't at all complaining. rather he leans into the hug, tipping his head to rest it against reki's in return.

this close, it's easy for him to murmur quietly between them, ] Sad we can't shower together again...

[rekd]

[ reki's too cold to worry about things right now, especially things that everyone already knows. instead, he nods softly, rubbing over qi fang's arm to kick up the heat between them. in a sweet, drowsy little murmur: ]

You just wanna come on my face again.