Work Text:
“Lu Guang~ Smile for the camera,” Cheng Xiaoshi said in a carefree voice, letting the camera click. Lu Guang stayed silent, letting a light smile grace his lips.
“Why do you enjoy photography so much…” he said with an exasperated sigh. Cheng Xiaoshi shrugged, he didn’t know why he enjoyed taking photos so much. The photo studio, the camera, Xiaoshi had no idea where it all came from, but he liked it, it was fun. He liked preserving the memories he had forever.
“It’s your birthday! I need to take as many photos as I possibly can,” Cheng Xiaoshi explained in a cheery voice.
“Is it really necessary…” Lu Guang mumbled under his voice, not letting the latter hear him. He didn’t want to discourage him, and if he was being honest, he didn’t mind photos if Xiaoshi was the one taking them.
“I’ll put them all in a photobook,” Xiaoshi decided as he looked at the photos he had just taken, “when we grow old we can reminisce about ‘the good old days’!” He put the last part in quotations.
“...sure.” Lu Guang seemingly agreed, not entirely on board.
“Hey, chin up, you look so sad, it’s your birthday,” Xiaoshi complained in a jokingly whiny voice. He held Lu Guang’s hands, staring at him before letting a sigh escape his mouth. “I’m cutting the cake,” he declared, letting go of the latter’s hands.
“Thanks,” Lu Guang said, taking the plate with a piece of cake along with a fork.
“How is it?” Xiaoshi asks as he gets his own slice, silently waiting to dig in.
Cheng Xiaoshi had taken up baking a while ago, and Lu Guang would be lying if he said he wasn’t getting better at it.
He dug his fork into the soft cake. The cake felt like a sponge, a soft sponge texture.
“It’s not terrible,” Cheng Xiaoshi said, savoring the soft cream and strawberries he had added.
Lu Guang didn’t open his mouth to reply as he was eating, only nodding in response. However, he was slightly annoyed. A bit of the cream was on the outside of Cheng Xiaoshi’s lip, and he couldn’t help but notice it.
He leaned in quickly, their lips meeting. Lu Guang took his time, tasting the frosting on the other’s lips. After a few seconds, he pulled back quickly, acting as if nothing had happened.
“Lu Guang…” Cheng Xiaoshi whined, “Don’t surprise me like that.”
He stayed silent for a few seconds, “it tastes better on your lips anyways,” he deadpanned, returning to his own plate.
Xiaoshi would be lying if he wasn’t a burning red.
“Oh- okay,” he said, a bit unsure how to respond. He could hear a soft laugh come from Lu Guang’s lips.
“You’re so cute when you’re flustered,” he pointed out while turning to him.
Cheng Xiaoshi slapped him on the back, a frustrated look on his face. “Shut up.”
They both laughed, “We both know you don’t mean that.”
“I know,” Cheng Xiaoshi said with a wide smile, hugging him to show his affection, the latter hugging him even tighter.
Xiaoshi suddenly felt the room grow cold, no longer feeling the other’s embrace. Only then did he realize the time was up. He stared back at the photo in his palm, Lu Guang holding his cake, unknowing of the photo he took.
He wanted to cry.
The feeling was too much for him. He looked back at the photo album he was composing. It was only half-finished, he hadn’t bothered with taking too many photos as he believed they would have the chance to take even more in the future. He had thought wrong.
He let the tears finally fall, no longer caring. A glance through the photo album was enough to tip him over the edge. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could take it.
Cheng Xiaoshi stared mindlessly around the room, an empty feeling overtaking him.
“Lu Guang… I wish you smiled more,” he said in a low whisper, staring at the photos.