Work Text:
For Albedo, there exists no greater muse than Aether. He had found himself enchanted by the other since the moment they had first met. And, now, he finds his mind spinning back to the traveler every chance it both does and doesn’t get.
Aether appears at seemingly every second of every day. While sketching the mountainous landscape of Dragonspine, the snow-covered hills and sparse greeny somehow form the traveler’s face and, before he can still his hand, he’s drawn the very visage occupying his thoughts instead of the view he had set out to draw. Even while carefully measuring out delicate and calculated substances, he swears he can see Aether’s eyes in the chilled liquid that swirls with every drop until he finds himself so enthralled with the image his betraying mind is conjuring up that he ends up spilling the contents of his test tubs over his hands with an accompanying and muffled hiss.
These days his sketchbooks are filled with more studies of Aether’s long, golden locks and gentle eyes than they are of forests, rivers, mountains and creatures combined. Every time he wants to reflect on a place he’s been, he’s forced to flip through pages of that soft smile and the slight curve of his shoulders beneath the shimmering sun. Albedo’s gloves have become covered in poorly sewn patches, and holes he hasn’t bothered to repair just yet while his hands are speckled in bandages from mixing up containers while running various experiments because he just can’t get his mind to focus on anything but Aether. At first he thought some distance would soothe his turbulent mind, but the longer he stays away the more Aether seems to appear in his thoughts, in his dream; in every breath he takes. It’s becoming a problem. A rather troublesome one.
So he decides to make the trek back to Mondstadt in the hope that he’ll catch even just a fleeting glimpse of the soft slope of the traveler’s jaw or the passing flutter of his long scarf in the wind. But mainly, or so he tells himself, so he can investigate the strange plight that has taken hold of him. But the second his slick boots touch the stone bridge leading into the expansive city, he finds himself hesitating before the gates. As if there’s some outside force preventing him from taking those last few steps. For the first time in his life, he can hear the loud, unsteady drum of his own heart pounding in his ears. He’s nervous, yet excited at the same time. How strange.
“Oh?”
That curious voice is enough to make his skin crawl, and also serves as a fairly decent motivator to pick up the pace, and shove any thoughts of turning tail into the depths of his mind, but, alas, he doesn’t get very far before Kaeya calls out to him.
“You’re a rare sight around here. What–”
“Is Aether here?” He might have cut Kaeya off, but his voice wasn’t nearly as stern or steady as he had intended. It seems it’s impossible for him to speak that name without gentleness upon his tongue, as if uttering it in any other manner was a slight to the one who haunts him.
“Why the hurry?” Kaeya shrugs, closing the distance between them to get a better view of Albedo–as if he were trying to peer into his soul to discern the reason for his visit. “Let me think,” he drawls, clearly prolonging the conversation with a hum as he places his finger on his lips in thought. Albedo can see the slight smirk upon his lips as he pretends to mull over a question he clearly has an answer to.
“I believe I last saw him by the statue,” Kaeya admits after what Albedo would argue is the longest pause he’s ever had to endure in his entire existence. And, no, he doesn’t think he’s being dramatic at all with that claim.
“Thank you,” he forces out with a curt nod before he swiftly makes his escape. He suspects if he lingers for even a moment, Kaeya will somehow rope him into something outlandish and exhausting or, worse, begin asking him questions about why he’s here in the first place. And Albedo, for all of the experiments he’s tried to run on the subject, hasn’t actually discovered the concrete answer for that question. And he’s certainly not eager to hypothesize with Kaeya on that matter.
So it’s with haste that he makes his way up to one of the highest points in the city, barely even acknowledging anyone who waves to him or stops to say hello due to his long absence. His mind is focused on one thing, or rather, one individual, as he scans the faces of those gathered beneath the large statue outside of the cathedral. He finds himself thinking, without missing a beat, that compared to Aether, those chatting idly against the sweet breeze or milling about happily beneath the shadows cast by the statue are rather dull. They fail to stir his inspiration and heart in the same manner as the traveler. Perhaps, years ago, he would have eagerly attempted to sketch how the radiant light of the sun slides off of those grand, stone wings looming abode, but now he has little interest in even Mondstadt’s most impressive architecture.
No, instead, it’s not when admiring the craftsmanship of the statue that he feels his heart flutter with wonder, but rather when he spies a familiar golden braid fluttering in the wind from behind one of the pillars. He takes a bold step towards the other only stop dead in his tracks less than a second later. He might have made the decision to come to the city in the hope of seeing Aether, but he hadn’t actually mulled over what he might say to the other if he did happen to run into him. Somehow, he had managed to spend the entire journey back with nothing but thoughts of Aether haunting him, yet it had never occurred to him to sort out his abundant theories before arriving. How fascinating. And how unlike him.
“Albedo?” Oh Albedo knows that honey-like voice anywhere, and immediately starts upon hearing it grace his ears. His calculating eyes lift through long lashes to stare into the brilliant eyes of the object of his complete and utter wonderment. And the second those eyes look back into his eyes, he feels the awkward drum of his artificial heart quicken ever so slightly, and swears it gets a tad bit warmer out. Perhaps he’s simply grown used to the weather on Dragonspine over the years.
Shifting on his suddenly unsteady feet, Albedo clears his throat softly before addressing the entire reason he had come down from the mountain in the first place. “Aether, it’s good to see you.” Using the other’s name almost sounds too intimate when it comes from his glossy lips, and he swears it tastes sweeter than any candy when it graces his tongue.
It’s strange, he can feel his heart stirring, and knows his breathing has become more labored. All signs of nervousness, but he considers Aether…actually he’s not entirely certain what he considers the other. Acquaintance and colleague don’t suit his relationship with Aether, but friend doesn’t sound quite strong enough of a word to describe the way his entire soul feels as it catches aflame whenever he’s in the other’s presence. What is Aether to him? Yet another question he doesn’t know the answer to.
Aether’s smooth lips break out into a joyful smile that sends Albedo’s heart into a flurry of erratic beating. “Do you have business in Mondstadt?” Aether’s question is both innocent and curious, but he purses his lips as if he wants to say more, and glances around at the strangers milling about around them before he exhales again. “If there’s anything I can help you with, please let me know. I would be more than happy to lend you a hand.” His features are just the slightest shade of pink when he offers, and Albedo can’t stop himself from thinking that shade of rose looks good upon his skin.
“Truthfully…” he finds himself quickly mulling over the possibilities as he considers Aether’s offer. “I am in need of your assistance for something.”
Aether is nearly as bright as the sun hanging overhead when he hears those words.
“There is a series of experiments I would like to conduct with you.” This is far from the first time he’s made such a request of the other, but, for some reason, that nervousness he felt earlier seems to creep into his voice for a change. And, realizing that Aether has picked up on that quirk when his brows furrow slightly, Albedo quickly tries to appease any concerns that might be bubbling up in the other’s mind. “You needn’t worry, today’s experiment won’t be a dangerous one, and, as always, I will ensure your safety.”
Aether shifts slightly on the tips of his toes. It’s a rather endearing habit of his, one Albedo has taken note of countless times. He tends to do it when there’s something on his mind, or when something has caught his interest.
“No, that’s not what I meant–I mean I want to help you, of course, I would be more than happy to, but are you feeling all right? Your face is a bit red.”
“That’s wonderful to hear, I’m certain with your assistance I can get to the bottom of this,” Albedo pauses for a moment to mull over the situation, before adding, ”Am I?” A frown tugs at the corners of his lips as he lifts a gloved hand to uselessly touch at his cheek and forehead.
A fond smile crosses Aether’s lips as he watches Albedo attempt to take his temperature before he quickly slides his own gloves off and shoves them haphazardly into his pockets before taking a long stride to close the distance between them. With a somewhat unsteady hand, he reaches out to press the back of his knuckles to Albedo’s forehead.
Left in the aftermath of that touch, Albedo can only just barely scrape together a few conclusions as he subconsciously leans into Aether’s hand. The first: compared to his own skin right now, Aether’s hand feels a bit cold, but the chill it sends down his spine is a rather pleasant sensation that he isn’t familiar with. And, when he leans ever deeper into that touch, despite the air of gentleness that surrounds Aether, his hand is rough. It doesn’t feel like velvet or freshly fallen snow, nor does it have the texture of a brand new piece of parchment or the smoothness of a recently purchased beaker. Instead it feels like used sandpaper or the crumpled up notebook of a discarded experiment. It’s worn-down, covered in old blisters, and clumsy cuts. It’s not unlike his own.
The second observation he makes is that skin to skin contact is enough to have his knees feeling weak and lungs gasping for air. If he truly takes a moment to think about it, he can’t recall the last time someone had touched him, much less so casually and with such an air of familiarity, and he finds he likes how it feels. At least when it comes from Aether. He would have shrugged just about anyone else off if they tried.
He’s so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he scarcely notices when Aether uses his free hand to press his hand against his own forehead in an attempt to compare their temperatures. His nose wrinkles a bit before he lowers both of his hands, much to Albedo’s disappointment. That connecting touch is already dearly missed.
“You’re running a little warm. Maybe we should rest for a bit before we start the experiment?” There’s genuine concern in Aether’s voice, and, frankly, he looks ready to simply tug Albedo down onto the pathway right then and there if it means he’ll sit for a time. Aether knows the alchemist has a tendency to overdo it, and he wouldn’t be surprised in the least if Albedo had caught a cold from pushing himself too hard upon that lonely mountain.
Albedo shakes his head softly, holding up his hand to dismiss the other’s worry. “That won’t be necessary.” Though he’ll admit he’s feeling strange, he’s not showing any symptoms of a fever or even a cold, so delaying this pressing matter would only serve to further hinder him, and he can’t afford to waste anymore time on this bizarre phenomenon that’s taken over his life. “If I am to be truthful, you are the reason I returned to Mondstat today.”
“Albedo…” Aether’s voice is little more than a gentle whisper, as if he doesn’t know what to say or what to do. Somehow, that frightens Albedo. As if the loss of physical contact from Aether, and now knowing what he’s feeling, is enough to rattle him.
Feeling his heart stirring all over again, Albedo quickly reaches out to take Aether’s hand in his own. While his touch is careful, gentle even, the swiftness of the action surprises even himself. But, perhaps, what shocks him the most is just how easily Aether’s fingers slip between his own, and how quickly the other returns the gesture despite how sudden it was.
Inhaling against the soft breeze tickling his warm skin, Albedo slowly closes his eyes, and gingerly squeezes Aether’s hand in his own. It feels just as it had when those fingers had been carefully pressed against his forehead. But, at the same time, it also feels as if his hand was crafted specifically to hold Aether’s. Their fingers fit perfectly together, and the other’s palm slots comfortably within his own. He can only imagine how masterfully that hand would feel if he were to take off his own gloves. He could easily get swept up in this sensation, and the desire to hold onto that hand forever strikes him.
“Albedo?” Aether speaks up. There’s curiosity in his voice, but he doesn’t make any effort to pull his hand away, nor does he resist the gesture. His body language is also entirely lacking in discomfort, Albedo notes as he slowly opens his eyes. If anything, he seems concerned.
With his previous fears having calmed a bit from seeing Aether’s reaction, Albedo speaks up, “Forgive me for not allowing you a proper moment to prepare, but this is the first phase of my experiment. If you find yourself unable to continue, I will cease here.”
Aether quickly shakes his head, holding onto Albedo’s hand a bit tighter. “No, it’s all right. I would…like to continue.” He feels his own face growing hotter by the second, and he can only imagine the rosy color of his cheeks and the tips of his ears is far more intense than Albedo’s now. His heart skips a beat, and he’s beginning to piece together the reason behind Albedo’s so-called experiment, but he’s hesitant to get his hopes up at the same time.
Truthfully, Albedo hadn’t actually composed a proper plan of attack. He had only wished to bridge the gap between them, and restore that sense of physical intimacy with the other his heart yearned for so desperately. He found himself staring uselessly into the depths of Aether’s eyes as if they would somehow tell him how to proceed.
To Aether, he resembled a crimson fox fleeing swiftly over the hills of Mondstat. His eyes are a bit wider than usual, and his naturally soft features manage to somehow look more startled than he had just a moment. It was enough to make a small, airy chuckle leave Aether’s lips. It's a small, delicate thing. Far more pleasant than the hum of the winds against the mountainside or the rich song of birds in the early morning. It’s more than enough to leave Albedo feeling just a bit breathless.
“Actually, there’s a few experiments I would be interested in trying out myself. Would you mind if I did?”
“Not at all.” At this point, Albedo’s mind is so full of thoughts about Aether that he can scarcely bring himself to actually consider his next step. In the chaos of the emotions and images whirling through him, so many of which are unfamiliar to him, Aether’s arm feels like a life-raft cast out into stormy waters to rescue him from their unknown depths.
With Albedo’s encouragement, Aether leans onto the tips of his toes to carefully press his palm against the other’s chest. The silky material of his shirt crinkles against his touch, and Albedo’s skin feels surprisingly warm through the fabric, but it only takes a moment for Aether to feel the uneven rhythm of his heartbeat. Wild. Sporadic. Like the untamed snowfall that covers Dragonspine. It’s not unlike his own. With their hands still locked together, Aether brings them up to his own chest, and settles Albedo’s knuckles where his own heart lies timidly behind his ribcage.
“They’re the same…” Albedo observes, leaning his hand further against Aether’s chest.The uneven drum of the other’s heart matches his own, and, even through his clothes, the traveler’s skin feels as warm as his is. Perhaps even warmer. It’s enough to make him splay his fingers out further just to absorb every last drop of heat and life he can. Somehow, despite the fact that he’s spent time with Aether before, the very notion that the other is alive–that he exists at all, has become mystifying to him.
Aether exhales nervously through his nostrils, the sound audible above the wind. He can feel his hands beginning to tremble, but he does his best to steal his expression as his heartbeat quickens to the point where he’s afraid it might very well tear through his skin to leap into Albedo’s waiting hand. He can feel Albedo increase the pressure of his palm where it's settled when he senses the spike in his heart rate, and forces himself to swallow down the lump forming in his throat.His entire body feels like its own fire, and, if he didn’t know any better, he would think an electro current had been shot through his veins.
“Because, I think, I feel the same way about you that you do about me,” Aether finally manages to get out, sounding completely breathless as he clumsily forces the words from his rosy lips. “If…my assumption about your feelings is right,” he adds on. His voice is far softer than it had been a moment ago, and those words are little more than a whisper, but Albedo seems to consider them regardless.
“The same as I feel about you,” Albedo mumbles to himself as he curls his fingers a bit in thought. His fair brows furrow, and his lips purse as if he’s trying to uncover the secret of the universe rather than decipher the meaning behind Aether’s words. “Feelings…” They’re far from his forte. Emotions aren’t easily theorized, nor can they truly be studied. Observing them offers a bit of insight, but it’s impossible to completely grasp the depths of how complex they are unless one has felt those same emotions before. It’s not as if he’s incapable of feeling. No, he possesses a heart, and his brain and body process emotions in much the same way as a normal human would. But he lacks the experience a real flesh and blood human would, and can only pull from what he’s seen in those around him.
“My feelings towards you are unique, that is all I can say with certainty,” he admits after a moment, wrinkles starting to form on his forehead the more he thinks about it. “Prior to meeting you, I used to believe that interacting with others was a waste of time that could be better spent on other matters. Yet, since getting to know you, I find that I much prefer to spend time on you than anything else in this world.” His thumb gingerly rubs against the hem of Aether’s shirt, smoothing out the worn seams and loose threads as he speaks, “I have not been able to get my mind off of you since locking eyes with you that first time. I find that you wander into my every thought, and nearly everything I see reminds me of you. You are a unique anomaly.” One of a kind.
Aether can feel his lungs throbbing in agony as he holds his breath while Albedo speaks. There’s truly only so much his heart can take before it bursts, and he suspects if Albedo doesn’t connect the dots soon, he might very well combust where he stands. So he lifts his hand from the other’s chest just to gently poke the alchemist in the forehead. If only to ease the tension forming upon his skin. If he keeps looking that serious, Aether’s afraid those wrinkles might become a permanent fixture on his handsome face. But Albedo’s eyes widen in surprise, and he hears him suck in the smallest breath of shock, and, oh, Aether’s heart truly shatters in that moment. Breaking spectacularly with an airy and careless laugh that turns his skin a bright pink.
For a moment, Albedo is so shell shocked all he can do is stare at the other. But it only takes a few seconds for a warm smile to slip back onto his soft features, and he removes his hand from Aether’s chest to reach up to place his palm against the other’s cheek. That pink color looks utterly dazzling on Aether, he thinks once more, and his skin is warm enough that it threatens to burn his hand, but he finds that suits Aether. If he had to liken the traveler to anything, it would be the sun. Brilliant. Radiant. Beautiful. All-consuming.
He thinks back to the time he’s spent with Aether. To the rush of joy he’s never felt before, and to the fear that had nestled into his heart whenever he saw the other in danger. To the laughs and conversations they’ve shared. And he mentally compares them to what he’s seen. Only then does his smile curve upwards until it brushes the corners of his eyes as he slowly rubs the curve of Aether’s jaw with the pad of his thumb. “Yes, I think I know the reason why now.” This time, when he speaks, it lacks his earlier hesitation. “I believe I am in love with you, Aether.”
A small sound leaves Aether’s throat. Something between a whine and a gasp despite the fact that he had seen those words coming from well over a mile away, he hadn’t been prepared for Albedo to confess with such confidence. His heart aches, but he manages to gather himself, arching a brow as a somewhat devious smile crawls onto his features. “You believe?” He teases, placing his hand over Albedo’s where it rests on his jaw. “Until you can say you know for certain, I would argue this requires further experimentation, right?” Oh his heart feels like it’s going to simply stop, but he pushes forward despite the fact that he feels like he’s just climbed all of Dragonspine in a single step. “Kiss me, Albedo.”
“Yes, you’re right. This does require further experimentation.” Albedo’s eyes fall to half mast as he admires Aether for a long moment, his gaze lingering on those smooth, plump lips that so patiently wait for his own to meet them. Carefully, he leans forward, closing the gap between them in an instant, yet he lingers there. Allowing the woody, dewy scent clinging to the other to fill his lungs before he crosses that invisible bridge, and presses his lips to Aether’s. Naturally, his hand slides back, threading through the traveler’s hair to press his head forward into the kiss.
Aether tastes like the world. His tongue is as warm as a summer’s breeze rolling off of the salty currents of the ocean. His lips are as wild and beautiful as the snow that sails through the chaotic winds of the mountains. His breath tastes like fresh honey plucked from the most resilient of trees while he smells like newborn Cecilia flowers blooming against impossible circumstances. Everything about Aether composes a different aspect of the world Albedo has studied for countless years now. He exists in everything around them, and, most importantly, he thrives within Albedo’s own heart that yearns for nothing more than to be close to him. To cherish that way his golden locks feel like silk against his trembling fingers, and to treasure the way the back of his neck burns his palm like he’s cradling the very sun within his hand.
Because he is. Aether is something untamed and free. Something wild and breathtaking and unfathomable. He is every alchemist’s dream come to fruition. Something that sets his heat ablaze and fills his mind with more ideas than he can even keep track of. He’s magnificent, awe-inspiring, and tumultuous. He’s a storm in human form that’s come to personally tear Albedo apart. But, oh, he welcomes that storm with open arms. If Aether is the sun, Albedo is the moon–kissing him is like completing himself. Kissing him is becoming whole once more.
His lungs throb, and Albedo forgets he very much needs to breathe, and reluctantly pulls back when he feels Aether gasp against his mouth. His kiss-stained lips shimmer in the light of the afternoon sky as warm pants roll over his tongue. But the curve of Albedo’s lips and the fondness in his eyes is the most sincere and open and vulnerable Aether has ever seen the other’s expression before.
“For certain I love you, Aether.”
“And, for certain, I love you back, Albedo.”