Archive of Our Own

The window of his bedroom was open, letting in the pleasant ocean breeze and the relaxing sound of small waves rolling against the shore. Thoma fidgeted in the darkness, his shirt and trousers sticking to him like a second skin and sweat soaked his brow. It was far too hot.

The Traveler’s teapot abode was always temperate in the day, warm enough for plants to flourish but not so hot it was suffocating. At night things cooled off, making it easy to fall asleep curled up in bed after a warm cup of tea. And with the pleasant thrum of energy from his vision, Thoma nearly always dozed off minutes after his head hit his pillow.

Tonight was just not that kind of night. He may as well be back in Sumeru boiling alive in that gross, humid, monster-infested jungle with how he felt. Damp linen sheets had been kicked aside and pressed against the wall. The blond had lost track of how many times he’d flipped his pillow over before giving up and letting it flop to the floor.

His shirt joined his pillow. It was soaked as if he’d been swimming, hitting the floor with a sort of slapping sound that had Thoma making a face of disgust. His vision wasn’t even attached to him and he was feeling overheated. The faintly glowing red object glared at him from the desk in the opposite corner of this room, mocking him silently.

Perhaps attempting to contort his body to fit into the ice box Albedo created would help. The others would likely be displeased if he were to remove the food from it and it spoiled just so he could get over a ridiculous hot flash. So maybe not. Using one of the soft ice packs stored in the box was a better option. It would only provide relief to one small, concentrated area rather than his whole body as he wanted but even that was better than nothing at this point.

Thoma couldn’t help but find the whole predicament odd as he peeled himself off sweat-soaked sheets. Even the wood under bare feet didn’t feel as cool as they usually did at night. The last time he’d had difficulty with hot flashes was when he’d first obtained his vision. Issues regulating body temperature were common for new recipients of pyro and cryo visions. Or so everyone said; the topic never came up whenever he chatted with fellow pyro wielders.

It didn’t quite feel like a heat cycle, and there were no accompanying symptoms that would suggest as much either. He was teased relentlessly for his obsessive, clingy behavior during his cycles in his youth. Everything had to be just right or it would throw off his mood. Thoma liked to think he’d grown from that. Nest building was something he took pride in however, and the immense effort he put into them would have to be pried from his cold, dead hands before he gave up on doing it.

The cold breeze escaping the ice box when he opened it provided near instant relief. The blond exhaled heavily, basking in the frigid air for several heartbeats before rooting through the box’s contents for the ice packs. Weird. There was always a couple in the one corner that the Traveler insisted belonged there when not in use. It probably would have been smart to use a light of some kind, instead of blindly grasping at frozen meat and vegetables, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t enjoying the cold sensation over his arm at the moment.

“Searching for a late night snack?”

The voice from behind made him jump, yanking his arm from the ice box with a frozen block of meat in hand. Ah. Just Kaeya. Thoma replaced the meat and shut the lid sheepishly, like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Close enough in this case.

Right. Just Kaeya. Standing in the perfect spot of the room where moonbeams fell through open windows and cast their soft light on his bare arms and chest. Long hair tied in a loose bun that was hanging low and coming undone suggested it had been up for a while already. Kaeya was wearing loose, knee-length trousers and the soft glow of his vision in one of the front pockets was evidence of how thin the material was.

“Regrettably, our resident Harbinger has confiscated all the ice packs,” Kaeya sighed in annoyance. “And our dear alchemist is far too busy with his latest project to even consider making more right away.”

Perhaps Thoma imagined it, but the last part of Kaeya’s statement sounded as if he were sulking. “Can’t Tartaglia use his vision to cool off?” Couldn’t Kaeya, for that matter?

The cryo wielder shrugged. “I thought so too. Maybe it’s only good for getting sweat out of his sheets and clothes. Or maybe he’s too dim-witted to consider the use of his vision.”

“I heard that.” Speak of the devil. Tartaglia nearly missed the last step, stumbling in the dark like a newborn foal. He recovered quickly and acted as if it hadn’t happened. “For your information,” he grumbled, making sure he bumped shoulders roughly with Kaeya as he passed the other, “I did consider that. But the water can only be manipulated so much temperature wise without additional pyro or cryo application. And nobody likes feeling wet when they’re trying to sleep.”

He didn’t shove Thoma in the way he had Kaeya, instead stepping around the shorter of them and popping the ice box open to drop the warm ice packs into it. Kaeya only chuckled, “Hey, I offered.”

Thoma couldn’t clearly make out Tartaglia’s face in the darkness, but the irritation in his tone made up for it. “Cuddling with another alpha is hardly an offer.”

“Thank goodness you pointed out your secondary gender or I may have mistaken you for a moody, pre-heat omega in dire need of a good bitching.” Thoma could practically hear the smirk in Kaeya’s response. It was going to get him in trouble someday if it hadn’t at some point already.

Tartaglia bristled, hydro sliding up a bare forearm and coiling like a snake. “I’m going to shove a hydro tentacle so far up your-”

“Careful, I might like that.”

Just as Tartaglia started to move towards Kaeya, Thoma caught his arm, the one that wasn’t wrapped in hydro. “Please don’t fight. He only says these things to rile you up and you take the bait every time.”

He always felt a bit guilty using his pheromones to manipulate others, but found himself doing so more often after opting to assist the Traveler. When the Traveler led the team, his use of pheromones to manipulate situations was infrequent. But after Albedo joined and the Traveler put Kaeya in charge of the team… Tartaglia had sulked. Hard. At times he had straight up refused to follow Kaeya’s direction in battles and nearly cost them in the process.

Tartaglia and Kaeya had been with the Traveler for quite some time before Thoma met them. Kaeya since nearly the beginning of their adventure. Tartaglia after getting his ass ground to a pulp by the Traveler in a battle and being forced to tag along so the Traveler could keep an eye on him. Evidently he only behaved, for the most part anyway, since he considered the Traveler a worthy opponent. He did not consider Kaeya one. Lisa had recounted to Thoma the many sparring sessions between the two alphas that had always ended with Tartaglia victorious and Kaeya face down in the dirt.

And with the Traveler absent and Albedo a blessedly unaware beta, it left Thoma to quell the aggression between Tartaglia and Kaeya. The smell of a distressed omega was enough to bring most alphas out of an aggressive state, and it had been sheer accident the first time. The pair had gone from at each other’s throats to fretting over Thoma in mere minutes. He nearly cried, as much as he hated that. More out of shame than actual stress. Worry that his teammates would think less of him because of his secondary gender. Guilt at feeling he intentionally manipulated them.

He was grateful their attitudes towards him hadn’t changed even after this realization. And whenever he did feel the need to step in he was more inclined to use a soothing pheromone rather than one of panic or distress. Infighting was no good and Thoma questioned the Traveler’s choice in leaving them on the same team when alternatives were available. Lisa would have slotted in nicely in Tartaglia’s place, and Thoma enjoyed listening to her stories; but the Traveler felt she was better placed with them, Beidou, and an Akademiya scholar that Thoma hardly ever saw. He wasn’t going to judge.

Lady Ayaka would tease him gently about his ‘kicked puppy expression.’ It was something that he utilized effectively against both Kaeya and Tartaglia when they were in one of their moods. Right now it was the heat. And Kaeya adding fuel to the fire as usual. Tartaglia sighed as he lowered his arm and relaxed his stance, hydro dissipating. He was always the first to react to a challenge and similarly was always the first to fold when Thoma stepped in.

That was when Albedo emerged from the basement, clearly surprised to see everyone awake. “Oh, you’re all here?” The light from his lamp was nearly blinding.

“How are you still wearing all those layers in this heat?” The Harbinger asked, sounding bewildered. Thoma could hardly believe it either. He let go of Tartaglia’s arm and grimaced slightly at the stickiness.

“I’m not the one who nearly drowned in carnivorous plant secretions.” Albedo tipped his head slightly, cat-like.

Yesterday the team of four trekked through the jungles of Sumeru, leaving the relative safety of the city and heading back for Liyue Harbor for this year’s Lantern Rite festival. How dreadful that the nation of wisdom did not truly experience winter. The jungle was hot, humid, and swarming with bugs. To say nothing of the countless mobs of fungi and hilichurls along the way as well.

Albedo was the only one who didn’t seem to mind the heat and humidity. Tartaglia suffered the most, completely unused to the oppressive air and complaining that it was ‘like trying to breathe soup.’ Kaeya wasn’t far behind him. Mondstadt was nowhere near as cold as Snezhnaya but the cryo wielder was still dragging his feet through the undergrowth. Thoma figured it had less to do with the temperature and more to do with the humidity in Kaeya’s case; he’d been fine in the sunny warmth of the city with a nice breeze blowing through the trees and lower humidity.

Thoma himself had been keeping up with Albedo, reminding him to slow down every now and again for their grumpier travel companions. The vegetation was thick and the ground underfoot slippery. At some point the ginger alpha had become fed up with taking the longer routes to find safer paths, summoning his hydro blades and simply beginning to slash through the plant life. He’d ignored Albedo’s warnings and Thoma’s concerns over being respectful to the jungle.

He was quite proud of himself when they reached a wide, clear space by a stream. A mossy log laid in the shade and a faint breeze flowed through the area. Tartaglia sent his blades off and put his hands on his hips, grinning widely as the other three filed into the space after him. His bragging had been cut short, turning into a screech of surprise and fury as something wrapped around his ankle and yanked him up into the canopy.

Kaeya had simply plopped down on the log, exhausted, earning a raised eyebrow from Albedo. “I’m not the one who pissed off the forest, he can deal with the consequences of his actions.” As the last word left his mouth, he too was suddenly hoisted away, up and out of sight.

Thoma immediately got close to Albedo, raising his shield around both of them and scanning the area. Albedo gave a sigh, somewhere between disappointment and annoyance. He knelt, geo at his fingertips as he pressed his hand to the soil. Flowers of made geo raised from the ground, rising up towards the canopy each one higher than the one before it like a stairway.

The pair bounded along the created pathway, following the sound of Tartaglia’s furious shouting and cursing. The sudden silence that followed moments later was unnerving. The branches of a nearby tree splayed out in such a way that a relatively flat platform was at the top of the trunk, and that was where the pair stepped off Albedo’s flowers onto. Thoma had been grabbed immediately, something coiling around his ankle and jerking him into the air. He kicked with his free foot, pyro vision flaring to life. Whatever it was hadn’t liked that, dropping him just as fast as it grabbed him.

He didn’t fall freely for long, a thick bunch of vines stretching from tree to tree catching him. Though his shoulder and hip screamed in agony at being yanked in odd angles with such force, he was glad he hadn’t met his end by splatting against the jungle floor. He surveyed the situation as he caught his breath. Igniting the vines on fire or cutting them away may be detrimental to his continued safety, but it simply wouldn’t do to sit around waiting either. He had to make sure Albedo was okay. And figure out where Kaeya and Tartaglia had been taken.

Something slithered down the back of his neck and under his shirt. A snake was the highest probability. A sentient plant was the lowest. And yet… The vines he was tangled in were moving and coiling around him. Oh hell no. This was the kind of shit that only happened in those weird light novels written by depraved authors who had nothing better to do than fantasize about fictional characters.

And yet here he was experiencing that exact thing. Vines tightened around him, trapping his arms against his back and squeezing around his body so tightly he thought they might crack his ribs. He was aware of movement through the air in addition to the restrictive wrapping. And then he saw it. A bright orange flower the size of a carriage growing from the side of a tree, the vines protruding from the center of it and drawing him in closer.

A flash above him drew his attention. Albedo was practically dancing across the open space between the trees, sword drawn and cutting away vines that got too close, geo platforms manifesting wherever he needed them. Thoma called out to him, successful in getting his attention only for one of those vines to jam into his mouth and down his throat, choking him. Rows of sharp, teeth-like protrusions lined each edge of the petals of the strange flower, greatly alarming him as it pulled him closer. So carnivorous, man-eating plants actually did exist. He officially did not like the jungle anymore.

It wasn’t completely dark when the plant shut its petals around him, sunlight still making it through. The vines squeezed tighter, folding him in on himself until the flower had fully closed. Even then they didn’t stop wriggling. They were a sickly, slimy warm sliding over his skin, coating him in whatever liquid it was they secreted, leaving nothing untouched. Even the one crammed down his throat wiggled and pulsed, something warm filling his stomach before it finally retreated. He gasped for air, coughing violently and wanting to throw up to rid himself of whatever the plant put there.

That was when he felt a different kind of warmth against his skin. Slowly the feeling rose and he began his struggles anew at realizing it was some kind of liquid filling the flower. The plant didn’t respond, simply letting Thoma tire himself out. He was starting to feel dizzy, and the feeling of numbness spreading throughout his body wasn’t helping. Panic was one’s worst enemy. He knew that. But how exactly was one supposed to react to being eaten alive by a plant?

The fluid had reached his neck when suddenly there was a shout, followed by the feeling of falling for a while, then the thunk and violent opening of the plant as it smacked to the ground. The vines wilted, curling in on themselves and releasing Thoma. The large petals were cut away and hands were pulling him free. He stumbled, falling against the nearest person as his legs instantly gave away from under him.

He’d weakly slapped at them and they lowered him to the ground, only for him to immediately wretch up the vile tasting substance that had been given to him. The return of feeling in his limbs was painful, focused like pins and needles but as intense as an oil burn. He hadn’t totally felt it, but he was aware of cut off vines being pulled out from under his shirt and pants.

When he’d finally recovered enough to stand on his own, he took stock of the others. Tartaglia looked like a drowned rat, matching Thoma. Kaeya wasn’t nearly as disheveled but still looked worse for wear. And Albedo must not have been caught by the damn vines at any point, still put together but sporting plant fluid stained clothing. Kaeya had been the one to break the silence, growling at Tartaglia that the Harbinger was lucky he didn’t have the energy or else he’d kill him where he stood, Traveler’s wishes be damned. To his credit, the ginger had the sense to look properly ashamed of himself.

The rest of the way to the tunnel in the Chasm linking Sumeru and Liyue had been blissfully uneventful. Instead of the usual banter between Kaeya and Tartaglia, Albedo’s musings and curiosities about the plant filled the air. He was talking mostly to himself, which was fine with everyone. Tartaglia had swept everyone over with a gentle wave of hydro to remove most of the plant slime and acid, but a good scrub with soap and getting out of soiled clothes was desperately needed. And something unanimously agreed upon that Thoma would get first upon returning to the teapot.

The blonde nearly scrubbed his skin raw with how deeply it felt the substance permeated. He wasn’t sure if it was good or bad that it didn’t have any particular aroma. Once clean he quickly ate the meal the Traveler had left and went straight to bed, uncaring that the sun was still blazing overhead in the realm. Only to awaken at night to a raging fever and sweat-soaked sheets.

“I haven’t found a solution yet, but I was able to determine that the fluid acts as a warming agent,” the alchemist sighed, shaking his head.

Kaeya snorted, “What use does a plant have for something like that in the middle of a jungle?”

“The heat and high acidity helps break down prey faster when trapped inside the plant.” Albedo sounded tired. Maybe even the tiniest bit frustrated with his lack of results. It was hard to tell with him half the time. “I mostly wanted to check in on Thoma considering his pyro affinity. So, how are you feeling?”

“Like a chicken being spit-roasted over an open flame,” Thoma confessed. He ignored Tartaglia’s snicker that a different kind of spit-roasting could probably be arranged. At least the suggestive joke was a sign his aggression had faded for the time being. He still seemed high strung though.

“I see… I suggest drinking plenty of fluid until I either work out an antidote or it works its way out of your system naturally. Kaeya may be willing to lend a hand but short of that a cold bath or dip in the ocean may help temporarily as well.” And with an apology and making the others swear to come to him if their situation deteriorated further, Albedo vanished back into his laboratory in the basement. Whether to continue working on the problem or to nap on the couch Lisa had put down there herself, Thoma had no clue. He was sure Albedo slept but had never actually witnessed it. Not even when they camped out in remote wilderness.

Kaeya had a hand on his hip as he addressed Thoma. “Mister ‘I Only Cuddle Other Alphas If They’re an Archon’ over there thinks he’s too good for the sweet embrace of winter, but you know where to find me if you wish to experience it for yourself.” With that he turned heel and sauntered back to his room. The moonlight made it look like swayed his hips as he walked. Or maybe he actually did, knowing Kaeya.

Later, Thoma decided. Not terribly much, just not now while he was being stared down by a Harbinger. Seriously, what was the Traveler thinking? He bid Tartaglia an awkward good night before heading back to his own room, hating the way his skin crawled under such an intense look. The still soggy sheets did little to help. He’d have to change them in the morning.

The minutes seemed to drag on for hours as Thoma waited for an appropriate amount of time to pass. Kaeya had offered. And Tartaglia was not as stupid as he often appeared. He had likely already surmised Thoma’s intentions of taking up Kaeya on the offer, but the blond couldn’t shake the slight embarrassment of being seen actually walking into the other’s room. That and at some point during the group’s bickering his chest had started to ache. Probably from twisting himself into all kinds of awkward stretched out positions seeking relief from the heat.

A light shone from the crack under Kaeya’s door when Thoma finally approached it and knocked. Thoma had put on another shirt, one that was clean and dry, out of a sense of decency. He supposed it ultimately didn’t matter. They’d all seen each other naked at some point or another. Venturing through wilderness for weeks on end tended to bring that about, after all. The door opened and Kaeya invited him in.

Thoma stood awkwardly in the middle of the room as Kaeya shut the door. “Er... Where should I..?”

“The bed?” Kaeya raised the brow over his visible eye. “Unless you’re confident in your strength and balance at this hour to use the chair.”

Right. The bed. That was a stupid question. There wasn’t really anywhere else to comfortably fit two people at a time. The couch in the common room downstairs was out of the question in this case. Kaeya waited until Thoma was sitting rigidly on the bed to snuff out the light of the lamp.

A cool hand brushed Thoma’s cheek, comforting. “Lie down. Make yourself comfortable, this isn’t an interrogation.”

It took immense effort to pull away from the touch. The sheets were incredibly soft and silky against Thoma’s skin, not as rich as the sheets the Kamisato siblings used but certainly a higher quality than the average person had. He’d counted at least six pillows on the bed before the light had been extinguished and they were all just as nice; plush but without being suffocating. He was drowning though. Not in the pillows, but in Kaeya’s scent. Like red wine and calla lilies with a dash of pine, all wrapped up in the smell of the wind preceding snowfall. He was nuzzling his face into one of those pillows before he even realized what he was doing.

Kaeya’s soft chuckle had Thoma’s face growing hot at being caught. The bed dipped as the cryo wielder joined him, murmuring softly for Thoma to scoot over more. He did. “How would you like me?” Kaeya asked, the phrasing of the question making Thoma’s brain stall.

“What?” Thoma blinked rapidly in Kaeya’s general direction.

This time the laugh was apologetic. “I meant, how would you prefer to do this? For instance, Albedo likes to be held while the Traveler prefers to do the holding.” He made it sound like this wasn’t an unusual thing to happen. Maybe it was normal to him. To be used like a portal ice box. People tended to glue to Thoma for warmth when the weather got chilly so it figured the opposite must be normal as well.

“Anything is fine,” Thoma answered.

“No take backs.” He sounded like a little kid when he said that. Kaeya sat up to bring the sheets and quilt over them before lying down with his back to Thoma, pressing right against the blond’s chest and pulling one of Thoma’s arms over his torso. Did he prefer to be held? “Come now, hold me properly, pelvis to pelvis. Don’t worry, I won’t freeze it off if that’s what you’re worried about.” If Thoma was hot before he was positively sweltering now. How unlike the cavalry captain to be so vulgar. Slowly, very slowly, Thoma adjusted so they’d both be more comfortable in this position. Kaeya really didn’t seem to care.

The pyro wielder had been expecting a shock of cold. Instead, it was gradual. At first he doubted anything was even happening with how damp his shirt was starting to feel. He found himself squeezing closer to Kaeya, wishing for more immediate relief. He didn’t hug too tightly, his chest still sore and the pressure of contact not helping. Slowly but surely the chill radiating from the darker skinned man chased away Thoma’s hot flash. Face nestled against the back of Kaeya’s neck and body temperature finally coming down to a more comfortable level, drowsiness kicked in, and sleep came not long after.

When Thoma woke it was still dark. Not even close to dawn yet if the missing smell of morning dew was anything to go by. Not that Thoma would be able to tell anyway with his face against the crook of Kaeya’s neck and shoulder. At some point in the night Kaeya had turned to face Thoma. Fingers brushed through Thoma’s hair, kneading his head lightly. Thoma still had an arm draped over Kaeya.

“Hm?” The sound rumbled low in Kaeya’s throat. When he spoke he sounded as if he’d been right on the edge of falling asleep himself. Or just coming to. “How do you feel?”

Burning. He was positively burning in spite of feeling the coolness still rolling off the other. “Unwell,” Thoma admitted. This, though. This felt familiar. “I should go.” He started to get up. Kaeya didn’t try to stop him. Thoma faltered after getting his upper half off the bed, freezing as he realized something. “Ah…have I been..?”

“Rutting against my leg and drenching it in a healthy layer of natural lubricant while asleep? Indeed.” His voice lacked the usual teasing lilt and was still deeper from drowsiness.

“Sorry. I’ll…clean up before I go.” He pulled away, apologizing again when he accidentally brushed Kaeya’s erection and the alpha hissed softly.

Thoma slipped into his room to grab his vision. A washcloth was swiped from the linen closet and he dipped it in a water basin in the kitchen, using his powers to warm the water. His own legs were sticky and needed to be cleaned but that could wait. He’d only get messier over the next several days anyway. Thanks, nature.

Kaeya was sitting upright in his bed, feet on the floor, when Thoma returned. Just as Thoma knelt before him to run the washcloth over his leg, Kaeya held up a hand, stopping him and simply taking it from him. “I’m not upset, in fact a bit flattered, but more concerned than anything. You don’t strike me as the type to lose track of their cycle.”

He was right about that. Thoma was meticulous in his tracking of both his own cycle and those around him. This skill went a long way in keeping the Kamisato Estate running like clockwork, at least when it came to scheduling around such things. His own heats occurred twice a year, almost perfectly spaced apart. This was out of the ordinary. Sure, early on there had been a few freak incidents where his body had responded to Ayato’s ruts and triggered early heats, but it had become easier after they’d synced. More importantly at the moment, neither Kaeya nor Tartaglia were in their ruts.

“No, yeah. It’s...early. By several months.” He wasn’t sure where to look. Kneeling at Kaeya’s bedside he was eye level with the man’s clothed erection. The knobs on the drawers of the nightstand were suddenly very interesting. “Probably a reaction to the plant acid.”

“Probably,” Kaeya echoed as he ran the washcloth over his leg. The silence that followed the completion of the task was uncomfortable. The burning feeling coming from within was growing more and more with each passing minute. Kaeya’s scent was threatening to suffocate Thoma and any remaining rational thoughts he had.

“Rise,” Kaeya stated plainly after some time. Thoma stood, gaze shifting from the nightstand to the picture on the wall. He couldn’t make out the contents exactly in the dark. Kaeya ran the cloth over Thoma’s legs now, cleaning him up. “Forgive me for asking, you don’t need to answer, but I’m curious. Do you usually lactate during your heats?”

“Is that what that is?” Thoma pondered aloud. No wonder his chest had been so achy.

Kaeya snorted in a half laugh. “I’ll take that as a no, then. I can’t believe you can’t smell yourself.”

“And I can’t believe you’re still talking.” Thoma’s response came out sharper than he had intended, surprising himself.

Though he hadn’t meant the tone, he definitely meant the words. Kaeya’s self control in the presence of an omega on the cusp of their heat was truly commendable. Any other alpha would’ve jumped him by now. Any other omega would’ve flung themselves at Kaeya by now, Thoma’s brain added, urging him to do so.

“Would you like assistance or shall I walk you back to your room to sort this out on your own?” Kaeya asked, watching Thoma with a starry blue eye.

Thoma maintained his stare-down with the picture. Rational Thoma would choose the latter. There was less risk involved that way. Less chance of messing up the relationship they had. Less chance of screwing up team synergy on the field. Rational Thoma was silenced by rising need.

The alpha before him was striking every chord of his inner omega. It was a common joke in taverns and at the Adventurers’ Guild that everyone was just a little bit gay for their teammates. Kaeya knew what he brought to the table and he took advantage of it. Not only was he extremely aesthetically pleasing to look at, but the confidence was equally as attractive. He was physically strong and attentive to the needs of others.

The thoughts running through Thoma’s head helpfully reminded him that the alpha was also good with children, from the rowdy ones like Klee to the more reserved ones like Qiqi. He fondly remembered just how much Kaeya had enjoyed the commissions from the children in Liyue Harbor that wanted to play pirates. And how good of a storyteller he was to the children in Vimara Village, enchanting them with stories of their adventure for hours.

This wasn’t some sleazy bum on the streets of Inazuma City coming onto him out of the shadows. This was an alpha who had proven himself worthy. Someone who saw him as an equal and, in spite of his own instincts likely screaming at him to pounce, still waited for Thoma’s answer. His head and his body had apparently decided for him.

“I trust you,” he murmured softly, finally tearing his gaze from the framed painting to Kaeya.

He expected to be jumped. Thrown onto the bed and pinned in place. Something forceful in nature. So the washcloth being tossed to the floor and Kaeya standing, running his hands up Thoma’s sides to his face to cup his cheeks, was a surprise.

A kiss was pressed to Thoma’s sweaty forehead and a thumb brushed over his cheek. “Stop me if I do something you don’t like,” Kaeya told him.

“Okay,” a shaky exhale. And then Kaeya was kissing him on the lips, eye shut and one hand dropping to the small of Thoma’s back. It was slow. Patient. Even when the kiss became open-mouthed Kaeya took his time, as if savoring it. He stole Thoma’s breath away, leaving the slightly shorter of the two gasping when they broke the kiss. “Bed,” Thoma stated simply, earning a chuckle from Kaeya.

He released the death grip he had on Kaeya’s pants and slid onto the silky sheets, looking up at the other pleadingly. Kaeya half knelt with one knee on the bed and the other leg still mostly straight, leaning over Thoma to readjust the pile of pillows. When Thoma sat more upright and reclined against the pile, Kaeya settled fully on the bed between Thoma’s legs. Feather light kisses danced across Thoma’s face and neck. He swore he heard the faintest growl in Kaeya’s throat when he tilted his head to one side, and when the ghost of a sharp canine grazed the side of his neck Thoma bit back a whimper.

Calloused fingers traveled over the smooth expanse of Thoma's stomach, pushing his shirt up as they traveled higher. There was a kiss placed to the base of his throat before Kaeya tugged the shirt upwards more, pulling it free from Thoma and casting it aside. "Beautiful," Kaeya sighed as he looked down at Thoma, hands now resting on the blond's hips. Just how well could he see in the dark? His hands didn't remain idle for long, thumbs slipping under the hem of his pants and pulling them down toned legs.

There was a pause. Thoma didn't know what for. Kaeya took a few steadying breaths as the full scent of the other overcame him. Underneath the layers upon layers of a needy omega was Thoma’s unique scent. A deep, warm mix of green tea, kitchen spices, and campfires. Kaeya let himself bask in it for several more heartbeats before exhaling slowly. He shimmied backwards on the bed a little more and nudged Thoma's legs apart more.

Thoma's hand clamped over his mouth to muffle his yelp when Kaeya's tongue swiped over his entrance, legs practically snapping around the others head. Kaeya grunted at that and pressed down on Thoma's thighs to keep his legs spread. Another long, languid lick had Thoma biting his knuckles.

Kaeya lifted his head slightly, taking Thoma’s hand in one of his own and guiding it to his hair. "There's no need to hold back."

"The others are-!" Thoma's concerns were cut off by a sharp gasp, followed by a loud groan as Kaeya resumed his teasing. The message was clear: let them hear. Thoma shouldn’t have been shocked by that. It was Kaeya after all.

The intensity and gusto the man put into eating him out had Thoma moaning and whining at such volumes there was no way the next shared meal as a group wouldn’t be awkward. Tartaglia was a light sleeper by nature, always alert for threats; it was a given he would hear from just a few bedrooms apart. Albedo in the basement though, while they were on the second floor... Thoma shuddered at the thought and gripped Kaeya’s hair tighter. Whether to push him away or pull him closer, he wasn’t sure.

Kaeya was relentless, not letting up until Thoma came, slick practically gushing out of him and infertile cum spurting from his cock. If Kaeya minded being held in place and having his head nearly crushed by Thoma’s thighs, he didn’t complain out loud. It didn’t seem to bother him at all judging by the smug look he wore when he was free to lift his head and make eye contact with Thoma. Kaeya wiped the lower part of his face off with the sheets, then tugged the ribbon from his hair so his bun came loose.

He sat back on his heels, readjusting his eyepatch which had become askew. Thoma lay before him, eyes closed, panting and trying to fill his lungs with enough air again. As Kaeya tied his hair into a low ponytail, he watched the rise and fall of the blond’s chest.

“Indulge me.”

That was all the warning Thoma got before the cryo wielder pressed the pad of his thumb against his left nipple. Coldness jolted through Thoma like a lightning bolt at the contact, his startled yelp turning into a whimper when Kaeya pressed down harder in small circular motions. The combination of the cold and the pressure made Thoma squirm. It didn’t hurt, per say, nor was it ticklish, but it was incredibly sensitive.

And then the pressure was gone, though the chill lingered. Thoma cracked his eyes open only to shut them again and throw his head back into the pillows when the same treatment was applied to his other nipple. A warm mouth came to kiss and lick at the first nipple he’d teased, tongue simply laving over it as Kaeya’s free hand came to cup the tender breast.

“Kaeya!” Thoma squeaked, hands flying to the taller man’s shoulders and back.

He’d responded with a short hum and graze of his canine over the bud. The attention to his chest had Thoma arching his back in an attempt to get the alpha to take more. And who was Kaeya to ignore such a polite request? He switched up again, moving to Thoma’s right nipple to lick and tease at it while returning his cold touch to the left.

The difference was this time he sucked at it. Lightly at first. Enough that it had Thoma leaving crests in his back from his nails. Then harder when the first taste of milk hit his tongue. The omega writhed beneath him, a hand sliding from his shoulder to his hair and gripping it tightly. Thoma was noisy as Kaeya suckled and it had the latter practically purring at the reactions he was getting.

As the amount of milk dwindled, Kaeya switched up, only pausing to lick excess from his lips before applying the same treatment to the other nipple. Not that he wasn’t enjoying the delightful sounds coming from the blond, but there was still the matter of the main act. The hand squeezing at Thoma’s chest crept up to his face, thumb brushing over his lips before gently resting his middle and ring finger over them. Thoma took the hint, parting his lips to lick and suck at the fingers presented to him.

Kaeya paused briefly to make eye contact. “Good boy,” he praised before resuming his efforts.

Thoma shivered. He wasn’t nearly as praise-driven as a certain other teammate but it felt nice, if a bit out of place; Kaeya was doing all the work and nothing had been reciprocated. It was difficult to discern through his heat-addled brain if Kaeya minded or not but his inner omega was pleased to be pampered for a change.

Too soon, Kaeya’s fingers were withdrawing from his mouth and Thoma nearly whined until he felt them brushing against his entrance. At first just the middle finger pressed in, slowly, as if testing his limits. The way Thoma bucked down in an attempt to force it deeper more quickly had Kaeya growling and biting down lightly on nipple.

“Kaeya please,” Thoma growled back, “I can handle it.”

The cryo wielder huffed in slight amusement, withdrawing his hand from Thoma’s sex. “Impatient. Do me a favor and reach into that top drawer then.”

A fist sized jar was handed to him moments later. “Hopefully you don’t mind a little…spark.” Kaeya commented as he unscrewed the lid and dipped his fingers into the slippery substance it contained.

“I-” Thoma’s reply was cut off by a half groan, half yelp when Kaeya pressed his middle and ring fingers into him at the same time. It felt like static shock but more intense and longer lasting than a quick jolt. Almost a smaller scale overload reaction. “What-?”

“Diluted electro slime condensate. A personal favorite of mine for times like this.” Kaeya answered, sounding a bit too pleased with himself. He pressed his fingers in deeper at the same slow speed as before, clearly enjoying tormenting Thoma.

For quite some time, that was all he did. Dragged his fingers in and out of Thoma at a leisurely pace, basking in the omega’s whimpers from the slight elemental reaction. With the addition of a third finger came a sort of kneading at his insides, fingers pressing at his walls every now and again between thrusts.

Movement and the sound of Kaeya exhaling sharply had Thoma craning his neck to see. The alpha had finally, blessedly, rid himself of his pants. Another jolt of electricity from within had Thoma groaning and grinding his hips down on Kaeya’s fingers.

The sensation lingered, albeit not as intensely, when Kaeya withdrew his fingers and dipped them in the jar again. This time the lube covered fingers came to his own sex. The hiss that escaped him had Thoma honing in on Kaeya stroking himself. The strong scent of Thoma’s heat and his cock finally getting attention had Kaeya’s resolve and state of mind crumbling. The instinct to claim and fuck and breed the omega laid out in his bed was getting more and more difficult to suppress.

Kaeya leaned over Thoma, pressing their foreheads together. “Are you sure about this? You can still say no.” His lone blue eye searched Thoma’s green ones.

“I told you, I trust you.” The blond answered, arms draping around Kaeya’s shoulders.

Soft kisses were placed wherever Kaeya could reach. Thoma’s forehead, his cheeks, the tip of his nose, his lips. All while pressing the head of his cock into the other’s slick entrance. The slime condensate made them both jump at the initial contact, more of a pleasant, tingling sensation than the intense sparking feeling earlier. Thoma, for all the patience he typically had, was finding Kaeya’s slow progression maddening. With a single eager roll of his hips he brought Kaeya deeper, giving a pleased sound at that.

“Brat,” Kaeya spat through clenched teeth, hips jerking damn near the rest of the way to the base of his knot of their own accord. “I’m trying not to hurt you.”

“Keep treating me like a delicate flower and I’ll hurt you.” The intensity and the threat alone was uncharacteristic of Thoma. Had he been in his usual state of mind, he would’ve apologized for his tone. And it wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate Kaeya’s tenderness and consideration, but right now... Arms tightened around Kaeya’s shoulders and fingers wove into blue hair, scratching none-too-gently. “Now fuck me before I go find Tartaglia instead.”

The bait worked; Kaeya’s inner alpha didn’t like that sentence one bit. He heard the challenge behind the words and it brought forth his more competitive side. He drew his hips back only to snap them forwards almost immediately. The loud, uncovered groan that left Thoma made Kaeya smirk. His hands found purchase on Thoma’s hips, gripping so tightly that if he squeezed any harder there would be bruises later.

If the ginger alpha wasn’t awake and fully aware of what the pair was up to before, he was certainly getting an earful now that left no trace of doubt. Poor bastard. Kaeya couldn’t find it in himself to actually feel that bad about it though. Not when his partner was making such pretty sounds for him and physically clinging to him like a lifeline. Like he never wanted to let go. The feeling of being needed, of being wanted, even if just in this fleeting moment, hit Kaeya in ways he swore he buried years ago.

He captured Thoma’s lips in a heated kiss as his hands slid from the pyro wielder’s hips to his knees. With only a brief pause in his thrusting, he readjusted their position, practically bending Thoma in half and pressing his knees nearly to the bed by his head. Regrettably it did mean cutting the kiss short, but if the renewed, loud cries of pleasure from the new angle and depth were anything to go by then Thoma wasn’t displeased by that.

No longer pulling at long blue strands, one of Thoma’s hands gripped at the sheets while the other rested on his stomach before gliding lower down his abdomen. He pressed lightly at where the slightest bulge appeared whenever Kaeya thrust into him, the unexpected pressure drawing a deep sound from Kaeya somewhere between a growl and a moan.

Thoma felt both too much and not enough. His hair sticking to the back of his neck and his forehead from sweat. The embarrassing amount of slick dribbling out of him with every thrust. Frostbitten fingers digging into his legs. The beginnings of Kaeya’s knot hitting his lips with each thrust. A single trickle of milk rolling up his chest towards his shoulder.

Whether it was the repeated pounding against his sensitive insides or the way Kaeya was watching him with such reverence, Thoma could not tell which was the tipping point for him. He came for a second time with a loud cry, hips spasming from the intensity and continued simulation throughout, making a mess on his stomach. Kaeya relaxed his hold on Thoma’s legs at that, letting him rest more comfortably. That was the idea, anyway. As Kaeya’s thrusts slowed, Thoma hooked a leg around Kaeya’s back and urged him to continue as he had been.

An airy, breathless plea tumbled past Thoma’s lips. “Alpha, please…”

Such a polite request. Under normal circumstances Kaeya would’ve teased. Would’ve drawn things out more. ‘Please,’ what? He considered it. Making others beg was something he had a knack for. Stringing out pain or pleasure for hours on end was a game. But even he had his moments, and fucking omegas in heat was not a situation he found himself in very often. An omega in heat he’d spent considerable time with as an even farther removed notion from ‘normal circumstances.’

“Kaeya breed me,” Thoma demanded, voice more firm and demanding than mere moments ago.

That whine turned into a choked out gasp when Kaeya complied. His knot pressed into Thoma after only a few rolls of his hips. Movements became shallower and Kaeya laid a hand over the one Thoma still had on his lower abdomen, pressing and adding his own weight while rubbing a thumb over Thoma’s hand. His free hand caught blond locks, gripping them tightly and forcing Thoma to turn his head, exposing the side of his neck. Oh how his instincts raged to sink his teeth into the soft flesh there. Peppering it with kisses and long licks didn’t help to quell the urge. Nuzzling one of the places where Thoma’s scent was strongest also did nothing to shut up Kaeya’s inner alpha but he just couldn’t help it, drunk off the warm smell.

The sharp tang of blood joined the intoxicating aroma as Kaeya bit down hard at the same time as he came. Thoma screamed Kaeya’s name. The darker skinned man groaned into Thoma’s skin, teeth still embedded in flesh. Warmth and an overwhelming feeling of fullness settled deep inside the blond, accompanied by the sting of a swollen knot. Kaeya’s hips twitched every now and again as he filled the omega, a sense of accomplishment and pride washing over him.

Apologetic licks to where he had bitten the other man were made as he came back from post-orgasmic bliss. Thank his lucky stars he’d had enough sense not to sink his teeth into the tender muscle between Thoma’s neck and shoulder and instead, at his collarbone. Being bound to him of all people was likely not something Thoma wanted to live with, not when the two alphas he tended to back home loved to dote on him and could give him anything he ever wanted.

The sudden melancholy must have shown because next thing he knew Thoma was brushing the cheek under his eyepatch with a thumb. “What’s wrong?”

Kaeya huffed a short laugh, “Nothing. Thinking about how reckless I was just now.” Another swipe of his tongue over the bite for emphasis. Mimicking Thoma, the hand that had fisted his hair came to cradle the pyro wielder’s face. He noticed how Thoma hadn’t shrugged his other hand away yet either; Thoma’s still resting below his navel and Kaeya’s on top of that. “And how are you feeling?”

“Better, but...” The satiated feeling from getting an alpha’s knot was fading fast and he could still feel heat prickling at his skin. Damn that stupid plant. This was going to drag on for a while yet, wasn’t it?

“But..?” Kaeya prompted.

The way Kaeya looked at him so earnestly, dare Thoma say even lovingly, had him tripping over his words, stumbling through a barely coherent sentence before taking a breath, pausing, and trying again. “It might... Still take a while to work fully out of my system…” If Kaeya hadn’t been holding his face he would’ve turned and buried it in the pillow out of shame.

Kaeya chose that moment to shift, making them both give uncomfortable noises as his knot pulled. It was definitely more comfortable afterwards, Kaeya on his back on the bed and Thoma laying atop him. Cool fingers danced in nonsensical shapes and lines across Thoma’s slightly scarred back. Where did he get those from? From fighting or something else? Kaeya wondered as he traced the ridges and dips of old injuries.

Instead he said, “It’s fine. It gives me time to fulfill what you asked of me.” A sound of questioning had him chuckling. “Multiple rounds is always best to ensure one is properly bred.”

“Kaeya!” Thoma gasped, sitting upright and making them both wince again. “You- I-” He stuttered.

Thumbs pressing into his nipples again had him groaning. “You’re already halfway there. Producing for a pup you don’t even have...yet.” The last word was tacked on with a smirk. Thoma’s cock stirring against Kaeya’s lower half only made that devious look grow. “Oh? I never thought you were the type to enjoy such fantasies.”

“I... It’s the heat,” Thoma flushed, unwilling to admit to such a thing out loud.

“Sure, and I’m from Liyue,” came the playful response.

He wanted to hear more from the other Mondstadter. And so he dug his thumbs in a little harder, rolling the swollen muscle and fat in slow circles until more white liquid seeped out. Thoma was biting his lip, trying to keep the sounds of his pleasure contained and not doing a very good job of it. Kaeya’s vision was still close enough he could give a short and sweet jolt of coldness to those sensitive buds. Thoma whimpered, hands planted on Kaeya’s chest and hunching over, quivering from the effort of trying not to give Kaeya what he wanted.

“Maybe we should invite Albedo, just to make sure you catch. I’m sure he could be persuaded to engage in a little experiment of tag teaming such a restless omega.” Honestly between the two options currently available, that was Kaeya’s preference. He’d be lying if he said he never imagined the ginger in bed with him before though. “Or maybe you’d prefer that Harbinger. How mean of you to drag his name into this when I’m the one taking care of you.”

“Sorry.” The curt apology was not convincing when Kaeya could feel him grow harder and wetter at the prospect. Thoma hoped he wouldn’t mention it but it was Kaeya, after all.

Kaeya growled lowly, “Getting turned on by the notion of being knotted and filled by Fatui scum. Just how desperate are you that you’d take a knot from the likes of him?” The dig of his nail into a nipple made Thoma squirm. “Answer.”

“Very!” Thoma gasped out, scratching at the other’s toned chest.

“That’s too bad then,” the tan skinned man feigned a sigh, hands dropping from Thoma’s chest to his hips and rubbing light circles there. “I’m not going to give him the chance to see you like this. Now be good and don’t let our efforts go to waste.”

Knot finally soft enough to pull free, Kaeya tugged gently at the blond’s hips, urging him off. Both grimaced at the slight tugging sensation but the way Thoma clenched around him told Kaeya he was clearly trying to follow the instruction given. How cute. Even more cute was the way he laid on his side facing Kaeya and curled against him.

“Should clean up...give me a moment.” Thoma mumbled.

They were content to lay like that for a while; until the uncomfortable feeling of slick drying on skin was great enough it prompted Thoma to roll over and start to get up to fetch a clean towel. A firm hand gripping the back of his neck made Thoma pause.

“Save the cleaning for the end. Who said we were finished?” Kaeya asked, scooting closer as he pulled Thoma back down to the bed. The omega was still half hard and had already warned his heat wouldn’t be subsiding anytime soon. There wasn’t a chance in the Abyss that Kaeya was letting him leave right now. Not with that brute possibly lurking waiting to pounce.

He pressed his chest against Thoma’s back, offering the coolness of his vision as he embraced the omega from behind. His mouth replaced his hand at Thoma’s neck, peppering it with kisses and light nibbles as he rolled his hips against the other. “You did so well listening to me earlier. Now present properly.” Unlatching himself, Kaeya pulled away, sitting up in a lazy side lean with one arm propping his upper half up.

Thoma turned and looked over his shoulder, blinking owlishly at the Khaenri’ahn. He was thankful for the darkness masking his slowly creeping blush, though said darkness did nothing to hide the scent of his arousal. “My chest is still sensitive,” he uttered.

Kaeya clicked his tongue. “I wasn’t asking. Present.” There was no malice or anger to his tone. Enough to be a command but still distinctly Kaeya with the suggestive lilt to it.

A full body shiver that he could not suppress did not go unnoticed if the glint in Kaeya’s eye was anything to go by. Slowly, so slowly a glacier moved faster, Thoma adjusted accordingly. It was enough time for Kaeya to get off the bed, go to his dresser, blindly rummage around in it for something, and return with what he wanted. And when the omega was finally chest down, ass up, legs spread before him, Kaeya leaned over him and passed the item he’d retrieved between the bed and Thoma’s neck.

A choker. Specifically the one Kaeya wore as a part of his daily attire. A physical buffer that would stop him from placing a true claiming bite on the other. Or at least slow him down enough for Thoma to punch him before it happened, either way. It pleased him to see Thoma wearing something that belonged to him.

He was purring as he nuzzled his cheek against Thoma’s. Spindly fingers glided from Thoma’s neck to his side before wrapping around his erection, stroking with a teasingly light touch that had Thoma involuntarily bucking his hips forward and whining. Really he wasn’t sure which way to move; to chase the touch of Kaeya’s hand or to grind back on the cock pressing against his entrance.

Thoma didn’t have time to deliberate over the matter as Kaeya decided for him. For all of the caution and fretting the cryo wielder had been doing, the sudden thrust fully hilting himself inside Thoma in one go was a stark contrast. Kaeya’s heavy sigh was drowned out by the wail of his name from Thoma. He’d wanted it rougher, but Kaeya couldn’t help but kiss away the tear that pricked at the corner of Thoma’s eye.

His free hand found one of Thoma’s, grasping it in a reassuring squeeze. “Tell me if it’s too much at any point,” he whispered, “Hit me if you have to.”

With a nod and a shaky exhale from Thoma, Kaeya pulled his hips back, nearly pulling all the way out, before roughly pressing back in. A deep, bruising pace was set and Kaeya had timed it so that when he thrust into Thoma, his hand around the blond’s cock stroked down towards the base at the same time.

Each thrust punched a groan out of Thoma, glad the other was no longer treating him like glass. Outside of his heats the gentler approach would’ve made for a lovely time. Right now he wanted this freak heat out of his system as soon as possible. He was sure he was drooling with his mouth parted as wide as it was and panting for air in between thrusts.

Not that he spent terribly much time thinking about his fellow teammates’ dicks, but Kaeya was about what he’d guessed. Average. A satisfying length and girth. Sure everyone’s seen everyone nude before but it wasn’t like he was openly staring and sizing them up while scrubbing mud and blood off in some random creek.

Kaeya was… More difficult to ignore at times given the extremely form fitting pants he often chose to wear. Thoma once found himself wondering if the cavalry captain really wore that pair in particular when Mondstadt did have horses. That train of thought derailed into colorful imagery of him riding Kaeya; either in the captain’s office or the even riskier gamble of the stables.

Tartaglia was in the same boat on the matter of tight fitting pants. Not nearly as snug as Kaeya’s but tight enough that they hid almost nothing; and he was hung. Probably the source of a lot of jealousy amongst alphas and anxiety amongst omegas. There was big and then there was Too Big. Accommodations for sure would have to be made, and the Harbinger wasn’t exactly the patient type.

Albedo wore whatever he found comfortable or suitable to the occasion and that almost never included clothes so tight they hugged his figure. But the beta was cheeky about the topic whenever it came up, matching Tartaglia’s taunts with sharp, witty quips of his own. A drunk Tartaglia had once proclaimed he would ‘fuck the hell’ out of Albedo, who only smiled and tilted his head to one side saying Tartaglia would be the one submitting. And while the flustered drunk was turning the words over his head, Albedo just winked at Thoma. Fantasies of spending private time with the alchemist haunted him for weeks after that.

So his mind wandered on occasion. Sue him. And here he was being fucked stupid by one of his ridiculously attractive teammates. Kaeya, to his credit, was always thorough in tasks that interested him, and stuffing Thoma’s insides full of cum was a task he was entirely dedicated to. So much so that by the time the sun was well above the horizon he’d knotted Thoma four times over.

Exhaustion had finally claimed Thoma after the fourth time and he’d fallen asleep in spite of the uncomfortable stickiness all over his body. When he awoke later the sun was well overhead and the pleasant warmth and ocean breeze of the afternoon was wafting through the open window. He was laying on his back, upper body slightly raised and pressed against Kaeya’s torso with his hips on the bed between spread legs.

What he had not been expecting was a feeling of fullness between his own legs. With an arm still heavy from sleep, he brought his hand to his stomach before passing lower. Over the slight bulge of his lower abdomen to his entrance and feeling a flat, smooth…something pressed inside him. Kaeya roused at Thoma’s movements, shuffling and sitting upright against the headboard and pile of pillows and dragging Thoma up with him.

A nuzzle to the back of his neck, now choker-free, the object lost either to the floor or tangle of sheets. “Do you like it?”

“Maybe if I knew what it was.” Thoma fidgeted as the thing moved inside him as he was sat up.

“Hm? Don’t tell me you’ve only been using your hands to satisfy yourself all this time?” Kaeya sounded surprised. “It’s a dildo. A sex toy made to replicate a phallus.”

Thoma could feel a blush rising. “Oh! I’ve, uh, only ever heard about such things... Some of the more erotic light novels include them but I’ve never actually seen one...or used one.”

Kaeya chuckled at that, pressing a kiss to Thoma’s temple. “Albedo can be quite generous if you ask when he’s in a creative mood. I’ve also heard some savvy Kshahrewar students have invented fancier toys that vibrate or mimic sucking if you feel more adventurous. But I’m sure he could be persuaded to create such things as well.”

“Is there anything Albedo doesn’t make?”

“Lunch.” The man in question answered as the bedroom door opened. “The Traveler banned me from cooking after I suggested jasmine and lemongrass with smoked spider.”

“Spider?” Thoma echoed. Deep fried insects and arachnids on skewers were a somewhat popular street vendor food in Inazuma, so people eating such things was not news to him. It was, however, news that the Traveler was so displeased with the notion that Albedo had been banned from the kitchen. Had he tried serving them a similar dish before?

“There better not be any in those sandwiches,” Kaeya grumbled, suspiciously eyeing the plates on Albedo’s platter made of geo energy. He tugged the sheets up and over Thoma’s lap. As if that would do anything for his decency at this point. At least it would catch any crumbs.

Albedo shut the door behind him, lowering the geo platter and taking a plate off it to hold out to Thoma. “While Tartaglia will eat anything, I don’t think he makes spiders a regular part of his culinary endeavors. If he were to choose a less conventional ingredient it would likely be-.”

“Ugh, stop, I know how that sentence ends.” Kaeya cut him off, holding out a hand. “Please just give it here before I completely lose my appetite just thinking about that.”

Whatever it was they were talking about had Thoma curious. Not much made Kaeya squeamish to the point of refusing food so the mysterious ingredient must have been truly something. A cup was held out to Thoma after Kaeya took his sandwich and Thoma thanked him. It smelled like tea but he couldn’t quite place what kind.

The geo platter dissipated after Kaeya’s cup had been set on the nightstand next to him. His smelled like regular green tea. Albedo looked pointedly at Thoma. “I recommend drinking the entirety of that before you resume your activities. Unless you intend to carry a child to term, of course, then I can fetch you a different drink.”

Oh. No, he didn’t need that right now. “Thanks.” Thoma looked away feeling more than a little shy all of a sudden.

“Be sure to thank him for cleaning up while you were knocked out, too.” Kaeya told him around a mouthful of sandwich. How inelegant. Wasn’t he raised in a noble household..?

Thoma was just now realizing the lack of dried slick and cum on his body. He’d fallen asleep with all of that present so… “You cleaned us up? Thank you.” That also meant the other had gotten a good eye full of everything.

“Indeed. Kaeya is actually quite useless and lazy immediately after sex. He likes to use being tied to his partner as a convenient excuse to stay in bed. Anyway,” he put a hand on his hip, displeased, “I thought you promised you’d come to me if your symptoms worsened.”

Thoma swallowed his bite of sandwich hard at that. “It happened rather quickly.”

Albedo sighed, shaking his head. “An omega doesn’t just start lactating out of nowhere without prior indicators. A sore chest was reason enough to come see me in this situation. The plant acid causing the mammary glands to produce milk is strange and not something I had anticipated being a side effect. Does it differ from the kind produced during pregnancy? And if so, in what ways?” He was beginning to ramble.

Kaeya hummed thoughtfully, thankfully finishing what was in his mouth before speaking this time. “It’s not too late to find out, you know.” Thoma coughed, nearly choking on lettuce and tomato.

“While I am exceedingly curious, it’s up to you.” The shorter blond stated plainly, as if the conversation were about the weather and not Thoma’s odd predicament.

Well... It was strange. But then again, the plant goop only seemed to be having a major negative impact on Thoma. Fevers sucked but it hadn’t triggered either alphas’ ruts in the same way it caused an unusual heat for Thoma. Perhaps that and the...situation with his chest were related. Beyond simply being caused by the plant, anyway.

Thoma cleared his throat. “It’s fine, just... Let me finish eating first?” Even he was more than just a little curious about it and Albedo was meticulous with his studies. Surely some answers would be gained.

Albedo nodded thoughtfully. “Of course. I’ll need to prepare some equipment anyway. Please take your time.”

Kaeya had already polished off his sandwich and was setting his plate aside as Albedo left the room. He didn’t make further conversation, choosing to wrap his arms around Thoma and nuzzle his face into Thoma’s hair and the back of his neck. While the smell of the omega’s heat was still prominent, more of his natural scent was returning and Kaeya wanted to enjoy it. It felt warm and safe and like a home in a place Kaeya couldn’t quite pin. He wondered what Thoma thought of his scent.

Thoma’s mind wandered as he nibbled at his sandwich and sipped at bitter tea. It was a familiar blend; one he often made for himself after dedicating time to his masters’ ruts and his own heats. Maybe this was even made from the same bundle of dried leaves he’d brought along with him originally. Or maybe Albedo was just that good at replication. Or would it be Tartaglia since Albedo was banned from using the kitchen?

He would have to thank the ginger for the food after the situation blew over. And there was still the matter of changing the sheets on his bed... And Kaeya’s... Actually a lot of household chores still needed to be finished before the Traveler and the others returned.

“It can wait.” Kaeya kissed just behind his ear. “I can practically hear you thinking about cleaning.”

Thoma flinched, ticklish. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint anyone if the usual chores aren’t done in time.”

“I’m sure everyone would understand why they weren’t done. It might even be appreciated that you didn’t leave your heat scent all over the laundry.” Kaeya was back to his nuzzling already. He didn’t care if the others got crabby about it, his and Thoma’s scents were already unquestionably intertwined with each other. There would be no secret as to what had transpired, not even to the team currently out in the field.

Thoma elbowed him gently so he could lean over and set the plate and empty cup on the floor by the bed. He had a point about the sheets and his scent. Thoma sighed happily as he reclined back against Kaeya. Comfortably full and nestled in the embrace of the alpha that had seen to his needs, it would be easy to go back to sleep even if the feeling of a not-yet-abated-heat niggled at him.

His thoughts began drifting again as he shut his eyes. Children wouldn’t be such a bad thing, just not now. After the threat of the Fatui and the Abyss Order had passed was ideal. The prospect of choosing a mate daunted him though. Would he ever be able to simply settle for one? Most alphas were not keen to share their mates. He’d been told multiple times by an enormous variety of alphas just how ‘perfect’ of an omega he was and there was no shortage of suitors to choose from. Those alphas would never be entertained. They only saw him as someone to take on the housework and give them children. They saw him as less than, not an equal.

Thus alphas like his teammates that respected him and didn’t care for his secondary gender were the only ones he even considered. How cruel of fate that none of those said teammates lived in Inazuma. He doubted any of them would relocate, and they all knew he wouldn’t permanently abandon his employer either. Speculations and rumors abound that he would end up servicing the Kamisato family in more ways than he currently did. Not that he would mind terribly if either of them did take him as a mate. He just didn’t appreciate the gossip that he’d give them an heir, or several, and get tossed out afterwards. They’d never do that.

“Now what’re you thinking about?” Kaeya asked, pressing a kiss against his head.

“Kids. What it’d be like to have my own and who the other parent would be.” Thoma answered honestly. He kept his eyes shut but his hand came up to lay over Kaeya’s, whose arms were still wrapped around him.

Kaeya hummed, “They’d be the best behaved kids in all of Teyvat, I’m sure.”

“I don’t know about that,” Thoma laughed softly. “If they were yours I’m sure I’d have trouble keeping them in line. You would be teaching them how to weaponize crocodile tears against defenseless shopkeepers before they even learned to read or write.”

“Correct.” He didn’t even try to deny it, purring softly at the thought.

Albedo sighed, “It would raise the blood pressure levels of the entireties of Mondstadt and Inazuma if there were miniature versions of Kaeya running around.” His reentrance was what made Thoma crack his eyes open again.

Another chuckle from the alpha in question. “That is also correct. Perhaps reassess your options when the time comes.”

There was still a long time yet to decide. Unless it turned out Kaeya was working alongside the Abyss Order or something else to that effect, Thoma was sure he’d remain an option until that day came. Come to think of it, aside from Alhaitham, Kaeya was the teammate he knew the least about. Even Albedo and Tartaglia were more open about their pasts than Kaeya.

He wasn’t given much time to dwell on the cavalry captain’s background. Albedo seemed completely at ease in Kaeya’s space, settling on the bed in front of Thoma without waiting for an invitation. He had ditched his boots, coat, and gloves before returning and it was just the teensiest bit odd seeing him with so much skin uncovered.

Thoma found himself staring at the starry birthmark on Albedo’s throat as the shorter man unpacked the bag he’d brought with him. Two empty corked test tubes labeled in a language Thoma didn’t know were procured from the bag along with a bottle and a dry towel. He eyed the bottle warily.

Albedo, as if reading the blond’s mind, unscrewed the lid and held it out to Thoma. “It’s a warming oil, no slimes involved. It’s commonly used during massages to aid in further relaxation and blood circulation.” It had a nice smell to it. Like silk flowers. Albedo was looking at him expectantly.

Thoma slowly took the container from Albedo, unsure of what the other wanted him to do with it. Kaeya curled around him, chest to his back, and murmured, “It’s for massaging your chest. It’s likely it will improve milk flow and ease the pressure you mentioned last night.”

“I can’t say I’ve ever done a self massage there before.” A sheepish chuckle.

“That’s fine. Would you prefer that either of us did it for you?” Albedo asked in his usual straightforward manner. Clinical was not the right word, but focused wasn’t right either.

Thoma passed the bottle back to Albedo. “It’s probably better if you show me the right method the first time.”

A nod and a hum of acknowledgement. Kaeya’s arms were still wrapped around Thoma’s midsection and Thoma found himself resting his hands over Kaeya’s forearms. They were sitting fully upright now, the adjustment making Thoma squirm as the toy inside him pressed against a sensitive spot. He wasn’t sure whether he should thank Kaeya for it or beat him with it afterwards.

The bottle was tipped into an open palm before Albedo leaned sideways over the bed to set it on the floor. As he sat back up and rubbed his hands together to spread the oil he made direct eye contact with Thoma. “I need you to express any pain or discomfort I cause so I can make note of it and readjust accordingly.” The soft tone betrayed the intense gaze that now shifted to Kaeya. “And you will refrain from interfering until I’m finished collecting samples.”

This only earned him a chuckle, which translated directly to there being no promises made in typical Kaeya fashion. Albedo shook his head with a small smile before scooting closer, making himself quite comfortable between Thoma’s legs. There was no hesitation or timidness to his touch. He started high, nearly at the collarbone, fingers firmly pressing into flesh in quick succession like a spider would crawl, down towards and over the nipple. Then again, from the top but more towards the armpits, then inwards towards the nipple again.

The movement was repeated in a circular shape around each pec...breast? He wasn’t sure how he should refer to them now. It felt relieving. Intimate but without a charged sexual tension in the air. The piano finger like approach changed to that of four fingers pressed together rubbing in circular motions, again starting at the outer edges and moving inwards. Pleasant warmth from the oil seeped into the muscle.

And then both hands were cupping a breast, squeezing gently but purposefully. Thoma thought it looked a lot like how a baker would knead bread. Except there wasn’t much dough to work with. It was Kaeya who reached out and grabbed the vials, bringing them closer and rotating them in his hand to read the labels. He could read that strange, ancient looking script? He set one aside and pulled the cork from the other.

Thoma couldn’t help but sigh when Albedo began pinching at his nipple and several drops of milk escaped, dripping into the waiting test tube Kaeya held beneath it. It wasn’t a harsh pinching, nothing like the way Kaeya had treated them several hours ago. There were absolutely no sexual connotations to the manner Albedo was going about this and yet... He could feel slick beginning to slide out from around the toy and heat pooling in his gut.

Biting his lip he tried to keep focused on the slowly filling vial. Was it supposed to take so long to get such a small amount out? No wonder he often heard nursing omegas complaining about not getting as much done in a day as they would’ve liked. Babies needed to be fed often and, well, thinking about it a little more perhaps the pacing of the flow was for the safety of a nursing infant. It wasn’t supposed to be a quick process.

By the time the first vial was finished and tightly corked, Thoma was chewing on his lower lip and the insides of his cheeks, fighting not to grind against the toy like a cheap whore. Kaeya nipped at the side of his neck, earning a warning look from Albedo and a barely contained whimper from Thoma.

“You’ve been so good for us, you can hang on a little longer, right?” The cryo wielder asked as he pressed kisses behind Thoma’s ear and down his neck to his shoulder.

The same process was repeated on the other breast. An unhurried, steady massage. The slow trickle of milk into the glass vial. Kaeya nuzzled his cheek against soft skin and whispered praise. It felt like ages before the second container was recorked and stowed away safely in the bag.

Albedo cleaned his own hands off on the towel before bringing it to Thoma’s chest. It felt unpleasantly rough and scratchy against him as the oil was patted and rubbed away. And although he felt much better regarding the ache of fullness in his chest, the feeling was not completely gone. Albedo shifted back, away from the pair, plucking the bottle of oil from the floor and putting the cap back on before also tucking it back in the bag.

As the beta began to rise, Kaeya finally lifted his head. Smirk on his lips, he asked, “Done already? I thought you wanted to know in what ways this was possibly different from the norm?”

“I do. I’ll be conducting further examinations in the lab.” The question was enough to give Albedo pause, throwing a glance at Kaeya and not quite pushing fully off the bed yet.

“Hard to take notes about taste on what will by then be stale samples, don’t you think?”

His pause continued. Kaeya had known Albedo long enough to see the sheer volume of thoughts behind those bright blue eyes. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what Kaeya was implying. The cavalry captain rested his chin on Thoma’s shoulder, one hand slipping beneath the sheets at Thoma’s lap to prod at the toy still nestled inside him.

“Impatient,” Albedo commented, simply watching.

“You practically edged him for the last thirty minutes or so. Take some responsibility, chief. He’s so wet he could take both of us.” The phrasing had Thoma’s ears burning with embarrassment, doubled by the way Kaeya had so casually said it. Lewd squelching sounds resulting from Kaeya lazily dragging the dildo in and out of him did not help ease his shame. “I believe it’s also worth noting how excited he got last night at the mere mention of inviting you to join us.”

“Kaeya!” Thoma clapped his hands over his face, unable to even look at Albedo anymore.

The weight of the bed shifted. Though he didn’t dare peek, it felt like the alchemist had decided to stay. “Oh? I would have guessed you’d choose the alpha in his prime over a simple beta such as myself to fill in as a third. How curious.”

Sheets were pushed aside, exposing Thoma fully. The softness of Albedo’s fingers were a stark contrast to Kaeya’s rougher ones. They ghosted up his calves and thighs, lingering in a few places to trace marks Kaeya had left. The feather light touches on his cock were a tease, giving attention but not enough to give relief. When he finally dropped his hands from his face to look at Albedo he was rewarded with a few firmer strokes and a pleased smile.

Kaeya stopped fucking him with the toy then, shifting out from behind Thoma to stand on partially numb legs before flopping back onto the bed behind Albedo now. The eldest was strong. Thoma knew this. He’d seen Albedo cleave limbs from bodies with elegant flicks of his sword before. It didn’t make it any less surprising to be manhandled by the shorter man, lifted off the bed by his ass and placed where Kaeya had been. Thoma was reclined back against the pillow pile now. Albedo hovered over him, caging him in with an arm on either side and Thoma’s hips flush with Albedo’s. The two studied each other’s expressions briefly before Kaeya draped himself over the geo wielder’s back, shamelessly grinding against Albedo.

“Will I need to restrain you, captain?” Albedo turned his head to glance at Kaeya out of the corner of his eye. He didn’t even bother trying to hide his pout as he retreated. There was history there, Thoma noted dully. Many alphas would just take or do what they wanted but there were also a great many who hated to displease their partners and would submit to their beta or omega mate. Either Albedo was something else entirely behind closed doors or Kaeya simply had that much respect for him.

Albedo made eye contact with Thoma again, keeping it until he lowered his face to Thoma’s chest and swiped his tongue over a hardened bud. He was nowhere near as relentless as Kaeya in his teasing, cutting right to the chase. Where Kaeya relished in slow, shallow sucks, Albedo was all purpose and focus. The pace was difficult to describe. It wasn’t exactly that he was savoring the taste but nor did he give the impression of rushing. In any case it was making Thoma arch his back and groan softly, eyes shutting as he enjoyed the sensation.

It was more of the same when Albedo moved on to the other. Steadfast. Thoma was left panting and wringing the bedsheets between his fingers by the time Albedo finished, muscles quivering. His slick was staining Albedo’s pants, leaking out from around the toy.

“Why don’t you show Albedo some gratitude for helping you out?” Kaeya hummed as the alchemist scooted back just enough for Thoma to rest his lower back on the bed again. The geo vision was unpinned and carefully set aside. Nimble fingers made quick work of the buttons of Albedo’s shirt as Thoma turned himself about so his face was practically buried in Albedo’s crotch, ass up and presenting as he had been the night before.

Albedo ran a hand through Thoma’s messy, knotted hair. “It’s... Odd seeing you like this.” He quickly added, “I don’t mean it in a bad way. Biological hard wiring causing such strong changes in an individual is fascinating.”

Kaeya cut him off with a quick, hard kiss. “Less science-y stuff, more removing layers.” Shirt hanging fully open now, Kaeya began pawing at the waistband of Albedo’s shorts, as did Thoma. They were met with minimal resistance, Albedo shucking them off himself. Kaeya chuckled, “You’re fascinated by the situation in more ways than one it seems.”

“I may not smell pheromones as acutely as you do but I am not immune to them.” There was a faint pink glow to his cheeks.

It only took Thoma a few experimental strokes to coax Albedo to full hardness. By no means was Albedo as thick or long as Kaeya but it was certainly enough that it would leave Thoma’s jaw aching. There was a soft huff and fingers tightening their hold on his hair when Thoma took the head in his mouth, sucking lightly and flicking his tongue over the slit.

The alchemist was far less vocal than Kaeya, quietly panting and whispering encouragement when Thoma did something he liked. Beyond his eyes drooping shut and his head hanging a little lower, he also didn’t physically react much. Was it self control or something else? Even when Thoma had licked and sucked all the way to the base, nose nestled against light blond curls and cock down his throat, Albedo hadn’t budged. Not one thrust of his hips nor arch of his back.

“Breathe, chief,” Kaeya murmured as he slid his hands up Albedo’s sides.

When nails scratched dully at the star upon his throat, Albedo shuddered. As if a spell had been broken, he ground his hips forward, surprising Thoma. They found a rhythm quickly, consisting simply of Albedo holding Thoma’s head in place as he fucked the omega’s throat. He set a steady pace. Purposeful but not punishing. Still tears pricked the corners of Thoma’s eyes and drool was sliding down his chin.

Thoma gave a muffled groan at feeling hands kneading his ass, arching his back further and pressing back into the touch. The vibration of his throat had Albedo giving a small sound of his own. Kaeya had moved, returning to his place behind Thoma again. Fingers brushed against the base of the dildo, then traced over puffy lips before taking hold of the toy. It was slowly wiggled out of Thoma, twisting every now and again and dragging out more muted moans.

The pyro wielder was as vocal as he could be in making his displeasure known at the empty feeling. Kaeya only chuckled in amusement at that, placing the toy aside and resuming squeezing Thoma’s ass. When a fresh gush of slick began dripping out of the omega, Kaeya dragged his index and middle fingers through his folds before pressing them into Thoma’s entrance. He didn’t exactly need further stretching or prep. Kaeya just wanted to hear him. Especially now with his mouth occupied and knowing Albedo was getting a little something extra out of it too.

Kaeya patted Thoma’s backside with his free hand as he withdrew his fingers. Albedo tugged at blond locks, pulling Thoma back slightly off him and panting heavily. His hips stilled as he tilted Thoma’s head back, the angle painful but the view making up for it. The cryo wielder had pressed his fingers, the same ones that had been in Thoma moments before, into Albedo’s mouth, and the beta was lapping and sucking at them eagerly.

Heat surged through Thoma and he gave a pitiful noise. Albedo’s hand in his hair loosened, smoothing into pets and light massaging. Kaeya wiped his hand off on the sheets before grabbing hold of Thoma’s hips. That dildo had nothing on Kaeya. It kept away the empty feeling but could never hope to match the fullness Kaeya brought. The slight sting and the pleasant pressure. The throbbing heat and the promise of a knot.

“Focus,” Kaeya reminded him. The not so gentle rock of his hips pushed Thoma forwards, taking Albedo deeper down his throat.

Albedo was kind enough to pull back for a moment as Thoma coughed and sputtered, gasping for air and clawing at Albedo’s thighs. “You’re doing so well...” His voice was huskier. Deeper than what Thoma was used to. A thumb brushed over his cheek under his eye, swiping away tears. While Albedo patiently waited for Thoma to recoup, Kaeya began thrusting in earnest.

“Knothead.” Albedo chided before leaning forward and capturing Kaeya’s lips with his own. The kiss was hungry, full of teeth and growling and biting each other’s lips. Kaeya was making the most noise, of course, and was trying to dominate the kiss; but Albedo was matching his energy and not letting the alpha win without a fight.

Kaeya won when Thoma closed his lips around Albedo’s cock again, bobbing his head and keeping his tongue flat against the vein along the underside. The startled sound that left Albedo was muffled by the kiss, which was a bit of a shame as it was probably the loudest sound he’d made thus far.

Albedo broke the kiss, curling forward over Thoma, breathing ragged and hips twitching. He came with a quiet sigh, pushing into the omega’s throat and enjoying the sensation of Thoma swallowing around him. His retreat was slow, nerves on fire and tingling almost painfully when teeth accidentally grazed him. He would back away if Thoma didn’t have such a fierce grip on him. Instead he remained where he was, dabbing away various fluids with the shirt that hung loosely off his frame.

Seeing Thoma take everything Albedo gave him stoked an odd sense of pride in Kaeya. It pleased his inner alpha to see his omega following orders and satisfying the other. Nevermind that Thoma was not actually his mate and that he was disgusted with himself for thinking he could boss Thoma around. His instincts didn’t give a fuck and sent the happy chemicals to his brain anyway.

Thoma whined beneath him, begging for Kaeya. Harder. Deeper. Knot him. Fill him until he was well and truly bred. Those same damn instincts of Kaeya’s reared their ugly head again, caving to the wishes of the willing, unmated omega beneath him. A last, forceful thrust pushed his knot into Thoma before he came hard, knot swelling as his upper half dove forward. He caught flesh, tasting blood and physically recoiling at the taste. He snarled furiously, glaring at Albedo as the beta shoved his forearm against Kaeya’s mouth. Sane Kaeya would thank him later, but for now he had half a mind to tear the flesh away for daring to interfere. It tasted foul. Nothing like the sweetness he’d been anticipating.

Reeling from his own intense orgasm, Thoma failed to realize what had transpired until it had already passed. Kaeya muttered sincere apologies, licking away the blood and kissing at the wound gingerly. And when Albedo lowered his arm, Kaeya leaned forward and placed kisses along Thoma’s shoulders, apologizing to him as well and wrapping his arms around Thoma’s midsection.

They remained as they were until Kaeya’s knot softened and his cock was replaced once more by the toy, keeping his spend inside Thoma. Albedo quirked a brow at that but only offered, “I’ll bring more tea later.” He dressed himself, wobbling only slightly upon standing. And when he was finished he collected his bag and left swiftly.

Not even half an hour later Albedo returned, collar in hand, to find Kaeya already drilling into Thoma again. Enough pause was given for Albedo to fasten the collar around Thoma’s neck. It was taller and thicker than the one Kaeya typically wore. Better than his at preventing accidental claiming bites. There was a half-threat half-promise that Albedo would check on them later and muzzle Kaeya himself if he had to.

-

Two days later, the Traveler and their other teammates returned to the teapot. Tartaglia was outside, looking up from the training dummy he'd shredded to pieces to greet them. They chatted briefly. The Traveler informed him they’d made it the rest of the way to Liyue Harbor, but reminded him he likely wouldn’t be able to fully participate in the Lantern Rite Festival due to...previous incidents.

“Great, it’s just one thing after the other...” The ginger grumbled, turning away to set up the next batch of dummies.

“What do you mean by that?” The Traveler asked, ignoring Paimon’s huffs that Tartaglia had brought it on himself.

He waved a hand dismissively, “Nevermind. Lunch should almost be ready.”

“Oh good, I’m starving.” Beidou sighed, locking her fingers together and stretching her arms over her head. The Harbinger muttered something else as he crossed the courtyard and summoned his bow. Alhaitham commented about someone being in a bad mood and the others only laughed, heading into the manor.

The sight of Thoma in the kitchen was not unexpected. It was normal to find the omega cooking or otherwise fussing over the state of the space. Uncommon was the yukata he wore, a soft pink and patterned with cherry blossom trees and flowers. That was still not out of place, sometimes he simply preferred to dress more casually. No, the odd thing in the picture was Kaeya. Kaeya, who did not have much interest in cooking more complicated dishes. Kaeya, who would typically be outside keeping Tartaglia company and his own skills sharp. Kaeya, who was currently pressed snug against Thoma’s back with his arms around the blond and nuzzling him while purring ever so quietly.

“Hm? Hey guys! You’re early.” Thoma glanced over the shoulder that Kaeya was not blocking.

Lisa put a hand on her hip, unimpressed. “We’re early and you’re expecting. Darling, why are you letting this useless alpha cling to you instead of sitting back and letting him do all the work for you?”

“He won’t let me.” Kaeya snorted, untangling himself and moving to where a pile of mushrooms sat by the cutting board, waiting to be diced. Thoma swatted his hand immediately with the wooden spoon he was holding when Kaeya reached for the knife. “See!”

Thoma waved the spoon at him threateningly before turning to face the others. “He keeps getting distracted and cutting his own fingers is what. And I’m not...expecting.”

Lisa crossed her arms and Beidou mirrored her unconvinced expression. Alhaitham...well he was always stoic and unreadable anyway. It didn’t help when Thoma folded his arms self consciously over his midsection. The poor Traveler had no way of knowing beyond visual signs. They couldn’t smell the sex on the pair, nor the obvious way their scents were so intertwined now, nor the warm, milky scent that typically went hand-in-hand with a pregnant omega. Thoma was truly not with child but there was about to be a very awkward conversation over lunch today about sentient jungle plants.