#YAAA BOOIIIII | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

theworldinclines · 4 years

Text

Title: the good, the best

Pairing: Wave/Pang

Ao3 link

Wave has always had a bit of an attention disorder when it comes to Pang. Since the first time he set eyes on Pang back in sophomore year, Wave has had a difficult time keeping them off him. Nothing special has to be happening, either; in the days of the Gifted class, the group could be focused on individual assignments, Pom might be giving a lecture at the front of the room, or really any number of things. But the constant variable was Wave’s attention slipping from whatever actually needed it, to Pang. And that hasn’t changed in the year that’s passed.

“You know as well as us that this is the best solution,” Claire says, like it’s that simple. Her arms are crossed over her chest and it’s obvious that her patience is waning. (Considering Punn’s absence for class, it’s no wonder that she arrived with less than usual to begin with.)

When their leader gives no sign of answering her, Ohm is prompted to say from his place behind Claire’s seat, “Pang, I get it’s hard for you, but this is too risky for us.”

“If I do this, how am I any different from the Director?” Pang asks after a second. He doesn’t look up from the table, unable to meet the eyes of any of his friends, and even only seeing Pang’s profile Wave can tell that he’s moments away from cracking.

“You said it yourself,” Korn points out, to Pang’s right. “We really have this one chance, that’s it.”

Pang doesn’t speak again, and after another beat of charged silence, Wave pushes up out of his chair at the desk to call it. “Clear the room,” he tells the group. “We’ll meet here in five hours to discuss the final plan.”

“Wave,” Ohm begins, but a silencing stare from the other boy makes Ohm shut his mouth. Wave doesn’t often employ his position as unofficial co-leader of the Gifted, but the rest know better than to challenge him when he does. More often than not he’s perfectly content to let Pang take charge, but sometimes, like right now, Pang needs a break. They must sense that, from Pang’s downtrodden expression, because their friends disperse from the storage space without a word. Only Ohm remains for an extra minute to make their presence here invisible, and then he’s gone too.

Wave follows Pang up to the little alcove, where Pang has taken a seat on the pearl armchair by the lockers. He’s quiet, fiddling with the hem of his untucked shirt. Wave lowers himself onto the edge of the orange ottoman across from Pang. He isn’t a stranger to Pang’s occasional moods; especially when issues come up such as this, Wave knows to prepare for an impending storm, even if it’s a small one.

“No one expects you to be the Director,” is the first thing Wave says.

“If I was, we wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with,” Pang answers.

“Pang.”

“I invited in the Anti-Gifted, I didn’t stop them from forming after they decided we’re mutant freaks, and because of that, they planted the bomb that hurt Namtaan and all those teachers.” Pang looks at Wave for the first time all afternoon. “And if I weren’t such a coward, I could’ve stopped Time and prevented him from going rogue too, but I’m so scared to be anything like the Director that it paralyses me.” Wave feels his chest ache at the sound of Pang’s voice catching.

“It isn’t all on you,” he says. “Do you think if anyone here blamed you for what’s happened, they’d still want you to lead?” Wave has said all this probably thrice over in some variation, but Pang never seems to internalise it. This school has done a real number on him, and it kills Wave to see it.

He’s the one who used to put on such a front of unshakable strength, but these days it’s been Pang who tries so hard to appear fearless when he’s so far from it. But that doesn’t make him weak. Wave says this to Pang, because he knows that he needs to hear it.

“I’m not a good leader,” Pang says, after a second.

“You are. And don’t give me any of that about being like the Director, because if you were, Time would be a non-issue right now.” Wave pauses. “And I know tonight’s had you feeling like shit, but you know it’s necessary, right?”

“It’s the chance we’ve been waiting for,” Pang admits, as Korn had mentioned.

“And the circumstances suck, but they are what they are,” Wave says. “They turn themselves in to the admin, Ritdha takes it from there. You aren’t doing anything even close to what the Director would do, Pang.”

“It’s just…”

“I know.” Wave goes quiet, then says, “And you know, I share part of the blame for what happened last year.” Pang looks at Wave, skeptical and disbelieving, and Wave goes on before he can actively protest. “Namtaan was closer to the bomb, sure. But I had you in the room with me; I didn’t want you to… I couldn’t let you leave and not know if you’d make it back.”

“Wave.”

“So you can go on blaming yourself, but it was me too. And more than us, it was the Anti-Gifted for choosing violence,” Wave says pointedly. Pang drops his eyes to his lap, and Wave watches him, as always, waiting. He sees Pang give a slight nod, and a bit of the tightness in his chest loosens. “Let’s tell the rest we’re set.”

Pang follows Wave in standing but takes Wave’s hand before he can go. “You never said… Is what happened with Namtaan why you told me how you felt that night?”

“I… wanted to tell you for a while before that,” Wave manages to say. Even after months he isn’t a fan of all this talk of emotions and it’s likely showing on his red face. “But the bomb was part of the reason. Yeah.”

“I wanted to tell you too,” Pang says, “but there was never a good time…”

“So the night of an explosion was ‘good’?” Wave asks, eyebrows raised, and Pang laughs.

“Let’s just get out of here,” Pang says, tugging Wave by the hand for the stairs. He pauses, though, making Wave bump into his arm at the abrupt stop. “And thanks. For being there, since then. Even before that you were there, and I haven’t thanked you.”

Wave squeezes Pang’s hand. “There’s no need for thanks between us. You know that.”

“Can I elect to change that rule? Cuz I definitely think—”

“Pang.”

Pang nods once dutifully and leans forward to press a kiss to Wave’s forehead. Wave has only just closed his eyes to bask in the feeling when Pang pulls away to give him a small grin.

“All good?”

“I should be asking you that,” Wave points out, giving him a look.

“I’m okay,” Pang says, and the soft, simmering light in his eyes tells Wave that he’s being honest. He gives a pull to the string that connects to Wave’s hat, hanging around to his back now. “Where would I be without your nagging?”

Wave snorts. “Let’s not find out.” Pang’s smirk melts into a dopey smile as Wave rolls his eyes, blushing. “Back door. I’ll take the front.”

“I can’t wait until this is all over and we can just… walk together. As it is, you’ve already stolen my jacket, my fishing hat, my heart—what’s next?”

“I’ll see you tonight,” Wave says in a rush, already halfway out the door. Once he’s out of sight of Pang, Wave stops against the wall to catch a breath. That leader of theirs is seriously going to be the death of him.

I love you, beeps his phone. It’s fortunate Wave had already propped himself against a wall, because otherwise he’d be floored. One would think that after nearly half a year together Wave wouldn’t be so affected by these words, or anything to do with Pang, by now. But no. It’s as earth-shatteringly endearing as it ever was and, Wave knows, the reason as to why his attention has never strayed. It’s Pang. That’s all, always.

Wave returns the sentiment and then stuffs his phone away lest he delve into his hidden gallery of stolen Pang candids. With that, he goes on his way for class and tries not to think about the next time Pang will get caught in his own mind regarding the trepidation toward his abilities, so similar to Director Supot’s.

He hates seeing Pang hurting. But at the least Wave knows that he will be there at his side, the same as he’s been every other time, to remind Pang that he’s good, the best, and that he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

#YAAA BOOIIIII #the gifted graduation #tgg #my writing #pangwave #wavepang #wave x pang #pang x wave #fics #archive of our own #ao3 #fanfictions #the good the best #the gifted thai series #the gifted the series #gifted the series #gifted thai series #the gifted graduation thai series #the gifted graduation the series #gifted graduation the series #gifted graduation thai series

41 notes · View notes