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

[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."

[unmelting]

Diluc keeps saying things like this, words that threaten to undo Kaeya entirely over and over again. It's not about deserving to be loved. That just being who he is, is enough. Moments like these Kaeya Alberich finds himself speechless -- a state that most who know him wouldn't believe he was capable of. He leans into that kiss.

"Saying all those romantic things, you know I'm already hopelessly in love with you, don't you?" He teases lightly, to try to distract from the fact that he's definitely blushing.

He stretches himself out atop Diluc, bracing an arm on either side of him. Leaning close, he steals another kiss. "I could tell you all the reasons I fell in love with you too, how you're strong and brave and kind. Infuriatingly stubborn, absolutely beautiful..." he trails off with a sigh. "You're right, it would take days."

[searingwing]

“Days and days,” Diluc agrees with a slight curve at the corner of his mouth. He leans in and steals another kiss, lingering in it. “You’re frustratingly easy to find new reasons for it.” He says as if he were just talking about a new business deal.

He ruins it by wrapping his arms around Kaeya and nosing at his neck. He drags a fang over skin. Since his hormones settled his fangs just didn’t retract. Oh well.

He drags them on skin again. “I’m afraid the only thing I can do is fall deeper in love with you.” It wouldn’t even be that hard. Kaeya can blink at him and he’d drift towards him.

[unmelting]

Kaeya can't quite help a shiver at the feeling of those fangs, sharp and dangerous but perfectly safe because it's Diluc. His Alpha. His mate. He may not be in heat, but that doesn't stop him from purring his approval. How could he help it? Diluc is saying sweet things, words that melt all his defenses to bits, and most of those are already broken down around the redhead now anyway.

"Ooh? Is that the only thing you can do?"

Wait. They were looking at designs, right? But Kaeya is clearly distracted already. "Because I can think of a thing or two."

[searingwing]

Diluc raises an eyebrow and settles his legs around Kaeya, caging him in. He sits up a bit and glances at the spread out designs. “We can explore what else in a bit.”

He twists slightly and reaches out, counting the designs. He has one he intended for Kaeya specifically. They have been using his makeshift closet for a while. He pulls the sheet from the group and offers it to Kaeya.

Sketched loosely on the page is a sleek wardrobe to match the bed. The bed had been carved to resemble a forest surrounding the mattress. The wardrobe itself continues the theme.

Gentle wind asters and lamp grass mark the sides. Calla lilies serve as the handles and the upper edges are carved into the low hanging branches of the trees. Inside there are hooks for coats and cloaks. There is a rack specifically for hanging pants. Spaces are set for spare weapons in case they needed them. Even the space for their boots is set up with staying organized in mind. “What do you think?”

He took all angles to ensure it would be one less hurdle in their busy lives.

[unmelting]

In a bit. Kaeya sighs but doesn't argue, instead just resettling against Diluc. More designs. That's fine. He can be a responsible adult for a little longer. Turning the paper over he looks at the design on there.

There's no mistaking where it's meant to fit in. It falls into the theme of their bedroom -- still thrilling that, their bedroom -- their own secret, sacred forest glen. It's so orderly too, all function along with the beautiful form. He can't help but laugh. "I think it looks exactly like you. Beautiful and practical at the same time."

He looks up from the page to catch Diluc's gaze. "Plenty of room for both of us. I like the lilies for the handles."

[searingwing]

"Good. It's the first thing I'm going to work on. If there are any changes you want made, make sure to voice them now." Diluc says as he wraps an arm around Kaeya. He toys with loose strands of his hair. It's the closest to relaxed he's ever been.

One day he'll relax completely. When there was peace and children underfoot, maybe. Diluc shifts himself enough to settle with his side against the back of the couch.

"Is there anything you have thought about and wanted built?" He asks as he leans up enough to kiss the side of his neck. He's not entirely focused on the task at hand. Kaeya is warm and on top of him. It stirs up desires. Oh he can think of a lot of things he can as a result of Kaeya's charms.

[unmelting]

"I like the way you've imagined it." Kaeya is still acclimating to this whole taking an active role in his space. Diluc saw his small apartment in Mondstadt with little more than the furniture that had come with it there -- not through lack of style, of course. Kaeya was a collector of trinkets and mementos as a child. As an adult, his flair for the dramatic in fashion is unmistakable. Now that he feels like he has a home again he'll happily fill it with touches of his style as well, to go along with Diluc's.

Once upon a time they complemented each other well; he's sure they will again.

His head tilts to the side and he hums a soft encouraging sound at that kiss. "The dining room... it would be nice to have a table where we can take meals as a family." Big enough for them and the family they're just starting to build. A pause and he adds, quieter. "And we'll need a rocking chair in the nursery."

[searingwing]

Another kiss to warm skin. "Yes, we will." There is a rocking chair in the estate. He recalls the soft creaking of it from his earliest days. All he has of his mother. "A lower counter for the children when they help make dinner." He adds, as he drags a fang across Kaeya's neck.

He could lightly bite him. The thought passes but he still lightly nips his neck, his arm drifting down to Kaeya's waist, to hold up against him. His desires are starting to take root and demand things.

"A falconry out back?" Aether wouldn't mind. He seems to quite like birds.

[unmelting]

Kaeya shivers against Diluc the scrape of those teeth. It's a reminder of that first night, when Diluc had bitten him to mark him as his mate. His body remembers it too, like the pleasure of it is echoing through him even still, this long after.

He lets himself melt against the redhead entirely, laughing. "Yes, yes. You're welcome to have your birds. We all have our hobbies." And it's cute in its way, though useful too. Kaeya is well aware that Diluc's falconry skills are very handy in sometimes unexpected circumstances.

Tilting his head, he leans in to kiss along Diluc's neck, sneaking a nip of his own there.

[searingwing]

"We do." He agrees but his mind is on how Kaeya is melting into him, head tilted just so to kiss his own neck. He offers up his own neck and shivers at the nip. They're mates by his own bite.

His lips move without thinking. "Bite me." Traditionally, allowing his mate to bite him by noble law puts him in equal charge of the house. He wants that. He wants people to once again call Kaeya, Master Kaeya. His equal.

His love. The winter to his spring. He tilts his head further, exposing the spot where the bite will go. "I want you to have everything of me and the future." Should anything happen. The worst.

Kaeya will have all he needs to protect himself and their children. Traditionally he should have waited until marriage but he never gave a damn about that.

[unmelting]

Those two words have Kaeya going completely still. He knows the tradition, knows the customs and laws of these things, especially for someone from a family as old and established as Diluc's. Really, he's been trying to wrap his head around the fact that Diluc actually chose him as a mate at all since the haze of his heat finally cleared.

So he knows what that request means. Kaeya lifts his head to look at him. "Luc..." He starts to ask him if he's certain, but those next words are more than enough to know he is, and the question dies on his lips before it can be asked.

"My Luc. My mate," he purrs the words out happily and leans in to kiss the spot that Diluc has made so perfectly available for him. "I love you," he murmurs to his skin before he bites him. He may not have an Alpha's fangs, but his teeth still break the skin and he's quick to lap gently at the wound he's just made.

[searingwing]

Diluc goes boneless as the teeth break his skin. Kaeya accepted him. He didn’t have a worry he would refuse. But the effect on his hyper charged hormones is a soothing calm that sweeps through him. He purrs loud and deep, a rumble more like a dragon.

He reaches up and pulls Kaeya into a kiss, licking his way into his mouth. He kisses him as if he needs him to breathe.

It goes without saying that he definitely loves Kaeya. But he breaks away long enough to breathe, “I love you too.” Then he leans back in, happy and content.

[unmelting]

There's that purring again. That's Kaeya's favorite sound, the undeniable proof that his mate is happy and content. Right now it's because of him, and that thought has Kaeya purring along as well, maybe just a bit smug about it.

His mate. They were already mated, already bonded, but this seals it that much further, that much stronger. Diluc's made certain that they'll be equal partners in whatever they do. This beautiful, wonderful man.

Kaeya sinks into the kiss, lips parting eagerly, returning the kiss with just as much fervor as Diluc. He smiles at the words returned to him before falling back into kissing the redhead breathless. One hand goes wandering, inviting itself to slip beneath the hem of Diluc's shirt.

[searingwing]

He slips his hands down Kaeya’s sides then back up. One hand slides over Kaeya’s chest and dips into the open gap in his shirt. He cups his pec as he lets Kaeya take as much control as he feels like taking.

He reaches out with his other hand to help undo Kaeya’s belt. Right here on the couch is fine. It’s their couch and there are no littles to worry about. Not yet.

At the thought his hand drifts over Kaeya’s stomach before he wraps his arm around him. His family. His mate. “Pants off.” He breathes.

[unmelting]

Oh well hey, Diluc taking advantage of his low-cut shirt is fine by Kaeya. Finally he's noticed, Kaeya thinks to himself, swallowing back a pleased chuckle. Then that hand is unfastening his belt and Kaeya focuses.

"Yessir," he quips gently before -- taking his time with it -- wiggling his way out of his pants without bothering to get off Diluc in the process.

And once he's kicked his pants off he lets his hands move to start unbuttoning Diluc's shirt so that he can let his own hands go roaming. "Can't believe I'm really this lucky..." he murmurs, almost to himself.

[searingwing]

“We’ve been drawn together for a long time. That isn’t luck.” Diluc tells him as Kaeya is working off his pants. He leans in, biting at his neck.

Then falls back to let warm hands open his shirt. His breath catches and he looks away suddenly shy. It’s like this in bed. He’s still coming to grips with letting his emotions out.

He slips his hand out of Kaeya’s shirt to help him get his vest and shirt off. He drags his fingers over Kaeya’s chest once the two offending articles are dealt with. He presses his face to his chest, turning his head to listen to his heart for a moment.

“I’d have found my way to you at some point. Even if you had been a beta. It’s you that matters.”

[unmelting]

Not luck, is it? Then again, Diluc is right about that, that they've been drawn to one another even despite the distance between them, despite the tension. "That's true, isn't it? I never could resist you."

The shyness is endearing and Kaeya is all too happy to wrap his arms around the other man, holding him close when he leans into him, fingers threading into his hair. He ducks his head enough to lean his own cheek atop Diluc's head.

His touch stills at those words though. Even if he'd been a beta? He laughs quietly, like he's too full of happiness to really manage words for a moment. "You're the only one I've ever wanted to be with." It's easy enough to admit given the truth of it.

[searingwing]

There’s silence for a few moments as Diluc wraps his arms around him. “Me too.” He says at last. He and father had argued about it. It’s a city of freedom but the nobles have certain expectations.

He hadn’t given a damn. Now they won’t raise any objection. Kaeya is a well respected public figure.

He still wouldn’t care if they had. He is not above telling them what is and isn’t their business.

Diluc lets his hands slide down Kaeya’s back as he turns his head slightly to kiss Kaeya’s neck and drag his fangs over skin. “Help me get my pants off.”

[unmelting]

Kaeya smiles quietly, leaning into him with a contented sound that doesn't quite manage to be words. He knows the weight of Diluc's family name and their status and history in Mondstadt, and he knows he's very much a stranger who wandered into town with no name or no histroy. He has made a name for himself since then, but Knight or not, he's no noble.

The fact that Diluc has claimed him and wants him, that he's let Kaeya claim him in turn, is almost too good to be true. But here they are, and it is true, and Kaeya won't take it for granted.

He arches into that touch, shivering at the scrape of those fangs on his skin. "Gladly. I think they've very much overstayed their welcome." His fingers make short work of opening Diluc's pants, shifting enough to drag them down his legs, letting his hands roam up those strong legs once they're bared to him.