First AN. I read a Reddit post about the two boys, and so I'm functioning off of what I read cuz it sounds cool. GO FAMILIAL KAELUC!!!
https://www.reddit.com/r/Genshin_Lore/comments/ml471c/relationship_analysis_kaeya_and_diluc/
Charles has been avoiding me for days. And I haven't seen Venti either. My coat had found its way to my room, but my staff had no idea how it got there. They didn't know it had left.
What am I to do about this predicament? I am out a bard and a bartender.
"Oh? Master Diluc, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Kaeya muses, telling his half-lies. He's upset with me.
"I'm missing a barkeep and a poet. " I say, letting myself into his home. Kaeya doesn't move at first, and I don't shove. A small respect I suppose.
Hearing a clink in the kitchen, I turn to Kaeya. "You don't normally have guests," I say carefully. This is a carefully created alliance, one that is often like sheets of ice in a fireplace. Brittle, and about to break.
"No guest. Though I'm sure you would have known that if you had answered when I showed up at your home." Kaeya laughs.
"You came to my home to tell me you had no guest?" He closes the door behind me, pushing me forward into the living room.
"I came to your home to tell you about a specific trip our dear Traveler was going to go on. But, they just got back and our mission was a success, though not threw much help of you." He hums, flittering around the room, cleaning up the small trinkets that littler his home.
The room smells of chalk dust and frost. More clinking in the kitchen. "Kaeya..." I start hesitantly.
"Give him a moment." Kaeya sounds soft. He's not lying, nor is he trying to hide the meaning of his words. "I do think you'll respect him...despite some, how shall we say? Occupational differences."
I nod, standing as little straighter. Walking out of the kitchen holding two cups, is a blonde man with a gold star on his neck.
"Oh, Kaeya. I didn't know we had a guest?" The man places the cups on a coffee table. Judging by the color I would say he was making tea.
Placing his around the other man in a hug, Kaeya looks from him to me. "My Snowflake, this is my brother Diluc. Diluc, this is Albedo."
Holding his hand out, Albedo gives a smile. "I am Albedo. Chief Alchemist for the Knights of Favonius." He says when I take his hand.
I watch Kaeya flinch when I grimace. He's a Knight.
"You," Albedo starts again, "Are the Dark Knight Hero, and I am made of chalk." There is another small silence before he continues. Just long enough for the shock to settle, but not enough to form words. "Kaeya says that the way for people to trust you is for you to know their secrets."
"Archons love, not that bluntly." Kaeya looks just as shocked as I feel. Is he blackmailing me?
"No, bluntly works with the right people." Turning to face Albedo, who has stepped away from Kaeya to grab his tea, "Why do we of all people need to trust each other?"
"No one else knows about Kaeya and I, other than my sister. I would wish to keep it that way." He takes another sip of his tea. Kaeya hasn't moved.
"And what exactly do I know?" This isn't what I'm here for.
"Don't be dense, Brother. We're... we're together, one might say." No lies, only worries. Worried about what? My opinion? Kaeya stands just a little taller.
"You're dating?" I'm still not here for this. I have other matters to attend to, much more important than my brother's dating life.
"Not in so many words. But yes." I haven't seen Kaya this nervous in years. He keeps straitening himself and then hunching over. He's never been one to let others see him like this.
"That's not a secret I plan on sharing. Though I would like to get to the reason for my visit now. I'm looking for my bard. A-a bard. A bard and my bartender." Why am I stuttering now? I just need to make sure they're both ok.
"You're looking for Venti?" Kaeya questions. No longer fawning over Albedo.
"He never said 'Venti'? How do you know that's the bard he was looking for?" Albedo asks, sitting on the couch with his tea.
"He said 'his bard', who else is he talking about?" Kaeya asks, sitting down next to Albedo.
"It was a slip, never mind that now. Do you know where he is? Or Charles? I need to find him too." I'm still standing, waiting for the chit-chat to be over.
"Oh, I've seen him. Traveler tasked me to follow him around while they were gone." Placing his arm around Albedo, Kaeya pulls the other man closer to him. The chalk man complies but looks more worried about his tea. "That's what I tried to come to you about. We were supposed to watch him"
"Why do you say it like that Kaeya? Like you've seen something I should know about?" I'm starting to lose my patience.
"The costumers in your tavern that night. They weren't the only ones getting handsy with your bard. Were they?" I feel my body heat up at Kaeya's words.
"Are you accusing me of something?"
The air of the room goes stale. Thick with heat.
"Not you, brother. I just don't understand why you're looking for them both. Unless you want to see just how for Charles is willing to go for that 'date'?" He's toying with me. Seeing how angry I can get.
"Nothing like that. I just haven't seen either of them. Just wanting to make sure Venti's ok." The air cools as I calm myself, and both men seem to take notice. Albedo sipping his tea and Kaeya looking like I passed some kind of test.
"Stop playing with him, Stardust, let him have the information." Finishing his cup of tea, Albedo reaches for what I assume to be Kaeya's drink. Moving it up to his lips when he's done speaking.
"He's with Traveler. They've been very close these last few days. If you see Traveler then you'll see Venti. As for the bartender, I would tell you to have him Shut. His. Tongue. He's spreading rumors." Kaeya answers, pulling Albedo closer to him.
"Rumors?"
"He's saying the bard came on to him, and that you let him." Kaeya's tone is dark, no lies, only anger.
"I'll take care of it. Unless you would like to talk to him?" He nods, fully admitting that he'd like to beat the shit out of Charles in front of his lover. But Albedo is just sitting, sipping his tea and listening.
Nodding at the two of them I take my leave, taking my time looking for Traveler. Looking for Venti.
YOU ARE READING
A Barkeep And His Poet
Romance"No like, you're really pretty." He states, his cheeks pink. "Someone has an admirer." Kaeya snorts, looking from me to Venti. I can't think of an answer so I don't speak, giving other customers their drinks. Rosaria snickers and I look over. Venti...
