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Reflected in the mirror was a four-pointed star. Albedo reached his tiny hand to touch his throat. The star felt smooth, just like his skin. He absentmindedly stroked the mark. Why did he have such a strange symbol on his body? Albedo had never seen anyone else with a star imprinted on their skin like him, it seemed to be something unique to him.
But he’d heard of such a thing before. A special symbol on people’s skin. Whenever he visited villages with his master, he heard the townspeople talk about soulmates. People could be born with a mark on their skin that was unique from the people around them.They were symbols given to the people by Celestia when they were of age. Only those with a matching set of marks on the same spot on their body would be soulmates. Albedo hoped that if the symbol on his neck really was a soulmate mark, he’d be able to find his matching star soon.
“Albedo, what are you doing?”
The little boy saw his master come into the room in the reflection of his mirror. He turned to face her, his hand still touching the symbol on his neck. “I was looking at myself in the mirror. I just noticed the star on my neck.”
Rhinedottir sighed. “No, it isn’t a soulmate mark. We don’t have soulmate marks.”
Albedo tilted his head in confusion. “We don’t have soulmate marks?”
“Yes. Khaenri’ahns don’t possess any soulmate-identifying marks.” She sat down on a couch in the corner of the room and patted the spot next to her. “Come here, Albedo. Let me tell you about it.”
The young alchemist glanced at the star in his reflection again before taking a seat next to her, looking at his master with curious eyes.
“When Celestia destroyed Khaenri’ah and cursed our people, our land and our humanity weren’t the only things they took from us.
“They also took away our soulmates and their identifying marks.”
“Why?”
Rhinedottir gave him a soft smile and gently stroked the back of Albedo’s head. “I’ve learned not to question why the gods do anything. It’d be best if you do the same too.” He opened his mouth to question further before being cut off by his master abruptly standing up. “Let’s go, Albedo. We have some materials to collect.”
The young boy watched his master leave the room, still in confusion. If his star wasn’t a soulmate-identifying mark, then what was it? And if Khaenri’ahns didn’t have soulmates… then would Albedo ever be able to find love?
Soon, Alice had replaced Rhinedottir as Albedo’s guardian. He resided in Mondstadt now, no longer following his master around and obeying her orders. And just as quickly as he met Alice, he met the Knights of Favonius.
Varka, the Grand Master of Mondstadt, first introduced Albedo to the Knights as their new Chief Alchemist and Captain of the Investigation Team in a meeting with the other captains. Albedo paid most of them no attention, save for a certain man. He had dark skin and deep blue hair, his clothing extravagant and his eyepatch catching Albedo’s interest. But what really held Albedo’s attention was his eye. When they made eye contact, Albedo felt a chill down his spine, as if the man had somehow used his cryo vision on him. Not only was the other man’s eye ice cold in color and gaze, but it reminded him of something.
Something familiar.
The man smirked at him and Albedo quickly looked away. With just one smile, he was able to make Albedo lose his train of thought. The man was something Albedo should avoid if he wanted to adjust to life in Mondstadt as fast as possible, yet there was something so… alluring, about him.
He didn’t carry himself like the other knights, let alone any of the other captains. With just one look at him, Albedo knew that he could spend months picking apart and analyzing every little detail about the strange man.
He was an enigma.
“And this is Kaeya Alberich, the new Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius.” Varka’s loud voice shook Albedo from his thoughts. Though he looked away, he swore he could feel Kaeya’s smirk deepen from out of his eyesight. “That concludes our introductions. Albedo, if you ever need assistance with anything, these are the people you can look to for help.”
The blonde nodded and thanked Varka. He didn’t think he’d need much help from the knights, but he hoped that he’d still get to see Kaeya again.
And maybe, just crack the code to the enigma called Kaeya Alberich.
Albedo’s hopes came true. As Captain of the Investigation Team, Albedo often conducted investigations on horseback. This meant that he saw Kaeya more than he’d initially expected while going about his job. At first, the Cavalry Captain would only lend him horses and leave him alone from there. But as the two grew closer as coworkers, Kaeya’s presence became a constant in Albedo’s work life. He started accompanying the alchemist on his expeditions, riding alongside Albedo on his own horse. Albedo silently welcomed the new change, eager to learn more about him.
He soon learned about Kaeya’s hobbies. What he did after work. What he did instead of working. His favorite drink and favorite place to drink at. Even just at surface level, Kaeya was an interesting man. He told Albedo he hated his job, yet when Albedo questioned why he didn’t quit, he said he wanted to stick it out and see what happens in Mondstadt. He also briefly told Albedo about his family, but Albedo never remembered seeing anyone who looked like Kaeya in the city.
Kaeya never gave Albedo an answer for that one.
Despite how much they talked, Albedo would never learn enough about Kaeya. He’d answer all the boring, inconsequential questions Albedo asked with honesty (from what Albedo could tell), yet avoided any deeper prying with teasing.
And oh, the teasing. The only thing Albedo didn’t like about Kaeya was just that. It wasn’t that he disliked Kaeya teasing him, he just disliked what it made him feel. Every time Kaeya made a quip at him, his face would warm and his mind would go fuzzy. It was as if the man set off fireworks inside his heart and made his brain go haywire, just like he was feeling now.
“So, does our esteemed Chief Alchemist have anything he has to do after work today?”
A feeling pulled at Albedo’s chest at the remark. Kaeya always had high praise of Albedo’s work, yet no matter how many compliments he received, his reaction was always the same.
Strange.
He never cared about others’ opinions of him until it came to Kaeya. Ignoring the feeling, Albedo put his hand to his chin in brief thought. “No, I don’t believe I do.” A tilt of his head. “Why do you ask?”
The other man gave him a dazzling smile that the stars would envy. “Would you like to accompany me to Angel’s Share later, then? It’s always nice to have more drinking buddies.”
“Sure, I don’t see why not,” he shrugged. Maybe he would be able to get to know Kaeya better, outside of a work environment. Get closer and become more than coworkers, even.
Though, in the back of Albedo’s mind, he knew that he would be walking a dangerous line if that were to happen.
(But maybe, just maybe, it’s a line he’s willing to walk.)
(For Kaeya, and Kaeya alone.)
When Albedo arrived at the bar around sunset, he saw Kaeya was already there chatting with the bartender. He took the barstool next to Kaeya, who noted his arrival.
“Welcome to the Angel’s Share, Albedo. Have you been here before?”
“I have not. I’m entrusting you with my impression of this tavern.”
Kaeya laughed. “My, my, what a weight on my shoulder! I hope I don’t let both you and Master Diluc down.”
Albedo raised an eyebrow at him. “Master Diluc?”
“He’s the owner of this tavern,” Kaeya answered, a bit of an edge to his voice.
“Why does his opinion matter so much to you?” Albedo asked out of curiosity.
Kaeya chuckled, though it almost seemed to Albedo there was no humor behind it. “It’s… complicated,” he simply stated, taking a sip from his drink. “Now, would you like to see the menu? Or would you rather have my recommendations?”
Albedo didn’t press the topic further. He noticed the way Kaeya reacted and didn’t want to make him feel more uncomfortable. “I think I’d rather have your recommendations. I don’t know enough about alcohol to be able to choose a suitable drink from the menu.”
The other man smiled at him again. “Fantastic! I’ll order a couple glasses of Death After Noon for the both of us. It’s a mix of sparkling wine and dandelion wine, and I assure you it is one of the, if not the best drink this tavern has to offer.”
“Well, I’m sure I’ll like it if it’s a favorite of yours,” Albedo smiled back at him.
When the drinks arrived, Albedo couldn’t help but be impressed by Kaeya’s taste. Death After Noon was perfect for him. It was sweet enough for an alcoholic drink and suited to Albedo’s liking. Kaeya seemed delighted when the alchemist expressed his liking of the drink. They ordered more of it as the night went on, growing more intoxicated with every glass.
Albedo’s hold on his senses loosened with each drink as well. He caught himself looking at Kaeya more than he would’ve liked to. It was almost as if he was getting drunk on Kaeya’s presence in addition to the alcohol. There was just something about the man that was deeply intriguing to Albedo. But no, he wasn’t interested in Kaeya, he kept telling himself. He was just a remarkable person, nothing more. Besides, if Albedo were to pursue him somehow, it wouldn’t work out. Kaeya was from Mondstadt. He had a soulmate. Albedo didn’t. Pursuing him would be an invitation for heartbreak.
But even in his intoxicated state, in the back of his mind, Albedo knew there was a part of him that couldn’t help but be attracted to the renowned Kaeya Alberich.
As the two captains continued their friendship, Albedo felt himself growing more and more interested in the other man. Every time they’d talk, he would discover something new about Kaeya. The charm of the Cavalry Captain kept pulling him in, just like a bee to honey. He wanted to get lost in the mystery known as Kaeya Alberich.
One day as Albedo was working in his laboratory, he heard a knock on the door. “Who is it?” he asked.
“It’s Kaeya,” the voice behind the door answered.
Albedo smiled a bit, telling the other to come in. It wasn’t unusual; sometimes the two would intrude on the other’s office, whether it be for work purposes or for no reason at all.
Kaeya walked in. Immediately, Albedo noticed something was off. The other captain seemed to be more tense than usual. He still wore a smile on his face, but it seemed as if there were strings tugging at his smile to keep it in place. Albedo stiffened in his seat at his desk.
“What brings you here today, Kaeya?” Albedo asked, maintaining a calm voice.
Kaeya plopped himself in a seat across from the desk. “I have a few questions for our Chief Alchemist.” Albedo put down the pen he was holding and gave Kaeya his full attention. Kaeya was usually never this straightforward unless he was serious. “I’ve seen some of the experiments you perform. One in particular caught my attention; it was the one where you brought a crystalfly to life out of seemingly nothing. Could you tell me more about that?”
“Of course. Using Khemia, I was able to turn a crystalfly from a painting to a living organism.”
Kaeya slowly nodded. “And what is Khemia?”
“It’s a form of alchemy from Khaenri’ah.” Albedo noticed Kaeya’s eye narrow at the mention of the fallen nation.
“Khaenri’ah, you say? I thought that place fell hundreds of years ago. What’s someone like you doing practicing such an old alchemical technique?” The smile on Kaeya’s face was equally as strained as his voice.
Albedo contemplated his answer. He could easily lie, though he knew that Kaeya would see right through it. And he wouldn’t call him out on it, which would definitely cause a rift in their friendship. However, it would protect the secrecy of Khemia.
But Albedo didn’t want that.
If he wanted to keep being friends with Kaeya and satisfy his curiosity, then he should tell him the truth.
After a moment, the alchemist finally responded. “I learned it from my master. She taught me everything I know… including Khemia.”
Kaeya tilted his head back and looked away from Albedo, almost as if he was feigning disinterest. “Your master, you say? To my knowledge, the only people who knew how to use Khemia were from Khaenri’ah themselves.” Kaeya’s eye turned to look at him.
“Interesting that she would know it, wouldn’t you say?”
Albedo inhaled sharply. He didn’t know what Kaeya’s goal was, but he was toeing a dangerous line with Albedo. “I suppose it is interesting. But it’s funny how you bring up Khaenri’ah.”
Kaeya raised his eyebrow. “Oh? How so?”
“Look at yourself, Kaeya. Your outfit is adorned with the stars of Khaenri’ah. Your eye even bears the same symbol.” Albedo looked right into the starry darkness of Kaeya’s eye.
“You’re from Khaenri’ah, aren’t you?”
They stared at each other in tense silence for a moment before Kaeya threw his head back and burst into laughter, shocking Albedo. But his laugh was devoid of any humor. It was a dark, bitter laughter that sent chills down Albedo’s spine.
Suddenly, Kaeya got up from his seat and walked to Albedo’s desk. He leaned on his arms over the surface of the desk, taking Albedo’s chin in his hand. The alchemist’s breath hitched as Kaeya stared into his eyes. Up this close, the star pupil in his eye was even more intense.
“I guess that’s something we have in common.”
Albedo watched as Kaeya’s eye flitted downwards, looking at his neck. The yellow star burned on his throat as he felt Kaeya’s deep stare settle on it. When he looked back up into Albedo’s eyes, he smirked and let his hand fall from Albedo’s chin. He picked himself up from the desk and swiftly turned around.
“I’ll be seeing you, then,” he said as he left the room, leaving Albedo disoriented.
A number of thoughts swarmed Albedo’s mind the next day after Kaeya left. But what was mostly on his mind was Kaeya’s true ancestry. He was a piece from home that Albedo found in Mondstadt. A piece that completed the puzzle of Albedo’s life. And most importantly, at least to a small corner in Albedo’s mind, it meant that Kaeya didn’t have a soulmate. Albedo was free to let himself be fully interested in him.
But unfortunately for him, their relationship was more complicated now. Albedo didn’t know how Kaeya felt about him anymore after their last interaction. It could be beneficial if they kept a distance from each other to keep both of their identities safe. But it wasn’t as if they could completely ignore each other, either. Their shared secret of their Khaenri’ahn descent tied their fates together. It put a heavy weight on both of their shoulders to keep it hidden from others.
But still, how would he be able to approach Kaeya now?
“Albedo, Albedo!”
The door to his laboratory slammed open and a small child barreled inside, drawing Albedo from his thoughts. He looked up from his desk to see Klee run up to him and tug frantically at his jacket.
“Yes Klee, what is it?”
“We have to go to Starfell Lake now! I need to show you my new bombs!”
Albedo frowned in concern. “Bombs? Are you going to blow up the fish again?”
“Don’t worry about it, Albedo.” A familiar voice came from the entrance to his laboratory. Albedo’s head snapped to find a certain eyepatched-man leaning on the doorframe. “Jean gave her approval to let Klee test out her new bombs. She said they had potential to be useful against the rise in hilichurl camps we’ve been seeing lately.”
Albedo looked even more puzzled now. First, Kaeya just appears at his laboratory like nothing happened, then he finds out that Jean was okay with Klee testing out her bombs in the open?
Noting the look on Albedo’s face, Kaeya added, “She didn’t specifically allow us to go to Starfell and blow up the fish, but as long as it’s not within Mondstadt City, it won’t hurt to not tell her.”
The blonde narrowed his eyes at Kaeya and Klee. On one hand, it would be a very bad idea to allow the two to blow up the fish in Starfell Lake. He didn’t want Jean to have to deal with more trouble than she needed. On the other hand, this was the perfect opportunity for him to talk to Kaeya again.
“Fine, I’ll accompany you two,” Albedo finally said. “But only to make sure you don’t cause too much damage. I don’t know what Jean was thinking, allowing the both of you to test out bombs together.”
Klee cheered, doing a little dance in her spot in front of Albedo. He smiled at her, hoping that he wouldn’t tire himself out from going on this impromptu trip.
The atmosphere on the walk to the lake was stiff. Klee had run ahead, lost in her own world, leaving Kaeya and Albedo alone behind her. Albedo cursed his lack of social skills. He barely knew how to start any conversation, let alone one with Kaeya after their recent discovery.
Thankfully, the man in question saved him from his suffering.
“You know what this means, right? What we mean?”
Albedo looked at Kaeya, finding him keeping his eye on the girl in front of them. He averted his gaze to watch Klee skipping on the path ahead of them, softly humming in thought. “I know that we can never tell another soul about it,” he finally responded after a while.
Kaeya chuckled darkly at that. “Of course. I guess it’s almost as if we’re bonded for life, huh?” Albedo raised his eyebrow, looking back at Kaeya. The other man still had his gaze glued to Klee. “It’s a bit ironic, though. Considering how we got stripped of a different bond for life.”
“I suppose it is. Our substitute for soulmates, you could say.”
“I didn’t know you were so bold, Albedo!” Kaeya laughed as Albedo blushed at the implications of his statement. He was about to protest when Klee yelled back at them.
“We’re here!”
Kaeya gave him a teasing look before running ahead to help Klee get the bombs out of her backpack. Albedo shook his head before joining the two at the front of the lake.
“Albedo, you have to watch me! I made this bomb using the recipe you gave me!” Klee smiled brightly at him.
“Don’t worry too much about the bombs. They should be a controlled explosion,” Kaeya reassured him.
The alchemist sighed at both of their smiles. “Of course, Klee. Show me your new bombs.”
She cheered and ran to the edge of the water, bombs in her arms with Kaeya following behind her. He watched as Klee excitedly threw a bomb in the water, the small explosion scaring away the fish. Kaeya laughed as Klee yelled something at them, grabbing another bomb and throwing it in the water. Albedo continued to watch as he took a seat under a nearby tree. Kaeya would point at certain spots in the water and Klee would throw her bombs there. With Kaeya’s supervision, he didn’t have to concern himself about the wildlife around them. So, he took out his sketchbook and settled his gaze on the tall man.
He sketched familiar lines as he watched Kaeya encourage Klee. It warmed Albedo’s heart a bit. Kaeya’s smile was nothing like the one he usually wore, it was much more childish and genuine. Klee was also laughing a lot. It seemed that Kaeya, despite not being a great influence, made her happy. Albedo felt himself smile alongside them. He appreciated how well Kaeya got along with his little sister, as if he was her brother as well.
As Albedo moved on to sketch Klee, his mind drifted back to their conversation from before.
It should’ve been obvious to Albedo from the start.
Kaeya wasn’t exactly the most subtle with the star imagery. And even if Albedo hadn’t picked up on his secret, it didn’t mean Kaeya hadn’t picked up on Albedo’s. The man was smarter than he let on. He wondered if Kaeya had known about him from the start.
Is that why he talked to Albedo so much? And if so…
Did that mean Kaeya was just as interested in Albedo as he was in Kaeya?
The alchemist was alerted from his thoughts as Kaeya sat down next to him. “Were you drawing us?” he asked.
“I was. You can take a look if you want,” Albedo responded, letting Kaeya take his sketchbook from his hands. Kaeya examined the sketches briefly before Albedo spoke up again. ‘We still need to talk about yesterday.”
The other man’s eye twinkled as he looked up from the sketchbook. “Oh? And what would you like to discuss?”
“I’m curious as to why you asked in the first place.”
Kaeya returned the sketchbook to Albedo and leaned back against the tree. “I’ve been meaning to ask ever since I noticed the star on your throat. I’d never thought I’d encounter someone else from Khaenri’ah in Mondstadt.”
“So how long did you know? And how long did you wait to ask me?” Kaeya was about to answer when Klee called him back over to the water. He gave Albedo a soft smile before running back to the girl.
Albedo sighed as he closed his sketchbook and watched his sister say something to Kaeya with grand hand gestures. No matter how many times he talked to Kaeya, no matter how much he tried to clarify, no amount of conversation could ever satisfy his curiosity for the man. He could feel himself getting sucked into the allure of Kaeya Alberich, but he let himself chase after it. He’d let himself fall deeper and deeper into Kaeya’s grasp, as long as he could keep discovering new things with him.
Albedo couldn’t help but think that learning about Kaeya’s ties to Khaenri’ah was both a blessing and a curse.
Their trip to Starfell was just the start of their new relationship. Ever since their conversation in Albedo’s laboratory, the two had been drawn even more to each other and gotten closer. Kaeya would help with Albedo’s experiments, help him gather materials, and assist him in his investigations. Albedo would accompany Kaeya to the tavern on occasions, help him with his knightly duties, and capture his livelihood in many drawings. Most importantly, he could feel himself falling in love with Kaeya.
Love. There was that word. Because of Celestia, Albedo never had a reason to care about love. Anyone he had ever met already had a soulmate, someone that wasn’t him. Everyone, that is, until Kaeya. The two didn’t have established soulmates, they were free to love each other with no qualms. And Albedo let himself do exactly that.
Even as they grew to know each other more, Albedo never became disinterested in Kaeya. There was nary a dull moment with him. Every conversation, every shared look, and every kiss with him dragged Albedo further into the depths of love.
Though there was never an official process, they began to consider themselves as lovers.
Snuggled up against Kaeya, Albedo looked into the vast expanse of the night sky. It was painted a deep indigo with wisps of clouds floating among it. The moon shone in the corner of his sight, its soft glow making Albedo feel more relaxed than he already was. Evenings like this spent with Kaeya were something Albedo always cherished.
“Why did you bring me out here?” he asked the man next to him, not taking his eyes off the sky.
“I just wanted to look at the sky. Appreciate what our ancestors couldn’t have.”
The blonde turned his gaze to his boyfriend. Kaeya’s eye twinkled, almost as if it was its own star in the sky. The moonlight glowed faintly on his skin and brightened his face. The color of his hair mixed with the indigo of the night, creating a deep sea of blue that Albedo could get lost in. He shuffled his body closer to Kaeya, feeling his boyfriend’s arm around him. He breathed in, the scent of alcohol that always followed Kaeya blending with the crisp smell of the night. Fingers combed through his hair as Albedo closed his eyes and leaned into Kaeya’s shoulder.
“I don’t think Celestia’s destruction of our home was the most successful.” Kaeya’s voice pierced through the peaceful silence of the night.
Albedo opened his eyes to find Kaeya looking at him through his eyelashes. “Why is that?” the alchemist asked.
Kaeya turned his body so that he was fully facing Albedo. “Khaenri’ahns don’t have soulmates,” he said, gingerly taking Albedo’s hand in his. He brought his hand up to his mouth, his lips brushing against Albedo’s skin. “But why does it feel like I’ve found mine in you?”
Albedo averted his eyes from Kaeya’s glistening stare, feeling his cheeks warm up. Kaeya looked at him with amusement, enjoying the uncharacteristic reaction from the alchemist. “You’re so silly,” Albedo said with a muffled whisper, burying his head into Kaeya’s shoulder. He felt Kaeya’s chest shake in small giggles as his boyfriend intertwined their fingers together. Albedo smiled into Kaeya’s neck, laughing a bit himself.
“Yet you love me,” Kaeya’s smooth voice spoke into his ear.
“You know I always will.”