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“You are my first.”
Kaeya is tipsy, sprawled on top of a table in Angel’s Share. Diluc isn’t any better, proven by the way he takes the wooden mug out of Kaeya’s hand to put it safely back down onto the table, only for it to tumble harmlessly onto the floor. Kaeya snickers.
Sans the two of them, the tavern is empty. Kaeya is sure Diluc only put up with him because of the weather. Even Diluc didn’t have the heart to throw him out in the pouring rain.
The wine in their blood warms them, spurring stolen glances, stolen kisses, and quiet conversations filled with rare declarations of love.
“Say that again.” Diluc demands when Kaeya doesn’t say anything further.
Kaeya grins, but relents. “You are my person, Diluc. My first person.” he declares, blinking a hazy eye at Diluc. “My first love, my first kiss... my first fuck.” He teases, poking Diluc's cheek. Diluc tries to bite it, prompting Kaeya to laugh. Kaeya holds Diluc’s cheek in one hand, and smiles. He doesn’t say anything, and slowly, Diluc starts to recognise the first hints of sorrow in Kaeya’s visible eye, and how he grows quiet with his thoughts.
Diluc settles his hand over Kaeya’s to chase that sorrow away. “You were my first too.” He says, kissing the palm on his face. “My first kiss, my first love, my first ‘fuck’ as you put it.” Diluc scoffs, making Kaeya laugh again. “But... you were also the first person I’ve ever thought to protect , Kaeya.” he admits gently, stroking the hand on his cheek with his thumb.
Kaeya hums, wistful. “Yeah?”
Diluc scoots closer, letting Kaeya’s hand drop back onto the table. “Yeah.”
Brushing blue strands away from Kaeya’s face, he smiles at his lover, “you were my first ‘person’.” Diluc says. “And you’ll be my last too.”
Kaeya crosses his arms, resting his chin on them while he grins cheekily at Diluc. “What a promise to make.”
“It’s a promise I intend to keep.” Diluc mutters, leaning down to kiss Kaeya’s eyebrow. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
Kaeya shakes his head. “Nah. Let’s stay here a little longer. Another ‘first’ in the list.” He teases.
Diluc snorts. “What? Me taking care of your tipsy ass? That isn’t a first.” he rolls his aching shoulders, and glances out the window to see the storm letting up. He turns back to Kaeya when he feels his hand being taken again.
Kaeya just smiles, “Every experience can be a first, can’t they?”
Diluc huffs again. “You’re ridiculous.”
They’re quiet for a few moments, holding hands on the table, fingers intertwined together. “... you’ll be my last too.” Kaeya whispers, “my first and my last. My person. My life....” he trails off, looking up at Diluc carefully. “my death.”
Diluc squeezes the hand in his, and tries not to think too hard about Kaeya’s words. The implications of it, and the way they both know. The ache in his chest is painfully familiar, so he spends a few precious seconds to choose what he says next. “I’ll give you an eternity of ‘firsts’.” He starts. Determined red eyes accompanies the unfaltering tone of Diluc’s voice when he declares:
“It doesn’t have to end in death.”
Kaeya, surprised and caught off guard, laughs so loudly it makes Diluc flinch away in embarrassment, dislodging their joined hands. “You’re so sappy!” Kaeya exclaims, his forehead now on the table again, giggling like he’s 16 and young. Diluc grumbles, arms crossed and blush high on his cheeks
“But you know,” Kaeya hums, taking his face off the counter to look at Diluc with a dazzling smile. “Eternity doesn’t sound too bad.”
Diluc softens. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, Diluc. Give me your eternity, and I’ll give you mine. How about that? A first for a first.” Kaeya offers.
Diluc has no choice but to kiss that stupid smile off Kaeya’s face, huffing when Kaeya doesn’t stop giggling. “Of course you silly man.” Diluc grunts, pinching Kaeya’s cheeks until he’s whining. “I’ll be all your firsts. So you better be mine too.”
Kaeya grins. “It’s a deal.”