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"I've always wondered," Kaeya mumbled, his voice abruptly filling the nighttime air and startling his boyfriend awake from his doze.
"Mmh?" Albedo hummed, the alchemist clearly seeming to hope that if he kept his responses brief, then the cavalry captain would fall quiet and the two of them could get some rest. He wasn't sure what question the taller man was going to ask, but was certain it wouldn't be suitable for the mood of the evening - and when his partner spoke, that suspicion was confirmed.
"What is the first thing you remember, from when you were made?"
Albedo sighed in response, a hand lifting to sleepily rub his eyes as he thought about his response. He knew that Kaeya's mind wouldn't stop spinning until it reached the conclusion of whatever thought prompted this discussion, and just the same he knew he would be here to see it to that conclusion - Kaeya, after all, had had many sleepless nights doing the same thing for him as his mind ran wild. After a pause for thought, the artificial human responded.
"The chill stands out the most, I think. And Gold's voice. I can't remember what she said or the tone, not from that very beginning moment, but I remember that it was cold. Inside and outside."
"You'd think being birthed would feel warm," Kaeya quipped, lips curling into a mirthless smile- only to become a real, genuine smile at the startled laugh that escaped his tired boyfriend.
"I don't know if birthed is the word I'd use, Sir Kaeya." Albedo responded, clearly amused, fingers lifting to comb through his partner's loose hair where the Captain's head rested on his chest. He knew the follow up responses would involve Kaeya's first memories, but chose not to push his lover. The words would come when they were ready, and Albedo was content to wait in their serene bubble of stillness until his love was ready to speak.
“Fire.” Kaeya murmured at last, voice muffled where it was tucked against the crook of Albedo’s neck. “That’s the main thing I remember.. Fire and darkness, and the screaming.” He exhaled slowly, nuzzling his partner’s throat and pressing a few kisses there before continuing to speak, eyelids fluttering closed as the alchemist brushed his fingers through Kaeya’s long hair. “I don’t remember much between then and my birth father leaving me on the surface. I’m not sure how I remember the fall and yet am this age, but I try not to think about it too much.”
Albedo pressed a gentle kiss to Kaeya’s forehead, lifting his chin and brushing the hair out of his face with care, then pressed another kiss below the edge of the captain’s eyepatch. “Thank you for sharing, and for trusting me, Kaeya.” He said, voice a soft whisper and strangely lilting accent thick with sleep. “Now please, get some rest, love.”
“Hah,” Kaeya huffed out a brief laugh, then dropped his head to press a kiss to the mark resting on his lover’s throat. “As you wish, Sir Alchemist,” he teased quietly, and went to bed.