Chapter Text
Mondstadt has been relatively calm ever since the attacks of Stormterror ceased thanks to the help of the Honorary Knight, Lumine. Ever since then, it's been business as usual for the Knights of Favonius. Occasionally, they'd get a call raving about "a threat to the city" when slimes start approaching the front gate, but nothing spectacular ever really happened. On a day like no other, Kaeya was in a short meeting with Jean and Lisa about future threats to Mondstadt, including the Abyss Order, and other regions surrounding Mondstadt. The region was quite small in comparison to their neighbors, such as Liyue, who's lands span over twice as large as Mondstadt's.
"I see no reason to fret, Gunnhildr. Liyue would never wage war on their own allies. If anything, the Fatui are the ones to keep an eye out for. You have heard about Rex Lapis's passing, have you not?" Kaeya raised an excellent point to Jean. No matter their size, Liyue is not one for battle. "Hmm... I do see your point Alberich. Nonetheless, We must be prepared, be it the Fatui, neighboring regions, or something else." He knew what she was referring to. The Abyss order was no easy foe, and could easily attack Mondstadt at any given moment like they had done in the past. "We'll reconvene another time. I must attend to other matters at this moment. You will hear back from me soon." Jean turns to her desk, side eyeing Lisa, who was simply taking notes on the discussion.
Kaeya turns to leave, disregarding the air between Jean and Lisa, leaving upstairs to his own office, cluttered with artifacts, tips on outside threats, and his own personal belongings. On his desk, he has 4 of his Stella Fortuna suspended and used as a lamp of sorts. Strange, but people have demonstrated their constellations in worse manners. Tidying up a little, he overhears some knights down the hall. He did catch wind about new recruits being shown around headquarters that day, so he isn't surprised. "Ah yes, our current Cavalry Captain's office! Despite his appearance, he's one of the smartest we have here in the Knights of Favonius, don't underestimate him!" The knights chuckle as they walk past. Despite his appearance, eh? What was so different about him? His looks? The way he dresses? His eyepatch? No one knew he was from Khaenri'ah, there's no way they'd pick him off like that for that reason alone.
Kaeya began to grow frustrated. He needed a break from work, he'd been working himself to the bone as of recent. Too much stress is bad for the skin anyways. He grabs his coin pouch and heads for Angel's Share. He didn't want to support Diluc's winery but it's practically unavoidable. He takes the backstreets of Mondstadt to avoid suspicion. Who the hell drinks at 10 in the morning? Pallad, probably. No one liked him anyways.
On the way, he gets stopped by some women, namely Margaret of Cat's Tail and Eury, who frequently idles by the city's center. "Oh, Kaeya~! How about having some fun with us, eh? You look a little stressed, we can buy you a drink~!" Eury is a little overbearing... is she drunk? Who the hell drinks at 10 in the morning...
"No thank you, Eury. I was just on my way home." Bold lie, Alberich. "But... you live towards the Cathedral, do you not? Oh, c'mon..! Loosen up a bit..!" Margaret joins in. They are so obviously drunk it hurts.
"That's enough, Ladies. We were just on our way home." A voice perks up from behind Kaeya. Not a familiar face to anyone, that's for sure. But for Kaeya, he knows this man all too well. "Haa-? Kaeya you live with another man? Since when..!" Eury gets a little displeased, what's going through her head? "Now my good sir, Let us go." It's strangely comedic that a man shorter than him by at least a foot is leading him off, but he goes with it anyways.
"So, where are you headed, Alberich?" He looks up to him and gives a charming smirk. Not many people are aware of Albedo, they've only heard of him through Timaeus's stories.
“Ah, just to Angel’s Share. Hasn’t been the best of mornings… And you?” Kaeya looks to Albedo. Strange that they’re out of their laboratory. No one sees Albedo out except for Jean, Sucrose, Klee, and occasionally Timaeus.
“The same…” Albedo trails off, their gaze straying back, then quickly snapping forward. “Take my hand. You trust me, don’t you?” He looks panicked, but confident. Kaeya didn’t understand what he was getting at, but he trusts Albedo, right? He then notices fluffy shadows tintied various hues of blue and red. In a panic, Kaeya takes their hand, and is suddenly propelled into the air, flowers adorning their ankles as they soar. “Don’t look down now~!” They support Kaeya from behind, taking his hands in their own. “Just walk… walk normally~!” Albedo and Kaeya soar throughout Mondstadt, with the wind beneath them.
After a short stroll through the air, Albedo sets Kaeya down on the balcony of the second floor at Angel’s Share, standing atop the railing. “I’ll see you very soon…” Albedo says, a smirk on his face as he practically floats off.