Chapter Text
The streets of Liyue market are bustling with life and panicked households doing their last minute purchases for the Lantern Rite while merchants are stationed at their stalls with their variety of products put on display, cheerfully hollering for customers to patronize their goods. All in one, it is the most festive period in Liyue where even travellers and tourists from other lands visit to partake in the festivities. For the Qixing, this is when their core trade reaches its peak and abundant opportunities arise to make good with their commerce brands with international businessmen.
It is by Ningguang’s invitation for Acting Grandmaster Jean to visit during this period to allow an exchange of ideas at closer proximity while showing goodwill in introducing Jean to one of their biggest traditions. Upon the Fatui’s more aggressive activities and their archons’ absences, it is only prudent to ensure closer camaraderie between the two amiable nations to stamp out the threat.
Albedo, on the other hand, has other designs when taking his own steps into Liyue lands. It has become common for the alchemist to make trips between Mondstadt and Liyue with his new research project coming forth but this time, this trip is time taken out of his more leisure hours.
Hence, he only heads to Wangshu Inn where Xiao frequents at the highest level of the establishment, and where he will remain for a few days until the Lantern rite is over.
“This is a fascinating new model,” Albedo commends, sitting beside Xiao, as he observes the kamera in his hands. While his research is purely focused on the abstract universe, he is not wholly disinterested in new technologies that are shipped from Fontaine. “The accuracy and crisp in its pictures is sharp, reflecting every aspect of the environment and subjects captured within its frame.”
“Mortals are truly coming up with the most mundane gadgets,” Xiao mutters under his breath.
In his opinion, traditions are better preserved and new technologies such as these pose a threat against the survivability of historical norms. Some may deem him as old-fashioned but Xiao is never attached to the mortal realm enough to simply adapt to their fleeting changes.
“These are worthwhile tools as well, Xiao,” Albedo says gently. “An artwork is indeed invaluable by its human processes, observations and creativity but — a picture still serves to bring one’s mind back to the moment it is created.”
Xiao scoffs, glancing over at the kamera in Albedo’s hands with equal disinterest. “Mortals, even with their ridiculously short lives, are creatures that easily forget. I suppose this does compensate for that particular shortcoming.”
The corners of Albedo’s lips quirk in amusement, ever lightened by Xiao’s own perception of those whom he protects but always deny doing so. “Art or photographs, do you not think it is flattering to capture things you like in pictures?”
“I do not have such poor memory to allow myself to become reliant on these apparatus.”
“And if Rex lapis was the one who created it?” Albedo asks, raising a brow.
The yaksha becomes silent upon that comeback, the arms that crossed over his chest tensing up. His thoughts briefly entertain the scenario Albedo sneakily slips into his mind, and a knot forms in his chest as he lets out a small grumble because he can never find faults in the concepts Rex lapis breathed life to.
“Rex lapis possesses wisdom over the lands and has meaning in everything he does. Should he create any contraptions, it will hold its own worth and merit by his name,” Xiao replies confidently.
“... Are you able to figure out why he invited a rock guitarist to perform at a funeral parlor then?”
“...”
Frowning, Xiao narrows his eyes, shooting that unamused look of his at Albedo who promptly purses his own lips — but, with his multicoloured teal eyes shining in amusement still. The yaksha may pride himself in his own steel composure but at times, the opportunities to tease may arise just because of that quality. And when it comes to Zhongli, it becomes easier to unnerve the typically calm adeptus — within reasonable fun, of course.
Maybe Albedo is beginning to understand why Kaeya constantly enjoys poking fun at Diluc.
“In any case, I enjoy recording my favourite things and moments in an image to view it later. Even while I do not forget easily, the emotion an image reminds cannot be replicated by the limitation of one’s minds,” Albedo says as he curiously lifts the kamera to face level.
Xiao emits a small sigh, closing his eyes as he revisits Albedo’s words. It is difficult to despise every little rare thing that brings stars to Albedo's eyes, given that the alchemist is more often disinterested in the common goods “I understand.”
Snap!
The yaksha’s muscles tense, his posture flinching as Xiao’s eyes fly open at the sudden noise made by the kamera. Whipping his head around, Xiao comes face to face with Albedo’s features, being obstructed by the cold soulless eyes of the gadget. Another whirling and subsequent snapping noise is released from the kamera but this time, Xiao does not flinch.
“What are you doing?” the yaksha asks, half-sternly.
“Taking pictures of my favourite person,” Albedo muses as he places the kamera back onto his lap to view the images he took on the previews. “Oh, you resemble a startled cat in the second one.”
How endearing , spells every upward twitch of Albedo’s lips.
Miffed, the word Xiao is feeling is miffed . "I do not reassemble a common feline."
"Why does Venti sneeze around you then?"
"Because he is an insufferable prankster," is the exasperation towards the God of Freedom whom the yaksha both respects and finds intolerable in his pranks.
Smiling, with eyes twinkling in amusement, Albedo leans forward to capture Xiao's ajar lips with his own, leaving the apologies over Mondstadt’s god for another day. In an instant, the vexed expression on the yaksha's typically stern features melt into something softer, into a tight-lipped adoration he holds for the alchemist ever since their connections intertwined for good.
Xiao knows he is soft for Albedo, he lets the alchemist get away with virtually anything that normally tests his bad mood. As a matter of fact, he realizes it has been a long while since he was in one and would it be an exaggeration to attribute it to his connection with Albedo?
Sighing into the kiss, Xiao resigns and circles his arm around Albedo's frame, his fingers occupying his partner's waist in a tight hold, as though Albedo would disappear tomorrow if Xiao lets him slip through his fingers. It almost happened twice, it can happen again. Those are chances he is not willing to take, no matter how much Albedo is rubbing his calloused knuckles in reassurance.
However, at that, he visibly relaxes, letting his body cave into everything Albedo is giving him.
Everything feels like a dream, and each time Albedo touches him, he feels more like a precious, gentle bird to be loved than a damned creature that only knew slaughter. It makes him forget about the possible impending doom of their lives hanging by the thread of corruption, it paints them in a whole new light where their presence offers them all the comfort they need and no evil plot from the heavens is there to take one of them away.
After that, Xiao feels the stark emptiness of Albedo's lips leaving his own and resists the urge to chase after them. That is, until their noses touch in another bout of affectionate gesture, and he can see all the colours in Albedo’s eyes, the artificial pattern that reminds him of the symbol on the alchemist’s work table, the glistening teal that he remembers equating to purity.
And even if Albedo isn’t, who gives a damn?
“I will teach you how to use it,” Albedo says afterwards, with all the patience he has in the world, and leans back, taking himself away from the yaksha’s longing grasp.
In slight distaste, Xiao wrinkles his nose and he is very aware that he is beneath making complaints about the space between them. “Teach? I am sufficiently capable of operating around the simplistic models created for mere convenience.”
For archon knows why, Albedo never once takes Xiao’s dismissive statements into offense. With a smile, he merely places the kamera in Xiao’s hold, then rests his own hands on top of the yaksha’s to guide him in levelling the lens to eye level.
And Xiao follows Albedo's instructions despite his earlier grumbling because of course he does. If this has worth to his partner then being led to trying it out is not such a notion worthy of contempt.
“Close your other eye, leave the one looking through the lens open,” Albedo says, assisting his companion in positioning the kamera for optimal angle. “There we go.”
It takes a few more adjustments with his thumb to fit Albedo fully within the frame but Xiao is able to master the gadget with startling speed, as initially proclaimed. And while he may have admonished the invention just a few minutes ago, now it feels like he is taken breathless by the sight.
At the very least, deep inside, Xiao does appreciate that the lens captures Albedo's delicate looks perfectly, the way the homunculus looks as though he is carved from porcelain, the way the natural light bounces off the supple skin of his partner. Everything about Albedo is meticulously fabricated and refined into perfection, and it makes the yaksha admittedly addicted to the view.
Albedo's palms are still upon the back of Xiao's hands, holding it firmly with no intention of leaving.
Slowly, Albedo guides the pointer finger to the button on the top left of the kamera. "And then, you press this to capture the image once ready."
Albedo smiles, in one of the millions of ways Xiao knows it can undo his soul and locks his knees. He understands what the alchemist was saying now — how he wants to capture every single memory into an image to revisit over and over again. It doesn't seem so farfetched now that he has peered through the lens and has seen what it is capable of.
Because Albedo is just so ethereal that he will never become tired of gazing upon his every feature, every light in his eyes, frozen within a frame or not. With another draw of his breath, Xiao succumbs to the wiles of mortal invention and descends his finger.
Snap!
"Perfect," is what Albedo utters next that resumes time.