Archive of Our Own

It wasn’t Kaeya’s fault. 

It wasn’t.

It was Diluc’s. Yes, Diluc. He decides that that’s who he’ll be blaming just as he always had since they were kids-- if Kaeya knocked something over on accident and broke it in the process or if snacks and sweets went missing from the countertops and pantry, all of them were hidden within Kaeya’s dresser with a finger pointed at his brother. 

Mentally, he’s doing just that, blaming Diluc on the fact that he likes to run his mouth in order to one-up somebody and boost his own ego. 

He tells all this to Ajax, his roommate of almost four years, assigned a dorm together freshman year of college and later bought an apartment together for them and only them. It was small, a bit too small to fit two overgrown men in their early twenties, but adding a third or even fourth roommate seems too much effort for the both of them. Additionally, they both believe that another person in their circle would take too long to adjust and brush past the initial awkwardness. 

Ajax is sprawled across their couch, barely big enough to fit all of him, with an arm tossed over his eyes to hide from Kaeya that he’s half asleep. It was his own fault— sometimes he can’t help but procrastinate and the business analysis he pushed through last night proves just that. 

Kaeya, on the other hand, paces their kitchen as their coffee maker slowly brews, two mugs sat out for each of them. He knows Ajax isn’t listening, but he rants anyway because who else would listen to him this early in the morning? 

“It’s natural for brother’s to compete, right? You should know, you have, like, a farm of them back at home. Naturally as the younger one, expected to live up to the older siblings’ name, or whatever, I would try to one-up him. It’s what I do, it’s a habit.” 

“And?” 

“ And ?! Is it not obvious?” Kaeya exaggerates, leaning over the counter dramatically, “I took it too far, obviously. It’s Diluc’s fault for calling me so early. He knows how brains work, mine especially, I don’t start thinking until at least noon. I don’t work fast any time before that. So it’s his fault I said what I did.” 

“Kaeya,” Ajax takes the arm off his face, an exasperated sigh leaving him as he stands and stretches and makes his way to where Kaeya is, hunching over next to him, “my sweet, sweet Kaeya, we both know it’s too early for this. Plus, you haven’t even told me what you said.” 

“Three guesses,” Kaeya frowns as he pours their coffee, adding the respective amount of sugar and creamer to each. Ajax takes the mug from him happily, smiling like a kid on Christmas as he wraps his hands around the cup to warm them as he thinks. 

“You’re pregnant?” 

“Biologically impossible. You’ve seen me naked ‘cause you don’t know how to knock on a bathroom door.” 

“Whatever,” Ajax hums, sips his coffee, continues, “you got someone pregnant?”

“You’re one word away from having this coffee dumped on your head.” 

“Fine then, I quit. Tell me.” 

Kaeya rolls his eyes and groans loudly, slouching over the countertop again and dropping his head between his shoulders.

“Listen, if you aren’t magically pregnant, expecting a child, or some undiscovered serial killer, what’s the worst thing you could say?” Ajax asks as laughs at Kaeya’s whining.

He’s right, Kaeya knows, and he’s aware he’s being a little overdramatic about the whole thing, but admitting something like this to Ajax is almost as bad as murder. First, Ajax will most definitely laugh at him and hold it over his head for months and second, Ajax is kind despite all that and would help Kaeya in a heartbeat the same way he offers to help carry the groceries up the stairs or rub knots from Kaeya’s shoulders after staying up too late to write a paper. 

It’s natural for Ajax, being the oldest in his family and all, and on top of that he’s a total family man, and that’s exactly where Kaeya struggles because he likes that about him, adores it even, and Ajax is hard to say no to because of those qualities. However, Kaeya doesn’t know how his proposal would end or where it might lead to, if he would want it to go further. 

For Kaeya it’s different. Growing up he never had a real family, was adopted into one at a young age and if asked to recall his biological parents’ faces, he blanked completely. He loved them, of course he did. His adoptive father was welcoming and Diluc was as nice as the next person— it would be hard to hate people who took him in under their roof and raised him. Things changed when Diluc turned eighteen, however, when their father passed and Diluc had left Kaeya behind to figure things out on his own because he couldn’t properly handle such a thing at that age. 

Rekindling was tough, yes, and it was not so long ago they did so. Diluc apologised profusely, not quite crying but almost. Now, things between them are still a little tense but majorly less awkward, though since the day Diluc left Kaeya behind they have yet to call each other ‘brother’. 

It wasn’t the call that morning from Diluc that shocked him, rather the news it brought— Diluc had found a lover, a life partner, and were to have a small wedding to celebrate their engagement. Kaeya had flinched at the words, admittedly, never expecting his brother to marry, but he congratulated him nonetheless. 

Diluc had then told him he was allowed a plus-one if he wished, which is where Kaeya had jumped the gun and landed himself here. 

“Of course I’ll bring one, I’ll bring my boyfriend,” Kaeya had said, mumbling because it was early, shoulders tense at the question of ‘who?’ hanging between them, but Diluc had just laughed and said okay before bidding him goodbye. 

“You’re single. Like, very single.” Ajax points out. 

“I had no idea,” Kaeya deadpans, looking over at Ajax with a glare. Kaeya sees the question in his eyes, tensing the same way he did on the phone with Diluc but worse. He can hear the question start to echo in his head and Ajax hasn’t even said anything, hasn’t offered his help like Kaeya knows he’s going to. 

Ajax stands and stares longer than Kaeya wants him to, making Kaeya turn his face and glare down into a half drank cup of coffee between his hands, probably a little cold now, meanwhile Ajax’s is already gone. 

“Tell me if you need someone who can play the part,” there it is. There it is . The question Kaeya was expecting and dreading. “I haven’t met your brother, but from your stories I’m curious to know what he’s like in person and who would marry somebody like him.” 

Despite himself Kaeya laughs. He’s curious as well, of course, and the breath of relief is only for a moment but much needed. Ajax’s offer still stands between them, unanswered, a suffocating presence hovering over them as Ajax waits for Kaeya to answer. 

Kaeya considers it, has been ever since Diluc hung up the phone. He weighs his options— the choice to seek someone out to be his pretend boyfriend at his brother’s wedding ceremony and reception and be awkward, be strangers, be together for a night and forget it ever happened afterwards. 

Then there’s Ajax, lovely Ajax, Kaeya’s best friend of four years who knows almost everything Kaeya knows about himself, has seen Kaeya at his lowest and tried his best to help him through it however he could. Ajax, who was unfortunate enough to room with Kaeya, freshly abandoned and grieving in their first year, who helped Kaeya stay motivated and distracted him when he began to reminisce. When the days were tough Ajax was with him, and is still with him on those days. Ajax knows him, but what Kaeya worries about is after the ceremony, when they get home and are standing where they are now. 

Things would return to normal, probably, because they’re best friends and only that. Kaeya feels he’s the only one who’s thought of them being more, who’s wanted it. Four years of living together with an inseparable friendship growing between them, and with the years in front of them, possibly, maybe, if Kaeya says yes and doesn’t entirely fuck things up later. 

“Make sure to ask him where I hid chocolates. He knows the exact coordinates.” 

They share a grin and the looming presence lets them breathe. There’s a playfulness in Ajax’s eyes now, and with a grin he says, “When do I start?” 

“Two weeks, so don’t get too excited,” Kaeya replies, though it’s advice meant more for himself rather than for Ajax, “we’ll have to share a room when we get there, most likely, but there’ll be two beds so it won’t be a problem.” 

“What?” Ajax whines, dragging it out, “come on, you loser, if we’re faking it we have to go all the way, you know I don’t half ass things. It’s not like we’ve never shared a bed, don’t get shy on me now when we aren’t even there yet.” 

“You throwing up after knocking back shot after shot of vodka for the better half of a night and being forced to sleep in my bed so you don’t choke to death your first month here doesn’t count.” 

“But—,” Ajax starts, but Kaeya cuts him off before he can say more. 

“And kicking each other in the face when we both fall asleep on the couch doesn’t count, either.” 

“Okay, sure, whatever smarty pants. I still think we should get a room with one bed, though. It’ll save us money and be more in character. If you’re shy,” Ajax’s voice takes a teasing tone, “we can start early. Now, preferably, because I desperately need a nap before I collapse where I stand.” 

“Collapse after you wash the mugs, then maybe I’ll consider it.” 

Again, Kaeya didn’t really have to. Ajax and anything he does doesn’t take much thought on Kaeya’s part. Kaeya leaves him to wash the few dishes, not five minutes later getting the breath knocked out of him when Ajax lays right on top of him in his own bed. It takes him less time to fall asleep, snoring quietly in his ear. 

The two weeks between Diluc’s phone call and them taking the U-Bahn to spend the next few days in a fake relationship are more uneventful than Kaeya expected. They weren’t awkward, if anything most things stayed the same aside from the times Ajax decided he would spend the night in Kaeya’s bed. It’s as if, within those two weeks, Ajax had grown accustomed to sleeping on him considering the way he’s passed out cold on Kaeya’s shoulder throughout most of the train ride. 

Kaeya doesn’t blame him— the connecting U-Bahn from Zurich to Dresden is close to thirteen hours— but that doesn’t exactly mean Kaeya wanted to slowly feel the shoulder of his sweatshirt get soaked with Ajax’s drool. He doesn’t have the heart to wake him, not now, they still have a few hours until they reach Dresden. 

Once they do, though, Kaeya doesn’t hesitate to smack Ajax awake, finding laughter in the way he blearily grabs his travel bag and duffel bag to rush after Kaeya, almost tripping up the stairs. 

“Good morning, asshole,” Kaeya says flatly, cocking his head towards his shoulder, again having to try not to laugh as Ajax’s eyes struggle against the blinding sun. It’s humid, Dresden always seems to be the few times a year he comes to visit, and he’s already dreading the sticky sweat and frizzy hair it brings. 

Yesterday Diluc had called Kaeya again, saying that he’ll meet him and his ‘boyfriend’ at the station to take them to dinner and introduce him to his soon-to-be-husband. Kaeya panicked the moment he hung up the phone, reality coming down on his shoulders for the first time since he first talked to Ajax about their whole situation. 

Luckily he’s not hard to spot, vibrant red hair and all, and Kaeya waves him over. The man following Diluc is his fiance, Kaeya guessed— he’s lean and tall and his hair is dark and long, and Kaeya can’t yet bring himself to look the man in the eyes as he approaches for some reason. 

“You miss me, big bro?” Kaeya smiles as Diluc comes closer, crossing his arms with a tilt of his head. “This is Ajax, my college roommate since freshman year and my boyfriend. This must be the man who wondrously decided to date you?” 

Kaeya finally looks at the man, then, and his eyes, though calculating, are unexpectedly soft and kind. “I’m Kaeya, his younger brother. Can’t say I’ve heard much about you, but it’s nice to meet you.” 

“Only a few stories,” the man replies with a gentle smile, “I’m Zhongli. Nice to meet you both— Kaeya, Ajax.” Each of them nod his way. 

“Are you hungry? I don’t expect you to eat much on a train ride that long. I made a reservation at Watzke earlier for about forty minutes from now. We can put your stuff in your hotel and head over, they’re not too far from each other.” Diluc starts walking slowly and all three follow, Zhongli sticking near his side and talking quietly as Ajax takes in the scenery around. 

Kaeya wouldn’t consider Dresden one of the top three German cities but it’s close— it’s along the Elbe river with a lot of waterfront views at most restaurants, and most of the buildings around them stand tall, not yet lit up with nightly bar activities but will soon be. Kaeya bets that by the time they leave Watzke Ajax will once again be amazed by the city lights. 

The car ride from the central station to their hotel is quiet, both Kaeya and Ajax trying to stay awake. Zhongli and Diluc are both kind enough to take one duffel bag each, carrying them inside and up to their room. The Taschenbergpalais is grand, made from something old, and once again Ajax stops to marvel at the beauty of it. 

It takes great willpower to not collapse on the bed once they get the room key and set their stuff down, but the time for their reservation is ticking. They load back into the car once again, making their way to Watzke and crossing over the Elbe on the way. 

Watzke Brauhaus is just as impressive as the Taschenbergpalais, with a brewery and a ballroom built into it, yet another building of old. Each of the four order a beer once they're seated and search the menu— full of hearty food and stuff Kaeya could never afford on a daily basis. 

“This place is amazing,” Ajax sighs, looking up at the high ceilings and artwork, then to the window to gaze out at the riverside. “Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a place like this, I’ve only seen this shit in my dreams.” 

“Trust me when I say that coming here is not a regular thing. My wallet is already crying.” Diluc replies with a sigh. 

“Are you playing coy?” Zhongli says, “you’re a businessman with a steady business, my love, you make enough to come here on a weekly basis, it is just that you refuse to.” 

“That’s not important,” Diluc brushes off with a blush and a scowl, making Kaeya wrinkle his nose and inwardly cringe. From his side, Ajax laughs at him, and Kaeya shoots him a look. 

“Not used to seeing your brother like this?” He leans over to ask, grinning wider when Kaeya shakes his head. “I can imagine. Him now compared to all those stories you’ve told me, well, safe to say I was expecting something different.” 

“Are you all ready to order?” Diluc snaps their attention to him. 

“Whatever’s the most expensive, of course,” Kaeya grins boyishly at him as he says it, the smile dropping to a wince when Diluc knocks his foot into his shin under the table. “Joking, you jerk, the most expensive doesn’t even sound good anyway.” 

“Just order, they’re waiting.” 

Once their food comes the dinner is relatively silent, both Kaeya and Ajax shoveling food into their mouths after not eating a solid meal for the fourteen or so hours they’ve been traveling. Diluc and Zhongli talk amongst themselves but it’s quiet, and Kaeya nor Ajax would care for what they have to say anyway with how hungry they are, and by the time both their plates are clean they’re about ready to pass out. 

“Thanks for paying, Diluc,” Kaeya says on their way out, following Ajax into the backseat of Zhongli’s car. Just as Kaeya predicted, Ajax has his head stuck out the window as he watches the city lights pass them by. The lights mostly hang low, casting shadows up to the taller buildings of old churches and cathedrals and the like. Kaeya watches him in silence, laughing to himself when the wind picks up and kicks Ajax’s hair in wild directions. 

“Will we be able to see this from our room?” Ajax pokes his head back in to ask, ginger hair a windswept mess around his ears and eyes. 

“Not the lowlights, no,” Diluc answers him, “but you should be able to see the cathedral points until the area closes for the night. It’s not as impressive as it is up close, but it still looks pretty cool.”

“We have a few days, don’t forget,” Kaeya tacks on, “we can walk around more and stay later when we’re not so tired.” 

“Yeah, I’d like that. Do we have to rent a car?” 

“Not here, no, it’s a pretty compact tourist city even with the Elbe running through it. There’s trams and buses, anyway, and bike rental spots too, the same as Zurich has. Though I guess we walk quite a bit when we’re there ‘cause we don’t go too far from the school.” 

“Well, whatever, that’s not important. I just don’t want to bother your brother the whole time for rides. I expect the next couple days to be stressful and busy for both of them.” 

“More considerate than I would be,” Diluc glares at him for that. Ajax laughs. The rest of the car ride is quiet, Ajax still with half his head out the window as he watches the Elbe pass beneath them and other buildings fly by until Zhongli pulls into the driveway of their hotel. They follow Ajax and Kaeya up to their room, more so they remember where it is for any other reason. 

“Well, we have no reason to stay long,” Zhongli sighs, car keys twirling around a finger, “Diluc and I will be on our way and let you both get fully settled in for the next few days. There’s a pool if you’d like to look at it and I’m pretty sure they serve breakfast and alcohol.”

“My two favorite things,” Ajax jokes, laying back and closing his eyes as the other three chuckle softly at him. Diluc and Zhongli bid a final goodbye, and once the door clicks shut behind them Kaeya groans loudly and collapses next to Ajax, his body pretty much melting into the mattress. He doesn’t close his eyes, probably wouldn’t wake up if he did. 

“This room is pretty big, we didn’t need it.” Kaeya looks around the bedroom, the decor old and historic with a view of the city, and he hasn’t even had the chance to look around the rest of it— the lounge area, the bathroom, the kitchenette. “The booking website said it fits about twelve people. I can’t believe Diluc tried to be shy about his money at the restaurant.” 

“I’m not complaining. If you start snoring I can kick you out of the bedroom for the night.” Ajax says, rolling onto his stomach so his legs hang rather stupidly over the edge of the bed.

“Snoring? I don’t snore, you snore. You shake about the entire apartment with how loud you are, I can’t believe it sometimes.” Kaeya jabs him weakly in the side. “Anyway, we should check out the pool area, I read a sign earlier that said there’s a sauna too.” 

“Only if we can get drinks too.” Ajax lays on his back again, another one of his stupid grins on his face that has Kaeya saying yes easily. 

The bar within the hotel is just as fancy as the rest of it. Ajax lets Kaeya order as he makes his way to a bathroom, ordering a cocktail for both him and Ajax while he’s gone. He sips his slowly, a coffee liquor with a bit of mint and cream, leant against the bar counter further away from the other people. 

“What’d you order?” Ajax asks once he’s back, still tucking his belt into his pants. 

“I got something called after eight, it’s like spiked minty coffee, and for you,” Kaeya holds out Ajax’s drink by the spine of the cocktail glass, “a white russian for a white Russian.” 

“Very funny,” Ajax deadpans but he’s smiling again. 

They walk slowly, side by side, to the pool area, glad that it’s late and the area is empty, sipping their cocktails in silence as they survey the pool. The bottom of it has the hotel logo mirrored on it, furniture lining the walls and the saunas mentioned earlier towards the back. Music plays from either corner of the room but it’s barely audible. They take up one of the side areas to set their drinks down, and it’s then they realise neither of them have swim trunks. 

“We’re idiots,” Ajax giggles, laughing harder when he sees the look on Kaeya’s face— irritation and shock all masked by a ridiculous smile on his face. 

“We’re stupid,” Kaeya agrees, “really stupid. Do we just sit here? We can’t walk out, we just walked in, people might look at us weird.” 

“You’re overreacting again,” Ajax hushes his giggling, “look, we’re dressed up in day clothes, we can leave and just say we were looking at it for later, or we could just, you know,” Ajax goes through the motions of undressing without actually undressing, finishing his little act with a fake dive that almost spills his drink. 

“What if other people come?” 

“So? If they’re looking at my junk it’s their fault. We should probably shower so we’re not covered in disgusting train germs when we get in, though.” Kaeya still looks unsure about it. “Come on,” Ajax urges, “don’t be lame. How often do we get to do this as college students?” 

He has a point, or maybe it’s the sly older brother's way of convincing younger siblings to do things that gets to him, but Kaeya soon finds himself in his underwear along with Ajax, hair pulled up off his neck as he trails after Ajax to find showers. They quickly wash off, scrubbing what they can of the dirt and germs from their skin after hours of traveling, and the cool water from the showerhead compared to the warm pool water feels like heaven on their tired bodies. 

Unlike Ajax, who’s about to do a cannonball before sulking and pouting over how shallow the water is for his size, Kaeya uses the stairs at the other end of the pool to step in. As Ajax pouts his way over, Kaeya tells him to bring their drinks closer to the edge of the pool and takes his happily from Ajax’s hands for another couple sips.  

“This isn’t exactly a place for kids, Ajax,” Kaeya smiles over the rim of his glass as Ajax continues to sulk, “I’m not surprised the water is only about four feet? Four and a half? I mean it doesn’t even reach my chest, or yours for that matter.” Ajax sips his drink in silence, tilting his head when he looks at Kaeya like he’s plotting something. 

Slowly he inches closer just as Kaeya inches away, each setting their drinks far away from the edge. Ajax crouches in the water so only his head is above the surface, his lip tucked beneath his teeth as he swims closer and closer to Kaeya, his arms held a length away from him to keep Ajax from doing what Kaeya thinks he’s going to do. 

“I don’t want to get my hair wet,” Kaeya says, slow and stern, “you know how long it takes to dry and how easily it gets tangled, Ajax,” Kaeya, without realising, has backed himself into a corner edge of the pool, and before he can dash away, unhelpfully slowed by the water but somehow Ajax is not, Ajax has him in a hold around his waist and is sinking both of them under the water. 

When they re-emerge he’s laughing, keeping one arm around Kaeya as the other brushes hair from his face. The bun Kaeya’s hair was tied in sags, the few loose strands that fell from it stuck to the sides of his face and framing his frown. As Ajax laughs Kaeya takes a chance to turn quickly, hands on Ajax’s shoulder and jumping as he pushes down, his smile one of satisfaction as Ajax easily goes under.

The water burns his eyes and he definitely has it up his nose, but Ajax continues to sink in the water, Kaeya’s hands still loosely on his shoulders, and, while he’s defenseless, caught up in the success of partially drowning the redhead, Ajax seizes him by the wrists and yanks him under with him. 

From underwater the scream Kaeya lets out is muffled but Ajax bets it was much louder than he meant it to be considering the faint pink of embarrassment on his face. 

Unlike Ajax Kaeya can’t stay under for very long, tugging his hair free as he breaks the surface and lets it slick back and stick to his skin. Ajax follows, shaking his head like a dog, the action making his hair poke out in funny ways. He coughs and wiggles his nose to try and get water out of it, the back of his throat burning from the feel of inhaling it. 

“How can you hold your breath like that?” Kaeya huffs, wringing his hair out as he once again distances himself from Ajax. 

“I’m the oldest of four, my three younger siblings really liked to mess with me whenever they could. It just stuck, I guess.” Ajax explains with a shrug, approaching Kaeya with his hands up in surrender. He goes to his drink instead, finishing the rest of it off with a cough. “Maybe not all of it, though, I don’t remember it burning this bad.” 

Kaeya laughs at him lightheartedly, tying his hair back up as he finishes his own drink. It’s way less caffeinated than Ajax’s drink, only a smidge compared to his, but he still feels more awake than he did when they first got in the pool. 

“There’s too much kahlua in my drink,” Ajax frowns at the empty glass, “I’m not tired anymore.” 

“Yeah, there was some in mine. More time in here, then, I guess. It’s pretty nice, warm and stuff.” Kaeya runs his fingertips over the top of the water to watch it ripple into small waves, over and over, then cupping his hand and throwing water Ajax’s way. 

“This again?” Ajax asks, his smirk a playful one, crouching the same way he did before but this time Kaeya makes sure to watch his back and not get himself stuck again. Ajax, however, takes the hands he holds in front of him to keep Ajax an arms length away into his own and tugs Kaeya forward and under once more, that stupid grin back on his face. 

They play a game sort of like cat and mouse, Kaeya more often than not being the mouse, dunking each other under the water until they give up and then it starts all over again-- the chase to see who can get the other submerged first and not be dragged down as they do so. 

Ajax has some advantage, Kaeya concludes as he’s dragged under for the nth time, either from his siblings or his long arms or just his long body in general, because, really, they’re equally athletic and Kaeya should be at least even with Ajax, but each time he thinks he’s out of reach the same pair of too warm arms are around his waist and pulling, each time with Ajax’s laughter growing louder in his ear. 

Kaeya, in a brief cliche thought before his head hits the water, twists in Ajax’s hold as best as he can and brings them further under, grabbing Ajax by the face and kissing him underwater like he’s seen in media a million times. 

And it’s not as cool as they make it seem, the water gets in the way of multiple things and makes things feel weird, but it throws Ajax enough off his rocker that, once they’re back up on their feet, he doesn’t immediately try to chase after Kaeya like he’s been doing. His cheeks are bright pink and he looks a bit like a kicked puppy, and for a moment Kaeya wonders if he’s taken things too far— it’s fake dating, after all, no one made a single mention of actually doing couple-y stuff aside from when they’re at Diluc’s wedding— but then Kaeya is being grabbed the same way he grabbed Ajax and is being kissed a second time, this time with no water barrier between their lips. 

“Those aren’t as cool as I thought they would be,” Ajax agrees with Kaeya even though Kaeya had not spoken his mind, and something about it, the relief, maybe, makes Kaeya almost double over laughing. He’s glad he didn’t make things terribly awkward between them or one of them really would be kicked out of the main bedroom. 

“No, it was a bit slimy,” Kaeya says with a wrinkle of his nose, “the second one, however,” and that brings a matching smirk to both of their faces, “whatever, do you want to check out the saunas or no?” 

“Maybe we buy actual swimsuits? I don’t think my underwear is suitable for this or the sauna, it’s, uh, quite fitting,” Ajax scratches his neck as he says it, uncharacteristically blushy and awkward and red in the face, and it takes Kaeya barely a second to catch onto what he means before blushing just as much as Ajax and telling him he’ll get him a towel to ‘protect his dignity’. 

“I know you’ve seen me naked, or whatever, and we literally just kissed, but, like, this is different because we just kissed, you know?” Ajax explains as he ties the towel around his waist. 

“Ajax, I promise I don’t need you to explain why you don’t want me to see your dick print,” Kaeya says and shoves his clothes into his hands, his own tucked under an arm and his empty glass in hand. “Let’s go back to the room, I have about another hour or two awake because somebody decided to half drown me.” 

“C’mon, we had fun! Look where it landed us, with a kiss,” Ajax says optimistically. 

“Whatever you say, Prince Charming, but you’re helping me brush it out again.” 

Ajax heaves a sigh, “shit.” 

As things naturally go, two people get things done quicker than one, though Kaeya’s hair still takes the better half of an hour to dry and detangle and by the time they’re done Ajax’s lap is covered in blue strands of hair like the sheddings of an overgrown cat. 

“Why didn’t you brush it out before getting in?” 

“I didn’t think you would try to drown me, my apologies,” Kaeya replies sarcastically, tying his hair into a braid, laid over the same shoulder his ponytail tends to end up on. Ajax watches as he does it, then happily follows after Kaeya into the main bedroom. It’s just past two A.M. and the city below them is quiet, the soft lights once in the distance now dim as ever, just barely reflecting off the Elbe. 

“There’s a river cruise thing that goes up the river,” Kaeya says to make conversation. They’ve taken up seats by the window like moths drawn to a light, not really even realising they’ve sat down. “I’ve never done it, and I don’t think Diluc has either, but he and I would just walk or take trams and buses and whatnot to look around.” 

“You thinking of checking it out tomorrow?” Ajax asks, leaning against the windowsill on his forearms to look down at the river more and look left and right to see how far it stretches. 

“Not really, it’s probably more expensive than we can afford just to sit on a boat,” Kaeya copies him, looking opposite of the way Ajax is looking. He’s seen it a bunch of times, Diluc takes him to this area every time Kaeya finds time to visit, which brings him to wonder why he’s never asked Ajax to come with him. 

“Was it weird seeing your brother after hearing the news?” Ajax asks, settling back in his chair. 

“Not weird to see him, no,” Kaeya puts his back to the window, “but I can’t say that him calling me to tell me he’s getting married wasn’t weird. I seriously never thought he’d find someone, but Zhongli kinda fits him, I guess.” 

“They make me feel awkward.” Ajax admits. Kaeya laughs at him. “I’m serious! Come on, Zhongli’s taller than both of us and he has this weird, I don’t know, aura thing to him that makes me feel like if I look at him weird I’ll turn to stone.” 

“So my brother married Medusa?” Kaeya snickers but he understands, sort of, but Zhongli still seems like someone who can keep his brother in line. Ajax is oblivious to it, of course, but even now the death of his father keeps Diluc awake at night. He had told Kaeya that once, one of the first few times they met up after reconciling, that he sometimes wakes up expecting to hear his dad telling him to get out of bed and get his things together for school even though he was in college at the time. The words made Kaeya feel sick with something he couldn’t put a name to so he never tried, and when he left later that day Diluc had hugged him tight and apologised. 

Thinking about it now makes Kaeya shiver, Ajax giving him a weird look from the corner of his eye but not questioning it. Kaeya shrugs at him, some weird wordless conversation, then stands and stretches as he walks to the bed, collapsing on it face first with a big sigh. 

“We should’ve gone to the sauna,” he mumbles. The pool and shower were nice relaxers but he still feels tense across his shoulders. The bed dips with Ajax’s weight as he lays down next to Kaeya, a pleased sound leaving him as he seems to sink into the bed, the mattress soft beneath him. 

They somehow end up falling asleep like that, neither of them beneath the covers, Kaeya face down and starfished on his tummy and Ajax on his back with an arm and a leg hanging over the edge. He’s the first to be blinded by the sun when it rises, streaming in right through the window they sat at, cursing himself for not closing the curtains as he stumbles over to do so. 

The gleam of the sun on the river is almost blinding as he slings the curtain shut. He tries to sleep more, bury his face in the covers like Kaeya has done, but he can’t seem to close his eyes for long. He leaves Kaeya in the bedroom and goes to the kitchenette in search of coffee, coming up short-handed. He chugs a glass of water instead, happy that the White Russian he drank the night before didn’t give him any sort of headache. 

He’s drunk way more, Kaeya loves to remind him of that, especially the mornings he wakes up after making the same decisions. 

After about five minutes Kaeya makes his way to the kitchen, the braid he kept his hair in loose with tufts of it poking out. Ajax greets him with a, “morning, Sleeping Beauty. Nice comforter mark.” 

“Shove it, Prince Charming,” Kaeya grumbles, hunting for coffee the same way Ajax had done. 

“They have none,” Ajax tells him, “and the cafe they have downstairs is balls to the wall expensive for just the two of us, so it seems we’re off coffee until we get back to Zurich,” Ajax rinses the water cup he used, dries it, and puts it back, walking off to take a quick shower and get ready. 

“There’s a bunch of museums and stuff around that we can look at without having to pay, I was thinking we look at museums one day, then deal with Diluc and his wedding on the last couple days,” Kaeya tells Ajax when he walks out of the bathroom. Kaeya’s redoing the braid his hair, sat on the floor in front of the full-length mirror with his legs crossed, dressed in light clothes to combat the sun and humidity.

“I don’t care, you’re the Dresden expert for now.” Ajax teases as he pulls his clothes on, rubbing the towel he used through his hair then letting it air dry. 

“Okay. There’s places around to get lunch for cheap, too, and maybe coffee somewhere that doesn’t take half the cash I keep in my wallet,” Ajax laughs and says he agrees with whatever, he’ll just follow Kaeya around for the next few days they’re here.

It’s a slow day for them, surprisingly. They woke up later than expected and left even later, but they have a handful of time to themselves before the ceremony and reception. The first thing on their list is finding a store for swim shorts, though most of the stores around are tourist spots for Dresden merchandise or alcohol. 

“I think we’re shit out’a luck in a tourist place like this, it’s all overpriced because tourist spots love that,” Ajax frowns, “and my phone says there’s a department store, but it looks pretty far. I wouldn’t think of it to be a good day trip.” 

“TK Maxx, probably,” Kaeya sighs, “definitely not. I’d rather pay a big buck than go all the way that way, so it’s either an empty wallet or underwear again.” He looks to Ajax to get an answer from his expression, though he already could guess what it was. He could hear Ajax’s teasing voice in his head saying something about how Kaeya just wants to see him in his underwear for a second night in a row. Kaeya gives him a look that says I dare you to say it , but Ajax keeps his mouth shut in a smirk and lets it go. 

“You usually have a towel around you in a sauna anyway, right? Onsens are the ones where you take your dick out and people don’t care?” 

“You could word it a bit nicer,” Kaeya mumbles as they start to walk slowly, nowhere in particular, basking in the silence between them and the warmth the day has left for them. “You hungry? This is a pretty packed area, though it’s mostly bar food and stuff.” 

“Might as well eat while we’re here, not like we could afford going back to Watzke without your apparently rich brother on board, and I heard Germany has some pretty weird stuff on their bar food menu if you’re in the right place.” 

So that’s how they end up in a rather small bar not too far from where they were walking, dim inside with most of the light from the big window in the front and few patrons inside-- it’s not exactly time for the city to be awake, after all. Kaeya, from habit, orders a pretzel and a beer and Ajax orders his own beer with a side of potato pancakes. 

“Talk about a hearty dinner,” Ajax says and takes a gulp of his drink. 

“I think I’m still sorta full from last night, that place was so good,” Kaeya replies and steals a bite of Ajax’s potato pancake. 

“Glad I didn’t look at the bill, though. I feel like I owe your brother.” Ajax laughs and returns the steal, ripping part of Kaeya’s pretzel. “Speaking of, I haven’t heard you talk much about how you actually feel about him getting married, just that I’m your plus one and acting boyfriend. So?” 

“You saw that the news wasn’t exactly expected, especially not that early in the morning,” Kaeya reminds him, taking more of Ajax’s food. He pushes his plate out— Kaeya copies him— they end up sharing whatever’s left. “I don’t know, I don’t think I really have my head wrapped around it all yet. He leaves for three years, comes back with an apology hug, then tells me he’s getting married to some guy I never heard a single word about. It’d be weird for anybody.” Ajax hums in agreement. 

“I’m curious how they met though, I didn’t bother asking him.” Kaeya continues. “They look close in age but there’s something weird about Zhongli, like he’s older than he puts off.” 

“I think it’s just the way he dresses,” Ajax grins a boyish grin, “and maybe his voice. He kinda sounds like how my grandpa did, so.” Kaeya laughs along with him, taking more of the food and finishing his beer in one big swig. “I get what you mean though.” 

“Guess I’m stuck with asking for the guy’s life story, then,” Kaeya says and keeps it at that. Ajax pays for the drinks and food because he always does, Kaeya rarely pays for things between them unless he does it sneakily, like the few times they’ve ordered takeout during exam weeks and Ajax was passed out on their couch, laptop haphazardly balanced on his stomach, and only woken up by the smell of food. 

After Ajax pays they leave, making their way back to the hotel and hoping they find a store for swim shorts they might’ve missed on the way over and still end up with nothing. Though they woke up late Kaeya feels like he could fall asleep now, but Ajax seems pretty excited to go to a sauna in such a fancy place. Kaeya just shakes his head at him, especially when, the moment they return to their hotel room, Ajax kicks his clothes off down to his boxers and poses with a thumbs-up. 

“Jax, we have to go through the lobby first,” Kaeya stiffles a giggle as Ajax deflates and his cheeks turn red. “Should I get another white russian for the white Russian?” 

“Hahah,” Ajax replied dryly as he pulled his clothes back on, “I don’t want another drink, that stuff from the pub was enough for me until morning.” He trails after Kaeya and closes the door behind them. They skip the bar for now, but will probably end up grabbing something later on their way back depending on how long they stay in the sauna. 

The saunas are better lit than the pool— a soft glow of white light emanating from the wooden backrests, double decker benches framing where the hot stones sit and the option for aroma infusions next to it. Outside the sauna area are other spa specialties as well as a lounge space, and Kaeya tests the comfort of the chairs there while Ajax makes a beeline for the sauna room. 

“You act like you’re freezing to death with the way you’re trying to get in there. It’s not going anywhere, y’know,” Kaeya shakes his head, sinking back into the chair he sat in and sighing. Ajax doesn’t let him sit long, his momentary peace disrupted by a tug on his wrist. 

They walk back into the pool area and head for the showers, dressing down and spraying themselves with the warm water to clean off, wrapping themselves in towels from the waist down after squeezing what water they can out of their boxers. 

Inside the sauna room it’s already warm, the soft clink of glass doors closing behind them strangely relaxing. Ajax gets distracted by the mural laid within the furthest wall, lit up by the same soft white light along the back of the top bench, so Kaeya preoccupies himself with tying his hair up and heating the rocks, making sure it won’t end up too hot inside. 

Most likely from the atmosphere, Kaeya wishes he had a glass of wine. 

“I read somewhere there’s a wellness bar in here,” Ajax says as he sits next to Kaeya, sighing loudly and tipping his head back on the upper bench. 

“Did I say that out loud?” Kaeya copies him, the wood warm against the back of his neck. 

“I just know how you are,” Kaeya tips his head to see the smirk on Ajax’s face and bumps a knee against his thigh. Ajax does it back. Kaeya does it again, harder this time. Ajax does the same. They go back and forth like that, playing around until Ajax cheats and starts trying to tickle Kaeya. 

“Leave me alone, you already tried to drown me yesterday,” Kaeya scooches down the bench, foot against Ajax’s thigh to keep him a legs length away, arm up on the bench behind him so he can rest his head. “It’s nice inside here, so let me relax a bit before I have to deal with my panicky brother.” 

“Of course, your Highness,” Ajax coos sarcastically, “are you helping him get ready on the big day?” 

“Probably. I don’t know all the details, like if they’ll keep from seeing each other until one or the other walks the aisle. If not, I wonder if they’ll help each other get ready while we set stuff up at the venue. We’ll be errand-boys tomorrow and the day after, so prepare yourself.” 

“How exciting,” Ajax says flatly, “well, I don’t mind. I’m kind of looking forward to seeing how well your brother can clean up. His hair seems just as bad to untangle as yours does. I’m surprised he lives in such a humid place, though seeing his hair frizz up would be picture worthy.” 

“And pictures I have, at least from when we were teenagers. Before we broke off we lived over in Brandenburg, a rural area. It wasn’t as humid as it gets here, but May was the month Diluc had his good hair days. I got a few pics of his hair all curled up and messy somewhere on my phone.” 

“He have any of you?” 

“I hope not,” Kaeya smiles, “you having some is enough for me.” 

“Who said I have some?” Ajax smiles back. “Embarrassing pictures are a roommate thing. Your folder for pictures of me isn’t a secret, by the way.” Kaeya nudges him in the thigh again. “Well, I guess neither is mine, or at least not anymore.” 

“You’re blackmailing me.” 

“Sure, ‘cause pictures of you looking absolutely gorgeous while passed out drunk on the couch or embarrassing yourself at a bar is definitely blackmail.” Ajax laughs and shakes his head. Kaeya, still with his back to the wall and keeping Ajax a distance away from him, goes quiet, the silence between them comfortable as Kaeya watches the beginnings of sweat start to slide down his neck. 

It’s then Kaeya remembers that they’re supposed to be a couple, that the whole reason Ajax is here with him in the first place is because he always loved to try and one-up Diluc. Realistically he couldn’t, not in this situation-- his brother is getting married and Kaeya brought his boyfriend who isn’t even his boyfriend. Silently Kaeya wonders if they could truly even make it work, the lovey-dovey part that comes with living with someone else and the affection and attention that comes with it. In Ajax’s case especially. He’s known Kaeya shorter than what it feels like and has seen his ups and downs, has seen his lowest, just after Diluc left him and was expected to start a new way of life in a brand new city. 

But dating? Actually loving Ajax? Kaeya doesn’t know if he could, or if he would even know how. He loves the way they are now, that they can be honest and open with each other and not be expected to say I love you every hour. Kaeya doesn’t know if Ajax feels the same or if he’s even thought about what this might mean for them once they’re out of Dresden and back in Zurich. 

“You’re thinking pretty hard over there, you’re getting sweat in your eyes,” Ajax brushes fingers over Kaeya’s ankle and holds it, rubbing the dip between his bone and the back of his heel. “Care to share?” 

“Later,” Kaeya says and wipes sweat off his eyebrow with the back of his hand, “when we get back to Zurich, maybe, or if we lose stuff to talk about on the train back.” Kaeya assures him with a smile, and though Ajax looks dejected he smiles back. 

“Well, you want something to get your mind off it? You didn’t look too happy,” Ajax turns to face him, bringing a leg up to rest his ankle on his other knee and rests his cheek on his fist, letting go of Kaeya’s ankle. “I don’t know what time it is, but I bet the bar is still open, or we can go swimming again.” 

“Like hell I’m getting back in the pool with you, I don’t trust you,” Kaeya says with a shake of his head. “We could go back up to the room and find a movie? Big day ahead of us, ‘specially if Diluc decides to stress himself out.” 

“Ah, yeah,” Ajax deflates, “it was fun while it lasted.”

“We still have the wedding, stupid, it’s just tomorrow that’ll be a handful.” 

“I’m already tired,” Ajax fakes a yawn, “see?” 

“Whatever, we should probably get out of here soon so we don’t overheat. Do you have any specific movie you wanted to watch? I was just throwing out ideas.” Kaeya grabs them each a water and leads Ajax to the showers, tells him that it’s best to take a cold shower after being in the sauna. On the way back up, he doesn’t stop shivering. 

“What happened to being from Russia?” Kaeya teases, holding the door to their room open for him. “And answer my question, what movie do you want to watch?” 

“Well it’s not like I can go home often, so I’ve lost my immunity.” That’s not how it works . “Plus it’s been super humid, so I’m used to some sort of warmth,” Ajax clicks his tongue, “leave me alone. You can find a movie, I’m not picky.” Lies.  

Whether it be the fact that the Taschenbergpalais is meant for tourists able to afford five-star service or the movie channel collection is just shit, they end up watching Das Leben der Anderen — The Lives of Others— the first movie they watched together as college freshman and Ajax was still trying to learn German. 

Neither remembers falling asleep, but Kaeya is the first to wake up with Ajax sprawled on top of him like a blanket. Somewhere on the couch his phone is ringing, and for a second he feels a sense of deja vu-- up early, phone ringing, and, hey, look at that, Diluc is calling him. 

“What time should I pick you up?” 

“I can’t even get a good morning, my dear brother?” Kaeya mumbles, talking quietly even though Ajax can sleep through pretty much anything. 

“Good morning, annoying little one, what time should I pick you up?” 

“You’re the one who needs all that beauty prep, not me, I have time for that before the ceremony. Pick me up whenever is most convenient for you.” 

“Great, I’m outside. Hurry up, and leave Ajax.” 

“What? No, he’s like a stranger to Dresden.” 

“Okay? Zhongli can get him later, if he’s with us now it will just be awkward. Please?” 

Normally Kaeya would argue, it’s a typical thing for younger brothers, but, whether it be his sleep-addled brain or some other thing, he sighs and says okay, tells Diluc he’ll be downstairs in ten minutes max. 

He shakes Ajax awake and pulls himself out from under him, telling a sleepy Ajax he’ll be back later to get ready with him, to which Ajax nods and shoves his face in one of the throw pillows while shooing Kaeya away from him. Kaeya shakes his head, heading to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face and make his mess of hair look somewhat presentable, then slides his shoes on and goes downstairs to meet Diluc. 

His brother is waiting for him, leaning tiredly on one of the posts along the stairs’ railing. 

“I have to pick up my suit then we can go back to my place. Zhongli is with a friend of his at her place, so it’ll be you and I until your boyfriend wakes up.” Diluc explains to him on their way to the car. 

Kaeya flinches at the word boyfriend , it once again completely slipping his mind that that’s the reason Ajax is here with him in Dresden in the first place and not back in Zurich waiting for Kaeya to come home with a hot meal, open arms, and an immeasurable amount of alcohol like he always tends to do. 

“It’s ‘cause I missed you,” Ajax would say when Kaeya eyes the bottles, “drink the pain away, or whatever.” 

“You hear me?” Diluc knocks his elbow lightly against Kaeya’s upper arm. 

“How could I not? I couldn’t drown your voice out even if I wanted to,” Kaeya sasses and sniffs, to which Diluc rolls his eyes but they’re both smiling, it’s common banter between them, familiar to them even if it sort of hurts deep down. 

Kaeya stays in the car when Diluc goes in to pick up his suit, sending a couple messages to Ajax, still sleeping, and telling him to give Kaeya a call once he’s awake and they’ll plan things from there— his ride, his outfit, what to do with his unruly mop of ginger hair he brushes once a month— so on and so on. 

“Do you have pictures, or something? Ideas? I hope you don’t expect me to just know what to do with your hair, it’s thicker than mine, don’t forget.” Kaeya takes Diluc’s phone from his hand, swiping through the few pictures he’s gathered. “These suck.” 

“Well it’s not like I get married every month, excuse me for not knowing what the hell I’m doing, Kaeya,” Diluc says, going red across his nose to the tips of his ears at the mention of his marriage, “I just thought having someone to help instead of doing it myself would be nice, and you were always careful with my hair, so.” 

“You’d cry if dad tried to brush it.” 

“He wasn’t all that gentle, you should know. I wasn’t the only one who cried.” Diluc gives him another nudge, “I brushed your hair just as much as you brushed mine, even after we grew up. I hope it’s not, like, weird or whatever to ask you to do it again.” 

“I guess not, not after you so kindly emptied your wallet for Ajax and I the night we got here.” Kaeya teases, laughing when Diluc clicks his tongue at him. “I don’t mind, I missed it. Ajax’s hair is too short to do anything but pull on it.” 

Diluc goes silent. 

“Don’t make it awkward.” 

“Uh huh, get out of my car, we’re here.” Diluc grabs his suit from where he laid it out in the back seat so as not to wrinkle it and waits for Kaeya to catch up with him, locking his car and leading Kaeya inside. It’s a neat little thing they live in, modern and old at the same time and plain on the inside, a few pictures of Diluc and Zhongli together littered along the hallways and whatnot, as well as some pictures of Diluc and Kaeya as kids Kaeya believed to have been thrown out, and some of Zhongli with his old friends to be even. 

“Thought you’d have a bird by now, you always wanted one,” and, as if on cue, Kaeya hears a chirp from somewhere further in the house, “I rest my case. What’s its name?” 

“I forgot. We’ve taken to just calling her ‘bird’ and seeing how many dumb things she can say.” Diluc lays his suit on his bed and ushers Kaeya to follow behind him. Laid out on his vanity are brushes and combs and hairpins, a big mess of them at that, and clips-- thin gold ones with a long pin in the back, one a dragon and the other phoenix. 

“A dragon?” 

“We all have our interests as a kid,” Diluc shrugs, “I’ll sit on the floor if that’s easier for you, but you might get hair on your pants. It’s unavoidable. You can make yourself comfortable for now, I’m going to shower.” 

Kaeya nods, returning to the couch once he hears the water start running and opens his phone to scroll through more ideas, more than the small handful Diluc had, and comes up with nothing, all of them on thinner hair or seemingly impossible for him to do. He gets up after deciding he’ll just go with what feels right and looks closer at the framed pictures in their house. 

In Zhongli’s cluster of pictures, there’s a girl with pale blonde hair, and in each picture there’s a blue flower tucked behind one ear and they’re both smiling widely at the camera, though as Kaeya looks at more and sees how Zhongli grows up the girl is not there, instead replaced by someone with hair just a tad darker. Kaeya wonders if that’s who he’s with now. 

In the pictures Diluc has Kaeya is in almost all of them, aside from the few of him with Zhongli on the trips they’ve taken or the dates they’ve had. As kids, as teens, the week before he graduated from high school-- the one picture he has of just Kaeya-- and a singular picture of his dad holding Diluc as a baby. 

“Feel free to say those are embarrassing,” Diluc says from behind him, hair wet and dressed in a shirt loose enough that won’t mess up his hair when he has to slide it off and redress in his suit, “Zhongli’s more sentimental than I am, so he insisted on framing and setting them out.” 

“Would you have kept them if he wasn’t?” 

“I kept them before I was with him, didn’t I?” 

“I was just curious, is all. Everything that happened, I—,” 

“Don’t,” Diluc sighs, “I don’t… I don’t see why we have to talk about it now, I’m already stressed.” 

“Will we ever get the chance to after this?” Diluc is staring at Kaeya when he turns around, “I always try to bring it up but we’re so conveniently placed in the public eye. Now we’re in your house, in a quiet place, and it’s just the two of us. Then after it’ll be you and your husband and you’ll be too occupied with each other, or whatever,” 

“I’m embarrassed by it.” Diluc admits. 

“I want you to be,” Kaeya says back, tensing when Diluc flinches, “I’ll dry your hair and let you figure out what you want to say to me, okay?” 

Diluc’s look would be a glare if he didn’t look so pained. “Okay,” he whispers, and once again Kaeya follows him into the bedroom. He sits at the vanity for now so the plug for his hair dryer can reach, though they both avoid looking in the mirror. His hair takes a while to dry completely— it’s thickly layered, thick in general, and keeps getting tangled in the brush Kaeya uses to try and prevent the tangles. 

Once he’s done, give or take thirty minutes later, Diluc still looks lost in thought even though the dryer isn’t whirring anymore and the room is completely silent. Kaeya lets him be, is content to switch to a comb and brush his hair from the bottom up, separating his bangs from the rest of his hair and finds the natural way his hair lays-- the bangs, the pieces that frame his face, the rest. 

“I never hated you, just to get that out of the way,” Diluc starts with, his voice strained and low, wouldn’t be heard if Kaeya were to step even a foot backwards. “I tried to, but I couldn’t, it wasn’t you I hated, I can’t hate someone for something that isn’t their fault.” 

“Do you blame yourself?” Kaeya takes the longer strands that curl around his jaw, brush the collar of his shirt, pinning them together at the base of his head with a couple of pins. 

“Of course I do,” Diluc says, his tone poisonous, “he was my dad.” 

“Do you blame him?” Kaeya tries loose twists on the pieces, then braids, then a tighter twist. 

“More than anything. It was his fault, at the end of the day, no matter how badly I try to blame it on myself it was him who did it. I couldn’t stop him, you couldn’t stop him, hell, he couldn’t stop himself, so what the fuck were we meant to do?” 

“So you don’t blame me?” Kaeya settles with both the braid and the twists— braids smaller sections of a bigger one and twists them together, the braid a more proper one that starts closer to his hairline and lines up with the shape of his head better, then twists them and ties them together with a few more pins. 

“Like I said, I never hated you.” Through the mirror, Kaeya sees the beginnings of glossy eyes caused by tears in the dark red of his brother’s gaze. “I wanted to, I left because I thought it would be easier to hate you if I never saw you, but all I felt was guilt and I woke up with it everyday and just felt disgusting , I was—,” Diluc pauses, inhales and lets his tears start to fall, “I’m your brother, you know? I can’t run from you no matter how hard I try. You always knew where I was hiding as a kid, it’s like a sixth sense of yours, and you bothered me whether I wanted you to or not. Escaping you is impossible.” Kaeya stares at the phoenix hair clip in his hands, carefully tracing his thumb over the gold wiring. “I was a terrible brother to you, Kaeya, why are you even here?” 

Kaeya holds up the hairpin, keeping his words to himself until Diluc’s gaze lifts to what he holds. 

“Life after death,” Kaeya states, “resurrection,” he continues, twirling the stray pieces from the twisted braids to clip together with the phoenix, “and for you— good luck in your marriage, and one day might we be able to find peace and balance between us for good.” 

Diluc breaks on a sob. 

“Please don’t run from me again.” Kaeya whispers, holding back his own tears as he kneels down, cautious of the loose clip in Diluc’s hair as his arms encircle his shoulders and he buries his nose in thick hair. 

“I’m sorry,” Diluc drops Kaeya’s arms from around him and he slouches, Kaeya’s hands cradled in his. “I wasn’t there, I was selfish, at the time it was all I knew, I wanted everything for myself, even the grief and the guilt, I didn’t want you to lose another father, it was all supposed to be mine, but then I left and gave you even more of the things I didn’t want you to carry, and I couldn’t face you because of my own regret, I’m sorry .” 

“Stop crying,” Kaeya wraps a strand of hair around his finger and pulls hard, contradicting his own words as his cheeks grow warm with tears, “you’re the big brother here, I’m the one who should be crying, you baby.” 

“I’m sorry, Kaeya,” Diluc says once more, over and over under his breath as he pulls Kaeya into him and squeezes him half to death in a hug, “I don’t want you to forgive me, I just want you to know.” 

“Okay,” Kaeya says, is all he can say for right now, “that’s okay.” 

They don’t stay kneeling for long, not with the time they have, so Kaeya wipes his face free of any wetness and does the same for Diluc, fixing his hair and making the thick mess look a little more presentable. With the little bit of coverage makeup Diluc owns Kaeya covers the few red spots from acne long gone and what’s around his eyes from crying, then pinches his cheeks too hard on purpose— brother things— for a natural blush. 

“You’ll be doing that again later, won’t you?” Diluc grumbles and sniffles, rolling his eyes when Kaeya nods his head with a grin. 

“What time do you have to be there?” He checks the time on his phone and sees that he has a number of missed calls from Ajax, the most recent no less than a minute ago, then realises his phone was off. “Give me a minute, actually, ‘Jax called me.” 

Kaeya steps out of the room and calls him, the phone barely ringing before Ajax picks up with a loud, “Kaeya!” 

“Ajax!” Kaeya responds much quieter. 

“What the hell is wrong with you? I panicked! I thought Diluc killed you, or something!” 

“He’s not that terrible of a brother.” Kaeya laughs. “Why did you call me so much? Did something happen? Did you burn down the Taschenbergpalais trying to make breakfast?” 

“No, nothing happened, I just wanted to tell you I’m ready. How’s it holding up over there?”

“Hold on,” Kaeya pokes his head back in the room just as Diluc is doing the buttons of his undershirt, “how much time do I have to get ready?” 

“Ninety minutes at best?” Diluc says, tucking his shirt and fastening his belt, then grabs the suit coat and dress shoes to put on by the door. “I’ll drive you back and wait around your hotel room while you and Ajax get ready, Zhongli is meeting us at the reception place so we don’t have to wait for him.” 

“He can drive?” 

Diluc nods his head to one of the pictures. “Darker blond hair, Ningguang, is bringing him. She’s the one helping him get ready, you know the whole bad luck with wedding things— seeing your partner before the ceremony is unlucky.” 

“ Helloooooo .” Ajax says over the phone, louder than when he greeted Kaeya. 

“We’ll be back soon, do something with your hair.” Kaeya tells him then hangs up. He and Diluc are silent on the drive back to the Taschenbergpalais but it’s comfortable and less tense than things tend to be between them. 

Ajax is lounging on the sofa when Kaeya and Diluc walk in, suit jacket folded over his arm with his phone in hand, turned horizontal to play whatever he likes to dink around on in his free time, and his hair is still the unruly mess he always keeps it in— aggressively towel dried until he probably gives himself a headache then covers his ears with what’s sticking out. Kaeya always calls him weird for doing it. Ajax mentions how long Kaeya’s hair takes. They move on. 

Kaeya has less time than he feels like he does, so his shower is quick, he doesn’t wet or wash his hair, it doesn’t need it, and dresses himself in the bedroom he and Ajax have been sharing throughout their time here. Ajax helps him fasten the rib-high corset as Diluc fixes his hair so it lays comfortably over his shoulder like it always has. 

A collective glance passes around the room, silent, each of them dressed up more than they have been before in front of each other, Ajax and Diluc for the first time— Diluc in a less common wedding suit with ruffles hanging off his collar and down the middle of his chest, held by softly tied knots with smaller, matching ruffles around his wrist. Ajax in a typical suit and coat, couldn’t afford much else as a college student, but his shoulders are broad and his waist is slim enough that it fits well, and the rich, deep blue tie hanging off his neck coincidentally matches that of the lace on Kaeya’s corset, underneath it a white button up. And, be it because they’re men and not all well versed in fashion, a pair of black slacks adorns each of their lower halves, accentuates their waists and long legs. 

Kaeya wonders what Zhongli is dressed in, and how in the hell he’s supposed to put his dragon accessory in his hair if Diluc is the one who has it, tucked safely in his breast pocket. 

“They’re taking the place of our wedding rings,” Diluc answered the unspoken question, or maybe Kaeya was mumbling to himself, whatever. “Neither of us are a fan of wearing jewelry, and it’s only a coincidence that we each keep our hair long, so handmade hair clips were our idea instead of a ring.” 

“How will Zhongli get his, then, and how will he get yours?” 

“That’s his problem, he left without mine.” Diluc frowns, hands feeling around in his hair for the hook of the clip before Kaeya shoos his hands out of the way before they mess up the braided twists. 

“Well, one of us could give it to him once we get there, right? Unless Ningguang wants to come and get it from us.” Ajax suggests, fixing the cuffs of his jacket. “But we should probably figure it out on the way there, can’t have the bride late to her own ceremony, can we?” 

“He’s the wife, not me.” Diluc grumbles as he passes Ajax, holding the door open for the brothers then following them out, closing the door and making sure the lock clicks shut then follows them to the elevator— a quicker trip than the grand staircase considering the amount of time they have left to get where they need to. 

“I can take it to him, if you’d like,” Kaeya offers, “I’ll be his whatever-in-law soon, so maybe he wants to make sure he’s doing the right thing, marrying you and all.” Diluc’s nose twitches in the same way a bunny’s nose does— a habitual sign of discomfort he’s had since they were kids. “Sorry.” 

“Don’t worry about it.” 

“Should I take it?” Ajax leans forward, elbows resting on either seat the brothers sit in and lays himself over the middle compartment, narrowly avoiding an elbow to the face when Diluc jumps. “Do you have any sort of final prep to do look-wise? I could sit with Zhongli while you do that if you do.” 

“Are you trying to say something?” Diluc says, tone on the edge of teasing, making both Ajax and Kaeya smile. “I don’t, so it’s between you two to decide who gives it to him.”

“Can you pinch hard?” Kaeya tilts sideways a bit to whisper down at Ajax, who replies with a stiff nod. “Pinch his cheeks before he walks out, that natural blush thing, you know, and I’ll take the hairpin to Zhongli.” 

“You’re very open with your scheming,” Diluc says then announces that they’ve arrived. 

The parking lot is rather empty, still a bit early for whatever crowd they’re expecting at such a low key ceremony. Kaeya branches off to look for Zhongli once in the venue, Ajax following after Diluc into a room opposite of where Zhongli is supposed to be. Kaeya knocks, greeted by who he assumes is Ningguang when she opens the door for him to peek her head out and see who it is. 

“He forgot his ring,” Kaeya says and holds up the phoenix, “figured he’d want to put it on rather than me.” 

“Ah, yeah, he does that a lot, the whole forgetful thing. Especially with his wallet.” Ningguang opens the door wider to let Kaeya in, turning to thank her but she’s gone, the door closed quick and quiet to leave him and Zhongli on their own. It’s awkward , Kaeya thinks and turns to look at Zhongli. He’s looking over at Kaeya, or, really, what’s in his hand, and Kaeya walks over to give it to him. 

“You look quite nice,” Zhongli compliments him as he takes the hair clip into the soft cup of his palm, a thumb stroking over the gold wire as his gaze turns from Kaeya down to the intricate design of it. “Did your brother tell you these were handmade?” 

“He did. They’re both very beautiful. You look nice as well, by the way,” Kaeya wants to kick himself. He has never felt so awkward. Where’s Ajax when he needs him?  

“Relax, Kaeya,” Zhongli chuckles, “you didn’t have to stay, though I guess Ningguang didn’t give you much of a choice.” 

“I wanted to talk to you, anyway, or see if you wanted to talk to me.” Kaeya tries to relax, rolls his shoulders back and slouches the little bit his corset allows him to, “I don’t know about what, but, you know, people get jittery.” 

“And is Ajax doing this with Diluc?” Zhongli teases lightly. “Your brother, he is quite something. He’s not a very open person, but I doubt that’s something you don’t know already. You said on your first day here that you were surprised he found somebody, um, willing to marry him, right? I was eavesdropping, so I might’ve heard you wrong.” 

“Something like that, yeah. I think I’ve been telling Ajax that everyday since Diluc first called me to tell me about this whole thing. It was surprising, to say the least, especially with all that happened in the last few years. I guess you could say I’m surprised at how quickly he settled over being shocked that he found someone he could actually consider dear to him.” 

“You’re very dear to him, Kaeya,” Zhongli tells him like it’s a well-known fact, something everybody but Kaeya is aware of, and maybe it is. “He was very happy when he was telling me that you’re coming, but happy in that way that he gets, you know, not the overboard, jumping up and down stuff.” 

“We talked as he got ready, actually, or as I got him ready,” Zhongli huffs a laugh through his nose but his gaze falls on Kaeya, attention focused wholly on him as he talks, “things that we’ve been meaning to say and things we both have been wanting to hear.”

“Are you well?” 

“What?”

“How are you doing, Kaeya?” 

A pause. “What?” 

Kaeya feels a little stupid when Zhongli laughs at him. 

“Answer the question however you want,” is all Zhongli tells him and his eyes feel overwhelming. 

“Yes, I’m… well. It’s been a nice few days, I’ve never spent this long in Dresden before, I don’t think. I mean I’ve seen all I’ve shown Ajax, but I’ve never had time to rest in between the coming and going. Every time I’ve come here Ajax has always stayed back so Diluc and I can have some time together, so he was really excited to finally get out of our apartment back in Zurich and get that change of scenery every college student craves.” 

“Where is Ajax from?” Zhongli looks happy, genuinely, like he’s glad Kaeya has managed to relax around him. 

“Russia, but I don’t know if he’ll ever take me there.” 

“Why?” Why? Kaeya has no idea. He’s never thought about Ajax’s home back in Russia aside from the number of siblings he seems to have. “He seems like he would love to take you.” 

“One day, maybe, when we have the time to spare after college.” 

Zhongli looks at him. Kaeya feels like he’s being analysed and it makes him itch under his collar and burn under his corset. “One day, maybe, it is then. The ceremony is starting soon, you should go and check on your brother and your boyfriend, and please send Ningguang back over here.” 

“Yeah, probably, sure,” Kaeya hopes Zhongli didn’t see the way he bristled at boyfriend , but, then again, ever since he walked in and Ningguang walked out he feels as though there’s been cameras on him constantly-- like he’s hooked to wires upon wires and every word he said or answer he gave was written down and filed away in Zhongli’s brain for something Kaeya can’t figure out the reason for. 

Ningguang is just walking back as he steps out, and she shares that same look, though softer, in her eyes that Zhongli held in his. Diluc and Ajax are laughing as Kaeya walks in, Ajax almost on the floor from laughing. As he’s bent over, Kaeya notices the rip in his pants, starting mid thigh and running up to where his belt hugs his waist. 

“Are you joking?” 

“Ningguang went to get spare pants.” Diluc explains through his laughing, his cheeks colored that natural red Kaeya had to pinch into them earlier and Ajax, well. Ajax sounds like he’s dying, fumbling with his belt buckle through ugly hyena-like giggles. Ningguang opens the door to fling a new pair of slacks at him and they both laugh even harder. 

“You have fifteen minutes,” she says and leaves. 

Ajax is quick to change out of the ripped pants and into the new ones, his belt fastened a little looser-- they must be Zhongli’s, then, because his waist is small enough to rival Kaeya’s while he and Diluc are built about the same in everything but height and maybe shoe size. 

“I’m going to get us seats up front, join me when you’re done in here,” a hand on his waist, curled around his corset but the warmth of it burns him through the heavy fabric of it anyway, just the same as when Ajax presses close to his side, kisses Kaeya near his sideburns, and walks away like that’s something he does everyday. 

It’s supposed to , Kaeya tells himself. Diluc’s too busy dabbing tears from his eyes to notice his dilemma and for that, Kaeya is thankful.

“You’re awkward with him,” Diluc says from his seat in front of the vanity. 

Nevermind . 

“Isn’t all love awkward?” 

“You could never lie about serious things as a kid.” 

“I’m figuring it out,” and Kaeya wants it to end there. Diluc looks over at him and for a second he thinks he’ll push for more. “I am.” 

“I know. Don’t rush.” 

“I’m leaving now.” 

“I’ll see you out there, make sure you don’t steal all the attention.” Diluc smiles at him, wide and boyish and one Kaeya hasn’t seen in years, a time longer than what he can count on his fingers, and he tells him to save that face for when he’s looking Zhongli in the eyes. “I love you, Kaeya.” 

“Don’t trip on your way down the aisle, Diluc.” 

Kaeya finds Ajax on one of the front benches, hands clasped between his legs with one of them bouncing. Kaeya sits close to him, a hand on his jumping leg to push it down and keep it still. Ajax asks how Diluc is doing. 

“I told him not to trip, I hope I jinxed him.” Kaeya grins. 

“Wishing the worst on the day's best, you really are a younger brother.” Kaeya has a retaliation on his tongue, but then organs start and soft music plays, not the typical wedding tune but Kaeya likes it all the same— likes it as much as he likes when Ajax’s hand holds him at the curve of his waist again as he twists to look backwards, and for a second Kaeya panics at the way he begins to lean into Ajax before remembering he’s supposed to. 

Ajax is here for a reason. They are not together, only pretending, and so Kaeya lets himself indulge in the more intimate touch of Ajax’s hands on him— his waist compared to where his arm is normally slung across his shoulders and he’s grumbling tired complaints into Kaeya’s ear on a trek for coffee or one of their shared morning classes. Kaeya sighs quietly to himself at how soft Ajax’s breath feels on his neck and thinks back to the last month of nights they shared in bed because Ajax demanded they do so, how all of him has become so familiar that Kaeya wonders if he’ll be able to sleep without Ajax’s weight dipping the mattress behind where he lays. 

But then his brother is walking out the double doors, not as grand as a chapel and much lower to the ground but the lacy white decorations make it worth looking at. He’s walking alone, dragon hair pin clasped carefully in hands folded neatly in front of him. Kaeya conjures up what he might look like if his father was next to him, worn hand on his shoulder and a warm smile on his face as he walks his first son down the aisle to hand him over to another man. When Diluc gets to where he and Ajax sit he shifts his gaze and winks. 

Zhongli is next, followed out by Ningguang but walks up alone just as Diluc did. Kaeya notices the way they look at each other as Zhongli approaches him— Diluc with that same boyish smile he showed to Kaeya before he left but wider, brighter, much happier. Zhongli’s eyes are warm, glimmering amber filled with adoration and nothing but that, lips curved up in a way much more gentle than Diluc’s. 

The ceremony is short. Ningguang officiates it, tells them to say their I love you’s and softens her eyes when they fasten the clips in each others hair, a single tender kiss shared between them as the small crowd applauds and Kaeya tries not to feel stupid for letting a few tears slip. Ajax’s hand is grasped in his own the entire time. 

Kaeya greets old friends on their way out, Ajax’s hand back at his hip as he tags along, adding his own little quips here and there because he knows how to make a good impression. Once Kaeya has talked to the people he knows and the faces he remembers, he seeks out Diluc, being their ride and all, and finds him talking to Zhongli somewhere further off as the crowd mingles together. 

“We should give them a minute,” Ajax says, Kaeya pulled back a bit by a tug on his hand, “let them have their moment, we can talk here until he’s done.”

Kaeya lets himself be held again, up against Ajax’s side like it’s the most natural thing in the world. 

“I thought it’d be longer. I wonder if they’re saving their vows for dinner.” Kaeya tells him, hands overlapping Ajax’s to lace with his fingers over his stomach. Ajax sways them. His heart aches when he thinks of how soon this has to end. “It was sweet, though. I've never seen Diluc so happy. Maybe a little sick, too, seeing my brother gush over boys.” 

“You’re brothers not as bad as you made him sound,” Ajax says, “I don’t know him like you do, obviously, especially not during the recent years between you too, but maybe he won’t be so bad anymore.” 

Kaeya hums. He asks himself if it’s love that did it for him, that made him forget the guilt and move on from the grief of a lost father. Kaeya resents it. Kaeya’s jealous of it. Kaeya doesn’t want this trip to end, doesn’t want to move even an inch forward or back out of Ajax’s grip, just the left and right Ajax has kept swaying them at. 

Suddenly Diluc is in front of him and loudly clearing his throat, Zhongli and Ningguang at his side with that same analytical look in each of their eyes that they studied him with before. Ajax has moved to grab his hand, dragging him a bit as they head out, the last ones left in the venue. 

“Sorry,” Kaeya grins, “Diluc’s a handful to get ready, I’m a little tired.” Diluc rolls his eyes as the other three laugh. Ningguang offers to take Ajax and Kaeya with her so Diluc and Zhongli can be alone. 

It’s a little uncomfortable, they’re still sort of strangers, but the ride is short and silent and Ajax has Kaeya’s hand in his again. When they step out of her car she gives Kaeya another look, a nod of her head, and when Kaeya turns his head over to Ajax back to Ningguang she’s once again slipped away. 

“Shall we?” Ajax offers his arm. Kaeya shakes his head as he hooks his elbow around Ajax’s, the door held open for them by someone from Zhongli’s stack of invitations. The place for the reception is large, one giant round table off towards the side of the massive space, just enough chairs for everyone and maybe a few to spare, along with an open wooden floor most likely meant for dancing, and at the very back is snacks and drinks and a simple white wedding cake, adorned with the same wiry dragon and phoenix decoration stuck on the top layer except this time it’s made of melted sugar instead of metal. 

Typical Ajax— Kaeya is led over to the drinks. He takes a white wine for himself and grabs Kaeya something a little more red, and with a muted clink they take their first sip.

Conversation has picked up easily, everyone mostly circled around the newlyweds aside from a few stragglers wrapped in their own discussions. They stay off to the side as well, nursing their drinks and people-watching, Kaeya laughing to himself when he thinks that this is probably the most people Diluc has ever talked to in his life. 

“What?” 

“Diluc’s funny, is all,” Kaeya tells Ajax, shifting to face him, “have you had fun here? I was thinking about how I’ve never brought you with me earlier.” Kaeya fixes his popped collar as he waits for his answer. 

“I told you why I never come,” Ajax shoos his hands away, “it’s your time with your brother and I don’t need you being a mother hen, so I stayed home— plus we always drink when you get back, so.” Kaeya makes a face at his grinning. “It’s been fun, though, we’ve never gone anywhere but a convenience store together.” 

“Not true, there was that one soccer game,” Ajax quirks an eyebrow up, “the stadium with the really good fries. The guy in front of us spilled a blue slush and a beer on his date. You really don’t remember that?” 

“Well now I do. He stained my shoes.” Ajax looks down at his feet and frowns, and when he looks up there’s another one of those smiles on his face— the same one he gave Kaeya before trying to drown him in the hotel pool. “Hey, you’ll dance with me right? Later? Maybe even a slow dance?” 

“I know we’re supposed to be dating, but dancing with you is a little embarrassing.” 

“Meaning?” 

“Have you not seen the videos I’ve taken of you dancing when you’re drunk? My favorite is the one where someone tried to take your belt off and you just, like, went deadweight so they’d leave you alone. I thought you passed out and almost cried ‘cause I would’ve had to carry you home. Then there’s this one—,” Kaeya’s next words are muffled by Ajax’s hand across his mouth, his face red when Kaeya looks up at him. 

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. No dancing to the good songs. We’re definitely slow dancing though, we have to show the newlyweds who’s boss.” Kaeya rolls his eyes, pulling Ajax’s hand off his mouth. 

“If you insist,” he agrees, “but nothing before that. I’m serious. If you even try, I’ll be the one taking your belt off and hitting you with it right in the middle of the dance floor.” Ajax winces just at the thought of it and promises Kaeya he won’t try anything. “You’re not drinking a lot either, remember we go home tomorrow.” 

“You’re killing me.” 

Another eye roll. Kaeya jabs him in the side with his elbow when Ajax pulls him against his side for the nth time that day, fingers tracing over the details on Kaeya’s corset as they stand around, waiting for the bigger crowds to disperse before trying to find a place to sit. Every now and then Ajax’s nail goes over the details, the faint scratch feeling making Kaeya shiver. He wonders what Ajax is thinking about.

With that thought in mind, he remembers the looks from Zhongli and Ningguang, what his brother had said, and what this whole trip means to Ajax— what will happen when they get off the train tomorrow and are faced with going back to being friends, to roommates. It all circles back to the idea of love , and Kaeya tries to think of something else but Ajax is too much of a constant presence behind him that he can’t , his mind glued to the feeling of how comfortably they fit together and how natural this is for them, as if they’ve been doing this for years and they aren’t playing pretend because Kaeya asked him to. His current thoughts about Ajax are nothing new— the family man, how kind he always is, how much he’s seen of Kaeya without asking and without needing to ask because Kaeya just let him . 

“Penny for your thoughts?” 

“My thoughts are worth much more than that. Let’s go sit down.” Kaeya pushes at his hip to get him to turn and move, glaring when he freshens up his glass of wine. “Better make that last, I’m making you drink water once that’s gone. I’m not letting you get trashed off wine at my brother’s wedding.” 

“Yes, your Highness.” 

They’re sat by people unfamiliar to them so it’s more meaningless conversation to themselves, Zhongli and Diluc diagonal to them— their chairs have higher backs, fancier details, and in front of them there’s a drink in each of their glasses and tableware already there. 

“I thought your brother didn't drink?” 

“It’s grape juice.” 

The newlyweds take their seat and everyone follows. Kaeya wonders if he’s the only one who feels awkward— the table is an elongated oval so he can see everyone he recognises and doesn’t— but then he looks at Ajax who’s picking at the seam of pants that aren’t his and bouncing his leg again. Kaeya sort of feels bad— Ajax is a man of many words, yes, but it seems that even some crowds just aren’t for him, especially one so fancy and professional-like— he can’t act out like he could at a bar or the parties they attend. 

“We can step outside whenever you need to, I’ll go with,” Kaeya leans over to whisper, fingers sliding down to graze his wrist and take his hand. “It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who feels out of place.” 

“Kaeya Alberich, pro-sweet talker, feels awkward, huh?” 

“And you?”

“You won’t let me dance.” 

“For good reason. I’m preserving your image. I don’t want you ripping another pair of pants.” 

“I’ll remember this,” Ajax is pouting now. His thumb starts to stroke over Kaeya’s knuckles and Kaeya wonders if he even knows he’s doing it, or if he’s anxious and awkward and doesn’t know what to do with either of his hands. “Hey, when is the food coming?” 

“I never asked, but I hope soon. I don’t think I’ve eaten today, Diluc woke me up early then stole all my time to get ready. This wine is a pretty shit aperitif too, they should’ve got champagne instead, or something.” Kaeya swirls the dark liquid in his glass and chews his tongue, a frown coming to his mouth when he feels his stomach start rumbling now that Ajax put the idea of a meal in his mind. 

“A what?” 

“Aperitif.” 

“I think I should stop calling you Your Highness , you’re using royal words now.” 

“I liked fantasy books as a kid, some of the words just stuck around. I wanted to be a prince with magical powers at some point, like, I don’t know, ice. Diluc would play villain when I bothered him enough for it and he would always be fire.” Ajax looks at him with eyes asking for more. “We had a story made up, sort of, bits and pieces of one. When I first said I didn’t have an eye he thought I meant in real life and ran to dad to tell him.” 

“Why didn’t you stop him?” 

“Why would I? Dad’s laugh from the other room was worth it, and after that we had him buy us a notebook to fill up with all the story parts we made up in it so he didn’t mix up lies and truth again. He might still have it, buried in dad’s stuff or even his own somewhere.” 

“You should ask him so I can read it. I want to know more about this Prince Kaeya who can control ice and doesn’t have an eye.” Kaeya nods. “What’s an aperitif, anyway?” 

“Alcohol that boosts your appetite, makes you hungry.” 

“Isn’t that just all alcohol?” 

“I guess so,” Kaeya laughs, “there’s digestif too.” 

“Uh huh,” Ajax says dumbly, “you drink that after you eat, I take it? Fancy people are weird. If I did that it’d be a shot before and after dinner, then maybe something a little sweeter for dessert.” 

“I think you need better drinking habits. Aperitifs are stuff like champagne or gin, and digestifs are heavier, like brandy or scotch.” 

“On the rocks?” 

“If you want it that way,” Kaeya sips his drink slowly until it’s gone, sighing when he sets his glass down, “I don’t care for either of them, but this feels like a place where people would drink them. If they did, I’d probably have to pry the hard liquor out of your hands before you got out of control and forgot what I said about dancing.” 

“Am I really that bad?” 

“I told you I have videos, I can show you them later if you want.” Another Ajax pout. His mouth opens to retort just as doors on the far end of the room swing open and tables— covered in the same lacy cream-colored tablecloth— are rolled out to line up next to where the table for drinks is, full of different multi-sized platters of what they can only assume is the food they were wishing for minutes ago. 

“Fucking finally,” Ajax grumbles. Kaeya has to keep him from literally running up there, telling him to wait for things to be uncovered and for Diluc and Zhongli to get their food first, that newlywed bonus so they’re not swamped by people, then tells him that because he and Diluc are related they’re technically next. 

“You’re lying to me,” Ajax whines, “I’m too hungry to wait, look, they aren’t even up there yet. We can, like, dine and dash.” Kaeya shakes his head, laughing again. 

“I’m not letting you dine and dash at my brother’s wedding either,” Kaeya grins. He manages to keep Ajax still in his seat until they’re able to go up and stack their plates with food. There’s a fine mix of both German and Chinese wedding food, it's all traditional— there’s Hochzeitssupe — wedding soup, a usual starter for German weddings that’s made up of chicken broth and some sort of meat like chicken or meatballs. Then there’s a mix of German and Chinese noodle dishes, as well as a roast in the middle of the table. 

“You’re going to need one of those digestifs after all that, I can’t imagine you digesting it without help,” Kaeya says with a wrinkle of his nose. 

“I’m a broke college student who lives off carbs and alcohol, this trip is the best I’ve eaten since Russia.” Ajax explains as he waves his fork around to prove a point, then stabs it into a piece of roast and probably swallows it whole— it wouldn’t be the first time he’s done it, the man can eat a whole pizza in under five minutes if he really puts his mind to it— but Kaeya cringes all the same. 

Meanwhile Kaeya picks around at his food because he knows his manners, finishing his plate off much later than Ajax does and refuses to follow him up for more. 

“Just look for the biggest slice of cake later, sit and let the food actually settle before you eat more,” Kaeya nags him, the music for dancing finally starting up and making him jump in his seat, loud compared to the quiet chattering there was just a second ago. 

It’s all pop music— American, German, Chinese— nothing Ajax would dance to, or so he says. The floor clears for the first slow dance, Diluc and Zhongli looking rather small in the middle despite being two of the tallest there, would be the tallest if not for Ajax, and as they take each other by hand and by waist the crowd starts to coo. Kaeya spots Ningguang with a camera, bent at the knee to crouch with a woman at her side with a hand on her shoulder to keep her steady. He notices a ring on both their fingers. It’s something he’ll have to be curious about later, gaze fixed back onto his brother and his husband. 

The way they dance is sweet, Diluc looking up at Zhongli in the few centimeters that separates them and he’s smiling again. The soft lights surrounding them glint off the hairpins they’ve placed on each other, flashing then hiding again as they spin slowly, hand in hand, gazing at one another like they’re the only ones there at the moment and aren’t surrounded by a crowd of people.

“You promised me one of those, remember.” Ajax whispers with a nudge of his elbow to Kaeya’s arm. “It’s my one chance to dance, so I’m going to keep reminding you until you’re off your feet and out there with me.” 

“Yes, yes, I promise I’ll dance with you when the time comes.” Kaeya reaches a hand up and scrubs it through Ajax’s hair like he’s petting a dog. Ajax smiles at him the way a dog would wag its tail. For the millionth time this trip, Kaeya dreads the conversation that’ll come once they’re out of Dresden and back in their little apartment in Zurich, bare of any alcohol for the first time since Ajax is here with him and not sat on his ass mourning Kaeya’s temporary loss. 

And the time comes sooner than Kaeya would wish, only four or five songs after Diluc and Zhongli had danced, been applauded, then went almost bright red as they circled back to their respective seats. Kaeya sees Ningguang dragged out by the woman who was holding her steady, about to nudge Ajax and tell him he was right about them just as the elbow he stuck out is carefully grabbed, Ajax up on his feet with an expectant look on his face. 

“Now?” Kaeya’s not ready to completely fall in love with him. 

“Of course, I’m not waiting, I want to dance,” Ajax slides his hand down from where he grasped Kaeya at his elbow, fingertips twirling on his wrist to entwine with his hand and take him out onto the floor. “Now come on, I’m serious, I can’t wait.” 

Kaeya follows, a smile gracing his lips as Ajax eagerly takes him somewhere towards the center, the floor crowded but not enough that they would bump into each other each spin or turn or twirl. 

“You know how to slow dance at least, right?” Kaeya grins and giggles when Ajax spins him on his heel, a careful hold on his wrist bringing him right into Ajax’s chest. “I trust that you won’t let me fall on my ass if you try to dip me.” 

“I would never hurt your beautiful ass, no worries,” Ajax is happier than Kaeya thought he would be— who knew a slow dance would be such a big deal to him. Just as the light flickered off the hairpins it glitters in Ajax’s eyes, reminding Kaeya of the lowlights in the city against the deep blue sky just after the sun sets. His smile is sweet and his lips look even sweeter, glossy from his drink and split open to reveal rows of teeth just as pretty. 

As they dance, fit together like a puzzle, Kaeya’s mind slowly starts to piece together all things Ajax. He realises, after all this time debating with himself whether or not he could, he’s already in love with Ajax. There was no if or buts from the get-go because after the years Ajax spent at his side have been years filled with Ajax tearing at his heart until he could lay there, nested where Kaeya is most sensitive, for good. He doesn’t even know if Ajax knows that’s what he’s done, what he’s been doing, but Kaeya feels dizzy staring at his face, eyes flicking back and forth between the endearing shine in his eyes and the gleam of alcohol on his lips. I’m in love with you. 

Kaeya says it.

“I’m in love with you.” 

Ajax startles. He thought Kaeya was just as lost in him as he was in Kaeya. 

Kaeya’s incomparable. Untouchable. Ethereal. Everything about him shines, from his hair to the jewelry he wears and even to the minor details etched into the corset that hugs his waist that Ajax is jealous of, a corset of all things, because he’s been wishing he could hug Kaeya that close ever since it was secured at the small of his back by Ajax himself. Beneath his bangs his eyes sparkled and the smile on his lips was a teasing one, not uncommon for him, and Ajax wants to die looking at it, at him . Kaeya’s an angel, Ajax wants to put him back in the sky where he’ll be safe forever, more untouchable than he is right now, than he will ever be.

“Good,” Ajax says in one breath, “good, that’s so good, I love you.” 

Both hands on his waist now, grabbing and pulling so there’s no space between them as they kiss the sparkles off the other’s lips. It’s much better than their kiss underwater, less awkward, a kiss that was expected this time. Ajax tastes like the wine he was sipping and he was almost too warm with how close he has Kaeya pressed against him, breathless when they pull away from each other. 

“I cannot tell you how stressed I was this entire trip,” Ajax sighs, long and a little loud as if he’s been holding his breath ever since stepping foot onto the dance floor. His face has pinked up a bit across his nose and his cheeks. 

“You did well at hiding it,” Kaeya praises. The song they were dancing to is starting to fade, so Kaeya takes Ajax by the wrist and back to their seats. “I was worried about what would happen when we got home, you know. Everything we’ve done has just felt like normal stuff we do when we aren’t faking it.” 

“So I wasn’t the only one who realised it. All but that pool kiss and maybe sharing a bed every night. I had a script thrown together in my mind of what I’d tell you when we got back, and that if you rejected me I’d pull out my secret stash of alcohol.” Ajax’s grin is teasing, his hand warm on top of Kaeya’s knee where he rests it. 

“Secret stash, huh?” Kaeya takes his hand. 

“Are you a drug dealer?” A voice from behind them speaks up— Diluc and Zhongli, hand in hand, slowly stepping up and standing in the small space between their chairs. “Diluc could probably benefit from its medicinal purposes. You should hear how often he complains of a sore back.” 

“Says the one whose knees crack a bunch each time he stands up,” Diluc nudges his husband, “drug use aside, that was quite a performance out there, pretty passionate for a song like that.” 

“You’re embarrassing me,” Kaeya huffs. 

“It’s an older brother’s job. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that you both aren’t obligated to stay for the entire reception. I’ve bothered you all day,” Diluc pulls at Kaeya’s ear gently just to mess with him, “and I know you leave for Zurich tomorrow and have that long train ride back. Ningguang and a few others offered to help clean once it’s over with, as well as some of the staff, so two less hands won’t be much of a bother.” 

A shared look between Ajax and Kaeya is all the answer Diluc needs. 

“We’ll stay for cake, I want to see who gets icing on their face first.” Ajax tells them. 

“It’ll be cut soon, I think, so enjoy the rest of your time and make sure to get enough sleep, and keep your phone on for the morning so I’m not weaving through traffic again to get you to your train on time.” Another playful tug to Kaeya’s ear as Diluc and Zhongli walk away, off towards the table where the cake stands and where Ningguang is waiting, the same woman at her side, a hand tucked behind her back with frosting on her fingertip. 

It’s a tie between who gets frosting in his hair first but it’s Diluc who gets cake in his nose. Off to the side, Ningguang is holding her plus-one an arms length away with a small smear of frosting between her eyebrows and down the bridge of her nose. Whoever she’s with is laughing at Ningguang’s frown, straining forward until Ningguang’s grip slips and she gets a cheekful of sweet frosting. 

Kaeya smiles over at her, a bit smug, oblivious to how Ajax is loading up his own finger with a dollop of icing. When Kaeya turns his head to ask him if it’s good, his own plate untouched, he’s greeted with Ajax’s childish grin and the cream smeared just under his nose. 

“Thought a mustache would suit you better,” Ajax giggles and cleans the leftover frosting on his finger with his tongue, then wipes it on a napkin and eats a mouthful of cake. Kaeya’s nose twitches at the sweet smell, swiping at his upper lip with his thumb until most of it is gone and he can drag it down Ajax’s bulging cheek. He leans in, smirking when Ajax freezes, and kisses his cheek right over the smear of frosting. 

“You’re messing with me again,” Ajax frowns. 

“You make it easy. Hurry up and finish your cake, I’m going to call a taxi. Meet me outside once you’re done.” Kaeya wipes up what he didn’t kiss off, tossing his garbage as he calls a cab for he and Ajax, wincing at the price per mile but booking it anyway, knowing Diluc probably wouldn’t lend them his car. 

Ajax walks out only a few minutes later, silent as they stand around and wait. The taxi ride back is just as quiet, the back seat a bit cramped for the two of them. Ajax is fidgety, sighing every now and then as he shifts his gaze from looking out the window then to Kaeya. 

“Something on your mind?” Kaeya asks him and reaches for his hand.

“Just that you look really good in that corset,” Ajax replies easily despite the anxious bounce of his leg. Untangling their fingers, Ajax drags a hand over the rough fabric of it, eyes focused downward at the cinch of Kaeya’s waist. “It’s pretty, I like how it matches your hair.” 

“You can help me take it off, then,” Kaeya leans into him to whisper, kissing the bit of frosting he missed before falling back into the seat on his side of the taxi. 

Ajax follows him up to their room like a lost puppy once they’re back at the Taschenbergpalais and can barely keep his hands to himself, off the curve of Kaeya’s hips over his corset as Kaeya unlocks the door, quick to turn and claim Ajax’s mouth against the door before dragging him off to the master bedroom, his weight on top of him as they fall backwards warm and comfortable. 

Their night is long despite the lingering thought of the half-day’s worth of travelling the next day. Ajax miraculously kept Kaeya fancied up in the corset, had untucked his dress shirt from his pants and hastily pulled at it until it was freed from under the corset, and from there the night went on, Kaeya convincing Ajax to take it off at some point between a shared breath of pleasure. 

The next morning the sky is thankfully gray, not the blinding morning sun that has been torturing them both since their first day here, and from somewhere on the floor Kaeya’s phone is ringing. When he checks the time he sees they’re not running late, or anything, so Diluc calling him was a bit of a surprise, but he answers anyway. 

“Did you make it back to your hotel safe?” 

“Clearly, if I picked up,” Kaeya mutters, body and mind still heavy with sleep, unsticking himself from Ajax and moving out to the sitting area. The couch is much colder than the bed and hardly touched with how busy he and Ajax have been during their stay here. “We still have a couple hours before we have to leave, you know.” 

“Normal people would get breakfast and not starve on a train until they can order takeout as soon as they get home,” Diluc chides. “I’ll even stop somewhere if you’d like, a place we can eat at real quick if you want.” 

“Ajax isn’t even awake yet.” 

“Okay? Wake him up, tell him what I said, and get your stuff around.” There’s a sound of shuffling and muted words of I’m paying, don’t argue with me in the background. 

“Married lovers quarrel already?” Kaeya teases, walking back towards the room where Ajax sleeps, nuzzled up onto a pillow since Kaeya left him on his own. “It’s only been a night, Diluc, what could you possibly have done?” Kaeya sits on the edge of the bed, Ajax curling his arms around Kaeya to bury his face in his thigh just as he was doing to the pillow. 

“Good morning Kaeya,” it’s Zhongli’s voice now, even deeper since it’s morning and making Kaeya stiffen unconsciously, “I’d like to take you and Ajax to breakfast to celebrate you both actually getting together and to say a better goodbye than a quick word at the station. Please be ready in forty minutes max.” 

“Where did my brother go?” Kaeya asks through his laughter. 

“I’m here!” It’s muffled. “He’s suffocating me, no big deal, just get ready! If Zhongli doesn’t make it, don’t worry! It wasn-- hey, hey! Get off !” 

“See you both soon!” Zhongli’s voice is cheery as the line goes dead. 

Ajax is slowly trying to bring Kaeya down onto the bed with him, one eye peeking open to look up at him tiredly as he sets his phone off to the side. He’s expecting a hand carding through his hair and maybe a good morning kiss if Kaeya’s in a good mood, but instead he gets a hard pinch to his nose and the promise of a typical German breakfast if he’s up, packed, and ready in the next half hour. His groan is nasally as he spreads out on his back, trying and failing to shake Kaeya’s fingers off his face. 

“I heard you, you can let go now,” he says and gets that good morning kiss after all. Kaeya leaves him a second time, probably to get ready in the bathroom, which means Ajax is packing first. He and Kaeya were up later than either of them meant to be last night, his face going pink at the memories of it, but he’s tired enough that even the scratchy vintage fabric of the carpet beneath where he plops down to start folding his clothes up feels comfortable. He didn’t bring much, didn’t really need to, so getting his things together takes no less than twenty minutes, an additional two added because he buried his second pair of travel clothes under everything else by accident.

Kaeya comes out with his armful of toiletries and ushers Ajax into the bathroom, packing up his own stuff and slinging whatever bags he had onto his shoulders after slipping his shoes on. Ajax takes much less time in the bathroom, his hair less of a hassle than Kaeya’s, and emerges from the back of the suite with his bags. 

“Nothing but dust in there, I checked.” Ajax says and hands Kaeya his phone, key card in his hand to pass off to the receptionist desk on their way out of the hotel. When the elevator doors slide open Diluc is waiting there with Zhongli, one grinning as the other pouts with a bandaid over a bushy red eyebrow. 

“I see suffocation wasn’t a successful tactic. It never was, he always escaped.” Kaeya jokes as he walks up to them. “Been there, done that, sort of thing. What happened to your eyebrow?” 

“I cut it open a bit on the nightstand trying not to die, thank you very much for asking.” 

Ajax looks lost behind them, but his brain must still be tired because he doesn’t question anything they’re saying or try to play along with it. He’ll probably sleep on the train just like he did last time, though he hopes he doesn’t drool on Kaeya this time-- he’s wearing one of his good shirts. 

“We don’t have as much time as I thought we did, but there’s a small cafe-type place not too far from the station that has really good apple custard cake. Their coffee isn’t too bad either, so I was thinking we stop there before sailing you off back to Zurich.”  Zhongli explains as they exit the hotel, opening the trunk for Ajax and Kaeya to set their stuff down. 

“Anything is fine, it all sounds better than whatever the train offers on extended trips.” Ajax replies as he shuts the trunk, climbing into the car after Kaeya. 

“Did you enjoy your time here, Ajax?” Zhongli asks once they’ve found a table at the cafe, each armed with a slice of cake and a coffee. 

“I did, I haven’t been anywhere except Russia and Zurich, so being able to come and see all this, not to mention meeting you guys, was a nice break. Back at home I’m the oldest, so I never got to get out much because I was either babysitting or supposed to be setting a good example for my younger siblings. I’m glad Kaeya brought me around here for once, he always left me at home.” Ajax sends an overdramatic pout in Kaeya’s direction. 

“You’re welcome back any time, now that things are actually real between you two,” Diluc speaks up, his first time since the hotel. He must be done pouting , Kaeya thinks to himself, typical Diluc . 

“We were convincing enough,” Kaeya frowns with a jab at Diluc, “we surprised each other with what we each had to say that morning to call and tell me you were not only engaged, but married . It’s just that one of us happened to be lying.” 

“Oh, I believed you. You’ve always been a pretty convincing liar. Ningguang is the one who pointed it out to us.” 

“She’s a scary woman,” Ajax mutters to himself and sips the last of his coffee, sighing contentedly when he sets his mug down and leans forward on his elbows, shoulders sagged with exhaustion and dreading the long train ride. “Seeing her relax around whoever she brought along was like seeing a completely different person.” 

“Yes, that’s Beidou. They got married a couple years ago, met in college just like you but under different circumstances,” Zhongli tells them, and their curious gazes urges him to continue, “it’s nothing to get excited about, just that Beidou knocked on the wrong door to be let into her dorm after a party and Ningguang was too tired to look for the right room, so she let Beidou stay there for the night and would help her sort herself out in the morning. I think Beidou was a little embarrassed, or maybe love at first sight, but after that night she kept making small advances towards Ningguang until she gave in. They dated for a while, deciding somewhere in those years to get married a couple years after they graduated, and here they are.” 

“Damn, you talk a lot,” Kaeya mumbles. The story makes enough sense from what he managed to pick up on, but Zhongli talks so passionately monotone he couldn’t help but start to zone out on him.

“Hurry and finish, we need to leave,” Diluc says as he checks the time.

Goodbyes at the station are a little awkward. Diluc hugs Kaeya and wishes him all the best with Ajax and the rest of his college semester, then does the same to Ajax, frowning when he has to step up on his toes to hug him properly. Kaeya wasn’t expecting a hug from Zhongli, he’s thought from the first day he met him that if he tried to touch him his hand might faze through him. Ajax breaks the tension by pulling them all into a crushing group hug and a thank you for everything . They break away from each other laughing. 

“You’re free to visit any time, remember,” Diluc calls after them as they head off, hand in hand, and it’s barely ten minutes after settling onto the train that Ajax is fast asleep on Kaeya’s shoulder. Kaeya takes after him this time, cheek pillowed by his soft mess of ginger hair, sleeping on and off for most of the trip, shaking Ajax awake for the last two hours of it as they play stupid games the find on their phones together. 

Their apartment feels like home, cozy and claustrophobic compared to the suite they’ve been staying at but it’s familiar— the rumpled sheets and stains of coffee rings on every other table they own and the blankets neither of them take care of thrown across the couch, the very couch Ajax had laid half-awake almost three weeks ago as Kaeya bothered him with another one of his problems. 

It’s as if a force pulls them into their kitchen, both starving but lacking any energy to cook, and they stand where they did when Ajax first offered to fake-date Kaeya to save his ass. 

“Full circle,” Ajax mumbles, “back to where it all started.” His kiss is a gentle one. “We can wait to unpack and stuff, right?” Kaeya giggles, nodding. “Good, I need a shower so fucking bad. Hey, take one with me, it’ll save water and it means I don’t have to wait up for you to sleep in, like, a real bed.”

Kaeya rolls his eyes but agrees, picking up the clothes Ajax strips off on his way to the bathroom, shaking his head at him. The hot water feels good as it rolls down his back, the cramped space comforting in comparison to the one at Taschenbergpalais. Ajax is a constant presence against his back and against his chest as they switch places back and forth to wash up. Ajax combs the tangles from Kaeya’s hair for him, starting from the ends and working his way up, careful with the worst of them. 

“This all feels so normal, it’s like we’ve been a thing since we decided we’re moving in together. Like we were the ones who didn’t know we were dating and everyone around us did.” Kaeya says against Ajax’s wet skin, face pressed against his shoulder as Ajax brushes his hair. 

“I think we’re just stupid.” Ajax chuckles, “I don’t know, it feels a little more domestic. Like, do we keep our separate rooms? Do you want to put a label on this or leave it the way it is? There’s a lot we need to talk about still, but I wanted to mention it all tomorrow instead of trying to discuss it now given how fucking wiped we both are.” 

“I want to keep sleeping with you,” Kaeya says and stops there, both going pink at the wording and the flash images of each other's skin that comes to mind, “in the same bed. I want to keep sleeping with you in the same bed. Hey , don’t get handsy, hey, Ajax!” He’s chased from the shower, dripping onto their bathroom floor, scowling at Ajax as he stays in the cubicle, hands held up and wiggling his fingers in Kaeya’s direction with a dumb smirk on his face.

“Anything you wish, your Highness,” Ajax says, knocking the faucet with his foot to turn it off and catching the towel Kaeya throws at him, lounge clothes rolled up with it as they dry and redress, Ajax rubbing the towel through his hair while Kaeya squeezes as much as he can from his, combing it once more then tying it in a braid. 

Ajax follows him into his room, the bed a welcoming plush beneath the both of them as they collapse into it, a loud sigh of contentment from each. Kaeya lets himself be half crushed by Ajax’s weight for a few minutes, then moves them so he’s curled against the broad of Ajax’s back with his nose buried in his hair. 

“Thank you for coming with me,” Kaeya whispers into damp strands, “I’m glad you had fun, and I’m happy how things turned out with us. I was really worried about what sort of conversation would go down once we got back here.” 

“That makes two of us,” Ajax sighs, voice quiet in the silent room aside from the hum of the vents, “I didn’t want you taking anyone else. I don’t mind staying here when it’s just to go and visit Diluc, but I seriously might’ve drunk myself to death if I knew you were faking something like this with someone I don’t know.” 

“Protective,” Kaeya teases, “I wouldn’t have liked it anyway, I was hoping you’d step up, so thanks again. I really appreciate it, Ajax.” 

Ajax turns to face him, brushing soft kisses over his skin, each of them saying their own you’re welcome . Another batch of sleep comes easy to them, adjusted to sharing a bed now that they’ve been doing it every night for almost a month and Kaeya loves how warm Ajax is next to him, a grounding weight in his bed, a solid presence in his room he doesn’t want to ever forget the feeling of. 

“So,” Ajax whispers, “who’s room is getting the guest room treatment?” 

Kaeya just about smothers him with a pillow.