Chapter Text
Their first kiss was in the dark of the night. It tasted like blood and the salt of sweat, the kind of first kiss that a creature like Xiao deserved. He wished he could give something more to Rex Lapis -- something better, more befitting of a god -- but he could only give these kisses that tasted like battle.
Rex Lapis did not seem to mind, then. His kisses on Xiao’s lips were wanting, like he would rather be with Xiao. Perhaps, Xiao wanted to think, he would really rather be with Xiao. Still, Xiao did not feel worthy. Xiao did not feel like he should be here, basking in the divine.
When they parted, Rex Lapis cusps Xiao’s cheek in his hand. There, Xiao felt warm and almost, though not quite, loved. He felt like he could love, even if it was only out of reverence for the god in front of him.
Their first kiss was not their last kiss, even though Xiao felt like it really could be. Despite Xiao knowing that it should be. There were many other kisses that came after that, sometimes tasting like blood, other times like wine.
Yet it was that first kiss that Xiao remembered, holding it close to his heart. It was the remainder of Zhongli’s lips against his own that he treasured, cradling it gently within a part of his heart that he usually cannot touch.