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Albedo was always curious. He was always curious about the things no one would pay any mind to. He was intrigued by the littlest things and Kaeya would always nag him about it.
'What are you doing?'
'I'm experimenting'
'And what are you experimenting,exactly?'
'Nothing of much importance, not that you would be interested in it anyway'
'Come on now, don't be like that'
The truth is, Albedo loves to go rambling endlessly about his little researches to Kaeya. Sucrose was frequently away, gathering bones and plants and what not. So the only excuse Albedo could come up at the time for actingg like this was 'Sucrose isn't here, so who else would I talk to?'
He wasn't aware of it, but Kaeya loved listening carefully to him as much as he loved talking about it.
Many times Kaeya would not even understand what he was talking about. Instead he would only watch him with an endearing look in his eyes, admiring how Albedo's lips curved into a smile every time he mentioned his successful experiments.
Kaeya knew he was in love with Albedo since the first time Albedo invited him to help with the experimenting. Since that day, Kaeya would always find himself wandering back to Albedo's laboratory , saying he has too much time on his hands, when in reality, he might as well be the busiest man alive.
Kaeya was often stressed because of his work and so he would come to Albedo's laboratory as a means of escape. In Albedo's company everything seemed to make sense, he thought.
Every day he ends making up excuses to go to Dragonspine just so he could be with the blonde alchemist. At least for split second, if he could see him, everything would be fine.
At any rate, Kaeya made up his mind to not try anything stupid that might give Albedo a hint of how he truly feels about him. He didn't want to ruin the relationship they had now. How would Albedo even react to his confession? Would he be creeped out because Kaeya is a guy? Or would he say that love is nothing more than a chemical reaction or whatever he thought love could be.
Albedo couldn't stand eye contact. Not that he was shy or anything of the sort. In fact, he was quite confident when it came to talking to people and holding eye contact. He just couldn't do it with Kaeya without... feeling his chest tightening without as much as a warning.
However, he chose to ignore this for the time being. The feeling was new for him, yet this was the one thing he wasn't curious about. He didn't want to look into this feeling and their roots. He was scared. Scared of the truth. Scared of that feeling overwhelming him one day and getting out of control. What if he does something he shouldn't? What if Kaeya thinks he's a freak for feeling like this? What if one day he just has the sudden urge to kiss Kaeya because his lips look so soft and warm that it defeats the whole purpose of Kaeya having a cryo vision?Albedo could go on and on about admiring Kaeya's beautiful features. Sometimes, he would sketch him in secret, and it would always be the most detailed piece of art that he did, thinking he surely took too much time on it.
Kaeya always looked so warm. He looked like the sun itself. He was always smiling, even though Albedo seemed to know that most of Kaeya's smile weren't so genuine. If you looked deeper down, you'd know Kaeya isn't really the person he makes himself out to be, Albedo thought. As time passed, Albedo desired to be the cause of Kaeya's happiness. He desired to know what was beyond Kaeya's smiles. Wanted to know all of him. He was the first person Albedo didn't want to study, but to feel. He was always thinking how lucky he must be for Kaeya to be visiting him so frequently.
Leaving these feelings as they were, these two still met up with each other every day at Albedo's laboratory. Sometimes Kaeya would help Albedo gather some materials so they would take short strolls around Dragonspine, and other times they went so much as to not say a word to each other. Just enjoying each other's presence as much as they could.
And as time passed, they started getting more comfortable around each other. Occasionally touching hands and getting too close to each other made them so obviously nervous, yet they were very much oblivious to notice.
'Hey, Albedo. What are you drawing?'
'Oh? Only the scenery behind you. I thought it looked beautiful.' Albedo, in truth, paid no mind to the scenery, no matter how beautiful, when he had Kaeya in front of him.
'Will I get to see it when you're finished?'
'I suppose so.' he prayed Kaeya would forget about it.
----
'I haven't seen Sucrose in a while, is she okay by herself for this long?'
'She's alright. She's been traveling around the area gathering some materials needed for her research. She typically returns after a couple of days.'
'Aren't you worried about her?'
'Sometimes, but she's a capable and smart girl after all. I am sure everything will turn out fine.'
'You're really caring, although you never show it, I know.'
'What do you mean?' Albedo started getting red, and it was not from the cold. He turned around and started looking at some of his notes. "I truly hope he can't see my face right now," he thought.
'Exactly what I said, need I elaborate?'
Albedo knew what he meant. God, how could he have not? But he was trying to hide that side of his. He was always the type to inconspicuously take care of people. But oh, did he want to hear Kaeya say that over and over again.
----
'Kaeya, the storm looks like it's going to be bad tonight, how do you plan on getting back to Mondstadt?'
'I'll manage, you know me.' Kaeya actually really wasn't sure how he would get home.
'Are you sure?'
'Yeah.'
'Just spend the night here, I don't want to be worrying if you got home uninjured'
'Oh? You're worrying about me?' Kaeya said, in his usual flirty manner.
'I... well it isn't usual.' Albedo tried to keep his composure. Kaeya would sometimes catch him off guard, and Albedo wasn't so good at hiding how flustered and nervous he was in situations like these.
'Whatever you say.", he smiled secretly, "Alright, if you insist, I'll spend the night here. Do you have any spare sleeping bags to give me?'
'Yes, come here. I'll lend one to you.'
They spent the night together.
Albedo wasn't asleep, of course. How could he sleep peacefully when there was this blue haired Cavalry Captain laying in front of him? "He looks so beautiful when he sleeps," Albedo thought.
Kaeya wasn't a heavy sleeper, and he often had nightmares that would make him wake up in cold sweat every morning. You could say he was even afraid of sleeping, because how could someone sleep peacefully when even their brain is against them.
Yet somehow, that night, he fell asleep within minutes. He did feel secure in Albedo's company, of course.
However, the cruel night terror that has been with Kaeya every night didn't seem to leave him alone tonight, there were no exceptions. There's no escaping it, Kaeya thought. I just need to keep my eyes shut and Albedo won't notice.
Albedo would be experimenting up until late at night, and every so often he would look at Kaeya to see if everything's alright, and just to admire him as a whole. He looked like a beauty. His face seemed like it was constructed by Gods themselves. Albedo couldn't refrain himself from thinking like this. He thought he was fine as long as Kaeya didn't know.
Suddenly, He noticed Kaeyas face was tense. Albedo rushed over to Kaeya and checked to see if he was alright. There wasn't anything physically wrong with him, so the only option left was that he was probably having a nightmare.
Albedo had never seen Kaeya in this state before, hence he didn't know what to do.
He's still asleep, Albedo thought.
What a lie that was. Kaeya was fully awake, wondering how Albedo hasn't noticed it yet.
Albedo placed his hand on Kaeya's cheek and slowly caressed it. His heart was beating fast and he was scared Kaeya would wake up. But he simply could not waste this opportunity to be so close to him, to stare at his lips like they are the biggest treasure in Mondstadt.
Albedo then placed his hand on Kaeya's head and gently kept stroking his hair. He would fall asleep faster like this, Albedo kept thinking. Excuses, excuses. He only wanted to touch Kaeya. Meanwhile the blue boy was fully aware of what was happening. His heart was beating so fast he thought Albedo might hear it.
'You're so beautiful, you know that?' Albedo whispered. Kaeya's eyes shot open only for a split second and he could see Albedo's face covered with redness all over. Albedo still didn't seem to notice that Kaeya was awake, but deemed it was enough of this foolery, so he stood up and got ready for bed himself.
When he lay down beside Kaeya he could only look at him for so long without turning away, flushed.
They both fell asleep and never mentioned what happened there in the morning.
---
'How's your work going?'
'Same as always. Are you really curious or are you just trying to make small talk?'
'The latter, I apologize. I only thought it would be nice to talk about something'
'I enjoy our silence though, don't you?'
'What do you mean?'
'Well... it does not bother me when we're silent, I enjoy your company anyway.'
'Oh really, do you?'
'Yeah. You make me feel safe and-' Kaeya stopped. He slipped up. Why would he say that anyway?
'I make you feel safe?'
'Nevermind. I just enjoy your company, is all.'
'That was a lie. You wanted to say something more. Why are you holding back?' Albedo said. He hoped Kaeya would break the ice first, because if he didn't, Albedo would have to. And he really didn't wanna resort to that.
'It doesn't matter, it was just a stupid slip up' there he goes again.
'Kaeya what are you talking about? Slip up? Was there something I am not allowed to hea-'
'What were you doing the other night when I stayed over?'
Albedo froze. Was he awake? Impossible.. He would've noticed if he was awake, right? Was he so nervous he didn't notice at all? Maybe he overdid it. Kaeya would probably leave him any time now.
'Were you awake then?'
'Yeah, of course I was awake?'
'So you heard me say ...'
'Yeah. I did.'
'Ah, there it goes'
'What?'
'Never mind. You're free to leave if you wish. I won't do anything to stop you'
'You're not making any sense... why would I want to leave?'
'Well.. that's...' Albedo couldn't seem to form a proper sentence, 'you should be upset about what I did. Why aren't you?'
'I'm not sure why would you think I am upset.'
'I touched you without your permission and then I just said that you're ... beautiful ... without any context whatsoever. Listen, we can forget all about it, I've no intention of doing something like tha-'
'For fucks sake Albedo, take the hint. I like you. I like you so much. And what you did that night made me realize that there may be a chance that you feel the same way I do.'
Albedo was silent, still trying to process what he just heard. Maybe he imagined it all. His reaction was so delayed Kaeya wondered if he even heard him confess. Albedo was fighting with himself in his head at the moment. He couldn't take it anymore. He had to do something.
'Albedo? Please say some-'
Suddenly, Kaeya felt a pair of warm lips touch his. God, they were so soft and heavenly. He could not resist this feeling anymore. He'd been aching for Albedo's touch every since that night. He spent all of his time thinking about Albedo's lips, nose, hands, eyes and what not. He wanted to touch him everywhere, to feel every inch of his skin, and finally he could. He could have Albedo all to himself.
Kaeya struggled to kiss back at first, but eventually they found a rhythm that suited them. Kaeya put his hand on Albedo's cheek and fondled it gently, while his other free hand was around the back of Albedo's neck, pulling him in deeper for the kiss. Albedo looked flustered and hesitated, but gave in soon enough. Albedo surely couldn't resist any longer, either. He put both his hands on Kaeya's neck,pulling him down.
It was embarassing to admit, but Albedo was smaller than Kaeya by a fair amount, so to kiss him Albedo would have to stand on his tip toes. Kaeya noticed and thought he was adorable like that, however he gestured for Albedo to sit down on the laboratory desk, and so Albedo did. Albedo felt more comfortable and ... free. Free to touch Kaeya wherever he wanted. His shoulders, his collarbones, his chest, his waist. He was free to do whatever he wanted. And the same went for Kaeya. He pulled Albedo in by the waist and kept kissing him tenderly. Albedo was.... so gentle. His lips felt like the most comforting thing in the world. They kept kissing hungrily until they were both out of breath and their lips started turning purple.
There was a short silence when Albedo finally spoke
'I'm sorry for not saying anything earlier. If I knew this was how you felt, I would've confessed much earlier'
'Yeah. The same goes for me. I am just glad I am able to have you all for myself now.'
Albedo didn't say anything and just put his head on Kaeya's chest, listening to his heart.
'What does it say?'
'Huh?'
'My heart.'
'It says I love you.'