Work Text:
noetic
(adj.) - of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
Albedo knows.
It isn’t that hard to guess. The moment he lays eyes on Aether’s newest guest—sees the innate power sealed within the deepest recesses of his inner being, sees the damning purple mark at the back of his neck—he knows. And he stands absolutely no chance of survival.
Kunikuzushi is a puppet, a doll forged in his master’s likeness.
Kunikuzushi is like him.
The realization is a dizzying one. It steals all the air from his artificially crafted lungs and leaves him unexpectedly breathless. An indescribable fire blooms in the hollow of his chest, warm and full of light. He hasn’t felt a pull like this since the day he’d formed his blood bond with Aether. The knowing glint in Aether’s eyes tells Albedo that he knows this too.
“That Kunikuzushi,” he breathes out, a shuddering whisper. He swallows, fumbling helplessly over his next words. “You…you are aware of his origins, right?”
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t,” Aether replies easily, and suddenly the moniker of ‘sweet doll’ makes a lot more sense.
“Why exactly did you bring him here?” Albedo asks. “Aside from the obvious, of course.”
“Who can say, really,” Aether says, folding his arms loosely over his chest. “What I can say is that, given the circumstances that led to his arrival, he deserves a bit of peace too.”
“I see.” That, Albedo thinks, is perhaps about as good a reason as any. Aether has always been a kind ruler, doing everything in his worldly power to ensure that the crimson children have a chance at some semblance of normalcy despite their afflictions. Ilendor’ei, as it is today, was founded on the principle of peace and unity, brought up as a sanctuary for those who can no longer find a proper place for themselves in society.
Though there’s something in Aether’s tone that suggests an underlying motive, he knows better than to dig for answers that will undoubtedly crop up in due time. Instead, he walks back to his work table and, opting to change the subject, motions for Aether to come closer while he flips open the notebook lying there.
“Here, have a look at this,” he says, pointing to a series of complex formulas surrounding an illustrated diagram of their latest experiment. “Since our last test with this substance, I’ve made some modifications to the existing formulas and found that, while this substance does, indeed, have the desired effect, it is only temporary.”
“Is that so,” Aether says, eyes narrowed as he examines the notes Albedo’s been keeping. “So tell me, what’s this solution of yours that you’ve found?”
“It’s not concrete,” Albedo says as he turns the page to reveal another diagram, this time outlining the more otherworldly properties of the magic Aether wields. “However, I managed to extract a bit of your magic from the blood sample you provided me and inserted it here to see what might change.”
Albedo pauses, glancing up at Aether before he continues, “And while I was correct in my initial assumption that this infusion would lengthen the nullifying effects of the substance, I found something else rather interesting that I would like to test out if given the chance.”
Aether raises a curious brow. “Which is?”
“This.” Albedo turns another page. “There’s something in your magic that causes the substance to behave like a sleeper agent. It seems to activate a killing mechanism of sorts when faced with an anomalous threat in the bloodstream. With your permission, I would like to administer this to at least two people and monitor them for a time.”
Aether looks down at Albedo’s notes, eyes wide with a sense of morbid fascination as he takes in the information presented to him. For all the centuries he’s spent with Albedo studying the curse and its effects on different people, he never once thought they’d advance far enough towards creating a ‘cure’ for it—if it could even be called that. In truth, it’s more of a temporary fix—something meant only to nullify the chronic pain and animalistic tendencies that come with bearing the crimson moon’s curse. It’s hardly a cure when the curse is an irreversible branding on the level of Fate itself.
“So this is what you’ve been up to.” Aether leans down suddenly, lips brushing lightly against Albedo’s ear as he whispers, “And here I thought you’d been skipping out on your feedings intentionally.”
Albedo bristles, barely suppressing a restrained, surprised noise as Aether spins him around and pins him against his work table. “I didn’t—“
“Oh, I know,” Aether all but purrs. “The light has all but faded from your pretty little eyes. Now, darling, I thought I taught you better than that.”
Albedo swallows, eyes wide and looking everywhere but at Aether. Aether leans in closer, hands tightening almost painfully at his hips, and Albedo’s breath leaves him in a shudder. He’s so, so close. Like this, he can hear Aether’s pulse surging beneath his skin, strong and steady, full of warmth and life.
“Albedo,” Aether says again, more lowly this time as he ducks his head to press a feather-light kiss to the star at the center of Albedo’s throat, and Albedo barely suppresses a strained gasp. “I taught you better than that, didn’t I?”
He shifts, unsure of what he wants his body to do, and curls his fists into the thin fabric of Aether’s blouse, hands shaking. “You did.”
“I shouldn’t have to remind you,” Aether breathes, trailing a line of gentle kisses up his neck and along his jaw, “of what happens when you don’t follow the rules.”
“No, of course not,” Albedo whispers, not trusting himself to speak any louder. He feels more than hears Aether chuckle against his skin, the touch of his lips leaving a searing trail of fire in their wake.
“I thought so.” Aether pulls away, warmth and satisfaction blooming in his chest at the way Albedo shudders when he does so. He watches Albedo with interest, hands leisurely gliding up and down his sides. “So what do you propose we do to prevent this from happening again in the future, hm?”
“I feel like you already have that planned out,” Albedo huffs halfheartedly. Beneath the feather-light touches and searing kisses Aether presses into his skin, he can feel his bond with Aether blazing, and while the idea of simply going to Aether every time he needs to feed from now on certainly is appealing, he would hate to bother him so much.
“Do you now?” Aether grins, takes Albedo in and breaks away after leaving him sufficiently flushed and breathless.
“You never were the type to be subtle about your intentions with me,” Albedo whispers, fingers clumsily finding their way to the first few buttons of Aether’s blouse. “Miss Rhine was correct in her assumption about you.”
Aether laughs fondly. “Oh? And what kind of assumption was that?”
“That you’re a menace.” Albedo pushes Aether’s blouse out of his way, inhaling deeply as one of Aether’s hands sneaks its way up and into his hair, and sinks his teeth into Aether’s neck and drinks deep of him.
“Well, she certainly wasn’t too far off.” Aether hums lowly as he circles his free arm around Albedo’s waist and holds the alchemist firmly against him, urging him to drink his fill. Trembling fingers curl tightly into fists against Aether’s back, blunt nails digging into his skin through the thin layer of the blouse.
Eventually, Albedo pulls back with a shuddering gasp, eyes half-lidded and unfocused as the haze of his hunger slowly wears off. Heedless to the steady trickle of blood oozing from the fresh wound on his neck, Aether gently tugs on Albedo’s hair, tilting his head back to get a good look at his face.
“Now, isn’t that better?” He says sweetly, leaning down and capturing his lips in a slippery, blood-soaked kiss. “Don’t let me catch you like this again, Albedo. Do you understand?”
“Loud and clear,” Albedo whispers against his mouth. “Now, about that experiment…”
Aether laughs and kisses him again. “Yes, you have my permission to go ahead with the experiment.”