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]

“Then I’ll look often.” Diluc says as he moves Kaeya’s hair away from his neck and kisses the skin again. He lifts his head, tracing his neck with his lips. “Relax, I’ll finish taking care of you.”

Kaeya is boneless already but he wants him to stay that way. He takes the soap in hand and sets to washing his hair. He massages his scalp with his fingers with a low encouraging murmur.

[unmelting]

"Good, that's all I need." It really is. His needs are simple and few at the best of times, but simple as it is, the need he feels for Diluc is strong and deep. He sighs a content, pleased little sigh, nodding. "Mm, all right."

And Kaeya will not argue with being pampered, still leaning into Diluc languid and at ease. "You're spoiling me," he murmurs.

The truth is he could easily fall asleep like this, with the hot water and gentle touch and the soft sound of Diluc's breathing.

[searingwing]

“And indulging myself.” He tells him as he sets the soap aside. He cups his hands and pours warm water over Kaeya’s hair. He rinses it then drags his figures through it.

He presses a kiss to his shoulder. He follows it with a drag of his fangs over skin. “Still with me?” He rumbles as his hands run up and down his back.

In truth if they’re not careful they’ll both fall asleep in this tub.

[unmelting]

"Well, that's fine then," Kaeya agrees in a sleepy, contented voice. A shiver races through him at the scrape of those fangs, and he lifts his head up enough to lean back and look at Diluc properly.

"I'm here." More or less. Even slightly awake really. Very slightly though, if he's being honest with him.

He lifts his hands to settle at either side of Diluc's face, holding gently, leaning in to press a soft, sweet kiss to his lips. "We should probably move to the bed."

[searingwing]

“We should.” He leans in and sinks into the kiss for a few sweet moments. Then he stands up, carrying Kaeya out of the tub. He sets him on the edge and takes the towels from the rack.

He carefully dries him off and then himself. Diluc sweeps him up into his arms and walks away. Their clothes are left on the couch. They can retrieve them in the morning.

The bedroom is warm and he leans in to kiss Kaeya as he shuts their bedroom door.

[unmelting]

Pampered again. Kaeya sighs quietly, contentedly. He really will need to up his game at spoiling Diluc at this point. He deserves it, more than anyone that Kaeya has known. He knows what the redhead has been through, even if the details of those years Diluc was gone are still vague and unknown to him. He knows Diluc took on the world alone, and Kaeya won't let him face it alone anymore.

Kaeya loops his arms around his neck and kisses him back.

"Do you remember that rocking horse you had as a kid?" Does he still have it? Kaeya very much wants it for the nursery, okay?

[searingwing]

There's a small pause as Diluc nods, not seeing where this is going. "No. I let go of it. Why?" Not much he really thought about once he strongly considered liquidating the estate.

But he thinks it over and says, "I could make one. I remember the shape of it. How it felt." It would be something he could easily work on when he wasn't busy.

[unmelting]

"Something like that might be nice for the nursery." Since, well, both parents will be either current or former cavalry captains. Besides, Diluc had been adorable as a child with it, always playing at being the brave hero coming in to save the day.

Kaeya reaches out to take one of Diluc's hands, lacing their fingers together firmly. Strong hands, hands used to wielding weapons in battle but that can still be so gentle. He may be more than a little lovesick at this point in time. He'd laughed at people who'd fallen so hard and so fast, and here he is -- an absolute fool in love. He wouldn't trade it for anything.

[searingwing]

"It can be arranged," Diluc whispers as he gently squeezes Kaeya's hand. Kaeya's hand is warm and callused, a warrior's hand. Yet he could be so loving when he let himself be vulnerable. His heart thuds hard in his chest.

He brings their joined hands to his lips and kisses the back of his knuckles. "Would you like to watch? Or have something else made at the same time?"

His eyes are warm as he sits down on the edge of their bed.

--> timeskip

[unmelting]

"I'd like that," Kaeya agrees. Either of those. He likes watching Diluc work with his hands, but he wouldn't mind participating either. Besides, he'll have to find something to pass the time when he winds up too pregnant to really keep up his knight duties -- even the less dangerous ones.

Kaeya settles and leans against Diluc, quiet and content in a way that's still new and strange to him.

-----

Months pass. By now there's no hiding the fact that he's pregnant, and Kaeya sees no reason to try to hide it. While he's still getting used to the whole being an Omega -- and being seen as an Omega -- part of this, the greater part of him is proud to be Diluc's mate and to be having his child.

But he's also stubborn. He's been willing to step back from some of the riskier parts of his job as a knight, but he's also not good at being idle. Diluc has stepped up to take on those duties and responsibilities, working directly with the Knights again. Jean seems genuinely pleased by his presence, and Kaeya is happy to see some small mending of fences as well.

So currently, a very pregnant Kaeya is sitting at the desk in his office going over paperwork -- that much he can still do, after all. Mostly. He's tired more lately and occasionally distracted, and okay maybe he's starting to nod off just a little sitting up, but that's fine, right? Diluc should be back to the headquarters soon anyway, he hopes. The feeling of a rather pointed kick in his belly has him setting a hand there with a laugh. "Yes yes, we'll have a snack soon. So demanding."

[searingwing]

Mondstadt looked on in shock and delight when Diluc Ragnvindr returned to being a knight. But he wasn’t the same gentle knight he had been all those years ago. He was fair. Just. And every bit as ruthless as his mate.

That was another thing to surprise them. The rift between one Kaeya Alberich and him, not just mended but the pair of them continuing the Ragnvindr line together. Some muttered that others should have seen that coming.

As part of being a knight, Jean and Diluc’s old friendship has expanded to include office debriefing lunches where they let down their proverbial hair. It was good for both of them.

Heavy booted footsteps echo on the tile as the sound soft of voices drifts through Kaeya’s office door. Jean laughs and someone with a deeper voice answers her. Diluc.

The voices approach the door and the smell of roasted chicken and honey wafts in. The door swings open and Diluc stands in the doorway, on hand on the latch. He has a container under his other arm.

He steps through with a nod to Jean and Albedo, then shuts it behind him. He smiles just a little. He walks to the desk and sets the container of honey chicken down and slips around the desk. He cups the side of Kaeya’s face and leans in to kiss him. His other hand lays over top of his on his belly.

“I’m here for lunch and to report back on the field work results.” And for time with him, naturally.

[unmelting]

Kaeya perks up from his near dozing at the sound of familiar voices outside. It's nice to hear Jean sound relaxed -- and he's willing to credit Diluc's return to the Knights as a contributing factor in that -- and even nicer to hear Diluc's voice. The baby seems to think so too since it earns him another kick.

He sits up straighter as the door opens, flashing a grin to the two in the hallway before the door shuts. Then his expression softens into the small, genuine smile that is mostly reserved for Diluc, nothing for show, just the actual happiness of seeing his mate. ...and at smelling the food that his mate has brought him.

That touch is magnetic and Kaeya leans into, humming a happy sound to the kiss. "Just in time. I was about to starve and fade away," he informs him. It's about then the baby kicks again to agree. Food. FOOD. Kaeya gestures. "Sit down, we'll eat and you can tell me all about all the fun I'm missing while I'm stuck inside with paperwork."

[searingwing]

He takes the other chair and sets it near Kaeya’s by the desk. “You mean you were about to doze away.” He teases but the jab is gentle and his eyes are warm. He carves the chicken with a normal knife.

He keeps one around now for mundane tasks such as this. He portions the chicken and sides out then settles. “It’s not that much fun. Your notes are as on point as they were when you were teaching me the code. The treasure hoarders and bandits are following the schedule exactly.

If I hadn’t seen the system work…I wouldn’t have believed they would obey it. I think, they fear me.” He doesn’t sound bothered by that at all. He had wondered if they would obey with Kaeya clearly pregnant. But he had went along with the plan anyway and announced in a subtle way that he would follow his mate’s agreements without deviation.

The results spoke for themselves.

[unmelting]

Kaeya waves a hand at him. "Fade, doze. Either way, wasting." But now his mate is here with food and Kaeya is a happy man.

A nod at that. "They aren't giving you too much trouble then? They tend to be wonderfully predictable at least." Fear is something they can work with. If Diluc can keep a bit of intimidation up, it'll keep the shadier pieces of his network in line.

And of course, if they try anything with his mate, Kaeya will bring all his hormone-amplified fury to rain down upon them.

"The baby has been awfully active today. I think they're getting impatient. Definitely your child."

[searingwing]

“Definitely ours.” Diluc answers immediately as he motions for Kaeya to eat. He tucks himself into his chair as he adds, “They’re not giving me any trouble at all. They know me and my reputation. It seems to have terrified them that we’re mates.”

He can guess why. Alone, they are formidable. Together they’re a nightmare. Kaeya is pregnant or he would have started arranging things for a wedding. He wants Kaeya to enjoy all of it so he won’t ask him to go through that.

Not yet. Nobles are already treading lightly now the Ragnvindr is once again a knight. It put power on the side of the knights that they need while Varka is gone. The Fatui are scrambling to figure out a new approach. “As expected the Fatui are scrambling to find new ways to deal with the shifted situation. The power I injected into the knights by returning means they can’t pin us down. They have to find a way to trip us with political ties. My own contacts are making that difficult.”

As his mate, Kaeya has now been made aware of the Teyvat wide network Diluc is part of. A network dedicated to the safety of the entire continent.

[unmelting]

"Definitely ours," Kaeya repeats blithely, quite happy about this. For as much as he fusses about the pregnancy thing in relation to work and how he's drowning in paperwork instead of excitement, he's honestly more content than he can remember being. Family. It's the thing he's always wished for in the deep secret parts of his heart he couldn't ever show anyone. But here he is and it's not just a wish anymore.

Besides, working with Diluc is, well, familiar. Good. Like old times, and like new.

"Mm. You've probably ruined any restful sleep the Fatui have been getting, stepping back into the knighthood. How tragic really, to think of them having to deal with so much stress." That's so sad. Venti, play Despacito.

But Kaeya falls quiet the next moment, hiding it with taking a bite of his food -- which is delicious and is indeed quite distracting. But tripping them up with political ties. Diluc Ragnvindr is beyond reproach. The Knights Favonius certainly have their secrets, but they keep those held tightly too.

Honestly, if anything is a risk to all that, wouldn't it be him? The scion of Khaenri'ah. But then, the only people who know his identity are Diluc and himself. Well, and his Father, but who knows if that man is even alive at this point or where he might be.

[searingwing]

He falls quiet too. He hasn't eaten since this morning. Sara's cooking is as good as ever and deserves the time spent with it. The Fatui won't bother with a Harbinger in Mondstadt. No, they've moved their focus to other nations.

For now.

The network has been abuzz with activity but he'll look at those reports in his own office at the manor. There are a few letters he's brought with him to review over lunch. He takes them out and checks them over. One of the other noble families offering their congratulations... He finds one of a shipping manifest and lets out a purr. He unravels it and shows it to Kaeya.

"The fabric and wood for the crib we were after. ...as well as something special but, that waits until tonight." They'd courted in an unorthodox way but he'd propose properly. He'd been planning that much since Kaeya started showing.

[unmelting]

Kaeya falls into thought and silence as he continues his lunch. He's watching Diluc though, smiling to himself as the other goes through the mail. When he hears that pleased sound he looks up though, curious and interested now as Diluc shows it.

He brightens too, nodding. "That's good. We'll need it before too long." There's time yet, but time seems to be moving quickly, a whirlwind that's reshaping his life in its wake.

But oh now what's this? "Something special?" He's too nosy to just want to wait until tonight. "Do I get a hint?"

[searingwing]

He sets the mail down and comes around the side of the desk. He slips around behind him and massages his shoulders. A low rumbling purr rolls out of him as he leans in close to his ear.

“I fumbled my way into this mating. But when I can, I like do right by you.” He kisses his neck over the mate mark before he slips back to his seat. “I’m sure you can figure it out from there.” His eyes are bright with a quiet amusement.

Kaeya would figure it out. He has all the faith in that. “I’ll make sure to finish the crib on time.”

[unmelting]

Oh. Oh that is nice. Kaeya just about melts under the ministrations, a soft purring sound of his own. He could be a puddle of a man just here, though that voice so close to his ear has a shiver thrilling through him.

If Diluc isn't careful, Kaeya -- pregnant or not -- will jump him right here in this office.

Except the actual words that Diluc is saying are starting to register. His head falls to the side to exhale a pleased sound before watching Diluc come back around to the front. Do right by him? Is Diluc talking about... he is, isn't he?

Well now he's flustered himself, so he'll be quiet for a long, long moment. He looks back up and the expression on his face is softer now, the sort of smile that Kaeya reserves solely for Diluc. "You've more than done right by me, you know. You, this child, it's everything I've ever wanted."

[searingwing]

He smiles just for Kaeya. “I know. It’s all I’ve ever wanted too.” He reaches out and brushes his fingers over his. “And as I told you before. Even if there wasn’t a child. Or you weren’t an omega. I’ve still want to be here with you.”

It’s the truth. It has been for quite some time. He just wants to remind him of that. He checks more of his mail and adds, “I’ll work your shoulders and back when we get home. I know they’ve been giving you some trouble.”

And he would make whatever Kaeya wanted for dinner. It’s the least he can do while Kaeya carries their child.

[unmelting]

Diluc has said those words before, but they still serve to settle something in Kaeya -- that Diluc isn't only with him because of the circumstances of his first heat and the child he's carrying.

He sits up straighter, leaning towards Diluc at that offer. "You're spoiling me again." Not a complaint. In fact, just the opposite. "I'll take it. But I get to spoil you in turn or it isn't fair."

And between them, at least, Kaeya likes to play mostly fair.

[searingwing]

“I wouldn’t deny you one of the things you enjoy doing.” Diluc tells him. He shifts through a few folded pages and nods to himself.

He is temporarily a knight again, but the nobility are all acting like he’s staying like this. That’s fine. They stopped their proposals to marry x and that’s the important part.

Diluc finishes his lunch and notices another shipping manifest. He reads through it and nods again. Another gift. Good. “What do you want for dinner?”

[unmelting]

"Mm, what a sweet Alpha not denying me the things I want," he croons to him, teasing, playful. Kaeya's guards are down around Diluc entirely these days, but he's still the brat he's always been deep down, maybe even more so now that he feels safe and happy.

He leans back in his chair, finished with his own food. He sets a hand on his belly and is greeted almost immediately with a kick of appreciation. Baby is safe and happy too.

"Meat." It's not his fault their child is apparently a carnivore. "You could let me cook tonight."

[searingwing]

He thinks it over then he slowly nods. “If that’s what you want. I’ll help if you need spare hands.” Kaeya is fiercely independent. He knew being limited would chafe at him.

And he won’t stand in the way of little ways to push to be as free as he was. “But I’ll pick up the ingredients on the way home.”