Journey | Albedo's Descent Book 3

Chapter 24: Silly Little Guys

Albedo looked out the tapestries to the southwest. Durin was awake now and didn't want Albedo involved in this... Getting his Vitality would prove difficult...
"How about this?" Kaeya asked as he was rummaging through some cupboards, "I've thought of something to keep our minds in a better place."
Albedo smiled as he turned around, "a distraction does sound nice..." Though he said it with a smile, he was anxious about the situation as a whole.
"We go take a nice ice bath and then we come back and snuggle up by the fire with hot chocolate," Kaeya sighed heavily, "and then we go to sleep forever."
Albedo chuckled, "I don't know about forever."
He smiled, "doesn't it sound nice?"
Albedo nodded, "the idea of it, yes."
"Alright, let's pack up and go before we change our minds," Kaeya kissed Albedo's forehead.
They had a lovely evening together and managed to get their minds off of that thing... for the most part...
Albedo still had some thoughts and theories that would wander in and out of his mind. Kaeya did his best to keep him distracted, hoping this would soon be over for good.
"And here we go," Kaeya sat down beside Albedo, handing him a mug of hot chocolate. He pulled a blanket around them both and snuggled close, putting an arm around the alchemist, who leaned into him as well.
Kaeya took Albedo's right hand in his own, "it's still so crazy to me that you're actually healed..."
Albedo smiled, "but isn't it wonderful?"
He chuckled, "yes, I am very glad that you're okay." He sighed deeply as he laid his head over Albedo's, "I wish we could do this more often... It's a shame we're both so busy all the time..."
Albedo felt a little embarrassed, "I wouldn't say I'm all that busy very often..."
"Then what are you doing all the time?"
"I- I guess it is related to work... Often, I'm researching or investigating something..."
"See, busy," Kaeya intertwined their fingers.
Albedo squeezed his hand, "I'm really bad at keeping track of time once I start working on something..."
Kaeya chuckled, "I know. I also noticed that you fiddle with your glasses quite often while working."
"I do?"
Kaeya nodded, "it's pretty cute."
Albedo looked to the side, "I..."
"You?"
Albedo sighed, "I don't know how to respond when you say things like that..."
"Hm? When I compliment you? But Albedo, love of my life, my sunshine, my flower, my prince, my existence, my heart, just accept it." Kaeya squeezed Albedo tight.
Albedo sighed, "why are there so many..."
"There's plenty more where that came from," Kaeya smiled as he closed his eyes.
"I really don't care what you call me... but some of those seem a little... much.."
"What? Something I made up is 'much'?" Kaeya faked being offended.
Albedo rolled his eyes, "I might just have to tease you for it the next time you use one of those nicknames."
Kaeya shook his head with a smile, "oh how horrible. My own sunflower is against the names I handpicked for him?"
Albedo pushed Kaeya gently, "okay, stop, the bit is over..." he took a drink of his hot coacoa.
Kaeya chuckled as he lowered his posture slightly, "but it isn't a 'bit'. I put a lot of thought into the nicknames."
Albedo turned his head to look at Kaeya, "oh, I-"
Kaeya pressed the side of his face into Albedo's, "and I intend to use all of them at least once, no matter what you say."
Albedo only got a bit pink, praying it wouldn't be in public.
"I promise they aren't all bad," Kaeya sighed quietly, "I just feel like I can't show you enough how much I love you..."
Albedo smiled, "I can assure you, you show me enough. I know you love me."
Kaeya's eyes lowered to their hands, "I still feel like... like common pet names won't work for us and coming up with new ones is kinda hard..."
"You don't have to, Kaeya. I'm perfectly fine with just the first names."
"Yeah, but..." Kaeya lowered his voice, "but then you wouldn't get embarrassed the way you do when I call you 'my love'."
"Well, yes-"
The cavalry captain smirked, "so what is it? What about it makes My Love so embarrassed?"
Albedo hesitated, "it's no so much the words themselves than it is the way you say them..."
Kaeya's smile widened, "oh, really?"
Albedo already felt dread washing over him. He continued in a hushed tone, "but I also have nothing to call you, either..."
"No need to worry," Kaeya squeezed his hand, "I don't care what you call me at all."
"You don't?"
Kaeya shook his head, beginning to feel embarrassed, "nope. Just you referring to me at all gives me butterflies in my stomach..."
Albedo blinked, "really?..."
Kaeya nodded slowly, "yeah... kinda dumb, isn't it?..."
Albedo paused, "... no. I just didn't know you... felt that way..." He leaned into Kaeya, "I can understand... it's the same for me when you look at me..."
Both of their faces got very red as they sat there, silently together. It was a long moment before anyone spoke again.
Kaeya whispered, "Albedo..."
"Yes?..."
"I don't think I even have words to explain how I feel..."
"That's understandable..." Albedo spoke quietly.
"... I just want to give you everything you could ever want... I want you to be happy... and I... I want to be the one to make you happy all the time... Does that make sense at all?..."
Albedo nodded subtly, "yes... but I don't think you should have such high expectations for yourself..."
"It isn't an expectation... it's just what I want..." Kaeya smiled sheepishly.
"Then I think we both want something similar..."
"???"
"I want you to be happy, too..." Albedo admitted in a hushed whisper.
Kaeya's face erupted in red and he was without words. He turned his face away, burying it in Albedo's hair as he put his arms around the alchemist.
Albedo had to quickly set down his mug so it wouldn't spill. He put his hands over Kaeya's arms in defense as a natural reaction.
Kaeya mumbled, "don't say things like that so seriously... you'll make me cry..."
Albedo blinked and his face, too, became red, "it... it's the truth..."
Kaeya whispered, "you're too good to me."
"I'd say it's the other way around... Considering, you're constantly showering me with your attention and affection..."
"Shhh, let me have this..." he squeezed Albedo tighter.
Albedo slowly closed his mouth. He really didn't understand. Kaeya gave him so much and Albedo gave him not even nearly half as much back. How had Kaeya not felt upset with this?... Shouldn't he be disappointed and leave?... Isn't that what a rational person would do?
But Kaeya wasn't a rational person, was he? Albedo began to smile. Kaeya practically melted into a puddle at the smallest semblance of acknowledgement from Albedo, of course he didn't feel cheated. Quite the opposite, really. He probably felt like he could never give Albedo enough.
Truly, they both felt they weren't doing enough when in reality they had done plenty.

End Part 1