Archive of Our Own

“Mr. Albedo, um, a letter arrived for you at the camp base.” Sucrose, gripping onto her scarf tighter, attempting to shield herself away from the cold air, she wasn’t as used to as her mentor. In her other hand, held a sheet of rolled up parchment, neatly tied in a red ribbon. Albedo raised his hand in a small wave, scribbling down notes into the journal on his desk.

“Thank you, Sucrose,” He shut the journal over, wandering over to the edge of the cave, to the torch the green haired girl was hovering over. “You needn’t have bothered, I was about to return to Mondstadt in fact,”

“Oh, sorry, it’s only been a few days, you usually stay up here for weeks at a time…” She held over the letter, the blond alchemist giving her a nod and a ‘thank you’ and taking it. Sucrose pulled up her scarf a bit, gazing over at the painting of the golden traveller on the other side of the cave. She chose not to mention it.

Albedo had made his way over to the bookshelf filled with notes of his research and letters he’d received from a verity of people. What ever the case was, whenever the master of the winery would send a letter it would always have a silky red ribbon strung around it. Albedo had gotten into the habit of keeping them around, using them to tie up his response, sometimes a bookmark. Most often for when he would return to the city and comb Klee’s hair, it was better than letting her knot them up into bunches. Sometimes he used them in his own hair, they didn’t quite match his uniform, but they were quick to grab.

Opening the contents of the letter, it started like how they always had. Only business, not much from ‘thank you’s and plans for future investigations. Albedo was well aware of Diluc’s other identity as the dark knight hero of Mondstadt. He had a few drawings of him in the disguise he wore, jumping over the cityscape. Back to the letter, however, at the end was the response to the last things they had discussed, talking more about their personal lives than being on a work strict relationship. Albedo wouldn’t exactly call them close friends, but he tended to talk about his personal research and stories about Klee. This time, they had started to chat about the Knights and their members. Specifically, a certain calvary captain. Albedo wasn’t stupid. He didn’t know the true story behind Kaeya and Diluc, but he could say one thing for sure. They truly did continue to love each other after whatever had happened. He highly doubted Kaeya would visit Angel’s Share so often with the wide selections of taverns in the city of wine. He highly doubted he would be reading “I hope none of them seem to be getting into too much trouble, the one who causes your sister to create more trouble for Jean comes to mind.” in this letter signed from Diluc. He rolled up the parchment and put it on the shelf next to the last. He’d respond back in the city.

He looked over to find Sucrose reading one of the books on the shelf, her eyes lighting up as she read. Albedo truly enjoyed watching her study. He enjoyed watched Timeaus too. He appreciated their passions for alchemy. About to call her out of the trace she was in, letting her know he was about to leave, a gust of wind flew right by blowing out the torches at the entrance. A sign to head home before it got too late. Perhaps he’d be home in time to make Klee her fish flavoured toast speciality.

“Sucrose, I’m leaving now, you’re free to stay here if you wish.” He offered, although she was already putting the book back on the shelf.

“Oh, no, it’s okay, I was planning on heading back to the city as well after delivering the letter,” the two strolled into the cold air of the mountain, footprints disappearing behind them as the white snow continued to rain down as it always seems to on the dark grey mountain.

The journey back to Mondstadt wasn’t exactly a long one. It wasn’t over a day at least. They got back to the city around half nine at night. Yet, the city was wide awake. The lights shining from the taverns and adventurers laughing at the tables outside with friends, sharing stories, bards playing their tunes, there was even one on the roof of Cat’s Tail. The city truly never slept. As they made their way up to the fountain, Sucrose had wandered on down the other street, opting to go home rather than back to the headquarters. Albedo bid her a farewell and good night, hoping Klee would be excited to see him in the morning, perhaps he’ll make her the toast for breakfast instead.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the handsome Albedo,” There, right at the grand doors to the knight’s headquarters was none other than the cavalry captain himself. Still in uniform, sword at his hip, a smirk stuck to his face as he leaned on the side of the door, crossing his arms.

“Hello there, Sir Kaeya,” Albedo nodded, watching the other man skip off the steps to join him. “I thought you would have been long at the tavern at this hour.” Kaeya threw his head back with a laugh.

“Is that truly how you see me, dear Albedo? All play and no work?” he crossed his arms again, as always refusing to cover up whatever his uniform doesn’t. And yet his covered-up eye. It’s a strange thing, Albedo can never bring himself to ask what resides under that dark eyepatch. That’s when Albedo realised it. He didn’t have a proper answer to the question. So, they stood in a still silence, the Mondstadt breeze brushing through. Kaeya never pushed for a reply but waited.

“Well, to be honest, I don’t really know much at all about you at all.” Kaeya scoffed, a smile on his face, but albedo couldn’t read the expression in his eyes. Kaeya’s hand resting on his chin as his eye burning into Albedo’s stoic disposition.

“Funny you should say that I don’t happen to know anything about you either captain,” Albedo didn’t really like the idea of what Kaeya was about to ask next. It came to be more of a surprise than he expected. Kaeya’s chuckles died down, he raised his hand and his smile melted into something genuine.

“You should draw me.”

Albedo’s eyes widened; mouth dropped. He was expecting Kaeya to invite him for a drink or follow him back up to the gloomy mountain of Dragonspine. It wasn’t as if this was the first time Kaeya had made this request, usually it was when he was drunk or flirting around. This time Albedo couldn’t hear any jokes in his voice, no sing song flirts. A serious, yet light, tone Albedo didn’t really think Kaeya was capable of.

“And why exactly would I do that…?” Albedo cocked his head, lips turning up, eyes raised. The blue haired man simply laughed again. The blond thought he did that too much.

“I heard somewhere artists are able to capture any emotions and thoughts of what they draw,” he leaned into Albedo, crossing his arms. The alchemist took a step back. “tell me, Sir Albedo, is this true? And if I recall you have a unique talent to bring your images to life, wouldn’t that be useful to learn all about me?”

Albedo took another step back; his sight being filled with only the blue of Kaeya’s hair and eyes. He then stayed unmoving. So did Kaeya. The distant cheers of the drunkards and bards from the lower city ringing, being carried through the wind, the bells of the church indicating another hour had gone by. And all Albedo could see is blue.

“It’s true.” is all he could say. Kaeya leaned back, hand on his hip. His diamond eye was unreadable again.

“I’ll take that as a ‘no’” He bit his lip, shrugging. “Didn’t expect you to say yes anyway, well I’ll stop teasing you for tonight, good night captain.” Albedo could hear it. A disappointment in his voice. His playful tone had returned, yet Albedo noticed.

“Good night, Kaeya, don’t drink too much.” Kaeya strode on by. Albedo didn’t think he was going to the tavern tonight anymore. His blue hair merging into the midnight sky, he watched him walk up the stairs. That’s when he knew he definitely wasn’t going to drink too much tonight. Albedo didn’t think he’d ever understand Kaeya.

Perhaps… He should take up that offer.

Walking up to the headquarters, there appeared to be less lights on now. Albedo didn’t recall seeing anyone exit. He wasn’t paying much attention to anything than Kaeya. Of course, the first office on the left had its lights still on, the library too. It wasn’t any of his concern. He had some letters to write back to a certain man, probably running around the city with his claymore by now. That was at least one thing he knew about Kaeya. That his brother still loved him if he never told him. And Kaeya most likely felt the same.

His second plan for getting Klee her toast had fallen apart when he woke up on his desk, covered in notes and an unsealed letter. The girl in question however was screaming his name in front of his desk. Nine bells ringing through the city.

“Albedo, Albedo!!! You’re home, you’re home!!” The little spark knight was jumping up and down up and down, Dodoco at her side going along with her. He reached out his hand petting her head over her little hat. Her giggles were warm and bright, a perfect way to start the day.

“Yes, Klee, I’m home,” Standing up a blanket he doesn’t remember having, floated onto his chair, he supposes it was perhaps Nolle. Pushing his arms in the air and twisting them a little, stretching isn’t something he exactly has to do, his joints don’t really become tense, but it’s something he’s become accustomed to. He doesn’t need to eat either, but he has become fond of it every now at then. A meal with Klee and Alice is always enjoyable. Maybe it wasn’t too late to take her out for the toast. So that’s exactly what he did. Waiting for Klee to stop running in a circle searching for Dodoco attached to her bag – like a puppy chasing its tail – he gently took her hand and strolled out of the headquarters with her skipping along.

“I was sooo excited when big brother Kaeya told me you were back!” That caught Albedo’s attention. “he’s been taking me home while you’ve been up in the big scary mountain again, Amber took me home last night though,”

“And what else has Kaeya been up to?” He didn’t really expect an answer, but it seems everything to do with Kaeya was a surprise now.

“Oh, Kaeya told Lisa he wasn’t happy! I drew him a picture of him and those… ca-cal… the flowers that he likes!” Albedo froze in place, like Kaeya himself had thrown an ice shock over him. For some reason, something in Albedo dropped. Was it his curiosity for the other man? Was it perhaps lingering thoughts from last nights conversation? The way Klee didn’t understand, turning to Albedo with a tilted head, bouncing on her toes? The church bell chimed again, ten o’clock. He shook his head, eyes snapping away from the blue horizon.

“They’re called Callia lilies, Klee, I’m sure Kaeya loved your drawing.” He took her hand again, she went back to hopping around happily as always, excited for lunch.

“Callia lillies!! Yes, Kaeya, loves them!! He also told me he gave you the blanket to keep you warm last night,” As she giggled away, the ends of Albedo’s lips curved into a small smile.

“Is that so…”

“What did you say?” Klee’s bright red, curious eyes, gazing up at him.

“Don’t worry about it, let’s go get your toast,” the child’s cheers were loud and shining. Just like the city she sleeps through at night.

There was always work Albedo found himself to do. Whether it be tutoring Sucrose and Timeaus, watching over Klee, filing reports for his work as a captain or just working on his own person projects. Right now, he happened to be working on the latter. He always enjoyed the library’s peaceful environment (until the librarian got mad at least). A table of alchemy books hiding away the blond alchemist. The sun was beginning to set, the crimson and indigo blending and shimmering through the window, covering over the table. The clock ticking away, the sound of other people scratching down notes to paper, pages being turned. The bell from the church again chimes eight times… Klee should be in bed soon… A sigh slipped from Albedo’s slips. He shut over the book he was reading, there was a lot to put away… Maybe he could ask Lisa for help.

“Hey, cutie, want a hand with those?” She’s a mind reader. Albedo still didn’t understand her anymore than he did Kaeya.

“Lisa, hello, I would appreciate that, I was just about to come and ask,” He gathered a few of the books into his hand. The old scholar did the same. Lisa just laughed. Wherever she went there was a fragrance of flowers and dusty books, Albedo wondered if that flower in her hair was real.

“It’s usually the little spark knight’s bedtime around now, isn’t it? The bells woke me up from the most wonderful nap, I noticed you down here and thought you might need a hand with, well,” her free hand gestured over the table “this,”

“Thank you,” He offered a smile. It didn’t take them too long to put away the small mountain of books together, a few light shocks of course were handed out when Albedo mixed up a location of a book. Lisa was truly powerful, but she was harmless at the end of the day. Terrible idea to get on her bad side, but she was a great person if you became her friend. She was good friends with Kaeya. He knew that without Klee’s comment from this morning. He wondered if he would be allowed to ask about that. It shouldn’t be any of his concern about Kaeya’s feelings though… right? The books all put back where they belonged, Lisa wandered back to her ‘nap corner’ as the regular knights had declared it. Albedo was about to just walk right out that door, except a picture caught his eye pinned up by Lisa’s desk. A picture of a blue scribbled man and some white flowers covering the rest of the page.

“Interested in your little sister’s drawing?” Albedo looked over to Lisa, resting her cheek on her face. “She takes after you, the little artist, doesn’t she,” There was a suspicion in her eyes that albedo couldn’t trust. Did Kaeya perhaps tell her about last night... Maybe the window to the library was open… He just shook his head.

“Is that supposed to be Kaeya?” the brunette nodded, twisting a Sumeru rose her hands. She just stared at it; it was like Albedo wasn’t there at all. A minute passed by the clock ticking and ticking away, and Albedo finally turned on his heels taking a step to leave.

“Kaeya and I got into a fight yesterday, did Klee tell you?” Nothing happened. He didn’t know how to respond. He wanted to hear the rest, but he didn’t want to overstep his boundaries.

“She may have mentioned something about Kaeya not being happy…” Out the corner of his eyes, he saw the flower disappear, dissolve away. Not a new sight. She cast her gaze back to the alchemist. A smile but drooping eyes.

“I suggested he stopped drinking so much… it may be that telling him I wanted him to live until twenty-eight was a bit harsh… But I know he drinks so much to try avoid his troubles, I’m a bit of a hypocrite in that department but it’s already too late for me…” She glanced away to the window. Albedo didn’t understand that last part, he didn’t want to pry any more than he already felt he already was, so he just let her continue. “Kaeya said he was doing it because he was unhappy, he said some other things… I’m glad Klee didn’t hear those parts…”

Albedo had found himself over by her desk, view fixated on the picture by Klee. “And why are you telling me this?”

“Because he cares about you.”

“He does?” He never looked away from the picture. Despite it being drawn by a child, he saw Kaeya in the picture all the same… was he right last night. He was… But could Albedo capture Kaeya… Understand him…?

“He truly does…” for a moment, he wondered if she meant that in the way that she and Jean cared for each other… She spun around in her chair, reaching over and gently tugging off the scribbled drawing. “Take it, he told me to keep it, but I think he deserves it,” Albedo only nodded, placed the drawing with his other notes. And walked out of the library.

A scene of a bunny and a four leave clover played outside in the main hall. Amber was crouched on the ground to reach Klee’s height. Klee was telling her all about the adventures of Dodoco, including the Dodoco kingdom. Albedo remembered the painting he’d left there that summer. It had been a long while ago… What a wonderful trip that had been. The sunset skies and cool waves… He remembered the last day; he had spent some time on the beach with Kaeya. He was sketching down the beach resort Alice had set up, Klee asked him to so “we’ll never forget!” but it’s so vivid in his memory. Kaeya had just sat down beside him on that giant seashell. No words were spoken and yet that was the most Albedo had ever felt connected to the other man.

“Albedo!!” his little sister once again jumping up and down and all around, still full of energy despite it being her bedtime. “Are you going to take me home tonight?”

Albedo was going to respond with a yes. He really was, but a certain blue figure had caught his attention on the upstairs level. He was lost in his mind once again. Should he draw Kaeya? Part of him wanted to satisfy the curiosity which was the other man… He had to return the drawing. Make him keep it this time… Every time he saw Kaeya it was like another mystery he was handed, another new enigma he had to solve. He supposed that’d how everyone felt about him… But this felt… Different…

“Albedo? If you still have work to do, I could always take Klee home again tonight? He was in the middle of telling me about the grand adventures of Dodoco in Inazuma, I’d love to hear the end,” Amber was always so bright and kind. He felt so bad to not take Klee home himself, but Klee appeared to enjoy the idea of Amber taking her home. It’s something he couldn’t refuse.

“Yes, I have some things to finish off for the night,” He handed over a generous amount of mora, “Feel free to go grab dinner together as well, I’m sure Klee has more stories to tell, thank you outrider,” Amber pouted at that.

“Hey, how many times do I have to tell you to drop the formalities, we’re friends now!” Albedo found himself chuckling at this. The time they had spent up in the mountain with the traveller, Eula and Bennett was certainly an eventful one. He supposed she was right to call her by name.

“Right, of course, Amber, thank you again,” Amber nodded, taking the mora and taking Klee’s hand. They both were jumping for joy, hopefully Klee would be tired out enough after dinner to get some rest. He hoped Amber being home a bit later today wouldn’t bring him the curse of Eula’s vengeance, hopefully she’d understand her girlfriend’s delay. Lost in his thoughts once again, he didn’t notice Klee suddenly turned back and ran to give him a big hug. Albedo picked her right up and spun her once in his arms.

“I’ll be home tomorrow, Klee, I promise,” she beamed at him holding onto him tightly, like she would never let go.

“I love you, Albedo!” He put her down ruffling her hair, grinning as she giggled.

“I love you too, Klee, now be good for Amber alright?” She nodded and ran back over to Amber, the three waved their goodbyes, and as the doors opened, and closed, Albedo was alone in the hall again. Or so he thought. Still watching the door, he heard rhythmic tap of familiar footsteps along the marble floor. He spun around to meet the midnight blue of the cavalry captain.

“Hey there, you not taking Klee home tonight?” Kaeya wasn’t looking at him, for some reason his focus was on the now closed door.

“Not tonight… in fact, the reason I’m still here is, I had something to ask you…” Kaeya didn’t bring away his gaze from the door - Albedo didn’t have much space to find his face, that dark hair, the long rat tail over his shoulder, filling his sight instead. What he did notice… The curve of his lips… If he was smirking did, he already know what Albedo was going to ask?

“Oh, and what did you want to ask me captain?” Albedo finally saw his face. Diamond eye dark as always, his hand resting on his chin, a usual habit of a curious Kaeya. There was a part of the taller man that always happened to captivate Albedo. He was lucky he wasn’t a very reactive person in these moments, when he would always feel every part of himself lock up and stare at Kaeya. The midnight hair swayed as Kaeya’s head cocked to the side. The alchemist wasn’t one to be speechless. Once again frozen in the cryo user’s presence.

“I… Is the offer to draw you still available?” Albedo didn’t have a heartbeat, but he sure enough could feel something thumping deep in his chest. An imaginary pulse quickening, Kaeya unmoving, staring down at him.

“So now you wish to draw me Albedo?” He nodded. The tick tock, tick tock of the old grandfather clock filling the room. Nothing but the time and the heavy lights of the entrance hall. Time continued and Kaeya scoffed, spun on his heels and sauntered away. Albedo didn’t think he’d still be upset, he could possibly catch up with Klee and-

“Well, are you coming? Don’t keep me waiting,” Albedo jumped, blinking wide eyes a few times. Kaeya’s smirk had mellowed into an actual kind grin. He was leaning on the banister, hand on his hip, the other outstretched to Albedo himself. A sigh fell from his lips as he made his way over, shoes clicking on the marble floor, to join the mysterious man he wanted to figure out.

Albedo opened the door to his office. It really was less an office and more a secondary lab. Filled with test tubes and multicoloured chemicals over the shelves, neatly written labels attached to each one. However, behind his desk, was a small table and a few chairs by a window, and in front of it, an easel. Kaeya followed him in, shifting his view over the different objects around the room. He didn’t much visit Albedo at work. Albedo’s office really was just his grey cave at Dragonspine. Albedo had strolled over to the back of the room, shifting around the table and chair.

“Usually, I just use this for Klee to draw and eat with her, when I’m here.” There wasn’t much sunlight left from the window anymore, sunset reds fading into the deep blue matching Kaeya’s hair. The man in question didn’t react, watching Albedo nudge around the table.

“Should I turn on the lights?” Albedo shook his head.

“It’s fine, I can see perfectly fine, it makes things more natural without any additional light…” That wasn’t true but in this case, Albedo only wanted to draw Kaeya in the natural lights seeping through the window. Albedo gestured to the chair; the cavalry captain seemed to understand waltzing on over to join him. When he was sitting down, he was at eye level with Albedo. He was really tall.

“What should I do now?” Albedo dropped himself down at the easel, placing a canvas down, adjusting it until it sat up right. He leaned over to fidget with his paints and pens. He couldn’t see Kaeya from here, but it didn’t sound like he was looking at him rather than somewhere else.

“Whatever you’re doing now,” He sat back up, Kaeya was staring out the window, the sunset light hitting his face. As he just let his eyes fall over Kaeya, something sparked in his head. It might not be a question he has the right to ask, but this was to learn more about him, was it not?

“Will you take off your eyepatch?” Kaeya’s hair snapped away from the window, eye wide. Albedo shifted in his chair, clearing his throat in the process. “Sorry you don’t have to-“

But Kaeya already had.

Another mystery solved about the man. His eye was in fact the same as he claimed. Nothing wrong. For the most part. His eye matched the visible one, a diamond trapped in an ocean of blue, but his hidden eye appeared to have lost some of the brightness, a small scar covering the eye. An injury from long, long ago… Did he always have it? Did he and Diluc get into some trouble as kids? … Did Diluc do that?

“What did you expect some magical undiscovered colour, or something?” His chuckle was low. His bare eyes now locked into Albedo’s own. It wasn’t like Albedo was one to judge about abnormal eyes, his weren’t even human after all, but a part of Kaeya’s were… Interesting.

“I’m not sure what I expected, if I’m being honest…” Kaeya just hummed and switched his attention back to the window. Seemed he was looking over at the Barbatos statue. Didn’t Khaenri’ans not believe in the archons? His master didn’t at least… A part of him didn’t believe Kaeya did either.

“Okay, let’s start.”

Kaeya never replied, he seemed to have zoned out, trapped in a daze. So, Albedo just picked up the pen and started to etch the lines into the sturdy canvas. Albedo was used to drawing all sorts of things for his research, be it Dragonspine, cats or cecilias. He drew whatever captivated him. He was used to only drawing Kaeya in three strokes, along with Amber and Lisa during their weekly meetings, and he’d lost interest in what Jean was saying. He never thought he would be here in his office, listening to the bell chime nine times, putting all his focus into the man before him.

What he learned fairly quick, every line is drew revealed a new truth. Every stroke killed off one of the lies he’d kept up, in his daily life. Diluc’s last letter had mentioned “you can only trust half of what he says – at best.” That’s one of the certainties he knew about Kaeya. Was he lying to Lisa as well…? He wondered why he was letting Albedo even do this… Why he suggested it at all… Albedo supposed he’d have to wait until he was finished. Kaeya proceeded to stare out the window, as he drew, he noticed Kaeya’s expression went from unreadable to some sort of longing. Motionless, rarely blinking. He wasn’t smiling like he usually was, lips not quite curved into a frown. But the sparkling, slightly, mismatched eyes, became a book easy for him to read. One from the library he could sense the hint of flowers. Not Sumeru roses however this time, but callia lilies. A bit of dandelion wine as well.

The line art complete, so he reached for his palette, his paints. He had to think for a moment what colours he needed. Blue. Of course, he needed blue. He can never think of any other colours when it came to him. He studied Kaeya more, what other colours could he possibly need… Everything on Kaeya was blue. His hair. His coat. His vision. The brush, dipped into water, then picking up the paint and transferring it onto the canvas. The moment the blue drowned into the canvas; a spark ignited in Albedo. The realisation of everything. His eyes widened. From that second, he felt he understood everything about Kaeya. All the lies he told, all his fears, all the secrets he concealed. So, he with more swishes and flicks of his brush, the blues merged in with whites and blacks and greys and golds. Every colour made the man at the window blaze in the moonlight.

However, the spell broke. Kaeya fixed his gaze to Albedo, as he peered over the easel. His eyes dug into him, and the sorrow Albedo saw was enough to make the paint seem as if it was dripping away. The moonlight shimmering in his eyes. Like literal diamonds. How could he look so beautiful and yet so miserable. Throwing a sad smile his way, his gaze clicked back into place. Like that whole moment had never happened. Albedo had to know more. Had to understand. He didn’t understand the driving force that had him enticed. Enchanted by Kaeya’s charm. It felt he was being pulled into his web of lies. Unsure what to do. There was only one thing he could think to do.

He kept painting in the blues of his eyes.

It truly wasn’t like Albedo to fall asleep twice in a row. He wasn’t meant to sleep at all after all. It was early when his eyes blinked back into the world. All he could see was blue. The finished painting before him. Kaeya was gone. The soft blanket over his back must have been his payment for the night before. The lilac and orange light leaking in through the room, making the painting light up. It looked more saturated that Albedo thought it should. For a while he just observed the painting, he could read all the lies hidden deep within the cavalry captain. There was enough to write a novel. Albedo realised, undeniably, that this drawing of Kaeya was the only true Kaeya out there. All the fake smiles and teasing comments, all those lies created the one truth he saw before him.

Eight chimes. Klee would be waking up soon… Albedo forgot to give Kaeya, Klee’s drawing as well. He should go pick her up. Taking off the blue blanket and folding it neatly onto his desk. His hand brushed over an envelope, the sealed letter he forgot to send yesterday. “Kaeya might lie a lot but whatever happened between the two of you, you’re obviously still fond of him, I can tell.” Maybe Diluc might get mad at him for that. But even if he never told Kaeya, he guessed nothing would change in the end. He’ll drop that off and make Klee her breakfast.

A long day had passed, of cooking for Klee, helping Sucrose with her latest experiment, filing some last-minute reports and finally spending a few hours in the library again. Lisa was in a deep sleep today, nothing could have woken her up, so he let he be. As the chimes ringed out seven times, he packed up the books, that were sitting on the warm light of his desk, making sure to place them back in the right slots. Asleep now, she’d be irritated when she woke up, never good to cross Lisa. In the entrance hall he was meet with a familiar sight. A tired acting grand master, lecturing a guilty spark knight.

“Hello, Acting Grand Master, has Klee been causing a lot of trouble again?” He strolled over to them, Klee perking right up and running over gleefully. Jean sighed, putting her hand over her head.

“Hello there Albedo, our little spark night was caught attempting to blow up the fish in the lake again by Kaeya, he brought her back here before requesting to leave early today,” Through all the stress in her stance and shakes in her voice, the fondness for Klee would always be on top. She cared deeply for the child, and despite being as troublesome as she was, Klee would always respect her in the end.

“I’ll be taking Klee home now, so no need to worry,” He picked up the small red girl in his arms, she clung into him with a wide grin on her face. “Did captain Kaeya mention where he was off to, tonight?” Albedo bit his lip, shifting Klee in his arms. Jean shook her head.

“No, he didn’t, although if we know Kaeya, I’ll place all my guesses on Angel’s Share,” She laughed flatly. It was obvious she hasn’t slept in a while, but all the knight’s have realised only Lisa has the power to make her sleep. So, they all stopped trying.

“Good night, Albedo, Klee,” She bowed and dizzily walked back into her office. Albedo hope she slept soon. But there was another tired figure in his arms. Klee was already starting to fall asleep, holding onto Dodoco tightly, muttering some stories about her day. Grumpily complaining how Kaeya had told her “not to blow up the fish for big brother Albedo’s sake”.

As he walked down to her home, their home, Alice would obviously be no where to be found. Klee was deeply asleep in his arms; she should have eaten dinner before she’d gone to sleep. If she wasn’t going to wake up, Albedo would make sure she had a big breakfast of fisherman’s toast and hashbrowns. The city was once again alive, a miracle Klee didn’t wake up. It was still the early night and yet cheers could be heard from every establishment. It sure must be nice for the regular nine to five workers. The knights work seemed to never be done. Arriving home, he kicked off his shoes carrying Klee through to her bed, laying her down and taking off her bag, hat and shoes. Untangling the bunches in her hair, today held up with red ribbons. Albedo had put one in his own hair in fact when Klee insisted, they needed to match.

Actually, he left that letter at his desk. He forgot to send it after specifically trying to remember to leave it at the tavern. This could be a good thing. He needed to give Kaeya Klee’s drawing, maybe give him the one he drew yesterday as well. He could deliver them all in one trip. He pulled the blanket over Klee, beaming watching her snuggle into Dodoco. He closed the door and walked back out into the city. The sunsetting sky turning from reds to blues. Eight chimes were heard in the distant church on the other side of the city. Each one growing closer as Albedo took another step to the headquarters.

Despite all he had decided before he found himself getting lost in more of his research. By the time the tenth bell had finished ringing, he had almost forgotten about the drawings and the letter. He finished off the notes he was writing, placing them in a folder and then into a drawer. From underneath the piles on his desk he dug out the scribbles of blue and callia lillies, along with the letter signed to Diluc. The last thing he did as he left was grab the canvas from the easel, carrying it under his arm and making his way down the stairs. By the exit he noticed Jean’s light was still on, much to his dismay, but there was nothing he could do sadly. The library’s lights were off, a rare occasion. As he left, he could hear some quiet words of Lisa slipping out from behind Jean’s door. Hopefully she can get her to rest.

He stepped out into the dark, a cold breeze blowing through him, pushing lose strands from his hair over his face. The cool air was undoubtably one of his favourite things in Mondstadt. The air was dry in Khaenri’ah. It wasn’t like he had the ability to breath, but the air was refreshing, nevertheless. Strange how he spent so much time in the frosty mountain, in that case. He continued his pace about to turn down the stairs, but there was a flicker of blue out the corner of his eyes. Snapping around he noticed the one and only Kaeya walking up the stairs to the church. That made things a bit easier. Changing his next destination, he followed Kaeya up the steps watching him stride on over to the statue, sitting down on one of the many benches around.

“Captain Kaeya, hello” The bored eye and frown twisted into something lighter, much more fake. A wave directed his way.

“Hello there Albedo,” He chuckled “Is that for me?” He pointed at the canvas under his arms. Albedo laughed back. Reaching the bench and taking a seat beside the other captain. He lifted up the painting and handed it over.

“Yes, in fact it is, I wondered if you would have liked to keep it, after all you were the one who asked me to draw you,”

“So I did, if you don’t want to see my beautiful face every day, that’s a shame,” Albedo could hear the sickeningly sweet lies dripping in his voice. There was nothing he could do but go along with it anymore. He saw the real Kaeya, and now Kaeya wants to be the fake one.

“Why do you think I stay up on the mountain so much?” He joked, Kaeya dramatically gasping and throwing his hand over his chest as if he was really offended. Albedo pulled out another drawing, however. “Lisa said I should give you this, Klee told me about it as well,”

Kaeya’s mouth suddenly dropped, flinching and eyes open wide like Albedo had just pulled his sword on him. Albedo tilted his head. Did he not want the image back? What was so terrifying about it, he used to accept Klee’s drawing all the time. In fact, he had a whole board in his office pinned up of her scribbles. Kaeya eventually reached out and took the picture, gently placing it down. Albedo noticed his eye flick to his hair, where the red ribbon held up the crown of braids in his golden hair.

“Lisa told you to give me this, did she…?” Albedo registered the issue. It wasn’t the drawing; it was about Lisa… They were friends from what Albedo knew but was that fight more serious. It surely wasn’t the first time people have told Kaeya to stop drinking. He once heard the traveller ask if he drinks so much to run away from his problems, and it surely won’t be the last. So why was this different.

“Yes, she did, she told me that you both got into an argument,” Kaeya was glaring now. Albedo wasn’t one for conflict, part of him was internally yelling to back off, wish him good night and leave. But he stupidly kept going.

“You shouldn’t keep pushing people away Kaeya, Lisa cares about you a lot you know all the knights do, Jean, Amber and even Noelle,” Albedo should have stopped, he kept begging himself to stop. Standing up in front of him, forcing their eyes to lock. “I care about you, so much, I prefer you a lot more when you’re the person you are in that painting,”

“And Diluc,” It was too late to stop, even if Kaeya’s eye burned a rage Albedo had never seen. “He cares about you as well, even if he doesn’t say it, he loves you so-“

“And what exactly do you know about Diluc and I, Albedo?” The dangerous tone paralysed Albedo. There was something in his mind telling him to run as fast as he could, but he couldn’t. He didn’t want too either. Albedo knew what Kaeya was trying to do. Forcing himself to snap out of whatever grip Kaeya had on him, grasping his hand. Albedo didn’t think he could feel colours until he touched Kaeya’s hand, he felt his blue fade to his red anger. The hostility in Kaeya’s eyes was far from dying out. The sight of Kaeya against the city scape, the dark blue sky against the burning stars. As calm as Albedo appeared his non-existent heart was racing. A pulse beating fast. Or maybe that was Kaeya’s.

“I don’t know, because you never tell anyone, you keep pushing us all away, we just want to support you,” He wanted to continue. He couldn’t. Kaeya shot up ripping his hand away from Albedo’s. He grabbed the paintings. Both of them.

And Albedo could only watch, eyes wide, as his masterpiece was ripped into pieces at every edge. The pen ink and paint torn and destroyed. The alchemist didn’t know how to react. He felt the world around him going numb and the blues and greys were carried off by the wind. Probably into the ocean dissolving into nothing. There was nothing Albedo could do. Kaeya only stared at him. That diamond eye filled with regret and sorrow. He said nothing, only silently walking away. Footsteps melting into the sounds of bells. Eleven this time. Albedo didn’t even notice the red ribbon slipping out of his hair, dancing off into the night with the pieces of blue, lost in the wind.

The anemo archon, looming over him as whatever trance he was in, he snapped out of, running to the edge of the wall, calling out for the blue haired man. He had no choice but to watch him walk down the steps into the depths of the city. Albedo’s hand reached up to his chest. Where a heart should be but wasn’t. It felt like it was breaking apart. Melancholic melodies of tunes he’d once heard back in Khaenri’ah playing, apparently, close by.

Kaeya must have been lying when he said he trusted the archons.