Aether can't peel himself off Albedo. He also can't stop kissing him, whether it's quick pecks ones at his cheeks and hair, or lingering ones at his lips. Albedo tries to reciprocate as much as he can, though him still spitting out gold has somewhat put a damper on his advances. Some of their chaste kisses also go on top of Klee's head, who has joined their little cuddle pile as soon as the last of the royal Khaenri'ahn forces left and refusing to let go.
Even Alice doesn't crack a joke, her typical light-heartedness absent when she earnestly bends down and pulls them in her embrace.
"I knew you'd pull through," she fondly says as she ruffles Albedo's hair. "You're just like her, as persistent as a cockroach–"
A steady tap-tap-tap interrupts Alice's laugh, and the four of them look back at the bottom of the altar.
Gold, looking even worse of the wear, slowly approaches them. Her hair is completely dishevelled, pulled out of the elegant half-and-half braids, while the ends of her robe are scorched and her cane is cracked.
Alice quickly hurries down the stairs and helps her up, gently helping as she sits down by them with a pained hiss.
"Damned Husks," Gold groans, "nearly pulled a disk–"
Albedo sits up straighter at her presence, staring at her. "Master."
Gold nods at Albedo's acknowledgement, her pained grimace shifting into something softer. "Albedo. Good to have you back." She reaches out, even if she has to bend awkwardly, to pat the top of his head.
She then eyes the Traveller like a wolf eyeing a sheep intruding into its territory.
Alice moves right in front of Gold with a teasing grin. "Enough with the glaring Rhine, is that any way to treat our new son-in-law?"
Gold's scowl gives way to a look of utter confusion. "Son-in-law–?" she says as Albedo stiffens, before she too chokes. "Wait–ours?!"
Alice merely raises an eyebrow, and Rhinedottir's mouth becomes a thin line as her ears turn red. "But enough dilly-dallying! We've got an empty grave to blow up!"
Klee cheers at that in childish innocence – as well an equally inherent childish delight at the prospect of explosions. Aether is stuck between laughing and gulping at her forwardness, though looking back at Albedo's resigned expression confirms his suspicions this is Alice's usual demeanour.
"Miss Alice…" Albedo starts.
"Ah ah ah! What have I asked you to call me?"
Albedo hesitates, so Aether gives him a kiss on the cheek for encouragement, which only makes Alice squeal and Albedo to blush harder. "... Mom…"
Alice grins at Gold. "See Rhine, he already calls me mom, get on with the program." She turns to Aether with a conspiratorial grin. "Honestly, those two even have the same type, going after us adventurous outlanders and wanting to know all about our physique–"
"Alice," Gold starts in a pleading tone, as Albedo hides his blushing face into Aether's lap, who in turn places another kiss on the top of his head. "Please. Mercy."
"Before you go, I have a favour to ask in return," comes Kaeya's voice from above, and Aether looks up to see his battered but smiling face emerge from the platform above. "When we do get back, please make sure Diluc doesn't succeed in his inevitable attempt to kill me."
\*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*/
Once again many thanks to wolfei for her wonderful art in exchange for this fic!
Feel free to check out my other works for your daily dose of platonic-focused, spoopy and frequently eldritch-themed content centred around supernatural characters. You can also find me on tumblr under the same name, or Sleepy#3903 on discord where I'm always up for a chat
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