seasonsrpg | 🔥 Permanent Catch-All 🔥

[The stormy weather doesn't bother him like it bothers Kaeya. Sure, he doesn't like it or the memories it stirs up but it doesn't have him curling up in instintive fear each time lightning flashes across the sky.

By now, he and Kaeya have reached a point far beyond the original 'truce' that he proposed. Time spent together has more than dulled the edges of any animosity and has become almost routine. Almost like it was... if not quite. Enough that they have keys to each others apartments while never abusing the privilege, enough that they will occasionally pick something up they think the other will like... It feels too soon to hope for anything more but it feels like they are well on the way to their lost closeness.

Diluc doesn't mention it. He doesn't want to push Kaeya away, knowing how the man can be, but he thinks that he likes it, too.

He hears the door opening and wakes up immediately, on high alert in bed as he listens to the sound of someone's soft steps moving through the living space of the apartment. A few moments are all he needs to recognise who those steps belong to and he quickly settles down, pretending to be asleep as the other man comes into the room and slips into the other side of the bed. He can feel eyes on him but it's only when Kaeya speaks that he lets out a muffled little chuckle and rolls over to face him.]

Someone just crept into my apartment and then my bed, in the middle of the night. Of course I'm awake.

[As for why he isn't flinging fire..?]

I knew it was you.

Hmph.

[A pouty huff, but he couldn't refute that. Kaeya shifted onto his back. The room was nearly pitch black so it wasn't like he could see the redhead all that clearly. But he looked at him just the same.]

You didn't answer your phone.

[Was his only response. Nevermind that Diluc somehow recognized his footsteps. Who does that??? Diluc apparently. But he was grateful all the same.]

It's one in the morning, Kaeya.

[Diluc does sound a bit sleepy, as well. He shifts position to hug his pillow closer to his head with one arm and puffs out a soft breath.]

I was sleeping.

[It took about an hour before he had had more than enough with all the beeping and vibrating that device would do every time he got any kind of 'notification' and short of turning it off completely (the convenience of it is good if nothing else) rendering it silent was the next best option.]

That thing makes too much noise, I disabled all the sounds.

I'm aware of the time.

[He pouted again. It wasn't like he doesn't know all that, he wasn't actually mad. Kaeya just easily fell into the bratty younger sibling routine when he was with Diluc.

Kaeya had also generally turned off his notifications as well. He figured out how to be selective about it, along with the existence of a Do Not Disturb feature that scheduled to come on during his usual sleep hours. He set it to allow only a select few people to pass through it though. He was definitely going to do that on Diluc's phone when he got the chance.

Archons, everything about this exchange in the middle of the night felt like... felt like before. His fingers clenched the covers lightly. Not to mention the odd... warmth and feelings he had been getting lately that were definitely not the usual brotherly feelings, but bordered on the crush he used to have.

After another moment, one hand let go of the sheets and sought out Diluc's under the covers, eventually finding the always warm hand and closing his fingers around it. His cheeks warmed and he changed intertwining their hands instead, mindful of any reactions the redhead beside him had.]

[He has his eyes shut, ready to fall asleep again since Kaeya seems to be content to be quiet, when he feels that searching hand slide over his hand fingers lacing between his own. Immediately his eyes open again and he stares through the darkness to the vague shape on the other side of the bed, not making a sound save for the quiet noise of his breathing.

His heart thuds, twisting briefly in his chest, and he gently squeezes his fingers around the other man's. It isn't as if they haven't been close before, even here, but this is admittedly a little new.]

You all right?

[Probably. Maybe. A flash of lightning momentarily illuminates the space behind the closed curtains. Diluc rubs his thumb against the side of Kaeya's hand.]

I can stay awake if you need to talk.

...not really.

[Kaeya's involuntarily squeezed back when the rumble of thunder hit not too long after the flash of lightning.

Diluc wasn't shying away though, which seemed to be a good sign. Kaeya hadn't really fully untangled his feelings, though. But he was familiar enough with them to know where this was going. It wasn't really what he expected after their original truce. But he certainly wasn't complaining. But would he ruin it by confessing?

Would he ruin a good thing again?

Kaeya sighed softly, he was a coward. He entertained letting go and rolling over, facing the wall instead of Diluc. But that would also mess things up too, he felt. He rubbed his tired eyes.]

Just... go to sleep.

Hm.

[Diluc isn't stupid. He knows what this is.

He tucks his free hand under his pillow and scoots a little closer to the other man, tucking his knees up just so until they nudge lightly against Kaeya's. There's never any pushing the man. No pushing either of them, really. They'll get to things when they get to them and that has always been the way of it. Strong-willed fools that they are.

A soft breath leaves him and she shuts his eyes again, though all too keenly aware of the warmth of the other body in the bed and the weight of him depressing the mattress beside him.

That slender hand tucked into his own.

He smiles faintly to himself in the dark, confident enough that Kaeya won't be able to see it.]

As you say, Sir Kaeya.

Don't be a brat, Luc.

[He wanted to say Master Diluc. Had even planned to say it. And yet... the old nickname slipped out instead. He huffed quietly. But Kaeya also didn't try and course correct.

Instead, he simply laid there and waited for Diluc to settle. Feeling his knees against his own, and he pulled Diluc's hand closer. He held it with both hands on his stomach as he waited out another rumble and flash. It was as best as he was going to get to cuddling like when they were kids.

Kaeya wasn't getting any sleep any time soon, that's for sure. But, he supposed they could be stubborn fools about this together, at least.]

Hmph.

[He tries to fall asleep but even in the dark and quiet he can't settle down. Not with Kaeya holding his hand like that and with him so close by. Not after he says that old nickname that has Diluc's heart leaping up to stick in his throat before it races on, pounding in his ears.

He tries, but the minutes stretch on and he can't. Not even a little. His thoughts tumble over each other and after several minutes have gone by in this manner he comes to a terrifying but resolute decision.

Diluc shifts and pushes himself up onto his elbow, and he slides his hand free of Kaeya's where it's clasped to the other man's stomach. Even in the dark he doesn't miss, as if he can see Kaeya as clear as day, as he carefully brushes his hair away from his eye and then slides the pad of his thumb against the scar beneath it. By now he's grown used to the darkness and he can see the outline of the younger man's face along with the faint shine of his eyes.]

You're so stupid.

[The words come out as a soft, fond sigh, and before Kaeya can object too strenuously to the accusation he leans down and plants a warm, soft kiss to the other man's lips.]

Hm?

[Kaeya felt Diluc shift, prop himself up and pull his hand away only to caress his scarred eye. His cheeks warmed again. Why was Diluc doing this? He felt goosebumps rise on his skin as the calloused thumb rubbed against the scar. His eyes tried to seek out Diluc's in the darkness, but the angle didn't allow for it all that well.

When Diluc finally spoke, Kaeya made a protesting sound and it was all he was allowed to do because next he felt a kiss on his lips. He may not have been able to see the other's face clearly, but that didn't stop his eyes from widening as he stared at the faint outline of Diluc. He didn't try to stop the other man either, if anything, he pushed up slightly to return the kiss.

It was a bit of a relief, all told. That Diluc apparently reciprocated although he couldn't really figure out when.]

[The matter of when is something he wouldn't be able to answer easily and truth be told it had always been there, even if only faintly. Ever since Diluc had been old enough to realise what he was feeling.

Kissing Kaeya now, with the dark to hide his furious blushing, feels right, or as right as it possibly can feel. For something like this it was ridiculous to wait for just the right moment when that moment would never come.

Emboldened by the way the other man presses up against him he pushes one hand into soft blue hair, gripping it lightly. The warmth of contact between them lasts a few moments more before Diluc breaks it and moves back just a few inches.]

I see that I still have the capacity to surprise you now and then.

[He sounds amused, gently so, as if there's nothing groundbreaking or unusual about what he just did.]

But I don't suppose either of us are going to be sleeping now.

[There's the pout again, even if the darkness hid it, from Diluc's words. But they were not false. Diluc sometimes really could get the drop on him every so often and this was the least offensive thing to be surprised about.

He reached up to play with a piece of that long, curly hair as he huffed and chuckled.]

I wasn't going to be sleeping whether you kissed me or not. But I won't be mad if you want to try.

[Because Diluc was warm and very easy to cuddle with at time and if he wanted to sleep while Kaeya stayed awake, that was fine by him.

His fingers drifted up to cup Diluc's cheek.]

But I am very glad you kissed me.

... Mm.

[He's glad he did too, and he leans his head just a little into the touch against his cheek as he lets his eyes fall closed. Saying he wouldn't go back to sleep is probably not entirely true... he does feel like he could.

Diluc shifts, dropping himself back down to Kaeya's side, and he tucks his arm around the younger man to gently pull him in closer. It feels a bit weird for sure... there's no way that this couldn't feel weird, but... it feels nice, too, somehow.]

I'll try, then.

[Maybe Kaeya will surprise himself and be able to doze off as well, even with the sounds of the storm still going on outside.]

[Oh, it was definitely really weird. But it felt too nice for him to really freak out about it. Instead, he cuddled up to Diluc as he settled. He was definitely tired enough to sleep but it was hard with the thunder and lightning.

Holding Diluc like this was helpful, though.]

Mm, good night, then.

Good night.

[It's almost like when they were younger, yet not quite. Their limbs are longer, bodies more mature and defined, but the difference does not feel too great when he has Kaeya tucked against him and his arm wrapped loosely around the other man's torso.

Kaeya probably isn't going to sleep and while he isn't sure if he will either, he does close his eyes and try.

The next thing he knows, it's morning. The rain has stopped, there's sunlight falling through a gap in the curtains, and he still has his arm wrapped around another body in his bed. It takes a moment for his mind to catch up, then he bunts his forehead against Kaeya's shoulder.]

... You awake?

[Kaeya didn't fall asleep quite so fast. But, eventually, he somehow did.

And being cradled by Diluc meant he slept that much deeper. He didn't quite wake up when Diluc headbutted him, limbs askew and hair mussed up.]

[Diluc waits for a few moments after he speaks to see if Kaeya responds, and when he doesn't he carefully untangles himself and props himself up on one elbow.

Immediately, as he looks down at the other man fast asleep beside him, he feels his heart start racing. It knots up in the back of his throat and his cheeks flush and he needs a moment to calm himself down before he can actually do anything at all.

He really did kiss him last night, didn't he?

His fingers brush a lock of hair out of Kaeya's face, ghosting against the top of his cheekbone. Diluc smiles to himself then leans down and kisses him very gently.]

Mm...

[Kaeya frowned softly at the soft touches. But then, he felt the warmth on his lips and in his sleepy state wasn't sure what was going on. It felt nice, though. He let out a sleepy hum, leaning into the kiss.]

[He draws back, letting Kaeya sleepily chase after him, then plays with his hair again. Lightly, he tugs a lock of blue wrapped around his finger and then tickles the tip of Kaeya's nose with the end of it.]

Kaeya...

[His heart is pounding again. Unsure of what Kaeya's reaction is going to be when he opens his eyes and realises the position he's in, remembers what happened the previous night...

Shit, what if he's really made a mistake here--...]

Hn!

[His nose scrunched up, a grunt leaving him from the tickle to his nose. He turned away and rubbed at it, he turned to his side and buried his face into the pillow.]

'Luc, knock it off.

[A sleepy mumble. Let him sleep, damn it!]

[Ah, so he does know where he is... and who he's with. Diluc chuffs out a breath and rests his chin against Kaeya's shoulder, looking at him for a few moments then turning his head and body to tuck his cheek to that same spot and curl himself up against the taller man's side.

Evidently he's having trouble waking up this morning and Diluc is in no rush to kick him out of bed.

He smooths his hand over Kaeya's chest, splaying his fingers over the other man's sternum and idly stroking his middle finger up and down the same spot between his ribs. Diluc watches his fingertip move, the play of their differing skin colours and how the callouses on his fingers feel against the soft warmth beneath them, and he idly rubs his cheek against Kaeya's shoulder.

It does feel strange... but somehow, as long as they're in this room, he doesn't have to think about just how strange it is.]

[To be fair, Kaeya isn't totally awake. So his brain hasn't quite caught up to the fact that he's in bed with Diluc. Something he hasn't done since they were smaller. And it doesn't take until Diluc is curled around him, that Kaeya does a sleepy version of a double take.

Wait. Diluc? In bed? He turned his head, eyes blearily searching for Diluc and finding the other man quite close as he had his cheek on his shoulder.]

... Diluc? [The gears in his brain are visibly working to get him caught up.

Wait. Wait wait wait.] ...It wasn't a dream?

[He could go back to sleep like this, he thinks, and there might be the faintest note of disappointment in his quiet sigh as Kaeya finally rouses himself enough to speak.

Diluc chuckles softly then murmurs in reply.]

Do you dream about my kissing you often?

[Goodness. So many things coming out, he can barely keep up. He doesn't move from where he is but stops moving his fingertip and leaves his hand laid flat instead.]

Try not to ruin it, Kae. I'm feeling quite content at the moment.

Wh-no, I just-

[There's a hearty huff and he yanked up the sheets to hide his blushing face despite Diluc still curled around him.]

's too early for you to be a brat, 'Luc.

[Okay, so it wasn't a dream. That really happened. And Diluc was apparently... Okay? With it? This is weird and Kaeya was both happy and confused because what does this mean?]

Pfft--

[The sheets being pulled up like that ends up with his head being entirely under them, but rather than get annoyed he simply moves and pushes himself up onto his elbow to move the fabric away.]

I can't believe I'm the one saying this, but you're thinking too hard.

[It wasn't a dream. Diluc really kissed him, and... well...

He cups his hand very lightly against the line of Kaeya's jaw and touches the corner of his mouth with the tip of his thumb. A small, indulgently fond smile crosses his expression for a moment.]

I've really... really loved being able to be close to you again, you know.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject