Work Text:
The scenery in Mondstadt is different compared to the many domains that Albedo had explored in the past.
Blue skies, white clouds, and lush green plains all colored his vision as he gazed upon the horizon from his new bedroom window. All of these sights were new to him. Mondstadt was warm and full of life and color. The domains he used to explore were cold and devoid of all living life.
It was in the rare moments when Albedo wasn’t deep exploring inside domains that he was able to gaze upon the few living fauna that occupied the space they were in. And in these rare moments was when Albedo had picked up his pencil and decided to capture these fauna. At first, he had told himself that these little doodles were only to help him understand the more meticulous details of alchemy. However, he later grew fascinated with drawing everything that had piqued his interest, and found himself indulging in this pastime whenever it was allowed.
Mondstadt is full of life and color—thus, Albedo found himself wanting to capture the more picturesque moments and memories surrounding the city and its citizens.
From his bedroom window, he had the perfect view of the towering windmills that overlooked the city. Such structures had rendered him speechless and he was determined to capture the scene before him.
There were still enough hours in the day, and his main hopes were that by the time the main sketch is finished, the sky would be blending into different shades of blues and purples; the perfect scene to paint over his finished sketch.
He picks up his pencil and begins to sketch a faint outline of the scene before him, the faint scratch of lead against paper the only sound filling the room. There was the occasional hum from Albedo as he surveyed the sketch, along with the squeak of his eraser rubbing against any lines he needed to redraw.
Just like with his alchemy, Albedo dedicated himself wholly when he’s engrossed in his drawing, all other distractions completely wiped from his mind. It’s a habit he has yet to break, but he doubts it would get any better with how much free time he has on his hands. Since joining the Knights of Favonius, he hasn’t expended much of his energy when conducting his experiments.
He wonders if conducting experiments on Dragonspine will be possible, he muses to himself as he continues to sketch. At the pace he was going, Albedo wondered if he would be given a promotion soon.
These musings are cut short when there’s a small tap on his shoulder, the anchor that suddenly brings him back to reality. Albedo blinks, setting his pencil down before he looks over his shoulder to see who touched him.
“Albedo, are you busy?” Klee asks him, gently tugging on his sleeve. She looks up at him with wide eyes, tilting her head to the side innocently.
He clears his throat. “I’m in the middle of something currently, Klee,” Albedo answers honestly. He doesn’t see the need to lie to a child he just recently gotten to know.
“Is there something you need?”
The little girl pouts. “Mom isn’t home and I was hoping someone could help me with my bombs… But I can wait if you’re busy.”
Albedo’s attention turns to the materials she has gathered in her arms and he sighs inwardly. While he was fully capable of helping Klee make her bombs, he was determined to finish this painting before nightfall. He weighs his options carefully before remembering something that Alice told him months ago when he first arrived.
Klee is an active child, Alice’s voice rang in his ears. She’s willing to try anything if it’ll keep her occupied. Don’t be afraid to have her try new things! She’ll love it.
“I’ll tell you what,” Albedo begins as he leans down to Klee’s height, “how about we do something else instead? Do you remember the crayons that Alice bought you last week?”
She gives a small nod.
“Bring them in here. Let’s draw together.”
Klee perks up at this. “Really?!”
When Albedo nods in approval, she squeals in delight and is already out the door before he can process her leaving.
The rare seconds that she’s gone, he looks over his sketch once more. Just a few more touch ups, and he’ll finally be able to paint.
Klee is back in his room, but this time carrying the box of crayons in her hand. Albedo rips out an empty page from his sketchbook and hands it to her. She sets both items on the floor and sits down before looking up at him with curious eyes.
“What should I draw?” Klee asks, putting a finger up to her chin.
“Anything you like,” Albedo tells her.
Once he’s sure she’s entirely occupied and comfortable, he returns to his own drawing. Distantly, he can make out Klee mumbling something under her breath, but they’re all positive. She even makes a few sound effects.
Klee must have been equally invested in her own drawing as Albedo was with his. By the time he had outlined the final sketch and had brought out the paints he wished to use, she was adding her own finishing touches to her drawing.
He tried glancing at it, but she immediately covered it up with her arms.
“No peeking! I want it to be a surprise,” She tells him, sticking her tongue out at him. Albedo chuckles at her words, relenting before returning to his desk.
How odd. Such emotions have never surfaced when Albedo was traveling with his master, but since arriving in Mondstadt and being surrounded by both Klee and Alice, he’s beginning to learn more about himself.
Like the warm and safe feeling in his chest engaging in this activity with Klee. Was this happiness?
Unfortunately for Albedo, he can’t seem to capture the original image he was hoping to create when he starts applying the paints to his canvas. His brow furrows, trying to find any possible mistakes, but he can’t pin them down. Sighing, Albedo puts down his paintbrush and stares at the half-painted canvas.
There’s a gentle tug on his sleeve again and he turns his head to look at Klee, who was hiding something behind her back. She shifts around nervously on her feet before presenting it to him.
“I drew this for you!” She says excitedly.
Klee lets go when Albedo grasps the drawing in both hands, and he examines it carefully. It’s an adorable drawing, especially coming from someone as young as Klee. There’s a huge red heart surrounding three figures inside, along with several shapes outside the heart that Albedo can’t make out.
“Who are the people inside the heart?” He asks, tilting the drawing towards her.
She huddles in closer as she brings a hand up to point at each figure. “It’s you, me, and mom!” Klee answers with a large smile on her face.
“I drew a heart because we are all one big family, and I love my family.” She giggles.
Albedo stares at the drawing for a moment longer. The feelings from before begin to bubble in his chest once more.
We’ll be a family from now on, treat her like a real younger sister!
We are all one big family, and I love my family.
Ah, was this happiness?
Before Albedo can stop himself, he’s smiling at Klee, wrapping his free arm around her and bringing her into a hug.
“Thank you, Klee,” he says with sincerity. “I love it.”
And it’s the truth. He never knew one drawing from a little girl he barely knew would bring him so much joy, but Mondstadt has always had a way of teaching him endless possibilities.
Klee returns the hug, her giggles nearly contagious.
“Do you really?!”
“Of course I do. In fact, I’ll hang it up right now.”
His walls have been bare ever since he moved in. But that all changes now as he tapes Klee’s drawing on one of his walls, directly in the middle. From where it was placed, he could get a perfect view of it from his desk if he turned his head.
Klee latches onto his side, excitement buzzing through her body as she hops in place. Albedo ruffles her hair, admiring the drawing.
“I meant to ask, but what are those shapes outside the heart?”
“Those? They’re bombs exploding, silly!”
Albedo curses himself. He should’ve known better with all the blacks and oranges in those shapes. It’s very fitting, especially with how much Alice and Klee love to experiment with their bombs.
He clears his throat. “I… see. It really ties up the whole picture.”
He doesn’t let it bother him. After all, it’s the thought that counts in the end, right? And he’ll always know Klee’s heart is in the right place.
As the years go on, Klee hands him more drawings. Some of them were of people she admired, like the Knights of Favonius. Others were scribbles of slimes or monsters she encountered while exploring.
Every drawing that Albedo receives, he hangs them up on the same wall. A collage of all the memories he has made with Klee.
And right in the center was the very drawing that started it all.