Chapter Text
Kaeya was officially panicking.
It’s been a week since he last heard from Albedo, even after a desperate amount of texts and phone calls. He had even come to asking Rosaria for advice, but she only says that she hasn’t seen him either. How?! They literally live together!
So today, he was dedicated. He would bring Albedo coffee and his favorite food, and they would have a good chat and, hopefully, Albedo wouldn’t randomly hate him.
Kaeya knocked loudly on the door to the apartment, thinking that if Albedo were in his room he would hear it. Rosaria was out- he made sure of that.
One thing Kaeya hadn’t considered however, is that no autistic person answers the door when they aren’t expecting anyone. After 10 unsuccessful minutes, Kaeya calls Albedo’s cellphone. It rings for what feels like hours, until suddenly, finally, it goes through.
“Hello.” Kaeya’s heart soars.
“Albedo!! I’ve been trying to get through to you for days, have you been alright?! Are you eating well?! Are you sick?!” He asks, voice rising higher and higher in pitch.
“Why are you so loud?” Kaeya nearly drops his phone upon hearing Albedo.
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Much better. I can hear your voice outside. I can’t let you in. I should probably explain myself, but I can’t right now.” Kaeya nods, even though he knows no one can see him.
“I understand. I’m glad to hear from you, though. I brought your favorite food, so I’ll leave it on the doorstep, alright? Feel better soon.” Kaeya hears a small gasp when he says favorite food.
“Thank you. I will try to call you later today or tomorrow. Goodbye, Kaeya.” Albedo says, and hangs up the line. Kaeya drops the food on the doorstep, and sadly makes his way to where he parked.
He said he couldn’t explain why he ghosted him for a week? Had Kaeya worried sick for no reason?
And yet, Kaeya feels just like forgiving him.
And he thought he only had school to stress about.
Kaeya found his way back to the dorms, and prepared to sulk for the greater half of a day.
“Why do you look.. like… sad?” Kaeya looked up from the door to see his roommate.
“Men.” He said, flopping down onto his bed.
“Not everyone can be as cute as me, so that makes sense.”
“You’re literally named after a drink size. Don’t talk to me.” Venti throws a pillow at Kaeya, but somehow misses.
“Let’s go out tonight.” Venti says. Kaeya turns around to lounge on his bed and scroll on his phone.
“Nah. I’m waiting for a phone call.” Venti giggles.
“You’re that whipped? You’ll wait all day for a phone call?” This time, Kaeya has to dodge the pillow.
“It’s from him.” Venti immediately understood. He’s all Kaeya had been talking about for weeks, anyways.
“Why don't you just go to his apartment and like… seduce him or whatever. You’re a handsome young lad! Is he not taken by your dashing looks?” Venti says, applying just a little bit of glitter into his crease. Kaeya groaned.
“He couldn’t care less what I look like.” Venti fake pouted.
“You have to use your personality to date someone instead of just your face? It’s amazing you’ve gotten this far, honestly.”
Venti couldn’t dodge the pillow being thrown at him, even if he tried. “Ow!” he yelped, immediately going to rub his head. “This is why you’re single.” he said, sticking his tongue out at Kaeya.
“I know.” Kaeya said. Venti stiffened.
“You know, you’re not a bad guy. Not at all. You deserve love just as much as the rest of us. And maybe, that Albedo loves heart stricken fools just like yourself. So don’t worry. The phone call will come.”
And just then, like lightning striking, his phone rang. Venti smiled back at Kaeya. “Go get 'em’, loverboy!”
Albedo felt horrible.
In more ways than one.
It all started the day after their date.
The school’s play was that week- Albedo was prepared for the long hours, tech delays, and issues that would arise. He was not prepared for the fact that a strobe light had been bought, and that the sound team had no idea what they were doing. Calling the show had been torture, through and through.
After the first night of rehearsal, Albedo came home and cried for hours. It got so bad, he had to ask Rosaria to leave. She was more than willing, thankfully.
On the second rehearsal night, the director added new, random lines to the script. He nearly screamed when he heard. And yet, he wore a warm smile like a pair of old jeans.
At the dress rehearsal, an actor broke a prop he had worked on for days.
“The show is tomorrow.” He had said.
“You can make it work, right?” The director had responded. So Albedo stayed up all night, working on a prop. He made it work.
On show day, everything came to its natural conclusion. Strobe lights, and distorted sound, and annoying actors, and a smile he wore like old, uncomfortable jeans. After each show, Albedo worked diligently at cleaning the stage, putting away items, and directing others. Then he would go home, fall on to his bed, and rock in motions for hours. All while getting straight A’s.
Albedo barely had enough time to think, let alone think about others. By the time he had realized he’d fallen behind, Kaeya was at his doorstep. Shows were over. He could finally recoup.
He knew there were reasons why he didn’t have many friends. Most of the time, people easily give up on him- they read into the unanswered phone calls, and suddenly there's one less thing for Albedo to worry about. Or rather, one less person to worry about Albedo.
When he got a knock at his door, he didn’t think it was Kaeya. But once he knew… he had never felt so relieved. Once Kaeya had left, he ate in silence, perfectly content. He had been doing better- recovering from show week, of course.
He had time again, he was out of a state no one wanted to see him in.
He could seem normal again.
Albedo pulled out his phone, and called Kaeya.
“Albedo.” Kaeya said.
“Hello.” A perfect greeting. Albedo was impressed with himself.
“Are you alright?” He asked.
“Ah? Yes, of course. I just got quite busy during show week. I am on the school’s tech crew. It’s a busy week.” Everything he said was true. Just not completely true.
“Oh! I am so sorry! I didn’t know you were busy! I’m so so sorry I bugged you!” Albedo closed his eyes.
“No, it’s alright. Do not apologize to me. I should’ve told you in advance.” The study drum of conversation hadn’t kicked in yet. Albedo wishes it would already- usually, talking with Kaeya is easier than with most people.
“Still, I’m sorry. What are you doing tonight? Maybe we can go for drinks.” Albedo held himself back from immediately saying no. From his experience, men prefer it when you let them down gently.
“No. Apologies, I don’t drink. I also despise bars.”
“Oh.” Kaeya said. Albedo was proud of himself- he was participating in active communication over the phone. “Is there any other place you’d rather go?” Kaeya asked.
“Come over.” Albedo said. He heard Kaeya’s breath go unsteady over the phone, but thought nothing of it. “We will watch a movie. And enjoy each other's company.”
Kaeya of course, had but one more question.
“What time?”