Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Kaeya,” someone called.

He turned around. Blond hair, teal eyes. Unfamiliar, but at the same time not. Something in his heart clenched, and he bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from talking.

“Were we really just ‘good friends’?”

His heart dropped. He gulped, giving a sad, broken smile. “No,” he choked out, barely able to breathe with how much the pain in his heart is crushing him from the inside, gnawing at his throat. Threatening to drive him insane. “We were a bit more than that, I'm afraid.”

Thin lips smiled warmly at him. So warm. So soft. And so, so, achingly familiar. “I look forward to seeing you, then.” 

- Mondstadt, 5 years ago -

Kaeya woke up with a start. The first thing he felt was the rapid beat of his heart, and the cold sweat that clung to his skin. Next was the sharp pain in his chest that jolted him out of his sleepy haze. Confusedly, he sat up in his bed, rubbing his eyes as he looked around.

He was sleeping. He was dreaming. What had he dreamt about? There was a man talking to him. Someone he didn't know. Blond hair, teal eyes. Thin lips. Warm smile. Who was that man? He doesn't know of anyone in his life with such a description, but the man from his dream knew his name. Called it so comfortably. Sounded so sure speaking it, even.

He shook his head and blinked a few times to fully wake himself. Dreams weren't a new thing to him, although lately… Lately they come in the form of nightmares. Especially with his current predicament. This one is a relief, he guesses. Even if it was a confusing one. 

Kaeya sighed dejectedly and looked at his bedside table, where a glowing red orb was placed. He picked up the pyro Vision, his hands holding tightly on its frame of four wings on each side. He looked at its stable glow and felt its warmth, signifying that even away, its owner is alive and well. Kaeya put it back on the bedside table but kept staring at it. It's been a year now. He wonders when he'll come back. Or if he'll ever come back. Does it even matter, though? It's not like he can go and welcome him back after everything. That's not his right anymore.

He stood up and stretched a bit before looking at the wall clock. Right. As much as he'd like to wallow in self-pity, he has responsibilities to do and a job waiting for him. 

Kaeya’s eyes widened as he saw what time it currently is. He's late for work. That's not good. Grand Master Varka specifically told every captain to not be late today as they are going to be welcoming someone new in their ranks. Not much details was said about who it was, and even with Kaeya’s curiousness described as subtle talk, he didn't manage to get more information from the Grand Master about this new addition to the Knights. 

He quickly went to the bathroom and took a quick bath, put on his uniform, combed through his hair and grabbed his things before heading for the door. As soon as he stepped out, he noticed that the sun was already too high in the sky and he was indeed already late. He sprinted through the crowds of people already starting their day in the city, grabbing breakfast in Good Hunter and shopping at Blanche’s to get their stock of goods. Some of them greeted him, and he gave a quick smile and greeted back before buzzing past them. When he finally reached their headquarters, he was immediately greeted by Porthos and Athos at the entrance. They gave him a quick salute as he entered inside.

Once there, he was greeted by almost all of his co-workers in the main hall. Amber, Eula, Hertha, and even Lisa were there, clearly waiting for something. He carefully pushed his way to the front of the crowd as he muttered his excuses.

“You're late,” Jean was quick to notice him once he stood by her side in the front line. Kaeya turned to look at her, and saw that she was already giving him a look over from head to toe. He smiled apologetically.

“My apologies, I overslept,” was all he said. Whether Jean assumed it was from the nightmares, overworking, or simply just being irresponsible, he left that for her to settle on. 

“Are you still having trouble sleeping? We can go to the Church—”

Jean’s proposal was cut off when the Grand Master arrived. Kaeya was thankful for the intervention, as he really didn't want to be the subject of Jean's worry. He didn't deserve it. He's caused enough trouble for her these past few months.

“Good morning, everyone,” everybody snapped to attention as Grand Master Varka started speaking. “I have gathered all of you here today to welcome the newest addition to the Knights of Favonius. He is recommended by a dear friend of ours, and after the required tests and assessments, we officially welcome him to the ranks of the Knights of Favonius, with the title of Captain of the Investigation Team and Chief Alchemist. Everyone, let us please welcome, Albedo.”

All of them started clapping as a man stepped forward and fell into place beside Varka. Captain of the Investigation Team and Chief Alchemist, huh? This is sure to be interesting. Both those positions are certainly no easy feat, and of course Grand Master Varka is as meticulous as ever in assessing those deserving of the position. 

Kaeya took a look at the man who the Grand Master just introduced as Albedo. To his surprise, he was already looking right back at him.

Blond hair. Teal eyes. Thin lips. Warm smile.

Kaeya is convinced that time actually slowed down at that point. The world stopped. Everything around him fell into white noise at the back of his head. He unconsciously took a step back as he felt his knees slightly buckle, and he is falling, falling, falling into a deep pit of anxiety and paranoia. It suddenly got cold, as if the temperature around him dropped to below zero. He just saw this man. In his dream. He dreamt about him but he didn't even know him yet. How is that possible? What is going on? Why is he looking at him like he knows him, like he knows something Kaeya doesn't? Why is he smiling at him? 

“—Kaeya? Kaeya, are you alright?” he snapped his head to the side, staring wide-eyed into Jean who was now wearing a full-blown worried look on her face. “Are you feeling unwell? Your Vision, it's going out of control. Do you want me to accompany you to the Church?”

“I—” Kaeya stuttered, not fully comprehending what Jean just said. He looked back at Albedo who was now talking to the Grand Master and the few others who came closer to offer their congratulations up close. He suddenly feels dizzy. If he stared even more at Albedo, he's afraid the other might actually end up combusting with how hard he's looking. He can't breathe. He wants to get out of here and get some air, because what—what is going on for him to have seen this man in a dream before he even met him in person? He doesn't know him, anything about him, who he is, who's his family, or where he even came from—

There. On Albedo’s neck. Out in the open, like it was deliberately placed there. To mock him. To taunt him. To haunt him. How did he not notice it first? A four-pointed star. The same four-pointed star that's in his eyes. The mark of an ancient civilization long lost to the wrath of the gods. 

His and Albedo's eyes met once more. This time, Albedo didn't smile. But his eyes lingered on his, with a kind of… Something he couldn't place, before looking away again and turning back to the conversation in front of him like nothing ever happened.

Kaeya turned to look at Jean once again. “I have to go— I'm sorry,” he muttered pathetically before turning around and getting out of there, and walking far, far away before he spirals into a panic attack in the middle of their headquarters.

This can't be. Khaenri’ah. That man is clearly from Khaenri'ah, or has something else to do with the forsaken place. Why is he here then? Was he sent after him? To check in on him? Has his father grown tired of waiting in the shadows? Is this his move?

He's now shivering. When he looked down at his hands, he realized that there is frost creeping up to his fingertips, and he suddenly became aware of his cryo Vision which is shooting off sparks at his hip with how cold it is. Calm down. He needs to calm down. He needs to calm down and control his temper before he ends up freezing the whole city.

Kaeya looked back at the headquarters before continuing to walk forward. He needs to stay away for a while. Clear his mind. This is too much, and too early in the morning for him. He needs to think.

- Time passes -

Kaeya stabbed his sword through the chest of a hilichurl and swiftly pulled it back, killing the creature where it stood. Wiping a bead of sweat on his brow, he looked around the camp he just cleared out to look for any more survivors. Once he found none, he sheathed back his sword and continued on his patrol.

It's been hours since he was last in the headquarters. He took it upon himself to start on his patrol, starting in the Whispering Woods area. Fortunately, there wasn't too much of note in the area, except for the scattered lampgrasses which reminded him of the times when he and Diluc used to run around the forest, with the soft glow of those flowers serving as their light under the shade of the trees. They were younger then, of course. And happier. And not broken.

Kaeya looked behind him as he heard a loud boom! in the distance. It was coming from the direction of Starfell Lake, so he quickly walked to get there. Once he reached the lake, he saw a tiny figure in red running around, throwing bombs around the area that was causing the big explosions that he just heard.

“Klee,” Kaeya said in a chiding voice, which made the girl stop in her tracks as she turned around to face him. Her eyes widened as she saw Kaeya approaching, quickly putting the Dodoco she was holding behind her back.

“What are you doing here all alone, little Spark Knight?” he asked, kneeling down so he was eye level with her. He couldn't help but smile at the guilty expression the girl wore on her face, knowing she'd just been caught fish blasting again. 

“Sorry, big brother Kaeya,” Klee said, looking down while fiddling with the hem of her dress. “Please don't tell Master Varka.”

Kaeya chuckled. Klee sure does remind him of a certain someone when they were younger, using their cuteness as a way of getting out of trouble. He tried not to dwell too much on the pang of pain that came with remembering it. “Okay, Klee. I won't tell. But promise me you'll behave for the rest of the week, okay? And please, avoid going outside of the city all by yourself.” 

With this compromise, Klee's face lit up once again. “Klee promises! But big brother Kaeya, Klee isn't alone! I'm with big brother Albedo!”

Kaeya's heart dropped for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. At this rate, he might just die of a heart attack at his young age. His smile faded, looking behind Klee to see the man she just mentioned in a blue undershirt, black shorts, and white coat, holding what seems to be a sketchpad on his right hand.

Kaeya stood up as Albedo approached them, his eyes drifting once more to that golden four-pointed star on the other’s neck. “Captain Kaeya,” Albedo’s calm voice snapped him out of his trance. “What a pleasure to run into you here. I believe I didn't get to meet you back at the headquarters.”

“My apologies,” Kaeya cleared his throat, forcing himself to look anywhere else but that star. However, he found that he couldn't bring himself to look Albedo in the eyes, either. “I admit I ran a little late this morning, so I thought I'd go to my patrols early to make up for the inconvenience. It's nice to see you here as well, Captain Albedo.”

“Just Albedo, please,” the other said, looking down at Klee. “I'm sorry if Klee had caused trouble. I am fairly new to Mondstadt myself, and she offered to show me around today. I didn't know that what she was doing was forbidden.”

Kaeya silently took note of what the other said in his mind. He's literally never seen Albedo anywhere in his life before today, and he's sure he would know him if he was indeed from Mondstadt. He flashed Albedo a smile, trying to ease the situation. “It's quite alright, Captain Albedo. We agreed that she would be on her best behavior for the rest of the week, right Klee?” 

Klee nodded. “Yes, big brother Kaeya!” 

Kaeya looked back up at Albedo. “She mentioned that you were her big brother as well? My, it seems I've got competition for our little Spark Knight’s attention,” he joked, to which Albedo smiled slightly. 

“I was recommended to Grand Master Varka by Aunt Alice, Klee’s mother. She asked me to help take care of her while I'm here,” Albedo said. 

Recommended by Alice? Kaeya is certainly familiar with the famed adventurer, although he can't say that his interactions with her have been… normal, to say the least. Most of its extent is carefully reminding the ever-so free spirited woman to kindly avoid leveling the mountains of Mondstadt. Did she have some sort of connection to Khaenri’ah? Just what are they playing out here, and why now? After all these years?

“Is that so? Well then, I hope you enjoy the warm welcome Mondstadt has for you. We're glad to have you here with us,” he said. “I'm afraid I must go now to continue my patrol.”

“Goodbye, big brother Kaeya!” Klee said, waving to him. “See you soon!”

“Goodbye, my little Spark Knight,” he bent down slightly to give the girl a boop on the nose, to which she giggled. “Be a good girl, alright? Don't go stressing out your big brother Albedo too much on his first day with us.”

“Stay safe,” Albedo said, looking him in the eye. Kaeya could only manage to nod and smile, somehow surprised with the man’s casualness. He turned around and continued on his route, looking back once more to wave goodbye to Klee. Albedo stood by her side, carefully watching him walk away.

As Kaeya turned back around, he can't help but feel so seen. And it completely has to do with the fact that until he crossed the other end of the lake, he could still feel those deep eyes watching him, like it's trying to read every single part of him.

Chapter Text

- Mondstadt, 3 years ago -

There was something different in the city today. He could immediately tell as soon as he stepped in Mondstadt’s gates. It was busier than usual, which was to be expected, what with the Grand Master and his chosen among the Knights recently departing to go on the expedition they had been planning for years. With a shortage of men left behind, the Knights are scrambling and overworking big time to attend to the city’s defenses and needs at the same time. Even Kaeya himself has been having a hard time adjusting to the extra workload, having to juggle rationing the Knights’ limited resources among them as the Quartermaster and going on extra patrols and filling paperworks to help Jean lessen her seemingly never-ending workload. Barbatos’ knows how much that woman overworks herself to the point where she always passes out on her desk. If shouldering a few more hours of paperwork is what it takes to help his dear friend and superior officer, Kaeya wouldn’t complain about it.

Smiles and greetings were offered to him as he made his way to the city center. Just a few years ago, Kaeya wasn’t accustomed to this kind of attention, where it seems like he is being recognized and greeted by the people wherever he goes in the city. No, it wasn’t like this at all. He was much more used to staying behind someone’s shadow, serving as a support system and helping them rise in the Knight’s ranks. The recognition and fame never mattered to him. But now… Well, now he was all alone. No one to turn to, no one to follow. He was left to his own devices, and if he wanted to prove adequate for his job, for the shoes he was filling, then he needed to make a name for himself.

“Did you hear? The late Master Crepus’ son has returned!”

“I did, indeed. But it seems he has yet to show himself in the city.”

Kaeya almost stopped in his tracks as he caught wind of the conversation the people were having around him. Returned? Diluc has returned to Mondstadt? And he didn’t even know? It seems that his information network is slipping. But then again, what right did he have to know? It’s not like the man was inclined or obligated to inform him. Their ties were cut, bridges were burned, words were said, and all that’s left now is the ashes and ruins of their shared past. But he can’t help but wonder, how will Diluc react to seeing him again in person after all these years? How will he react to seeing Diluc again? Would they just stare at each other, not saying a word, leaving those around them to feel the void that has only grown between them with their years apart? Would Diluc even acknowledge him? Even look at him?

Kaeya almost had to drag himself inside the Favonius HQ with how uncooperative his legs were feeling. The day hasn’t even started yet and all he already wants to do is to lock himself in his house and disappear from the crowd for a good few days. Let the talk of the town die over before showing himself again, because he’s sure that as long as people are talking about it, then he’s actually bound to run into Diluc in the city one way or another. He doesn’t think he’s ready for that yet. Over the past three years that Diluc’s been gone, Kaeya’s been sending multiple letters to him in an attempt to reach out, to maybe reach some sort of normalcy between them again that would somehow ease the loneliness and longing in Kaeya’s bones. But all he ever got back from Diluc was two letters, each one shortly worded, as if he couldn’t even be bothered to write more than just the plain and detached formality between two strangers working together. It hurt thinking about it, the fact that Kaeya really did drive their bond into the grave with what he did. But that is what he deserved, he supposes. This is what he gets for trying to seek salvation. Because there are no redemptions for sinners after all, is there?

Kaeya knocked at Jean’s office door before entering. With the Grand Master’s departure, his friend has been appointed the Acting Grand Master. He knows Jean is struggling to keep up with the sudden change, but she is handling the situation with as much finesse and elegance as one can achieve. Kaeya knows Jean is much too modest to lift her own bench, but he does see her fit for the role, even going as far as to say that should Grand Master Varka step down in the future, then Jean is the one whom he sees fit to take upon the role next. And he would do everything he can to support his friend, to ensure that her path to the position she so deserved remains unchallenged and undisturbed.

“Good morning, Acting Grand Master,” Kaeya greeted somewhat teasingly, which earned him a small smile from Jean who stood up from her set and walked over to him.

“Good morning to you too, Captain Kaeya. No need to be so formal, it’s only the two of us here,” Jean said. Kaeya took a peek at the stack of paperwork on the side of her desk and already started thinking up ways to get some of those papers for himself. 

“So…” he started, which earned Jean’s full attention. “How may I make myself be of your service today? Patrols? Papers?”

Jean smiled. “It’s alright, Kaeya. I got things in order. You can go ahead and focus on your own assigned work. I just wanted to ask…”

Jean trailed off, leaving Kaeya to look curiously at her. She started fiddling with her gloves, a habit she has when she’s nervous about something. “...Have you heard? He’s returned to Mondstadt.”

Kaeya doesn’t need a name for whoever is this ‘he’ that Jean is talking about. He stopped himself from sighing. Seems he can’t avoid talking about this for the day, at least. Might as well get it over with. “I heard,” Kaeya said. “The people were talking about it.”

Jean solemnly nodded. “I just heard it from the people talking as well. It is indeed sudden,” she said, maybe in an attempt to comfort him with the fact that even she herself wasn’t personally notified of Diluc’s return either. “Will you be alright?”

Kaeya was quick to give a reassuring smile. “Of course, Jean. It’s no big deal.”

Jean looked at him as if she doesn’t believe him. He’s not sure he believes himself, either. Just hearing about the news was enough to almost send him into another existential crisis. What more if he saw the man in the flesh, standing right before him?

“If that’s all, I’ll be going now,” Kaeya excused himself, subtly walking over to Jean’s desk and swiping a few stacks of paper on her desk. “Have a good rest of the day, Jean. See you later.”

- Time passes -

Kaeya sighed as he put down his pen and stretched. He’s spent all morning filling his paperworks, reading patrol reports from the knights, and writing some reports himself. Maybe he should take a breather on his lunch break, then he’ll head out in the afternoon for his patrols. 

He stood up and smoothed his wrinkled clothes from hours of sitting down before heading outside. Once he stepped out of the HQ, the gentle breeze greeted him, a contrast to the enclosed spaces and hallways of the office. He was quick to go down the flight of steps that headed into the main city. As he got there, he saw that the crowd of people from the morning had already thinned out, probably having gone to their respective jobs already. He made a beeline for the Good Hunter to grab his lunch.

“Good afternoon, Captain Kaeya! What can I get for you today?” Sara asked him once it was his turn to order.

“Just two chicken-mushroom skewers and a fisherman’s toast for dine-in, please,” he said. He stepped aside once he paid, looking for an empty table to sit at. Once he got seated, he waited for his order to be served. As it was brought to him, he immediately took a bite and savored the taste. Good Hunter is really reliable for quick and hearty meals like this. This will be sure to refresh his energy and prepare him for his patrols.

“...Is this seat taken?”

Kaeya almost choked on the piece of mushroom he was chewing. Maybe the world really did end on a random day. Or maybe the Archons are punishing him for his existence, because this day couldn’t go more wrong than it is going right now. Despite his entire nervous system telling him not to, he looked to see who just talked to him, even if he already knew all too well who just spoke. Years may have passed, but he wouldn’t ever forget that voice. That was the last thing he heard before his life came crashing down into splintered pieces, after all.

Kaeya was like a deer struck by headlights as his eyes met red ones. Standing before him, in the flesh, the one and only, Diluc Ragnvindr. Taller, older, and much more serious-looking than he last saw him. His red eyes now carried some sort of heaviness to it, a kind of stony gaze that’s been hardened by whatever trials and tribulations he went through on his solitary sojourn. Kaeya took a look at his whole person, and noticed the almost all black outfit the man was wearing, nearly making him a completely different person from who Kaeya remembered years ago.

As he looked up, it seemed that Diluc was doing the same to him. Looking him up and down, like he was scrutinizing every bit of Kaeya that he can see. Both of their faces betrayed nothing of what they were thinking. Two complete strangers who happened to bump into each other. 

“No,” Kaeya finally managed to sputter out after a long minute of silence. “Please, sit down.”

Diluc said nothing and took the empty seat right in front of him. Kaeya put his skewer down and almost gulped down his glass of water in one go. He subtly looked around, checking to see if there were indeed no other available seats in the restaurant that Diluc was desperate to sit down at a table with him to have his meal. Having scanned his eyes across the place, he confirmed that there were, indeed, no other empty seats. He also noticed the people who were not-so-subtly looking in their direction, clearly surprised to see the two of them sitting at one table. The whispered stories of the once-brothers’ fall-out didn’t go completely unheard of in their city, after all.

Suddenly, Kaeya found that he couldn't bring himself to eat anymore. In truth, he feels like he wants to vomit everything that he just ate. He can’t even look up at Diluc, scared to see if he was also looking right back at him. He can feel his hands growing colder despite wearing gloves, and despite his Vision being perfectly stable at his hip. He feels so small. Suffocated. Like this tension is crushing him from within. 

Over his years of being alone, Kaeya learned to adapt quickly to situations. Awkward ones, scary ones, dangerous ones. Yet for a situation where your estranged brother suddenly appeared out of nowhere and is now sitting in the same table with you out in public despite the rumours of your fall-out with him, casually eating lunch like nothing ever happened, like the both of you didn’t raise swords towards each other and like he never burned you, no, he never quite learned what to do in this situation. He was known for being a strategic thinker in the Knights, yet his mind is currently drawing blanks on how to deal with the situation in front of him.

“How are things?”

Kaeya wants to strangle someone. Maybe Diluc. Maybe himself. Diluc hates small talk. When they were kids, sure. Diluc loved to talk his ear off about random things. Birds, the vines, crystalflies, anything he saw that piqued his interest, really. But as they grew into teenagers, Diluc developed this shyness in him that mainly stemmed from the other nobles who noticed that he has now grown into a full gentleman, and as such, were quick to throw proposals of arranged marriage his way, thinking that getting that Ragnvindr name attached to their family is kind of like a one-way ticket into Barbatos’ good graces. He imagined Diluc brought that trait in him into his adulthood, even more so now that he doesn’t look like the most approachable. So what— what in the world is going on, that Diluc is attempting to do small talk with him?

“Fine,” Kaeya shortly says. He doesn’t say good, because no, nothing is good right now. He is certainly not good. “Grand Master Varka just left for the expedition, so work is a little more hectic.”

“So I heard,” Diluc said, slicing a couple of his pile ‘em ups like he was just discussing weather with some random person. Actually, maybe Kaeya is indeed just a random person to him now. Some captain of the Knights that he is conversing with out of politeness and courtesy. It would appear rude even for an esteemed noble like Master Diluc to just snob someone of high rank in the Knights like Kaeya, after all. 

Kaeya didn’t say anything more in reply. He just focused on finishing his meals as quickly as he could, with the huge lump in his throat threatening to take the breath out of him in every bite he takes. Maybe he should talk more, savor the opportunity in front of him. He was the one who wanted to talk to Diluc so much over the years, after all. But he couldn’t bring himself to do so, couldn’t bring himself to face the one thing he’s never built the resistance for over the years. Ever since that tragic night between the two of them, Kaeya will never know what to do with what’s left of his and Diluc’s relationship, if there was even any. 

“It has been nice seeing you again, Master Diluc,” Kaeya said as he finished his meal. “Welcome back to Mondstadt.”

He stood up, leaving a few mora as a good tip. As he walked away, he had to stop himself from looking back to see if Diluc was watching him. He headed straight for the gates, determined to go on his patrol to get some breath of fresh air. 

- Time passes -

Kaeya looked at the pyro Vision on his nightstand, glowing a little brighter now that its rightful owner was nearby. He picked it up, feeling its gentle warmth.

“I should really return you to your owner,” Kaeya said, the events of earlier still in his mind. He never saw Diluc again when he got back to the city after his patrol, but judging by the number of people showing up to Angel’s Share as he was about to go inside the tavern himself, he surmised that Diluc must be working behind the bar tonight. He opted to skip on his nightly visit, as he really wasn’t ready for round two of whatever it was that went on earlier. He just went straight home to get some early sleep, for once in a while.

However, the problem was he couldn’t sleep. It’s been hours, and it's well into the night right now, but all he ever managed to do was toss and turn around in his bed. Finally giving up, he decided that maybe he should go back to the office and try to finish some more paperwork just to wear out his mind and finally be able to go to sleep. He quickly changed into his pants and white blouse, not bothering to put on his cape and fur as he was just going in for a simple task. 

The guards stationed at the HQ greeted him and thankfully didn’t ask why he returned to the headquarters this late. It was quiet once he got inside, and he made sure to stop by Jean’s office quickly to see if she was still there. Thankfully, and much to Kaeya’s surprise, the office was empty and the lights were turned off, meaning she had already gone home. Some of the lights in the hall were also turned off. It seems like he was the only one here.

Kaeya went upstairs to the second floor, heading to his own office. He was about to go inside when he heard some scuffling from behind him, and the faint sound of what seemed like footsteps. He immediately turned around, scanning the area. He didn’t see anyone around, so he was instantly on high alert.

He crossed the hall, going to where he heard the noise. He tried opening the doors to the other offices but they were locked. He pressed his ear on a few of them, trying to hear if someone was inside and maybe he really isn’t the only person in the HQ at this hour. But he heard nothing. When he got to the end of the hall, there was one other room he hadn't checked yet.

He tried the doorknob and found that it was open. He was about to push it open when he heard the footsteps returning, this time coming from his side. He immediately tensed, preparing to defend himself against the person sneaking up on him. He pretended not to notice, while at the same time summoning his cryo Vision. As the footsteps got closer, he mentally readied himself to pounce on the attack.

“Captain Kaeya—”

Kaeya spun around, a sharp sword made of ice immediately forming in his hand. It was cold and painful against his skin, but he gripped it tightly all the same as he grabbed the hand that perched on his shoulder and pinned it on the wall beside him. His breath caught in his throat as he saw that golden star underneath the sharp blade of the makeshift cryo sword on his hand, and the recently acquired geo Vision sitting beneath it as well.

He looked up, meeting teal eyes looking back at him. For someone who has just been pinned down and threateningly pointed a sharp object at, Albedo didn’t look the least scared. He simply looked at Kaeya, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, almost mischievous. Kaeya furrowed his brow. Is he mocking him?

“Were you sneaking up on me, Captain Albedo?” he said, still not letting go. 

“Just Albedo is fine,” the man said, not making any move to free himself from Kaeya’s grip, either. “And no, I didn’t mean to. I saw you going inside my lab and figured I would talk to you. My apologies. Did I scare you?”

Kaeya relaxed his tense posture and looked at the door he was just about to enter earlier. He was in front of Albedo’s lab, indeed. He let go of the other captain, dissipating his cryo sword. “Apologies. I thought I was the only one here in the HQ, and I heard footsteps. I thought there was an intruder.”

“An astute conclusion,” Albedo said, smoothing out his uniform from where it was wrinkled by Kaeya manhandling him. There was this playful lilt to his voice once again, as if he was teasing the other man like a child. Kaeya watched him closely.

Ever since those… Bizarre circumstances of meeting Albedo when he first arrived at the Knights, Kaeya hadn’t really talked much to the blond. The Chief Alchemist was almost always at Dragonspine, as that was where he preferred to conduct his work and research. Kaeya rarely saw him here in the city, and even more so not accompanying Klee. The few other times he would see him was during official meetings that all of the captains were required to attend, but even then all they ever exchanged was the formal greetings and quick glances every now and then when their eyes happened to meet. Nothing out of the ordinary also happened after that, and he had no more dreams of him. But still, he couldn’t forget about it. It remained in the back of his mind, yet he found nothing else that could give him further clues about what that dream was and why he dreamt about it. Every time he sees the alchemist, he finds himself recalling the events of his dream. Albedo asked him if they were really just ‘good friends’, and Kaeya said that they were ‘a bit more than that’. What did a bit more than that meant in that context? He tried to investigate and poke around to see if he can find out anything about the ever elusive captain, most especially about that Khaenri’ahn star on his neck, but he found nothing. Outside of his tendencies to steer away from people and social interactions, Albedo isn’t exactly an easy man to pry information out of. 

Yet every time he talked to Kaeya, there was always that same smile on his face that haunted Kaeya once their interactions were over. Warm. Knowing. Familiar. He talks to him in a tone that makes Kaeya think he knows him, even though he’s never actually uttered more than a few words when they talk to each other. It makes Kaeya’s nerves go haywire, the feeling of being left out on something that only Albedo seems to know. It makes him just entirely avoid Albedo at times. Much like his situation with Diluc, he doesn’t know how to deal with another enigma such as him.

“It is a surprise to see you here in the city,” Kaeya diverted the topic. 

Albedo nodded. “I just got back yesterday. Klee requested I stay here a little bit longer, so I did,” he said.

“It is late in the night,” Kaeya pointed out. “You’re still working?”

Albedo smiled again. What’s so amusing? “I don’t require much sleep compared to the average person. And I could say the same for you,” he said, looking at Kaeya. With their obvious height difference and proximity, he was almost looking up at the other. “What’s got you in the office at this hour?”

“I… I couldn’t sleep,” Kaeya said. “I figured I would just go back here and finish some paperwork.”

Albedo walked over to close the door of his lab. Kaeya’s eyes followed his every move closely. “Couldn’t sleep? Come walk with me, then. The breeze is nice at this time of the night.”

Kaeya hesitantly followed the other outside the HQ. Albedo was right, the night breeze was indeed nice. It was cold and crisp, but he didn’t mind it much. The both of them were quiet as they walked. There was no one else outside at this time of night, and all they had for company were the stars in the sky and the wind that seemed to be always present, as if it was always watching them. The two men with ties to an ancient civilization who somehow found their way to the land of freedom. Whether it did actually grant them freedom from whatever past they were running from, Kaeya doesn’t know.

“Since when have you been having trouble sleeping?” Albedo suddenly asked. Kaeya snapped to attention, and noticed that they were now heading towards the city gates. 

“Just this night,” Kaeya lied. He has always had trouble sleeping, that’s why he frequented the tavern at night. Aside from the pool of intel he can gather there from drunk hoarders and bandits talking amongst themselves, the edge of the alcohol takes off the sharp thoughts in his mind. Thinking about his life before. Thinking about what he lost. Thinking about those he can’t bring back.

“Anything of note happened recently?” Albedo asked. “Interrupted sleep patterns may be due to elevated stress levels.”

“Where are we going?” Kaeya asked, stopping just before they stepped outside of the gate. Albedo looked back at him.

“Wherever you like,” he said. “Would you like to go outside the city?”

Kaeya hesitated, but eventually nodded. “We shouldn’t stray too far,” he said as they walked across the bridge. “I don’t have my sword with me.”

“Well, that cryo sword of yours is surely as sharp as an actual one,” Albedo said. “A little mistake, and you would’ve cut me down right there and then.”

“You didn’t look like you mind that much,” Kaeya said, looking at the other. 

“I trust in your instincts, captain,” he said simply. “I knew you would recognise it was me. Besides, I didn’t have my sword either, and I must say I have not yet mastered using my Vision. There wasn’t much I could’ve done except to hope that you noticed it was just me.”

Kaeya’s eye drifted to the geo Vision sitting on the base of the alchemist’s neck, hanging there like a necklace. “You should practice,” he said. “A Vision is very much handy when it comes to combat.”

“I can hold my own fairly well in combat,” Albedo said. “I’ve been utilizing it as aid in my research, most of the time. It is a convenient tool.”

Kaeya nodded at that. While most would seem to be overjoyed in receiving a Vision, he didn’t find it unusual that Albedo just views it as another tool to help him pursue his interest. While he supposes that might be considered a little blasphemous to others, since a Vision is usually seen as a sign that the Archons have favored you, the alchemist is widely known for being someone who is tied to his research, afterall. As far as he’s heard, even scholars in Sumeru pale in comparison to the vast knowledge that Albedo holds in regards to alchemy. And who could even compete with that knowledge indeed, when the very power he wields at his fingertips is the alchemy of Khemia?

Kaeya is no alchemist. But he is from the nation where the art form came from, and he knows of its destructive tendencies. It is one of the reasons for his once nation’s downfall, after all. A form of alchemy so powerful it could create life. One single mistake, and the cost of its usage would come at a great price. He wonders if the people who praise Albedo for his genius know of the history of the art form he yields. He figures they don’t, as it is as ancient as the leylines running through the entirety of Teyvat. They don’t know what kind of monsters this art form breathed life into and what devastation it brought upon a once flourishing land. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

“The stars are beautiful here,” Albedo suddenly said, looking up at the sky. To his surprise, they were now at Starsnatch Cliff. Had they been walking for that long?

Kaeya looked up as well, and the sight of a thousand stars scattered across the night sky greeted him. Their light was a great contrast to the dark night sky, like specks of white paint sprinkled on a black canvas. With the quietness of the night and the smell of grass all around them, it was so peaceful here where they were standing. “You like watching the stars?”

“I do,” Albedo whispered, looking into Kaeya’s eye. “But of all these stars, only one has ever captured my interest.”

“Oh? Which one?” Kaeya asked, looking back at him.

Albedo smiled again, and Kaeya’s heart lurched. Why it did, he didn’t know. Maybe it was the way he smiled at him again, that soft and warm smile he only ever sees on the alchemist’s face when it's directed at him. He’s seen Albedo talk to other people, has seen him mentoring his students at the alchemy table by the city center multiple times, but he’s never smiled at them like this. Or looked at them like this, even. Like he knows him. Like he knows his secrets. His fears, his dreams, his heart’s desires. Like he can read him as if he’s an open book. Kaeya didn’t like how uneasy it made him feel at times, how weak he is to resist it. He knows it's suspicious, and alarms are practically blaring off in his head with how odd Albedo always acted around, but Archons forbid he let his heart take the lead, just this once. Because gods, when has anyone ever looked at him as if he was the only good thing in their life?

“This one,” Albedo said, and oh, this man is really full of surprises. Kaeya’s breath hitched as a pale and cold hand reached up to his face, cupping his cheek gently, and brushing its thumb underneath his eye. Kaeya couldn’t think, couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. He should say something. He should  pull away, because Albedo is getting into his personal space. He doesn’t know this man, isn’t close enough with him to let him touch him like this, even if he does it so gently. As if Kaeya’s some rare porcelain that’s always on the verge of breaking. Like he’s something worth protecting. Like he’s something worth caring for. 

Like he’s someone worth loving, for all that it matters.

But alas, Kaeya wasn’t Kaeya if he wasn’t stubborn. If Albedo was so determined to take his breath away, to leave him stupefied and confused and feeling, then two can play this game. 

Kaeya leaned into the touch. He held up his own hand, his fingers finding the base of Albedo’s neck. The skin was smooth, immaculate, and perfect. Like the alchemist was created, rather than born. Because no human ever born is as perfect as this, as beautiful as he is. 

Albedo’s eyes widened, not expecting for the gesture to be reciprocated. But once again, he didn’t do anything to free himself from Kaeya’s hold. Kaeya’s thumb pressed into that golden four-pointed star, and he felt the muscles on Albedo’s throat move as he gulped. The skin here is different compared to the rest of his body, and Kaeya pressed his thumb into it harder, earning him a shocked sigh from the smaller man.

“Albedo,” Kaeya said his name, without formality for the first time ever. He found that it felt so right. “What are you?”

Chapter Text

- Mondstadt, 3 years ago -

Kaeya opened his door, and immediately he was greeted by the sight of a certain alchemist standing outside his house. Due to the late hour, the latter had opted to forego his white coat that is part of his official uniform, now only left with the blue undershirt and his black shorts.

Albedo immediately smiled as he saw Kaeya step out of his house. For the past few days, this has become some sort of… Routine between the two of them. Kaeya was still having trouble sleeping, and so the alchemist took it upon himself to accompany him on nightly walks.

For tonight, they opted to go on top of one of the windmills. The cold night breeze greeted them once they got there, and the pair was content to sit in silence and look down below at the few remaining people who were still outside at this hour. They had gone on their walk a little earlier than usual, so there were some people still out and about in the city. Even the taverns were still open as well.

“When are you returning to Dragonspine?” Kaeya asked, his eyes fixated on Blanche who is now closing up shop. Sara from across her is also doing the same.

“When I intend to,” Albedo answered vaguely.

“I'm sure Klee won't be causing more trouble anytime soon,” Kaeya chuckled, remembering how the little girl had gone and got herself caught by Jean fish blasting once again just the other day. Even Kaeya can't do anything to save her from solitary confinement, not with Jean sternly reprimanding the little girl right beside him as Klee looked up at him with pleading eyes.

“Well, Klee isn't the only one I care about here,” Albedo said, turning to look at him. Kaeya looked at him as well.

Over the past few days, Albedo has been anything but subtle with him. Not especially after that night where Kaeya confronted him on what he really is. Albedo was honest to tell him the answer to his questions, but didn't pry to know his own story. Although it seemed a bit unfair to the other, Kaeya was thankful enough that Albedo didn't push the subject. Even after discovering that they are tied to the same ancient civilization, Kaeya doesn't think he can talk about his own ties with it just yet. Not after what happened to him the last time he tried to.

“This is my first time up on these windmills,” Albedo spoke again after the silence that passed between them. “It is nice up here.”

Kaeya knows that Albedo wants something from him. Something he isn't quite sure he can give, something he isn't quite sure he's capable of giving in the first place. The other man has said nothing to directly address it, but if actions were the basis, then Albedo would be the loudest person he's ever met. The late night walks, the casual conversations, the lingering stares every time he sees him now in the office. Albedo wants something from him, and it's driving Kaeya insane, not fully understanding why. Why would someone like Albedo, as perfect and accomplished as he is, bother with someone like him? 

“Why are you doing this?” Kaeya suddenly asked. Albedo turned to him, surprised by the sudden question.

“What do you mean?” he said.

“This,” Kaeya said again, as if that was supposed to mean something. “What do you want from me, Albedo?”

“Your time,” the alchemist said, looking somewhere far away. “As much of your time as you can give me.”

“Why?” Kaeya prodded again.

Albedo smiled. “Why not?” he asked back, and Kaeya’s head is starting to hurt now. So much so for being a master of manipulation, Albedo can easily outplay him with his words and mysterious ways anytime. Even up until now, he still doesn't understand some of the man’s words and actions.

“I'm not like you,” Kaeya whispered.

Albedo furrowed his eyebrows. “Like me in what way?”

Perfect. Genius. Kind. Gentle. Warm. Kaeya could go on and on, and it would still not be enough to describe all the things Albedo is that Kaeya isn't. He doesn't deserve this. This attention, warmth, or company. And Albedo doesn't deserve him, with all the lies he's spun and wove. He will only end up hurting him, just like he did with everyone who ever loved him. Because that is what Kaeya does. He takes, and he hurts, and he walks away.

“You don't want me,” Kaeya told him. 

“I never said I did,” Albedo said. Kaeya held his breath, his hands tightening its grip on the railings of the balcony they were standing on. The candidness in Albedo's voice cut like the edge of a thin piece of paper, leaving a painful wound as it slid across his chest. Shallow, but painful all the same.

“I want to learn everything there is to learn about this world. I want to uncover the secrets of civilizations past, find out what it is that led to their untimely demise. I want to learn what it is to be human. I want to reconnect with my master again, so she may see how far I've come since parting ways with me, and tell me if I'm doing the last assignment she gave me right. Those are the things I want,” Albedo started. “But you, Kaeya,” he chuckled, sighing as if he’s out of breath. “I'm afraid ‘ want’ is too light of a word to describe what I feel for you.”

Kaeya's mind is reeling. And he's falling, falling, falling to the sweet words, the gentle smiles, the warm looks. And he wants to let himself. Wants to let go, to trust, to let himself believe that maybe, maybe there really is a small part of him left that still deserves any of this. But he knows what he is. He knows of his lies, his half-truths, his secrets that he swore he would take to the grave. No, he can't do that to Albedo. Not to someone as kind as him. He can't drag him down into this mess he's made for himself, take him back with him into the darkness where he's always belonged.  

“I can't give you anything,” Kaeya choked out, as if it pains him to say it out loud. And it really does, because as much as he wants to keep this, to keep him, he has nothing to offer Albedo in return. “Something like me could never be someone's home.”

Albedo looked at him and smiled sadly. “If that were true, then why do I keep coming back to you?”

Kaeya can't do this. He really can't. This is all too much for him. He needs to go, needs to put some distance between him and Albedo before he loses his mind and becomes too selfish. 

“I need to go,” he abruptly says, pushing past Albedo to go to the door which leads to the spiraling steps down the windmill. To his dismay, a cold hand reached out and grasped his arm, stopping him from his departure.

“What are you so afraid of?” Albedo asked, cupping his chin, forcing Kaeya to look at him. His legs almost gave out at the once again gentle touch, and the seemingly all-knowing look, aiming to undo his whole being right where he stood.

“You don't understand,” Kaeya mutters frantically.

“Then help me do so,” Albedo said, moving his hand up his arm, not letting go. 

“I will hurt you, because that is what I do.”

Albedo laughed quietly. “Hurt me?” he said, as if the very notion itself sounded so absurd to him. “The very power that created me brought the destruction of an entire nation. If anything, it is me who is dangerous… And not having you might just be my undoing.”

“Stay here,” he said once again, his grip on Kaeya’s arm relaxing to a gentle touch. “Explain it to me. Let me understand. Speak of the things that scares you, that hurts you, that keeps you up at night. Archons know that I will not judge, for I am in no position to do so. I was once an outsider as well, now trying to live among the blessed and the ordinary.”

Kaeya’s heart started racing. He gulped, staring into the teal eyes that are looking so intently at him. Piercing through his soul, breaking through his walls. The walls he's worked so hard to build up around himself, so no one may get in and hurt him even more for what he truly is. The walls that kept him safe, kept him from not belonging , in this land of the gods where the kinds of his people were long forgotten, buried in ancient textbooks and washed away by the passage of time.

And so he did. He spoke of all of those things. Of a father that left him, shaking and alone under the rain. Of another father that took him in, sheltered him and gave him a new home. Of a once-brother whom he grew up with, running through the woods and learning what it's truly like to be a child. Of an ancient plot that ran through his mind the day his found family came crumbling down in the form of an abyssal monster. Of swords raised against one another, words exchanged, fire that burned his skin. Of a brother that left him all alone, much like his first father did. Of how on nights where it gets too hard, where it gets too real, he turns to the false promises of liquor, and the temporary relief it brings. Of how he is tired, so, so tired, of keeping up appearances and maintaining personalities just to fit in. Just to feel like he belongs. Of how he regrets the way things turned out and how he yearns to have another chance. 

By the time he was done, and all the words had spilled out of his mouth, tears were dropping from his eyes. He was shaking, both from the cold and the fact that right here, right now, he had just laid himself bare to another, left himself vulnerable to the judgment of another person once more.

True to his word, Albedo didn't judge. Didn't say anything. He held his hand, wiped his tears, and cradled him from the cruelness of the world. In a final act of vulnerability, Kaeya undid the tie of his eyepatch, letting it fall to the floor, seeing both the world and Albedo with his two eyes.

Albedo smiled and traced the scar over the exposed eye so gently. He leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss on top of it, and Kaeya sobbed harder, clung on to him tighter. Something deep within him released, and he breathed in Albedo's scent to ground himself. He smelled of chalk and cecilias, of love and happiness.

“All of these stars, yet the ones in your eyes shine the brightest,” Albedo said, staring deep into his eyes. “In all my years of existence, I have yet to witness one that takes away my breath as much as yours do.”

“I want to kiss you,” Kaeya said.

Albedo laughed quietly. He leaned closer, pressing his lips to Kaeya’s. It was soft, warm, and loving. Kaeya is falling, falling, falling again. This time, he lets himself do so. 

He had never felt so complete.

- Mondstadt, 2 years ago -

Kaeya set down the picnic basket he was holding, taking out the blanket set on top of it and spreading it over the grass. Behind him, he can hear the sounds of giggling and running footsteps. He smiled to himself, sitting down and looking at the commotion.

He saw Klee running around, chasing what seemed like a crystalfly. Behind her, Albedo was standing, carefully watching Klee in case she falls. Around them, the cool wind was blowing, giving a refreshing feeling paired with the large shade of Vennessa’s tree. The sun was high up in the sky, bright clouds drifting beside it and covering its heat.

“Slow down, Klee,” Albedo called after her, jogging lightly behind the kid to catch up. She’s got lots of energy, that one. Between him and Albedo taking turns watching her, Klee never seems to get tired of playing. Much like a certain redhead Kaeya knew back then, when he was a kid himself. When life was simpler.

“I caught it!” Klee exclaimed, jumping up and down excitedly as she showed the spoils of her efforts to Albedo. Albedo smiled, bending down to get closer to Klee and look at what’s in her hands. “Good job, Klee,” he praised the little girl who giggled and smiled up at him.

“I’m going to get more!” Klee said, stuffing the item into her pockets.

“Alright. But be careful, okay? And don’t go too far,” Albedo gently reminded her, to which Klee nodded before running away once more. Albedo stood straight back up and watched her for a few moments, before looking to Kaeya’s direction and walking over to him.

“Nice of you to join me here,” Kaeya said as Albedo sat down beside him. “I was getting lonely.”

Albedo gave him a teasing smile. “How clingy you are, Captain Kaeya.”

Kaeya put a hand to his chest, feigning hurt. “How you wound me, Chief Alchemist. Is my company not desirable to you anymore?”

Albedo rolled his eyes, but there was a smile on his face. “I have something for you,” he suddenly said.

Kaeya’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Oh?”

The alchemist reached into his satchel, retrieving a long, rectangular black box wrapped with a blue ribbon. He handed it to Kaeya, who took it and tested the weight of it in his palm. The box was a bit heavier than he expected.

“What for?” Kaeya asked, sliding his hand across the cover.

Albedo shrugged. “Just a gift,” he said.

“Be careful, Albedo,” he started. “If you keep giving more gifts like this, I might think you’re in love with me,” he laughed, trying to hide his nervousness about the gift. Albedo just smiled, silently urging him to open it. Kaeya looked at the box and pulled on the ribbon, undoing it. He took off the cover and gasped at what greeted him inside.

It was a dagger. But not just any dagger. It looks… Customized. There was a bright, blue, diamond-shaped gem embedded on the center of the cross-guard, and a circular one at the pommel. It had a navy blue grip, and the blade was embossed in the center with a pattern that upon closer look, Kaeya realized were peacock feathers. Kaeya carefully ran his fingers across the embossed pattern, minding the sharp edges of the blade. He took it out of its box, testing its weight once again in his hand. It’s a bit heavy, but not too much that it would be inconvenient to use. Its blade glinted as slithers of light seeping through the leaves of the tree hit its surface. He looked up at Albedo, and found the man staring at him, holding his breath.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

“It’s beautiful,” Kaeya said, admiring the blade. This must’ve cost a fortune to acquire, or to make. “Where did you get this?”

Albedo looked down at the dagger. “Just… An antique I found, long ago. When I was still exploring domains with my master,” he said. “Although for the blade itself, I had the embossed peacock feathers customized. I figured it would suit you more, that way.”

“Antique?” Kaeya said. “This doesn’t have some odd curse in it, does it?”

The alchemist laughed. “Of course not, my dearest. You know I would never harm you like that,” he said. Kaeya could feel his cheeks heat up with the endearment and the casual caring remark. 

“Are you sure you want me to have it?” Kaeya asked. He knows how Albedo misses his master at times, or longs to speak with her again, after so long of not hearing anything from her. The alchemist sees the woman as his mother. This dagger might be one of the things that reminds him of times with her, and Kaeya wouldn’t want to impose on something like that.

“Of course,” Albedo said, placing his hand over Kaeya’s. “Keep it with you at all times, for protection.” 

“Thank you,” Kaeya smiled, putting the dagger back inside the box and closing it.

“My pleasure,” Albedo said.

As Kaeya looked up, he saw Albedo looking back at him, smiling. Warm. Kind. Knowing. Kaeya doesn’t know of any words in the dictionary, of any artist out there, of any poetic bard, that could capture Albedo’s beauty in this moment. The pale blond hair that reaches to his shoulders, framing his face in strands of gold. His deep teal eyes, which always seem to pull on the depths of Kaeya’s weaknesses, luring him in like a sailor lost at sea. Oh, how fortunate he is, to find the salvation and grace he has been looking for all his life, all in the form of the man in front of him. Kaeya has never been so hopelessly enamored. 

“You’re beautiful,” Kaeya said breathlessly, reaching out to touch Albedo’s face and the perfect skin that lay there.

Albedo laughed silently, leaning into his touch as he closed his eyes. He turned towards Kaeya’s palm, placing a soft kiss on the center.

- Mondstadt, present day -

“One Death After Noon, please,” Kaeya said, easily sliding into his seat at the bar.

The bartender turned his back to him wordlessly, getting started on mixing his drink. Kaeya looked around, scanning the people who were already in the tavern. Some regulars, some knights, some adventurers from the guild. Tavern music was already playing, courtesy of Six-Fingered Jose. Oh, well. Looks like Kaeya might have to stick around.

“Slow night, Master Diluc?” Kaeya asked, looking back at the bartender who is now placing his order in front of him.

Diluc only gave a soft grunt in reply. Kaeya took a sip of his drink, relishing the strong taste of alcohol going down his throat. “You know, I just saw the most curious thing earlier in my patrols.”

Diluc didn't say anything in reply as he took to cleaning some glasses with a wet towel. Kaeya leaned forward on the bar, resting his chin on his hand. “It was along the Dawn Winery. Sudden surge of Abyss activity… Hilichurls, mages, and the like. You don't think they might pose a problem, do you, Master Diluc?”

At this, the wine master finally spoke. “I'm capable of looking after my staff and property, Sir Kaeya. The concern is much appreciated.”

“Well, I'd still have to include it in my patrol report to the Acting Grand Master,” Kaeya subtly said. “You know, formalities and stuff. I can't have the Acting Grand Master think I concealed important information I found during my patrols. That's not the behavior of a model Knight.”

Diluc’s scarlet eyes met with his lavender ones. A silent conversation passed between them. If Kaeya does include it in his report, then Jean, the ever diligent Acting Grand Master she is, would surely send a squad of Knights around the area to investigate and keep guard. Of course, Kaeya, being Jean’s most trusted man, would be appointed as the head of said squad. Which would mean that not only the Knights of Favonius would be scattered on Diluc's property, Kaeya would be there too.

Unless the ever illustrious Master Diluc shares the information he has on hand with him, so that Kaeya’s hand wouldn't be forced to start an official investigation.

It appears that they were on the same wavelength, despite growing apart over the years. “What do you want?” Diluc finally cracked, setting aside the glass he was cleaning with an audible thump , betraying his growing annoyance at the captain.

Kaeya smiled, but before he could speak further, someone sat in the empty seat right next to him. “Sir Kaeya! Fancy seeing you here!”

He looked at the green-clad bard who just greeted him, holding his lyre and casually playing a few notes. “Why hello, Venti. Nice to see you here as well.” 

“It seems you're alone tonight, Sir Kaeya,” the bard said. “Is your beau not with you?”

Kaeya chuckled. “He's up on Dragonspine, researching away,” he sighed dramatically. “Would you teach him a thing or two on romance, dear bard? I’m afraid he's coming to love his research more than me.”

Venti laughed. “Ah ha! A classic squabble of lovers. Maybe a romantic gesture would be nice, a bouquet of flowers or simple dinner to break the ice,” he said, winking playfully at him.

In the corner of Kaeya's eye, the tavern door opened. A bunch of men filed inside the tavern, dressed in what seems to be hoarder attire. They were quick to sit down at a table in the corner, and one of them stood up to go to the bar. 

“My excuses, gentlemen,” Kaeya said, standing up and grabbing his drink. “It seems my… Friends have arrived.”

Kaeya shot Diluc one last look before leaving, slightly tilting his glass to his direction. Then, he turned around, passing by the hoarder that's going to order at the bar, heading straight to their table to welcome the newcomers.

- Time passes -

“So, Master Diluc,” Kaeya said, sitting back down at his spot on the bar earlier. “Care to share notes?”

Diluc was wiping down the bar. “Notes on what, Sir Kaeya?” he said, clearly annoyed now. 

The man laughed. “Come now, no need to be so formal. Let's make this an amicable conversation.”

“I have nothing to converse with you,” the redhead said, now going to put away chairs on top of the tables. “We are closing. See yourself out.”

Kaeya looked at the clock behind the bar. 1 am. He drummed his hands on the wooden surface of the bar. 

“I assume you did not suddenly go deaf,” Diluc was behind the bar once more, now crossing his arms across his chest. His face now carrying a pinched look, the intensity of his stare enough to burn Kaeya where he sat. 

“Come now, Master Diluc,” Kaeya said. “Don't be so difficult. I'm just simply concerned,” he gave a practiced smile, the one he uses when facing the people as an official Captain of the Knights. “Surely you'd humor your brother, hmm?”

“I don't need your concern,” Diluc's tone was sharp, the fire in his eyes seeming to burn brighter. “And you're not my brother.”

Kaeya's smile turned taut. Okay, that hurt. He'd have to give that one to Diluc.

“Get out,” the man said again, not even bothering to look at him this time. 

“So quick to throw me out,” Kaeya remarked, still not backing down. “Always had a bad habit of getting rid of things that no longer serve you.”

Diluc's jaw clenched, that familiar anger resurfacing once again. Kaeya supposes Diluc wasn't the only one with a bad habit. He had a bad habit of poking old wounds as well, bringing up old hurts that does nothing but add fuel to the fire. But what can he do? He and Diluc are long past salvageable now. There's nothing left to save between them, and soon enough this city won't even be big enough to carry the burden of both of their presence.

“And you're always so insufferable,” Diluc spat back, his eyes narrowed into slits. “Albedo put up with you like this?”

Kaeya bristled, letting out a low laugh. How low of Master Diluc, bringing his lovelife into the conversation. It seems that the redhead knows of his weakness as well. “Of course he did. Unlike you, he actually accepted me for who I am. You can never do that, not even if I present to you my left eye on a silver platter so you could burn it as well.”

Diluc's eyes widened. For a fraction of a second, the redhead’s anger fell through, as was replaced by genuine shock, and something like… Betrayal. Like Kaeya suddenly stabbed him out of nowhere. Like Kaeya twisted the knife, further pushing it into his flesh. However, it was gone as soon as it resurfaced. The anger in the wine master's face came back, stronger than ever, and Kaeya could actually feel the air around them rising in temperature.

“Get out,” Diluc repeated, his voice rising. “Don't make me throw you outside.”

Kaeya imagines Diuc would succeed if he actually did. Diluc’s always been better than Kaeya when it comes to raw strength, what with the broadsword that he always swings around. But mind games, word plays like this? It was Kaeya's territory. He always knew just what to say, just what to bring up, to make Diluc stutter, fall back a little. Yet somehow, he always seems to recover quickly, leaving Kaeya the only one licking wounds and retreating. How unfair.

“That's what you always do,” the captain said under his breath, but still made sure it was audible enough for the other to hear. He stood up, placing his payment on the bar. “Good night, Master Diluc,” he finally said, turning around and walking away. Because that's what he does. He hurts, and he walks away.

Kaeya could feel those burning eyes on him as he reached the door. When he exited the tavern, the cold of the night greeted him, chasing away the warmth of the tavern’s walls. It sobered him up a little, enough to look back and actually think of going back inside to apologize.

Kaeya shook his head. No, he won't. Apologizing is not in the cards for them, it's not something they do. What they do is exactly this. Act civilly in public, argue like petty children in private, ruin further what's already ruined, and burn further what's already ashes. No apologies, no regrets. Only layers upon layers of hurt. Because that's what they do best. Hurt each other. Sometimes he wonders what Crepus would think of them, if he were here today. His two golden boys, who used to be so inseparable, but now can't even stand breathing in the same room. Always bickering, always at each other’s throats, always reminding each other of the one thing they would always regret in their waking moments. 

Kaeya bowed his head, walking towards his home. There was no one outside at this hour, no one to see him like this. If a tear slipped out of his eye and rolled down his cheek and splattered on the pavement, there was no one to bear witness to it and tell the light of day. Let it never be said that Kaeya Alberich, a man who appears so confident and put together every single second of the day, mourns the shattered pieces of his once-was life that he himself dug the whole it was now buried in. 

Once he got inside his home, he immediately changed into his night clothes, falling limply on the bed. He looked at the pillow resting beside his head, wishing a certain alchemist was there to pull him in a hug and soothe his aching heart as he went to sleep. But alas, he was completely alone. He ought to really put on his drama when Albedo comes back, make him at least a little guilty for leaving him all to his lonesome a couple weeks every month.

Kaeya smiled softly. Albedo would surely just roll his eyes at him again and call him on his act. Thinking of the smell of chalk and cecilias, sleep soon claimed Kaeya’s consciousness.

The nightmare of fire and burning that followed soon after, however, haunted him all night.

Chapter Text

Kaeya always liked to have the last laugh. Who doesn't? Your opponent thinking they have beaten you, only for you to come back later as soon as things died down, stronger than ever and turning the tides into your favor. As the red roof of the Dawn Winery came into view, this is what was running through Kaeya’s mind. It had been three days since he and Diluc’s… Well, little fight, to say the least. He has made himself scarce since then, drowning himself in paperworks and extra patrols just so the need to go to the tavern and get some drinks didn't come up in his mind too much. If he really did need some, then he opted to go to the Cat’s Tail instead.

No, he wasn't avoiding Diluc. He just wanted the man to think he was successful in deterring him, is all. True to his word, he really did bring up the matter of the heightened Abyss activity to Jean, who in turn, much to Kaeya’s satisfaction, decided that the event is absolutely worth investigating. As much as he wanted this opportunity to get on Diluc's nerves as much as possible, he really is genuine when he said he's concerned as this could pose a threat to Mondstadt in general. What Kaeya didn't expect is that the Acting Grand Master would send him alone, trusting that he would get the relevant information needed and go back to the HQ to report to her if further action is required. Kaeya doubted if Jean actually thinks he'll do that. Most likely, he'd handle the situation on his own and get it done on his own terms, and when he comes back to report to Jean, the matter would already be done and dusted. Maybe that is why Jean sent him alone, in the very first place. Oh well, no matter. He would still like to see the look on the redhead's face now that Kaeya was about to show up on his doorstep, on official Knight business, three days after he got on his nerves. It made Kaeya smile a little, at the very least. How interesting this will prove to be.

Kaeya got down from his horse as he reached the Winery’s entrance, entrusting it to a staff member who greeted him. He walked down the path between the vines, inhaling the sweet and sour air that blew his hair away a little. Harvest season must be close soon. He could almost taste the delectable wine these grapes would surely make once fermented, if the ever-so-unromantic Master Diluc didn't turn them into grape juice first. Kaeya's nose upturned at the thought. How jarring. 

Halfway through the path, he heard a familiar voice calling his name. “Kaeya!” he turned around, and saw a very welcome presence. 

“Honorary Knight, Paimon,” he greeted back, waiting for them to catch up to him. The pair waved at him enthusiastically.

“Nice to see you here, Kaeya,” Lumine said once they got closer. “Are you visiting?”

Kaeya nodded. “Yes, although I am here for official business,” he said, now walking side by side with them. “How about you?”

“Oh, we are here to help Master Diluc!” Paimon said, excitedly jumping in the air. Lumine widened her eyes at the white fairy, to which Paimon quickly covered her mouth. “Oh, sorry!”

The captain laughed, understanding the silent conversation. “Is that so? Interesting,” he said. “Help with what, may I ask?”

Lumine and Paimon exchanged looks. Paimon shrugged, and Lumine sighed. “Master Diluc said that… There’s been some Abyss activity near the Winery recently,” the traveler said. “He commissioned us to help him investigate.”

Kaeya silently nodded. So they were both here for the same matter, after all. However, the difference is that Diluc actually wanted the traveler’s help, while Kaeya, he just completely disregarded and pushed away. Kaeya tried not to dwell too much on the implications of that, and tried his hardest to push the bitterness down that was blooming in his chest. He knew all too well that his and Diluc’s days of fighting side-by-side and protecting Mondstadt as partners were long over, no matter what he does to try and bring it back. They could never work beside each other again, what with their completely different mindsets and approach to situations. They had been on the same wavelength about everything, once. What the other was thinking, the other was as well. They were like twins, mirroring each other in their movements. But now, they were too different. So he would have to settle for protecting Mondstadt in the daylight in his capacity as a Knight, while Diluc takes up his duties in the night. Two sides of the same coin. Not working together, not partners, but fighting for the same purpose, at the end of the day.

“How about you, Kaeya?” Paimon’s questioned snapped him out of his thoughts. “What's your official business here?”

“The same as yours, actually,” he said. “The Knights also noticed the influx of Abyss activity in the area. The Acting Grand Master sent me to check on the situation.” 

“Oh!” Paimon exclaimed. “We could all work together then! The more the merrier!”

Kaeya inhaled a deep breath and exhaled, averting his gaze. Right. The more the merrier.

Soon, the doors of the Winery were just right in front of them. Paimon took the courtesy of knocking, and the door immediately opened, as if they were being expected.

“Traveler, Paimon,” Adelinde greeted them at the doorway. When her eyes landed on Kaeya, a hint of surprise was in her eyes, but she immediately concealed it with a warm smile. “Mas— Sir Kaeya, how nice to see you as well. Come in.”

Adelinde opened the door wider, and the three of them went inside. “Please make yourselves comfortable,” she said, ushering them to the waiting area by the unlit fireplace. “I will call Master Diluc.”

The head maid excused herself and left, going upstairs. Kaeya glanced around the place, remembering when he was last here. He couldn't recall, really. It's been years. He thinks him and Diluc were still in the Knights when he was last here. They often spent the summer here, getting away from the city's hustle and bustle for some peace and quiet. Nothing much has changed in the interior, and it still felt like that warm cozy home, reminding him of better days when he and Diluc would run through the grapevines, catching crystalflies and fluttering about. Or when they would go to the river in front, picking calla lilies and making bouquets out of them to give to Crepus or Adelinde. Kaeya lilies, Diluc had called it back then, due to the liking of the flower’s name to Kaeya’s and the fact that the word was too complicated for his child mind to pronounce properly.

Kaeya was starting to think that maybe this was a bad idea. What was he seriously thinking, getting himself into this situation? Maybe this was why Diluc didn't seem too bothered by the prospect of Kaeya showing up here. It was like a silent challenge, one that he failed to anticipate. I'd like to see you try and show your face here, see what it does to you. And this is what it's doing to him, bringing him back to old times washed away by his very lies and secrets. He wonders if his childhood bedroom is still here, preserved and frozen in time, as if the one occupying it was still the same old Kaeya. Shy, tiny, and fragile. He wonders if Diluc kept it that way, so the redhead can mourn the death of the past self that Kaeya long left behind. Or did he have it changed, now only a mere guest bedroom? A place of temporary respite for strangers and valued guests alike, who have no idea that it was once the home and comfort of a lost child who didn't understand how big the world was beyond the walled lands of his once-nation.

The warmth and hominess that he feels now is nothing but a facade, a traitorous monster that aims to jump at him once he lets his guard down and swallow him whole. His body is growing stiff, uncomfortable in knowing that it is somewhere he once called home. The home that he destroyed, forsaken, and threw away. And for what? All it ever got him was a scarred eye and horrifying nightmares that followed him in his waking hours. It wasn't worth it, worth the broken trust and shattered brotherhood. But Kaeya always betted on losing dogs.

He forced himself to focus on the situation in front of him as he heard the heavy footfalls behind him, coming closer to where they stood. Kaeya turned around, just in time to see Diluc approaching towards them. The redhead first saw the Lumine and Paimon, giving them a gentle nod as a form of greeting. When his scarlet eyes landed on Kaeya, his gaze immediately hardened. Once again, it took every fiber in Kaeya's being to keep a passive face.

“Sir Kaeya,” Diluc said tersely. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Master Diluc,” Kaeya slipped on that easy smile. He could see Lumine and Paimon glancing back and forth somewhat nervously between the two of them, like watching a ticking time bomb that was bound to explode. “The Acting Grand Master sent me here. She wanted me to check in on the Abyss situation, see what the Knights can do to offer help.”

Diluc harrumphed, crossing his arms over his chest. “I doubt the inefficiency of the Knights can help the situation,” he said, meeting Kaeya's gaze head-on. “And as I told you, I can handle the safety of my staff and the Winery on my own means. Your presence is not needed to solve the situation.”

Translation: I don't need you . Kaeya smiled gingerly once again, his resolve starting to crack. He can tell the other people with them were feeling the tension as well, with the way Paimon is starting to hide behind Lumine and put her hands together. 

Lumine cleared her throat. “Master Diluc… It would be nice to have Kaeya here,” she softly said, cutting the tension. “We need all hands available to help us, as it is a large presence.”

Paimon nodded. “The traveler is right! And she is the Honorary Knight after all, so it would be like asking the help of a co-worker!”

The pair looked at Diluc expectantly, while Kaeya just stayed quiet. Just not breaking down right where he stood is taking all the energy out of him. After a minute of silence, the captain was already itching to march out the door and call it a day. However, Diluc spoke.

“Fine. Let us go,” and just like that, it was decided. Him and Diluc were on a temporary ceasefire, until one of them finally cracked, or until the matter was resolved. Whichever comes first. Kaeya is betting on the former, and feels strongly that it will be him who cracks first, going by how lightheaded he was already feeling without the day even starting yet. Feeling emotions has never been his strong suit. 

- Time passes -

The world came back into focus as their little party of three finished teleporting. Paimon was left behind at the Winery, insisting that she will join Adelinde in waiting for their return, although to her companion it just seemed like an excuse to get free food. Kaeya doesn't blame her, though. Adelinde’s cooking, dare he say, is arguably the best among Teyvat. It has been a while since he himself had a taste of it.

They walked to the Statue of the Seven northeast of the Winery, and Lumine utilized her ability to teleport them to the nearest domain which was east of the Winery. From here, they will climb and walk over to the other side of the cliff, just above where the Abyss had set up their camp. They had all agreed on this route as it will get them there most effectively, as well as give them a vantage point of the camp from above the cliffs, without too much risk of being seen.

And so they went on the journey. They needed to move as much as possible if they wanted to be back by twilight, lest they have a hard time going back where they came from in the dark. Luckily, all of them were seasoned when it comes to adventuring in various terrains, so they quickly arrived at the destination. When they got there, they all got down on the ground, their stomachs to the floor, shoulders supporting them at either side, in order to take a peek down the cliff's edge without the enemies spotting them. From here, Kaeya could see that the enemies had a direct line of sight to the Winery, not too far in the distance. How curious indeed. 

Kaeya immediately saw that there were two large camps in the area. One blazing axe mitachurl, one shield wall mitachurl, one cryo abyss mage, one pyro abyss mage, two hydro samachurls, and a bunch of hilichurls. Between the three of them, experienced fighters as they are, wiping out the whole camp should be an easy feat. 

“Samachurls first,” Lumine said, to which both the wine master and captain agreed. 

“I’ll take the cryo mage and the shield mitachurl,” Diluc said.

“Leave the cryo mage alive for questioning,” Kaeya said. Diluc nodded. “I'll take the rest.”

They all nodded at each other, got up, and did a quick plunging attack to catch their enemies off guard. The hilichurls were quick to respond and alert their comrades, and the mages immediately put their shields up. Kaeya and Lumine made a beeline for the samachurls that were in the center, while Diluc got started with burning down the shield wall mitachurl’s shield.

With one quick stab and flick of cryo, the samachurl Kaeya took up was immediately dead. Lumine was quick to kill hers too, using her geo powers to make rocks protrude from the ground beneath the samachurl, instantly toppling it over and making for a quick kill. Then they parted ways, Lumine going for the other hilichurls to keep them off Kaeya and Diluc’s back as they worked to combat the opponents they had elemental advantages over.

Kaeya went face-to-face with the hydro mage, quickly casting his elemental burst to freeze the creature that was still in its shield. Little by little, he started chipping off its shield by doing attacks with his sword and additional bursts of cryo. Once it's shield was down, he thrusted forward, his sword burying deep into the mages’ chest. It gave out a pained shriek before dissipating into dust.

They seem to be holding up well so far. Lumine was now using her anemo abilities to group the attacking hilichurls together, swirling it with the nearby elements to deal extra damage. Kaeya quickly ran over to the other side of the camp, where the axe mitachurl was. He grabbed its attention by directing a hit of cryo on its way. The towering creature immediately looked at him, and Kaeya felt the heat on his face as its axe immediately lit up. It ran towards him with a growl, lifting its axe, going for the swing.

Kaeya lunged to the side, dodging the attack effortlessly. He was quick to get back on his feet, and took the opportunity to slash at the mitachurl's arm while it was still regaining balance from the swing. It growled, turning to face him, swinging the axe once more which he again had to dodge. Kaeya was minding the limited space around him, as Diluc was just nearby, now fighting with the cryo mage. The camp was just on top of another cliff, so they had to be careful in evading the enemy attacks.

He turned his focus back to his opponent, who presented an opening by getting ready to swing again. He quickly sneaked in an attack, thrusting forward and imbuing his sword with cryo to thrust it into the mitachurl’s stomach. This clearly did a great deal of damage, as the mitachurl almost doubled over in pain. Kaeya used it to his advantage, preparing to strike—

He suddenly felt a cold presence to his right, on his blindside. Kaeya quickly changed his stance mid-strike, going for the defensive instead, and whipped his head around to properly see the enemy that sneaked up to him. He instinctively stepped back as flames immediately came into his field of view and he felt its heat on his skin, striking the cryo mage’s shield. To his surprise, Diluc was already there right beside him, his fire quickly melting the icicle traveling towards Kaeya. 

Luckily, the axe mitachurl has just recovered from the heavy attack it sustained. Kaeya immediately slotted himself beside Diluc, fighting back-to-back with him against the cryo mage and the axe mitachurl. Years may have gone by, but the two were quick to fall back into rhythm, utilizing the harmony of their elements to finish the fight quickly. Diluc guarded Kaeya’s blindside, applying pyro and shattering the cryo mage's shield with the extra force of his claymore. Kaeya quickly applies cryo to their enemies, a sizzling sound forming as vapors result from burning flesh meeting frost.

“Burn!” Diluc shouted, preparing to deal a final blow that would evaporate the whole camp. That was all the warning Kaeya got before the temperature around them quickly rose up, almost to the point where he felt like he was boiling. Kaeya stumbled back as a large phoenix erupted from Diluc’s sword, coming from his peripheral, flying to his direction, and his legs suddenly stopped moving. He had seen that phoenix before, he thinks. But it was different the last time he saw it. It was cold, and raining, the sounds of thunder all around him. But even so, he still saw that burning phoenix, bright and stubborn against the pouring rain, resembling the heat of its owner's fury that couldn't be quelled by the equally raging storm. Kaeya remembers seeing it, and thinking, thinking that his time must've come, and this is finally it, he would die early, just like he always imagined. Death would come to him in the form of flames, the most painful of deaths there is for a sinner like him, delivered by the first person in his life whom he ever allowed to know all of him. It would serve as his redemption, his judgment. The final seal of approval, the final verdict that he is, indeed, an unforgivable monster, a traitorous liar who snaked his way into the land of the gods and therefore must be punished.

“Kaeya!” he thinks he heard Lumine calling his name. All of a sudden, there was cold surging inside of him, bitter cold that coursed through his veins and threatened to pour out of his body. As he stood there, entranced by the light of the burning phoenix, his skin prickled, frost creeping into his skin. His heart started beating fast, every thump deafening to his ears. He threw his hands up in front of him instinctively and closed his eyes, trying to shield himself from the onslaught of heat coming closer. But then, a loud crack resounded, and there was an impact that pushed him down on the floor.

A strong gust of warm wind exploded as searing heat met piercing cold. Kaeya opened his eyes, whole body shaking, and saw his hands covered in a layer of ice, pale blue and clinging numbly to his skin. The grass around him was covered in hoarfrost, and the ground beneath it was frozen solid as well. On the other side, Diluc was still standing, the grass around him singed, the ground smelling of ashes and soot. In between them, where their powers met, the grass was wet, some of it withered to a crisp as it was frozen then burned instantly. The redhead was looking intensely at him, with a kind of conflicted expression he couldn't place.

“Kaeya, are you okay?” Lumine crouched down beside Kaeya, supporting his back and holding his arm. “Are you hurt?”

Kaeya gulped, struggling to breathe normally. He turned to Lumine, eyes wide. “I’m f-fine,” he stuttered, not noticing that his teeth were chattering as well. 

“You need to calm down, your Vision is acting up,” she said gently, looking down at the blue orb on Kaeya's hip. Kaeya followed her gaze, and sure enough, his Vision was crackling at his hip, shooting off sparks of cryo. He nodded in understanding, goosebumps forming on his skin.

“Master Diluc, can you help him?” Lumine looked at the other man on the other side of the field. Much to Kaeya's chagrin, Diluc actually began walking over, carefully crouching down on his other side.

Kaeya kept his eyes on the ground. Diluc reached out to him, holding out his hand tentatively, and Kaeya had to stop his whole body from jolting in a fight or flight response that immediately blared alarms in his head. His shoulders still jerked a little, however. Diluc’s hand paused, waiting for him to calm down, and then he held Kaeya's shoulder. A few seconds later, a comfortable level of heat enveloped his whole body, melting away the ice on his skin, leaving water droplets running down his hands. The cold slowly left his body, being replaced by a lulling warmth that almost put him to sleep. His Vision followed, now calming down as well. It had gone quiet, hanging limply on his hip.

“Thanks,” he said, to no one in particular. “Where's the mage?” he asked, trying to divert the situation. He feels lightheaded. He just wants to go home.

Lumine assisted him in standing up. “It's over there,” she said, pointing to the area where Diluc was standing a few minutes ago. Kaeya was stumbling a bit, still winded and exhausted from the energy that was taken from him by his little outburst. It's been years since he's had it, but until now he's prone to losing control of his Vision. He needs to find out what's up with that.

As they got there, the cryo mage was already stirring, gaining back its consciousness. A wave of flames erupted from where it was attempting to stand up, courtesy of the redhead standing beside him, thwarting the creatures’ attempt to put its shield back up.

“What are you planning? Why are you here at the Winery?” Diluc questioned immediately, leaving no room for negotiations. The mage stirred on the ground, looking up at them.

“We couldn't care less about your Winery— AHH!” its shrill voice said, rising to a shout as another wave of flames came. 

“Stop lying, and this will be over,” Lumine interjected. “You set up your camp here so close to the Winery. What are you hiding?”

“It was all but a distraction!” the mage shrieked at them. It started laughing maniacally. “I will never tell! Not even if you kill me!”

The three of them exchanged looks. “Distraction for what?” Kaeya asked, being on high alert. This might turn out to be an ambush.

The mage only laughed at him. “You will see soon, Knight,” it said tauntingly. “And when you do, you will feel it in your bones.”

Kaeya said nothing at that. Soon, all they heard was the mage’s painful screams as flames completely engulfed the creature, leaving a pile of ashes where it stood. Kaeya’s eyebrows furrowed, his eyes narrowed. Feel it in his bones?

“Let's head back,” Diluc snapped him from his thoughts. “It's getting dark.”

- Time passes -

Kaeya was only relieved when he finally saw the distinct red roof of the Winery in the distance. Paimon and Adelinde were quick to greet them at the front door once Diluc knocked, ushering them inside.

“I have prepared dinner,” Adelinde said, looking at the three of them. “I’m sure the day was tiring.”

“Stay for dinner,” Diluc said, to which Lumine and Paimon nodded. 

Kaeya took that as his cue to leave. He's so ready to go home, after that whole ordeal earlier. He could still feel the effects of elemental exhaustion deep in his muscles that were also a little stiff still. “I will go now,” he said, turning to the door. “I will have to report to the Acting Grand Master that the matter is resolved.”

“Sir Kaeya, surely you are hungry as well? You should join us for dinner,” Adelinde said, practically stepping in to block his way. 

Kaeya smiled. “I will eat at home, Adelinde. I wouldn't want to impose.”

“You should rest for a bit, Kaeya,” Lumine joined in. “You look pretty exhausted.”

They were all ganging up on him. The only one left who had yet to say anything was Diluc, who was silently staring at him. He is the master of the house, so at the end of it all, he's the one who gets to decide if Kaeya stays. Kaeya's decided that he's been through enough for the day, so he doesn't want to get his hopes up and expect for a positive outcome.

It seems that the gods were being lenient to him, just this once. “Join us,” Diluc shortly said, averting his gaze. “Lumine is right. You can't travel back to the city like that.”

“It's settled, then,” Adelinde said, all smiles, clasping her hands, not even waiting for Kaeya to give another rebuttal. “I will get the table prepared.”

After a short wait, they were all seated at the dining table. Diluc sat at the end, Kaeya to his right, Lumine to his left, Paimon beside her. The meal Adelinde prepared was indeed filling, and Kaeya almost cried out in joy as he tasted the first bite. It was so delicious, he wondered how he got this far into his life without Adelinde's cooking for a long time.

They had a relatively quiet meal, with Lumine recounting the events of their little trip to Paimon. It was just the two of them talking. Kaeya really didn't have the energy in him anymore to join into the conversation, and Diluc seemed to be fine just listening to the two talking. 

Once dinner was done, the maids were quick to clean up the dining table. Adelinde came back to them. “Should I prepare rooms?” she asked, looking expectantly at Diluc.

Kaeya considered praying to any Archon that would care to listen. This is where he has to draw the line, right? He can't be staying here for the night. Surely. He would lose his mind. 

They were interrupted by a loud, frantic knocking at the door. All of them turned to the door, and Adelinde quickly walked over to it and opened it. A Knight pushed his way inside, scanning his eyes all over the place.

“Sir Kaeya, Sir Kaeya!” the Knight cried, walking over to Kaeya and practically falling to his feet in front of him. Adelinde closed the door and walked over, all of them looking at the panicked Knight.

“At ease, Riese,” Kaeya said, recognizing the man. He's the one that's stationed at the foot of Dragonspine, assigned there by Jean to warn adventurers to not go up the treacherous mountain.

“What's going on?” he asked.

Riese looked up at him, that crazed look still on his now paling face. “Sir Kaeya, there was a large avalanche in Dragonspine!”

Kaeya held his breath. Time seemed to move slower. A sinking feeling stirred inside of him, expecting for the worst to come.

Chapter Text

“N-None of us expected it, it was all of a sudden,” the Knight continued. “It happened along the path to the outskirts of Entombed City. Captain Albedo is there, in his campsite, and we fear he's stuck in the aftermath of the disaster.”

His feet ran cold. Lumine and Paimon audibly gasped beside him. He blinked a few times, trying to process what he just heard. Albedo. Albedo was there. His Albedo. He was supposed to be finally returning to the city this weekend. He would've got back down from the mountain the moment he got there if he knew there were signs of a coming avalanche. Albedo wouldn't be so careless about something like that, the mountain was practically his second home—

Kaeya closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he felt his Vision stirring once again. Calm down. He needed to calm down. Think. He needs to think.

Alright. First, he needs the facts. “When did it happen, and who knows of it?” he asked, as calmly as he could.

“Just a few hours ago, before the sunset,” Riese said. “The adventurers at the foot of the mountain immediately went to check the damage. The whole path to Captain Albedo's campsite was covered in snow, and we aren't sure if he really was stuck inside. There are no signs of him getting out of his camp before the avalanche happened, as far as we can tell. The adventurers are trying to scout the surrounding area to see if they can spot some clues, but it is already nighttime and the snow is still too soft to step on. I immediately set out to go to the headquarters and inform the Acting Grand Master, luckily, as I passed by here, I saw your horse in the stables, sir,” he narrated, almost breathless by the time he finished talking.

Kaeya nodded. “Go to Master Jean as fast as you can. Take my horse. Tell her I will be going to the avalanche site, and to send a backup team of Knights for search and rescue,” he directed, turning around to look for his belongings. 

“Yes, sir!” Riese saluted, and bowed his thanks to Adelinde, before sprinting out the door. Kaeya grabbed his satchel that was sitting on the chair by the campfire and slung it around his neck, raring to go.

“Kaeya!” he almost bumped into Paimon as the fairy flew in front of his face, causing him to stop abruptly. “Surely you aren't planning to walk all the way up to Dragonspine? It's late at night! And you have a cryo Vision, may I remind you!” 

Kaeya gritted his teeth. “I can't stay here,” he said. “Albedo needs me.”

“Let us come with you, at least,” Lumine said. “I can teleport you to the camp. Albedo is our friend; let us help.”

Kaeya took a deep breath, his mind running a thousand miles. “Alright,” he exhaled. “We should go.”

“Master Diluc, please come with us!” Paimon said. “Dragonspine is so cold!”

Kaeya stirred. He's been with the man all day already, the last thing he wants is to be stressed over looking for Albedo and dealing with Diluc at the same time. “There is no need—”

“I'll come,” Diluc breathed out, albeit hesitantly. Kaeya didn't miss the way the redhead glanced momentarily at him. He looked at Adelinde. “Please take over the Winery in the meantime, Adelinde.”

The head maid nodded. “Of course, Master Diluc. I will prepare your things,” she said, excusing herself and going upstairs. Kaeya sat down on a chair, not trusting his legs to keep him upright. He leaned forward on his knees and brought his hands to his face. Fear and worry are pooling in his gut, enough to almost paralyze him. He can't even pretend to be fine, or keep up appearances. All that matters to him right now is getting to Albedo. 

“We'll find him, Kaeya,” Lumine assured him. “Albedo is a capable person. He's safe, I'm sure.”

He has to be, Kaeya thinks. He has to be, or else he doesn't know what he'll do with himself. Celestia can take him right now where he is. But not Albedo. Archons above, not him. 

Just when Kaeya thought time couldn't move any slower, Adelinde came back down from upstairs, holding a backpack of things and handing it over to Diluc. She walked them to the front door, and bade them a safe trip, and to return safe. Their party once again went to the Statue of the Seven, now with Paimon in tow.

Kaeya immediately moved as the world returned to focus after teleporting. The rescue party that Jean would send surely won't come until tomorrow morning, probably later than that. Until then, they need a solid plan, and they need to know up to what extent the damage of the avalanche is. If it really blocked off Albedo's campsite, then they are in for a bigger problem, since the only way to cross there is the wooden bridge which surely would have been destroyed by now. He knows that Albedo isn't affected by the cold due to his nature, which would give him an advantage in holding out long enough until Kaeya can come to his aid. However, there are still many other threats up in the mountain, such as the frostarm lawachurls and Fatui camps littered around. It would be much safer for the alchemist if he was trapped in his campsite, indeed. Kaeya hopes that all they have to do is simply make a way to get him out of there. 

“Captain Kaeya,” a short-haired woman clad in the Adventurers ’ Guild uniform walked over towards them. “Thank the Archons you've arrived. We've just come back from the avalanche site.”

“Iris!” Paimon exclaimed. “What did you find? Did you see Albedo?”

The woman, Iris, shook her head, sighing regretfully. “Unfortunately, no. We couldn't even go forward to the bridge that leads to Captain Albedo's campsite. It was completely blocked off by the fallen snow and rocks, and… There were a lot of abyss mages and hilichurls around the area.”

Kaeya frowned at what he heard. Seems this wouldn't be a simple rescue mission, after all. “Abyss mages?” Why were they there? Sure, abyss presence wasn't out of the ordinary in the mountain, with the corpse of the dragon Durin residing there. Its blood, which is contaminated by the Abyss’ power, often draws in the likes of its kind. But as far as Kaeya knows, and he can be sure of it since he's been in Albedo's camp in Dragonspine before, there aren't that many abyssal forces around the area. A few stray hilichurls were there, and Albedo is quick to clear them out every time he goes back up on the mountain. Abyss mages, on the other hand, were a completely different story. Their presence might mean that there is some kind of foul play at hand, as they are usually the ones behind the scheming of the Abyss Order.

Iris nodded. “We didn't get too close, as the place was still very unstable and dangerous, but there were a lot of them there. They didn't set up camp, though. They were just wandering around, as if waiting for something.”

Kaeya sat down on the nearby bench to gather his thoughts. He honestly feels like he's going to pass out. Did the Abyss Order cause the avalanche? For what? Are they after Albedo? Why?

Is it because of him?

Kaeya took a deep breath. It is possible, isn't it? His head spun just thinking about it. Every hilichurl he cuts down, every abyss mage he strikes. He feels that a part of him dies inside, whispering loud accusations in his mind of how he's a traitor. These monsters used to be his people, his fellow countrymen. They used to have hopes, dreams, ambitions, passions. But now he cuts them down, kills them without second thought just because he didn't fall to the same fate as they did. Sometimes he thinks he understands the few words they say, right before they fade away into ashes as he deals the final blow that kills them. Sometimes he thinks he hears their voices, cursing him. Begging for help. But Kaeya never listens, and just pushes through like what he's always done. Now it's catching up to him, karma served on a cold dish. They know what his greatest weakness is, and they're now making use of that knowledge.

“Can you provide me with a map of the mountain?” Kaeya asked, looking up to the said mountain looming over the distance behind them. Something ached inside his chest, thinking that Albedo could be anywhere inside that mountain right now. He knows the man is indeed capable of handling himself, even in dangerous situations, but Kaeya won't be able to rest until he sees for himself that Albedo is alright.

A map was placed on the table in front of him. All of them took a look, and Kaeya encircled the spot where Albedo’s campsite is with his forefinger. “His camp is here,” he said. Then, he trailed his finger over the path that leads to it, from the teleport waypoint. “This is the wooden bridge leading there. Most likely, it's been completely destroyed and covered by the avalanche.”

“This is where we went,” Iris said, pointing out the route to Dragonspine from the camp. They went down the Snow-Covered Path, past the Frostbearing Tree, then up to the wooden bridge to Albedo's camp. That's also the usual route the alchemist takes when going there, and the one he taught Kaeya as well. It's the easiest one, and the safest. “We stopped here,” she said, now pointing to the three-pronged intersection beside the teleport waypoint; one way leading to Albedo's camp, one coming from the where the Frostbearing Tree is, and one leading up to the Ancient Palace of the Entombed City. “That's where the Abyss forces were stationed. We didn't get to check the other side, since the way to get there is on the other side of the mountain where the Fatui are.”

“We can start there,” Diluc said.

Lumine nodded in confirmation. “I'll teleport us here,” she pointed at the teleport waypoint at the exit of Starglow Cavern. 

Kaeya nodded in agreement, looking up at the sky. It's well into the night now. As much as he's itching to trek up the mountain this instant, he knows there won't be much point in doing so. It would only increase the risks for them, especially with the Abyss presence there. 

“We go first thing in the morning,” Kaeya said, leaving no room for arguments. “Iris, the rescue team of Knights will probably arrive here tomorrow by late morning. Take them up the path you went, see what they can do to drive away the Abyss forces.”

“Noted, Captain,” Iris said. “There are extra cots here. You can all use them. I'll have our chef prepare soups for all of you to eat and pack for your trip before leaving in the morning.”

“You have our thanks,” Kaeya said, standing up. They all went their own ways, preparing themselves for a night in the camp. Kaeya set-up his own cot, yet he found that he can't fall asleep once again. He lay there for hours, restless, until he finally decided to get up and walk around the camp.

Kaeya stopped by the path from the Adventurer’s camp leading to the foot of the mountain. Even from here, he can already feel the harsh cold of the land. It's all white as far as he can see past the broken stone bridge, with some Fatui camps stationed around. 

He heard footsteps behind him. “You should be resting,” Kaeya looked over his shoulder, seeing Diluc walking up to him.

Kaeya shifted his feet. He's not in the mood for a conversation with Diluc right now. Things are already more tense between them with his little accident earlier. He needs time to recover and get himself back together, to save face and act like nothing happened.

Had he acted out of fear? Seeing Diluc’s phoenix soaring towards him, did it remind him of that night? Of the burning hot flames that licked his skin, the blinding white hot pain that followed after? He knows that what happened earlier was just an accident. Diluc was aiming for their enemies, and Kaeya just happened to be in the way. Bad as things are between them right now, he knows Diluc wouldn't intentionally try to hurt him like that. No, Master Diluc is not that cruel. And Kaeya knows… He knows that to some extent, deep down his soul, that Diluc didn't mean what he did to him. Kaeya knew it would provoke him, telling his truth that night. He expected Diluc's reaction, had counted on it, even. Desperate to feel anything else but that sick relief at not having to choose between his homeland and his adoptive father anymore, he just wanted to be absolved of all the guilt. He thought he would die, back then. Not even from the wounds inflicted on him, but to the sheer pain of Diluc's flames. Jean also thought he wouldn't make it, had he come to her a little later. His skin was blistering, from the sizzling hot burns and the cold rain pelting down on his wounds. The cryo Vision that he gained didn't help, either. Now, after all that's said and done, all that remains within Kaeya is the broken pieces of himself and an ugly scar to match. 

“I could say the same for you, Master Diluc,” he simply said, aiming for civility. They were on a truce, after all. He's still in Diluc's debt for him being here to help Albedo even if this was out of his business. Kaeya wonders what convinced him to tag along. It seems the redhead and the pair of travelers were closer to each other than he thought. Kaeya tried his best not to be bitter, thinking that he and Diluc were just like that, once.

Diluc now stood beside him, looking at the direction of Dragonspine as well. His arms were crossed on his chest. “I am fine. You, however… You've been pale since we returned from the trip. You're only pushing yourself like this.”

Kaeya turned to look at the man, and found that Diluc was avoiding his gaze. Talking to him like this, when it's just the two of them… The wine master almost sounds like he's concerned. Has Kaeya exerted himself so much to the point that he's hallucinating? That would be the only plausible explanation.

“I'm fine,” Kaeya said. “I just want to get Albedo back home, as soon as possible.”

Diluc nodded. A few moments later, he opened his mouth to say something, then closed it back again. He did the same thing about two times over, looking like a fish out of water. Kaeya said nothing and turned back to look forward at the mountain once again, leaving Diluc to make up his own mind on what he wanted to say. 

“Earlier…” Diluc started. “When you lost control of your Vision,” he trailed off, and it was taking everything in Kaeya's nerves to stop himself from shaking Diluc's shoulders and just telling him to get on with it. “...Have you still not mastered using it?”

Kaeya paused for a bit, then scoffed. Here he thought Diluc was concerned about him, but it turns out he was just scrutinizing his abilities. Of course. “Well, forgive me,” he said coolly. “With how you were wielding that flaming sword around, one would've thought you were aiming to burn me,” he said, savoring the way Diluc's face flinched. “Just trying to protect myself, is all.”

“I wasn't,” Diluc quickly defended. 

Kaeya gave him a look. Oh, really?

“Of course you'd say that,” he snickered. “Why would you admit to it?” 

Diluc shook his head, sighing exasperatedly. He turned to his side, saying nothing, clenching his fists. Kaeya said nothing further as well, completely ignoring Diluc's lingering presence. A few minutes of silence later, Diluc turned his back on Kaeya, walking away silently.

- Time passes -

“Ready to go?” Kaeya asked, slinging his satchel across his body. Lumine and Diluc nodded beside him, their backpacks secure on their backs. Paimon nodded in confirmation, hovering close to Lumine.

“Let's go save Albedo!” the fairy said, determinedly. They all walked to the teleport waypoint nearby, and in a flash of white light and blurring colors, they were suddenly in Dragonspine, the cold bitter air blowing on their skin. There was nothing to be seen around them but the white, white snow, frostbitten trees, and the jagged rocks that formed the foundation of the mountain. Kaeya resisted the chill that ran through his back, hugging his coat tighter on his body.

“Stay close,” Diluc said, and there was a small amount of warmth that enveloped all of them, like a bubble protecting them from the harsh winter winds. Lumine and Paimon huddled closer to the pyro allogene, while Kaeya still kept his distance.

They descended the stairs to the left of the teleport waypoint they were at and went on their way. The cold nipped at them once again the further they got away from the waypoint, the extra heat it was giving in addition to Diluc’s pyro slowly dissipating. They were careful as they walked, careful not to make any unnecessary noise and careful of where they were stepping on. The snow here could be unstable, as well. They don't want to cause another wave of avalanche.

Everything was going well so far. Aside from the few stray hilichurls that they managed to sneak past, all that they really had to mind was the sheer cold. Lumine utilized her geo powers to grab some scarlet quartz for all of them, the red gemstone providing some temporary warmth from its effects. The real problem, however, presented itself once the wooden paths ended and they climbed over a ledge, where a frostarm lawachurl was waiting for them.

“Should we sneak past?” Lumine whispered, crouching back down behind the ledge they just climbed up on. “There's enough space around it, I think we can manage if we're really careful.”

Kaeya stood on his tiptoes, peeking at the lawachurl. It was sitting down on the ground, minding its business, cleaning its paws. “There's hilichurls on the other side of it,” Kaeya said, going off on what he remembers about the place. “It's a narrow bit. We can't avoid them, and they might alert the lawachurl of our presence once they see us. Past that, it's already the wooden bridge leading to Albedo's campsite.”

Lumine and Paimon looked over at Diluc, waiting for his decision. They were all admittedly relying on him a bit, as he has the most advantage of them in this terrain. Even though the redhead has had his Vision for years and is considerably a pro at utilizing it, they still had to be careful with the fights they pick. The sheer cold is also using up their stamina, after all.

“Let's fight it,” Diluc nodded. “Let's make it quick.”

Lumine and Kaeya nodded. They all stood back up, climbing over the ledge again, and rushed to the lawachurl. It stood up and roared as it saw their approach, and Diluc was quick to land his first strike, his claymore flaming hot. Lumine quickly applied her anemo to swirl the flames and melt the creatures' shield further. 

Since Kaeya is at the most disadvantage, he opted to go to the lawachurls’ other side, aiming to serve as a distraction while Diluc and Lumine worked together to bring down its shield. Kaeya focused on avoiding its heavy attacks, lunging to the side and rolling away as it plunges its fists into the ground and ice spikes protrude from the ground. The lawachurl fixed its stance, and barely missed Kaeya as he jumped to the side just when the lawachurl came crashing into him.

Soon enough, Diluc and Lumine managed to bring down its shield without too much trouble. That's when they started focusing on elemental attacks; pyro, cryo, and Lumine’s electro. Sparks from overload and static from superconduct weakened the enemy, with melt dealing further damage to it. A couple more hits, and the lawachurl finally fell, turning into ashes. 

Kaeya activated a nearby Ruin Brazier. Lumine, Paimon, and Diluc jogged towards him, catching their breath and feeling the warmth of the device. As they looked forward, they saw two hilichurls, digging on the ground and completely oblivious to their presence. With s quick work of their weapons, those enemies were easily quelled as well. 

They also made quick work of the other two hilichurls waiting for them as they got back down another ledge. After that, they crossed the path on foot, stopping by a torch in the distance beside what looked like a tombstone to get more warmth. 

That was the furthest they could go. As Iris said, the path forward was already blocked with snow and rocks. They all put down their belongings by the fire, and walked over to piles of snow to check if they could get through it.

Lumine stuck her hand inside the pile of snow. As she pulled it out, the hole her hand created was immediately buried as the snow on top of it fell down. 

“I don't think we can melt all of this away,” she said, looking at Diluc and Kaeya with a frown. “The snow on top of it would just keep falling down. We might end up creating another avalanche.”

“What are we gonna do, then?” Paimon asked. “Should we go to the other side?”

“We're going to have the same problem,” Kaeya said. “And the Abyss are there. Even more dangerous.”

The four of them fell quiet, thinking of ideas. They can't give up now. They're right here, and for all they know, Albedo could just be on the other side. Kaeya hopes he isn't injured. The alchemist would be perfectly alright as he can withstand the cold, but an injury might prove to make matters more difficult. 

“What if I tunneled through it with ice?” Kaeya said, and they all looked at him. In the corner of his eye, he can see Diluc frown.

“What?” the redhead asked, as if he just said the most outrageous thing ever.

“Lumine can use her geo first,” Kaeya explained. “Stone pillars along the path that will serve as foundation. Melt the snow with your pyro to clear a way, then I reinforce Lumine’s geo to make a roof, forming a tunnel that can get us all the way in.” 

Lumine nodded, considering the plan. “That… Could work,” she said. “But Kaeya, you will have to make the roof quickly before the snow on top falls over it. It has to be thick enough as well to hold its weight,” she said, turning to look at him.

“I can do that,” Kaeya said in a heartbeat. He can do anything at this point, really. He just wants to see Albedo.

“Shall we give it a try, then?” Lumine asked, looking over to Diluc.

The redhead seemed to hesitate, before nodding wordlessly. They got into position. They would have to do it carefully, and bit by bit, as there is a slope on the path. Lumine activated her geo, and stone spikes erupted from the ground, poking through the thick layer of snow upwards. Kaeya crouched down beside the base of the pillars getting himself ready. 

Kaeya closed his eyes and took a deep breath, searching for that power inside him. He felt it in his core, that bitter ball of cold that's flowing through his veins. He pulled on it, just enough to let it flow to his fingertips. He gave his signal to Diluc, and he felt the quick flash of heat and heard the sizzling of snow.

Kaeya let the cold power flow out of his fingertips. He felt it come out of his body like a frozen river, filling his lungs and covering his heart in ice. He imagined forming the roof of the tunnel in his mind, and used his focus to let the Vision’s power take shape. All he could hear is the crackling sound of ice shaping, forming, and groaning under the weight of snow. He opened his eyes and stood up.

He let out a sigh of relief, looking at what they had made. In front of them is a short makeshift tunnel, the foundation made of geo and roof made of solid ice. It wasn't that long compared to the whole path they still had left, probably just about Kaeya's height horizontally. But what matters is that it worked. 

Kaeya could feel his cold breath coming out through his nose. He gulped, ignoring the pain in his chest as he felt ice clinging onto his insides. “That's amazing!” Paimon exclaimed, in awe. The white pixie flew under the tunnel, and put her small hand up against the roof. “That looks pretty solid to Paimon!”

“How are we gonna do it again? The pyro might melt the ice,” Lumine said, looking at him.

Kaeya gulped again, out of breath. “Make the pillars again,” he said. “I will reinforce the existing tunnel as Master Diluc melts the next wall of snow with pyro. Then, I will extend the roof horizontally, then connect it to your geo.”

Lumine shot an anxious look at Diluc, seemingly waiting for him to say something. The wine master only averted his gaze once more, stepping forward and getting ready to strike once again. The traveler sighed, moving into position as well.

Kaeya took another deep breath as he crouched down, his body growing stiff. It felt as though the ice were in his joints. Lumine's geo rose from the ground, Diluc's pyro melted the snow, and Kaeya's cryo extended the roof. Rinse and repeat.

- Time passes -

Kaeya was a mess by the time they were done. He was cold, both on the outside and inside. His whole body was shaking, his vision was doubling, he couldn't breathe, and it felt as though his whole organs were frozen solid inside him. He's sweating heavily despite the cold that's surrounding him everywhere. His breath is coming out in desperate gasps of air, as his lungs fight to work against the biting cold.

“Kaeya, you need to rest,” Lumine said, an edge of panic on her voice. “Stay here. Master Diluc, stay with him. Paimon and I will investigate the camp,” she said, leaving no room for argument as he sat Kaeya down under the small tent at the very entrance of Albedo's camp. Kaeya slumped on the wall behind him, coughing into his hands, on the verge of consciousness. Diluc sat wordlessly beside him, using his pyro Vision to transfer some heat into Kaeya.

It was very much obvious that there was no one inside Albedo's camp once they finally managed to tunnel inside it. The torches were unlit, papers were scattered everywhere, tables and chairs toppled over. Not to mention the minimal amount of snow that also found its way inside during the avalanche. It did nothing but make Kaeya panic even more, making his head spin further. What if Albedo was taken by the Abyss mages surrounding his camp? Did they really have something to do with this? What do they want from him?

The captain groaned, a quick burst of pain shooting from his temple. With Diluc's warmth washing over him, fatigue is starting to seep into his muscles, making his body grow heavier with each passing second.  

“Don't fall asleep,” he heard Diluc say softly beside him.

Kaeya breathed out slowly. Even breathing feels heavy. He thinks he managed to hum out a response, but he choked on air and coughed harshly. Coughing was painful. Everything was so heavy.

His head slumped on something firm, and his whole body followed next. Taking that as a cue to relax, his body went limp, and his eyes shut close soon after.

Chapter Text

The next time Kaeya's consciousness went back to the land of the living, he almost begged to go back to sleep. His head was full of cotton, his vision splitting into two. His back feels cold, but there is warmth on his front. There was something tickling his cheek. His nose scrunched up at that. He was floating, he thinks. There was an excruciating pain on his head, a pounding so loud it's almost as if it's going to split his skull open. He's convinced that his body is made of lead, and it's being hammered over and over again. 

“He's awake!” Kaeya's ears ringed with the sudden shout beside him. His whole body flinched, and he stopped floating for a moment, but still suspended in the air.

“Should we put him down?” another voice said. This one was soft, and muffled, like a pillow made of feathers.

Kaeya's body started moving. Again, he wasn't doing anything. Not that he could, even if he tried. His bottom touched the ground, his back placed against something. He opened his eyes, blinking a few times to adjust his vision.

“Kaeya? Are you with us?” the same voice from earlier, which he now realized was from Lumine, asked him. “You passed out from elemental exhaustion. You've used your Vision too much. We're currently walking back to the teleport waypoint where we came from,” she said.

Kaeya blinked again. Elemental exhaustion? 

…Right. They were making a tunnel, with Lumine's geo powers and his cryo. Diluc was helping them clear the snow, because there was an avalanche that blocked the way to Albedo's campsite in Dragonspine. That's why they were here, in the cold.

Why are they going back, then? Have they found Albedo? Was he there? Is he safe? Where is he?

“Where… Albedo?” he breathed out, his thoughts not quite translating into coherent words. 

“He wasn't in his camp,” another voice, from Paimon. “We're thinking of other ways to locate him, Kaeya. Don't worry!” 

Kaeya closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead. He is very much going to worry. Why wasn't Albedo there? He thought the avalanche trapped him in? Was he taken, or was he not in his campsite the moment the avalanche happened? Maybe he happened to see it when he returned to his camp, saw the abyss mages littering about, and decided to retreat and go someplace to hide. But where? And how are they going to find it?

“You should rest more, Kaeya,” Lumine said, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Leave it to us. We'll think of something.”

“...No,” he shook his head, pushing himself up from where he was slouching on the ground. “We need to… Help him. Find him,” his words were slurring, as if he's slowly forgetting how to speak properly.

“We’re going to,” Lumine comforted him. “But we need to make sure you're alright first, Kaeya. There's no point looking for Albedo if you're going to run yourself into the ground.”

“Let’s go back to the camp,” a new voice said, coming from above him. Kaeya looked up and saw Diluc standing in front of him, with a stern expression on his face. “It seems our only lead is the Abyss forces on the other side.”

“Master Diluc is right,” Paimon said, flying up to the redhead. “We should check if Master Jean’s rescue team has arrived as well.”

Lumine nodded. “Let's go,” she said, standing up. She bent over and offered her hand to Kaeya. “Can you stand?”

Kaeya took her hand, and pushed himself up. As soon as he was on his feet, he felt like a fawn learning how to walk. He stumbled, almost planting on the ground face first, but a warm and firm grip was quick to hold his arm and stabilize him. 

“Maybe you should carry him again, Master Diluc,” Paimon suggested.

Kaeya's cheeks heated up. “N-No,” he stuttered, choking on his words. “I'm fine, I can walk.” 

Diluc let him go hesitantly, but in the corner of Kaeya's eye, he could see the wine master's hand hovering beside him. It took all of Kaeya's strength not to trip over again as he turned all of his attention into walking straight. One foot ahead of the other, and repeat.

They eventually got back to the teleport waypoint. Lumine teleported them once again, and the sudden warp of reality made Kaeya almost throw up. When they arrived back at the Adventurers' Camp, warmth enveloped Kaeya again, and he almost crashed onto the bench nearby in his relief. 

“Traveler, Paimon!” a voice called, coming closer to them. “Master Jean, they're here!”

Kaeya turned around, seeing Amber. Jean suddenly appeared behind her, rushing to them as well. As soon as she saw him, her face fell into what looked like worry.

“What happened to Kaeya? Is he alright? Do the rest of you have any injuries?” his friend asked, immediately stepping in beside him and using her healing powers. The gentle dandelion breeze pulled a sigh of relief from the captain, as the pounding in his head stopped and his mind cleared a little. The weariness in his body was still there, however.

“We're all fine. Kaeya is experiencing elemental exhaustion,” Lumine said. “We investigated the other side of Albedo's camp, the one the adventurers weren't able to reach. We had to make a tunnel using Kaeya's cryo vision to push through the snow and get inside the camp. Albedo wasn't there.”

Jean's eyebrows furrowed, her eyes casting downwards. “Did you find anything? Any clues?”

“No,” it was Diluc who answered this time. “But it seems as if someone rummaged through the whole camp. The whole place was turned inside out. We can't tell for sure if anything was missing,” he said. 

“We can confirm, however, that Albedo has been there,” Lumine continued. “There were traces of geo elemental energy in the camp. Based on the marks left, it looked like he got into a fight. The marks looked like his Solar Isotoma.”

Kaeya whipped his head so quickly he almost broke his neck. “What? A fight? Why didn't you tell me this?” he questioned, frowning. What if Albedo indeed got injured? He wouldn't be able to immediately fix himself—

“Because you passed out, Mr.!” Paimon interjected, flying in front of his face. “You worried all of us! Master Diluc here almost melted the whole mountain in his nervousness—”

The man in question cleared his throat loudly, cutting off Paimon. Diluc, worried about him? A little more convincing and it would've made him laugh. 

“Thank you for your aid, Master Diluc,” Jean said, putting her hand over her heart. “The Knights are in your debt.”

Diluc harrumphed. “I will take my leave now. I believe the Knights can handle this by themselves.”

“Of course, Master Diluc,” Jean said. “Thank you once again for your help.”

Kaeya held back his scoff as the wine master turned around and just simply walked away. See? Is that the behavior of someone who cares for him? Just immediately leaving the chance he gets and passing Kaeya off to someone else. Such lies.

“Alright,” Jean said once Diluc had vanished from their line of sight, looking at Kaeya. “Get some rest, Kaeya. We're going up the mountain to investigate the Abyss presence. You too as well, traveler.”

“I'm going with you,” Kaeya said, standing up. He got the rest he needed. With Jean's healing, he was fine now. He's ready to go back to that godforsaken mountain, and bring back a certain alchemist home. 

“Don't be ridiculous, Kaeya!” Amber said, eyes wide. “No allogene recovers that fast from Vision overuse.”

“I will rest when I find Albedo, and when I know that he is safe,” Kaeya said, sternly. “I'm fine. If the Abyss Order really is involved, then we need to act quick. If we don't get to Albedo first, then it's them who will,” and there's no way Kaeya would ever let that happen. Over his dead body. 

He looked at Jean, meeting her stare head-on. Jean has known him for years. They've done this dance many times before. She knows, and he knows she knows, that there's no stopping Kaeya once he gets serious like this. He might be all smiles and jokes for appearances, but that doesn't mean anyone can get around hurting his family. He's not going to let the one person in his life slip away from his grasp. Not anymore.

Jean sighed. “Eat something first. The others are still preparing. Then we are going.”

Kaeya is a reasonable man. He knows how to compromise, and knows when the deal in front of him is as good as it's going to get. “Very well, Acting Grand Master,” he said. “As you wish.”

- Time passes -

This time, Lumine teleported their party of four; Lumine, Kaeya, Jean, and Amber, to the teleport waypoint at Snow-Covered Path. Kaeya was embraced by that piercing cold once again, and he was seriously getting tired of this day already. He wonders how the traveler seems to never get sick, what with the ability to quickly go from places to places with different climates all the time. Kaeya is sure he's bound to come down with something after this. Maybe that's a good thing, so that Albedo will be forced to stay and take care of him. He should try it out.

The Frostbearing Tree loomed ahead of them, its spiraling red branches pointed toward the sky. The winds are harsher in this area, but at least the enemies are fewer. They immediately got going, collecting pieces of scarlet quartz for warmth along the way. 

“Any reasons why the Abyss Order would come after Albedo?” Jean asked as they trudged through snow.

“Aside from his knowledge with alchemy, nothing else comes to mind,” Kaeya said.

“Alchemy? What would the Abyss Order want to do with that? Are they even capable of performing it?” Jean said, looking at him.

“It's possible that they want Albedo to create something for them by using it,” Lumine suggested. 

Kaeya and the traveler exchanged looks, a silent agreement between them. Kaeya knows that not everyone is privy to the real nature of Albedo's existence. It's one of the things that binds the two of them, makes their bond stronger. In their differences with others, they are similar. Kaeya vows to do anything he can to keep Albedo's identity a secret, as long as he wishes it so. If it indeed turns out that the Abyss Order is after the alchemist due to his past, then Kaeya would see that it is resolved by his own hand.

“They're there!” Amber quickly stopped them in their tracks, pointing in the distance. True enough, there are already some of the Abyss Order up the slope they were going to. Some cryo hilichurl shooters were positioned at the elevated rocks, ready to ambush anyone who walks forwards unknowingly.

All of them crouched down to hide behind a nearby rock. “We need higher ground,” Amber said, looking at them. “We certainly can't fight them on this level, the ground is too uneven. We need to scout from an elevated standpoint,” she said.

Kaeya looked around them. To their left, there was higher ground they could get to. It was the path to the Ancient Palace of the Entombed City, if he remembers correctly. But they need to take out the cryo hilichurl shooters stationed in front of them first.

“Amber, can you take out that hilichurl shooter closest to us?” he asked the outrider, then pointed to their left. “There's an elevated ground here to our left. We can climb up to it, we should be able to look down at them from there.”

Amber peeked her head out the stone once more to take a look at the would-be target. She nodded determinedly, looking back at them. “I can take it out,” she said. She brought out her bow and arrow from her back, and stood up, aiming at the hilichurl.

The rest of them watched as Amber loaded her bow with the arrow, pulling the bowstring taut, keeping her back straight. No one moved, spoke, or even breathed. As Amber let the arrow fly, their eyes followed the projectile’s movement, hearing the whizzing sound it made as it flew past them.

It landed in the hilichurl’s skull, effectively killing it. It immediately turned into ashes, not even having the reaction time to process what it got hit with.

“Woah! That was amazing!” Paimon exclaimed, flipping in the air excitedly. 

“Nicely done, Amber,” Jean said, and the young outrider flushed even more.

“Thank you, Paimon, Master Jean,” she smiled sheepishly. “We can go now.”

They quickly climbed up the wall, going to the higher level. Once Kaeya reached the top, he looked behind him and helped pull Jean up on her feet. She muttered a silent thanks to him, and they went to the nearby Ruin Brazier to turn it on. Then, they quickly hid behind a jagged wall that was half-buried in the snow. Just in time, two cryo abyss mages were floating down the path, just in their earshot.

“Where is the alchemist?” one of them said, distressed. “You said we would be able to get him!”

“It seems that he has escaped during the avalanche,” the other one answered. “But not to worry, we made sure he didn't get away unharmed. We would be able to find him soon enough. He ran towards the cave, Fridtjof would find him soon enough.”

They all exchanged alarmed looks. Albedo was injured. He ran towards the cave, and whoever that Fridtjof is that the mages mentioned, it is hunting him out right now. They need to get to him, fast . If Albedo's injury is serious, he wouldn't be able to protect himself from any kind of attack. Worry grew further in Kaeya's gut, gnawing at his insides and making his legs weak. 

“Do you know that cave?” Kaeya asked Lumine. 

She nodded. “There's only one cave near us,” she said. “It's the other entrance to the Starglow Cavern. It's just right below us,” she said, pointing at the path where they just came from. 

“Let's go,” Jean said, turning around to leave. They followed her quickly, going back down from the ledge they climbed up on. They followed the path once again, ducking under a fallen tree that was in the way.

As they moved forward, they saw an abandoned camp. Kaeya quickly ran over to it, immediately searching for anything useful. Albedo might've stumbled upon this very safe camp and stayed here to lie low. He might've left something, anything.

Kaeya's heart dropped as he saw something scattered on the ground. It might seem insignificant to the eyes of the unaware, but to his knowing one, he already had an inkling on what it is, before he even got close to it. He crouched down, swiped his hand across the exposed stone, picking up some of the white powder mixed with something red, almost looking pink. It was in a pile, like it poured out of something, much like sand dripping from an hourglass.

Kaeya rubbed his fingers, feeling the texture of the powder. He turned his palm to the light, taking a closer look. Its texture was a bit pasty, as if some sort of liquid mixed with the powder. Kaeya looked down again on the ground, and saw splatters of red dried up, staining the stone, beside the pile of white powder he found. 

Something tugged at Kaeya's heart, and his hand started shaking. It's chalk. It's chalk. Albedo is literally crumbling as he bleeds, his blood mixing to the chalk of his flesh. They need to go. They have to find him. How bad are his injuries? If it's so bad to the point that blood and chalk are literally pouring out of him, then it must be deep. Kaeya tried his hardest not to think of it, seeing Albedo lying on the ground, his body parts crumbled and destroyed, blood mixing with the powder of his flesh. His beautiful face cracked like a fragile porcelain. No, no. He can't be doing this right now. He needs to focus.

“Let's go,” Kaeya stood up, subtly dusting off the chalk from his fingers. “There's nothing here. Let's keep going.”

They continued forward. Soon enough, they were at the mouth of the cavern. It's even colder here, with large spikes of ice protruding from every corner. There are slopes going up, as well as going further down.

“Should we split up?” Amber asked, clearly realizing the dilemma as well.

“We should stay close together,” Kaeya said. “We know they're looking for Albedo as well. We need to be ready for a fight.”

All of a sudden, a loud boom! resounded throughout the cavern, followed by what sounded like the crackling of electricity, the noise echoing through the walls. The ground trembled for a bit, and they buckled to their knees, getting ready to evade anything that might fall. As soon as the shaking stopped, all of them immediately walked further inside, looking around for where it might've come from.

“Look, over there! At the very top!” Paimon shouted, pointing in the horizon. As Kaeya turned to look, he saw figures at the very top of the cavern, seemingly dancing as the light seeping through the top exit cast shadows upon them. One looked tall, and the other was much smaller. And they weren't dancing, no. They were fighting.

None of them said anything, but they were all on the same page as they started running up the slopes, past the falling ice spikes behind them. Kaeya was at the very front, doing everything he could to reach Albedo. He used his cryo to freeze the ground underneath him, allowing him to slide along the slopes and giving him a speed boost. As he got closer, he could hear the sounds of battle going on. 

“Albedo!” he screamed at the top of his lungs, plunging down on the clear opening. He saw the alchemist, backed into a corner, dangerously close to the edge of the cavern’s mouth. Kaeya immediately sprinted to him, holding him in his arms.

“Kaeya,” Albedo said, out of breath, looking like he's about to pass out. Kaeya quickly raked his eye over Albedo's form, noting the tattered sleeves and hems of his undershirt, the cloth wrapped on different parts of his body, dark stains of red seeping through. His left arm was twisted in the wrong way as well. “You're here.”

“Of course, my love,” Kaeya held his face, smiling despite the situation. He breathed a sigh of relief. Albedo is here, with him. Alive. Just a little more, and he can get him out of here, bring him home, and take care of him.

“Stay here,” Kaeya said, turning back around to face the enemy. Kaeya's eyes widened in surpise.

In front of him is an electro abyss lector, its violet shield already up and glowing around its body. In its hand, it held an open book, glowing the same way as its shield. What is a lector doing here in Mondstadt, of all places? This is not good. The Abyss are serious about this, about wanting to kidnap Albedo, if they're sending a lector out here. What do they want?

“Well, well,” the monster taunted, circling Kaeya. He kept his guard on, blocking the lector's path to Albedo. “Looks like prince charming has arrived.”

“You must be Fridtjof,” Kaeya said coolly, pulling back his expression into a neutral one, twisting his sword in his hand. All the worry and fear in his being were being thrown out the window, slowly getting replaced by pure rage. This ends right here, right now. This monster is not getting away from what he did.

“And you must be Kaeya Alberich,” the lector said, laughing. “I finally got to meet you face to face, Chosen One. ” 

Kaeya snickered at the use of the old title. It had been granted to him, once. Such was a great privilege, or so he was told. But that wasn't him now, not anymore. He refuses to be. “Oh? You should've told me you were a fan, I would've given you a free autograph,” he mused, spreading his arms. “No need to go through all this effort just to catch my attention.”

“How touching it is, seeing the both of you,” the lector said. “The Kreideprinz and the Forgotten Prince,” the creature taunted, laughing maniacally. “Too bad, stories like these always end in tragedy. No happy endings here, I suppose.”

“Kaeya!” he heard Lumine shouting, just behind them. As the abyss lector turned to look for a split second, he took his opportunity to strike.

Kaeya lunged forward, thrusting his sword and shooting a blast of cryo towards the lector, aiming to bring its shield down. It swiftly dodged to the side, sending down a wave of lightning bolts going to Kaeya's direction. He stepped backwards just as the bolts intersected where he stood, putting distance between him and the lector. 

Lumine joined the fight, slotting herself to his blindspot. She stomped her feet on the ground, calling forth geo spikes, the crystallization against the lector's electro shield producing one for them. Kaeya quickly picked one up, encasing himself in a bright purple shield. He stepped closer to the lector's side, landing another burst of cryo on its arm. In the corner of his eye, he saw Jean rushing to Albedo's aid, instantly using her healing on him and moving him to a much safer location. 

Amber was on top of a ledge just to their side, firing flaming arrows towards the lector's direction which helped take down its shield. They were at an obvious advantage, both in elemental strength and number, multiple allogenes against a single lector. All they have to do now is play their cards right.

The creature conjured electro orbs above its head, sending it to his and Lumine's direction followed by multiple falling bolts of electro. It sneered at them as they managed to dodge it, getting desperate to land a hit at the both of them.

“I'm going to take everything you love, Alberich,” it snarled. “Starting with that alchemist of yours!”

“I'd like to see you try,” Kaeya said, his voice low and menacing. 

“Do you know who he truly is? What secrets does he keep from you?” the lector said, sending down electro orbs again. “You know it deep inside. The very first time you saw him, you felt it. There's something different about him, the way he acts, isn't there?”

“Shut up,” Kaeya snapped. He was not going to let this monster drive a wedge between him and Albedo. The trust between them is one of the strongest things they have, built upon layers of mutual burdens and shared secrets. There is nothing more left unsaid between the both of them, as they have shown it all to each other over the years. All the good, the bad, the ugly, even the aspects of their being that no one ever imagined existed. 

The lector laughed, as if it was mocking him. “Soon, you will see,” it said. “You will see that he never truly loved you, that he never truly cared. All those years together, built upon lies. You do not know what is coming for you, Alberich,” it spoke ominously once again. “But once you do, you will feel it in your bones.”

Kaeya barely managed to dodge as a large, concentrated electro explosion suddenly came from the lector, sending crackling volts of lightning in the air. The smell of ozone filled his nose, as if he was smelling thunder itself. He managed to lunge to the side at the last minute, grunting in pain as a spark of electro caught his skin, sending a jolt of pain throughout his entire body. Combined with the cold surrounding them, as well as the one flowing through his veins, he can feel some amount of his energy draining, making him stumble.

The lector held up its hand, shooting a large electro bolt towards the roof of the cave. The fragile rocks over their head started to shake, the multiple large, sharp, and jagged ice stalactites starting to fall down, causing an entire chain reaction with the other ice structures inside the cave. The creature laughed, pleased with himself, before opening an Abyss portal and going through it.

Loud rumbling echoed inside the cavern. “We need to go! It's collapsing!” Lumine shouted, running towards Amber. Kaeya went to Jean who was supporting Albedo so he could stand. Kaeya took over Jean’s place, quickly flinging the alchemist’s good arm around his shoulder, gripping his waist, and running with Jean back to the slope where they came from. They descended as fast as they could, the whole cavern now shaking, more rocks and ice falling down. They desperately need to find a shortcut, or else they'll all get buried inside of here—

A large ice stalactite blocked their only path, right as they were standing in the middle of the rock bridge to cross to the other side. Jean was fast enough to grab Amber backwards, narrowly avoiding getting hit by it. Seeing the exit and teleport waypoint of the cavern up ahead, just a few feet below, Kaeya called upon the powers of his Vision again, the familiar cold rushing through his body once more.

“Come on!” Kaeya called, as an ice slide started to form in front of them. His heart raced, fighting to keep his blood pumping as that bitter cold creeped up on his lungs again, blocking his airway. It was cold, so cold, he felt as if his whole body was so rigid he could just snap in half. But he had to do this, he had to get them out of here, alive, and in one piece. 

Kaeya jumped on the slide, with Albedo still in his arms. His companions followed after him, and he worked to get the ice slide going, forming in midair as they all slid down on it. He could feel his very consciousness slipping, something aching so bad in his chest. Cold, cold, cold. He feels so numb, even his mind was blanking out, but he knew he had to push himself, he had to do this. Just a little bit more, and it's going to be all over.

As they finally reached the end, more ice and rock were falling above them. Kaeya was stumbling badly, almost limping, still clutching onto Albedo, who was now walking for the both of them. Someone grabbed him by the back of his collar, almost dragging him across the snow, and he tightened his grip on Albedo's frame, not letting him go.

“Hold on!” Lumine shouted, and suddenly, their surroundings were warping, blurring once again. Once it stopped, they were someplace else, fresh air tickling their skin, the sun kissing their face.

Kaeya's legs gave out under him. He came face to face with soil, the ground seemingly giving him a welcome embrace. Kaeya knew they were somewhere warm, as he can feel it on his limbs, but his chest was so painfully cold. It ached as he gasped for breath, choked on the dry ice scratching his throat. His whole body is shaking again.

“Kaeya, Kaeya,” someone's calling his name, shaking his shoulder violently. He forced his eyes open, looking up, seeing teal eyes framed by blond hair, peering down at him worriedly. He thinks the world rotated upside down.

It was the last thing he remembered.

Chapter Text

- Dragonspine, 1 day ago -

When the alchemist got back up the snowy mountain, just a few days ago, he immediately noticed that something was different. First of them was the increased amount of hilichurls in the area. Second, the increased amount of scarlet quartz. Everywhere Albedo looked, there seemed to be some lying on the ground, even in places he doesn't remember them being before. He also took note of the Fatui camps scattered around. Before, there were some closer at the foot of the mountain, just on the level below the cave of his lab, but when he got there, he saw that they had cleared out of the area, moving further to the border where the grasses of Mondstadt met the icy snow. What a curious thing.

One theory came to his mind: it had something to do with the remains of the shadow dragon that befell upon the mountain, more than 500 years ago. It seemed to be revitalizing itself, going by the increased amount of scarlet quartz. An intense amount of abyssal energy like that would surely attract more monsters, as well. The alchemist went down from his lab, gliding across the air, and landed at the mouth of the cavern where the dragon's slumbering heart resided. Inside, its poisoned dark red blood, corrupted by the Abyss, stained the ground underneath his feet. The dragon’s gigantic bones weaved through the stone walls of the cavern, blending with nature after centuries of being here. The very heart itself rested upon the throne of jagged rocks found at the end, beating ominously, a dark haze surrounding it. Thick blood vessels protruded from it, connecting and disappearing to the stone roof above. Small red plants grew in the ground, seeming to resemble the smaller veins that surrounded the dragon’s heart. An abundance of scarlet quartz was here as well, the red gem being made from its toxic blood. Were he any ordinary human, the sight would surely make for a disturbing one. 

Albedo stepped closer, staring at the giant dragon heart. In the silence of the cave, he can hear the sound of its beating. Weak, but there. It's warm here, proof that the dragon is still alive, and may return one day, like a storm biding its time to get stronger before falling on land. As Albedo listens to its heartbeat, he thinks about his master, his creator, the closest thing he has to a “mother”. If going by the same line of thought that humans have concerning their family ties, then he supposes that he and this dragon residing here, Durin, could be likened as brothers. They came from the same mind, created by the same art. In some complicated way, they were related, but as he stood here, looking at that heart, he felt no sense of familial bond, no ties of sentiment. But siblings always share a trait with one another, something they inherited from their parents. Albedo already got the knowledge of alchemy from his mother. He wonders, then, is he also susceptible to the very same influence that changed Durin? Capable of being corrupted by the Abyss?

The alchemist knows the answer to that question fully well. It's even inevitable, he supposes. He isn't one of the last practitioners of Khemia for no reason. The reason being that 500 years ago, the nation where the said form of alchemy was found was completely wiped out, rooted from the garden of the gods like a weed persistent on stealing nutrients from its flowers. How and why the event came so, Albedo doesn't know the full story. After years of travelling domains and exploring with his master, all he got from her was bits and pieces of the whole picture. Something to do with a prophecy, the birth of their last hope. The arrival of their savior. The one who would bring Khaenri'ah to its full glory.

Albedo kneeled down on the red soil, procuring a petri dish from his satchel and scraping a few bits inside. He got closer to the heart, the dark aura sending a wave of pressure in front of him, as if stopping him from getting closer. Taking out a syringe, he stuck its needle in the flesh of the heart, drawing back a blood sample. The liquid came rushing into the vial of the syringe, a dark red, almost purple like wine, the viscosity so thick it flowed like molasses into the vial, slowly filling it up. He took out the syringe, closed it, and carefully kept it inside his bag along with the petri dish.

The alchemist walked out of the cavern, securing the samples he took in his bag. As he walked the path back to his lab, he saw the abandoned Fatui camps, with no signs of life in them. Still, he kept his guard up, preparing himself for any possible ambushes. As he went through the tunnel leading back to Snow-Covered Path, all he saw was the new strays of hilichurls that moved around the area. He ignored them, simply walking past. He had no reason to disturb the creatures, most especially if they weren't posing a threat. He knew they were humans too, once upon a time. He continued going forward, past the Frostbearing Tree, up the slope, until he reached the broken wooden bridge to his lab. He jumped in the air, deploying his glider, and softly landed on the other side.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, he was alerted by a noise coming from his lab. The sounds of his equipment clattering, his books falling, and papers rustling. He certainly was not expecting a visitor, much less one that's this callous. Even Kaeya, for all the man seemed to love causing chaos and touching things around Albedo's lab like a curious toddler with a penchant for trouble, wasn't that careless in handling his stuff. Albedo slowed down his pace, sneaking up to the walls of the lab at his side, carefully peeking inside.

“Where is it?” to his puzzlement, a cryo mage spoke, looking all over his desk that was littered with notes. Finding nothing there, it moved to the front of his bookshelf, rummaging through its levels and opening random books. “Where did he hide it?”

“May I help you?” Albedo walked in, startling the mage who immediately put its shield up. 

“Where is it?” it demanded. 

“Where is what, exactly?” Albedo deadpanned.

“We know you have it!” the mage shrieked.

“You should go,” Albedo said, walking closer, taunting the creature. “This is not the place for you to be, and you have already caused much damage to my equipment.”

His statement only angered the mage even more. It raised its staff, and Albedo prepared himself for the coming attack. An ice shard flew towards him, and he immediately unsheathed his sword, deflecting it with his blade. The ice shard bounced off the steel surface, ricocheting on the rock walls of the cavern and shattering upon impact on the roof.

Albedo called forth his geo Vision, placing a Solar Isotoma on the ground. He used his elemental burst, sending geo crystals surging, exploding around them. It effectively damaged the cryo mage’s shield, but didn't quite destroy it yet.

“You will pay for this!” the mage shrieked, sending another ice shard his way. The alchemist swiftly moved to the side, the projectile flying past him. “We will not give up until we have claimed him. We will return him where he belongs!”

Albedo's eyes narrowed at the mage’s remarks. “You will gain nothing from doing this,” he said, managing to land a slash on the mage's shield as he stepped closer. A transient blossom exploded when his sword made contact with the shield, dealing an additional geo damage. A crystallization occurred with the mage's cryo shield, forming a cryo crystal. Albedo picked it up, protecting himself with a shield as well.

“Give us what we want and we will leave you alone,” it bargained, but Albedo doesn't have the slightest bit of willingness to listen to it. He thrusted forward, preparing to give another slash, but the mage disintegrated into a burst of light and snowflakes. It reappeared behind him, a few feet away.

Albedo immediately set himself upright, regaining his balance and going closer to the mage. However, he stopped in his tracks when a rift in space appeared beside the mage, opening into a portal filled with nebulae and stars, the world's spacetime warping around it. An electro abyss lector stepped out, the portal closing behind it.

“Why hello there, Kreideprinz,” the lector said, its warped voice grating on Albedo's ears. 

The alchemist changed his stance, glancing around his lab. When it was just the cryo mage, he was still confident that he would be able to take it alone. With the electro lector here, the stakes have considerably risen. Albedo's geo Vision is no match for both of their elements alone. He needs to escape, but much to his dismay, the cryo mage has pushed him deeper into the lab, teleporting behind so it and the lector are now blocking the way out. Things are not good-looking.

“I don't have it,” Albedo said, talking just to bid more time for himself. 

“That's not what our intel says,” the lector answered. “Who has it then? That cavalry captain of yours?”

“Leave him out of this,” Albedo said through gritted teeth. “We don't have what you're looking for.”

The electro lector laughed, stepping closer to him. “Don't make this difficult, Kreideprinz. Hand it to us, and we will leave. No need to spill blood… Or chalk, in your case,” it snickered.

The alchemist said nothing, looking at both the lector and the mage. They both looked back at him with deranged mirth in their eyes, knowing that he was cornered with no way out. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so they say. And as of now, Albedo is a desperate, desperate man.

“I agree,” he said. “So let's just go our own ways and pretend this never happened, shall we?”

Albedo reached for the power of his Vision, channeling it to the rocks below them. Yellow geo energy glowed at his feet, and the earth underneath them began to shake, tremors in increasing magnitude making them unstable on their feet.

“What is happening?” the mage asked, alarmed. Albedo took the opportunity, rushing forward, placing a Solar Isotoma a few feet in front of him.

He channeled more geo energy, making the earthquake more violent. As Albedo stepped on his Solar Isotoma, it lifted him up into the air, and he jumped over the lector's head, landing on the other side, on his feet. He quickly stood up, brought out a dagger from his coat pocket, and imbued it with geo energy, throwing it to the roof of the cave. It hit a rock there, forming a crack, to which the geo energy traveled into, crawling outwards, making the rocks unstable. Soon enough, it completely cracked, sending bits and pieces of it falling down. A chain reaction started, rocks and snow above it tumbling down after.  

“You cannot escape us!” he heard the lector's voice. Albedo started running, conjuring geo spikes from the side of the mountain, stepping on them one by one so he could go over the gao in the bridge. The shaking of the mountain made his footsteps unstable, and he fought to stay upright, leaping in the air with his sure death waiting under him, in the form of a steep drop and jagged rocks. 

Just as he was about to step off on the other side, the cryo mage reappeared there. Albedo made a higher spike, jumped on it, and used the momentum to jump higher, landing behind the mage again. The tree branch that caught on his coat threw off his balance, and he landed wrong, his left arm twisting as it braced against stone. He thinks he heard a crack, but there wasn't any wave of pain that came over him. The alchemist immediately stood up like nothing happened, clutching his arm against his chest, making a run for it.

Something grazed his right shoulder, and as he turned back momentarily he saw the cryo mage hurtling ice shards to his direction. The cut started bleeding, bits of chalk pouring out of it, leaving a crack on his skin and a chip in his arm. More shards hit him, on his right leg and thigh, but he needed to run, he needed to leave. 

He ran down the inclined ground, to the very end of the path, and made a left turn. Weaving under a tree, he saw an abandoned camp not far ahead. He looked behind him, and saw that nothing was chasing him anymore. Albedo sat down, took off his coat, tearing pieces of his undershirt’s sleeves and hem. He wrapped it quickly on his cuts, stopping more chalk from pouring out of the wounds. He tried to twist back his arm, but decided against it. The joint connecting his arms might snap off if he doesn't do it correctly.

Albedo stayed there for a while. He doesn't need to rest, and none of his injuries hurt, but his energy was a bit strained from the use of his Vision. The sun has already set, darkness enveloping the sky. Between the howling winds and cold fog, it was hard to travel in Dragonspine at night. Albedo opened his satchel, pulling out a flint and steel, and used it to light a small campfire. While he doesn't get affected by the cold like humans do, it can make the material of his flesh brittle. With his wounded state already, chunks of him might start falling out if he doesn't stay warm. 

He looked around. Could he go down? There was a staircase leading down in front of him, which loops back to the Frostbearing Tree. He figures he can go back there, then walk all the way back to the Adventurers' Camp at the foot of the mountain. If the electro lector doesn't get to him first, at least. He's sure it would still be looking for him. There aren't any lectors around Mondstadt that he knows of, and this is the first one he's seen here. It must mean that the Abyss means business, this time around.

What are they planning? Did they have something to do with his theorized revitalization of Durin's heart?

Albedo sat there for hours. He doesn't need ro sleep, so he didn't. He stayed there, unmoving, listening to the silence of the night. He watched the snow foxes run, the crystalflies fly by. He kept his ears peeled and his senses alert for anything that might indicate that an enemy was nearby. He wonders if anyone has noticed the avalanche he created, and if help has been sent his way. It's a good thing he's not human in this situation, he supposes. If he were, he would surely be in pain with his injuries right now, which would limit his movements more.

At some point, the sun has already risen, and he thinks he heard footsteps. He sat up straight, looking at where it came from. It came from the path he took earlier, from his lab going here. Albedo immediately stood up, moving quietly, pressing further into the rock arch beside the abandoned camp, turning to his side to listen for anything.

He peeked at the corner. There, he saw several cryo abyss mages with their shields already up, walking with some hilichurls, going down the path leading to the abandoned camp. Albedo let out a sigh of disbelief. He can't fight his way through this. His geo Vision would be slow in taking down all of the mages’ shields, and he's not sure if he's already recovered the energy he spent making that avalanche. 

He looked up at the sky. It’s already well into the morning now. He should get moving again. As he heard the mages talk, he turned his attention back on them, straining his ear to listen.

“The Knights fell for our distraction at the Dawn Winery,” one mage said. 

“So I heard,” the other one replied. “They sent that cavalry captain, along with the traveler and the master of Dawn Winery. The whole camp was wiped out. They think we are planning something for the Winery.”

Albedo's heart skipped a beat. Kaeya. Dawn Winery is close by the mountain, and if anyone had noticed the avalanche, the Knights would immediately be informed. He's certain that Kaeya would immediately make his way here at once, looking for him to drag him all the way back to Mondstadt. The lector seems to be looking for him as well. He could only hope that the cavalry captain didn't go alone, as he liked to do most things. 

The alchemist hid behind the rock of the stone arch as the enemies walked closer to his direction. He has no choice, he'll have to go. The only way is forward, as he can't risk being seen by the enemies and being alerted by his presence. It seems that they have increased their number in order to look for him. Whatever it is they want, they're desperate to get it, and Albedo is going to make sure they won't succeed. For Kaeya.

He crouched down, silently walking away. Up ahead, he saw the mouth of a cave, sloping downwards. He walked inside, passed the teleport waypoint, and looked down at the huge drop. He followed the path in front of him, a slope going downwards to the bottom. There was a frozen lake at the very bottom, lots of pointed rocks and seelie courts with pyro seelies. A large stone pillar in the middle, holding up the first slope going up the upper level of the cave. He stopped by a seelie court, standing there, following the route of the slope. He saw that it led towards the very top of the cave where a large opening is. The sun's rays were shining through it, reflecting on the blue ice and snow surrounding the cave, filling it with glowing blue light.

Albedo went back up the way he came, deciding to go to the opening and check it out. Should the lector find him, maybe he can use that opening to escape once more. It was a long walk upwards, and Albedo could feel the cold clinging to his skin, but it didn't make him numb, or chatter. It was just there, existing. 

When Albedo reached the very top, a wide clearing greeted him. There were unlit torches, and ruin mechanisms, and golden runes inscribed in a circle in the center of the clearing. He walked forward, going to the very end of the opening, peering down the ledge. 

He couldn't see anything. The fog was thicker here, the altitude being higher up. He carefully stepped down to the rock ledge, crouching down and focusing his eyes on what's below. He still couldn't see anything, and he's certain that if he used his glider here, the strong winds would end up blowing him away. 

The alchemist stood up and walked back inside the opening. He lit one of the torches there again, and sat down on a nearby rock. He contemplated going back down, exploring the lower level of the cave. Maybe there was somewhere hidden there where he could lie low for a bit. All he could do right now is hold out and hide, and hope that the Knights are indeed looking for him. His chances of survival against fighting that lector is slim, even if he recovered all his lost elemental energy back.

He checked on his wounds for the meantime. His arm was still twisted, but as he checked the skin on his elbow he found that it was still smooth and intact, which was good. The problem was on his leg, however. The cryo mage nicked him pretty bad here, and the chip in his flesh was considerably larger. He unwrapped the makeshift bandage, and immediately a chunk of blood stained chalk fell out, thick and pasty-looking. Albedo frowned and closed it back up carefully. It seems that he can't do much walking as well, since putting pressure on his leg might fracture the surface of the skin there further. He really needs to get out of here.

It seems that today is not his lucky day. He heard the familiar warping sound of an opening portal. As he looked up, he found that the electro abyss lector was there once again, but this time, alone.

“Not looking good there, Kreideprinz,” it said. “Ready to hand it over?”

Albedo remained sitting down. No unnecessary movements lest he worsen his condition. “There is nothing to hand over, I'm afraid,” he said. “I don't have what you're looking for.”

“Why do you insist?” the lector asked curiously. “What do you want in exchange?” 

Albedo didn't answer. He wants nothing in exchange. There is no equivalent in this world for Kaeya's peace and safety. 

“We can compromise,” it proposed, extending a hand towards him. “Help us, and we'll help you. There'll be a rightful place for you beside him once he actualizes his real purpose. You can rule with him, side-by-side.”

“That's not for me to decide,” Albedo said, shaking his head. “You've come to the wrong person, it seems.”

“But you are the key to his heart,” the lector mused. “How sweet, no? To be each other’s ruining. I wonder what would happen, should the both of you give in to your destinies.”

Albedo's fist clenched on his lap. Once again, he said nothing, but the lector's words were getting to him, feeding off his biggest fears. He can't afford that right now. He needs to stay objective, so he can stay alive. These words are nothing but taunts, the hollow promises of an evil force. Nothing good ever came out of dealing with the Abyss. He was not about to try it right now.

“Khaenri'ah is long dead,” he said coldly. “You flew too close to the sun, and the intensity of the light burned your fragile wings. The burden of that should not be on the shoulders of the innocent.”

“Our wings weren't fragile,” this seemed to anger the lector. “We were not hailed as the pride of humanity for nothing,” it snarled. “One of the nation's greatest minds created you. Life out of chalk. Something out of nothing. How could such an ability like that be a fragile thing? It threatened the gods, knowing that the one thing that separated them from humans sat right at the palm of our hands,” the lector clenched its fists, then opened up his hand to show it to him. “If anything, they are the fragile ones.”

A book appeared in the lector's hands, glowing purple. It opened in his palm, the pages flipping through. “The truth of the world, yes?” the lector said, looking at its pages as if casually browsing through a magazine catalogue. “That is the final assignment your master left you. Come, Kreideprinz, and I will show it to you.”

“Hear the truth!” it exclaimed, a burst of electro suddenly bursting outwards from its core, exploding into violet sparks that crackled in his ear. Albedo got to his feet, putting down a Solar Isotoma between him and the enemy. He evaded the lightning bolts that came from above, chasing his movements as he ran around the clearing. He tried to get close, but electro orbs danced above the lector's head, shooting outwards from its body. Albedo was forced to dodge again, putting more distance between the two of them.

Albedo tried to pull on the powers of his Vision once again, but it was still lacking. He could feel it inside him, weak and stuttering. He can't use his burst yet. He'll have to play for time. 

“The truth will set you free, Kreideprinz,” it said. It stopped floating for a moment, its feet planting on the ground, a ball of electro energy forming in its hands. As the energy exploded, the creature floated in the air, its body turning upwards to the force of explosion. Its whole body was now glowing, surrounded by a bright purple shield humming with electro energy. Albedo could smell the burning scent of thunder on his nose, can feel the electro in the air draining even more of his energy.

The lector suddenly lunged forward, and Albedo was too slow to move out of the way. His movements had turned sluggish, his draining energy further slowing him down. The lector's hand, sparking with electro, collided with his stomach, and he fell on his back, rolling over the ground. He stopped just at the edge of the cave's opening, the huge drop below his back.

The wind was knocked from his lungs, the impact of the attack leaving him gasping for air. As he struggled to stand back up, the lector had already come closer to him, stepping on his injured leg and putting its whole weight into it. Albedo felt no pain, but he winced as he felt the skin of his leg further crumbling under the bandage, threatening to snap.

“Give it to me,” the lector sneered, looking down on him. 

Albedo desperately called on his geo Vision, gathering every bit of energy he had left in him. The lector sent another wave of electro through its body, the energy flowing into the injury on Albedo's leg. He felt the sparks seeping into his flesh, the smell of burning chall wafting to his nose. 

The alchemist pulled out his sword, slashing blindly above him. This caused the lector to move back, and Albedo let his geo energy flow through, every bit of it. Geo crystals appeared in front of him, exploding before his eyes. The lector moved further back, avoiding the attack.

Albedo pushed himself up on his good arm. He had to get back up on his feet and fight.

“Albedo!” a familiar voice shouted, and he almost collapsed in relief right there and then. All of a sudden, lavender eyes with stars for pupils were in front of him, looking down on him with fear and worry. Kaeya cradled him in his arms.

“Kaeya,” Albedo breathed out. “You're here.”

“Of course, my love,” Kaeya smiled softly, and Albedo almost forgot right there and then where they were. His muscles relaxed, knowing he was now safe. 

“Stay here,” Kaeya said, immediately turning around to face the lector. He heard them talking, and he pushed himself upright, leaning on a rock. As he turned to look at the fight, he saw Kaeya and Lumine evading the lector's attacks, with Amber shooting arrows from the side.

“Albedo!” he saw Jean rushing to him, kneeling in front of him. A wave of anemo washed over his body, repelling the remaining shocks of electro buried deep in his flesh. His twisted arm slowly snapped back into place, and Albedo had to mentally remind himself to wince and grunt, to make it seem like it hurt. It didn't heal his other wounds, but Jean didn't need to know that. 

“Master Jean,” Albedo acknowledged. She helped him sit up, looking over his blood stained bandages.

“I'm alright,” the alchemist insisted before she could do another wave of healing. “I'll be fine. We need to help them.”

Jean shook her head. “Stay here and rest,” she said. “I'll help them.”

Just as she was about to stand up, a loud boom! resounded in the cave. Albedo snapped his head to the direction where it came from, and saw that the lector shot an electro bolt towards the roof of the cave. The whole cave started shaking, the ground beneath their feet trembling. Rocks and ice spikes started falling from above. He heard the abyss lector laugh before it stepped back inside its portal and disappeared.

“We need to go! It's collapsing!” Lumine shouted at them, running to Amber on the ledge. Jean quickly helped him up, slinging his good shoulder over her arm. He did his best to carry his own weight as they walked forward. Kaeya ran to them, took Albedo in his arms, his hand firm on the alchemist’s waist, and together with Jean they ran, hurrying to get out of the cave.

A large ice stalactite fell and blocked their only path. They all abruptly stopped to a halt, Jean pulling back Amber as the outrider was running at the very front. Kaeya turned him and Albedo forward, looking at the exit down below.

Kaeya's body suddenly grew cold beside him, as if Albedo was stuck inside a freezer. An ice slide started materializing in front of them. He could see Kaeya straining himself, beads of sweat dripping down his face despite the cold, his skin turning a sick shade of gray. Frost was creeping up his skin, even seeping over to Albedo's where their body made contact.

“Come on!” Kaeya shouted, dragging Albedo with him as they went down the slide. Albedo held on tight to Kaeya, the ice slide forming in the air as they all went down on it, rocks and ice continuing to fall around them. 

As they reached the end, Albedo felt Kaeya's body weakening beside him. The alchemist quickly stood up and dragged the taller man, walking forward and supporting his weight so they wouldn't block their incoming companions. Between his bad leg, Kaeya's taller body frame, and the shaking ground, he was also having a hard time getting the both of them to move. 

Jean landed behind them, grabbing Kaeya by the back of his collar to keep him moving. Albedo thinks Amber also grabbed on his white coat, both her and Jean dragging him and Kaeya. Lumine ran ahead of them, with Paimon behind her, standing by the teleport waypoint.

“Hold on!” the traveler shouted, reaching out her hands. Paimon held on to her arm, and Jean and Amber held her hands, each of them still holding him and Kaeya. As they made contact with her, the commotion and noise of the collapsing cave faded in Albedo's ears, and their surroundings started warping, blurring in front of his eyes.

Once it stopped, they were somewhere warm again, the rays of the sun kissing Albedo's skin. The five of them stumbled to the ground, an interconnected mess of limbs. Kaeya's body gave out beside Albedo, and he fell to the ground with him, on his knees.

“Kaeya, Kaeya,” Albedo called him worriedly, shaking his shoulder. The man remained unresponsive, his face planted on the ground. His skin has now gone pale, very cold to the touch. His whole body was shaking, his teeth chattering.

Kaeya's lone eye drifted up to Albedo's face, staying there for a moment. Albedo turned Kaeya's body over, his chest now facing the sky. There was a considerable amount of frost there, covering his clothes. His lips are now a shade of blue, visibly trembling. Albedo put a palm on Kaeya's chest, and felt the subzero cold there, lying just beneath his skin. He seems to have given himself hypothermia.

Albedo looked up at Kaeya’s face again, but his eye had already rolled to the back of his head. His eyes closed, head turning to the side, going limp.

Chapter Text

- Mondstadt, present day -

With Lumine's teleportation abilities, they were able to get back to Mondstadt in no time. As soon as they were there, they rushed to get Kaeya into the Cathedral. His skin was still freezing cold, even though they've been under the sun for a good few moments already.

“We need to take his Vision,” Deaconess Barbara said as they laid Kaeya down on a bed. Albedo quickly took off the cryo Vision hanging on Kaeya's hip, shooting off sparks of cryo and radiating cold. As soon as he held it in his hands, he felt the freezing cold of it. If he dropped this into a glass of water, he's certain it would be enough to freeze the whole thing.

Albedo put it into his coat pocket, the cold still seeping through the fabric of his clothes. He moved to the side to give the Deaconess some space while she worked to heal Kaeya with Jean’s help who was standing on the other side of the bed. He unbuttoned Kaeya's coat and his white blouse, exposing the brown skin there that's frozen over by ice. Barbara and Jean gasped softly, pausing to look at each other.

“He's been overusing his Vision since this morning,” Lumine explained, standing beside Jean. “He also passed out this morning, before we got back to the Adventurers' Camp and went back up the mountain.”

Albedo looked back at Kaeya's face, guilt surging through his chest. This is all because of him. Kaeya's here, unconscious, tired beyond tired and frozen over just to look for him. He reached out, caressing Kaeya's face softly and pushing his bangs out of his face. He's still pale, and his lips still in that shade of blue.

“What can we do to help?” Amber asked, standing on Jean's other side, also looking at the ice on Kaeya's chest.

“We’ve done what we can. Elemental exhaustion isn't something we can heal, and he's also given himself hypothermia from Vision overuse,” Barbara said. “He needs to rest properly for that. We also need to keep him warm,” she said, reaching out to knock the ice encasing Kaeya's chest. It made a sound against her knuckles, like a glass being tapped. “But we should start first with this ice on his chest. It’s still too solid, and I fear that the ice has reached his heart as well. We may need something hotter to get it off first.”

“You can use pyro on him, Amber,” Albedo said, looking at the outrider. 

Amber's eyes widened. She shook her head, visibly panicking. “I’ve never done that!” she said, waving her arms in front of her. “What if I end up hurting him?”

“Just a little amount first,” Albedo said, holding out his hand. “Here, let me help you.”

Amber hesitantly put her hands on top of Albedo's. The alchemist pressed both of her hands flat on Kaeya's chest, and Amber started channeling bits of pyro energy. Albedo felt her hands heating up, but the ice under her palms wasn't melting.

“I don't think it’s working,” Amber said, frightful eyes looking down at her hands.

“Can you channel it inside his body?” Barbara asked.

“I might hurt him,” Amber said, shaking her head. 

“Just keep it going for the meantime,” Albedo said, letting go of her palms. “We can get blankets and heat pads to add to the heat. I'll think of something as well.”

“Are you not hurt, Mr. Albedo?” Barbara turned to him. 

Albedo shook his head. “Master Jean already took a look at me. Thank you, Deaconess. I am already fine. I can clean my other wounds myself,” he said.

“Are you sure, Albedo?” Jean asked, and he nodded.

“I'll go back to our house for a while. Can someone stay with Kaeya? I will make something to help heat him up,” Albedo asked, looking at them.

“We can stay with him!” Paimon said, and the traveler nodded.

“I'll go get the blankets and heat pads,” Barbara said, excusing herself.

“I'll go back to the office,” Jean said. “I'll go back later to check on Kaeya. Please get some rest, Albedo.”

“I will. Thank you for the help, Acting Grand Master,” Albedo said. Jean nodded at him, and took her leave with Barbara. The alchemist also said goodbye to Lumine, Paimon, and Amber. He pressed a quick kiss on Kaeya's forehead before turning around and leaving.

As soon as he got to his and Kaeya's home, he went inside his home lab, grabbing some powdered chalk, plaster, and water. He combined all the ingredients in a beaker, mixing until it reached the correct consistency. Albedo carefully undid his bandages. He cleaned out the dried blood and dust first, removing the dried up chunks of bloodstained chalk as well. Then, using a spatula, he scooped up some of the thick mixture, applying it over the chips in his skin. He made sure everything was covered, including the small cracks branching from the wounds. Then, he channeled some Khemia on them, a golden light flowing from his hands into his flesh, reweaving the severed blood vessels and drying out the newly applied chalk, connecting it seamlessly with the old one. 

Albedo looked at his left arm next, tracing the joints of his elbow to make sure it was snapped properly back into place. Once he made sure it was alright and the skin there was fine, he tried to spin it in a circle. The muscles were a bit strained, probably some sort of sprain. A cold compress, and it should be good as new.

Next, he grabbed some flaming flower stamens and starsilver ore. He opened his burner, putting a flask on top of it. He put some water and the flaming flower stamens inside. As he waited for it to boil, he got to work on crushing the starsilver ore into fine powder using a mortar and pestle.

Albedo found a steady rhythm as he worked to brew the heat potion. His hands seemed to work on his own, as if his actions came to him automatically. It was so routine, so mundane, and so relaxing. Crush the ore into powder, pour it in the flask. Mix the concoction with a glass rod, adjust the heat, repeat. He hummed to himself, savoring the catharsis brought by his actions. The world always seemed to quiet down around him every time he practiced alchemy. He was in his own world, recreating recipes taught to him by his master, perfecting the centuries old methods and techniques of creation itself. 

The alchemist took out a few sprigs of dried lavender and poured it in the flask, letting it infuse into the potion. Kaeya badly needed to rest, and knowing him, he would insist on being up and about the second he regained his consciousness. Some chemically induced sleep would be good to keep his body resting and recovering from hypothermia.

Albedo transferred the finished potion into three separate vials, having the proper amount of dosage in each one. He went to their bedroom, changed into some new clothes, and got a change of clothes for Kaeya as well, putting it into a duffle bag. He put the vials of heat potion inside the bag, along with Kaeya's Vision, some other essentials, and a few notes that he needed to study, and returned to the Cathedral.

As he stepped outside their home, the sun was already setting. When he got back, Amber was still there, now sitting down on a chair to the right of Kaeya's bed. There was a thick blanket covering Kaeya's entire body up to his neck, and a heating pad on top of his forehead. Albedo looked around, noticing that Lumine and Paimon were gone.

Amber stood up as Albedo approached. “Lumine and Paimon looked for someone to take over,” the outrider said. “I was getting tired. Sorry, Captain Albedo.”

Albedo shook his head, putting down the bag he was holding. “Just Albedo, please. And no need for apologies, Amber. You did plenty. Thank you for your help.”

Amber nodded, turning back to Kaeya once more. “I'll go ahead now,” she said. “I'll be reporting back to Master Jean. You should rest, Albedo. I hope Kaeya gets well soon.”

Albedo nodded, taking up the chair Amber was sitting in just a while ago. He watched Kaeya closely, looking at the way his chest went up and down to the rhythm of his breathing. He put his hand in front of his nose, and felt that the air going out was still cold. There's still ice inside him.

Albedo stood back up, and started on getting Kaeya into his change of clothes. He also got a wet towel from the sink nearby and washed Kaeya's face and limbs. By the time he was done, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Albedo said, keeping Kaeya's clothes away. He pulled out a brush and started combing Kaeya's hair, gently brushing out the tangles.

Heavy footsteps resounded behind him in the quiet room. Albedo turned around, and saw Diluc standing there, at the foot of Kaeya's bed, wearing a pensive look on his face.

“Master Diluc,” Albedo greeted the redhead, continuing to brush Kaeya's hair.

“Lumine asked me to go here,” the redhead said, as if explaining. “She said… You needed help keeping him warm.”

Albedo nodded. “Come here,” he said, gesturing to the other side of the bed. There was some shuffling as Diluc grabbed another chair, and set it down to the left of Kaeya's bed. Albedo folded the thick blanket covering Kaeya down, and unbuttoned his blouse, exposing the layer of ice that covered his whole chest once again. Seeing this, he heard Diluc breathe in sharply.

“It’d be better if you took off your gloves,” Albedo said, to which the redhead complied. He guided Diluc's rigid hands to Kaeya's chest. “There is also ice inside his body. If you could direct the heat there first, the ice on his skin would melt better.”

Diluc nodded, getting started on channeling his pyro energy. Albedo took out the vial he brought, uncorking it and bringing it to Kaeya's lips, gently holding his mouth open so he could drink it.

“What's that?” Diluc asked, watching the alchemist closely.

“Heat potion infused with lavender,” Albedo said, putting the cork back. “To help warm him up, and keep him asleep for a few days. He needs to rest.”

Diluc nodded, and silence passed between the two of them more. Over his years of being in a relationship with Kaeya, Albedo never actually got to talk to the man. It was as if he and the redhead were separate parts of Kaeya's lives, despite the bluenette being related to both of them. Albedo supposes there was some kind of social etiquette he was missing there. Technically, Diluc is his brother-in-law, after all. He knew of their complicated past, and sometimes, Kaeya comes to him in the night, tears silently slipping down his cheeks as he tells Albedo of yet another petty fight they had in the tavern. Albedo knows, deep inside his heart, that no matter how much he loved Kaeya, he would still never be able to fill the gap in his heart, left by the pain of falling out with his once-brother. Were he given the chance, he would like for the both of them to finally reconcile, but that is something out of his jurisdiction, something the two men themselves must come to do. It is obvious that they still care about each other, though. Sometimes, when Kaeya would fall sick and need to stay home for a couple days, a care basket would be waiting at their doorstep the next morning. There would be no card indicating who it was from, but there would always be a bottle of wine from Dawn Winery included inside. Other times, Kaeya would leave behind a medical kit on their kitchen table before they went to bed. In the morning, the kit would still be there, exactly where he left it, but some of the supplies would be gone, like some disinfectant and gauze pad. The little things they do to show they care for each other, yet can't bring themselves to say it face to face. Humans are complicated like that sometimes, Albedo supposes.

“What happened to you?” the wine master's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

“There was an Abyss lector after me,” Albedo said. This caught Diluc's attention, his head snapping towards him.

“A lector? Why?” Diluc asked, failing to hide the suspicion in his voice. Although, Albedo feels that it was his intention.

“They were… Looking for something,” Albedo answered, looking down on Kaeya. He was still soundly sleeping, the moonlight shining through the window casting shadows on his face. “I overheard a conversation of theirs. It seems that the camp they had near Dawn Winery was a distraction. They were targeting me, all along.”

Diluc stared at him, his brows furrowing, then looked at Kaeya. “Does it have to do with…” he trailed off, his uncertainty giving away what he meant. The redhead pointedly looked back at the golden star on Albedo's neck.

Albedo looked at him. “Perhaps,” he vaguely said. He doesn't want to say too much about Kaeya's heritage. He's aware that the redhead knows of his origins, but Albedo will let Kaeya decide if he wants Diluc to know more.

“Are they also after Kaeya?”

“... Possibly.”

Another beat of silence passed before Diluc spoke again. “He was very worried about you,” he whispered, voice low.

“I know,” Albedo said, his voice softening as well. He combed Kaeya's hair with his fingers, playing with the soft, blue locks. “Thank you for making sure he's safe.”

Diluc shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I didn't—”

“He misses you a lot, if you must know,” Albedo cut him off. 

Something flashed in Diluc's eyes as he paused for a moment, but it was gone as soon as it showed. The man scoffed, turning to look to the side, “All he does is pick fights with me when we see each other. I'd hardly call that ‘missing’ someone.”

“Why are you here, then?” Albedo questioned. “If he annoys you so much?”

Diluc's jaw clenched. “Lumine asked me,” he said through gritted teeth.

“You can leave, if so,” the alchemist said, matter-of-factly. “The traveler isn't here. She wouldn't see if you left. You're not going to disappoint her.”

The wine master looked at Albedo, and he met his scarlet gaze head-on. There was conflict in his eyes, as if he really was thinking of leaving.

“So? What are you waiting for, Master Diluc? I know your time must be precious,” Albedo egged him on, a mocking tone in his voice. “Kaeya's not going to get any paler.”

Diluc averted his gaze, looking at the ground. He stayed unmoving, his palms still on Kaeya's chest. “I can see why he likes you,” he said, resignedly.

“You should talk to him,” Albedo said. “He would appreciate it.”

“I think we're way past that,” Diluc said, a distinct tiredness in his voice. “Sometimes apologies aren't enough anymore.”

Albedo leaned over, undoing the knot of Kaeya's eyepatch. He removed it, exposing the thick burn scar that started from his eyebrow, across the eyelid, and down to the top of the cheekbone. Diluc inhaled sharply. “Do you regret it?” Albedo asked, looking at the man.

“Yes,” the answer came quickly, scarlet eyes transfixed on the scar, betraying the weight of emotions hiding behind it.

“Then apologize,” Albedo said, tying the eyepatch carefully back in its place. “Kaeya isn't a difficult man. Sometimes, he's just scared that the feeling isn't reciprocated.”

“It's… Hard,” Diluc said, his words heavy, shoulders sagging. “Talking. Talking to him.”

The alchemist nodded. He knows what Diluc is talking about. His own relationship with Kaeya hasn't been the easiest as well, especially during the early days when they were still getting used to each other. For someone who looks so composed, so self-assured, so pompous, there's a fragile and sensitive heart hiding behind it all. There were a lot of misunderstandings, and Albedo's lack of knowledge regarding the thinking and logic of humans didn't help much either. They both had to learn how to talk, to trust, and to make space.

“You have to try,” Albedo encouraged. “I know Kaeya also has some things to apologize for… But it would encourage him a lot if he saw that you want to make up things with him as well. He only has the two of us left, Master Diluc,” he said softly, looking at Kaeya once more. 

Diluc didn't say anything more. After a while, he lifted his palms from Kaeya's chest, the ice there now completely gone. The bluenette’s skin has regained its normal healthy color, and his lips have stopped trembling as well. “That should be enough for now,” the wine master said, putting on his gloves.

“Thank you,” Albedo said, closing back Kaeya's clothes and putting the blanket over him again. 

“Are you staying here?” Diluc asked him.

“Yes,” the alchemist said. “You can stay as well, if you like.”

Diluc averted his gaze. “I… I should go,” he said, standing up from his chair. “I have matters to attend to.”

Albedo watched as Diluc walked away, heading to the door. The redhead glanced one last time at Kaeya before opening the door and leaving. He closed it gently behind him, a soft click echoing in the room.

Albedo sighed, looking down at Kaeya once again. He put his hand over his nose once more, feeling the warm breath coming from there. He leaned over, pressing another kiss to Kaeya's cheek, before reclining back to his chair and retrieving the notes he brought to study. Holding Kaeya's hand in his, he stayed there all night, only the moon's glow bearing witness to his silent devotion. The whole world was quiet, as if lying in a standstill, the steady sound of Kaeya's breathing pulling Albedo into a trance.

Subconsciously, Albedo's fingers went up to his neck, tracing the star that lay there, on textured skin that almost feels like the scales of a reptile. In the dark room, it glowed golden, a beacon of warm light shining on Kaeya's face.

Another golden light responded to it, underneath the material of Kaeya's eyepatch. Two stars that fell from the heavens above, finding solace in the presence of one another. One destined to rule the cosmos, the miracle of miracles to defy it all.

One destined to burn, to set off the supernova that will decide the final fate. 

- Time passes -

“Big brother!” the door opened, a little ball of red rushing in. Albedo turned in his seat, and smiled upon seeing Klee. The girl ran to him, and he put her to sit on his lap.

“What happened to you and big brother Kaeya?” big, sad red eyes looked up to him, a frown decorating the girl’s face. She looked like she was on the verge of tears.

“We're alright, Klee,” Albedo gently said, smoothing out her hair to calm her down. “Big brother Kaeya is just resting. He'll be alright.”

Jean walked up towards them, nodding to Albedo and giving a small smile. “Good morning, Albedo,” she greeted. “How is Kaeya?”

“Good morning, Master Jean,” Albedo greeted back. “The ice is gone. He just needs more rest.”

“Has he woken up already?” Jean asked, looking over to Kaeya.

Albedo shook his head. “I gave him some lavender-infused heat potion. His body would be able to rest better while he's asleep.”

Jean nodded. “Can I have a word, Albedo?”

Albedo stood up, placing Klee down on the chair. “Stay with big brother Kaeya for a while, Klee. Keep an eye on him, alright?”

The girl enthusiastically nodded. “Alright, big brother Albedo!” the alchemist ruffled her hair, walking to the far end of the room with Jean.

“After we got back, I sent out a squad of Knights to go back to the avalanche site yesterday,” she said, her voice low. “Captain Eula was with them. They just came back this morning. They reported that the abyss has completely cleared out at the site.”

“Even the lector?” Albedo asked.

Jean gave him a troubled look. “It seems so. They found no traces. As for the avalanche, it might take a while to clear out the snow. You should stay here in the city for the meantime, for your safety as well. I will be asking the reconnaissance company to return to Dragonspine to look for more information.”

Albedo nodded in understanding. There wasn't anything of much importance that he had left in his lab at the mountain, really. Between his lab at the Knight’s HQ and their home, he can easily continue on with his work.

“Can you tell me what happened, Albedo?” Jean asked, looking at him.

Albedo glanced over at Kaeya. Klee was coloring in her chair, scribbling crayon on a piece of paper. “They were… Asking me for something,” he said, meeting Jean's eyes. “They want me to do something for them. I think it has a connection with Durin.”

Jean's eyes widened. “Durin? What about him?”

“I noticed the increased abyss presence when I first returned to Dragonspine,” the alchemist said. “There was also an abundance of scarlet quartz. I went to Durin's heart to investigate, and managed to bring back a sample of its blood and of the soil in the area. I think it's revitalizing, which may have attracted the abyss creatures there.”

“Revitalizing? How?” Jean asked, furrowing her eyebrows. “Is someone behind it?”

“Possibly,” Albedo nodded. “But in the first place, Durin's heart never really died. The poison caused by the Abyss kept it alive. It's possible that the same poison is the one reviving it, after all the centuries it spent resting there,” he said. “I need to do some observations on the samples first before we can tell what really is causing it.”

“Before Kaeya went to Dragonspine, there was something else I asked him to investigate. There was a sighting of an abyss camp near the Dawn Winery,” Jean mentioned. “Could that be connected to this? Is it also because of Durin's blood?”

Albedo remembered what he overheard from the cryo mages. “It was a distraction,” he said. “While I was hiding from the lector, I overheard the mages mentioning it. It seemed that they were really planning on cornering me in my lab. The camp they set up there was just a distraction to divert attention from their presence in the mountain.”

Jean nodded, deep in thought. “Let's focus on getting Kaeya back to health first,” she said, looking at the sleeping bluenette as well.

“We should prepare for the possibility of an attack, Master Jean,” Albedo suggested. “I don't fully believe that the abyss just retracted their forces all of a sudden for nothing. They must be planning for their next move.”

The woman nodded determinedly. “I agree. Leave the rest to us, Albedo. Focus on Kaeya first,” she said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “He needs you right now.”

“Thank you,” he said. Jean gave him a reassuring smile, and bade him goodbye. As she left, Albedo went back to Klee, peering over her shoulder.

“What are you doing, Klee?” Albedo asked.

“I'm making a get well soon card for big brother Kaeya!” the kid said, showing Albedo the picture she was working on.

“That's thoughtful of you, Klee,” Albedo smiled, sitting on the arm of Klee's chair. “I'm sure Kaeya would appreciate it.”

“Are the bad guys after him, big brother ‘Bedo?” Klee asked, frowning. 

Albedo put a hand behind her back. “No, Klee,” he answered, soothing the child. “Big brother Kaeya is gonna be fine.”

“You're gonna protect him, right?” Klee said, looking up at him.

Albedo gave a soft and reassuring smile. “Of course,” he said, putting his arms around Klee. “And you as well, Klee. I'm going to protect the both of you.”

Klee hugged him back, then pulled away to look up at him again. “Can you help me with my card, big brother?” she asked, handing him some crayons. “Let's make it pretty!”

“Sure, Klee,” Albedo smiled, taking some of Klee's crayons and helping her color in her pictures. Together, they worked to complete the card, coloring quietly. Klee said that Albedo should draw on it as well, and add a message too, so he did.

A little while later, Albedo heard Klee's stomach grumble, so he took her out to get something to eat, leaving their finished card at Kaeya's bedside table and seeking out Barbara to stay with Kaeya while they're outside.

As they went back, Klee said goodbye to him, saying something about helping Razor with studying and Noelle with training. Albedo dropped Klee off at the library, where Lisa and the wolf-boy is, and headed back to the Cathedral. 

When he went inside Kaeya's room, Barbara was gone, and there was another figure standing by his bed. Arms crossed over his chest, eyes staring intensely down at Kaeya, Master Diluc stood there, unmoving.

“You're back,” Albedo said, making the redhead turn to him. “I just took Klee out for lunch.”

“Has he woken up?” Diluc asked.

The alchemist shook his head. “No. Maybe tomorrow, he will.”

“I asked my sources about the lector,” the wine master said. “They claimed to have no recollections of hearing about it.”

“I doubt we'll be able to track it down, until it decides to show itself again,” Albedo said, sitting down on his chair. “We'll just have to be prepared.”

“Is Mondstadt in danger?” Diluc asked, turning to him.

Albedo took a deep breath. “Most likely, yes,” he said frankly. “We have to be ready for the possibility of that.”

The redhead nodded, a dire look on his face. “I'll see what more information I can find,” he said, looking back at Kaeya. There was a silent promise to his words, something that tells Albedo that the redhead would be back again soon. 

“I'm surprised you're willing to help us,” the alchemist remarked, aware of Diluc's dislike for the Knights. Albedo finds it ironic, though, that no matter how much Diluc tries to make it look like he absolutely despises their organization, the wine master always manages to find himself roped into their shenanigans. It's as if he's purposely getting involved, for the sake of keeping an eye on a particularly troublesome captain of theirs. 

“It's as you said,” Diluc answered, sighing. “He only has the two of us left.”

Albedo smiled at that. “So you're going to talk to him?” 

“Maybe… Maybe not now,” the other hesitated.  “I'll get there, eventually.”

Albedo nodded. It was a start, at least. He's sure that Kaeya would still appreciate it. The alchemist reached out, tucking away the bangs that fell on Kaeya's face. He kept his hand there, his thumb smoothing over Kaeya's cheek lovingly. At the very least, Kaeya would have someone else that's there for him, should all else fail.

Albedo has a feeling it would.

Chapter Text

When Kaeya comes back to his senses, it wasn't exactly a pleasant experience.

The first thing he saw is white. White ceiling, white walls, white clothes, white blanket. Then there was pain. In his head. In his chest. In his whole body, so it seems. His muscles were so tense, like a guitar string pulled taut. One pluck, and he might snap.

“Kaeya,” he looked to the side, seeing blond hair, pale skin, teal eyes. “You're awake,” a small smile.

“Al—bedo,” he rasped, coughing with how dry his throat felt. A glass of water was immediately pressed to his lips, a gentle hand holding up the back of his head to help him drink. Kaeya savored every sip, the warm liquid rehydrating his cracked lips. 

He scrambled his mind for the last thing he remembers. They were on Dragonspine, looking for Albedo. It was cold. Very cold. So cold. There was an abyss lector, fighting him. A collapsing cave.

“Do you want to sit up?” Albedo asked him. Kaeya nodded, and the alchemist pulled his upper body up, snaking his hands behind his back. Blond hair tickled his cheeks. The smell of chalk and cecilias on his nose. He pushed himself up, his arms shaking. A pillow was propped up on his back.

“What happened?” he asked.

“What's the last thing you remember?” Albedo asked, sitting on the bed beside him. His hand cradled Kaeya's cheek. It was cold, like always, but with how gentle it held him the bluenette found himself leaning on it. With how heavy his head was feeling, he almost let Albedo hold the weight of it in his palm. 

“The lector,” Kaeya said. “The collapsing cave.”

“Lumine teleported us back to the Adventurers' Camp,” Albedo started. “You were so cold, your lips were blue. You gave yourself hypothermia. We brought you here, to the Cathedral,” he said. “There was solid ice on your chest. Inside of you. You used your Vision too much.”

Kaeya remembers. The tunneling and the ice slide. The feeling of frost spreading over his lungs. Albedo's hand went down to his chest, over his heart.

“Are you alright?” Kaeya asked, looking over at the alchemist. The bandages he had were gone, only smooth skin left. His arm looked like it was back to normal again.

Albedo smiled. “You're the one laying here,” he said. “And you know I don't feel pain.”

“I know,” Kaeya answered, holding his wrist, feeling his pulse. It was slow, slower than normal for a human. And almost non-existent. But Kaeya felt it all the same. “That's why I feel it for you.”

Albedo leaned forward, pressing his forehead against Kaeya's. “I'm fine, my dearest,” the blond assured him. “It's you I'm worried about. You need to rest, a lot.”

“How long was I out?” Kaeya asked, taking Albedo's hand in his. His thumb smoothed over the pale skin. 

“Almost two and a half days,” the alchemist looked out the window. The sun was high up in the sky. It was probably mid-afternoon.

“That's plenty of rest,” Kaeya said, teasing.

Albedo glared at him playfully. “Absolutely not,” he said. “Maybe I should've kept you asleep for a week.”

Kaeya's eyebrows raised in surprise. “You drugged me?” he asked, faking his hurt. “How could you, my love? I trusted you.”

“Chemically induced sleep,” Albedo corrected him. “You badly needed to rest. Your whole body must be strained, even now.”

“That sounds like the same thing to me,” Kaeya shrugged, which earned him a soft chuckle. 

A wave of silence washed over them. Kaeya squeezed Albedo's hand, and the alchemist squeezed back. Lavender eyes stared into teal ones. Albedo was fine. He's safe, right here in front of him.

“Something on your mind?” Albedo asked, tilting his head to the side.

“Why were they after you?” Kaeya asked. “Is it because of me?”

“Why would it be because of you?” Albedo asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

“I don't know,” Kaeya shook his head. “Maybe— Maybe they've come to take me.”

“And I won't let them,” Albedo's gaze turned hard. “No one's getting taken. You're staying here with me.”

“The lector knew who we were,” Kaeya said, remembering the creature's words, what it called them. Chosen One. Kreideprinz. “Have you found anything else? While I was asleep?”

Albedo hesitated, his eyes looking to the side. Kaeya held his arm, pulling him closer. “Tell me, ‘Bedo.”

“I was getting samples of Durin's blood,” Albedo started. “There was already an increased amount of Abyss activity the first day I got back to Dragonspine. I theorized it had something to do with it. I started analyzing the samples yesterday,” he said. “I am still waiting on the results.”

“Does Jean know?” Kaeya asked, and Albedo nodded.

“I informed her when we came back. She's been increasing patrols around the city, and assigned the Reconnaissance Squad to be stationed at Dragonspine,” the blond said. “For now, there's nothing else to do except for you to rest.”

But there's so much Kaeya can do. He can help with patrols, go back to Dragonspine, look for any more clues. He can talk to his contacts, see if there's been any sighting of the lector around Mond. And the camp at Dawn Winery. What's up with that? Was it really just a distraction? What if the lector goes there next—

“Kaeya, please,” Albedo sighed exhaustedly, now holding both his hands. “I know what you're thinking. But you need to rest.”

Albedo looked at him, wide eyes sad and pleading. Kaeya avoided that stare which almost crumbled his resolve right there and then. He couldn't say no to that now, could he?

“How unfair of you, Chief Alchemist,” Kaeya said. “You're not playing nice at all.”

Albedo smiled like a cat who got the cream. Or in this case, like the man who knows the way to Kaeya's heart. “I am simply asking,” he chuckled, a teasing lilt to his voice.

“Only if you take care of me,” Kaeya said. “With all that time you spend on that mountain, I'm starting to think you love your research more than me.”

Albedo rolled his eyes, to which Kaeya smiled so wide his jaw started to hurt. How could someone be so beautiful? With the way the sun kissed Albedo's pale skin, it looked like the man was glowing, some sort of angel from the heavens to save Kaeya from his demise. His teal eyes shone, like a pool of mystic water that the bluenette can find himself getting lost in. Reflecting his truths, his lies, his fears. Reflecting every single thing about him, because in all his years of living he's never bared his soul for anyone else like he did for him. Before, he used to look in the mirror and see a monster. A cursed man, betrayed by destiny and forsaken by fate. But in Albedo's eyes, he sees himself clearly, and all he sees in there is love. Belonging. Home.

Sometimes he thinks Albedo slipped some kind of potion in his drinks, for him to be so obsessed with the alchemist like this. Not that he's complaining, though. Even if the man offered him poison, he'd gladly take it.

“How is Klee?” Kaeya asked, remembering that he hasn't seen the little Spark Knight in a while. He and Albedo promised they'd take the little girl to a picnic once the alchemist got back from Dragonspine. 

“She was here yesterday,” Albedo said. “She was worried for you. We made you a card,” he said, reaching over and taking something from Kaeya's bedside table. The bluenette followed his movements, and saw a folded piece of paper on top of the table. Albedo gave it to Kaeya, and he opened the card. It depicted three figures; a tall blue one with an eyepatch, a smaller yellow one wearing what looked like a doctor's coat, and a little red one holding a Dodoco. The figures were all holding hands, smiling against the grassy backdrop with a large yellow sun at the top corner. While the outlines of the drawings were harsh, noticeably the strokes of a kid, the coloring inside them was neater. There were also calla lilies drawn among the grass, with much cleaner strokes and greater detail. The words, ‘Get well soon big brother!’ was crudely written across the top part of the paper. Underneath that, in much smaller font, another message was written, neatly this time: ‘Thinking of you.’

“Thank you,” Kaeya said softly, smiling. Something tugged at the corners of his heart, something warm, something beautiful, something so, so, healing. His eyes looked over at the picture again, almost glassy.

“Are you crying?” Albedo asked, frowning.

Kaeya laughed, feeling silly. “No,” he said, his voice suspiciously choked up. “It's beautiful,” he said, closing back the paper gently and placing it back on the bedside table. “Thank you.”

Silence came over them. Albedo pursed his lips, looking like he was thinking of saying something. “Diluc was also here,” he said, watching him carefully.

“Why?” Kaeya asked, furrowing his eyebrows. What did Diluc want? Did he think that Albedo was behind any of this? 

“He was visiting you,” the blond said. “When there was still ice on your chest, he helped melt it.”

Kaeya blinked. But… Why? He doesn't understand. Master Diluc doesn't do anything for no good reason. That he knows. The man let Kaeya come with them to the camp because Lumine reasoned that they could use the help. He came with them to Dragonspine, because Lumine needed his pyro, like Paimon said. Then he left when they returned, because Amber was already there to substitute for him. What purpose did Diluc have in coming here, then? Helping him, even.

“Did he… Say anything?” Kaeya asked.

“Just asked what happened on the mountain,” the alchemist answered. “He also said he's going to be looking for more leads about the lector.”

“He looked worried,” Albedo said again, when Kaeya didn't reply. “About you.”

He scoffed. Diluc, worried about him? He thought he'd never hear those words uttered in the same sentence ever again. Diluc may feel many things about him; annoyance, anger, disgust, but not worry. Never worry. Not anymore, after what he did. He didn't deserve that.

“What a bad sense of humor you have, ‘Bedo,” Kaeya said dryly. “I taught you better than that.”

Albedo’s starting to rub off on his stubbornness, so it seems. “I won't lie to you like that, Kaeya. He did look worried,” the man said sincerely, looking at him with a gaze so intense Kaeya found himself looking away from it. “He came here two times, to check on you… You should talk to him.”

“And what am I gonna say?” Kaeya asked him. “He pushes me away every time I try to talk, Albedo. Every time I try to help, he makes it look as if he doesn't need me. Just recently, I was trying to get some intel from him regarding the Abyss camp near Dawn Winery. He said he didn't need any help, but then I found the traveler at his doorstep three days later, because apparently he asked for their help instead. It wasn't that he didn't need help, he just didn't need help from me. What am I going to do with that?” he said, almost out of breath, clearly agitated.

He doesn't want to get his hopes up anymore. He's tried for three years. Three years of tailing Diluc, chasing him around, looking like an abandoned puppy begging for someone to take it in. Three years of his life spent groveling at his feet, being pathetic, reliving past lives and bringing up old memories that seem to have lost all their meaning. He tried being casual, being polite, being civil, being annoying, nothing. He knows it's his fault, that he's the one to blame, that he's the one who messed up and destroyed everything, but gods, did he deserve to be left hanging for all those years? He would've moved on better were he just shut down immediately, rather than living on the edge like this. 

Albedo looked at him, sad and broken. He sighed, long-sufferingly. “Apologies,” he said. “I didn't mean to upset you.”

Kaeya visibly deflated, looking to the side. Guilt immediately washed over him. He shouldn't have snapped at Albedo like that. The man's put up with enough of him. “I'm sorry,” he muttered. “It's just…” he trailed off, fiddling with his fingers. He bit his lip, looking down on his lap. “... Nevermind.”

“It's alright, Kaeya,” the alchemist said, giving him a small smile. “Just… Try to be more patient with him. I think you'll both get along better that way.”

A sudden knock from the door made the both of them turn their heads. “Come in,” Albedo said.

The door opened, and Klee walked in, closing the door behind her. As soon as she saw that Kaeya was awake, he eyes lit up, immediately sprinting towards him. “Big brother Kaeya!”

Wind was knocked out from Kaeya's lungs as the little girl jumped up on his bed, fully body-slamming him into a hug. He laughed despite the pain that shot up his muscles from the impact, hugging her back and ruffling her hair.

“You're awake!” Klee said, putting her hands on his cheeks. 

“I am, indeed,” Kaeya copied her, squishing her cheeks with his hands, and rubbing his nose against hers. “I heard you were worried about me, my little Spark Knight.”

“I was!” the girl said. “Me and big brother ‘Bedo made you a card!”

“I saw it,” Kaeya smiled. “Thank you, Klee.”

“Can we go on that picnic now?” Klee asked excitedly, turning to Albedo. “We're complete!”

“Let's let Kaeya rest some more, Klee, then we can go,” Albedo said, smiling down at her.

Klee nodded, sitting back down on the bed and leaning back on Kaeya's chest. The bluenette hugged her close, placing a soft kiss on top of her hair.

The little girl held onto his arm. “Please don't get sick like that again, big brother…” she said sadly. “Big brother ‘Bedo was sad. He never left here.”

Kaeya glimpsed at the man in question, who was pointedly avoiding his eyes. He snaked another arm around Albedo's waist, pulling him close. The alchemist laid down on top of his chest, curling close to his right side. He pressed a kiss on the blond's forehead, this time keeping his lips on his skin. 

Kaeya laid there like that, in the comfortable warmth of two of the most important people in his life. To think that none of them are related by blood, but they found a family in one another all the same. Maybe this is how Kaeya was meant to belong in this foreign land, among the empty pieces of people who were also different, much like him. In the company of strangers-turned-family, in the space that exists between the likes of them and the rest of the world. 

- Mondstadt, 1 day after -

Kaeya bent down, observing a cecilia in front of him. He put his palm under the flower, turning it to the sides to inspect it. Once he saw no damages, he plucked it from the ground, from the very tip of its stem.

“I think this is enough, Klee,” he said to the little girl beside him, whose hand was full from the flowers they picked. He handed the cecilia to her to add to the mini bouquet in her hand, and together they walked back.

Albedo was there, on the gingham picnic blanket, bringing out the food they packed for the trip. Paper plates, paper cups, some fisherman's toast, fruity skewers, apple cider and a lot of desserts. When they got closer, Klee started sprinting, showing Albedo what they got.

“Let's make flower crowns!” the girl said, putting down the cecilias.

“Let's eat first,” Albedo said, passing Klee a fisherman's toast. The girl happily bit into it, savoring the flavors. She had helped Kaeya make it earlier before they left, upon her request.

Kaeya grabbed a skewer and put it on Albedo's paper plate, softly nudging the alchemist in the shoulder. “Desserts later,” he said.

The bluenette swears he saw a hint of a pout on Albedo's face as the blond picked up a skewer and bit on it. “Not bad,” he deadpanned, although a small smile managed to stay on his lips.

Kaeya gaped at him, offended. “I'll have you know, you're eating the best skewers Mondstadt!”

“Big brother Kaeya's skewers are the best!” Klee said, now munching on one as well. 

“See? Even Klee thinks so,” Kaeya proudly said, booping the little girl's nose. 

Albedo only giggled, finishing his skewer. Kaeya poured some apple cider on all of their cups, then ate some skewers and fisherman's toast. When they all finished eating, they got started on making their flower crowns. 

Kaeya made one for Albedo. Albedo made one for Klee, and Klee made one for him. They all got to work in silence, Kaeya getting lost in the therapeutic feel of weaving the flower stems with one another. When he finished, he gently placed the flower drown on top of Albedo's head, tucking the golden strands of his hair behind his ear. 

“Here's your crown, big brother Kaeya!” Klee said, standing up and placing her finished product on top of his head. “It looks good!”

Kaeya laughed, adjusting the crown. “You did a good job, Klee,” he said, tracing his fingers along tightly woven stems and flowers. “Thank you.”

He and Klee played some more, chasing each other around the grass. Soon they both got tired, and they found themselves lying down on the picnic blanket, Kaeya's head on Albedo's crossed legs. Klee was tucked in beside him, sleeping soundly.

“What are you sketching?” Kaeya asked softly, looking up at Albedo who was focused on his sketchpad. The alchemist stopped to show him what he was working on.

On the paper was Kaeya from earlier. He was sitting down on their blanket, leaning back on his arms, his eyes closed as the cool wind blew on his hair. Albedo got every detail right; the flower crown on top of his head, the windblown locks of his hair, the wrinkles in his clothes from where it creased as he sat down. The emotion on his face. He looked… Serene. Calm. Contented. There was a small smile on his lips in the drawing, that he didn't even notice he did earlier. Albeit unfinished, as his legs were still unshaded, it already looks as realistic as it can be, as if the alchemist took a picture in his mind and translated it into art.

“This is beautiful,” Kaeya whispered, tracing his fingers along careful strokes of pencil.

“Art imitates life,” Albedo said, taking back the sketchpad and putting it back on his other knee, continuing his sketch. 

Kaeya looked up at him, bringing his hands up and lightly caressing the outlines of Albedo's face with his fingertips. The blond remained unmoving, unblinking, solely focused on his work. This close, Kaeya can see the slight furrow in his forehead, the tension on his lips.

“You don't blink, do you?” Kaeya asked gently.

Teal orbs moved to land on his face momentarily. “No,” Albedo said. “Is it disconcerting?”

“No,” Kaeya said quickly. Nothing Albedo did is ever disconcerting. “But I noticed it eventually, when you first got here. Even during our long meetings, you just sat still. You never blinked.”

A small smile. “I didn't know you were already stalking me so early on in our relationship, Captain,” the alchemist teased him. “We barely even talked back then.”

Because I was avoiding you, Kaeya didn't say. He thought back to that strange dream, years and years ago, of the man in front of him now appearing in it moments before Kaeya even got to meet him personally. He never did tell Albedo about it. It never occurred to him to do so. It almost seemed like a simple detail now, after all that he and Albedo went through together. They were a bit more than good friends now. Not just by a bit, Kaeya thinks. By a lot. 

“You always seemed to be avoiding me,” Albedo replied anyway.

“I was… Scared,” Kaeya whispered, like he’s confessing a closely-kept secret. Maybe he is. Not a single soul in this world ever heard about his fears, not anymore. “I immediately noticed your birthmark,” he said, bringing his fingertips down to the golden four-pointed star. The pads of his fingers softly brushed against the reptile-like skin, and the shudder that ran through Albedo's body in response to the sensation almost went unnoticeable. “I thought you had something to do about Khaenri'ah.”

Albedo has explained to him what it was, a few months into their relationship. “Much like a pontil mark left from glassblowing,” he said back then. “This mark is proof that a human has created me. It is the only flaw in my otherwise perfect appearance.” 

“You have nothing to fear with me, when it comes to those things,” teal eyes landed on him once again, sincere and genuine. “Khaenri'ah was long gone when I came into existence, but sometimes my master told me stories about it. You can do the same. You can speak freely with me about your past. It is who you are, and I embrace that.”

In truth, there is nothing much to talk about, for Kaeya doesn't remember much about his childhood. That part of his life is long gone, abandoned in the deepest corners of his mind. Sometimes the memories of it come to him, in flashes of nightmares and ruined sleep. A mother he abandoned. A father he scorned. Albedo held him through it all, kept him calm when he didn't even know he was dreaming. Forgetting his homeland will always be a missing piece of Kaeya's identity, one he knows he might never find once again. But with Albedo, he feels complete, even if he never really was.

“I know,” Kaeya said, lost in a trance as he kept tracing the birthmark. “I know that now.”

Albedo smiled down on him, looking like the sun itself. Kaeya has long fallen into his warmth, and now he is just melting, the very fibers of his being fusing into the blond's perfect skin. Kaeya knew of the tale of the boy with wings of wax who flew too close to the sun, but he could never understand how it burned him, for his sun was here, cradling him in his arms, giving him his light when the shadows of his past tried to swallow him in the dark.

“I think about them sometimes,” Kaeya said. Albedo’s hand came up to his, holding it and stopping his tracing of the birthmark. “Of the mother I remember loving. The father I remember hating. Is it so bad that I miss them? That I wish they were here, so I don't feel alone?”

Albedo put down his pencil and sketchpad to the side, fully focusing on him. “No, my dear,” he said softly, cupping his face. “It is normal.  You feel like no one here will ever understand you, because no one here knows where you came from. What it's like for you living there. What it's like for you experiencing it,” thumbs brushed against his cheeks. “I may not be able to fully grasp how that feels, as my nationality will always just be a point of objectivity due to my nature. But I hope talking about it with me makes you feel less alone, even if… Even if I am not human.”

Kaeya shook his head. He never cared about Albedo's nature. It didn't matter to him if he was made from a bottle. It didn't matter to him if he could crumble like chalk. Because how could something so synthetic make him feel like this? How can an artificial heart love like this? How can something not human feel so deeply for him like this?

“You are human, Albedo,” Kaeya said. “You lived among us. Made friends. Found a family. Found me. That is humanity. Forming connections with people, wanting to make you share their pain simply out of the love you have for them. It is not something innate within humans, for there are others who are so human in every physical way possible but do not have it. It is something you can learn. And you have learned it, in your years of staying here.”

“You and Klee taught me that,” Albedo said.

“We are proof of your humanity,” Kaeya said, squeezing his hand. “As long as I'm alive, I will stand by that.”

Albedo leaned down, pressing his lips against his. It was soft. Warm. Gentle. The alchemist pulled away after a few seconds, but the ghost of his lips remained on Kaeya. 

“I love you,” Kaeya said, no hesitations. There might be a thousand uncertainties in his life, but not this. He will never doubt this. Them. What they have for each other.

“I love you, Kaeya,” Albedo pressed his forehead on his, breathing him in.

“Lay with us,” Kaeya said. “It's the perfect time for a nap.”

Albedo laughed, shifting his legs. Kaeya leaned up so the blond could stretch his legs and lay down beside him. He put his arm underneath Albedo's head, serving as his pillow. The alchemist tucked his head into his neck, his warm breath on Kaeya's skin.

Kaeya closed his eyes, pressing a kiss on Albedo's hair. He wrapped his arm tighter around Klee who was still sleeping on his side. Together they made a wonderful sight, a happy family sleeping underneath the warmth of the sun and amidst the cool breeze. Kaeya could ingrain the moment in his heart, something he would look back to over the years. How he wished time could stop here, and he could just stay here forever, happy and at peace, forgetting all that ever haunted him in his waking moments. 

Maybe, just maybe, he isn't so cursed after all.