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First, it was the squirm in his stomach.
It was developing slowly and steadily - and Albedo thought it was just from his last meal disagreeing with him. But, the sudden swirl devouring his abdomen was increasing drastically. There was no explanation, none at all and he couldn't find it in any book in the Knights of Favonius library nor from his knowledge-filled memories.
Sometimes, the weird nausea in his stomach disappears completely, leaving him confused but satisfied. Then, it would randomly rise again, either more uncomfortable or less comfortable than the last. Albedo didn't mind at first. It was nothing but a slight disturbance to his life and he was sure it would go away soon. But, it's been almost two weeks that it started and there were no signs that it would leave him.
He began to notice that it usually happened at day break when Kaeya would often come by to check up on Albedo and his experiments. Perhaps it only happened because of how hard he worked? Albedo had no clue.
When the second symptom started, he knew it was too much to handle alone.
Albedo was with Kaeya, listening to him laugh about the antics Klee did that week while he works on his own experiments. Then, he felt it.
His heart was racing, way faster than it normally would and Albedo almost thought he was dying when he first realized what was happening. It was of course, during Kaeya's daily visits and Albedo was thankful it was the Cavalry Captain who was around because he'd spend his whole lifetime with Kaeya if he could.
He was falling to the floor, clenching the clothing covering his chest like his life depended on it and Kaeya was immediately beside Albedo on the stone-cold flooring.
"Are you alright?" Kaeya swiftly questions, looking at Albedo's bedazzled state, rubbing his back gently.
"My heart- I-" Albedo could barely say anything, too flustered from shock.
It was a sudden action and Albedo knew Kaeya was only doing this to save him but something in Albedo longed for it. Kaeya was holding him bridal style, probably with the assumption that Albedo was in no condition to walk.
They were speeding down Dragonspine to a nearby healer in Mondstadt and Albedo's heart just paced even more, just as Kaeya scooped him up. Swinging his arms around Kaeya's neck, shutting his eyes tightly as he whimpers into the other's chest, Albedo finds himself at the Cathedral with a well-known healer examining him.
"He currently does not have any injuries. His heart should slow down in a moment." Barbara explained and Albedo didn't trust that statement very well.
"What was the cause?" Kaeya questioned, his hand rubbing Albedo's knee slowly.
"I assume it was a type of panic attack. And, it could also be from-" Barbara paused, bringing her hands up to her face from immediate shock. "From doing something extremely lewd!"
"No, no! It's nothing like that, I promise." Kaeya retorted, shaking his head profusely but Albedo didn't even know what they were talking about.
Just as Albedo was about to ask, Sucrose bursts in with nervousness covering her head-to-toe. "Mister Albedo! I heard what happened! Are you okay?" She runs towards him, embracing him once they're at a considerate distance.
"It was nothing fatal, Rose." Albedo saw Kaeya visibly flinch at them in the corner of his eye but he didn't really understand why.
"Ah, I'll leave you two be." Kaeya sighs when he catches Albedo staring, a hint of disappointment in his tone as he walks out of the Cathedral. Albedo doesn't want to pry any further so he leaves Kaeya be.
Albedo trusts Sucrose, a friendly bond they've created from all the time they've spent together discussing alchemy. So, Albedo decides to tell Sucrose what he was going through - the nausea, the increased heart rate and what he was doing when it happened.
Sucrose stares at him bewildered as he explains his experiences. "Mister Albedo, I apologize but I believe you have mistaken." Sucrose stutters, fiddling with the loose strings on her skirt.
"Hm? What do you mean, Rose? Care to elaborate?" Albedo hummed, looking at her contently.
"Nevermind, Mister Albedo. I'm sure it's something you'll figure out later." She replied but that did nothing except bucketing Albedo's confusion and curiosity. He knew Sucrose was one for keeping secrets tightly so he didn't see any use in trying.
He continues his adventure, hoping to stop the third symptom before it can develop.
A rather calming dusk in Dragonspine. A few experiments, a few ingredients and a few light-hearted conversations with Kaeya.
"What's ailing you? You seem to be distracted." He asks, sprawled out near a torch to savor the lack of heat.
"I'm about to inject myself with-" Albedo flicked a beaker filled with a condensed liquid, shaking it softly. "-this."
"You're going to shove that into your chest?" Kaeya raises an eyebrow, curiosity hidden behind his gaze with a sprinkle of worry.
"It's corruption medicine. I made it in advance so I don't hurt anyone. But, as you can see, I'm a bit afraid to stab it into me." Albedo says, a glazed focus while pouring the liquid content into an injection bottle.
"Afraid of needles?" Kaeya sighed as the wind blew the torch out, leaving him without a heat source in the raging colds.
"You could say that." Albedo swallows dryly, barely vivid images of his creator coming to mind.
"Mind if I help you?" Kaeya nods quickly as Albedo takes out a few bandages from a nearby drawer, ready incase precautions were necessary.
"Of course not. Come closer." Albedo calls out and Kaeya leaves his seat near the (blown-out) fire place to help. "Here. Careful, it's sharp." Albedo hands Kaeya the injection, a light blueish liquid swirling inside the transparent glass.
"Since when were you this short, wait." Kaeya huffed once he realized it was uncomfortable for both him and Albedo if he had to kneel down to get to the indicated spot. Before Albedo knew it, both of Kaeya's hands were on each side of his waist, lifting him up and putting him down on his work table. Lodged between Albedo's knees and thighs, Kaeya was adjusting his position so he can manage to make the injection as painless as possible.
"Ah, so, I'll take off my shirt?" He asks, pointing to his poorly-knitted sweater with a few loose buttons while he tries to read Kaeya's expression.
"It's a button-up, just ripping it open would be enough." Kaeya jokes as he begins to unbutton Albedo's shirt, taking his time fiddling with each thread.
"I'm not doing so well, I'll admit." Albedo sighed as he caught sight of the needle.
"Want me to hold your hand?" Kaeya suggests, finishing off the last button.
"Oh! Sure." He nods, feeling the surrounding cold air find its way onto his uncovered chest.
"Was joking but I don't mind." Kaeya smiles, entangling his free hand with Albedo's fingers.
Albedo felt immediately light-headed, unexplainable heat rising to his face. With his heart beginning to pace again and his breathing becoming shallow, Albedo almost screamed. He's never felt like this before and he could actually notice the fact that his face was turning awfully red, shockingly not because of the temperature. But under all that panic, it felt kind of nice - the warmth and the safety. He shook that thought away hastily to start warning Kaeya.
"Kaeya! Another symptom! Quick, quick, poke it in." He shouted so randomly that even Kaeya flinched.
"Alright!" He responded, shoving the needle in whilst covering Albedo's mouth to muffle his screams.
Patiently waiting for his face to cool up, Albedo realizes it isn't helping, not at all. His heart races under his skin, pounding in hopes of escaping. His face reddens endlessly, thoughts filled with fields of calla lilies while his stomach swirled, forcing him to kick out his last meal.
"It's- it's not working." Albedo frowns, embracing Kaeya's waist hardly in hopes of soothing the pain of his recent injection.
Too focused on their own conversation, they don't notice Sucrose entering the lab, stocked with the latest necessities needed for their experiments. "I'm sorry for interrupting!" She squeaks as she sees Kaeya and Albedo's states - glued against each other with one shirtless and both of them blushing. Dropping the ingredients she was bringing, Sucrose runs off, leaving Kaeya even more flustered while Albedo, even more confused.
The fourth symptom was so random that Albedo didn't even want to write it down.
He can't speak.
He was trying to bring out sentences but he ends up getting nervous, for apparently no reason, or he at least thought so. Stuttering was also a part and alchemy became impossible when he can't say a word without hesitation.
Soon, Albedo finds news about Stormterror's defeat, a difficult hardship along the journey of Dvalin's corruption with a certain bard being a huge help. So, he's at the best liquor place - the person in question seated right beside him as Albedo states that he might be corrupted.
"Mind telling me the symptoms?" Venti asks, looking worriedly at Albedo as he sips his drink.
There was a weird silence while Albedo explains his experiences, especially during the moments with Kaeya. Detailed descriptions of what he was doing and who he was with.
"Oh Barbatos, I can't- I can't stop laughing." Venti is choking on his drink when Albedo is finished, wheezing in a lump on the floor. "Albedo, for Mondstadt's genius, you sure are unique."
Albedo raises an eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Venti straightens his posture and brings himself back to his seat, still there was the fact that he was hiding another burst of laughter in his tone.
"Can't you help me? Am I even getting corrupted? Aren't you worried about Mondstadt's safety? Since you helped with Stormterror's corruption, I was believing you could aid me the same way?" Albedo rambled, continuously questioning whilst giving Venti barely any time to answer.
"Woah, woah! I'll cut you off right there. I may not be any help in your case but, but! I can assure you it is not corruption." Venti explains and that is just about enough for Albedo. It wouldn't hurt to put a little trust on him, considering that he managed to get Diluc, Jean and Traveler together to fight one of the Four Winds.
"Thank you for your advice." Albedo nods, lost in thought for a moment. "I'll try to find some books on the topic in the library again."
"You're hopeless! Even a five year old could understand." Venti huffs, and that just struck Albedo with a great idea. Five year old? So, perhaps an eight year old like Klee could help him when no one could.
Albedo re-thanks a confused Venti and rushes his way to the Favonius Headquarters in hopes of finding Klee. To his very unusually amazing luck, he finds her right as he enters the building.
Klee listens carefully as Albedo explains the symptoms, patiently toning down his grammar usage.
"You-" Klee whispers loudly, motioning Albedo to move closer to her. "You have a crush!"
"A crush?" Albedo questions confusedly. He didn't know what that was but it did not sound good. Crush? As in it'd destroy his limbs inside out? No, no he did not like the sound of it at all.
"Yes! The heart beat going super fast like thump, thump, thump! And, and there's also those butterflies in your stomach! It feels like they're flying around and around and around!" Klee explains, twirling around and playing with her backpack strings. That does answer Albedo's questions in a way, perhaps Klee might know the next symptoms.
"There's also like, like! Klee forgot!" She pouted, looking apologetic.
"Is there something to do with your face turning red?" Albedo questioned and the look on Klee's face showed that she remembered more.
"Yes, yes! That was it! Also being super shy! Yes! And, there's more! But Klee was only told these!" She jumps up and down, excitedly and childishly.
"Thank you so much, Klee. May I ask how you know all this?" Albedo continued his conversation, placing his hand on his chin.
"Miss Lisa told me! She was having all the, the sy-sum? Sin?" Klee answered truthfully and the amount of relief Albedo felt when he realized it wasn't just him suffering with this condition.
"Symptoms?" He helped her with her stuttering and she immediately nodded.
"Yes! That's the word. Good luck! Klee will be at the lake in Springvale!" She exclaims and she runs out of the Headquarter entrance, waving a quick good-bye to Albedo. Now, he had a new target, Lisa.
Albedo passes by Jean's office on his way to the Library, the door left slightly open so to his luck, he catches sight of Lisa. Quickly entering the room, shutting the door behind to be met with Lisa looking extremely worried at his haste.
"Lisa, I have a crush! I'm afraid it's going to tear me limb from limb. My heart is pacing, my stomach is swirling and my face feels like it's been set on fire." Albedo voiced, barely taking any breaks between his words.
"Oh my, my." Lisa raises an eyebrow once everything Albedo said was registered. "I recommend trying this book. A big help to your obliviousness, really." She continued, handing him a thin book laced with a thick layer of dust from a nearby bookshelf.
Flipping over to the contents page, Albedo coughs from the filth spreading once he opens it. As he sees the index, he just stares judgingly.
Volume 1 - Realizing
Volume 2 - Flowers, more flowe4rs and
Volume 3 - Confessions
Volume 4 - Kiss, kiss and make out
Volume 5 - Kinky kinks time >:(
Volume 6 - Marriage and the adopted children and why you should 100% invite me
"I found it on Jean's desk a while back." Lisa jokes and Albedo observes the title for the first time.
Barbados's Berry Bamazimg BGuide to Requited Feelings
- Vent1
The typos were horrible, so was the hand-writing and the content was so utterly ridiculous that Albedo almost thought it was a joke. "Thank you?" It sounded more like a question than a proper gratitude but Lisa just did her signature laugh even more.
"No problem at all. The only cure is to tell the person the truth." Lisa shrugged her shoulders, leaning her slim waist against Jean's study desk.
"The truth? What do you mean?" Albedo gives her a puzzled expression, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.
"The bard was right. You sure are amusing, I must say." Lisa teases, asking Albedo to take a seat on one of the chairs.
"Could you at least go more into detail?" Albedo requests and Lisa thinks for a moment.
"Let's just say, is there someone around? When these symptoms arise the most, are you thinking about a particular someone? Or something! I don't judge." She interrogated, and.
And that hit Albedo extremely hard in the face. How could he not notice?
.
.
.
Kaeya.
Kaeya was always around when a new symptom was discovered. It's always around him when Albedo feels the squirm, his heart racing, his face heating up. The nervousness. He does feel it, incase he says something wrong or the terrifying thought that Kaeya doesn't enjoy his company.
"Kaeya. It's around Kaeya." Lisa probably heard the panic in Albedo's voice, so she's quick to reassure him.
"Don't worry, my little alchemist. Tip, do not avoid or ignore Kaeya. Will make the symptoms way worse. I learnt from the experience." Lisa resolves his tension with ease, giving him friendly advice.
"So! So what do I do then?" Albedo questions while he tries his best to think of an excuse to make it seem that it isn't Kaeya he's feeling like this around.
"Live normally. You'll be better off figuring out yourself." Lisa sniggers, plucking a flower from Jean's vase and putting it into her hair.
"That's it? How did you cure yours?" He pleads for more advice, there has got to be a cure somehow.
"A few roses, a few candles, advice from the anemo archon and a lot, I mean a lot of help." Her eyes soften for a moment till she recalls that Albedo was there.
"Well then, I need all the aid I can get." He's done with her stalling, she knew the answer! Why couldn't she just give it to him? He's about to lose his composure.
"I'm sure you don't need any of that. Now shoo, shoo." Lisa ushers him out the door, pushing him lightly. "I have rather important business to attend to with another certain blonde." She throws Albedo out of the room, slams the door shut and the lock clicks, rather quickly, too.
He hasn't gotten anything from these interactions. Well, he's gotten stress and a book filled with love advice. But, other than that, literally nothing.
However, Albedo may or may not have read the book Lisa recommended that following night. He'll say it's interesting, to say the least. Much of it blurred through Albedo's mindset since it's all occupied with why the symptoms happen only around Kaeya.
When Albedo wakes up the next morning, hair tousled from passing out at his desk, he comes up with a great idea.
Who better to ask than someone who Kaeya is close with?
"You seriously don't know?" Diluc sighed, face-palming as he slumped his back against the wooden oak chair his father used to sit in at Dawn Winery. Albedo was seated in one of the couches, hoping Diluc would understand why he was feeling all this around only Kaeya.
"That's why I'm here." Albedo replies, sitting up straighter as he answered.
"Fine, follow me outside. Let's go for a stroll." Albedo follows Diluc out the winery and along the nearby river bed.
Albedo brings a notepad out of his pocket, along with a pen while he flips to an empty page. He was determined to find out what was going on with him and Kaeya.
"Oh, you brought a book?" Diluc questions, stopping in his step and turned around to face Albedo.
"To note down everything you say." Albedo says, clicking his pen on.
"Let me see." Diluc puts a hand on Albedo's shoulder and gripped it tightly. "So, when I do this, do you feel any of your symptoms? Anything at all?"
"Nothing," Albedo replies, scribbling down whatever Diluc said.
"Now, pretend I'm Kaeya." Diluc suggests and Albedo dusts into a light pink, swallowing tensely as he starts to fiddle with his pen. "You're down bad, alright."
"Is that a bad thing?" Albedo asks, face full of worry.
"With Kaeya, yes, it's horrible. Extremely fatal." Diluc sighs, his hand still on Albedo's shoulder. Suddenly, there was a shuffling nearby and Diluc just swiftly puts his hand down, stepping away from Albedo. "Speak of the devil."
"What are you two doing?" Kaeya seems upset, extremely so as he misunderstands Albedo blush under Diluc's touch.
"Going for a walk with your dear Albedo? Can I not?" Diluc groans, quickly bringing his palm to his face again.
Kaeya gives Diluc a look and he immediately rolls his eyes, turning away. "Albedo, we need to talk." Kaeya demands, putting his hand on Albedo's shoulder, coincidentally similar to where Diluc put it.
"Oh, of course." He nods, not having full extent of the situation but agreeing either way.
"Alone, please?" Kaeya pleads, squeezing Albedo's shoulder.
"Should we head up to Dragonspine, then?" Albedo suggests, huddling closer to Kaeya to discreetly discover more about the symptoms.
"Good luck, Albedo. Your life changes with this decision, choose wisely." Diluc fakes a badly-made laugh and Kaeya tells him to shut up.
The walk to the alchemy camp was the worst 30 minutes of Albedo's life. Not only was it quiet, but Kaeya was avoiding looking at or speaking with him.
After what seems like forever, they arrive at their destination and Kaeya is quick to take a seat. Albedo's just standing awkwardly at the entrance, hoping Kaeya would say anything but hardly any words were shared.
Albedo looks around, avoiding Kaeya's gaze. His eyes landed on the writing piece Lisa gifted him a while ago, surrounded by the new ingredients Sucrose brought by.
The wind blew the book open, landing on a page painted with little green butterflies and spears. Albedo catches sights of the written words on the page, eyes widening as he starts to understand.
He's in love. Albedo's in love.
With Kaeya.
That would explain everything. All the symptoms, all the stomach butterflies and the face ovens, all the thoughts unspoken and all the words shared.
Albedo's in love with Kaeya and he somehow realised it a bit too late.
"You seem to have read something shocking there." Kaeya speaks up finally, walking towards Albedo at a slow rate.
"Just figured something out." He replies, stumbling backwards to keep distance between him and Kaeya.
"What exactly did you find out?" Kaeya asks, catching up to Albedo with no difficulty.
"I'm in love." He answers, wanting to see Kaeya react in some way, even if it's not the one he wanted.
"So am I. Apparently with an oblivious someone who doesn't realize I've been pinning for months." Kaeya is somehow moving closer, close enough that Albedo could feel his breath on his face. Albedo feels his heart stop. He was too late.
Albedo swallows hardly, taking a moment to compose himself. "Do you regret it?"
"Regret loving? Oh no, I don't think I ever will." Kaeya moves his posture around, looking away from Albedo. "Is it dangerous to say that- that Albedo, I'm in love with you."
There's silence and hesitation and all the feelings Albedo's not sure he's felt. He doesn't know why he's smiling when it could just be some big joke. But, in the end, he decides to tell the truth, just like Lisa told him to. "I guess it's safe to say I love you too."
There's more silence and more shuffling. Albedo believes Kaeya would react with shock or disappointment but instead he laughs. He smiles at Albedo, bringing him into a tight hug. "Of all the ways I imagined this to go, I don't think I expected this."
"I don't even know what I anticipated." Albedo continues to grin, still shocked from what's happening.
"Can I?" Kaeya asks, placing his palms onto Albedo's face - his hands protecting and spreading the reddish color enveloping his face.
"Can you? I don't seem to understand." Albedo sounds confused, staring lovingly at Kaeya.
"Volume 4 of the book Lisa gave you." Kaeya laughs, watching Albedo's reaction once he realizes what he's about to do.
"Of course." Albedo nods, a smile hidden in his voice. "It's actually my first time though, so I believe you'd like it more after I practice kis-"
Albedo was about to continue but he stops when Kaeya presses a kiss on Albedo's lips. A long, loving kiss that brought the butterflies in his freedom. One that made all of Albedo's symptoms act up. If Kaeya wasn't kissing him, Albedo was sure he would have screamed.
When they pulled away, Albedo doesn't even know what he's feeling or what he's supposed to feel. "Goodness, you've known me for so long yet you have no idea I'd enjoy anything if I'm doing it with you." Kaeya presses another kiss on Albedo's forehead.
Somehow their relationship prospered a lot - kisses, anniversaries, dates, hand-holding and way much more than Albedo thought. All of Mondstadt found out barely a week later, a huge celebration at the tavern made just to congratulate them for not being oblivious any longer.
Their one year anniversary came in such a short span of time that Albedo is almost shocked with how long it's actually been. On the dusk of a rather special day, in the ragged ruins of Dragonspine, Albedo and Kaeya lie in the snow, side-by-side while sharing laughs and whispers.
"So, how did you find out you loved me?" Kaeya questions, frost covering his casual outfit as he turns to look at Albedo.
"Well, it's a very long story."