Chapter Text
In times of suffering and pain- there remains memories in the ice. Thoughts and unspoken words drift in the snow, bellowing in the wind. A paint brush frozen in time, drawing a place to never be.
——
His brush had moved on its own, sketching out a setting of a never to come future. A family- not by blood- stands in it’s view. Smiles can be seen on their barely drawn faces, yet to fully come into being.
A door snapped open, bringing the bitter winds with the small child in red. “Big bro, Big bro!!”
The blonde set his brush down, turning to her with a small smile. “Hello, Klee. And Captain Kaeya.”
“Always so formal,” he pouted playfully, “Chief Alchemist, Albedo.”
“Hm, you’re the same as ever.” He got up from his stool, pulling a cover over his artwork. “Did Acting Grand Master Jean send you, Klee?”
“Yep! Lisa said something about needing to sleep, and asked big brother Kaeya to come with me!”
“I see.” Albedo kneeled down to Klee’s eye level, “would you like to color?”
——
In times of suffering and pain- there remains regrets in the ice. Blood and tears stain the white snow, bellowing in the wind. A paint brush forgotten in time, leaving a drawing never to be.
——
Blue eyes glowed a purple-red, with no light left in his eyes. A white and gold sword turned red held in his hand. His small figure outlined in the falling snow.
“Al…bedo…” The fallen captain coughed up red. “Stop…”
The frozen man didn’t respond, only stared.
“Klee…”
The frozen man tensed.
“It wasn’t… your fault…”
“…”
“No one… Could’ve… Stopped it.”
Memories flashed before the frozen man’s eyes, becoming even colder in his glazed over eyes.
Screaming, snow, ice, falling, hands too far, snow, Klee, falling, falling, falling, falling, dea-
He forced himself to stop thinking. Breathing evening out. “…”
He turned and walked away.
——
When Lumine returned to Mondstandt, she didn't think it’d be covered almost completely in snow.
“Paimon is confused! Wha-why is it snowy here too??”
“We’ll probably find out when we get back to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.”
“Right, right…”
——
Paimon: “Klee and Kaeya are missing!?”
Lumine: “There was an avalanche in dragonspine?!”
Jean sighed, rubbing her tired eyes. “Yes… we haven’t heard word back from them, but with all this snow, we can’t move to go check. Diluc had gone out a few days ago on his own accord, but we haven’t heard from him since…”
“No worries, Jean!” Paimon flared her arms about. “Paimon and Lumine are pros at exploring snow! We’ll get the scoop and make sure you know all the details! Right, Lumine?!”
“Yeah, no worries, Jean, we got this.”
“…Yes. Thanks, you two.” A bitter smile was shown on her face. “I wish you luck on your mission.”
What the two travelers found was not a red haired angsty man, but a child, fished out from the snow, two blood stained bodied, and a half finished portrait of the three yet to breathe another breath- smiling and to never move again.
——
In times of suffering and pain- there remains memories in the ice. Thoughts and unspoken words drift in the snow, bellowing in the wind. A paint brush frozen in time, drawing a place to never be.