Work Text:
You leisurely walked the streets of Mondstat with no particular destination in mind. The time was nearing 12:30 am, and the rest of the city was asleep. The alleys were illuminated by the streetlamps overhead, and eerie shadows were cast along every corner. Lurking in them were many cats of Mondstat, their eyes aglow in even the darkest of places. The only sounds to be heard were your footsteps and the occasional meow.
You seemed to be the only one awake at this hour, except for the occasional drunkards that came stumbling out of the taverns. Luckily, the drunks paid you no mind. The whole purpose of your nighttime walk was so you could be alone. You weren’t feeling the greatest these days, and it was better to reflect (or cry) alone at night.
As your feet lazily dragged over the cobblestone, you got lost in your thoughts. They were overwhelming, and with them came an influx of emotion. It was hard to pinpoint a singular emotion and its cause. But it could best be described as a general feeling of sadness that was likely due to an accumulation of things.
After mindlessly wandering, you ended up near the docks. The sound of the gentle waves lapping against the shore was calming. But it did little to soothe your sadness. You decided to sit on the dock with your feet dangling over the navy water. The moon and stars were reflected in the lake, their shapes distorted with every passing wave.
Now that you were outside of Mondstat’s walls, you could see the night sky more clearly. There was less light to crowd out that of the stars. The moon, on the other hand, was big, bright, and yellow. It could probably be seen from anywhere.
As you gazed up at the sky, a lonely feeling grew from within you. The universe was so vast and empty, yet there you were. Somehow alive in the midst of it all. All the negative thoughts and emotions you had been repressing were released at that moment. The world around you suddenly became blurred by tears. Now that you were alone, you allowed yourself to fully cry.
“Y/n,” a soft voice spoke from behind you.
You quickly dried your eyes with your sleeve before turning around. Standing there, illuminated in moonlight, was Albedo. His eyes softened at the sight of you. Anyone could tell you’d been crying. He felt the need to console you, but he wasn’t sure how.
“What are you doing here?” You asked him.
“I was observing the night sky when I happened to see a lonely figure in the distance. I never would’ve guessed that person would be you.” He calmly said.
You loved Albedo, truly, but you weren’t sure he’d be able to offer you emotional support. He could be awkward at times. And somewhat out of touch with those around him. This was likely due to the fact that he was always lost in his own thoughts. Pondering the many questions of the world.
“The moon and stars are quite fascinating, just like you.” Albedo said before taking a seat beside you. He brushed loose strands of hair away from your face with a delicate touch. You blushed slightly at the gesture.
Albedo wanted to help you, but in his own way. He didn’t want to press you with questions. That’d only overwhelm you further. And he wanted you to know that he cared for you. Rather than speak, he took you in his arms. His embrace was warm. You could feel his breath on your skin and his heart beating so close to yours. It felt like home- such a comforting feeling.
“You can talk to me if you’d like,” Albedo offered as he began gently stroking your hair. His soft touch made you sleepy.
Your eyelashes fluttered against his shoulder. You weren’t sure you wanted to talk at that moment. Having him there with you was enough. He made you feel safe.
You took a moment to lean into him, appreciating his support- both physically and emotionally. Albedo had always been there for you, especially in times of distress.
“Would you like to watch the stars with me? I have a telescope nearby.” Albedo whispered. He hoped this would distract you from whatever you were dealing with at the moment. It pained him to see you in such a bad mood.
You nodded your head at his offer. Albedo planted a quick kiss on your forehead before standing up. He offered his hand to help you up as well. Once you were standing, Albedo lightly squeezed your hand.
“I don’t want you tripping in the dark,” he said as he led you away.
He walked along the outside of Mondstat’s walls, pulling you with him. Your footsteps rustled the grass as the crickets chirped noisily.
His telescope was set up high above the water. Right behind the cathedral and on the other side of the wall. Near the telescope was a notebook, backpack, and blanket laid out on the grass.
“I borrowed some of this equipment from Mona. Astrology and alchemy are very different realms, but sometimes we will share tools.” Albedo said.
He dropped your hand to adjust the telescope. Attentively scanning the sky until the moon came into focus. He stepped back from the eyepiece and gave you a small smile. In his eyes, you could see the entire universe reflected. That’s what he was to you- the universe. He made you feel complete. And at that moment you realized how much he meant to you. You needed him like Earth needed the Sun.
“Well, have a look,” Albedo said with a gesture to the telescope.
You put your eye to the lens. You could spot every rock and crater on the moon's bright surface. It was captivating. The moon, much like yourself, had encountered many hardships. The bombardment from celestial objects had formed every beautiful crater on the moon. Within you, your personal struggles helped shape you into the wonderful person you are. This is what Albedo had hoped you would recognize.
“A fascinating sight, is it not?” Albedo asked.
“Very fascinating,” you replied with a nod.
Albedo suddenly yawned and laid on the blanket. His tired gaze was fixed on the stars. You took a spot next to him and rested your head on his chest. He was warm and smelled like dandelions mixed with rain. You could hear his steady heartbeat and deep breaths.
You looked up at the stars with heavy eyelids. Sleep was overcoming you despite the uncomfortably hard ground you were lying on. You didn’t have a comfortable bed, but you did have a cozy pillow. That being Albedo of course.
Albedo began pointing out various constellations to you. His voice was a tender whisper that put you at ease. You knew you were too tired to remember anything he said, but you enjoyed the sound of his voice. You peacefully drifted off to sleep under the stars and in Albedo's embrace. Overhead, the stars twinkled and burned. Just like Albedo's love for you. In his chest, a pleasant and warm feeling grew. He wasn't the greatest at comprehending his emotions, but he ultimately deduced that it was true love.