Work Text:
It is a Thursday afternoon. It is raining outside, hard enough that the impact of the water can be blatantly heard through the walls.
Raiden doesn't have his hair up like usual, hunched over the kitchen sink as he scrubs the dirty pans and dishes from lunch. He'd cooked and fed his best friend for the hundredth time, and despite Kung Lao being so adamant about helping him clean up, Raiden refused like always.
Kung Lao slowly approaches from behind, peeking over his shoulder.
"Finding interest in house chores?" Raiden questions, a soft smile on his face.
"Never. I'd rather work on the farm during this storm than watch you clean up." By the way he speaks, it's easy to tell he's wearing a smile, too.
Raiden places a dish in the drainer, flicking some water from his hand onto his friend. "Then by all means, go for it."
Kung Lao scrunches up his face and groans, wiping the water from his shirt. "Actually…I wanted to know if we had anymore…"
There's a short delay before his answer, followed by a small sigh. "You're rolling this time."
Lao clasps his hands together, lightly jumping up and down. "Not a problem. Where is it?"
Raiden makes a vague gesture with a spatula. "My room, where it always is. But don't start without me. I'll only be a few more minutes."
"Sweet," he pats him on the back before scurrying off to his room like an excited kid about to get his hands in the cookie jar.
And it really only takes Raiden a minute to finish up the last plate or two and dry his hands off. He takes a right and walks down the creaky hallway until he reaches his room, where Kung Lao sits on his bed, looking up at him with a sly smile and a grinder in his hands.
Raiden rolls his eyes and joins him, taking a seat at the end of the bed so he can cross his legs.
"How has your dinner sat with you?"
Kung Lao makes a small noise, something like a scoff mixed with a laugh. "I know that you tell me not to compare your cooking to Madame Bo's, but it was really, really good."
"What if I told you she gave me her recipe?" Raiden asks, coyly looking off to the side.
Kung Lao pauses what he's doing, lips parted in surprise. "There's no way."
Raiden attempts to keep his face serious, but ultimately fails, shaking his head. "Of course not. You know she'll take all of her secrets to her grave."
"You're a terrible liar." He says, although he believed it. Kung Lao scrunches up his face, nudging the other. He continues the grinding process until he's satisfied, carefully opening it up and placing it on the side table next to him.
He holds his hand out expectantly. Raiden grabs the papers and pulls one out for him, which he takes, immediately getting to work.
"Don't over pack it."
"I'm not!"
"You did last time."
"Then you do it."
"Absolutely not. I'm worse than you." Raiden chuckles.
Kung Lao shrugs, then laughs, nodding. "That's true. I remember you going through an entire package of papers once before we just gave up."
"I suppose you'll just have to keep trying to teach me, then," Raiden suggests.
Lao finishes packing the paper before he glances up, met with kind eyes and soft lips and hair that falls down Raiden's face so perfect, it almost doesn't look real.
It stuns him for a moment. Makes him forget where he is, what he's doing. Then he clears his throat, nods. "Of course. You'll be sixty by then, but you'll get there."
Raiden scrunches up his face. "Yeah? Maybe you'll have a girlfriend by then."
Kung Lao clenches his jaw as he begins to roll the paper with skillful hands. "You say that as if you have one yourself."
"Maybe I don't, but I know I'll beat you to it."
When he finishes rolling, he licks the paper and smoothes it over the other side of the joint. He places it in his mouth, feeling around for a lighter.
Raiden grins as he pulls one out of his pocket. Lao leans in so he can light it for him, nodding as a silent 'thank you'.
He adjusts himself on the bed, scooting over a little more so his back is against all of the pillows, legs stretched out and resting on top of Raiden's.
Kung Lao takes an inhale too bold for his unadjusted lungs, struggling to hold in a burning cough as smoke escapes his mouth in spurts. He passes the joint to Raiden, who's laughing at him.
"Why do you never pace yourself?" The man asks, taking a much smaller hit, holding it as long as he can before blowing it out through his nose.
Kung Lao finally catches his breath, clearing his throat. "The bigger the hit, the faster you get high."
"It's not a race." Raiden advises, taking another drag before handing it over.
"I'm not racing you," he explains. Some ash crumbles off the edge of the burning paper and falls on the bed. "I just….wanna be high."
Raiden furrows his eyebrows. "Is something troubling you?"
Kung Lao chuckles. "It won't be in a few minutes." He takes his hit, another big one, but handles it much better this time.
They continue to pass it back and forth until it's nothing more than a roach. Lao tosses it on the side table next to the empty grinder.
It had kicked in by the time they smoked half of it, but by now it's amplified even more.
Kung Lao leans his head back, eyes shut. He's got a soft smile on his face, limbs slack.
Raiden watches his chest rise and fall slowly, signaling he's relaxed. He feels pretty good himself, but it was always more enjoyable to watch his friend when they got high together.
"How're you feeling now?" He asks softly.
"Hmm?" Lao crosses his arms over his chest, barely opening his eyes. His smile grows. "I feel great."
"Better than earlier?"
"Mhm." He nods.
"Good."
A few minutes of silence passes. It's normal for them; to sit together in the quiet and enjoy the bliss. It's comforting.
Kung Lao opens his eyes all the way, but his lids still droop a little.
"Why don't you have a girlfriend?" He abruptly asks.
Raiden rolls his head to look his way, softly laughing. "Why don't you?" He shoots the question back.
"No, no, I mean, really. No jokes…why not?"
He licks his lips, shrugging. "I just haven't found the right girl yet. And I'm preoccupied. With, uh, work, I guess."
Lao can tell that's his honest answer. His smile grows even wider, teeth showing.
Raiden rolls his eyes. "Whaaaat?"
"Have you ever kissed a girl?"
He hesitates. Then he shakes his head.
Kung Lao's arms fall to his sides. "Me neither."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"After all the flirting you do?"
"Pfft," he reaches up to remove his hair tie. "You know how much I talk. If one of them actually gave me it back, I don't know what I'd do."
His hair is longer than Raiden's, falling closer to his collar bones. He shakes it out, running his fingers through tangled strands.
Raiden stares, mouth hanging open. He doesn't mean to gawk like a hungry animal that just spotted it's dinner, but he can't help it.
"You're shy." He remarks.
Lao moves one of his legs, gently nudging Raiden in the stomach. "Shut up. You're shy with, uh…. about training!"
"I am just not as experienced as you. But I think even I'm better with women than you are."
They both laugh at that, poorly attempting to stifle the noise with their hands.
"Yeah. I guess I just need practice." Kung Lao shrugs.
"Me too."
Before Lao can process what his brain has come up with and stop himself from speaking, his mouth betrays him. "Wanna practice, then?"
Raiden pauses. Then he chuckles. "Good one."
"I'm serious."
"Oh."
Oh. Raiden feels a pool of heat in the pit of his stomach.
"It's just a little kissing." He shrugs, as if it's the most normal suggestion in the world.
"That wouldn't be…uncomfortable to you?"
"Does it make you uncomfortable?"
Raiden squeezes Kung Lao's leg. "No." He whispers.
"C'mere." Lao pats the spot next to him. Raiden shyly crawls over and takes a seat, mind and heart already racing at just the idea of something like this.
Neither of them seem to know where to begin. Raiden places a hand on his friend's back.
"It's just like training. Nothing personal, right?"
Except this is nothing like training and everything about being someone's first kiss is very, very personal, especially if it's your best friend.
Kung Lao nods. "Yeah. And I just wanna get it over with. My first kiss, I mean."
Raiden grins. "Me too. I'd like to be able to say I've done it."
"Okay…how do we do this, then?"
"You're high, Lao. Not inept. Just relax. Follow your instincts."
He nods. He looks Raiden in his eyes, then down at his lips, then back at his eyes, and he finds himself way more worked up than he should be over something supposedly so 'simple' and meaningless.
Kung Lao tucks some of Raiden's hair behind his ear to get a better look at his face, dragging that hand down to cup his cheek.
"That's definitely a good start."
"You're not supposed to talk." Lao whisper-shouts.
"Right. Sorry."
Raiden tries not to grin, but he can't help it. His friend looks like a lost puppy dog, staring at him with those big eyes.
He leans into his touch, closing his eyes. Kung Lao tenderly rubs his thumb over his cheek bone.
He pulls him a little closer.
Raiden takes the initiative to close the gap.
Kung Lao's lips are soft. Both of their breathing stops.
The kiss is quick and gentle. Only a few seconds, five at the most. But when they pull back to look at each other, they both realize they want more.
Kung Lao grabs Raiden's face and pulls him in for a little more intense, deeper kiss. Raiden's hands find a home on his shoulders, squeezing as he parts his lips and allows his friend's tongue in his mouth.
It feels like floating on a cloud. Kung Lao tastes sweet, like a light dessert. He's a good kisser. A little eager, but definitely not bad.
Raiden's lips curl into a smile, which Kung Lao must be able to feel, because shortly after he laughs into his mouth.
They pull back to each take a breath. Kung Lao's lips shine with spit. Raiden's cheeks glow a soft pink.
"I…." Raiden begins.
Kung Lao puts a hand up. His smile falters. "Don't say anything."
"But I thought you wanted—"
"I do. I did…."
Raiden's face softens. He places a hand on Lao's arm. "It's okay."
"No, it isn't. I'm just high. That's it."
"Kung Lao…"
Lao rips his arm away, hiding his face. Raiden hears him sniffle.
Raiden looks down, feeling a little guilty. Then he swallows and mumbles, "it's just practice."
A long pause of silence. So long, Raiden moves to get up and leave Kung Lao alone.
But then Kung Lao turns to him, thick tear streaks staining his cheeks.
"You know it isn't practice."
Raiden inhales sharply. "I know."
"I'm sorry," he says wetly.
Kung Lao looks beautiful like this. Tears glistening on his skin in the dim lighting of the room, the moon barely creeping in to illuminate his melancholic form.
Raiden shuffles a little, crawling on Lao's lap. His friend looks up at him like he's crazy, but he allows it, which means something.
"Don't apologize for your feelings," he softly says, wiping a few tears from his face.
"Are they not wrong to have?" He whispers, voice breaking.
"You're beautiful." Raiden smiles as he tucks long strands of hair behind Lao's ears.
Kung Lao scoffs. "Shut up."
He holds his face, carefully placing a kiss on his forehead.
Lao wraps his arms around Raiden's waist.
They kiss again. Softly, but with tongue and delicate little sounds.
It was a waste to fix his hair, because Raiden's tangling his fingers in it as his dull nails massage his scalp.
Kung Lao softly moans, snaking his hands underneath his shirt and rubbing his back.
Raiden lets out a little whine as Kung Lao nips at his bottom lip, then pulls away just so he can kiss and suck at his neck instead.
"Lao…careful…" he shivers.
He can feel little droplets of wetness on his skin. Raiden holds the back of his head as he kisses his body, gently shushing him as he quietly cries.
Kung Lao stops, resting his forehead on his shoulder.
"If you were a girl, this would be easier."
Raiden clenches his jaw. "I know."
"But I want you so bad." He admits.
"We don't have to rush this. It seems to be too much for you."
"I like kissing you, though."
Raiden chuckles, petting his head. "I like kissing you, too."
Kung Lao sits up straight, wiping the rest of his tears away with the back of his hand.
They share a sad look.
"Do we have more weed?"
"Yes," Raiden answers, then shakes his head. "But you don't need to bury your feelings in drugs."
Kung Lao opens up the drawer that everything was always in. "I need more to keep kissing you."
Raiden grabs his wrist, tugging him closer to him, away from the side table. "If you can't kiss me unless you're too high to think, then I don't want it."
He looks at Raiden's hand, feeling the pressure of their proximity.
Kung Lao pushes him off of his lap, causing him to land on his back. He crawls on top of him, hovering.
"Why do you always have to be so….so…so fucking…."
There's no fear in Raiden's body at this moment. He accepted himself, his feelings a long time ago, despite his internalized issues he still struggles with.
But Kung Lao? There is no telling what he's going through.
"You're beautiful," Raiden compliments him again, reaching up to stroke his cheek with the back of his hand.
"Stop.." he chokes.
"It's okay." He whispers. "It's just me."
Kung Lao shakes his head, pulling Raiden up, then nearly knocking him back down with the force of his body against his, wrapping him in a hug.
Raiden returns it, squeezing him tightly.
With his face buried in his neck, Kung Lao's voice is muffled. "I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to do anything. Just be here, with me."
"And after that?"
Raiden gently rocks them side to side. He shrugs. "Tomorrow we work on the farm. We'll go to Madame Bo's. Then maybe we'll go to your house instead of mine."
"Is it really that easy?" Kung Lao turns his face to the side, so it's easier to hear him now.
"Nothing in this life is easy."