Work Text:
Ah, Blackmore Academy… A school reserved for students of only the finest caliber. People who are born for only the greatest and finest of futures; Diplomats, politicians, world leaders— anyone with a wallet deep enough could attend.
Apollo wondered if that might be the only reason Graves was here at all.
She'd told him to wait at the stand next to the sports field whilst she got the two a coffee from the cafeteria.
'What? That cheap shit?' he'd said, and that was enough for her to bar him from showing up with her.
Really… Would it hurt for the daughter of two prolific lawyers to have a bit of a richer taste?
Whatever, it's not as though Apollo had anywhere else to be— and it's not like he hated the Novice Necromancer's company either, though he loathed to outright admit it. 'The Prince of Ixia, and his best friend 'a human.' he could see the headlines now…
For the PR disaster that it was, he still agreed to show up. He didn't want to think on it too hard.
"You have got to be kidding me… I didn't take that long." the voice incessantly poking Apollo awake sighed; it was Graves, arriving with their cheap coffee by the smell of things.
Apollo quickly brushed the dirt from his jacket as he sat up straight, his face a picture as his nose wrinkled.
"You drink your coffee black?" he took his own coffee from her: three sugars and a healthy dose of full milk.
She rolled her eyes as she found a seat next to him "Relax, you're not drinking it."
They both sat quietly after that, Apollo taking a sip of the coffee that likely cost as much as his father makes in a second; it didn't taste that bad, he supposed. Just your regular everyday coffee.
When he looked to Graves however, and the way her body relaxed as she drunk her own, the peace that graced her face, he was struck.
Something as simple as cheap as shit coffee could wipe away an entire days stress for some people, it perhaps blew his mind more than it realistically should, but what do you expect of a literal Prince? Even expensive coffee exported from realms over didn't have this sort of affect on h-
"Do you ever think about kissing me?"
That hot, cheap as all shit coffee got caught in his throat, and the man almost choked. He swallowed, coughing as he cleared his throat.
"Nice, I'll take that as a resounding 'no'."
Apollo coughed again "I didn't- you just caught me off-guard, that's all."
He held his nose up, trying to regain some sense of poise and dignity after having almost choked to death.
"Urgh… Look forget I asked, it's stupid."
"I… I don't think it's stupid. Admittedly I have thought about-" He stopped himself in his tracks when he saw Graves' eyes widen.
"What?"
"I'm merely saying I've thought about it. That's all."
Another awkward, pregnant silence passed between the two of them— Apollo deftly looking away as his embarrassment crept over his face.
Yes, he had thought about it. Sometimes during their classes he would look over at his lab partner; she wasn't terrible to look at, for a human. More so in his mind, she was perhaps the only person he knew that didn't seem to give a damn about his titles or stature, and whilst the most of him balked at the idea of not being given the respect he deserved as Ixia's next ruler, there was that little, adventurous child who never got to experience life outside of the palace that adored her for it.
"Kiss me."
If he had coffee in his mouth he might have choked again.
"You can't just-"
She cut him off "Look, if we've both thought about it then why the fuck not right? It's not like anyone's going to see, so you can keep your precious reputation, and I can get this damn thought out of my head."
"I-"
"You can just say you find me gross."
"I don't!"
"Then why not, Golden Boy?"
How was he to tell her that this would be his first kiss… Taken by a human of all things… Yet he didn't want to say no, not really; this was all too complicated.
He leans over to her, realising only now how much taller he was.
"Fine then, though let's be quick."
It was awkward. Of course it was awkward— neither of them knew where to start; though when Apollo cups a hand at her cheek the look on her face is one he would remember for many many years— and only after those years would he tell her he'd learnt the move from a romance movie he'd watched.
He used the hand as a guide, assuring that his first kiss wouldn't be one in which they bump noses, and gently pressed his lips on hers.
Oh, the sensation he felt. Are you meant to feel this light? Was it perhaps some sort of curse that damn Lich hand had placed upon him?
No… the usually taught spring that was Graves felt light too, her cheek resting gently in his hand. Apollo opened one eye slightly just to see; her eyes were closed. Perhaps she was… Enjoying this too? Oh goodness.
They pulled away with a start, the both of the blinking at each other— Graves' face was red; Apollo kept his mouth shut at how cute she looked, for both of their sakes.
When the Necromancer stood, her eyes averted from Apollo, he felt a pull to follow her, to pull her back, ask her if she was okay.
"I'm going to class." was the last thing he heard from her before she quickly dashed from the sports field, back through those overly decorated doors.
Apollo stood staring from the stands, blinking down at the black coffee she'd left behind in her hurry; he could taste it on his lips, and oddly enough again, he didn't hate it.
The Ixian sighed.
It was best not to think too hard on what he was feeling right now.