#that bobs burger meme: I think theyre neat

[teabiscs]

Sergei/Rei Headcanon

Okay so… this is longer than I thought it would be.

Sergei/Rei would NEVER HAPPEN organically in a non AU, unless, there was another inter team relationship happening. So if Kai was with Boris or Yuiry, or Takao was with Yuriy, then this could happen.

And it’s just a ton of fluff and no angst. Like these two just hit it off given the time to talk and interact. 

Sergei is the one who cooks for the Borg Boys and Rei’s always been the one to cook no matter which team he was on. 

So naturally, when the whole team goes to visit the Borg Boys so Kai and/or Takao can see their partner, Rei tries to be a good guest and help out where he can. And the Borg boys are naturally clean and he has nothing to pick up after, so he tries to help in the kitchen. 

And at first Sergei is hesitant, because Kai is a fucking disaster in the kitchen and has almost burned down the house twice just trying to heat up soup. But he lets Rei help, and turns out???? The tiger is good at cooking????

So they spend about three times a day cooking together and they come up with some Russian/Chinese hybrid cuisine (idk if it’s possible but I’m too lazy to google what Russian food is other then cold soup).

And Rei is so happy to help! Sergei is always so quiet so it’s hard for Rei to get a read on what kind of person he is. He can be so expressionless. (And Rei finds out Sergei is the Borg Boys resident Softie™️, and he’s so kind and nice)

But anywho. The kitchen cabinets are just taller than the ones in China and Japan. And Rei finds that even on his tip toes he can’t always reach the top shelf to grab something (and okay after a week there rei thinks it might be on purpose that everything he needs is so high up. But that’s a conspiracy theory he shares with Max)

[but also!!!! Max and Ivan making bets on those two getting together.]

And Rei is struggling!!!! On his tiptoes a bowl just literally out of his grasp but if he can manage to catch it right he should be able to get it down, WHEN!!!! All of a sudden he’s being lifted off his feet and now he’s up in the air and grabs the bowl. 

And Rei feels his face is hot, when Sergei finally places his feet gently back on the floor. (Also was he imagining it or did Sergei hold him up for a WHILE???) and he turns around and bows and thanks Sergei for his help, but mostly to hide the bright red blush that’s coloring his tanned skin. 

(But while his head is down, he misses the blush on Sergei’s stoic face. )

And so they start to spend time together outside of cooking and then Rei feels bad bc of Max!!! Because Yuriy and Takao are off doing whatever. Boris and Kai are doing… well Rei doesn’t want to think about it. 

But max is like “dude it’s fine! Ivan’s cool as fuck man. We play video games. He’s really good at them.”

[and no, there’s no max/ivan. Imo ivan is one of the few straight characters from OG Beyblade. Though it comes up once it’s gets out that something is going on with Sergei and Rei.]

And the two week visit is over in a snap. And Rei is so upset that they’re leaving. How is it possible that it’s been two weeks. And Rei feels so… weird asking Sergei for his number/WhatsApp or an email, because he doesn’t want to snail mail him. Rei 100% would if needed. 

But he doesn’t. He can’t work up the nerve to ask. And before he knows it he’s in a car on the way to the airport with the other Bladebreakers. Takao and Kai furiously tapping away at their phones. 

And Rei’s heart feels heavy. He wants to still be talking with Sergei but he’s not. And- he could ask Takao for Sergei’s number but he doubts he has it. And then he could ask Kai. But that whole thought has anxiety bubbling up throughout his body. Would Kai give it to him? Would he make him beg for it? Would he ask a million questions? Would he just refuse in general? They were all very private after all. 

Rei takes a deep breath. Snail mail it is then. He could ask for the number in the snail mail (And If Sergei didn't want to exchange numbers he wouldn't feel embarrassed) or just send his number in the letter. That was an option. And if Sergei didn’t want to text him he could just pretend he never got the letter. 

So Rei spends the flight daydreaming and planning out a letter to write as soon as he gets back. Maybe he’d go to the store and get some nice stationary too. Maybe he could find one with a whale on it. 

But it turns out none of that is necessary, because when Rei goes to unpack his duffle bag, a foreign piece of paper slips out. 

Sergei had snuck a note in his bag sometime before they left and then he flashes back to Sergei handing him the bag and his face goes red. 

He gingerly picks up the note and unfolds it like if he moves the wrong way it’ll disintegrate. 

It’s simple and written in sloppy kanji but he can make out the full ten digit number. Reis' hands shake and he’s not sure why his throat feels scratchy or why he’s crying. But he’s so happy. He programs the number in between tears and goes to text it, when he stops.

Would Sergei think it’s weird how fast he texted him? Would he realize he just got back to the house? Would he seem desperate? (And Rei shakes that thought out of his head. Friends. Friends. That’s what they were.)

And then a voice in his head , well friends text each other for less, why are you making it weird Rei?

And then he makes himself blush. For lying to himself. He had a crush on the strawberry blonde. But it’s not mutual (it is) and he just enjoyed the friendship he was able to make with Sergei while in Russia. 

And he doesn’t text Sergei that day. Or the next. No, he waits a week. But not on purpose it’s just everytime he goes to text sergei he psychs himself out. Until Kai approaches him(!?!) and is weird and is like “hey, did you get Sergei’s number? Boris is bugging me to ask you if you did.”

And Rei lets out an awkward laugh and is like yeah I did why?

And Kais like “so you did get it?” Nods “but you haven’t texted him?” Head shake. Kai’s eyebrow raises, “that’s unlike you. Didn’t realize you had it in you to ignore someone.”

And Rei stutters out, “I’m not ignoring him! I just didn’t want to bother him.”

So all Kai does is chuckle and it looks like he had something he wanted to say, but stops himself, his expression transitions back to neutral and goes, “for my sanity with Boris, please just text Sergei. Before yuriy goes and gets Takao involved. Because Takao will be asking more questions than I will.”

Rei gulps, and nods his head slowly. Yeah he didn’t want to open that can of worms. 

So he sits with his phone open just staring at the screen unsure what to send, and so he defaults to /hey it’s rei kon/

And then he throws his phone down because could he be any more awkward? Any more weird? Couldn’t he be normal????

And not even a minute later it dings back, and the ding has his heart racing. And it's a little embarrassing how fast he moves to retrieve his phone. And even on Sergei’s side its a little awkward, like he doesn;t know what to say. But then the overall tone changes to Sergei teasing him about not messaging him, even making jokes about having to get Boris involved (and that he hopes Kai wasn’t too grumpy).

And next thing he knows, it’s dark outside and everyone's wondering why Rei hasn't made dinner yet. And Rei, in rei fashion, is blushing because, wow they’ve been texting for six hours nonstop. He apologizes to everyone (though he does feel kind of annoyed that no one else decided to cook, when they saw he wasn’t), but then the doorbell rings and Kai answers. And someone ordered takeout. It was Kai, and he shoves a bag of food at Rei and disappears off with his. 

(But now Rei feels awkward because he just told Sergei he was going to go cook and eat, but now he’s not. What a dork he is)

But slowish burn of them getting together. They text everyday, and eventually work their way up to video calls. Two months later the Borg Boys fly out to Japan to spend time with them all. (And Rei gets to listen to Yuriy bitch about what a pain in the ass travel visas are, his arms wrapped around Takao, and takao looks up with long eyelashes *eye roll* and is like yeah, but, i'm worth it right?  And Yuriy’s actions (pulling him closer) betray his words of you’re the biggest pain in the ass about coming here.)

Just more of them hanging out. Having a good time. But nothing really progresses. Its still just them hanging and chilling, talking. But Sergei is just closer, physically in everything they do. Sitting on the couch, at the table (THEY BUMP ELBOWS), walking around (FINGERS BRUSH. REI HE WANTS TO HOLD YOUR HAND!!!)

And in another snap of a finger, the Borg Boy’s weak in Japan is done, and they're all trying to figure out theyll see each other again, and if its in Russia or Japan.

After three more trips, read like 7 months, it’s the Borg Boys’ turn to travel, but this time, Ivan stays in Russia. He makes a comment about being a seventh wheel, which goes RIGHT OVER REI’s head. And Max, what’s funny, what did he mean by that? And max just continues to giggle, and rei doesn't notice the blush on Sergei’s cheeks. 

AND THIS IS WHEN THEY GET TOGETHER. Sergei is the one to ask Rei out. And Rei, the dummy, at first thinks Sergei’s Japanese sounds weird. That's a weird way to phrase that. It must be a misunderstanding. But Sergei pushes and sis like I KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING. THIS ISN’T A LANGUAGE BARRIER.

(And then Rei is sad because they're LITERALLy leaving in two days, and he asks sergei why he could do this sooner, and Sergei is like I TRIED. THREE TIMES ALREADY. And then rei thinks about it and oh. OH. he is dense. BLUSH)

Once they are together they are that disgustingly happy, saccharine sweet couple. Always touching. Always tender. Holding hands, holding pinkies. Sergei with a hand on the small of Rei’s back. Rei hugging Sergei from behind. Sergei also loves carrying Rei around, because he is so small and light. Sergei is the always hot one to Rei’s always cold. If Rei is on the couch, Sergei will lift him up, take his spot and then place Rei in his lap. SIZE DIFFERENCE!!! They love playing with each other’s hair. Rei likes pushing Sergei’s back, in a similar way to how his hat thing?? (is there a name for that??) does. Sergei likes twirling Rei’s around his fingers, and as their relationship progresses he likes putting it up for his partner or braiding it.  Even brushing it bc they are that couple (AND REI PURRS)

But also the two are very passive aggressive when they're upset with the other (ITS ALWAYS OVER SOMETHING SO STUPID TOO). Sergei places everything out of Rei’s reach on high shelves, the back of the top of the fridge. He’ll hide the stools and step ladders, because Rei will not stand on a chair. It's a sign of defeat if he stands on a chair to reach things. Idk its a pride thing. Rei will over season food/make things spicier than normal. (Sergei can’t handle spice like Rei can.) Sergei will however, eat it like there’s nothing wrong, but the sweat beading down his face gives it away. And it's just stupid little petty things like this. 

Other’s reactions: 

Takao and Kai are like whatever, because they can't really be ones to talk about partners. But good for them I guess. Kai thinks they're gross though, but their relationship type is not his cup of tea. Why are they always touching and smiling at each other like that? Yuck. 

And sometimes the relationship Rei and Sergei has makes Takao jealous. Yura, why won't you hold my hand like that? Kiss me in public like they do. And Yuriy is like??? That’s not me. You want a relationship like that, go be with them.

MAX THINKS THEY’RE THE CUTEST. AND HE'S SO HAPPY FOR THEM TO HAVE EACH OTHER.

Borg Boys are happy for them. Really no opinion. But now they have the dad friend AND the mom friend. Though one will say its weird that the two teams are basically dating each other. And an Max/Ivan joke will come up, but they're both quick to shoot that down. Ivan has a girlfriend (SINCE WHEN? - everyone), and max giggles and is like yeah, i’m dating too (WITH WHO? - Rei)

The white tigers are initially against him dating someone from Neoborg and it hurts Rei, because Serge makes him happy. And so Mao and him have a long talk and Rei’s like Mao its been YEARS, are you going to hold what they did years ago against them? And so they all give Sergei a chance and the two fly out to China. And that’s how Mao falls in love with Sergei. (she apologizes for jumping the gun and assuming the worst. Even Rai’s like, he’s not a bad guy [none of them are bad guys- rei] and come to think of it Rai has never really interacted with any of them outside of tournaments. But at the end of their visit Sergei gets a White Tiger Seal of Approval™️