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.

Comments

[searingwing]

"I'll be on hand to help you sort it out." Diluc says in a gentler tone that makes Jean blink. She'd never heard him use it before. It sounds a lot like his old self when he was a bright, sunny boy.

Jean nods as well, "And all of us here can explain our own takes on it. Lisa navigates it rather well." She smiles for Lisa, a bright sunny little smile that's all appreciation.

Diluc pauses as he says, "If you don't mind, we could take those volumes with us today. Their expected due date?" He knows Lisa. He won't ever forget due dates.

[unmelting]

Kaeya has begun to hear those echoes of the sweet, bright person that Kaeya had known in his youth, but hearing Diluc sound like that even in public has something in him warming, like his own personal sunshine has sprung to life in the center of his chest. "You've helped a lot so far," he murmurs, his own tone softer and more sincere than his usual. Diluc isn't the only one affected by this new thing between them.

And it's obvious to see. Call her a romantic, but Lisa can't help but be thrilled to see it. Kaeya seems content in a way she never expected he could even look. She nods happily back at Jean. "That's right. I'm happy to offer opinions. We can chat over tea." Since, well, no more wine for Kaeya for a while. "And I'll go fetch them. Since you two are both trusted knights, I can lend them for a month." But good, Diluc knows. Good boy.

[searingwing]

Jean smiles and Diluc can't help but think that it's been a long time since she smiled so serenely. He wraps an arm around Kaeya and steers him towards the door. "We'll wait for them. Thank you."

He has a feeling Jean needs a bit of time to process this. He's still internally reeling from this shift in his life. Right back to the way it had been. Well, in some ways. He will still be the independent source of commerce and free thought he has always been.

Yet he can't help but think of how moving in lockstep with the knights they keep each other accountable to the people and protect them better. This is the partnership his father always wanted.

As they step into the foyer he takes a breath and closes his eyes. This is a lot. This is so much and while he agreed to walk this road he needs a minute.

[unmelting]

He lets himself be steered, waving over his shoulder at Jean. Well, that went better than he'd been afraid it would. They've got this figured out as best they can, and that's reassuring. Watching Lisa sweep off down towards the library, he turns to look at Diluc.

His mate's silence isn't lost on him, and Kaeya turns into him fully, until he can loop both his arms around the redhead's waist. He's quiet though, letting Diluc sort his thoughts for a long moment. There's no mistaking how big a step this is, how it crosses the scars and wounds of events in his past.

"I'm proud of you," he murmurs eventually. And he is. His righteous, brave, strong mate. Diluc is a good man. His voice is even quieter, meant for Diluc's ears only as he adds, "He would be too." They both know the he he's talking about, Kaeya is certain.

[searingwing]

His breath catches and he forces himself to swallow. His father would have applauded his decision. He wouldn't have liked him walking away from the knights at all. All he had done with his life had been to serve the city and bring forth peace.

He has a feeling that he and his father would no agree on many matters these days. But he still doesn't know the secrets his father died with. Diluc forces it down. He leans slightly into Kaeya, making sure it passes off as just them standing patiently together.

He has appearances to keep up and so does Kaeya. "Like I said before, neither of us would do well if we didn't know peace was being maintained. This is the best option to keep our fingers on the right threads and keep the knights from being spread thinner. I know exactly how much you do."

He says low enough for only Kaeya to hear, "And I want to put to bed the things that will impede us and our children. They will have the happy life of Mondstadters. Not the burdens that we had. Unless they want them."

[unmelting]

Kaeya lets Diluc lean into him. He knows that both of them have a complicated past, knows that Diluc's own relationship with his father is a large part of that. They may not know the secrets that Crepus kept, but he was a good man who cared for his city and his family.

But Diluc is also right about their own children. "We'll let them walk whatever path they choose, and be there to help them along it." And in the meantime, they'll try to make the world a little safer for them.

"I love you," he whispers softly, meant only for Diluc to hear. And he adds, less low and soft and more teasing. "But how nice to know you see all my hard work. I'm clearly undervalued all too often." Don't mind him crowing a little; it's all in play.

[searingwing]

"Says the man who often underplays how much he does." Diluc says low and gentle, reaching back to catch Kaeya's chin. A low purr rumbles in his chest. His chest feels warm. Kaeya saying those words feels like the first time ever time.

"I love you too." He tells him as he relaxes in his hold. Knight headquarters, yes. But no one enters without warning. He has time to let his guard down a little. He turns his head to steal a brief kiss.

[unmelting]

Hearing Diluc purring, knowing that he's responsible for some of that level of contentment in his mate. His smile brightens at hearing the words spoken back to him. Diluc isn't the only one who feels that same rush in his chest each and every time.

Kaeya is all too happy to risk a kiss (or two) here. They both have professional images to maintain at work, of course, but Kaeya isn't all that worried about it.

This is of course when Lisa comes back with the books in question, lifting her free hand to her lips. "Oh my, I've interrupted." Naughty boys. Except, it's terribly sweet.

Oops. Kaeya leans back to smile at Lisa with a shrug. He doesn't look very contrite at all.

[searingwing]

Diluc draws back as if he were merely interrupted at work. He looks at Lisa without a hint of shame at being caught. His eyes fall on the books and he blinks. "I've heard of a few of these...but never was able to get my hands on a copy."

He nods once, "Thank you for trusting us with them. They'll be back before their due date. I forgot to say it before, but if there are any books you wish to see from the Ragnvindr estate, you need only ask."

In the spirit of cooperation, he made this offer. Once he commits he commits.

[unmelting]

"I hope they're helpful. Or at least interesting." Lisa hands them off with a smile, an expression that brightens at that offer. "Oh? What a kind offer. I'll have to take you up on it."

She will too. It would be impolite to turn down that sort of invitation, after all, and she's curious about what that collection might hold.

Kaeya takes up the offered books, tucking them under one arm and nodding. "If you plan on coming over, let us know. We can have tea. ...since that's all I'll be drinking for the foreseeable future."

[searingwing]

“I told you I can make non-alcoholic drinks that suit your tastes.” Diluc says as he adds, “There are some tea blends and techniques you haven’t seen. I’ll show them to you both.”

He knows a tea drink that’s a bit spicy that Kaeya might like. “We should go. Our personnel are bringing your things out of storage and we have work to do at home.” Their cottage. They have progress to make on the additions. Aether hadn’t even questioned the desire.

There is also the loom he brought back into their home. There are blankets to weave. It’s a lesser known talent of his and he’s happy to use it again. He nods to Lisa. “Thank you for everything. It will be an honor to work with you again.” And he means it. It’s in his gaze.

[unmelting]

Kaeya beams at him. His mate is the best mate, Lisa. Have you seen this? Kaeya is probably doing a very poor job of not acting like a young man utterly in love. Can he be blamed for that, really? How long has he harbored what he thought was an unrequited love for Diluc, and now he's allowed to actually feel it.

Lisa smiles at the both of them. They're a sweet couple. She inclines her head. "You've made Jean very happy. We're all glad to see you back. But, I won't keep you any longer today."

Their cottage. Kaeya is ready to return to it. He's gotten quite used to having Diluc to himself, so he's a bit greedy.

[searingwing]

With one final nod, Diluc steers Kaeya out the doors and ignores the way the knights on duty do a double-take. He doesn't take his arm off of Kaeya. This is his mate. He opens his lips just enough to show a gleam of his alpha fangs.

Looking is free. The knight hastily face forward and Diluc leads Kaeya down the stairs with his head held high and a calm look on his face. People notice but he's beyond the point of caring. Let them look.

He's proud of his mate and being allowed to be at his side. And thus do the most eligible bachelors in Mondstadt get marked off as Not Eligible Anymore.

[unmelting]

Kaeya will do nothing at all to dislodge that arm around him at all. He likes it, likes the fact that they can be together in public. Diluc is everything anyone could ever want in a mate, and Kaeya is just as proud that he's somehow able to call the redhead his.

He leans into Diluc ever so slightly, catching the tail end of that flash of fangs. His eyes track to see the knight suddenly not looking anymore. Hmm. Kaeya will try to not preen too much at that, at all of this.

Leaning in close, he murmurs something meant for Diluc's ears only. "Hmm. Do you know how jealous everyone is of me right now, getting to walk with you like this?" But Diluc is his.

[searingwing]

“They’re just as jealous I get to walk with you.” He points out to Kaeya as he leads him down the street. There is a woman by the flower stall who wilts and mutters something. But, he pays it little mind. Kaeya is his.

“The Manor or the cottage?” He asks in a low voice only for Kaeya. They look like the couple they are and the patient look on his face is only for him.

All that he is focused on Kaeya and Kaeya alone.

[unmelting]

Kaeya laughs at that, quiet but clearly happy. "Is that so?" That's fine. The rest of the city will get past the loss of its most two eligible bachelors. The question Diluc poses has him considering. Wherever they go he's happy as long as they're together, but...

"Cottage?" It's the place that's only theirs, the place they're starting to plan and add to for their family.

"We can talk more about the nursery." And Kaeya can sprawl himself all over Diluc. It sounds like an excellent evening.

[searingwing]

He has another glimpse of the lady by the flower stall. She looks a bit like someone ruined her day. Huh. He pays it little mind as he nods to Kaeya. "Yes, we'll design it together." It is would be for their child and in time the first of many additions.

"I have a rough sketch of how the additions could look in time but, your input would be invaluable. As it always is." Translation: It's their house. Kaeya has as much right to a say to the changes as the children will have when they're old enough to voice their wants.

He leans into him as they reach the gate and he reaches through the magic to pull them into the Serenitea pot. The scent of the salt fills him with peace. "Well, at least no one will be foolish enough to bother you once they realize you're an omega."

No one would be dumb enough to cross him. He suffers fools not at all and the bolder ones would look for unmated omegas.

[unmelting]

Kaeya isn't blind to that reaction in the flower seller either, but it doesn't matter. Diluc matters. The sound of his voice as he speaks about these wonderful things that are somehow happening has all of Kaeya's attention.

"Is that so? Then I'll have to add my touch." He's clearly pleased, and he doesn't bother to hide it at all.

The familiar sounds of the sea not far off and the salt-scented air reach him and something in him relaxes. They're home. Kaeya laughs at Diluc's observation. "They'll regret it if they do, in any case." Now that he's not at the mercy of his first repressed heat, he'll happily tell anyone where to get off if they try anything. He has a mate, and that will be clear to everyone and anyone.

He steps away from Diluc just far enough to reach back and take his hand, urging him towards the cottage. "It's been a while since coming home felt like coming home. I like it." His apartment had never been a home. It had simply been a safe enough place to rest and where he kept his things.

[searingwing]

"...I do too." Diluc agrees as he lets himself be led. He opens the door when they reach it and steps inside. There's a softness to him now they're home. "It's been just as long since home seemed like home." He'd gotten lost too.

Partly his own fault. He shakes his head once and urges Kaeya over to the couch and the table with a bunch of papers over it. He's been busy in that single-minded focused way Diluc is when he makes a decision.

There are plans for the house and sketches of things they've talked about and in general ideas for the expansions. The nursery is off of their own bedroom. An additional smaller bathroom for the children. Bedrooms for the children, five of them. Connected to each other and near theirs. While still affording themselves privacy. He wants the time they missed.

[unmelting]

The change in Duluc, that softness that the rest of the world doesn't get to see, is breathtaking. It's some small piece of the boy that Kaeya remembers growing up with, and something in him softens too. There's no need for facades and defenses here. It's only them, and he thinks they know the worst of each other. And the best.

Following Diluc to the couch, he settles himself into a seat and looks at the papers spread out on the table.

"You've been busy. I'm not surprised. It's very you." His driven, responsible mate. He smiles as he looks at the sketches, moving a few papers around to see better. "Our own space still. I do like that."

[searingwing]

“This was the best possible way I could see getting exactly what we wanted.” Their children feeling safe and knowing they could come to them. But also getting time for themselves.

Diluc leans back against the couch back and tugs the tie out of his hair. His long hair falls around his face as he leans into Kaeya. He slips an arm around him. “Mm, what do you think of the crib design?”

Calla lilies and lamp grass carved into the wood that is carved to seem like a warm space between two trees. Their bed could use a bit of adjustment too, but it’s comfortable right now.

[unmelting]

Kaeya can't resist reaching back to tangle his fingers into that newly loosed hair, playing with it absentmindedly, twisting bright red strands around his fingers as he leans into Diluc and continues to look at the papers.

With his free hand, he picks up the sketch of the crib.

"I love it," he admits, not bothering to quip or make any teasing comments. Because he does love it, and the little life growing inside him will have a sweet, safe place to sleep.

"I'm sure they'll love it too." A soft hum. "We can paint the walls to look like the fields outside the city."

[searingwing]

“The fields at dawn,” Diluc says as he leans into the attention. He picks up another sketch and points to the wood panels in the sketches. Calla lilies and Lamp grass woven together like dancers.

“I want to adjust the carvings in the bathroom. Make it seem like a glade in Wolvendom.” It’s more than that. It’s a reminder of some of their adventures as children. Always together.

No matter what. As they would be again. This time with a family to teach how to shine true.

[unmelting]

"Like when we were kids," he muses aloud. Kaeya melts against him. It still feels like a dream he's going to wake from, too good to possibly be true. How can someone like him really deserve all this? This warmth and love and belonging, all the things he's yearned for but known for what he thought was certain were never going to be his fate.

And here's Diluc, the only man he's ever fallen in love with, giving him all these things freely.

Turning just a bit, he leans up to nuzzle at Diluc's cheek, right up to his ear, murmuring, "What did I do to deserve you?"

[searingwing]

"It's not about deserving to be loved, Kaeya." Diluc says as he pulls him up against him and leans against the back of the couch. "You always deserved that. What you did to catch my eye was be you." And that's why it had hurt to think it was all a lie.

That the Kaeya he'd always known was as much a lie as the rest of his life. But he wasn't. He'd just felt so guilty that he'd picked the worse time in the world. Diluc runs his hand down Kaeya's side and turns his head to press a kiss to Kaeya's mouth.

"I lost sight of that but, that won't happen again. You're a charming, witty man who knows too many ways to lie but you're also steadfast and loyal. I would be here all day and night if I listed all the reasons I'm in love with you." He leans back even further to pull him down on top of him as he lays back on the couch.

"And I still wouldn't even be halfway through the list."