Work Text:
The worst part of a long trip was the unpacking. After putting the last of his luggage away Albedo made it to his desk. Ever since he returned from Sumeru he'd been itching to explore the wildlife further. When the Traveler asked for his help he couldn't turn it down. In his travels with Gold, he didn't have the mind he did now when they went through Sumeru before. Now, technically older and wiser he could enjoy the research.
Now hours after being back in his lab in Mondstadt. He was still studying the various plants and mushrooms he came across. Tighnari was an excellent help in teaching him how to preserve them for the trip. A superb mind and nice wit. To his surprise, he had no issue with connecting with him. He wondered when he would be able to see him again.
As Albedo scribbled down in his notebook the door opened. There was a sign that said ‘Experiment in Progress. ’ outside. The only one to ignore that sign was the only one he allowed to ignore it. Even still Albedo made no effort to turn away from his work. He heard the door close behind him and soon enough the Calvary Captain pulled up a chair to sit right beside him.
It was as if nothing changed between them (not that there wasn’t anything between them in the first place). Kaeya sat next to him, invading his space, Albedo tolerated it, and his questions. Finally, after several minutes Albedo looked up from his notebook.
He looked at Kaeya and his mind paused for a moment. It was no secret that Kaeya was pretty and handsome at the same time. Even Albedo knew to appreciate the man’s good looks. After 3 months it hit him rather hard seeing him up close again. From his eyes to how his nose curved. How his hair fell over his shoulder and tickled his neck down to that exposed part of his shirt.
Beautiful.
“Hello, Captain.”
Kaeya frowned, “Hello? You’re gone for three months and all I get is a hello?”
“I don’t see how else I am supposed to greet you.” Albedo said as he turned back to his notebook. Albedo didn’t know what else he expected from him.
“Am I supposed to report to you as well as Acting Grandmaster Jean?” He asked.
Without looking he could guess the look on Kaeya’s annoyingly beautiful face. A mixture of annoyance and something else. He couldn’t place it. He couldn’t find any reason to call it flustered. Kaeya doesn’t get flustered. If he did it wouldn’t be about him–around him. It would be around him.
“No, I thought it would be nice to tell a friend when they returned from a long trip.”
Albedo grabbed a mushroom for closer inspection as he sketched it with another. He kept going until the said sketch was finished before setting it down.
“I’ve returned from my long trip.” He remarked.
Kaeya rolled his eyes as he put his arms on the desk. “I don’t know why I bother.”
Albedo said nothing and continued to work. Any other person would have found the banter to be pointless and annoying. Yet, Kaeya…it was cute.
They fell back into their comfortable silence as Albedo continued to work. When they first meet Kaeya asked several questions. Some were about what he was working on and some were about him in general. Albedo didn’t expect him to be so curious. So he indulge him, answering every single one, even if it was in a teasing manner. From his reputation, Albedo figured it was Kaeya’s way of investigating him.
The only thing they had in common was their mutual love for Klee. Albedo concluded that Kaeya wanted to know the person she called ‘big brother’. It wasn’t long until Albedo found a pattern within his questioning. Kaeya was telling things about himself as well.
Albedo never asked anything about him. But Kaeya willfully gave things away about himself. It was more complex than he gave him credit for. He then felt guilty for not thinking more of the Calvary Captain.
“Here,” Albedo handed a mushroom to Kaeya.
“What’s this?” He asked not thinking twice about grabbing it.
“I wasn’t able to see it for myself, but I am curious.” He said, “Could you try using cryo on it?”
Kaeya raised his eyebrow before applying some cryo to it. As Albedo expected all it did was freeze over. He let out a rather displeased noise as it froze completely solid.
“Was that supposed to happen?” Kaeya asked.
“Unfortunately yes. A man I met while with the Traveler gave details on the flora and fauna of Sumeru. Due to how the mushrooms and other plants have mutated they react differently to the elements. Though, the only two elements that don’t seem to have a great reaction are cryo and geo.”
Kaeya hummed before setting the frozen mushroom down. “So you must have been bored there then?”
Albedo blinked at him. “No, I was rather stimulated, it’d been many years since I’ve been to Sumeru. It has changed greatly over the decades.”
What was comforting about being around Kaeya, there were no secrets. He knew very well who Kaeya was and why he was here and Kaeya knew all that much about Albedo. The conversation was very clear in his mind. It was the first time he saw Kaeya genuinely afraid. Though, Albedo was afraid to tell him the truth as well.
“Oh, well then it must have been a wonderful experience for you. I’ll have to thank the Traveler whenever they return.”
“For what?” Albedo tilted his head.
“For keeping you happy.”
There it was. At times he would say words that would completely through Albedo off guard. This whole time Kaeya was thinking about his happiness. Albedo let his eyes fall onto his experiments, not wanting to look Kaeya in the eye.
“You say that as if I’m unhappy here.”
Kaeya merely shrugged. He grabbed at a pen and started to twirl it in his fingers, “Are you?”
Albedo didn’t even need to think about it. “No.”
“That’s good.”
Albedo felt a flutter in his chest. Kaeya’s words, his voice…How did he go three months without it? Sighing his name at the bottom of his notebook he closed it before grabbing his sketchbook.
“Do you have other engagements, Captain?”
Kaeya looked at him and smiled, “Free as a bird, Captain.”
Albedo stood up rolling his shoulders, he needed to stretch more and made his way for the door.
“Care to join me?”
They had a spot. Really, it was a spot meant for Kaeya and Klee to cause trouble without getting caught. They graciously allowed Albedo to their spot. So, now it was his spot as well. No matter the time of day the lighting was heavenly. Albedo particularly enjoyed Golden Hour, Kaeya looked immaculate then. It was about an hour away from that time. The small pond before them had plenty of fish, a few lily pads, and calla lilies that surrounded the moist shore.
Albedo sketched this spot often, and even went to paint it. Right, now he was sketching a subject who was practically sleeping on him. Sitting under a tall tree he sketched Kaeya’s face after finally getting past the frustrating stages. Meanwhile, the subject himself was laying at his side. A comfortable silence.
Albedo looked down at him, Kaeya’s body perpendicular to his own as his head was resting on the ends of his coat. The way his hair spilled over his face and neck as he seemingly was asleep. A smile graced Albedo’s face and he reached out to move a few strands from his face.
“Nothing to say?” He asked.
Kaeya’s chest rose and fell before he finally spoke. “Nothing to say. I’m coming up empty.”
Albedo scoffed, “You usually don’t.”
Keeping his eye closed he exhaled, “Not this time.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“Oh?” Finally, he opened his eye half lid. “Is that so, Captain?”
“It is, Captain. The silence is strange,” he lied. “You usually have a myriad of questions.”
“Yes, but I believe I have my answers.” He closed his eye.
Albedo’s smile faded. Now he was leaning over him, his sketchbook put to the side and he had one hand buried into Kaeya’s fur. He stared at him hoping for him to continue, to look at his beautiful features. The way his nose arched and was crooked his lips, and his perfect eyelashes. How did he manage for three months?
“I can hear you thinking,” Kaeya spoke softly.
“Can you?”
“Yes, you’re rather loud when you want to be.” He opened his eye again. “Studying me like your precious mushrooms?”
The tone of the word ‘precious’ mushrooms came out rather harsh. Albedo knit his eyebrows together. He wanted to know why, but Kaeya wouldn’t tell him he knew from experience.
“I only have questions myself.”
Kaeya laughed softly, “A change of pace for once. What are your questions, then Albedo?”
He leaned down further. The position was growing uncomfortable, but he didn’t want to lose the closeness.
“...You missed me, Kaeya.”
Kaeya tapped his fingers on his stomach before clicking his tongue. “That’s not a question.”
“Then it’s an answer, am I wrong?” Albedo asked.
Kaeya blinked slowly before finally sitting up. Albedo moved back to give him some room. Even as they sat together under the tree Kaeya was taller than him. Albedo lifted his head up to look him in the eye.
“...You aren’t.”
“Oh.”
It was the most eloquent thing he could muster. Kaeya missed him. He thought of him while he was gone, his happiness, even had a hint of jealousy. Even still he wasn’t obtuse with his feelings.
“Yes, ‘oh.’ What other answers have you come to?”
Albedo blinked at him now feeling flustered. How could he have been so oblivious to it? Since the day he left with the Traveler, he continued to draw Kaeya. Thinking how he would like the way the sun shined on the green grass. Wondering if he would be interested in the people and culture like he was. The whole time he was researching and experiencing something new. Albedo ached because he couldn’t share it with Kaeya.
“I missed you too.”
“Terribly so it seems,” Kaeya leaned forward. “I told you, you’re a loud thinker.”
Albedo reached a hand up Kaeya’s collar, hooking his finger through his choker. “That’s presumptuous.”
“Am I wrong?”
He was so close to him now. Albedo could smell calla lilies all over him and felt his cool breath on his hips. Three months might as well have been 300 years.
“You aren’t.”
Albedo kissed him softly, unsure if Kaeya even feel the same. Logically Kaeya would only tease him, but instead, Kaeya kissed him strongly. He brought his hands up to Albedo’s cheeks and kissed him with such intensity. Albedo felt so light melting into Kaeya’s hands. Even though he initiated it he let Kaeya take the lead.
Kaeya kissed in all different ways. Sweet long kisses, small pecks to the corner of his mouth, biting on his bottom lip. Albedo gasped feeling Kaeya’s teeth. He opened his eyes to find the man smirking back at him and suddenly he felt so shy under his gaze. At the same time, he could feel Kaeya’s hands shake. He was just as nervous as he was.
Going back for more Kaeya licked Albedo’s lips before Albedo opened his mouth again. His mind went back to the way mushrooms reacted to electro. It felt the same way then as it did now with Kaeya’s tongue moving with his. Albedo wanted more, he wrapped his arms around Kaeya and pulled him close to his body.
Kaeya over him as Albedo’s hair spilled out over the soft grass. Albedo stopped counting how long they’d been locked in a kiss like this. He didn’t want this to end. Unfortunately, Kaeya pulled back earning a small plea from Albedo. His lips shinned with Kaeya’s as the man above him tried to catch his breath.
A hand went up Albedo’s side before he stopped at his neck. Arching his head up Kaeya kissed along his jaw before going lower. He stopped at his star sitting at the base of his neck. He licked the area slowly, tasting him and finding him sweet. Albedo did not expect the sensation to be so strong. He whimpered and arched his back his chest rubbing against Kaeya’s.
“Sensitive?” Kaeya whispered.
Albedo pinched his eyes closed before nodding, “Yes.” He breathed.
“Wonderful, I missed this.”
Albedo’s face was bright pink and a deeper color towards his cheeks. “We’ve never done this before.”
“I must have dreamed that then.”
Albedo stared up at him, his fingers tangling in blue locks. “...Me too.”
“Really?” Kaeya laughed.
Albedo chuckled, “Yes, for 3 months.”
Kaeya kissed around his neck again. Albedo tangled their legs together as he slowly started to open up his shirt.
“You were gone for too long,” He whispered on his collarbone.
“I know…never again,” he sighed. “I’ll just have to take you with me the next time.”
Kaeya lifted his head up and kissed his eyelid. “Do you promise?”
Albedo loved it, the attention, his clinginess, it filled the silence. “I promise.”
He smiled looking into the star of his eye. The corner wrinkled as Kaeya smiled with a blushing face.
“Good, I was terribly bored without you.”
Albedo laughed before pulling him back down for another long kiss.
“I could tell.”