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diluc has never understood the appeal of fraternities.
sue him, but nothing about living under the same roof with a bunch of horny adolescent boys with a skewed sense of hygiene seems like it would be an enjoyable experience in the slightest. if diluc thinks about it, he’s even willing to bet they all use those 3-in-1 shampoo-conditioner-body wash and would even pat themselves in the back for it.
that, however, does nothing to explain what diluc’s doing right now; standing in the middle of a frat party, trying his best to not walk into any of the sweaty bodies that are frankly standing way too close to him.
like most things, this is the fault of arataki itto, an upperclassman that diluc really shouldn’t have gotten acquainted with. surprisingly, itto isn’t a frat boy – though he definitely looks the part – but he does have a weird liking for attending frat parties and an even weirder liking of dragging diluc to them.
think of all the hot babes, luc, is what itto would tell him, to which diluc would reply, i’m gay, itto.
usually, diluc could come up with a decent enough excuse to avoid attending these parties with itto, but to his dismay, itto seemed extra relentless this time around and wouldn’t accept diluc’s i have a test coming up as an answer.
that’s when diluc also came to realise that itto has a thing for this sorority chick named kujou sara who would also be attending and needed diluc as a wingman. diluc didn’t have the heart to say no.
(that’s a lie. diluc did say no, multiple times. he ended up agreeing after itto promised he’d buy diluc dinner for two weeks.)
what diluc comes to realise only after he’s already at the party is that itto didn’t need a wingman at all, as not even fifteen minutes later, he finds itto pinned to the wall by kamisato ayato who has his tongue down his throat. amazing. diluc doesn’t know what happened to the original plan with kujou sara but finds that he’s rather fine with not knowing.
that sight alone should have been enough for diluc to promptly take his leave but for a reason unbeknownst to even himself, diluc decides that he’ll genuinely try to have fun. keyword being try.
that lasts for maybe half an hour or so because by the time naganohara yoimiya from the physics department comes to him asking if he wants to do body shots, diluc thinks that maybe he’s had enough. giving yoimiya the shitty excuse of needing to use the bathroom, diluc slips away.
he finds himself standing on the veranda, the only empty spot in the entire house. it’s a little chilly out so that’s probably why it’s quiet. diluc places his elbows on the railing, resting his chin on his palms as he watches the people below.
outside, there’s someone throwing up in the bushes and diluc would typically be disgusted, but there’s someone else rubbing at their back soothingly. in a weird sort of way, it’s almost sweet, diluc presumes, how there’s love everywhere.
if itto could hear his train of thoughts, he would probably say something along the lines of, don’t kill me for saying this, but that’s so fucking gay, man. for once, diluc wouldn’t blame him.
deep in thought, diluc doesn’t notice another person coming in until the door to the veranda closes and diluc turns around to see a boy that couldn’t be any older than he is.
he’s wearing a snapback paired with sunglasses even though it’s the middle of the night and they’re indoors . tufts of ginger curls peek out from under the hat and judging by the tank top revealing nicely toned arms and the red solo cup he’s holding, diluc knows this is a frat boy if he’s ever seen one.
diluc takes this as his sign to go home, though he was kind of appreciating the peace and quiet. that is, until whatshisface from kappa sigma pi says, “hey there, i didn’t mean to barge in. sorry, homeslice.”
diluc doesn’t know whether it’s because this random guy is calling him homeslice or because he sounds oddly earnest, but he’s taken by surprise anyway.
“it’s alright, i was just leaving anyway,” diluc replies, curt.
“aw, that’s a shame,” the guy says, “not having any fun?”
“parties aren’t really my thing.” diluc is hoping that through the flat tone of his voice, the other guy will pick up on the fact that diluc has no intention in making conversation.
that doesn’t work because the corner of the guy’s lips tug upwards. “you don’t say,” he muses.
despite himself, diluc feels compelled to ask: “why are you here? aren’t you supposed to be inside playing beer pong or something?” his tone isn’t particularly friendly, but the guy doesn’t seem to take any offense.
the guy takes off the shades and rests his arms on the railing beside diluc. this is when diluc comes to realise that he’s cute. like, cute cute in the boy-next-door sort of way. then again, he’s also in a frat so maybe he’s not that cute.
“my bros heizou and hutao are trying to get me to shave off my eyebrows for a stupid dare,” the guy says, like it’s the most normal thing in the world, “and i’d agree but my mom would probably kill me when i facetime her later this weekend.”
diluc doesn’t know how to unpack that. for one, while shaving off your eyebrows seems rather in line for typical frat boy shenanigans, diluc would’ve never thought that maintaining a nice relationship with your mother would fall under that category as well.
it almost makes diluc feel a little guilty, it’s been a hot minute since he last called his stepmother back home, but he brushes that thought aside.
diluc hasn’t said anything, creating a little lull in their mostly one-sided conversation and when he turns to look at the guy, he’s staring at diluc unabashedly. his eyes are shining with his lips parted when he says, “you’re really beautiful.” he sounds so sincere that it almost throws diluc off.
“i’m not going to suck your dick,” diluc tells him bluntly.
“huh?”
“nor am i going to be your gay awakening,” diluc continues, backing away slowly until he reaches the door. holding the handle, he adds, “hopefully your eyebrows stay intact.”
he’s annoyed and perhaps a little disappointed, but that’s what he gets for thinking one drunk college boy is different from other drunk college boys just because he’s pretty.
“i’m bi!” the guy says quickly, catching diluc by surprise. diluc blinks at him. “i had my gay awakening in high school. and also i’m not asking you to suck my dick. unless... you want to?”
to that, diluc laughs. like a full body laugh that almost brings him to tears as the guy tilts his head at diluc, brows knitted together in concern.
“are you okay?” he asks, and diluc must be drunk too because there’s no way his mind just thought the way the guy appears so lost was adorable. absolutely not, last time he checked, diluc had standards.
“do you use 3-in-1 shampoo?” diluc asks, completely disregarding the question he’s just been asked.
“what?”
diluc doesn’t end up getting an answer because before the guy can respond, the door slides open again and two people barge in, almost knocking diluc over. one of them has a dick drawn on her cheek and the other guy that bumped into diluc turns to him and says, “sorry, man, didn’t see you there.”
“ajax! there you are!” girl-with-dick-drawn-on-cheek exclaims, her grin stretching wider. there’s a razor in her hand that she’s flailing around and for a moment diluc wonders if he’s in a room full of adults or overgrown children.
“can’t believe you ditched us, t-dog,” the other guy says, pouting, “that’s totally uncool.” diluc’s eye twitches at the word t-dog.
the guy – ajax, diluc presumes, looks between his two friends with what has to be described as unadulterated fear in his eyes. for a moment, no one says anything. that is, until ajax turns his heel and dives over the veranda balcony straight into a shrub. he does it all in way that seems all too graceful for someone who’s wearing a pastel pink tank top and an obey snapback.
all diluc can do is stare, as ajax gets up from the bush and starts to flee. even ajax’s friends are momentarily stunned, until they follow suit and jump after him (rather gracelessly, might diluc add), hot on ajax’s trail.
✩
the next time diluc sees ajax again, it’s at another party.
the primary differences are that first of all, it’s at itto’s apartment. secondly and perhaps more noticeably, ajax’s brows are dyed the flashiest shade of hot pink he’s ever seen. diluc doesn’t run into him as much as he spots the boy standing on the dining table holding a cup full of beer, curly orange hair on full display.
it catches diluc by surprise momentarily, seeing the human equivalent of a highlighter making an attempt to swing on itto’s chandelier with a crowd egging him on. diluc contemplates acting as the voice of reason and intervening lest itto gets himself kicked out by the landlady but ultimately goes against it, spotting itto’s tall figure amongst the crowd of people encouraging this.
whatever , diluc thinks dismissively. he’s only here to grab his laptop that he forgot to take home two days ago and promptly does so.
(he makes the mistake of walking in the middle of... whatever nilou and ayaka were doing - “is that an ouija board?” diluc asks, letting curiosity get the best of him.
nilou brightens. “yes! we’re trying to summon the ghost lesbian that lives in this block! itto said she swings by time to time.”
diluc leaves the room with no further questions, though he does make a mental note to ask itto about it later.)
with his laptop safely secured in his book bag, diluc takes one last glance at the crowd of people in an apartment that really doesn’t have the capacity to hold all of them, and leaves.
diluc finds that he will come to regret this immensely because the next afternoon, diluc’s phone is blown up with a dozen or so missed calls from itto and even one from itto’s neighbour.
“what,” diluc grits out, picking up on the third ring, “do you want.”
as it turns out, itto’s chandelier had fallen to the ground but it wasn’t really his fault (or so itto claims) because he really did warn ajax that climbing onto the chandelier with him might not be the brightest idea. safe to say, diluc hangs up the moment itto is done explaining the horrors that took place last night.
but diluc isn’t all too bad of a friend because he does show up at his friend’s apartment an hour later, armed with a black garbage bag and a pair of tongs he had prepared for such emergencies. and it seems like ajax isn’t that horrible of a person either because he’s the only person who stuck around to clean up while itto tries to explain to his landlady why exactly the chandelier has found a new home on top of the dining table.
this is also pointedly their third time meeting.
(“it’s you!” ajax had chirped, when he opened the front door to see diluc, sounding way too enthusiastic for someone donning yellow rubber cleaning gloves. “i didn’t see you at the party yesterday!”
“i did,” came diluc’s reply, flat. “you’re kind of hard to miss with the fluorescent pink brows and all.”
ajax had flushed, all pink and pretty, rambling on about something along the lines of, hutao wouldn’t let me get away with not shaving my brows and lumi had extra pink dye left. diluc had said nothing, stepping inside the apartment. if the corners of his lips had quirked up, ajax didn’t see it.)
diluc knows the chandelier fell right on the table – it was a miracle in its own right that the table itself hadn’t given in – but seeing it in person still manages to render him speechless.
he just stands there, mouth pressed into a thin line until ajax comes up behind him, saying, “i managed to call a place to get a replacement. they said they’ll come by later today. anyway, i think there’s another pair of cleaning gloves in the kitchen, i’ll go get them.”
while ajax goes ahead to do just that, itto comes from his room, a dumb smile plastered on his face. “i didn’t get evicted!” he announces, sounding way too happy for someone whose apartment looks like a pigsty.
“you still have a hole in your ceiling,” diluc deadpans, the same time ajax emerges from the kitchen holding a pair of pink cleaning gloves and saying, “congrats, man!” he then goes on to add, “but for the record, if she had kicked you out, i’d totally let you crash on my bed. it would be a tight fit, but i’d do that for you, bro.”
“ bro ,” itto echoes, sounding genuinely touched. diluc’s eye twitches.
✩
diluc knows the campus library well.
he comes by as often as he needs to, typically to get work done in the sort of tranquil that is simply not achievable at home. he found out in freshmen year that it’s far better than trying to finish his essays in his apartment.
(scaramouche is an alright roommate, as far as living with a wannabe twitch streamer goes, but he’s also loud, especially when he’s playing video games and diluc thinks he might go insane if he has to sit through one more hour of overhearing scaramouche’s pitiful attempt at clearing another level of whatever game he’s playing.)
back to what diluc was saying, he knows the library well. he knows it well enough to know that the ideal study spot is on the fourth floor, in a corner that that’s more often than not left blissfully empty.
he mustn't know everything, though, because when diluc reaches his table (yes, his table. while diluc may not own the campus library, but he’s formed some sort of attachment to it, archons forbid), there’s someone there already occupying it.
see, diluc isn’t a particularly unreasonable person so he’s more than willing to let this go and just use the table adjacent. it’s not a big deal, so diluc isn’t going to make it into one.
that is, until he notices who exactly it is hogging his table.
the person in question has a hoodie pulled over their head with locks of ginger hair sticking out and while diluc won’t claim to know every orange-haired person on campus, the moment he notices them wearing mismatched socks paired with lime green crocs, it doesn’t take much figuring out as to who this is.
“good morning,” diluc says, keeping his voice neutral.
ajax perks up at the sound of his voice, turning to diluc with a mega-watt smile plastered on his face. “diluc! hey!” he exclaims, sounding way too preppy for someone who’s at the library to study. diluc suppresses a wince and takes the empty seat next to ajax.
diluc half-expects ajax to talk his ear off the entire time, but in a surprising turn of events, ajax remains rather focused on what he’s doing, something diluc appreciates immensely. this is when diluc comes to notice the colour-coded binder beside ajax’s books and from there, it’s almost as if there’s a shift in diluc’s gears.
diluc won’t claim to know every frat boy in existence, nor is he going to go around thinking they all act the same, but something about seeing one with a colour coded binder that’s placed next to – is that a weekly planner?
“is that a weekly planner?” diluc blurts out when his brain-to-mouth filter chooses to fail him for the first time in his life. he regrets saying it the moment it comes out of his mouth.
ajax takes off one of his airpods and furrows his obnoxiously pink brows in mild confusion. then he must understand what diluc’s talking about because his lips part into an ‘o’ and he perks up.
“yeah!” comes his response, “i like to stick to a strict routine but sometimes i have a tough time scheduling all the stuff i have going on and aether suggested getting a planner – oh, you probably don’t know who that is, he’s lumine’s twin brother -” diluc’s brain promptly filters out the rest of ajax’s babbling, instead focusing on the part where he mentioned having a strict routine.
“you’re joking,” diluc says in disbelief.
“no, lumine really does have a twin brother!” ajax answers.
diluc raises a hand to stop him. “i believe that, i was talking about the schedule.”
ajax smiles, confused. “why would i joke about that?”
then, to prove his point and ruin every perception diluc ragnvidr had of fraternities and the like, ajax shows him said schedule. it’s meticulously filled in with everything ranging from test dates to birthdays and when diluc flips to the next page, he realises there’s a meal plan too.
“you’re so thorough,” diluc mutters, more to himself than anything.
ajax preens at the praise. “it’s nothing, really,” he says, “i just think organisation is the key to a happy life. don’t you agree?”
“yes,” diluc says, starstruck.
archons above, he doesn’t think he’s ever been more attracted to someone in his entire life.
✩
from that day onwards, it’s as though the gods themselves decided on making sure diluc would have to come to terms with the fact that he’s infatuated over a man who most likely doesn’t care about the fact that you’re not supposed to apply conditioner to your scalp. kaeya tells diluc that ajax probably doesn’t even know about that rule, and the mere thought of that has diluc repressing a shudder.
diluc foolishly hoped that the extent of their acquaintanceship would end with awkward hellos exchanged when they ran into each other but realised a little too late that life is never so easy, especially not for him.
in a span of a single semester, diluc swears he’s seen ajax more than he’s seen his own roommate.
it started off with one-off study sessions where they’d work in comfortable silence, until somewhere along the line, it became more common for diluc to study at the library with ajax sitting across from him than without; until the sight of ajax with his pen pressed between his lips and his brows pinched together became something so familiar, as did finding ajax’s behemoth of a water bottle (a two-litre mountain-grade bottle, mind you) on their table when he got there.
more alarmingly, somewhere along the line, diluc realised he didn’t mind at all.
ajax is terribly endearing without meaning to be, full of sunny smiles and loud, boisterous laughter that has a terrible tendency of ringing through diluc’s mind. he offers diluc freshly baked muffins because that’s just a hobby he happens to have, shows diluc tiktoks that really aren’t funny at all but has diluc distracted because of the fits of giggles that are typically accompanied with it, all the while completely oblivious to diluc’s ongoing internal dilemma.
the dilemma in question obviously being –
“so let me get this straight,” kaeya begins, crossing one leg over the other, “you find out that a frat boy has – what? a weekly planner? and now you have a crush on him?”
diluc plants his face in his arms, letting out a groan. “this is a disaster.”
“i think it’s very in character,” rosaria says, taking a sip of her tea. “your taste in men is abhorrent at worst and pathetic at best.”
“i, for one, am very much in support of this development,” venti offers and holds his hand up in mock-surrender at the scathing look diluc sends him. “what? you guys even had a meet-cute, it must be fate.”
rosaria reaches over and flicks diluc in the forehead, eliciting a sharp hiss. “you’re so dramatic, ragnvindr. just ask him out if he’s got you so hot and bothered.”
“i don’t think he knows how, rosie,” kaeya sighs wistfully, and just from the lilt in his voice diluc can tell his brother has a smug smile on his lips.
venti pats diluc’s head placatingly before he can even think of throttling kaeya. “men in fraternities usually have very low standards, so you have a pretty good chance.”
diluc lifts his head up to raise a brow at venti. “is that supposed to make me feel better?”
venti shrugs as kaeya leans forward, asking, “who is it? you haven’t given us a name yet.”
diluc scoffs. “like hell if i will. you know way too many people on campus for me to tell you.”
“tell me then,” rosaria urges, “the only people i willingly interact with are you guys and my girlfriend.”
“absolutely not,” diluc deadpans, ignoring rosaria’s protests. as much as rosaria wishes to deny it, she loves gossip – especially the petty and mundane sort, and also, he’s half certain she’s the one who told jean it was actually diluc who broke her favourite fountain pen. “if anyone, i’ll tell venti. i doubt anyone in his master's programme would care–”
“diluc?”
diluc whips his head around and is met with ajax in all his hawaiian shirt and basketball shorts donning glory. behind him, his friends grow suspiciously quiet. “ajax,” he says, half breathless, half mortified, “hey.”
“hey,” ajax echoes, a slight smile on his lips. “i didn’t think i’d run into you here.”
underneath the warm lights of cafe interior blending in with the sunlight pooling inside, ajax’s tawny curls appear golden, as do the rest of him, making his features appear softer than usual – at least that’s what diluc tells himself when he finds himself unable to search for a reply, to tear his eyes away from the blues of his irises, the white of his teeth.
he can’t even get himself to say that they’re currently at the only starbucks on campus which is almost always packed, making it one of the most obvious places to run into each other – which is what he would have said had it been anyone else. instead, he finds himself replying, “me neither,” his voice kept uncharacteristically soft.
ajax opens his mouth to say something else when another person comes up to him, clapping his shoulder. “bro, hate to be the bearer of bad news but your car just got towed.”
ajax’s eyes widen comically. “seriously?” he asks, before turning to leave, but not without offering diluc an apologetic look. “i gotta go, luc. i’ll see you around, though!”
when the two are out of earshot, kaeya clears his throat. “i believe we found our person.”
✩
thankfully, ajax does get his car back, as diluc comes to learn the next time they see each other. it had been an impromptu sort of thing, diluc suggesting they get ice cream by the time they were both kicked out of the library. it was the last week before finals began, and privately, diluc knew it would be a while since he’d see ajax again.
ajax had stared at him then, rendered speechless for perhaps the first time in his life.
“what?” diluc had questioned, growing defensive at ajax’s imploring gaze.
“nothing,” came ajax’s reply, shaking his head lightly, “i’d love to get ice cream.”
that’s how they found themselves sitting by the curb outside the convenience store, knees bumping together as they watched the night sky above them. the hot summer air had caused diluc’s strawberry ice cream to melt onto his fingers, leaving a sticky sensation that he would have otherwise found unbearable if it weren’t for who was accompanying him.
ajax is showing him vlogs he’s been filming for the past few weeks, their elbows brushing together as he fast forwards to the part where heizou had accidentally lit the curtains on fire. the video quality is horrendous, and diluc doesn't think he’d even be able to tell it was heizou who was screaming in terror because of the low exposure, but his own tiredness has him feeling comfortable enough to laugh anyway.
ajax pokes his cheek then, leaning in until their proximity has diluc blinking back at him. from here, the expanse of freckles dotting the bridge of ajax’s nose and the apples of his cheeks remind diluc of the night sky and the comparison – or perhaps it is the cheesiness of it – has diluc’s face warming.
for a moment, diluc holds his breath, waiting for ajax to break the delicate silence that has fallen between the two of them; for him to do anything, really.
“you have ice cream on your nose,” ajax tells him.
“what?”
then, because ajax has the maturity level of an eighth grader, he swipes his vanilla cone across diluc’s nose. diluc inhales sharply, mouth hanging open in disbelief. this must be the exact reaction ajax had been hoping for because he pulls away, laughing a little too loud considering how late it is.
“i’ll kill you,” diluc grits out, teeth clenching when his threat only causes ajax to laugh louder.
diluc isn’t above being petty, which ajax clearly didn’t foresee, because he lets out a yelp when diluc swipes a bit of vanilla across his cheek. ajax ends up dropping the cone altogether, which in diluc’s defence, wasn’t part of the plan.
“that’s cruel, luc,” ajax complains, as they both stare at the scene, the ice cream melting into the drain.
“you asked for it,” is what diluc mutters in return, but feels bad enough that he buys him another anyway. the grin ajax gives him in return is blinding, and diluc tries very hard to ignore the butterflies in his chest and the ache in his cheeks from all the smiling he’s been doing too.
✩
when diluc presses the last key on the piano, he lets out a relieved exhale. he feels a thrum of adrenaline through his veins, a pleasant sort of warmth in his chest, a feeling he’s desperately missed.
diluc registers the sound of an audience applauding, and when he offers a bow, he manages to spot kaeya and his stepmother amidst the countless faces. diluc doesn’t see his father, which shouldn’t come as much as a surprise, and really shouldn’t sting that much either. but it does, which he ignores, preoccupied with meeting the people who do care.
“i’m so proud of you,” his stepmother coos at him when he finds her backstage, after everyone else had already offered their words of praise and flowers. then, in a softer tone she adds, “i’m sorry your father couldn’t come. he said something came up at work, you know how it is.”
his smile dropping a little at the mention of his father, diluc changes the subject. “where’s kaeya?”
“he’s coming with the rest of your friends,” she answers, straightening diluc’s tie as she does.
when kaeya does show up, he gives diluc a tight hug which is quickly joined in by rosaria, venti and even zhongli (perhaps the only enjoyer of classical music amidst them all) and diluc feels so very loved, deciding he could care less if crepus ragnvindr didn’t deem his son worth his time.
when they all pull away, diluc turns to see ajax dressed in a nice suit, holding a large bouquet of carnations. there’s a gentle smile on his lips, quite unlike the broad grin he usually wears and the sight of him has diluc’s smile falling as he gasps, “you came.”
“you asked,” ajax answers earnestly. he fiddles with his hands like he’s nervous, before continuing with, “i can’t say i know very much about classical music, but for what it’s worth, you were amazing.”
later, when they are all heading to a restaurant his stepmother had booked a reservation for, kaeya playfully bumps against diluc’s side. “he cleans up rather nicely, don’t you think?”
diluc’s eyes fall on ajax, who’s walking ahead of them, chatting animatedly with zhongli. and as much as diluc is inclined to agree, he finds that ajax looks just as handsome as he did that evening they went to do their groceries together, when he was wearing a hat that read ‘women want me, fish fear me,’ paired with salmon khakis and diluc had to confront the fact that it didn’t matter how questionably ajax dresses, because diluc wants him all the same.
not the sort of want he can flush out of his system with a one-night stand, but the kind of want that has him so inexplicably taken to ajax, the side of him evident from the lockscreen of his phone (it’s a blurry picture of ajax and all his little siblings squeezed into frame, the snezhnayan winter causing their cheeks to be painted the colour of rosebuds), the side that had diluc feeling like he’s thirteen again, liking a boy for the very first time.
of course, diluc has no intention of mentioning a word of this to kaeya so he just shrugs. “sure,” he replies lamely.
“for the record, he likes you too,” kaeya says, smiling softly. “just go for it, diluc.”
(by the end of the night, venti somehow manages to spill his entire glass of wine down his pants and ajax immediately tells him, “i know a really good way to get rid of wine stains, do you have a bottle of contact lense solution on you?”
somehow, with the four of them (zhongli, rosaria and his stepmother declined the invite) crowding a sink in the men’s bathroom, ajax manages to get rid of the stain, earning hoots of admiration from venti who’s still in his boxers.
“as genuinely impressed as i am, why are you not wearing pants?” kaeya asks ajax.
diluc’s eyes land on ajax’s cactus-print briefs, something he must have overlooked when marvelling at ajax’s psuedo-science experiment, and he presses his lips together to repress a laugh.
“for solidarity, you know?” ajax tells him, and diluc decides right then and there’s really no one else he rather be with.)
✩
because it all started with itto, it’s only fair that everything ends with him, too.
“what exactly do you need me to do?”
crossing his arms, diluc huffs. “tell ajax i’m looking for him, and that it’s important.”
itto sctratches his chin. “don’t you have his number?”
diluc narrows his eyes. “you’re asking a lot of questions for someone who broke my headphones.”
itto pouts. “come on, luc, you know that was an accident! you said you already forgave me!”
“i have,” diluc assures, “just do what i told you to do. quickly.”
thankfully, itto goes inside without much protest, leaving diluc to leer at the house standing before him as though it offends him. this is where kamisato ayato finds him, coming up to him with an amused sort of expression on his face.
“itto’s inside,” diluc says in lieu of a greeting.
“thank you,” ayato replies, before craning his head to look at the window diluc is currently having a one-sided staring contest with. “what exactly are you doing?”
“i’m waiting for ajax.” diluc lets out a cough, before continuing, “i’m going to ask him out.”
ayato’s brows rise by a fraction. “how the mighty have fallen,” he remarks.
“your boyfriend is arataki itto,” diluc reminds him.
ayato smiles. “that he is.”
diluc decides he’s heard enough judging from the fond expression on ayato’s face and just his luck, ajax walks out the door with itto trailing behind. itto brightens at the sight of ayato, rushing forward to give his boyfriend a... fistbump?
ayato gives him a small wave when he leaves with itto, a knowing smile on his lips. itto, in his best attempt at whispering which lacks any semblance of subtly, says, “good luck, bro!”
diluc huffs at the pair, the corners of his mouth twitching up.
“good luck with what?” ajax asks, tilting his head a little.
diluc swallows, his grip tightening on the paper bag he’s holding. “this is for you,” he forces out, at his best attempt at feigning nonchalance.
ajax accepts the gift graciously and when he peers inside, his eyes brighten visibly. “this is for me?” he asks, like he can’t believe it and diluc can’t help the enamoured laugh that escapes his lips. “what’s the occasion? unless you give all your friends lego flowers on a whim?”
“i don’t,” diluc confirms, “this is a strictly romantic gesture. are you getting the urge to swoon?”
diluc supposes he can guess what ajax is going to say, judging by the giddy smile growing on his lips, but he wants to hear it anyway. what he doesn’t expect is for ajax to confess, “i’ve been swooning ever since you showed up to itto’s place with premium grade cleaning gloves.”
“oh,” diluc says. “so what now?”
privately, he’s hoping this is the part where he finally gets to close the distance between the two of them and kiss ajax, something he really should have done that night when they got ice cream, or the time when they stayed up watching both mamma mia! movies when diluc mentioned he hadn’t seen either, or when – whatever, the point being that diluc’s missed a lot of opportunities prior which he intends to fix today.
“do you want to come in and assemble the flowers with me?” suggests ajax, and he says it so innocently that diluc feels a little bad for having his mind down the gutter.
diluc tries not to let his disappointment show when he replies with, sure, making his way inside. when ajax doesn’t follow behind him, and just looks at him with a strange sort of look in his eyes, diluc feels himself grow a little defensive.
“what do you want?” diluc asks, and he doesn’t mean for it to come out as accusatory as it does but ajax doesn’t look offended. he laughs, a bright sound that makes diluc feel all confused again, like he doesn’t know why his heart is picking up its pace, he doesn’t know if ajax has always been this lovely, he especially doesn’t know why it took him so long to realise this.
“what?” diluc snaps at ajax as he continues to laugh, his shoulders shaking. he’s feeling kind of annoyed already – ajax clearly knows something that he doesn’t.
“isn’t it obvious, diluc?” ajax asks him, eyes shining with mirth. something about the way he says it causes diluc’s skin to prickle. “you want to kiss me.”
diluc feels his face brighten with what must be humiliation for being read like an open book, as he splutters indignantly, “you’re ridiculous.”
“there’s no need to be embarrassed,” ajax placates, gingerly placing the bag down as he steps into diluc’s personal space. there’s a dazzling smile on his lips as he leans closer, and diluc inhales sharply when ajax murmurs, “just between you and me, i want to kiss you, too.”
having enough of the incessant teasing, diluc squeezes his eyes shut and presses a firm kiss to ajax's lips. ajax jolts at the initial contact before letting out a pleased hum, his hands making their way around diluc’s waist as diluc weaves his fingers through the other’s soft hair.
the kiss starts off innocent enough until diluc grows impatient and swipes his tongue across the seam of ajax’s mouth, deepening the kiss when ajax’s lips part open. ajax lets out a gasp when diluc drags his teeth across ajax’s bottom lip and diluc can’t help but want to do nothing more than to swallow up all the slight sounds ajax makes.
his hands have begun exploring the expanse of ajax’s chest, fingers feeling the hardened muscle underneath his top. feeling brave enough to test the waters, diluc’s hands reach for the hem of ajax’s tank top until the clearing of someone’s throat has him freezing in his tracks.
ajax stiffens too, and diluc pushes him away by instinct, the pair snapping their heads to the sight of a severely disgusted kuki shinobu.
“you do realise you’re in public, right?” shinobu asks them, and only then does diluc notice that they’ve garnered something of an audience.
ajax laughs nervously, his handing coming to scratch the back of his neck. “my bad, kuki,” he answers, a little hoarsely, “seems like we got a kinda carried away.”
diluc can’t even get himself to make eye contact with her. “sorry you had to see that, shinobu,” he forces out, trying very hard not to think about all the people who just saw him with his tongue down ajax’s throat.
“i’m going to kill myself,” diluc tells ajax the moment shinobu leaves.
ajax shoves him light-heartedly. “don’t say that,” he chides, before pulling his lips to an exaggerated pout, “i didn’t even get to assemble my flowers. i have an empty vase in my room and everything.”
diluc can’t say he’s an expert in romance, but when a pretty boy offers to bring you to his bedroom, what are you supposed to say – no?
pulling ajax by the arm, diluc says, “come on, we’re going to build your bouquet and i’m going to suck your dick.”
and they do, though not necessarily in that order and by the end of it all, diluc finds himself curled up in ajax's arms, his fiery red stands tickling ajax’s cheek as he takes in the steady rise and fall of the other’s chest. from a crack between the curtains that had been haphazardly drawn much earlier, pale moonlight leaks in, casting a gentle glow on plastic daffodils and lavender.
✩
“give me a second, luc, i gotta get a clean towel!” comes ajax’s voice, muffled through the bathroom door.
diluc sounds a non-committal grunt in response, though he presumes ajax won’t be able to hear it. the only reason he even agreed to showering at a frat house was because ajax promised him nobody else used this bathroom apart from him. of course, there was also the added benefit of ajax joining him.
what? diluc was no better than a man.
while he waits, diluc decides to assess how much he’ll have to compromise on his usual routine, praying that ajax at the very least had separate bottles for shampoo and conditioner. to his horror, he finds only one bottle on the rack.
when he picks it up, he’s greeted with an obscenely large nine printed on the label, the whole thing reading ‘9-in-1 Men’s Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Soap, Lotion, Shaving Cream, Toothpaste, Detergent & Motor Oil’. what’s arguably more astounding is the fact that the bottle is half-empty.
“wow,” diluc says aloud, genuinely stunned.
ayato was right, how the mighty have fallen, indeed.