Work Text:
"Good morning"
Aether had barely woken up when he was already greeted with a "good morning". He sits up and looks in front of him where a ash blonde haired male sat, hair tied messily in his signature hairstyle and a white haired pixie sat on his desk, enjoying a mouthful of fisherman's toast.The window on the left side of the room casted a golden light directly onto the two, making it look like something out of a fairy tale.
"Oh Aether! Good morning!Albedo gave paimon the delicious fisherman's toast he didn't eat! He is now officially on top of her favorite persons list!" She waved the piece of toast around in front of her with a uncomfortably large smile.
(Oh god that's cursed now I imagine paimon with an abnormally large smile)
"What kind of betrayal paimon"
"Hehehe maybe Aether can get on paimons favorite persons list again if he gave paimons some...sticky honey roast"
"But you're eating a piece of toast that's almost the size of you"
"Hey! That doesn't mean paimon can't eat more!"
Aether sighs and swings his legs to the side of the bed, he was currently in the room of the chief alchemist, Albedo, he offered him a place to stay until he is able to go meet the next archon in inazuma.
Today was the first day he slept in this room, and he has to admit, it was the most comfortable place he had stayed in since his adventure.He stood up and stretched, Albedo had let him borrow him some of his clothes for the time being, even though Aether had politely declined insisting that he could just sleep in his regular clothing,Albedo insisted he wear something more comfortable, and honestly, Aether can't argue with him, and ended up agreeing.Though the pants were a tad bit short for him due to the fact Aether was a few centimeters taller, the others clothes were soft and comfortable.
Aether walks over to the desk, the other blonde was sketching something, though he couldn't really tell what.It took a while until Albedo has realized he had came over but once he did he stopped drawing and began to talk.
"Ah, Greetings Aether, if you don't mind I have a few more....physical examinations to look into," His voice trailed off at "physical" and he closed his notebook, setting his pencil down in the process.
"Another experiment? Ugh! Paimons out, she's going to good hunter to get some sticky honey roast by herself!"
"Hold on paimon,"Aether watches the other in curiosity.Albedo takes a bag of something from his pocket and places it on the pixies lap.The bag made a small sound of what seemed to be the jingle of mora. As soon as she realized what it was, her eyes lit up.
"You're the best Albedo!Paimon will use it well"
She zooms out of the room in a second, Aether sighs chuckling a bit which Albedo seemed to notice, a small smile formed on his face,then something else caught his attention.He looked at Aethers long unbraided golden hair, swinging from side to side as Aether talks, well..Albedo didn't seem to notice he was talking at all.
"Hey, Albedo, are you ok?"The blonde shifted his attention back to the alchemist who seemed to have doze off, he squats down to his level with concern.
The other blinked back into reality, and realized that Aether face was right in front of his, his face began to feel a tad bit warmer, but he wasn't sure why.
"Yes I'm alright, I dozed off a bit there."
"Oh, I was asking about the experiment, what did you need?"
"Ah yes, change of plans, let's move that to tomorrow"
Aether looked at him with a confused and surprised look, Albedo almost never move plans to a different date unless it was absolute necessary, hell, once he went collecting resources in a blizzard. Albedo stands up and goes over to close the door, before coming back and returning to his desk.
"Are you sure?" Aether stood back up and placed a hand on his hip, still looking down at the other.
"Yes I figured a different type of test would be better"
"I'm not thirsty, thank you"
Albedo chuckles and stands up, walking over to a nearby drawer and pulling out a brush, then turning back around to look at aether with a slight smile on his face.
"Its alright it doesn't require you to digest any chemicals, but, can I comb your hair?"
Aether looks at him once again in surprises, guess today was full of surprises.
"What does this have anything to do with research," he asked in a confused and playful tone.
"I want to see if it's any different fro-"
"My hair? Seriously? You know if you wanted to comb my hair you could of just told me, ah..it's probably bothering to you because of how messy it is."
"Ah...yes, indeed..."Albedo didn't want to admit it but the only reason he wanted to comb the blondes hair was because he's been eyeing it ever since they met, the golden locks fascinated him like no other hillichurl, ruin guard, or experiment can.A small chuckle could be heard coming from the other while Albedo just stood quietly, still waiting for a proper answer.
"Are you really going to wait for an answer? Hahaha~ there's no harm in combing my hair, come on"
He sits down on the bed and pats a spot next to him, well, more like behind him.Albedo nods, sill not saying a word,crawling up on the bed and sitting down, both legs under him for support and holding the black and gold brush in his left hand.He stares at the others back for a while, trailing his eyes down the golden hair that reaches the bed.
"Come on Albedo"
"Right, apologies"
Albedo reaches his free hand to the golden hair,softly grabbing a good handful and begins brushing it, he moves his body forward so he could comb it in a more comfortable position, so now, his chest was almost touching the others back.
After a while the alchemist decided to ditch the brush and run his fingers through the travelers hair...
His fingers effortlessly ran through the golden locks, even though his hair was still a complete and utter mess.He parts it in three neat sections and begins braiding it slowly.
"It's seems like your hair is really well kept, or is it because you come from another world..hm, Iv never felt anything like this, let alone human hair," he made sure to make a mental note of this to write it in his notebook some other time.
"You're not feeling your own in any way, what makes you say that, are you sure mines is any different?"
"I told you before I look after a... small child... in my freetime, I'm usually tasked with tying up her hair."
"Are you comparing my hair to a childs?"
Albedo shook and pulls away from the comment, his tone of voice was suddenly sharp and menacing, the alchemist was unsure if he should finish tying the braid or not.
"I-I apologize.. I didn't mean to"
"Relax I'm just messing with you"
Aether continues the work the other had left and tied up his hair with his signature hair tie, the one his sister gave him before she...hah..he didn't want to think about it.He turns around to look at Albedo who was focused on the swinging braid that the traveler had tied up.
"Interesting" he though, another thing for the notebook,
"Albedo did you get any sleep? There are bags under your eyes."
Albedo stayed silent for a while, then chuckled, a soft, low chuckle.He shook his head and smiled.
"There are more important matters then sleep.Cant waste a single second slacking off when you're in the knights of favonius can I?"
"But isn't today your day off?" He questioned while turning his head and looking at the other.
Albedo hums in response, sitting still for a while before getting off the bed, only to be pulled back seconds later.
"Hey! If you get to comb my hair I can comb yours too! It's only fair"
"..."
"Sorry I-"
"I guess you're right then..hmmm, very well," he turns back with a soft smile, Aether felt his heart skip a beat.
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A comforting silence fell between the two as Aether combs his hand through the others hair, he had untied it to make it easier for the traveler beforehand.His hair was soft and silky, and though it was thicker then the usual human, it was surprisingly light.
"And you said my hair was soft! It feels like I'm running my fingers through strands of silk"
Albedo only hums in response, unconsciously moving his head to the others hand, it was a struggle to keep his eyes open, but he tried to endure it for a bit longer.
Aether focused on the others face seeing how he would have seemed to have dozed off, only to flutter his eyes open a few seconds later.Aether stops combing and pulls his hand away.
"Hmm...? Something wro-" the alchemist couldn't even finish his sentence when his waist was grabbed and pulled towards the other.He felt a hand on his head, stroking gently.
Albedo sat still for a while, still processing what just happened, one of the travelers arms layers on top of his own, and the other was softly combing his hair, the others legs were on both sides of him,Aether pulls him into a tight embrace, still combing his hair.
"You look tired, get some sleep, don't argue it won't work"
He stayed silence, staring into the abyss, interaction like this was so familiar yet he can't remember why.He leans closer, the warmth of his assistant soothed him, the golden haired male smelled like fresh citrus.
Aether looks at the blonde who was on the verge of falling asleep, looking at the leather gloves he had on and back to his face, then with a swift motion he pulled the gloves off, tossing them onto the drawer next to where the two had put there boots.Then his focus was back on the other, stroking his head gently.The young alchemist had fallen asleep a while ago, Aether intertwined his fingers with the others.
Flashbacks to all the times he would style his sisters hair in all these crazy styles, how he would comfort her just like this, and how she would fall asleep soon after,
This, this felt like home...
Aether looks over at the window, the golden rays of light lit dark the room,he starts combing the others hair again with his free hand.Smiling softly.
"Mmm....soft.."