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“—bedo? ...Hey, Albedo?”
Albedo was suddenly taken out of his deep focus. He blinked back into reality and looked up from his sketchbook, and over at the source of the voice.
“Hm?”
It was Aether, the subject of his research and, currently, the subject of his sketch. He was resting on the floor with his arms crossed on a small box and his head slightly lifted, as if he was just awoken from sleep. His head was starting to bob a bit due to the tiredness of his neck holding the position for an extended time.
“Uhm, not trying to rush, but are you almost done? I’m starting to get kinda stiff, haha…”
Albedo glanced back down at his sketch, observing it, before looking back up at Aether. He was able to get the rough idea down, but was not quite satisfied with certain aspects.
“It is nearly complete. Please wait it out a little longer.”
Silence resumed, save for the scratching and scrawling of Albedo’s pencil on the rough sheet of paper.
“I can’t wait to see your drawing,” Aether abruptly broke the silence.
“I merely wished to warm my wrist up in preparation for research related sketches, and you offered to pose for me.”
“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d agree.”
Albedo momentarily paused and glanced up at Aether, who was staring into the distance, before looking back down at the sketchbook.
“Oh?”
“Mm,” the bright blond boy voiced in response, “I thought, maybe, you’d brush me off. You can be very distant to things that don’t seem to interest you. But I’m glad you seem to enjoy my company, too.”
“So, you enjoy my company,” Albedo quipped.
“‘Course I do.”
The earnestness of Aether’s response was enough to cause Albedo to pause again. He did not know what he was expecting as a response, but then again Aether was always an honest soul. He felt a subtle warmth in his chest, leading up through his throat. The chalk haired artist couldn’t voice a response, and so again the room fell silent.
The alchemist sketched and resketched Aether’s face numerous times at this point, but he could not draw it in a way he was happy with. He could not figure out what exact part of it was dissatisfying him. Was it the contour of his cheeks? The softness of his hair? The steadfast yet gentle gaze of his golden eyes? There were multiple routes he could take in an attempt to resolve it, yet regardless he was growing frustrated, and Aether growing tired. He’d soon have to make up his mind and settle on something. He erased the eyes, mouth, and hair, and started another attempt.
“Albedo?” the model, finally, spoke up again.
“Yes?”
“D’you remember, back at Dragonspine, when you told me we were the same kind of person?”
“I do.”
“You said we were lonely. Why’re you lonely, Albedo?”
Albedo did not respond, and the traveler moved his eyes to look over at him. The artist was still, looking down at his sketchbook. Aether could not discern the emotion on the other’s face, or if there was even any emotion there at all.
“S-sorry if that’s too nosy…” the model said hesitantly.
The alchemist finally spoke, “I lost someone important to me, as well. Like you.”
Aether blinked, taken slightly aback by the unexpectedly honest response.
“I did not know how much I needed them,” Albedo continued, “until they disappeared from my life. They left me in Mondstadt with Miss Alice, and with nowhere to go, I remained here.”
“I see…” Aether exhaled, slightly pained.
The air got heavy and awkward. Aether wasn’t sure how to respond, naturally. How does one respond to something like that, anyway? Albedo wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to say at the moment, as he is still getting a grasp on social cues, but it’s out there now, and he cannot take it back. He should hurry and wrap up their time together so that they can bid farewell to one another.
Then, to Albedo’s surprise, he heard Aether’s breath inhale as so to speak.
“I understand how that feels. When I lost my sister, I was alone for a very long time, before I met Paimon. It’s a terrible feeling,” Aether spoke slowly, “It pains me to hear you have gone through something similar, Albedo.”
Albedo blinked, but did not respond.
“But,” Aether continued after a moment, “I’ve met so many people on my travels, and they’ve helped me treat the pain. It’s true, I do still miss my sister, and there are still nights where I feel painfully lonely, despite having Paimon at my side. I’m not saying that that feeling will go away. But we have so many people in our lives now, and...”
Aether trailed off for a moment, and Albedo glanced up at him. The traveler was looking into space again and had a soft, welcoming smile on his face. It’s the first time the alchemist has seen such an expression since he first met Miss Alice. Though, at the time of meeting his adoptive mother, he did not have a solid grasp of emotions or their importance in his life, and was therefore unable to make much of it. Now that he’s seeing such an expression again—and on Aether, no less—he felt all kinds of indescribable, unknown emotions bubble and churn deep inside the pit of his stomach. He gulped in an attempt to keep them under control.
“Albedo,” Aether spoke softly, “we have each other now, too. That isn’t so lonely, is it?”
“...You raise a valid point,” Albedo replied.
Straightforward, as always. It caused Aether to let out a small chuckle.
Aether moved to look at the other boy again, “I’m glad you’re able to—“
He stopped when his eyes met the other’s face. Albedo was still staring down at his sketchbook, as if stuck like that. But there was something else, too.
Albedo was quietly crying.
This was extremely out of character for the known stoic chief alchemist.
“Ah!” Aether panicked a bit, “I’m so sorry, Albedo! Did I make you cry?”
Albedo blinked again and looked over at the other, eyes wide, and tears still streaming down his now flushed red cheeks.
Albedo brought his hand to his face and rubbed softly, looking back down at his now slightly dampened hand.
“That’s strange…” Albedo muttered.
Aether shook his head, and stood up from his position. He walked over slowly, and sat himself down next to the crying boy.
“It’s not strange at all,” Aether replied.
“People usually cry when they are upset,” Albedo said, voice wavering slightly, as he moved his sketchbook aside so as not to get tears on it, “However, I feel no such negative emotion at this moment.”
Aether gently put his hand and Albedo’s shoulder, rubbing it, “That’s not the only reason people cry, y’know.”
He continued, “You can cry when overcome by any kind of emotion. Happiness, excitement, and relief, too.”
“Relief…” Albedo echoed, “I suppose I am deeply relieved by your words.”
“So, you enjoy my company,” Aether said slyly, in the same tone Albedo said it just earlier.
Albedo smiled ever so slightly.
“Of course I do.”
More than just your company, Albedo thought to himself, closing his eyes, so the only thing he sensed was Aether’s hand on his shoulder, soft and comforting.
I enjoy you.