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“Zhongli?” Heizou asked, turning the page of his book back.
“Hmm?” Zhongli turned the page of his book forward.
“Have you ever kissed someone?” There was a slight sputtering sound and Heizou glanced over at him.
“Why do you ask?” Zhongli asked instead of answering.
“Oh, I’m just curious.” Heizou went back to his book, flipping the page again. “See, this book you gave me has a scene with the main two characters kissing after a lot of back and forth. I’m wondering how exactly they do it. Doesn’t the nose get in the way? Or something? And then, isn’t there the concern for bad breath or something?” Heizou felt a weight nearby but ignored it as he kept talking. “Among other things maybe, like the weather, the hair? Makeup? Or even clothes…”
Zhongli peered over the top of the book. “Would you like to find out?”
Heizou yelped, smacking the other directly on the nose with the book in surprise. “Oh! Oh my goodness, you startled me! I’m so sorry, are you alright?” He asked, sitting up on the bed. Zhongli massaged his nose, wincing a little bit.
“I’m fine… paperback books shouldn’t hit too hard, but you hit me with the spine of that one…” He murmured.
“Wait, I read a thing one of the characters did in this book - I doubt it would actually work but…” Heizou got on his knees, crawling across the bed and pressed a kiss to the bridge of his nose. Zhongli’s eyes widened a little bit as he did it. “How does that feel?”
“Better.” He said automatically and Heizou beamed.
“So it does work! Well. That’s something good to note.” He went back to his spot on the bed, picking up his book and continuing to read. Zhongli simply stared at him for a few moments, processing what just happened, before he shook his head, got off the bed and went to the kitchen to make dinner.
Over the next few days, no further incident occurred. Heizou seemed to have completely forgotten about what he did while Zhongli still remembered. How could he not? It was a random act he had done. An act of kindness? Not entirely. But an act of… something.
One afternoon, about a week after the tiny incident, Zhongli was cooking again and humming under his breath, completely lost in his thoughts when the phone rang, startling him. Oil splashed onto his arm and he hissed, immediately working to take care of it. Heizou noticed during dinner and didn’t waste a second to take a hold of his hand and leave another kiss on it. And again, Zhongli stared at him. Why was he doing this at all?
It happened more and more. Every time Zhongli got an injury somewhere and either told Heizou or he found out, he would leave a kiss. It was usually on his hands and arms. Occasionally a kiss on the cheek if there was a tiny, minuscule cut there. One that Heizou couldn’t even see. He still left a kiss there regardless. And every single time, he always smiled brighter than the sun after doing it. And especially when Zhongli said that he felt better from it. The gesture as a whole was very sweet. Zhongli supposed he couldn’t really complain.
And then came the day when Zhongli had an idea. A sneaky idea, one that he didn’t know if it would work or not. It wouldn’t hurt to try though, right? Heizou was at home all day, mostly reading books but occasionally stepping out of his room to follow Zhongli around the kitchen. They were close enough that Heizou often found himself hugging the other from behind, letting him almost carry him around the kitchen. Zhongli didn’t mind it all that much, actually missing the slight weight and the even, comfortably quiet breath of the other whenever he left. He had memorised the sound of his footsteps and so he knew when he would be approaching to hug him for a while. Everything about him was so endearing. Everything.
When it was evening, after dinner, only then did Zhongli begin his plan. He would have to be natural about it, to not raise too much suspicion.
“Ouch!” He cried out, holding up his hand and immediately Heizou scurried out of his room, looking frantic.
“Are you hurt again?” He asked, sitting across from him.
“I accidentally bent my finger the wrong way, just for a moment. But I’m fi—” Heizou didn’t care. He immediately grabbed Zhongli’s hand gently, and pressed a kiss to the joint of the finger he had bent.
“Better?” Heizou asked, eyes filled with worry.
“Much. Thank you, Heizou.” Zhongli gave him a small smile which Heizou returned, on a bigger scale. He stood and scampered off.
About forty five minutes later, Zhongli cried out in pain again and once more, Heizou ran out. “Another injury?” He asked, worried.
“Paper cut…” Zhongli said, holding up his other hand and indeed there were papers in front of him. The detective wasted no time to find where the cut was and placed a kiss. “Better.” Zhongli said before Heizou could ask and he smiled again before leaving.
And an hour later, there was another cry of pain and Heizou came running out again. A small kiss left on his upper cheekbone, more smiles and quiet thank yous were exchanged and Heizou was gone again.
Zhongli was about to enter the room, done for the night, when he crashed into the doorway. “Oh! Jeez, Zhongli, be careful! You’ve gotten injured so much today, what’s going on?” Heizou asked, getting out of the bed.
“I guess I’m a little clumsier than usual today.” Zhongli said, rubbing his mouth, watching him walk towards him. “Usually I am careful with everything I do but I guess I have been distracted today.”
“Distracted by what?” Heizou asked, removing his hand, cupping his cheek and inspecting his face. Zhongli didn’t answer. Instead he kept his eyes trained on the other, just to see what Heizou would do. He was incredibly close. “Hmm.. there’s barely any bruising… which is good.” He noted, thumb lightly brushing over his bottom lip. Zhongli stayed still. “Does it hurt?” Heizou’s voice was even softer.
“A little. But it is nothing I won’t be able to get over.”
“I don’t want you hurting at all.” Heizou replied, standing on his tiptoes, hand on his shoulder and coming even closer.
Zhongli automatically tilted his head and felt Heizou press his lips against his own. He broke away fairly quickly, and stood properly. “Better?” Heizou asked.
“Not… quite.” Zhongli replied, lightly placing his hands on Heizou’s hips. Heizou’s eyes widened as he gasped quietly, realising what he had just done. He stood there, frozen for a moment but relaxed a minute later, not moving away from his roommate. Instead, he moved even closer, his arms going around his neck. Zhongli closed the space again, leaning down a bit and tilting his head to kiss Heizou again.
It was a bit messy, Heizou had no experience, but Zhongli was patient. “Follow my lead.” He murmured against his lips and Heizou stiffened slightly. A simple hand running down his spine allowed him to relax in Zhongli’s arms. He did his best to follow his lead, and relaxed even further, almost melting. The pair broke away, slightly breathless.
“See? Noses do not get in the way of kissing.” Zhongli said quietly.
“I see… that… well. That certainly clarified that question.” Heizou replied, turning pink. He looked down at their close proximity, unable to meet his soft amber eyes.
Zhongli smiled fondly, breaking away, however he didn’t go far. Heizou kept a hand on his wrist, turning redder. “Stay with me for tonight?” He asked in a whisper, glancing up.
“Oh?” He wasn’t opposed, letting Heizou pull him into bed and under the covers where they snuggled the night away.
“Were you actually injured all those times?” Heizou asked the next morning.
“I was. What, you don’t believe me?” Zhongli raised an eyebrow and Heizou simply buried his face into his chest.
“I do. But it seems very odd that you injured yourself so much last night that it led to…” He trailed off, trying to burrow further into him out of embarrassment.
Zhongli laughed quietly, hugging the detective closely. “Perhaps. It was a little bit sneaky, but it was also a way to let you know how that works without it being awkward.”
“You got me there.” Heizou moved his head up and pressed a kiss to his chin and then his lips. “At least it was you. I’ve read and seen that people tend to cherish their first kisses.”
“Are you glad then, that I was your first?” Zhongli asked and Heizou nodded.
“Very glad. Now that I’m thinking about it, I don’t think I would’ve wanted it to be with anyone else.” Heizou smiled, hugging him tighter, comfortable. Zhongli pressed a kiss to the top of his head, turning around just a little to look at the time.
“Hmm… not too early in the morning.”
“Stay. I’m cosy here, I don’t want you going anywhere.” Heizou huffed, a leg wrapping around his hips, both arms wrapping around him. He clung onto him like a sloth and Zhongli couldn’t help but smile.
“Alright. I’ll stay.”