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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[searingwing]

“And you.” Diluc echoes, as he lifts his hand and runs along Kaeya’s cheek. He lifts his head to kiss him on the forehead. “I’ll call Adenline to get us dinner. It will do her good to see you’re alright. We can relax here a while then go home.”

The staff need to know Kaeya is alright. He grew up among them and now as mate to their head of the house, they are allowed to openly show their cares.

[unmelting]

"All right. I'd like to reassure Adaline as well." The longer he doesn't, the higher a chance that he'll catch a scolding for it, gentle though that may be. Call it a holdover from childhood that he doesn't want her upset with him.

He leans into Diluc's hand. "I still like the way that sounds," he murmurs, thoughtfully, "Home." It's one of those precious things that he can't take for granted.

[searingwing]

Diluc leans in a little more and presses a quick kiss to his lips. "I'll be right back." He gets up and walks to the door. There's a hushed conversation before he returns to sit on the edge of the bed. "I like the way it sounds too. Home. ...a different ring when it's somewhere we can just...be."

A thing he has never had. Until now. Diluc takes off his boots and fully slips up onto the bed. "She said it will be an hour. You can go back to sleep. I could use a bit of a nap myself."

[unmelting]

"Just the two of us," he agrees, quite pleased before adding, "Soon to be four."

Heaven help them. But it'll be fine. Better than fine. Kaeya will keep repeating that to himself and soon he'll likely even believe it.

For now, he shifts enough to allow Diluc the room to slip into the bed. And once he has, Kaeya invades that room he just gave him to more or less drape himself over his mate. "Good. This is the best sort of nap. You're a good mate, but you're an excellent pillow."

[searingwing]

Diluc snorts as he wraps his arms around Kaeya. He toys with his hair as he dips his head to breathe in his scent.

The anxiety over the shocking scene he found is slowly beginning to fade. His purr is tentative but gathers strength as he kisses Kaeya’s neck.

“And you’re like a cat seeking a spot to nap.”
He runs his hand down Kaeya’s back as his heart rate slows. “

[unmelting]

There it is, the sound of his Diluc at ease and happy. That's all that Kaeya needs to relax the rest of the way into him. They're both all right. He's okay. He's safe and home. Even if this isn't their cottage, he's in Diluc's arms and that's all he really needs to be home. Their children are okay.

He laughs at the accusation and answers with a playful, "Meow." He won't deny the comparison, after all. "This is my favorite place to sleep. It can't be helped."

[searingwing]

He snorts at the meow. Diluc leans in until their foreheads touch then he sobers a little. “Make sure to take it easier. I won’t say don’t come to knight headquarters. But commandeer some of those knights to help you.” He doesn’t insult the knights for once.

Well, right now he is one. It does change one’s perspective a bit. He lightly works Kaeya’s shoulders, pressing thumbs into the muscles there, working out any tension. “I’ll make our nest more comfortable. There are some of my clothes here we can move over.”

Soft winter coats would be ideal. He wants to keep Kaeya safe and happy, that means also accepting Kaeya might tell him to stop fretting.

[unmelting]

"Mmhmm," Kaeya murmurs, a great deal more agreeable at the moment given that he's warm and comfortable and cuddled up close to his mate. He lifts a hand, fingertips brushing back some of Diluc's hair, traveling down his cheek and the curve of his jaw. His pretty Diluc.

"I'll take it easier, I promise." See? He's being reasonable about this. Of course Diluc kneading his shoulders doesn't hurt either, given that he's all but melting into him now.

And at the mention of their nest and Diluc's clothes, Kaeya full on purrs. But he does lean in to press a kiss to Diluc's lips before nipping lightly. "You can stop worrying though. I really am fine. It was a long day, that's all." A pause before he adds. "But don't stop worrying so much that I don't get my raspberry tarts." There's a smirk tugging at his lips now.

[searingwing]

He rolls his eyes. “I wouldn’t dream of depriving you for your treat.” He would make them himself for a while. Kaeya thrown off as he is, he is sure he can move work around enough to work some from home. Harder to find but Kaeya as a captain can be that way too.

He leans in and kisses him again as his hands go over Kaeya’s back. He finds where he wants to massage, just below the shoulder blades. He works the area with a casual air. This is as if they were sitting together on the couch sorting out business.

“I’ll be home a little more often. I talked about it with Jean. She said you’re hard to pin down so having me in a set location is a lot easier.”

[unmelting]

The grin breaks out at the eye roll. Good, exactly what he'd hoped for. Pleased with himself he leans into Diluc all the more to give him better access to his back, another contented sigh.

Diluc is right, of course, he can manage to do much of his work -- the work he's left with anyway, while Diluc is covering the majority of his more energetic duties -- from their home.

A quiet chuckle at the mention of Jean. Hard to pin down, is it? "Well, I can't argue with that. It's not in my nature to be predictable."

[searingwing]

“It is not.” He says, with a slight twitch of his brow. But he knows one way Kaeya is predictable. He leans in and scrapes his fangs on his neck.

Mm, “But I am so we balance out.” He gathers some of the blankets and pulls them over them. That’s how Adenline will find them. He is fine with that. Diluc leans in and kisses Kaeya lightly on the lips. “And with this arrangement we can keep up my reports and our discussions. Even when you’re far along and on extremely light duties.”

[unmelting]

Kaeya shivers and breathes out a laugh at the touch of those teeth. Careful, Diluc. He probably shouldn't get stirred up. And thankfully he settles in comfortably with those blankets, eyes falling shut to just enjoy the closeness.

"After the kids are born, we'll both need to take leave from our duties." He wants Diluc to be there in their first days, and he knows Diluc wants the same. They're going to do right by their children.

And even if they're chatting casually while they cuddle, and even if they're waiting for Adelinde to appear, beneath the covers, Kaeya slips his fingers up under Diluc's shirt, over the bare skin of his chest. Warm. This is his happy place.

[searingwing]

“Who said that wasn’t one of the arrangements I’ve made? The estate and winery we’re handled in my absence before. And the network will shift a representative over to take care of my other duties while we stay with our children.”

The earliest days of their children will be theirs. He tucks Kaeya close and the stress of worry and fear ebbs and he drifts off. A low deep rumbling purr rolls through the air. He feels safe and happy.