Work Text:
The wind on Dragonspine was howling through the peaks, snowflakes drifting through the air. A quiet afternoon like many before, for nothing much ever happened in its wilderness. A traveler would pass by here and there, but this time, it was a very special traveler that made his way up the mountain to see his beloved. Afterall, Dragonspine was a romantic place, the words of the Anemo Archon himself.
Albedo hadn't heard the footsteps crunching down the snow outside. His lab equipment was rattling and whistling, drowning out the wind outside.
Even the drop of a bag went unnoticed.
So when he felt a pair of arms snake around his waist, he nearly dropped his beaker with some pink liquid.
"My, did I startle you?" Aether teased, nuzzling his cold nose into the nape of his husbands neck.
Reflexively, the latter jerked his head to the source of the unpleasant feeling, but quickly relaxed. "You did. I didn't hear you coming."
Aether didn't respond verbally, and instead pressed a soft kiss to the place he'd just nuzzled.
The beaker the alchemist had been holding was carefully placed on the desk again, before turning around in his arms.
Albedo's hands hovered awkwardly beside both of them. He still had paint and grime on his hands, and didn't want to get any dirt on Aether. In his earlier flash of inspiration for his painting and a new idea for an experiment, he'd forgotten to put on his gloves.
Nonetheless, Aether grabbed his hands. Regarding the bright patches of crimson reds, cerulean blues and light yellows against his alabaster skin. A small splotch of green stained the golden band that sat snugly on his finger.
Without thinking twice, he pressed a chivalrous kiss to his knuckles.
The alchemist reprimanded, "my hands are dirty. Don't touch them, you'll only stain your own." And yet, his voice was softening with every syllable, melting under his lovers tender gaze.
Aether stepped impossibly closer, wiping a speck of grime from his husband's cheek, and tucking a soft, blond strand of hair behind his ear that had fallen over his eyes. "you say that like these hands aren't the ones I fell in love with."
A huff, like he didn't quite believe it. "I'm sure there's more lovely things about me than paint stained hands."
"Oh, but of course," Aether replied, emphasising his words with another peck to his palm, "but these beautiful hands always hold mine so dearly. I adore seeing your creative spirit reflected in them. The things you make with your own two hands will always be awe inspiring in my eyes."
A wave of shyness overcame Albedo, his face unaffected yet the slightest redness descending onto the tips of his ears. It wasn't often he was under such close inspection, even be it by his own husband. He said nothing, though.
Because just the next second, Aether, ever the golden retriever he was, tugged him away from his work station and towards the couch that sat in the corner of his cot. Something that was there simply because of Aether's insistence to have a place to coax Albedo to rest.
Once the latter was sat, the traveler returned to his bag he'd dropped just a minute earlier. "I've brought some sweets for you. Some dango from Inazuma or some pate de fruit from Fontaine? You've mentioned you wanted to try padisarah pudding too—I've had a friend from Sumeru pack some up for you."
Albedo was just watching him dig through his belongings. His golden braid was messy, and internally, he was already thinking about running his hands through the strands again, unraveling of what little remained of the braid. It'd expose the soft nape of his neck, still so sensitive even after thousands of kisses. A faint scar that crossed his spine, exposed by his shirt riding up. His lips had traced over that one many a dozen times, always earning a small shudder.
"...So what will it be?" Aether asked again, looking at him with an amused glint in his gaze.
Albedo blinked. Losing focus was unlike him, yet something that only happened when he was with him. An error he couldn't get himself to mind. "Some pate de fruit would be nice. Thank you, dear."
The bag of bright orange candies was taken out of his backpack, and Aether crossed the cave in a few quick strides, settling down next to his husband. He undid the bow that was tied around the package, and took one out, holding it in front of Albedo's mouth. "Open up!"
"Aether." he shot him a look.
"My love?" the other replied.
Eventually, the alchemist did open his mouth, and the orange flavoured sweet landed in his mouth.
Aether tugged off his own gloves, and folded them neatly at his side. Albedo was to his right, the bag of candy between them. he took one and popped it into his mouth too, before his gaze fell upon Albedo's hands again.
"You know, I notice the way your hands tremble whenever you patch me up." The words fell from his mouth before he could stop his train of thoughts.
Albedo took another candy. Letting him speak.
"Like you're scared I won't come back to you one day." A slight huff of amusement and love, "My love, nothing will keep me from coming back to you. No hilichurl, no treasure hoarder, no archon."
Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the shifting on his side. Just two palms warm against his cheeks, and a press of lips against his. Sure. Warm.
When Albedo pulled away, Aether's calloused hand came up to cover his husband's, "I love it when you do that."
A second peck was placed on his lips, "It has been scientifically proven, through many attempts, that kisses are the easiest way to distract you."
"I've come here to coax you to take a break. and yet you still talk to me with science." Aether deadpanned.
With a chuckle, Albedo reached out and tilted the other man to his side, until the traveler lay in his lap. Aether blinked, but smiled knowingly.
A deft hand shot out and grabbed his braid, loosening the tie and running his fingers through it like he'd longed for. The strands were pliant beneath his fingertips, separating until the last trace of the braid were just the slightest waves in his hair.
Aether, who'd sighed into the touch like a content cat, took a hold of the hand. "As much as I adore this, rest your hands. You're always holding a brush, a pen or some lab equipment," he laced their fingers together, skin against skin, "just rest easy and let me hold them."
And that, Albedo did. He leaned back against the couch, and with a thumb brushing over Aether's knuckles, he asked, "Anything new about your sister?"
A small frown knit over the other's face, "I'd rather...not talk about it. She's doing some things I cannot agree with." A sigh, a release of frustration, "I'm not sure it's going to be as straightforward as i expected when i started looking for her. It's gotten...complicated."
Aether quieted for a second, and smiled up at his husband, "besides, we were traveling together to find a new home, a new world to live in. I think I've found my home."
Albedo leaned down and pressed a kiss to the other's forehead. The traveler hummed and leaned up into it. "In any case, Paimon's eaten two sweet madames, and is passed out in the serentea teapot now. So I'm free for a couple of hours. And I'll be staying in Mondstadt for a few weeks."
"We can just rest for a bit here and get some dinner later," Albedo replied, "my treat."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to, my dear." He took another orange candy from the little bag next to them, and put it to Aether's lips. The other didn't hesitate, and the sweet was popped in.
"You're too sweet," he said, chewing.
Albedo giggled lightly, "it comes with the title, no?"
"You've earned it, that's for sure," the traveler replied, glancing at the drifting snow outside, "when do you want to head for dinner?"
His hand still intertwined with Aether's, the alchemist presses a kiss to the golden band that sat on the calloused finger, "whenever you'd like."
"We can stay a little longer and head down later. Unless you're hungry now?" Aether inquired gently.
"I'm fine. I'd like some quiet time with my husband too. I've not seen you in quite a while." He mused, voice low and measured yet filled with undeniable tenderness.
The traveler smiled mischievously, "your wish," he cupped Albedo's cheeks and pulled him down towards him, "is my command."