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A sliver of pale light from the hallway streaks across the dimly lit mahogany floorboards, as the door inches open with a creak. Silent hands lower the approaching man onto the bed to sit, while a smaller figure stirs in his sleep. A crumpled shirt is thrown haphazardly onto the floor, as Kaeya slips under the covers, snaking his arm around the smaller man's waist. His chest pressed comfortably against Albedo's back, matching the curve of his body.
"Mm," Albedo mutters groggily, responding to the touch through his half-awake slumber. Kaeya's cool hand makes its way up his partner's chest and then back down to his hips, slowly soothing Albedo back to sleep.
"Kaeya?" Albedo breaks the silence.
"Yes?"
"Is it normal to feel this way about another person?"
"Hm? What way?"
"When we're not together, I long for your company. And when we are, I yearn for your touch. Your touch makes my heart race and my skin tingle. Alike to an allergic reaction... but in a good way."
Kaeya lets out a soft, amused chuckle, "Most everyone shares those same feelings with their person of choice. Whomever that may be."
Albedo considers his statement, before questioning, "Have you ever made anyone else feel like this?"
"Like this?" Kaeya brings a hand up to Albedo's hair, twirling a lock in between two fingers, "No, not quite like this. Maybe something similar, but only you have felt something like this from me."
Albedo abruptly rolls over and sits up, a perplexed expression plaguing his features for a brief moment. "I'm the only one? Your first?"
Kaeya matches the gesture, propping himself up with his elbow. "If you're asking if you're the first person I've been intimate with, you would be correct."
"Huh, with all your suave, you would've thought you'd gotten around. I guess even people like you find it hard to assimilate with others," Albedo teases, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Kaeya quirks an eyebrow. "And even people like you are capable of doing so. For what it's worth, I've seen you get along quite nicely with the Knights."
"What could I have possibly said to make you come up with that? Others don't seem to share this belief."
Kaeya's eyes flit to the blonde's lips, then back up to his eyes. He counters Albedo's contemplative expression by raising both of his brows, and resting his eyelids. "Oh, nothing, your expressions and actions do all the talking." Kaeya reaches a hand up to Albedo's warm cheek; his slender fingertips trail down from his jawline to his waist, tracing the hem of his shorts. They make their way under the waistband, hooking around the elastic and tugging at the fabric.
The two are silent for a moment as they gaze into each other's eyes. Kaeya's silently asking for permission while Albedo adorns his usual neutral face of silent remorse.
"But why me?" He speaks up after only a moment longer, "Out of every person in Mondstadt -- no, all of Teyvat -- why choose me?"
Kaeya props himself up fully, withdrawing his curious hand and instead placing it on Albedo's wrist. "Why did I choose you? Is there really an answer for such a question? I don't think I chose. I like you for you. Not because you're an objectively special human, but because you're special to me. For one, I like how calm and quiet you are. For two; how you don't treat me like some kind of prince, but as equals, both in and outside of the Knights. The list goes on. The only choice I made was choosing to be with you."
Albedo's expression melts into adoration. His mouth hangs slightly agape, as if ready to spill out some excuses as to why what Kaeya said doesn't apply to him, or how it doesn't make sense scientifically; but words fail. His eyes soften, unspoken self-doubt surfacing, only to be dulled by the words of his partner.
Giving up on speaking, Albedo buries his face into Kaeya's broad chest, scrunching his eyebrows against the warmth. Kaeya gently guides their bodies back down into the pillows.
"Goodnight, Albedo. I love you... All of you."
Albedo tightens his arms around Kaeya's waist. "I love you, too."