Work Text:
Despite Diluc’s well of knowledge when it came to him, Kaeya knows his observation isn’t true. While outwardly he appeared less nervous than he probably should have, it was only half the truth. He wasn’t nervous about either of the trials, he of course knew of the plan they had been working on for the last half year and trusted Albedo more than anyone else in the room. But while he wasn’t nervous about that, he was anxious overall.
Kaeya trusted his husband, of course. If there was anyone he trusted it was Albedo, however he was anxious overall about the outcome. There were a lot of things that could go wrong, and every single outcome scared him. For Albedo, of course, but also his friends and family. He trusted them all to take care of themselves of course, but there were a lot of moving parts, all centered around Albedo.
He knew if a singular thing went wrong, his husband would never forgive himself.
Thankfully it all turns out okay. The monsters are dealt with easily, the Hexenzirkel agree to Albedo’s request and then he turns Durin human. Everything goes according to plan and he can tell his husband is pleased and happy that everything’s okay.
However, for some reason, Kaeya can’t shake the anxiety. Everything he had been anxious over hadn’t come to pass, quite the opposite, and yet he finds that his anxiety persistently hangs over him like a cloud. He hides it well, per normal, his facade flawless as ever.
Well, to everyone but his brother and his husband, of course.
He’s lounging in Angel’s Share, his first drink nearly in his hands when his brother intercepts. Kaeya’s surprised, but attempts to hide it, flashing a smile.
“Awww-” he starts, ready to keep up the game his brother and him spin in circles in, but he’s quickly cut off.
“Go home. Your husband is waiting,” Diluc speaks in Snezhnayan as he dumps out Kaeya’s drink, pointedly looking away and speaking lowly so it’s hard for others to overhear.
Kaeya is frozen in shock for a second. He knows his brother looks out for him in his own ways despite their estrangement, and he does the same for him. It’s not the best, but it’s not as bad as it used to be.
However, that being said, they only used to talk in Snezhnayan when they were hiding things from others. In this case, it’s not really public knowledge that he and Albedo are married. Of course Diluc knows, even if Kaeya didn’t tell the man himself he would’ve found out, so it’s just shocking he’s going out of his way to mention it in public when he knows it’s a secret.
Which means Kaeya’s not hiding his anxiety well. If Diluc can tell, and if he knows Albedo is waiting for him, that means that Albedo also knows and the two had probably conspired against him. It makes him feel sad, that he can’t really conspire with his brother anymore, and also fond, because he likes that his loved ones get along even if he has a rocky relationship with one of them.
Kaeya gets over his shock quickly. He stands, offering another smile.
“I’ll take your warning at face value, Sir Diluc!” He chirps before leaving. He makes sure to give Venti and Rosaria proper goodbyes and well wishes before he books it.
All he can think about as he sprints home is Albedo. If his husband knows he’s anxious, then he’s waiting for him. He’s probably worried about him and he’s not as good at hiding it with his family, which means he might accidentally be keeping Klee up as well. When someone she loves is anxious, worried, in pain, anything negative really, she can’t sleep unless she helps. And this is sadly a problem she can’t solve, so Kaeya needs to get home fast.
When he does get home he makes sure to calm down first. He takes in a few deep breaths, getting his heart and lungs under control. He dusts off his clothes and then enters, slipping off his boots at the door as well as his cape and fur scarf. He heads to the living room first, finding a half asleep Klee leaning on Albedo as he shows off some of his art. Albedo notices him enter, he always does, and he looks up at him. There’s clear worry on his face by the way his eyebrows are furrows and his lips are pursed despite the cozy atmosphere he’s in.
“Klee, look who’s here,” Albedo shakes the girl's shoulder gently. “Kaeya is home.”
Klee springs up nearly instantly. She’s visibly tired yet energetic as ever as she bounds across the room and into the older’s arms. He’s quick to pick her up, resting her on his hip with a soft grin.
“Big brother Kaeya!” She squeals excitedly, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Hello there, my little Spark Night,” he greets, giving her an affectionate little head bump. “I see you’re ready for bed, yet you’re still up?” He inquires teasingly.
“Big brother Albedo was worried,” she whispers not so quietly, looking around as if she’s hiding a big secret. “I didn’t want to leave him sad.”
“Well, aren’t you just the kindest,” he compliments, giving her a light squeeze. “Well, I’m home now and I can cure big brother Albedo’s worried nature in no time, so why don’t we go to bed?”
Klee shakes her head, looking determined to counter, and then a big yawn escapes her lips. She flushes lightly afterwards with a pout.
“Can you tuck me in and read me a story?” She asks, silently signaling she wants down.
Kaeya sets her down, about to reply, but Albedo beats him to the punch.
“Kaeya still needs to get ready for bed himself, I can tuck you in and read to you Klee,” he explains gently, helping her grab Dodoco as he closes his notebook and then picking her up himself.
Klee pouts. “But I want big brother Kaeya! He’s been busy all day!”
And he really has, hasn’t he? If his Spark Knight feels like she hasn’t seen him all day then something’s wrong. She can exaggerate, of course, but there’s always time on his schedule for Klee.
“Spark Knight,” he speaks up as he draws closer. He places a gentle hand on her head and then one on Albedo’s shoulder. “I can come help read to you IF you promise to wait for me to fall asleep until after I change. Sound good?”
Klee brightens. “Yes! Klee can stay up until you change!” She agrees.
“Don’t fall,” Albedo requests, leaning over to give him a quick peck on the lips before taking Klee to her room.
“That was one time,” Kaeya groans with a smile and a fond headshake.
He heads to their room and changes as quickly as possible. Normally he’d shower first before interacting with them too much, but he was barely at Angel’s Share today so he doesn’t smell too much of alcohol. Once he’s done he’s on his way to Klee’s room, and the sight he finds warms his heart.
Klee is dutifully tucked into bed, Dodoco at her side. Albedo sits beside her, looking through a few of the book options they have. Klee lets out another big yawn, her hands reaching up automatically to wipe away the tears from her eyes. Albedo smiles fondly and reaches a hand up to help, earning a sleepy grin in return.
If he could bottle up this moment and keep it forever, he would. Everything about it felt so warm, something that he had been missing for quite a while before he got to know Klee and her older brother.
“So, what story have we settled on?” He inquires as he finally fully enters, sitting beside his husband.
“I think we need new stories,” the other informs, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. “We’ve read all the books at least 4 times already.”
“Klee wants something new,” she insists.
Kaeya hums, reaching out and gently taking the books away from the other. He sets them down at the table at the end of the bed, a mischievous glint in his eye.
“How about I tell a story?” He suggests. “Would that be okay, Spark Knight?”
She nods vigorously. “Yeah! Big brother Kaeya’s stories are the best!” She grins happily, reaching over to grab her Dodoco and curl up around him.
“Okay, okay, well! It all started when…” Kaeya starts to spin a tale of grand adventures, magical beasts, and even a little bit of love. He’s so into the story that he doesn’t realize Klee has already fallen asleep until he finishes.
Silently, he and his husband leave the room, heading to their own. Albedo and him take their time to fully prepare for bed. He sheds the shirt he dawned so he could go sit with Klee, and then slips his eyepatch off to set onto the side table. With his cryo vision he cools the water in their water pitcher so he can have a glass, feeling a bit parched after all that storytelling. As he does all that, Albedo finishes undoing the braids in his hair and letting it fall free before climbing into bed. He pats the space beside him gently, a warm smile on his face as he waits for the other to join him.
Kaeya can’t deny his husband anything so he’s quick to lay down as well, pulling the shorter closer. He gently guides Albedo’s face to his chest and then he buries his face in the other’s hair, taking a moment to breathe it all in. He can feel his shoulders relax, anxiety fading away to the back of his mind. With his husband here he feels… at peace.
“Is my dear husband needing a recharge?” Albedo inquires into his chest, not even daring to pull back.
“I think so, darling,” he replies easily, giving the other a quick squeeze. “One recharge and I’ll be right as rain,” he adds, only 67% sure.
“Oh? Well our shared experiences during the past week show that your theory is wrong,” Albedo is quick to reply, finally pulling back a bit to look up at him. His eyebrows are furrowed in worry, and Kaeya can see the start of a pout on his lips.
“Is that right?” He asks with a humorless chuckle. “Well, your hypothesis might be right,” he admits with a sigh, curling closer to his husband again.
“I can see how anxious you are, despite how much you recharge with me at night. It’s a persistent cloud over your head, leaving you on edge. I understood it when we were still knee deep in our plan to root out all the evil that had leaked into Mondstat, but now that everything is over and dealt with, I can’t help but feel even more concerned,” Albedo explains, reaching up a gentle hand to cup Kaeya’s face. “Is there anything I can do, my dear?”
“Hold me?” He requests after a few seconds. “I fear my bad thoughts have been quite intrusive the past week, despite winning against our enemy. I should have a more substantial solution sometime within the next few days.”
“Take your time,” Albedo replies, pulling him impossible closer, as if to fuse himself to his husband. “I’ll be here to hold you and keep you safe until then.”
Kaeya laughs, a little wet but still just as bright.
“I’ll hold you to that, darling.”