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They're just friends.
Since they were old enough to understand the word,
since they were old enough to hold hands and wander the garden as a pair.
Since they were old enough to notice the looks others gave them.
They're just friends.
Do you like him? Are you dating? Why are you two always together?
Years of questions, years of answers. Always the same.
"Nah. We're just friends," the words leave Kaeya's lips easily.
It's the truth, he thinks. That's what it's always been.
"He's like a brother to me," Diluc says in support.
They're just friends, Kaeya thinks as he watches him walk the street with a lady of another family. Another girl his age. A person he doesn't know or recognize.
He does the same.
"He's just a friend," Kaeya says with a slight blush, looking away. "Some guy Rosie wants to hang out with and show around town."
Diluc frowns.
Kaeya doesn't normally lie to his face like that.
He's just protective. That's why he's jealous. Kaeya had always been his best friend, and he'd always had his full attention. It was logical. Reasonable. Understandable even... because they were just friends.
"We're just friends," Kaeya says too easily this time, looping an arm around Diluc's neck and tugging him down. A hand squishes his cheeks, making him purse his lips as he jerks it off. "Who would want to date this broody face anyway-?"
For the first time, he hates the familiarity. His guts twist in a strange way and he leaves the room. Kaeya stays to talk to the others.
They're talking about kissing.
About holding hands and walking together.
Diluc thinks it's strange how he's done almost all of those things with Kaeya- but is it really that strange? They're friends. Just friends.
So why does he fixate on the kissing?
"Have you?" Kaeya asks him out of the blue.
"Have I what?"
"Kissed anyone?"
"No," he says. He's never wanted to.
Kaeya makes a soft sound and doesn't say anything.
"Have you kissed?"
"I'm not telling."
The response makes Diluc feel a strange dread he doesn't even recognize. A cold fear and shock- Kaeya kissed someone? Kaeya? His Kaeya? His best friend did something and didn't tell him?
It wasn't him?
"Woah that's a scary face," Kaeya says playfully.
He looks away, embarrassed and confused.
"What's the matter Diluc?"
"Nothing," he bites out, forcing the word. "I'm fine."
The other is sharper, more intuitive, giving him a look up and down. "Did... you want to try it?"
"Try what?"
"Kissing."
He tries not to look strange in the moment.
It was supposed to be just a kiss. His first.
Just a kiss. As friends.
The lips on his were not meant for him—it was just a favor.
The hand sliding over his was not from want— it was just habit. A courtesy.
The gentle shake of their breath wasnt because of him— it was anticipation for the real thing
The starry way Kaeya looked at him wasn't because they wanted to see him— it just because he was there.
"You sure you've never kissed before?"
He nods.
"You're really good at it."
Kaeya's laugh burns itself into his memory.
If Kaeya kisses anyone else, he doesn't ask.
They talk about more than kissing now.
They're growing up but Diluc can't seem to meet the pace. They talk about ass and boobs, pussy and cocks. Who is bigger, who is softer. Who fucks and who sucks.
Kaeya has answers but Diluc doesn't.
He's still thinking about that day he kissed Kaeya, two years ago.
He really doesn't care about other people.
But his body craves what if can't have. It's embarrassing how he pops a boner when Kaeya smiles at him, leaned forward and spine gently curved. He can still think of those sparkling eyes and soft lips.
And he imagines them between his thighs as he fucks his hand at night. He knows it's wrong. He can't help it.
They're just friends. It's just a phase.
He'll meet the right person someday.
"Hey Diluc," kaeya muses.
He hums.
"We're friends right?"
"I certainly hope so," he drawls, tone low.
"Remember that time we kissed?"
He swallows. "Maybe? Was a while ago."
Kaeya awkwardly fidgets and he regrets it.
"Yeah, I remember. Why?"
"Would you be okay trying out a little more than kissing?"
He could feel his heart sink for his stomach. "Like... What?"
Kaeya fidgets even more. "Like... Sex."
"Sex...? Us?"
"We're friends so..." They begin to over explain. They're nervous. "If we mess up, it won't be a big deal. I'd rather fuck up with you than someone I..."
Really like. Actually like. Love. Want.
His mind auto completes the sentence.
Diluc feels alien to his body.
"Sure."
They're just friends, he tells himself, looking down at the beautiful starry eyes shaking in nerves on Kaeya's bed. They're scared, and so was he. plush thighs wrap around his waist as he slides another finger into the tight ring of muscle. Kaeya whimpers a sound that makes his mouth water.
They're just friends, he repeats in his mind as he pumps his fingers in. Kaeya wriggles and squirms on his hand, desperate and needy.
They're just friends, he thinks again as he shifts more on top of them, letting Kaeya curl fingers around his biceps as he meets their gaze. His cock bumps the puckered entrance, a thumb pressing it open and he feels his tip kiss it with traction.
Friends. He tries to convince himself that's all this is as Kaeya gives a little nod, encouraging him to push forward. The heat that follows is better than his hand, it's better than anything he's ever known. A soft gasp of pleasure escapes him as Diluc rolls his hips, taking a bit deeper, then again, and again... Kaeya makes little sounds, eyes fluttering as he slowly sinks to the base for the first time.
Just friends, he pleads with himself as he lets instinct take over. He bucks his hips, slowly carving his best friend open. They spread their legs with a soft curse, telling him it feels so good. He can't help himself, enslaved by the praise and the pleasure as he starts to move faster.
Friends, only friends. Diluc leans down, bringing Kaeya closer as thrusts deep and hard. His lips dust theirs, tasting the moans and praise at the source as he licks info their mouth and groans. He won't last, his chest brushing theirs, the feeling of their cock pressed for his abs as he drives his in.
He isn't sure he can be friends anymore as he starts to lose control, canting Kaeya's name like a sinner for the salvation he found between their legs. His balls slap to the stretched rim, tight and hot as he tries to give more than he takes. They moan his name, rocking on every thrust and lost in the moment just like he is.
Diluc fucks his best friend like they weren't, but kisses them like they were more.
When Kaeya cums, it's against Diluc's lips, whispering the name like a secret. Diluc follows shortly after, holding their bodies close and sparing no room as hips roll to push it deeper.
Diluc is the first to break the tense silence as they clean up, fascinated as his cum drips down the thighs of his friend.
Just his friend.
Just that. Nothing more.
They fuck again, this time in Diluc's room where the sheets are a bit softer and more pillows. He has Kaeya bend over the edge of the bed this time, and pumps him full of his cock. He can't cum unless he sees Kaeya's face.
They fuck again, now in the storage room upstairs. Above the barracks where the other knights won't come looking for them. The party downstairs isn't interesting enough for either of them to stop, but thankfully the music is loud enough to drown out Kaeya's moans. A stain is left on the back of the door no one is brave enough to ask about or stupid enough to admit.
They fuck again, and again, and again.
Diluc wonders if they'll ever stop. He hopes they don't. Kaeya on their knees and sucking his balls dry is something that he isn't willing to admit friends don't typically do.
They're like rabbits. They can't get enough of each other. Everyone knows but no one says anything. Their collective friends pretend not to see as Diluc follows Kaeya fo the bathrooms, and they pretend not to head the slick sounds of Diluc fucking Kaeya in a stall. For weeks, they are at it almost daily. Diluc has never been this horny or ravenous. He's never desired anyone.. but Kaeya.
But they're just friends, or that's what they say.
"I want more."
"Round two?" Kaeya asks.
"No," he tries to find the words. "I want.... More than sex."
There's a pause. "Like... Anal?"
They already had anal. They were men.
Diluc knows it's a quip. Just a small distraction.
"I want... More than doing this as friends," he confesses, letting the words flow out of him. "I want to be more than friends, Kaeya."
Silence follows and Diluc can't look up. He'a nervous beyond words. The longer it goes on, the mode sick he feels.
"Me too."
He looks up and sees tears. Steaks of tears flowing down Kaeya's cheeks.
"I want that too Diluc."
He gave Kaeya his first, second, and next kiss. He would give him his last if that's what fate had in store.
Next week he'd be a man.
And next week he could ask Kaeya to marry him.
After all... Who better than his best friend?