Chapter Text
"What the fuck dude have you like... not slept at all the last few days"
The voice speaking comes from behind him, and Albedo is barely conscious enough to make the owner of the voice out as Aether. Albedo rubs his absolutely bloodshot eyes, uncaring of the fact that his hands are covered in crumbs and drops of spilt coffee. He opens his mouth to speak, but it turns out having black coffee and blueberry cookies as your only sustenance while shut away from face-to-face human interaction for 24 hours straight isn’t a good idea, because his voice comes out scratchy and raw. "I had to finish up a project due today."
He turns to stare at Aether, his boyfriend of 6 months whom he swears is the love of his past life, as if the appalling statement that just came out of his mouth is the most obvious thing in the world. Aether raises an eyebrow at his boyfriend incredulously, "Don't fuck with me Albedo i know you finish your assignments practically the moment you get them. Is this another commission?"
Shit, even in his sleep-deprived state he knows that tone with Aether. "I told you Ae it was an assignment don't w-"
"’Don't worry’ my ass Albedo. You look like you just went to hell and back.” With what he was doing, he might as well have. “Who's it from this time and why's it so urgent?" Aether’s rising worry at Albedo’s non-compliance is detected through even his sheer lack of energy. He feels moments from passing out, barely holding it together. Should he tell Aether the truth? He can’t just go ‘ Oh, don’t worry about it, I was in contact with your sister who’s working with her deranged Fatui boyfriend to rob a museum of a precious artifact .’ As if that would go by completely fine!
Albedo realises he’s been staring blankly at his boyfriend, his sun, the light of his life, for too long. He should reply. "It was an urgent commission from Guuji Yae. You know the one." Albedo sighs, making up an excuse on the spot. No point in worrying him any more than he already is. "She needed art of G- I mean Miss Hina for the next promotional piece for her column." Technically not a lie, it just wasn’t what he was doing today .
Aether narrows his eyes. He knows the print is coming out tomorrow, Itto always buys one on Mondays citing it as an “important start to the week”. Isn’t it too late to commission artwork for a release barely a day away? “…You spent your whole Saturday night doing that?”
“Yes. Don’t you trust me, love?” Here comes the nicknames, Aether’s biggest weakness. “I’m really tired after work though. Could you come carry me to bed? We could cuddle.” Three critical hits to Aether’s heart, and his guard is completely lowered. Albedo doesn’t do this often, but when he does it’s always a treat to his golden-eyed boyfriend. And maybe to himself, too.
Aether sighs in defeat. “Fine, c’mere you big idiot.” He lifts Albedo up like he’s the weight of a feather (which he might as well be compared to how strong both of the twins are), and throws the art major slash science genius into the soft embrace of his blankets.
“Mmh, thanks Ae…” Obviously Albedo underestimated the complete crashing and shutdown of his system from the coffee, because he’s passed out the moment his head hit the pillow. He doesn’t notice the warm body cozying up next to him. Not that he needs to.