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Albedo lay shirtless on Kaeya’s bed. Not exactly a foreign situation, but it was rare for the reason to be anything other than literally sleeping together.
“Inhale.”
Albedo did so, allowing his lungs to slowly expand as much as they could. His head rested on a pillow shaped specifically so he could lay face down. Kaeya stood at his head, the backs of his fingers repeatedly sweeping from the base of his neck and across his trapezius.
“Exhale.”
The massage oil was scented with rainbow roses. Its sweetness filled the room, but it wasn’t by any means a strong smell. Albedo had tested it beforehand. A massage, Kaeya had said, was supposed to be relaxing. It wouldn’t be good for either of them to get a headache from a strong scented oil.
“Archons Albedo, how do you live with this much tension?”
The man in question only responded with a hum as Kaeya moved to sweeping his thumbs up his neck.
Albedo had given himself massages before. Hand massages when they cramped up on him after hours of writing or experimentation. Shoulder massages when his arms weren’t moving like they were supposed to. Calf massages when he stretched his legs just a bit too far and ended up with the worst muscle spasms.
No one had ever given him a back massage. No one had offered, or rather, Albedo had never sought out such a service. He didn’t dislike physical touch, but the thought of someone touching the majority of his body–unclothed or otherwise–was enough for him to avoid trying it.
It took Kaeya multiple attempts to convince Albedo to try it. Albedo wasn’t entirely sure why Kaeya was so adamant about it at the time. He was so certain that he would dislike it, he didn’t even like giving himself one unless he really needed to.
Oh Celestia, was he wrong.
It was a bit uncomfortable, but Kaeya’s apparently expert hands were dutifully removing years (perhaps decades) worth of stress and tension. That alone was worth the discomfort. How Albedo had functioned with his body in this condition was a question only Irminsul could answer.
Kaeya's hands were cool against his bare skin, leaving goosebumps behind in their wake. Yet somehow, Albedo was melting under their pressure. He thought of the cats at The Cat’s Tail, how they flopped over when offered pets. He fully understood their contentment.
The delicious pressure of Kaeya’s thumbs circling down along his spine had Albedo sighing. Kaeya spent extra time in areas with particularly bad knots, patiently easing them away. So diligent in everything he committed himself to, Albedo thought. Even if many of those commitments would never see the light of day, he appreciated them nonetheless.
“You are a man of many talents,” Albedo mumbled. He felt, rather than heard, Kaeya’s chuckle in response.
“I told you.”
Albedo could see the smug expression on Kaeya’s face, but he was too relaxed to do anything about it. Kaeya could have the ego boost for free. He deserved it.
“Seriously though, ‘Bedo, I’m shocked that you can function with your back in this state. Is this why you have atrocious posture?”
“It’s been like this for decades…got used to it,” Albedo grumbled. He took it back. No more ego boosts for Kaeya.
It was only when Kaeya briefly paused that Albedo realized what he’d said. The cavalry captain was quick to continue, but the moment had all but passed. If Albedo was tense before, he was doubly so now. It was like someone had splashed a bucket of ice cold water over him.
“Years. I meant years,” Albedo corrected quickly. Kaeya answered with a short hum but didn’t probe.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Albedo forced his breathing to remain deep and steady. Forced his heart to slow down with each breath. His body obeyed. It was almost mechanical. It was human of him for his heart to race when met with fear. Kaeya’s heart rate spiked when under heightened emotion. But was it human of Albedo for his heart to obey him so easily?
Exhale.
The tension fizzled out of Albedo’s body, but the relaxed state he had achieved never returned. Kaeya moved on to running the backs of his hands and knuckles up and down the sides of Albedo’s spine before turning attention on his shoulders.
A question hung in the air. Albedo sensed it, even though Kaeya chose not to voice it. Albedo had deduced Kaeya origins from the beginning. Had Kaeya done the same?
Not long ago, such a thought would’ve left Albedo frozen. Now he only had to contend with apprehension. The unsaid question was haunting him. Part of him wanted Kaeya to ask it. Get it over with. Rip off the bandaid.
But Kaeya just diligently continued his ministrations. He moved from Albedo’s head to climbing on the bed and hovering just above Albedo’s thighs. Kaeya pressed his thumbs into Albedo’s lower back, sweeping them up and down.
The massage came to an end. Kaeya finished with a slow wipe down of a warm washcloth, removing the oil from Albedo’s skin. Damn this considerate man, Albedo thought. Albedo disliked the sensation of oils and lotions. The issues mostly lay in his hands, but Kaeya remembered the way Albedo avoided using them altogether.
When Kaeya’s weight disappeared from the bed, Albedo removed his head from the pillow. His muscles were so pliant that he only managed to move enough to lay on his side. The sun was setting, casting the room into deep shadows. Candles flickered on the shelving. Albedo half heartedly wondered when they had been lit.
Kaeya took a seat on the edge of the bed, smiling softly at him. The knight gently brushed the stray hairs from Albedo’s eyes. His hands smelled like rainbow rose oil.
“Aren’t you going to ask?” Albedo whispered. Kaeya considered it for a moment, his eye drifting down to the four pointed star on Albedo’s neck.
“Are you ready to reply?”
Albedo asked himself the very same question.
How would Kaeya react if Albedo told him the truth of his origins? Would fear replace the trust Kaeya held in his eye? Apprehension? Pity? Disgust? Hatred? Albedo couldn’t fault Kaeya if he did. After all, Albedo was a creation of someone who directly caused the downfall of Kaeya’s people.
Kaeya knew that Albedo knew. Kaeya didn’t need to say anything. The first time the knight had glanced at Albedo’s pontil mark, the understanding that dawned in that periwinkle eye was confirmation enough.
Albedo wondered what Kaeya thought of him. He who was drawn to the mountain even seasoned adventurers were wary of, lured by the remnants of a dragon who had caused untold destruction. The very same destructive blood flowed through Albedo’s veins. Artificial veins built to power an artificial body.
Albedo held Kaeya’s gaze, studied his face. There was nothing but warmth there; trust and affection. Perhaps a touch of concern in the slight upward tilt of his eyebrows.
Albedo shook his head, “Not yet.”
Kaeya smiled, “Then no.”
Kaeya leaned down to kiss Albedo’s hair then stood, “You look about ready to fall asleep, so we should probably get a meal in you before that happens. What do you want to eat?”
Was it relief that filled Albedo’s chest? He wasn’t sure, but it was warm.
“Surprise me?”
Kaeya shook his head affectionately, “A snack fit for a prince, then.”
Before Kaeya could walk away, Albedo grabbed the corner of his shirt. The knight blinked at him in question.
“Thank you,” Albedo said simply.
Kaeya grinned, “Anytime. I am, after all, a man of many talents and boundless generosity. If you require massages in the future, you need only ask.”
Albedo let go of him, only to grab the closest pillow and affectionately hurl it in Kaeya’s general direction.
Kaeya laughed all the way down the stairs.