Work Text:
The First Dive
Cheng Xiaoshi crossed his legs happily on the floor while Lu Guang sifted through photos.
“We’ll start simple, something that I’ll be there on both ends to catch you in case you mess it up.” Lu Guang's jab was low while his eyes kept momentarily flashing chromatic blue.
Energy started to pump through Cheng Xiaoshi's veins. This would be the first time they’d jump through a photo together and Lu Guang was being extremely diligent. Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t help but enjoy how Lu Guang's lips would curl into a smile at some, reliving a memory behind the photo.
“What? What do you see?” Cheng Xiaoshi climbed over, attempting to pull the stack of photos out of Lu Guang's hands.
Lu Guang, the stoic, was ever undeterred by Cheng Xiaoshi's attack. His expression steeled while he continued flipping through photos as if he didn’t have a black haired menace squishing his face into his palm.
“Pweeaase” Cheng Xiaoshi begged, his plea muffled by Lu Guang's hand. Peeking through Lu Guang's fingers, he watched as the glimmer of amusement rose in his partner’s face. “Comeooooon, lemme see!” Cheng Xiaoshi whined again.
“I want to make sure there’s some form of establishment so that if I’m caught off guard by you I’ll understand what to do.” Lu Guang spoke in a chastising tone one would use with a defiant child.
“Lemme look through a few and you can decide from there!” Cheng Xiaoshi licked at Lu Guang's palm to secure his face squishing escape.
“Gross! Fine, here.” Lu Guang slapped a third of the photo stack against Cheng Xiaoshi's chest.
Giddy, Cheng Xiaoshi eagerly accepted the segment. He slid one over before he found the perfect picture.
“LU GUANG!” Cheng Xiaoshi waved the image in the air. “This one! This one!”
Rolling his eyes, Lu Guang took the picture of himself and Cheng Xiaoshi from his hands. It was from their earlier times when they spent their time playing basketball and cramming their way through college. The picture itself was dark, they couldn’t get to the courts until late. Cheng Xiaoshi felt that it was essential to mark their dedication by flashing a selfie of the both of them, covered in sweat and reeking of teen spirit.
“Really?” Lu Guang smirked knowingly. “This one?”
“I loved that day!” Cheng Xiaoshi pouted, taking offense towards Lu’s question.
“I know, I know. Just… try not to change anything too big, okay?” Lu Guang set the rest of the photos down beside him, smiling at their dark image.
“Shhh, you’ll be there.” Cheng Xiaoshi brought his index finger up to Lu Guang's lips in an attempt to shush him.
“Let’s try not to let me find out though, okay?” Lu Guang raised an eyebrow, reminding him of the mission.
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Cheng Xiaoshi twitched from excitement. “Let’s go!”
Sighing, Lu Guang brought out his hand. Not even pausing for a breath, Cheng Xiaoshi slammed his hand down against Lu Guang's.
Heavily blinking his eyes, he worked to adjust to the dim atmosphere. The sky still helped to light up the night, but only through reflections of starlight against a layer of fog.
“There, are you happy now? Weirdo.” Lu Guang chuckled, running his fingers through white hair.
Do you need a line? Lu Guang's voice echoed in his head. It was louder than he expected.
What, do you think I’m that bad at impersonating myself? Cheng Xiaoshi responded automatically. Huh. That was neat!
Focus, I’m going to start catching on. Lu Guang warned.
Sure enough, past Lu Guang was side eyeing him while he sipped at his water bottle.
Cheng Xiaoshi's heart felt as if it was going to explode. He’d nearly forgotten all of the nerves and the discomfort that spread throughout his body. As if one wrong move would destroy everything they had. Cheng Xiaoshi always felt connected to Lu Guang and was perpetually terrified he’d ruin it. It was too easy for people to leave him; and dear god, he really didn’t want Lu Guang to leave him.
Remember, if it’s too much at any point, you can jump out. Lu Guang was a natural at guiding Cheng Xiaoshi. He could read him better than anyone. Which didn’t help the anxiety building as past Lu Guang squinted his eyes towards him, knowing that something was off.
I just wasn’t expecting this. Cheng Xiaoshi responded, his nerves firing uncontrollably. His body desperately wanted to touch Lu Guang's, but the other half of him wanted to run down the darkened street.
“Are you okay, Cheng Xiaoshi?” Lu Guang screwed the lid onto his waterbottle, sweat dripping around his furrowed brows.
Weren’t expecting what? Lu Guang's voice, which normally worked as a sedative device, was only elevating his heart rate.
My… body… Cheng Xiaoshi set his hand against his chest. Somehow, with all the time past between them, he forgot how sweetly sickening their earlier days had been.
What do you mean? Lu Guang's concern grew.
My… my heart is going to bruise my chest… and I feel like I’m going to throw up and faint… and my skin feels like it’s crawling off my body.
Lu Guang's laughter reverberated around Cheng Xiaoshi's ears. Ahh you get to relive the highs and lows of new love.
I didn’t think it would be like this! Cheng Xiaoshi lowered his chin, gazing incredulously at his resting hand. His beat was so ferocious he swore his hand would be jumping from its resting place on his chest.
“Is it that hard to deal with the loss?” Lu Guang smirked, eyes gazing forward towards the empty court.
“You cheeky bastard!” Cheng Xiaoshi spit out. “I won and you know it!”
I still think I won that game. Lu Guang pitched in.
“Then why do you look like your pride’s about to crumble? Hmm?” Lu Guang's head slightly dipped, his blonde hair fluttering over his forehead.
The answer caught in his throat. But he didn’t answer it back then, did he? His lips tingled as he scooched closer on the bench. His flight or flight ramping up with each moment.
Holy crap, Lu Guang. You would not believe how nervous I was. It’s hard to even move. Cheng Xiaoshi's eyes dropped down to Lu Guang's lips. Awwww why are you biting your lip? Are you trying to kill me?!
Lu Guang's warm laugh played through his mind again. They both knew that Lu Guang's lip biting was a reflection of the same nerves that were threatening to paralyze himself.
You’ll be fine. Lu Guang mused. He’d not chosen this photo himself for a reason, but was certainly enjoying the consequences of someone who neglected those reasons.
Shhh… Cheng Xiaoshi instructed as his body finally clicked into ignition. His fingers danced under Lu Guang's chin, his eyes lidded in anticipation. The fear of rejection tore at his stomach, but he knew better.
There were little pieces he hadn’t seen the first time. The soft tremble of Lu Guang's lips while Cheng Xiaoshi pulled him closer. The anxious stiffening of Lu Guang's shoulders while he tried to hold himself back while pushing forward. The deep blush that could barely be seen through the pitch of the night. The nervous flutter of eyelashes, as if Lu Guang was scared Cheng Xiaoshi would suddenly pull away too.
Cheng Xiaoshi's favourite reanimated piece of this memory, however, was the hitch of breath against his lips the moment before they collided. His cells rejoiced at Lu Guang's new yet familiar taste, at his fingers reaching across his face before running through his hair.
Unable to stop himself, a small moan escaped from Cheng Xiaoshi's lips. He’d forgotten how much tension they used to have. Lu Guang's body responded immediately, pulling harder on his face while trying to close the rest of the gap between the rest of their bodies.
Aweh, new love. Lu Guang snickered as Cheng Xiaoshi lost himself in past Lu Guang.
Pausing for a breath, they leaned their foreheads against each other. Silver eyes into brown.
Cheng Xiaoshi's hands were clasped behind Lu Guang's neck as he let out a slight chuckle. Their lips were a brush away from another as Cheng Xiaoshi breathlessly made a proclamation. “I love you.”
You idiot. Lu Guang groaned in his head.
What? I - oh. Yep. I’m an idiot.
Can you seriously not imitate yourself?
Lu Guang's body stiffened as he leaned back, one hand grasped Cheng Xiaoshi's forearm while his silver eyes darted from iris to iris.
“Sorry…” Cheng Xiaoshi whispered, the terror rebuilding in the pit of his stomach.
“Heh.” Lu Guang inquisitively tilted his head before running a finger along Cheng Xiaoshi's cheek. “You’re photo diving, aren’t you?”
It was as if someone cut off the air supply to Cheng Xiaoshi's throat. Holy fuck, were you always this smart?
Hmm… I guess you could say I paid attention to you.
Lu Guang chuckled at the silence, running his thumb along Cheng Xiaoshi's quivering lip. “Can you seriously not imitate yourself?” He bit his lip with a raised eyebrow, thoroughly enjoying himself.
“Hey! You already said that!” Cheng Xiaoshi whined in Lu Guang's hold, both of the Lu Guang's lowly laughing at him.
“Sounds about right.” Lu Guang kept playing with Cheng Xiaoshi's lower lip. “Hey, Cheng Xiaoshi?” His eyes flecked up with a new sense of determination.
“Mmmh?” Cheng Xiaoshi was already getting distracted again by Lu Guang's touch.
“I love you too.” Lu Guang smiled warmly before pulling Cheng Xiaoshi closer again.
Warmth spread from their lips as their bond beat between them. No first kiss had ever felt like Lu Guang. No one even came close to melting his brain like Lu Guang. Sometimes, in the safety of their time, it was easy to forget. To forget the fire that once perpetually lived against their skin.
Did you mean it? Back then? Cheng Xiaoshi questioned, not wanting to let go of Lu Guang, but knowing there wasn’t much else he could do having already blown his cover.
What, that I loved you? Lu Guang questioned. In their story, they didn’t truly say it for months after their first kiss.
Mmhmm. Cheng Xiaoshi dropped deeper into the kiss.
This night was not that hot. Calm down. Lu Guang instructed.
With a reserved smile, Cheng Xiaoshi pulled back. Lu Guang was so adorable. His lips still searching for Cheng Xiaoshi's, breath shaking against his skin, his cheeks flushed with nerves and desire.
Did you? Cheng Xiaoshi asked, keeping his studious eyes on a younger pair of silver irises.
I’ve loved you since the day I met you.
A grin took over Cheng Xiaoshi's face, displaying his elation. Barely a flash of confusion crossed Lu Guang's expression, him answering his own question in his head. “Time for you to go home?”
“Yeah, I’ll see you soon, okay?” Cheng Xiaoshi softly pressed his lips against Lu Guang's before clapping his hands behind his head.
Bright light blinded Cheng Xiaoshi as he stood back in the familiar room.
“You’re an idiot.” Lu Guang rolled his eyes as he continued sifting through photos.
Cheng Xiaoshi crossed his arms and watched his partner with a reinvigorated interest. “Since the day you met me, hey?”
“Idiot.” Lu Guang shook his head with a smirk.
Dropping back down to the floor, Cheng Xiaoshi snagged the photo stack from Lu Guang's hand and tossed it towards the ground.
“Hey!” Before Lu Guang could continue his protest, Cheng Xiaoshi was crawling into his lap, one knee on either side of his hip. “…oh, hey…” Lu Guang exhaled, Cheng Xiaoshi's lips running against his neck, fingers gripping against his body.
“I love you.” Cheng Xiaoshi kissed Lu Guang with enough force to push him over.
Their heartbeats sang in sync as they kissed surrounded by windows to their old memories scattered across the floor.