Albedo sees him once, and it's all downhill from there.

A crisp three-piece suit, perfectly tailored. The soft, subtle peek of his shirt cuffs from the underneath hem of the blazer sleeve; the pressed lapels and golden pin adorning one; the finely shaped wrist bone that Albedo's gaze hones in on.

His interest is often piqued, but rarely by a man. This man, though, is different. This man is a tall glass of water, and Albedo never realized just how dehydrated he might be. He swallows, his tongue thick in his throat, dry like a desert. Never looks away.

Kaeya nudges. "Hey, what are you staring at?"

"Not what, it's— well, who." Albedo points. Kaeya looks. And then bursts into laughter, nearly doubling over. Albedo turns to him, leveling him with an unamused stare. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, no, I just— Look. Are you interested?"

Albedo blinks. "Yes." A pause. "Are you implying that you can help?"

Kaeya smiles then, wide and sinister. Albedo isn't sure that he likes it. A scheming Kaeya is a dangerous Kaeya. Still.

"Why yes, I just might think I can do you a favor." He leans over and wraps his arm around Albedo's shoulder, squeezing at, before steering him back towards the man's direction. "That, my friend, is the dishonorable Diluc Ragnvindr."

"And you know him how?"

"Well, he just so happens to be my brother."

#

When Kaeya was a child, he went from foster home to foster home until one finally stuck. The Ragnvindr's held onto him until he aged out of the system, and Kaeya and Diluc grew up close together, thick as thieves.

Albedo is amused when Kaeya talks about it in that animated way of his. He tells him that their relationship is strained, but seems fond of it, rather than distressed. Albedo realizes that this is a case of: they truly care about each other but it's easier to pretend to not.

Interpersonal relationships often fascinate him, for Albedo isn't one to get close to others, even if he's developed friendships from his budding. Watching Kaeya drone on about his adoptive brother adds depth to the man that he never thought he'd see.

"So, what are your intentions with Diluc?" Kaeya asks it without judging, sipping at his wine.

"To get railed, obviously."

Kaeya chokes on his drink.

#

He likes flowers. It is the first piece of advice that Kaeya gives him with a curving grin and a dangerous wink. Specifically red roses. You know, the color of his hair. Makes him swoon, or something.

Because Albedo doesn't shirk in his experiments, he sets about to find only the finest florist. He purchases the most dramatic of red roses—some sort of intricate hybrid that is sure to woo and dazzle.

Albedo and Diluc were briefly introduced that night, at the party, so he isn't going in entirely blind. He stands before the high-class establishment of the Dawn Winery, about to make a move on their most famous sommelier.

Which fails abysmally.

Albedo learns that Diluc not only dislikes red roses, he detests them. His nose crinkles the moment he takes the bouquet, and he flips it over in his hands, considering. "Cute," he says in a rather biting tone, "But incredibly cliche. Did you think that I'm the type of man that likes the boring?"

Diluc meets Albedo's gaze, shrinking him on the spot. Because no, he doesn't think that. Diluc is the kind of man who wears a one thousand dollar suit to a bar crawl. Of course, he'd prefer the nonstandard.

But then, his gaze softens ever-so-slightly.

"Still, the thought is appreciated."

So, not entirely a loss.

#

A nice homemade meal. Who doesn't like that?

Albedo should be dubious of Kaeya's advice, but takes a chance at accepting it at face value.

He does not cook, however. Albedo is a scientist at heart, but a disaster in the kitchen. So he turns to the next best thing—chemistry. It takes time to ferment his own wine, but he thinks that he does a decent enough job.

In between it all, he chats Diluc up, small conversations here and there. He tells himself that it isn't to butter the man up, he does want to get to know the man. It just so happens to coincide with how hot and bothered Diluc makes him feel, and how desperately he wants to see what hides underneath that trim waistcoat.

Albedo is a patient man as long as his current interest remains as such. And Diluc is— interesting at least. It feels like it's worth it when he bottles the wine up and adds a custom cork. He ties a neat little ribbon around it, and sets it carefully into a narrow box.

Which leads to Diluc heaving a sigh at the sight of it. He thumbs across the long neck of the bottle before looking to Albedo, mildly amused.

"Is it not to your liking?" asks Albedo bluntly, before he can stop himself.

"No, in fact. It is not."

"You prefer a nice white, then?"

"I prefer grape juice, actually. I cannot stand wine."

Albedo is confused. His brain buffers for a moment as he contemplates what Diluc has just told him. "I'm sorry, but— what?"

Diluc hums. "Makes for a good sommelier, though. I'm entirely impartial when considering the notes of a ferment." Well, he has Albedo there. Diluc must see the way that his face falls, though, because he continues with, "I will drink this, however. There isn't a need to let it go to waste."

"There isn't a need—"

"I insist."

Diluc smiles, just a soft hint of amusement. Albedo's tongue feels thick in his throat. He tells himself that it's still just an experiment that is going swimmingly. It has nothing to do with actual feelings being caught.

#

They are definitely feelings, otherwise why on Celestia's green earth would Albedo go to such lengths to impress a man who only sort of knows of his existence.

A first-edition copy of the Tales of Venti the Bard. Pretty sure that I saw one on sale at The Good Hunter.

Albedo told Kaeya to fuck off, once he realized he'd been pulled for a loop the entire time. Kaeya laughs, holding his hands out. "No, really," he said, "He's stupidly sentimental when he wants to be. We read it a lot when we were kids."

Despite his disbelief, Albedo still finds himself at The Good Hunter, staring at an absurdly priced book. He is a fool to entertain this. But he has the money, and it isn't as though he spoils himself. Albedo is a calculating sort of man, deadpan in everything that he does. He spends the right amount of money and never overreaches.

The book finds its way into his bag.

Later, Albedo finds Diluc at the Winery. Diluc always spares a moment for him, even at the worst of times; but luck is on his side. The winery is quiet and dead, and they are mostly alone.

"Always with the gifts," says Diluc, musing.

"I'm a rather blunt person when it comes to my intentions."

Diluc looks at him, brow raised. "Yes, I've noticed." When he tears into the packaging, he pauses, and then bursts into laughter.

Albedo doesn't feel dread, but— "You hate it."

"No, I—" Diluc clears his throat before setting the book down. "You would be correct in assuming that this is not my favorite book; but only because the author is a menace and he owes the Winery a large tab. It's a minor grudge."

Because of course. Albedo is three-and-oh for making the wrong move in his terrible attempts at flirting. "I'm—" He is mildly embarrassed but mostly annoyed. "I will never trust Kaeya again."

At that, Diluc cocks his head. "Wait, Kaeya told you I would want this?" And then things dawn on him. "Has Kaeya been the one to…" He waves vaguely between the two of them.

"Yes." There isn't a use in lying. "I am afraid that I am— well, I'm rather blunt and unused to… wooing someone. He offered his help."

"I would think as his friend, you would know better than to listen."

He should. "I was rather desperate. My bluntness doesn't come over well with most, I'm afraid." Albedo slides from the barstool, preparing to leave. "I will call it a night, then, to preserve what is left of my dignity."

Diluc's hand moves instantly, his fingers wrapping around Albedo's wrist. "Wait," he says, stopping him. Albedo stops and stares. Diluc hesitates, rubbing at his head. "It… it's endearing. In a way."

"What is?" Because Albedo cannot fathom such a thing.

"Your awkwardness. It's been, ah, a delight? To watch? Your bluntness is amusing, but I find myself anticipating our little… chats."

It comes as a surprise. Albedo's heart thuds just slightly, but he doesn't pull away from Diluc's grasp. Then, he potentially shoots himself in the foot. "I should note, my intention is entirely based on the fact that I want you to fuck me."

Albedo expects Diluc to pull away.

He doesn't expect the feral-looking grin that he tries to hide instead.

#

Diluc kisses him fiercely, nipping at his mouth. Albedo doesn't expect such outright fervor, but the moment they step into Diluc's penthouse, his back is pressed against the door. Albedo's fingers curl into his hair tugging his face back. He presses a kiss against Diluc's neck, a groan rising from his throat.

"You're cute." Diluc breathes the word against his ear. "I've noticed the way that you stare. Did you not notice in return?"

No, Albedo hadn't, but to be fair— "I wasn't focused on that."

Diluc chuckles against his skin, nipping at his neck. He pulls Albedo's shirt from his trousers, calloused fingers warm against his waist. "You said something about wanting me to fuck you?"

"Yes." Albedo says it quickly, efficiently, squirming underneath his hands with impatience.

"And this is okay?" Diluc drags his fingers across the small of Albedo's back, lingering there, nails just barely digging in.

"Yes."

Diluc drops to his knees, nuzzling at the bulge in Albedo's trousers. "Oh," he murmurs, as Diluc fumbles with the button there, fingers trying to focus on getting them undone. "I didn't expect you to—"

Albedo fucks around, but he rarely expects such thorough treatment. Diluc huffs before yanking his trousers past the swell of his ass, fingers gripping the muscle there tightly. "There are things that I've dreamt of, too."

Diluc bites at his cock through the fabric of his underwear, and Albedo arches against him. His hand finds his head, fingers digging into his scalp. And then his cock is revealed fully and introduced to the wet heat of Diluc's mouth. He sucks him down, tongue sliding underneath. He jerks the part that he cannot reach with his hand.

Albedo melts into his mouth, bucking slightly. "Fuck," he whispers, his head slamming against the wood of the door. Diluc chuckles around him, taking his cock deeper, slipping further and further down until it's nestled deep into his throat.

They both moan, fucked out, and blissed noises as they grasp at each other.

"You… you—"

Diluc sucks at him, the pressure of his mouth tightening. Albedo feels him soaring to new heights quicker than he expects. He pulls at Diluc's hair, thrusting into his mouth gently. And Diluc welcomes it, groaning around him, his hands finding purchase against his hips as he eagerly accepts Albedo's dick.

He isn't going to last long. "I'm— Diluc."

Diluc, the bastard, encourages him. He thumbs circles across his hip bones as he refuses to pull off. Doubles his efforts of sucking his cock right down to the root, his throat unrelenting.

The pleasure in Albedo's core snaps suddenly, and he's spending himself into his throat, fucking into his mouth as his cock twitches. Diluc swallows it down, rocking against him. Albedo sees just how hard he is, dick pressing against the trousers of one of those damnable suits.

At least it wasn't ruined. Yet.

Albedo cradles his face as he sighs softly. "Perfect, for me," he murmurs, smoothing his thumb across Diluc's cheekbone, wiping away water that's collected near his eyes. When he finally pulls off his flagging cock, he wipes at his mouth.

And then he moans when Albedo's foot finds his cock, his boot pressing against it slightly. "We aren't done yet, are we?" asks Albedo.

Of course not.

They tumble into Diluc's bed without any further ado, fumbling out of their clothing and into the soft sheets. Diluc is as impressive as imagined, all lithe and tender muscle, and a tight ass. Albedo's hands wander freely as he sits over top of him, straddling his waist, fingers dragging through the smattering of hair that covers his chest.

"Am I to your liking?"

Albedo has a distinct feeling that he's being teased. "Perhaps," he says, "I might have to investigate further."

Which he does, fully and thoroughly. Diluc's fingers are thick in his ass as he prepares him, spreading his rim wide as he fucks them in. Albedo meets his hand, his cock already hard again, bobbing gently against his stomach.

"You look…" Diluc is at a loss for words.

"Handsome?" Albedo knows that he is; it is a fact. "Willing and ready? When do I get your cock inside instead?"

It's a tight fit, but when Diluc bottoms out, Albedo feels full to the brim. His cock is thick and lengthy, hits all the right spots, drags across his prostate with every roll of his hips. Albedo leverages himself against his stomach, rising and falling against Diluc with a rising and falling motion.

Diluc holds him by the waist, guiding him along. He lifts his hips, meeting him, fucking in deep enough that Albedo sees stars. "Gods," he hisses, his head tipped back into the pillow. He watches him, eyes half-lidded, through a wet and dreamy haze.

"More," says Albedo, falling against him harshly, fingers digging into his skin and dragging up pink lines as they move. "Harder— please—"

The sound that Diluc lets loose is seared into Albedo's brain forever. He flips them easily, his cock nudging Albedo's insides with a delicious grind that leaves him gasping. Albedo is pressed into the bed, thighs hiked high and pressed back.

"Look at you." Diluc marvels, his hands wandering as he moves again, rutting into him with wild abandon. Albedo's breath hitches, whining at the feel of it. Diluc's cock is heavy and thick in him, pulling and pushing at his insides, carving its way in deep.

It's everything that he imagined and more. Albedo clings to him, fucking against him, moaning his name, and begging for more. He comes first, his cock twitching and untouched, only from the heavy press of Diluc drilling into him.

He curses, tightening up, going rigid against Diluc, his fingers pulling at the sheets.

"Shit." Diluc groans, leaning forward, pressing his nose into the nape of Albedo's neck. He holds him by the waist and fucks him through his orgasm.

Albedo whines, high on his pleasure, oversensitive, and stretched wide as Diluc thrusts into him over and over. "Please," he begs, "I just— please." He wants him to come, he wants him to finish, and he wants to lay there in the post-fucking haze, floating delightfully as they both fall from it.

Diluc's cock twitches as he tips over the edge. He slips in deep and stays there, painting his insides, slick and wet. He groans, breathing heavily. And then, he pulls back, his cock still in him, hooking his fingers around Albedo's chin.

He kisses him, sweeter this time, so very softly; and Albedo is gone, he's gone.

#

What feels like eons later, Albedo wakens in the deep of night, his eyelashes crusty. The rest of him is crusty as well, as is the bed. An arm rests against his waist, heavy against him. A body is pressed against the length of his back, loose and relaxed.

Diluc.

Oh, thinks Albedo. Oh, this is a mess.

Not because it was a mistake, but because it wasn't. His experiment was wholly successful— far too much. Now that he's had a taste, he doesn't want to let go, he only wants to run more tests. One, after the other, likely forever.

He is unused to not losing interest. What a curious sensation.

Diluc shifts against him. "Are you alright?" He's sleepy, still dozing, but so caring and kind.

Albedo warms at the thought of it. "More than so. Go back to sleep."

"Don't leave." A quiet, tired request as he tightens his grip around him. He wasn't planning to, even if he could. Albedo hums as he thinks.

A new hypothesis: perhaps a relationship is worth it.

He'll have to experiment to find out.