a/b/o verse

[unmelting]

Kaeya is in over his head, which is not something he's used to. The cavalry captain of the Knights of Favonius is usually prepared, usually pulling strings and planning and plotting before he even sets a foot into any situation or gets his own hands dirty.

But something has gone wrong. Clearly.

It started a few days ago. Kaeya hadn't felt right, but there was nothing he could really pin down as specifically wrong, so it was easy enough to shrug it off. Sure, he's feeling vaguely overheated, his thoughts too easily distracted, every little scent suddenly overwhelming. But he can still manage.

So when Jean asks that he go investigate some trouble in the ruins outside of the city, he really doesn't have a good reason not to agree. It should be fine. A simple trip really, though he does see the vague concern in the acting Grand Master's eyes at how distracted he seems. He pulls himself together to wave it off. And off he goes.

Now here he is, having found the root of the problems that Jean has sent him to. The source of the trouble is a band of treasure hoarders, ones that he has dealt with before. Tensions rise, and Kaeya should be able to handle this -- either through clever words or icy sword blows. It's nothing he hasn't overcome before. Except this time, he feels like he's losing his mind. And two of the treasure hoarders realize it, two alphas who have caught the very distinct scent of an omega in heat.

Kaeya, on the other hand, is still clueless. He's a beta, after all. When his peers had begun presenting, he never had, and had accepted what that meant for him. Honestly, it was simpler that way. Wasn't it? But here he is, sword in hand but not raised, one visible eye wide, pupil blown, face flushed, as he watches the men approach.

'Don't worry,', one of the men croons, 'We're more than happy to help. You're lucky you found us.'

A frown crosses Kaeya's face. That doesn't... sound right. But maybe he does need help. Hmm.

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[unmelting]

Kaeya, when he's clearer minded and looking back, will appreciate Diluc's efficiency at this particular moment. His own hands are hard to keep steady, trembling from the need. Like the rest of him. And he's nowhere near as coordinated as he'd like to think he is.

It's hard to think straight, hard to concentrate on anything aside from the way Diluc feels against him, above him. He moans in response to that growl, welcoming that possessive sound, everything in him agreeing with a wordless: Yes. Yours.

He helps kick off his pants, his underwear, fitful and eager to be done with it.

His hands are moving fitfully over newly bared skin, like he can't possibly touch Diluc enough. There's an almost frantic desperation in him, as if now that he's let himself sink into this, into his heat and everything that comes with it, everything he's held back and staved off with denial for the past few days has struck him at once. "Diluc. I need--" Everything. Anything he'll give him.

[searingwing]

Kaeya responds to him with an eagerness he can’t sort out is the Omega in him finally having sway or the man himself. His touch is like fire, stirring him to heights of want he hadn’t thought possible outside of a rut. But he can’t ignore how desperate and frantic he seems. Diluc removes his own pants and underwear as fast as he can.

He quickly grabs the blankets, tucking them in around them to form the bowl shape of a nest. It might help. Diluc settles over Kaeya, between his thighs as he reaches down to feel if Kaeya is already ready to pair.

He’s aware Kaeya has had sex before. But sex as a beta and sex as an omega are different things just because of certain factors. “I know. Relax for me, you’re doing so well.” He croons. He has had sex himself in the past. It had been strictly to aid but never to claim and breed.

None of it compares to right now with Kaeya under him. How right it feels. How his fangs won’t retract because the want to have this omega as his is too strong.

[unmelting]

Kaeya looks around to see the way that the redhead has arranged the blankets. Oh. That's good. Safe. It settles some uneasiness in him that he hadn't even recognized. Despite himself, Kaeya laughs, looking up at Diluc, a small moment of clarity in the haze of his heat, "I'm terrible at this. The worst Omega. I... ah!" His voice breaks and all laughter stops as Diluc's hands go wandering. Now that his attention has been drawn to it, Kaeya is all too aware that his body is ready, wet and slick and that is new. So while he's the worst Omega, at least his body seems to know what it's doing.

That's something. Maybe.

The praise from Diluc undoes him though, and he whines softly. More of that. More assurance that he's doing good, that he's being what his Alpha wants. There's that possessive again. He's going to get himself in trouble with those thoughts.

[searingwing]

"Not. The worst." Diluc tells him as he presses a kiss to his neck. "You weren't raised that way. That's all." He positions himself, fingers pressing into Kaeya long enough to confirm he's ready. His control is fraying. Kaeya is right here and so willing.

He draws his fingers out and uses the slick on them to get himself ready. His breath comes out in short puffs of air. Diluc braces himself over him as he says, "Breathe," He instructions as he slowly presses into him, taking his time.

Kaeya is hot and right, accepting him as if they were made for each other. He drags his fangs over his bottom lip and a flush blooms on his face as he presses his forehead to his. "Kaeya," He breathes as he takes his time, only lifting his head to look at him when his hips meet skin.

"Are you okay?"

[unmelting]

Not the worst is nice. He can work with that. But Diluc is right. Years ago when it seemed clear he was a beta and wouldn't present otherwise, he'd never found any reason to learn how to handle a heat. And here is his crash course in it, and he's grateful for Diluc being here, with him. Even the thought of dealing with this on his own -- or what may have happened with the treasure hoarders if Diluc hadn't shown up -- has him choking on a distressed whimper, or maybe that's just the protest as Diluc draws his fingers out of him, leaving him feeling emptier than before.

"Diluc..." Just his name, like it's really all Kaeya can even manage now. But he takes a shaky breath as he's told, arms winding tightly around Diluc, like he can urge him even closer. This is what he needs, Diluc hard and hot and inside him, filling him up, bearing over him.

He hears his name and opens his eyes to look up at Diluc, face flushed and pupil blown, looking almost as blissed out as he feels. The question is confusing given his state and the fact that his brain has decided to let other parts of his body be in charge for the moment. So by way of answer, he trills a soft, pleading sound before he remembers he can use his words. "Feels good. So good. More? Breed me?" His fingers curl against Diluc's back, sinking his nails into skin.

[searingwing]

Diluc's eyes widen. Kaeya is so far gone that words are utterly beyond him. He'd trilled. That shouldn't call to him like a siren song but he chirps back in reply. He sets his hands on either side of his head and leans in until he can gently kiss him. Then he draws back, thrusting back in with a slow, steady roll of his hips.

His fangs drag on Kaeya's bottom lip as he breathes, He slips his fingers into his hair with a shaky exhale as he builds the pace. Kaeya is tight and wrapped around him, begging him for what he needs. "I'll breed you," He breathes as some part of his control slips.

His father was a beta and his mother an omega. His father had looked at him and seen his mother in him. Until he presented. And then Diluc has spent all his life controlling him to make his father happier. Look at his son so composed, so calm, so poised. Deep down in his soul he was never tame.

He growls in possessive sound that is deeper than any other growl he's made until now. Like a lion bearing their fangs. His voice tinged with it, "You feel so good. So right." He clamps down on the want to say my omega. But presses his face close to his neck and inhales. "Missed your scent, Kaeya. Kaeya."

[unmelting]

The kiss undoes him. He leans up to meet it before crying out as Diluc finally starts moving, losing most of the sound to the other man's lips. He can feel the sharpness of those fangs and again all he can think of is how much he wants to feel them sinking into his neck, marking and claiming him. He's greedy, and he knows it, but it's Diluc, who despite everything, has always been the most important person to him, his true north. Not that Kaeya has ever told him that.

His back arches, rocking to meet each thrust, everything about him an encouragement, an open invitation for more.

Kaeya trills again at the praise, at how that deep growl in Diluc's voice runs through him like his own personal earthquake. Nails drag down the redhead's back. "So good. Need you. Missed you, so much. Always, I--" He cuts off, mercifully, before he spills all his secrets. Kaeya lets his head fall back to bare his neck, his throat, to Diluc's attention. It's dangerous, all trust, surrender, a wordless and subconscious invitation for the redhead to claim him once and for all.

[searingwing]

This is dangerous. He has to walk the fine line of giving Kaeya what he needs. What they both need. And not taking from Kaeya what he isn't sure he wants. He still presses his face to his neck, dragging his tongue over the scent glands, and rubs his face against it as he drives into him.

Kaeya missed him. It rings in his head as he grabs his hips and snarls against his throat. He arches into the sting of those nails and kisses him on the mouth. He swallows another growl and mercifully silences them both.

He licks into his mouth, eager to taste him. His control slips and he presses down onto him, pinning him with his weight and his strength, building the pace to something that steals their breath.

[unmelting]

It's not the pain of those teeth that his instinct is singing for, but the feeling of that tongue in such an intimate place has Kaeya's entire body shaking in pleasure. His legs wrap around Diluc's waist, clinging tightly him.

It really is a mercy that Diluc kisses him because Kaeya doesn't know what might come spilling past his lips next. Maybe he'd continue begging Diluc for more, to breed him, knot him, claim him, everything. Or maybe the buried truth would slip free now that all his usual walls and defenses are in tatters, that missed isn't a strong enough word, that Kaeya has been in love with him all this time.

Much better that Kaeya can part his lips eagerly, muffle pleasured sobs lost in the middle of the kiss, and not go blurting out things that he can't take back.

[searingwing]

He feels the base of his cock swell and works into him in shallower thrusts. He shifts the angle to find that spot that will make Kaeya lose it. He's never knotted anyone before. Even in his ruts it had been that risk and he'd had to finish another way.

Kaeya in his first heat can't be soothed any other way. And he realizes how much he wants to claim Kaeya in some way. His knot swells completely and locks him in. Pleasure is building in them both, he's getting close.

He licks that spot on Kaeya's neck and purrs deep in his chest, a pleased Alpha that's utterly content. It's the first time he's ever purred since he had to kill his father. This man dear to his heart is where he belongs.

[unmelting]

Kaeya breaks from Diluc's lips to cry out, a scream of need and pleasure and relief. Archons help him, he needs this more than he needs to breathe. His voice rises again as feels Diluc's knot growing, feels the way his body takes him in. It's too much, it should be too much, but it's what he needs and fuck it's what he wants. It's Diluc.

It's the sound of Diluc purring that is the final straw for Kaeya. He hears that sound, and there's a white hot thought that his Alpha sounds that pleased because of him. "Diluc... Alpha, I..."

His voice breaks on a cry as he tumbles straight over that edge. He comes hard, vision going white as his orgasm crashes over him, body bowing sharply, nearly arching off the bed entirely, nails dragging down Diluc's back.

[searingwing]

His back stings and he buries his face into Kaeya's shoulder as he finds his own release. He spills into Kaeya with every shallow rock of his hips. Then he collapses on top of him, still purring. It's a deep rumble in his chest. He reaches out over the edge of the nest to grab the cleaning towel he'd gotten.

Diluc wipes Kaeya and himself down, then tosses it over the edge. He has a feeling Kaeya will be a bit more lucid soon. He arranges the pillows a bit better, tucking the blankets at the edge into a more nest-like shape.

Kaeya calling him Alpha in his need will haunt his better dreams. He's worried what reality and clarity will bring to Kaeya. What's done is done. When his nerves won't allow him to fuss anymore he looks back at Kaeya's face.

[unmelting]

Slowly, pleasure fades and the worst of the delirium and haze of his heat slowly begins to clear. The sound of Diluc purring is beyond soothing though, and Kaeya's hands release their grip, smoothing softly down his back now, stilling when the other begins to clean them.

Bit by bit it's all coming back to him, every sensation, every sound and okay, well, that will live in his head and heart for the rest of his life. But he also remembers the way he acted, the begging and the need and oh god he called Diluc Alpha, he pleaded with him to breed him.

The blush blossoms over his face, a full and obvious red when Diluc looks back up to him. Kaeya blinks at him before lifting both hands to cover his face. Don't look at him, Diluc. His voice is muffled as he manages a, "I am so sorry." Look what he's dragged Diluc into. Fuck. He'd almost confessed everything too. That is one small mercy, he supposes.

[searingwing]

He'll never tell Kaeya that blushing makes his skin look richer. It gives him away every time. Diluc reaches back and undoes the tie in his hair, letting it fall down about his face and over his back. He tosses the tie aside off the bed.

"I meant every word." He says into the ensuing silence. His fangs haven't retreated and it's a little harder to speak but he makes sure his words are clear. "And I wouldn't have gone through with it if I didn't want to be here."

He hopes that sinks in. Kaeya seems...he takes a breath and looks away. "But I need to know what you want while you're still lucid. Your needs come before all else."

[unmelting]

Peeking through his fingers, Kaeya sees that hair fall down in a fall of fiery red. Diluc is stunning, and has always been. He lowers his hands from his face and instead reaches up without thinking to card his fingers through that hair. When they were younger, when they were closer, incidental little touches were commonplace. He spent hours sprawled across Diluc while they rested in between adventures. But it's been so long.

When Diluc breaks the silence, Kaeya looks up at him, startled. Every word? He remembers the things that Diluc said, words of trust and regret for the way things have been, promises that he'd be here for him in this.

He may still be blushing -- and darker once he realizes that they're still joined together, and quite stuck that way, and doesn't that want to reignite the fever in him straight away -- but now his fingers find their way over Diluc's cheeks. If I didn't want to be here. Does that mean he does want to be here... with him?

Diluc knows him well enough that Kaeya is sure he can see the gears in his mind turning. Kaeya is an intelligent man, sharp and perceptive, and assembling everything in this moment of lucidity. He takes a breath of his own when Diluc looks away, and takes the biggest risk he's taken in his life. "I want you. I've always wanted you." It can't really be a surprise, can it? For so long he was ever the shadow to Diluc's brilliant burning light, and even after years, Diluc is still the most important person in his life.

A pause and he adds, petulantly. "And I want to never have a heat again. People really deal with this regularly?"

[searingwing]

Diluc fixes the edge of the nest again. If he were the Omega he'd have rearranged the pillows entirely. Kaeya draws in a breath and he tenses. What will it be? Kaeya speaks and he jerks his head back to him, eyes wide.

Kaeya's words had been true. Everything he said while heat-addled were true. He swallows and leans in, taking Kaeya's face into his hands. "It took a while, but I'm not going anywhere. And yes, they do."

He looks away with a cough as his own face flushes. "Father was sure I would be like mother, another Omega. My early education was all about that and dealing with scheduling around it." Then he presented as an Alpha and his father hadn't really known what to do but give his son all the dreams he wanted fulfilled.

"T-that's not important. I should have talked to you about all this before. But before the heat takes you again...You're absolutely sure you want me to claim you." He speaks quickly suddenly with his hands thrust up. "I didn't want to let my wants and desires over take yours. It wouldn't have been fair. You have a right to decide that and instinct shouldn't take it from you."

[unmelting]

Kaeya is going to need to be guided in nest building. He knows this one was hasty, but right now what seems to matter the most is that Diluc is in it with him, and being that this is Diluc's bed, his scent is everywhere. It's soothing and calming.

And while he's trying to look as unworried and casual as possible, there's something inside him braced and holding his breath for what Diluc will say. But then the redhead is looking at him and touching him gently and saying words that make Kaeya's face flood with relief. Good. Diluc won't leave him. He's almost afraid to let himself hope it means than more than just now, in the middle of his heat.

So when Diluc continues, Kaeya is the one to stare, wide-eyed. Claim him. Diluc wants him, wants to claim him. That alone is nearly enough to kick his heat into high gear right then and there. His heart races. "I'm certain, Diluc. I'm yours anyway, bite or not." It's a heavy admission, but truth is in the air already, and he doesn't think his mind will stay this clear for very long.

He reaches for Diluc's hands to tangle their fingers together. "Are you absolutely sure? You want to claim me?" Because he should be able to decide too. And Diluc knows him, knows what he really is.

[searingwing]

Diluc opens his mouth and there just as pointed and sharp, his alpha fangs gleam. He squeezes Kaeya’s hands. “I’ve fought it since I first scented you.” He swallows and ducks his head, his blush moving up into his ears. “I’ve fought not to claim you since we were young knights.”

It hadn’t mattered to a younger Diluc that Kaeya had seemingly been a beta. He lifts his head back up. “We better hurry and do it now or, you won’t be lucid for it. He moves Kaeya’s hair aside and presses his face against the side of his neck.

He finds Kaeya’s scent glands but doesn’t bite him, waiting for the surrender response.

[unmelting]

It's hard not to let his eyes linger on those sharp teeth, feeling new instinct stir to life inside him. His Alpha wants to mark him, to claim him, and Diluc is so right that lucid won't last long, especially when he's saying those words.

And blushing. It's adorable. Should he call an Alpha adorable?

He stills as his hair is brushed aside, eyes fluttering slowly shut. Another trill of a sound, lower and tremulous, a soft plea that leaves his lips as he lifts his chin, head falling to the side to bare his neck to Diluc, yielding and surrendering to him entirely. "Diluc... my Alpha... please.

[searingwing]

Diluc shudders. The soft sound has called to him just like it had last time. He settles his hands on Kaeya’s shoulders as he sinks his fangs into the glands. He tastes fluid scent and blood.

But he didn’t bite too deep like he once feared he would. He drags his tongue over the marks, over and over again, sealing the skin. But the gland won’t be the same and nor will he.

His knot has gone down enough he could carefully pull out. But he doesn’t as he swallows and keeps dragging his tongue over Kaeya’s scent glands. “Kaeya, my Omega.”

Instinct pulls on him and his hand slides down to rest over Kaeya’s stomach. It’s highly likely this week will result in a child. As he warned him. But he can’t help feeling satisfied.

[unmelting]

There's no holding back the cry that is drawn from him as those teeth finally sink into his neck, as Diluc claims him. He's Diluc's, and Diluc is his. It's overwhelming, trying to wrap his mind around it, but his heart already has figured it out because this feels right, feels more right than anything has in years.

He hears a soft purring sound and is surprised when he realizes he's the one making it. That's new too. He's too blissed out to be embarrassed though, his whole body feeling like it's floating now. "My Alpha," Kaeya murmurs back to him. Something in him has settled, even as he can feel his heat starting to flare again.

Kaeya reaches a hand down to settle atop of Diluc's at his stomach. Ah. He knows what the other man is thinking about, and he's right. It's his first heat, and between being knotted and claimed and spending the rest of this week with his Alpha, there's no chance he gets through this week without being with child. And that should be terrifying, but it'll be Diluc's child. Their child. Every new instinct in him is singing at the idea. "Are you okay with it?"

[searingwing]

This doesn't fix everything. If anything it makes it a lot more complicated. From the hard stare Jean will give him for having made Kaeya's life a lot harder to what needs mended between them. Yet they have a chance and he wants that more than ever. "Yes. I told you, if I were to trust anyone like this, it's you."

He touches their foreheads together in an echo of a childhood comfort gesture. It feels good to do it. His purr grows in volume as his fangs stay despite the claim. Too alpha right now with fraying control, he supposes. That's alright.

"So long as you're alright with it."

[unmelting]

Yeah, Jean will have opinions on this. So will Lisa. But Kaeya can deal with that. He hopes. It's reforging his relationship with Diluc that concerns him. He knows that he's never stopped caring for -- or is that more being in love and silently pining for -- Diluc all this time. But that doesn't mean they don't have their work cut out for him.

But when Diluc does something like that, resting their foreheads together and memory and reassurance slam into Kaeya like a particularly strong wave off the ocean, he thinks they'll be able to manage it. The sound of Diluc purring is soothing, calling to something purely instinctual in Kaeya.

His other hand lifts to settle against Diluc's face. "It's terrifying. I never exactly expected I even could." Male Betas don't get pregnant, and Kaeya has never trusted anyone else enough to even consider. "But if it's with you, I'm all right with it." No, that's not it. "If it's with you, I want it."

His gaze trails away now, brow furrowing. "I don't want to make the same mistakes that were made with me." His father had placed the burden of a world he didn't understand on his shoulders and abandoned him to the unknown. He won't ever let his child have to carry something like that.

[searingwing]

He is silent for a long moment before he leans in and presses his lips to Kaeya’s. Yes, he knows just enough to guess what Kaeya is thinking of. “Nor do I want to do as father did.” He admits for the first time. He swallows and closes his eyes.

It’s hard to let anyone see his private pain but, he makes the effort not to hide away for Kaeya. “I will encourage their dreams. Whatever their dreams are.” He still doesn’t quite know what his own are other than protection of Mondstadt and being with Kaeya.

“I want our child.” He adds, making sure Kaeya knows that. He hums as he adds, “Don’t be too worried about future heats. You’ll be far more lucid and they’ll just be embarrassing and annoying.” Diluc lifts his head and looks away adding, “Because we’re mated if I’ve read things right, it will line up with my ruts. We can make them mini vacations.”

[unmelting]

Kaeya is surprised that Diluc actually says the words out loud, never mind sending them to him. He's not shocked that it's true, however. Crepus was a kind man, but he'd wrapped Diluc up in so many expectations and ideals, and Diluc had always been so dedicated and dutiful... but it had been a weight on Diluc's young shoulders too.

Both his hands settle at either side of Diluc's face, drawing him closer even as Kaeya leans in to kiss him. I want our child. It's astounding how four words can settle all the stormier misgivings he'd been fighting. That's what matters. The rest they'll figure out.

He drops his hands and heaves a sigh, very dramatically. "Embarrassing doesn't even cover it." But he'll deal with that too, somehow. Kaeya's lips curl into a smirk at that. "Oh? Carnal getaways? Scandalous." Kaeya loves the idea, and he'd probably tease Diluc more about it if even thinking about seeing Diluc in rut didn't have him squirming on the bed -- likely something the redhead will notice given that he's still inside him. A soft whine and he looks up at Diluc with a growing flush on his face. He's losing his ability to keep his thoughts in order.