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Kaeya hummed as he took a whiff from the wine he held in his hand, this one would be about… Uh…
Maybe the 30th type of alcohol he’s tried this week? He’s possibly lost count. It’s fine.
Sumeru had some good alcohol, he admits as he takes a sip from the wine before placing it down and smiling. Although, it’d be hard to beat the alcohol in Mondstadt.
Perhaps when he explores the spices later he’ll be much more intrigued.
Sumeru intrigued him plenty already in itself of course, being able to be here on… Semi official business was a pleasure.
If he’s to be honest with himself however, he very much had personal reasons for being here other than… Trading goods with Sumeru on behalf of Mondstadt.
Oh, no need to delve into those thoughts however. He was far more concerned right now with the man nearby sulking, hidden from his view but Kaeya knows he’s there. Due to the fact that he had turned the corner for a brief second, only to immediately hide from seeing Kaeya and remaining there. Every so often peeking around and trying to get a better look.
How curious.
He swore he recognized the man as well…
“Kaeya!”
Eh?
He turns right in time for a body to crash into him,
Normally, he’d push whoever decided to run into him right away. Or at least be tense as hell. But he recognized the voice that called his name, and luckily his brain works fast. He wraps his arms around Aether, letting out a gleeful laugh.
He’d almost forgotten that he sent a letter for the blonde- and he’s honestly surprised he had even received it.
He’s also a little surprised about the sudden hug, with the way that Aether had his arms wrapped around his shoulders and his grip was rather tight. As if he and him were much closer than he thought they were.
….
Were they?
He certainly cared for Aether, he just didn’t think…
Y’know what, he’ll dwell on this later.
“My my, this is certainly a pleasant surprise.” Kaeya hums out, “Although, I didn’t quite expect this. You miss me that much?” He teases, but at Aether’s grip tightening further he blinks. “...Aether?” He questions worryingly now, bringing a hand up to ruffle his hair.
“I’m happy to see you.” Aether mumbles quietly, releasing Kaeya from the hug and settling next to him on the seat. He gives Kaeya a small smile, legs swinging under the table. Kaeya eyes him curiously, though smiles softly back at the blonde.
He wouldn’t think too much on Aether’s sudden affections, instead he grabs the glass he had been drinking from and tilts it towards him. “Care to join me for a drink, then? You look like you could use it.”
Aether starts to shake his head, but hesitates. It makes Kaeya’s eye widen as he watches Aether actually consider it.
“Do not buy him any drinks.” A voice startles Aether and makes Kaeya’s eyebrows raise in surprise.
Kaeya is met with a judgmental expression from a man he recognizes as Dainsleif. The other blonde man leans over close to Kaeya’s face, enough so that he can almost feel his breath. And Kaeya notes that he’s also rather close to Aether, leaning over the other to the point that they’re practically touching.
Aether then gets dragged with Dainsleif as the man steps away from Kaeya, pulling the short blonde behind him out of Kaeya’s view.
Kaeya raises an eyebrow, feeling tense with this man’s glare on him. As soon as he turns around to face Aether, Kaeya lets out a long breath. What the hell. He's left to stare at Dainsleif from behind, eye flickering awkwardly from his back and away- he wonders what kind of look Aether was giving him too.
“...Dain?” Aether’s voice makes Kaeya perk up.
Dainsleif suddenly raises his hands away from where they were apparently on Aether’s shoulders and backs up, “I-” He turns away from both Kaeya and Aether. “I didn’t say a word.” He whispers out, body tensed up as he carries an almost nervous expression Aether and Kaeya can’t see.
Aether’s eyes are wide as the blonde shimmies back over to Kaeya, the two of them sharing a glance once standing side by side.
…
They both snort.
This startles Dainsleif, though the man doesn't react visibly aside from his face scrunching up. He had been sorting through racing thoughts, those thoughts coming to a halt as he hears, “Awww, he cares about you!” From Kaeya.
He can feel his erosion increase at the audacity of this man. Dainsleif brings up a hand to pinch at his forehead. What a headache.
“...Does this mean I can’t get a drink now?” Aether mumbles with Kaeya’s hand atop his head.
“Nah!” Kaeya chirps,
“Yes.” Dainsleif deadpans.
Dainsleif glares at Kaeya and Kaeya sticks his tongue out at him.
Aether looks at Dainsleif with a pout.
Dainsleif glances to him and stares him down.
Aether leans into Kaeya, huffing in defeat.
“Annnyyywayys… If Aether can’t drink, allow me to buy you one at least?” Kaeya offers with a shit eating grin, but behind Kaeya’s eye is something telling Dainsleif that he should be careful about what he says next. A threat.
Dainsleif knows these looks.
So they were sussing each other out right now. Right. He almost, almost forgot he was watching this man a mere moment ago. That he recognized him. Not just from Mondstadt.
“...Why can’t I get a drink?” Aether questions before Dainsleif answers, making the other blonde raise an eyebrow at him.
“Because you can’t hold your alcohol.” Dainsleif states bluntly.
Aether’s jaw drops in offense.
Dainsleif blinks. “What? Am I wrong?” He asks genuinely.
“You’ve never seen me drunk.” Aether points out with a pout, finger raised to point at him and still offended at what he thinks to be an assumption from Dainsleif.
“I haven’t.” Dainsleif agrees, “But your sister mentioned it to me once.”
Aether freezes, Kaeya does too- his amused expression going stone cold.
“But yes, I would like a drink.” Dainsleif says simply as if he didn’t just mention knowing Lumine in front of Kaeya, sitting down at the opposite side of the table.
Kaeya’s eye twitches, “Sure thing.” He says smoothly, sitting back down where he had been before and very gently tugging Aether’s arm so he’d do the same.
Aether sits down beside Kaeya, placing his hands on the table and picking at his gloves nervously.
His nerves only get worse when Kaeya and Dainsleif talk about why they’re both in Sumeru, along with Kaeya’s last name having ties to the founder of the abyss.
And when Kaeya gets up to leave after Dainsleif’s drink arrives, Aether feels a pit in his stomach.
Kaeya catches his glance with his own, eyebrows furrowing. It looks like he’s expecting something, but Aether isn’t sure what exactly. Either way, despite what was discussed- he trusted Kaeya. Even with knowing that the man was certainly prone to lying.
He was familiar, he felt like…
Home. In a way.
Not home- Mondstadt, he means. But maybe Mondstadt was a home.
Aether frowns deeply.
Kaeya can’t wait any longer for Aether to act, he didn’t want to dwell where Dainsleif was for too long. He was more and more at risk of Dainsleif saying something Aether shouldn’t know.
“Well, I should be going now. I have a spice merchant to meet with, after all. Feel free to join me next time you see me, Dainsleif. No need to spy on me from the sidelines, hm?” Kaeya chirps out, smile unrealistic as he waves his hand at the man.
He turns to leave, but a hand grabs his own- and as soon as he turns back to look at Aether who he knows grabbed his hand- the blonde is hugging him tightly.
Kaeya melts, wrapping his arms around Aether just as tightly right as Dainsleif sighs.
“You’ll see me around, dear.” Kaeya whispers to him, “Windblume is coming, remember? I’ll write another love poem with you. I’m sure you have someone out there to give one to this time, don’t you?” He teases, making Aether let out a huffed laugh. “I’m always around to hear your woes if you need me as well. Just ask Diluc back at the bar my whereabouts… He always seems to know where I am somehow.”
Aether snorts at that, releasing Kaeya from the hug and nodding up at him. “Thank you.” He says softly, hand on his chest.
“Any time. You’re a joy to have around, Aether.” Kaeya says sincerely- then departing, leaving Aether to talk quietly with Dainsleif who has already downed half his drink.
…..
And well, Hm.
Kaeya wasn’t all that happy to simply leave Aether with that man. As much as he actually trusted Dainsleif to not do anything to Aether- he strongly doubted he would. But he was unsure Dainsleif would keep his mouth shut about….
Haha. Well. It doesn’t matter.
He’s going to keep an eye on them as soon as he’s done with the spice merchant. Because despite his very apparent lies in the conversation with Dainsleif earlier, he wasn’t lying about trades with Mondstadt. Business was Business, after all.
Kaeya messes with a coin in his pocket and hums.
Sumeru certainly was fascinating.
//art by me :)
