Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kaeya Alberich has always been intrigued by the Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius. Despite their major differences in personalities— Albedo barely making conversations unless needing to while Kaeya talked (flirts is probably a better word) more than a normal person should— the Calvary Captain couldn’t help but be drawn to Albedo.

So when Kaeya saw Albedo sitting in the corner of Angel’s Share with a sketchbook and charcoal in hand, frequently glancing up in his direction, he didn’t know whether he should be happy or scared.

Happy because maybe Albedo had finally taken an interest in Kaeya after so long.

Scared because maybe Albedo was actually judging Kaeya for drinking too much for the night.

Speaking of, the Captain looked down at his glass of wine. It was still half full and he had no clue if he should just continue to drink it.

“You’ve been drinking awfully slow, Captain,” A feminine voice said beside him. He turned his head to see, no other than, Rosaria. She grabs her glass of wine and gently brings it towards her lips, “what’s on your mind?”

“Be honest-“

“Like I never am?” Rosaria cuts him off, causing the man to roll his eyes.

“Do you think I’ve had too much to drink?”

Her eyes narrow, flickering to his half-filled wine glass and back to Kaeya’s one visible eye. “Since when have you become so self-conscious about how much you’ve had to drink?”

Kaeya lets out a soft sigh, having seen this coming: he could never ask a question to the sister without being interrogated in the process. “Albedo: blond hair, turquoise eyes? You know him, right?” Rosaria hums in affirmation, her expression slightly shifting at the name. “He’s sitting at the corner, looking over at our direction.”

“Oh ho, so what you’re meaning to tell me is that you have a crush on our Chief Alchemist?” A faint smirk graces her lips, “Go ahead and talk to him, then. I won’t stop you.”

Kaeya hesitates, not knowing whether or not he should actually go up to Albedo. But after deciding that he has nothing to lose, he stands up from the stool he was sitting on and begins to walk over to the table near the stairs of the tavern.

“Wait, Kaeya.” Rosaria calls out one last time. he turns around, “Be... careful. I have a bad feeling about him.”

Kaeya waves off her warning, “I won’t get hurt. Besides, I’m the flirt, remember?”

Rosaria looks as if she wanted to say something else, but keeps her mouth shut as she watches the blue-haired walk towards Albedo.

Too engaged with what he was sketching, Albedo doesn’t notice Kaeya’s presence in front of him until the taller man speaks out. “Grape juice? Did Diluc recommend it?”

Albedo visibly flinches in surprise, immediately turning over his sketchbook on his lap. “Hello, Sir Kaeya. And yes, Master Diluc did recommend it to me: I asked for a drink with no alcohol since I plan to work early tomorrow.”

Kaeya, no longer interested in the grape juice, eyes the book on Albedo’s lap. “What do you have there, Chief Alchemist?”

And much to Kaeya’s surprise, Albedo’s face begins to shift colors to a soft red. The blond slowly turns the sketchbook back around to reveal a detailed drawing of the Calvary Captain himself, sitting on the stool from earlier.

“Albedo, if I didn’t know any better, I would have assumed that you have taken an interest in me, no?” Kaeya runs his fingers gently across the page, making sure not to smear the charcoal.

Albedo downs the rest of his grape juice, “Why do you assume that I haven’t? You are quite an attractive man, Sir Kaeya: and you must know this already, considering many men and ladies of Monstadt have asked to court you.”

“You’re rather blunt, aren’t you? However, I could say the same for you. Many people find you attractive and I can see why.”

Albedo tries to process what the other had just said. “Did you just flirt with me?”

“You act as if you didn’t just unintentionally flirt with me as well.” Kaeya chuckles softly as he watches Albedo’s face turn red with embarrassment once again. “Well, are you going to explain why you decided to draw me?”

Being caught off guard by the question, Albedo could only fall into silence. But eventually, he finally formulates his answer: simple and straight to the point.

“So I don't forget about you.”

—

“How about a date?”

Albedo looks up from the pile of paperwork on his desk, baffled at the sudden suggestion. “Excuse me?”

Ever since Kaeya and Albedo’s interaction in Angel’s Share, Kaeya has been visiting the alchemist’s lab more frequently: during his breaks and after his knightly duties (since Albedo tends to work late hours). And during these visits, Kaeya would casually flirt to which Albedo would either blush or roll his eyes.

“A date, Chief Alchemist. How ‘bout it?” Kaeya repeats, sitting down on an empty couch pushed up against a wall of the room.

Albedo puts down his pen and directs his full attention to the blue-haired. “Don’t you have other people interested in you? Why do you ask me on a date?”

“Because you intrigue me. I have developed a liking for you and would like to take you on a date.” 

“And if I decline?”

Kaeya merely shrugs his shoulders, “Then you decline. I can’t exactly force you to go on a date with me, can I now?”

Sighing, Albedo stands up from his chair and starts to stretch from sitting in the chair for the whole day. “Are you picking where we’re going?”

Kaeya follows suit, standing up from the couch as well, “Do you have any suggestions?”

“Good Hunter? I haven’t eaten dinner yet.”

A smile graces Kaeya’s lips, “Good Hunter it is, then.”

The two walk out of the Knights of Favonius’ headquarters and head towards Good Hunter. To the citizens of Mondstadt, seeing the city’s flirt and the genius together was surprising. The people thought that their personalities would definitely clash, so seeing them talking and laughing with one another, they were surprised.

“Sir Kaeya, Sir Albedo!” Sara beams when she sees the pair walking over to the small booth, “Here for something to eat? I can whip it up for you!”

Albedo is the first to speak, “I’ll have a fisherman’s toast and a sticky honey roast,” Albedo looks over his shoulder to Kaeya, “It’s for Klee. She’s in solitary confinement today.”

Kaeya nods in understanding, knowing that sticky honey roast is Klee’s favorite after so many times of Jean asking him to look over her. “I’ll just have a salad.”

Sara nods, “I’ll get that ready for the two of you!”

As the waitress starts to prepare their food, Kaeya and Albedo walk over to one of the small tables of Good Hunter. The two sit in silence for a few passing moments until Kaeya speaks up. “Why did you say yes? To this date, I mean.”

Sara walks over to their table with their dishes and the sticky honey roast in a paper bag. Albedo thanks her, and answers Kaeya’s question before they can start their meal. “Odd for you to assume that I wouldn’t take a liking for you as well.”

—

After Kaeya and Albedo’s date at Good Hunter, the pair planned a second, then a third, then several other dates. And after the sixth date, while walking Albedo to his workshop, Kaeya finally pulled enough courage and decided to kiss the blond.

And much to the Calvary Captain’s surprise, Albedo kissed back.

The two didn’t plan on telling people about their relationship, but they were barely subtle about them dating: Eight times did a knight catch them making out while Albedo sitting on Kaeya’s lap, and still counting.

“Albedo!” At the sound of his name, Albedo tears his gaze away from the view to turn his head. He watches as Kaeya walks towards him, hands behind his back. “Close your eyes.”

With much convincing on Kaeya’s part for Albedo to take a break from work for one day, Albedo eventually caved in (only because Kaeya was very persistent and wouldn't leave him alone until he said yes), and was now standing near the edge of Starsnatch Cliff. An easel with a half-painted canvas on the view is sitting on the cliff, alongside a stool.

The alchemist looks up at the taller man, giving him a look saying “What exactly are you planning?” but complies.

Albedo feels Kaeya tuck something above his ear, “Okay, you can look now.” Kaeya says.

When he opens his eyes again, he finds a cecilia at the edge of his peripheral vision sitting on his ear. “You’re so cliché, you know that, right?” Albedo says, but he’s smiling.

“Only for you, my little star.” Kaeya leans down slightly to kiss his partner on the forehead.

The blond goes back to the edge of the cliff and sits down in front of his canvas with Kaeya following closely behind him. As Albedo settles down on the stool, Kaeya takes a seat on the patch of grass beside him and rests his head on the other’s thighs.

The sunset goes by quickly like this, with Albedo painting and Kaeya eventually snoozing off on Albedo’s lap.

When Albedo is finally satisfied with this painting, he looks down at Kaeya. A sad smile on his lips while he gently plays with his blue hair.

“If one day, I lose control… destroy Monstadt… destroy everything…

Can I rely on you to stop me?”

—

It happened quicker than Albedo expected.

The voice: it started quietly at first, but started getting louder and louder as the days passed on, repeating the same sentence in his head over and over again.

Destroy Mondtsadt, destroy Mondstadt, destroy Mondstadt…

He tried to ignore it, hoping it would eventually fade. But of course, it never did: destroying the peaceful city was the only reason Albedo was created, after all.

It only took a matter of time before he caved into the voices in his head. He cursed at the Archons, angry that it decided to happen when Albedo was finally getting the normal and happy life he dreamed of.

And before he knew it, he watched as the citizens of Mondstadt rush out the city gates, being evacuated by the knights. Smoke and rubble surround the alchemist, but amidst all of it, Albedo sees a familiar tall figure walking towards him in the faint distance.

“Albedo,” Kaeya’s voice is shaky, not knowing what else to say. The two of them knew where this is going, but they refused to say anything about it.

“Kaeya, please,” Albedo cries out, practically begging. “Stop this. Stop me.”

The Calvary Captain frantically shakes his head, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. “I- I can’t.”

“You have to, and you know it. It's your duty to keep Mondstadt safe." 

Just when Kaeya was about to deny once again, his mouth went dry: he knew he had kill Albedo. Besides, was it really worth sacrificing a whole city of innocent people for one person?

With shaky hands, Kaeya summons his sword in his hand. He had used to kill many enemies but never would have guessed that he would use it on the person he loves the most.

And with a swift movement, Kaeya impales his sword through Albedo’s chest, a soft whimper escapes his lips at the pain.

As the blond collapses to the ground, Kaeya rushes down to catch him. “I’m so sorry, Albedo. I’m so sorry.” He’s crying now, tears running down his face.

“Thank you,” Albedo coughs out, his breathing growing labor.

“No, don’t speak. We- Barbara can heal you. You’ll be okay, you’ll be okay.” He whispers reassurances, more for himself than for Albedo, who looks like he already accepted his fate.

On Kaeya’s lap, Albedo stretches out his arm and caresses the other’s cheek, wiping away the tears. “Please don’t cry,” Despite the situation, he weakly smile. “I love you, Kaeya. So much.”

And before Kaeya could even respond, Albedo closes his eyes and exhales his last breath. The blue-haired shakes him softly, “Albedo, this isn’t funny. Open your eyes.” There’s a desperate tone in his voice when he breathes out: “I can’t lose you too.”

A gentle wind brushes past them, causing something to fly out of Albedo’s pocket. Before it could blow away, Kaeya catches it mid-air.

Unfolding the paper reveals the drawing of him Albedo drew in Angel’s Share.

“Well, are you going to explain why you decided to draw me?”

“So I don't forget about you.”

And finally, Kaeya understood what his words meant.

Chapter Text

Albedo wasn’t much of a drinker.

So it wasn’t much of a surprise when Kaeya tilted the bottle of dandelion wine toward his direction and the alchemist didn’t say anything. Kaeya looks back at the view in front of them: watching the orange sky fade to red as the sun started to set in the horizon.

He takes a swig of the alcohol, not taking his gaze away from the sky. “We haven’t talked much recently, huh? I’ve missed you dearly, my love.”

When Kaeya places the bottle back down on the grass, he notices a small cecilia on the patch of grass near him. Plucking it from the ground, he places it right next where Albedo rests like he always does when he sees one. “I never understood you fascination for these. But now, I’ve notice how beautiful they are.” He lets out a bitter chuckle, snatching the bottle again. “Maybe it’s because they remind me of you?”

A cold breeze passes through them, causing Kaeya to close his eyes to relish the feeling. But when he opens them again, he notices his vision had gone blurry. He raises his hand to touch his eye to realize he had started crying.

Kaeya doesn’t do anything to stop the tears from flowing: he had been holding back so many emotions (maybe it was because of the shock) and was coping by drink until he couldn’t stand on his own.

He turns his head to face Albedo— well, his tombstone— and lets out a sigh.

“It’s been exactly a year since you have been gone, and I still can’t believe it.” He whispers softly. The sky has turned a dark blue by now, the sun nowhere in sight. “I miss you. So much, my little star.”