Artwork By @fantasia-kitt

Artwork by @fantasia-kitt

Context Means I Love You (Albedo x GN! Reader)

Reader is a bit oblivious, featuring some Kaeya Shenanigans!

This has been sitting in my drafts for so long that I'm surprised it hasn't grown mold! Now that I have this done, I want to write more Genshin stuff, starting with my biases!

I hope y'all enjoy!

Context Means I Love You (Albedo X GN! Reader)

Wherever you went, his eyes were never far behind. With each caught glance, he gave a confident smile. With each candid sketch, he left you a note about what you were doing at the moment and why he found it interesting.

If you were spending time with Klee, she would always insist on playing house where you were married to him. In those moments of play, he always indulged in her fantasy by holding your hand, waist, or putting a hand on your opposite shoulder.

In times when you were helping him with his research, he always commented on how helpful you were and that he’d be struggling with this certain project without you. If your hair were to fall into your face while you were working with him, he’d take some time to gently move it away, tracing your face with just the tip of his fingers.

When you’re caught up with your own work and nearly drowning, he drops everything he can to come to your aid, assisting with every step of the way.

“But he’s just nice! That’s how Albedo is!” You argued with a cocky cavalry captain, your current companion for paperwork. Because your job was the Knights of Favonius’s Logistics Operator, it was your responsibility to keep the organization running smoothly. You took on many responsibilities, from accountant to liaison to the public, it often involved you running around and helping whoever you could. Today’s project was to complete a pile of paperwork and reports that Kaeya had neglected for too long, and was due in 24 hours.

“Just how he is, you say?” Kaeya signed another document with ease before you slid it out from under his pen and placed down a fresh one. “Everything I’ve described is the descriptor of a man in love.”

“I think you’re just trying to get me flustered so you can run out of here and leave me to forge your signature again…” You deadpanned the sneaky captain, and he could only smile and shrug.

“Now why would I do that…” His sarcastic tone let you in on his joke, angering you enough to hit his desk with a rolled stack of unsigned reports, reminding him that you aren’t a pacifist about paperwork.

But even then, his words were infectious. Albedo was rather kind to you, and his intimacy was one only the two of you shared. He was always so gentle with you, and even on occasion he would find ways to just be close to you. One such occasion resulted in Kaeya ending up on the floor after having a chair snatched from under him.

“I think we’re just close, he’s just the kind of person who’s really observant and mentions things he likes about people out of the blue!”

“He doesn’t do that with me.” Kaeya rebutted again. “He only says all that kind of stuff about you. I think it’s his way of saying he likes you.”

“He’s not thinking about me like that,” You argued again, and Kaeya stopped moving his pen. He dragged his gaze upward along with a single eyebrow and a plain line on his lip.

“So what about you? Do you like him?”

You could only stare back with a stunned look and strawberry cheeks. Kaeya’s grin widened to Cheshire proportions. Jackpot. He knew something was up between you two, whether it was Albedo pinning one-sidedly or you pinning while rationalizing any sort of affection sent your way. Maybe it was admiration for the alchemist that caused you to be so blind, or maybe it was some deep self-loathing. Either way, here you were, now wide open for an evasive maneuver.

“I- I can’t speak of my own feelings in a professional setting.” You tried to swerve away from the question, but Kaeya already had you right where he needed you.

“Strange, wasn’t a problem a few moments ago. We’re friends, we can talk about things while we work!” Kaeya gave a deceptive saccharine grin.

“Yes, but it isn’t proper to discuss such intimate matters where people can hear-”

“My door is closed, you put up a “Do not disturb” sign outside my door, and it’s a day off for most Knights,” Kaeya argued. “I doubt anyone is going to hear how you feel about our dear alchemist.”

You shifted your jaw. It would be nice to have a small discussion on your feelings, just to get it out of your system. Of all the people that you knew who could keep a secret, Kaeya is king. The only other people who could probably keep one just as well would be Noelle and Albedo himself. You and Noelle chat when she does chores around the headquarters, but you never felt like you could keep her long enough to have engaging conversations. And when it came to Albedo, well, you couldn’t discuss this matter with him in a million years, lest he does not feel the same.

So now is a golden opportunity, and you knew Kaeya knew this. This may have been his end goal, but the bait was a little too tempting. As much as Kaeya would be an insightful discussion partner, he had his own end game in mind.

The best you could do is try and control the conversation. A battle of wits would be needed to keep Kaeya here and sign papers. If you could stall him, you might get through a decent chunk of this before you both have to start signing.

Round one. Begin!

“I-, I might have some feelings, but I don’t know…” You took a paper from under Kaeya again and place another one with him, tapping it twice with your index finger to let him know where his approval was needed. He instinctively went and checked the text, signing it quickly after. This would be a majority of your strategy while acting coy.

After handing back the paper and earning a new one, Kaeya spoke up. “You don’t know? What is there to know?” After signing the document, he rallied the mind games back to you. You didn’t need to think before placing down another one and tapping the page again.

“Don’t get me wrong, I like him a lot, but I can’t get my hopes up.” You ignore Kaeya’s feigned concern and provide him with another document, once again tapping the page. After the third time, he observed this rhythm and began plotting. If that was your only strategy against him, you’re in a lot of trouble.

“I’ve already explained to you everything I’ve observed, so I don’t think of it as getting your hopes up.” Kaeya subtly changed his strategy by taking your tapping out of the equation. He began accepting his documents from your hand directly, dictating the signing to go at his own pace, but now he needed a new plan for how he’s going to divert your attention from him. With the document hand-offs, you began making eye contact each time. Tricky, but not the end of the world.

“Even before thinking about my feelings, though, he’s a friend above all else. Maybe we’re just really close friends.”

“What kind of close friends do you have?” within that split second of snark, you were able to turn the pace around. You quickly slid the next paper on his desk and tapped the line to sign.

Ah, you’re onto him.

“I can’t lose that close of a friend if it is just his normal praise. He means so much to me.” you once again observed the turning of pace as he quickened. This strategy confused you a bit, but you decide to roll with it.

“I think you’re being too cautious. What if I were to do the same things Albedo did, eh?”

“I’d smack you.” You deadpanned.

“Ah, you wound me.” Kaeya chuckled as a set of papers quickly piled up on the corner of his desk. “But you admitted to it, his advances are special in comparison.”

You shifted your jaw again, wondering what his next move was, but he showed no signs of slowing down. The papers continued to amass on the corner of his desk. Kaeya continued his thought.

“If you aren’t going to get your hopes up, and you don’t want to jeopardize your relationship with Albedo, then why not try and date someone else?”

“Because I’m not interested in a relationship at the moment!”

“Then this conundrum with Albedo should be solved. He can move on and compliment other people like that.”

Your face warped with that comment, causing you to look down for just a moment. Is that what you want? Isn’t that just how Albedo talks? Or have you been secretly wishing and hoping it was a special connection? Have you been yearning for him to just take you into his arms and whisper sweet nothings into your ear?

“I guess you’re right then…” You admitted out loud as your eyes dare not move from the fine rug of the office. “I guess I can’t accept that, I care too much about-”

You looked up to an empty chair and desk.

Kaeya had flown the coop.

You immediately tried to run to the window, but the second part of his plan is enacted, and just as you were about to round the desk, the precariously placed papers on the corner flew with a breeze. The breeze came from Kaeya’s escape route, a window, and you immediately panicked and prioritized the paperwork. You snatched each sheet from the air and floor before clipping them all together and rushing to the window.

But it was too late. Kaeya was gone. He had slipped from your grasp and was now somewhere in the wind. You groaned as you look back at the paperwork left to sign, and knew what this meant.

You’d have to forge his signature again. For at least the next 5 hours.

You screamed his name out the window, causing some of the birds resting on the roof to flee. You gripped the open window sill and begin to whisper threats into the wind.

“I swear, when I get my hands on that man, I’m gonna-” you’re interrupted however when a voice calls from below.

“Is everything alright?” His voice is calm, smooth, and filled with concern for you. As gentle as it was, it still caused you to jump. Lo and behold, it’s Albedo. You flustered at his upward gaze at you, eyes a dreamy blue. “Hang in there, I’ll come up to you.” He asserted and quickly makes his way inside. You sighed. Maybe you can rope him into doing some of this work with you, as it is partially his fault that Kaeya got away.

Not that he needed to know that.

“Ah, I see.” Albedo was brought up to speed on the current conundrum, minus a few details. “So now Captain Kaeya has left you to be his personal secretary again.” Albedo’s calm voice dripped with disdain. He didn’t approve of shirking off all this work on you when you had plenty else to do already.

“Yeah, so now I have to do what I normally do and forge his signature on these documents. He’s already read over them on the field, but he couldn’t sign them. He always puts this task off until the last minute.” you sighed as you run a hand through your hair. “I’ll probably take these to my office to complete, but since I’m forging his signature it’ll take me a while…” you begin to lift a box, but Albedo quickly rushes to your side.

“Please, allow me to help,” Albedo ran his hands over yours, giving you a smile before he took the box from your grasp. Your heart raced at his touch, and your stomach flipped at his smile.

“This will take a while, you don’t have to,”

“I must repay all of your kindness, you’ve helped me more times than I can count. Besides, I enjoy your company.”

Your face ran red, and all you can do to reply is nod.

His vision made short work of the transportation, and in no time you both are sat elbow to elbow at your desk, scribbling out Kaeya’s name over and over again. Through light chatting, Kaeya’s signature becomes muscle memory. Albedo picked it up faster than you did when you first had to forge Kaeya’s signature, but you chalked it up to Albedo’s artistic talents.

“I’m appalled that Kaeya would leave you to this as if you were his personal secretary.” His flat tone was slightly more intense than usual, but it faded as quickly as it came on. “But I suppose that’s alright because it means he’s no longer monopolizing your attention.”

“Monopolizing?” you questioned, and his pen stopped.

“Yes, I was hoping you’d accompany me to dinner tonight, but I don’t think that’ll happen now.” he placed a hand to his chin before continuing. “It’s a shame. You’re always the most joyous when you’re eating at our favorite restaurant. I think they’ll be closed by the time we’re done.”

“Man! I didn’t know you had that planned!” you sighed. You two went to dinner often, so the idea of going to dinner again wasn’t too out of the ordinary. Kaeya’s words, however, began to ring in the back of your head. ‘He does this with no one else.’

“Ah, then maybe we could make something. I’d be happy to make you whatever you like.” Albedo remarked, causing you to flush at his wording. If you were to remove all the context of his words, then it really does sound like what Kaeya described.

Albedo really does sound like a man in love.

But it can’t be, right? It can’t be that. Your hand began to move on its own as you write down the forged signature over and over again.

“That sounds nice, but um-” You hesitated, you didn’t want to upset the balance, but Kaeya’s words nagged you. Maybe you can ask it in a way that’s not implying a relationship. Albedo heard the hesitation in your voice and immediately gave you all his attention. “You know, I know it’s normal for us, and we’ve done this a lot, but um, I was wondering if you also knew-” you tripped over your own thoughts on trying to form sentences. You didn’t know what to say. All you could say is what Kaeya said to you. “If you knew it makes us look like a couple. Someone pointed that out to me recently,”

Albedo could only stare at you. Each second felt like a century with his silence lasting several. He blinked a few times, trying to form his own words. Eventually, he placed a hand on your thigh and spoke.

“Was I not being forward enough?” Albedo responded with his usual sincerity and tone, which gave you whiplash from the pure juxtaposition of his words. “It was at first Klee’s idea. She wanted me to just tell you how I felt, so I began telling you everything. I thought I was being forward, so I waited for you to advance.” Albedo continued. “I wasn’t aware that you hadn’t caught on.”

“Wait, so you’ve been-” You attempted to straighten out your flustered thoughts, but his hand placement began to burn in your mind. All the times he’s touched you told you things, made time for you…

How could you be so dense?!

“However, I still stand by my decision of not advancing until you do, but I will make things clearer.” He stared you dead in the eyes before speaking. “I care for you immensely. I want to have a romantic relationship with you and only you. If you are not ready, I will continue to wait for you.”

Your wide eyes were transfixed on him as he waited patiently for your response. Everything you had missed, every single time he complimented you, every single time he took you to dinner, every time he did any sort of meaningful gesture towards you,

It was because he was in love with you.

After you picked your jaw up off the floor, you quickly realized you had to answer him. You had practiced this moment in your thoughts and idle daydreams, but with the situation now staring you down, it was like you were a lamb in the presence of a lion.

“Y-Yes!” You blurted out but clenched your jaw as your hasty and panicked reply. “I mean! I want you! I mean! Romantically! I-” You clutched your face out of embarrassment. This wasn’t the fantasy that you had about this. You wished you could both evaporate and redo this moment.

Albedo, however, took the moment into his own hands by cupping your face. This may not be the perfect fantasy you imagined, but here was your prince. A prince whose skin was as smooth as porcelain, and barely betrayed him when emotions ran high. He stared into your eyes, waiting for the next move, debating if he should just take the leap and advance.

He had been so patient up until this point. He would be patient once more, and of course, he would be direct. He gazed deeply into your eyes, a hint of desire sprung from his pupils as his eyelids shaded them.

“May I kiss you?”

The question was so simple, yet it absolutely wrecked your heart. You felt a bit woozy as you nodded, desperate to feel his lips on yours, but absolutely shocked by how fast everything was going. Your face was such a deep red that Albedo made a note of how he wanted to mix that color and store it somewhere, as it was your emotions for him rising to the surface.

Albedo smiled a bit, before pulling your face into his, allowing for a sweet yet hungry kiss. You couldn’t help but melt into him, quickly wrapping your arms around him, gently playing with the end of his hair with one of your hands. The other grabbed ahold of the back of his jacket in an attempt to stabilize yourself. Albedo felt your need for support and took one of his hands to your waist. He guided the kiss just enough to where his passion was conveyed, but he still waited on you before moving on to anything more. The moment you gave him an inch, he would give you back a mile. His yearning shone through with each gentle touch and pensive sigh, but eventually, he, although unwillingly, pulled away from you.

You continue to hold onto him for dear life, catching your breath at the fantasy that had just taken place. Your hand gripping his clothing as he gently fixed your hair and smiled at how you clung to him. He loved how your body lit itself like a fire when you got embarrassed or passionate, and he fell in love with the look on your face when it was freshly kissed. He gave in and gave you one more kiss before turning his attention to the stack of work that Kaeya had shirked off onto you earlier that day.

“As much as I want to continue, we have to finish your work first. After that, I’ll make you dinner.” Albedo’s words were so matter-of-fact as if he wasn’t holding you in his hands like putty. “Let’s get back to work. I want you all to myself later.” after finishing his sentence, he blessed you with one last kiss as he kisses your forehead.

You swallow your beating heart and try and adjust so you can once again sign off on all the papers in front of you, but Albedo did not remove his non-dominate hand from you the entire time. He instead elects to rub circles into your skin with his thumb, showering you with affection even while he was scratching away at Kaeya’s signature. Your words were jumbled, and your brain a mess as Albedo filled your head. With each circle made with his thumb, a memory is brought to the surface where his actions were misconstrued, and he meant to be romantic. All the times he found excuses to touch you and hold you close, now he’s gotten the permission he needs to lovingly caress you. Or maybe, he always has, and the context has changed for you. Nothing had changed, and yet everything had changed.

Thank god you had Kaeya’s signature down to a science, otherwise, your brain would have self-imploded from the bliss that Albedo had always provided you.

83 notes View Post

isayuni

10 months ago