Chapter Text
‘Drifting winds bring about new autumns; the leaves flutter to the ground and bring about new change to the floor. And as the floor changes, so too do the ones who stand upon it. Let the ones who change bring new horizons, and let the horizons bring new wind.’ Dottore sighed, standing at the edge of a research lab in Dragonspine, the cold wind barricading off of the edges of his mask as Albedo hummed warmly from inside the lab – his hands working with some intricacy Dottore couldn’t be bothered to acquaint himself with. He and his lover had very different ideas of intriguing science.
‘Did you come up with that one? It sounds a touch too poetic for you.’ Albedo said, his voice betraying total and complete disinterest.
‘No. It was something someone used to say to me during my time in the Academia.’
‘Hm. Lovely.’
Dottore chuckled, turning back to the warmth of his lover’s lab.
‘You really don’t care for such semantics, do you?’
Albedo’s face quirked up into a small smile as he finally pried his eyes from his project and onto his lover.
‘And you do?’
Dottore shrugged, his hands in his coat pockets, and his posture relaxed.
‘I can’t say that I never have, nor can I say I never will again.’ He said.
Albedo responded with a shrug, tilting a vial to the left.
‘You’re so much more agreeable when you’re working on a project instead of drifting. How do you decide what to work on at any given time?’
‘That, my dear, is up to Her Majesty, not me, as much as I wish it was.’ Dottore said, gazing up at the crystalline sky.
There was a time when Dottore was completely in charge of his own developments; or at least believed he was in charge of his own work. Whether he ever was or not was a contention he still had trouble grappling with. In that aspect, he supposed he envied Albedo – but the alchemist’s wild and inhuman unpredictability was something that had attracted Dottore to him, and Dottore couldn’t ever say that was something he’d want to change about his lover.
From a scientific rivals point of view, however, it would level the playing field, even if just slightly.
‘I’m heading back to Mondstadt soon. It’s growing dark and if I’m not back for dinner Klee will be worried.’ Albedo explained, snapping his gloves over his hands and making a move toward the opening of the lab.
‘Is it alright if I join you?’ Dottore asked, a smirk growing over his face.
Albedo raised an eyebrow.
‘Are you planning something?’
‘I’d never. But I’ll have you know that I am an honored guest to Mondstatian society.’ Dottore said, placing a flamboyant hand to his chest.
Albedo sighed, lighting slapping Dottore’s hand back to his side.
‘Everyone in Mond knows that that’s bullshit. Everyone knows it nearly as well as you do.’ Albedo deadpanned, and Dottore laughed.
‘I love your honesty, my dear. But really, I have no orders, I have no motive. I just wish to see how the city of freedom is faring.’ Dottore bit back the words “now that it is truly godless” he had a hunch that Albedo was somehow in the know about the situation regarding the Anemo Gnosis, but he couldn’t be 100% certain, so he decided to forgo the comment.
‘Can I trust you?’ Albedo said, reaching out to hold Dottore’s hand, lacing their fingers together.
‘You could never – but you still love me.’ Dottore joked, gripping Albedo’s hand in return, and the homunculus hummed lowly, smiling softly.
Love was a softness Dottore was not keen on passing up any time soon. He’d only ever found love with fellow intellectuals; and he prayed that Albedo was as married to his work as Dottore himself was; and that there would be no challenging split – simply an eventual mutual boredom. He wanted to watch Albedo’s descent into the darkness of research and alchemy, and he was sure Albedo wanted to watch a similar dark phenomena.
Their hands remained pressed to each other as they journeyed through the icy mountainside, only disconnecting once they approached civilization in the form of the base camp near the edge of the mountain.
If there were any questions as to why Albedo was actually talking to someone; they went unsaid. Which was good, Dottore noted, because although he had chosen to head down to Mond with his lover, he only had the energy to explain his presence to the Knights of Favonius. Dottore was not a patient nor slow-tempered man.
‘How long has it been since you were in Mond?’ Albedo asked as they approached the city gates, breaking their conversation that consisted mainly of scientific reprisals and mumblings.
‘A good few years. There was a child here with some form of Archon Residue leaking from her. May or may not have something to do with that. Then the Academia got involved as well as who you Mondstatians call the Darknight Hero and suddenly I was far too bored to continue the damn project. It exceeded the extent of my care.’
‘I’m not Mondstatian.’ Albedo said in response, and Dottore snorted.
‘That’s all you got from that?’ He joked, and Albedo just responded with an idle shrug.
If the base camp let their words go unsaid and their leering eyes unseen, the good people of Mondstadt only let their words go unsaid. Dottore could feel prying and judging gazes as soon as he entered the city, and though he had long learned not to care – it didn’t make it any less irritating. Even the Fatui stationed in the city had the audacity to turn the other cheek. Oh well. It wasn’t like he had a stellar reputation.
‘Master Jean will want you to declare your intent immediately.’ Albedo explained, and Dottore nodded.
‘Understandable. Let’s just hope the entire affair isn’t too taxing.’ He grumbled.
Dottore reckoned that at least some of the reason for the instant click he had with Albedo was their mutual distaste for diplomacy and diplomatic affairs in general. He had simple motives; a dinner with his lover and his lover’s younger sister. Just for the times he was with Albedo, he didn’t need to be anything grander.
As the pair trailed up the smooth grey stairs into the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, Dottore let his mind wander to the beginnings of his affair with Albedo.
The two had met in Dragonspine; and it was where they conceded to spend most of their time together from thereon out. It was cold, the day they met. Colder than usual that was. Dottore had wandered from the Fatui camp in Wyrmwood Valley where he was stationed with investigating any power that could still be present in the null and dead bones of the dragon called Durin. The snow bit the edge of his mask like a blade – and the wind whirled in torpedoes around him, and then, he saw a light.
A dull light emanating from a lab carved out of a mountain – fabric lazily strewn over the entrance as if it usually was not there – but simply a countermeasure against the whirring snowstorm. He pushed the fabric aside, noting how rugged it felt against his gloves. He wasn’t a fan of the friction.
There was nobody in the lab when Dottore had intruded; it felt ghostlike. There was no doubt this was a human settlement; notes, boards of data, large beakers bubbling with an unknown solution, and a large alchemists bench practically leering toward him; begging to be used.
Dottore’s attention first went to the scribbled notes strewn on the desk, tossed aside with seeming frustration, as many steps on what looked like a method had been crossed out furiously.
The research was being done on how Durin’s remains effected the leyline system in Dragonspine.
This was familiar to Dottore – and he leant against the desk, holding the paper in his hand and reading the experiment he had done himself mere weeks before.
‘Can I help you?’ A lazy drawl sounded from the front of the lab, and the harbinger’s head shot up to meet the most pristine blue eyes he’d ever seen.
‘I was looking over your method. I did this experiment myself a while ago, and it seems like you could use some pointers; if you’d like to discuss with a like mind, that is.’
Dottore’s mind failed to remember what the quip Albedo shot back was exactly, because it was in that very moment that he also met Klee. The small blonde haired red eyed girl had launched herself at him, shouting with an infectious energy.
‘Big brother, is this guy a bad guy? Like the ones I read about?’ She had screamed, and Dottore flinched, unused to the sound, and he remembers the first moment he thought Albedo was beautiful was as he smiled at his little sister.
‘I’m the Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius.’ Albedo had stated, looking up from Klee.
‘I’m familiar with you, then.’ Dottore had replied, and it was then he realized why he was so infatuated with Albedo. He was inhuman; he was stoic; but the way he looked at his sister was so painfully human Dottore couldn’t help but be reminded of someone else he had known years before. Dottore cleared his throat, looking up at Albedo with searing intrigue burned into his eyes. ‘I am Il Dottore, of the Harbingers. Now, what do you say about us reviewing each other’s findings?’
Albedo cocked an eyebrow, and he pulled Klee back towards him, the spark of interest flickering in his eyes almost tantalizingly.
‘And you’d be okay with sharing confidential Fatui information?’ He asked, and Dottore chuckled softly.
‘My information is mine to use, you just don’t get to know why I’m finding it.’
‘Then we have a deal, Il Dottore.’ Albedo had smirked so soft that day.
‘Dottore, we’re here. It’s not normal for you to be one to drift off.’ Albedo said, looking up to his lover, and Dottore scoffed in return.
‘I wasn’t drifting. I was just thinking.’ He smiled, and Albedo stared, deadpan.
‘About what?’
‘You, my love.’
‘Useless. You should be thinking about what you’re going to say to Master Jean to ensure she doesn’t throw you out of the city.’
Dottore rolled his eyes. He hated thinking about Jean because thinking about Jean inevitably meant he had to start thinking about someone else.
‘I’m more scared of that librarian of yours.’ He joked, unable to ignore that gnaw that filled his lungs. Albedo paused, turning to Dottore, his blue eyes glistening magnificently in the dimming light of Mondstadt at dusk.
‘You know Lisa?’
‘We should head in.’ Dottore snapped, probably harsher than he should have. Albedo wasn’t one to entertain jokes, so he truthfully didn’t expect his lover to pry. Oh well. It wasn’t like Albedo had any feelings he could hurt.
Albedo knocked on Jean’s office door softly, and immediately, it swung again. Upon brief inspection, Dottore could see a myriad of papers strewn across Jean’s desk, and it seemed like the Acting Grand Master had been pacing.
‘Albedo. There have been sightings of-’ Jean paused, and Dottore gave her a lazy wave. She looked around, before ushering the both of them into her office letting the soft wood door click shut behind them.
‘How’s Klee?’ Albedo asked, and Jean looked at him, hands poised on her hips like it was the last thing she expected him to ask.
‘Klee is fine. Now, distinguished guest.’ She spat in Dottore’s direction. ‘Please explain why you have gifted us with your presence.’
Dottore laughed softly.
‘I’m not here to cause any trouble, Master Jean. I’m just here to have dinner with Klee and my sweet Albedo.’ Dottore said, and Jean frowned.
‘Albedo, are you romantically involved with this man?’
Albedo shrugged.
‘Yes.’ He answered, and Dottore reached over to hold his hand, giving it a light squeeze.
‘And you kept it a secret?’ Jean asked, running her hands through her hair, nearly pulling out her ponytail.
‘You never really asked.’ Dottore laughed at his lover’s deadpan. Albedo never failed to be unintentionally hilarious. Jean shot him a glare. Dottore shrugged it off.
‘So I’m supposed to specify that my captains have to tell me if they are in a romantic relationship with a Fatui Harbinger? Least of all this one?’ Jean asked, nearly at her wits end.
‘I think I’m quite a catch.’ Dottore joked, and Jean sighed.
‘You know what? If you two want to have dinner together, that’s fine. You have permission to do so, just try and stay within the Knights of Favonius Headquarters. I don’t want the townspeople to be wary, or fear for their safety.’ Jean explained.
‘That’s fine.’ Dottore said, turning to Albedo. ‘That’s alright, isn’t it love?’
‘Mhm. Now, let’s go. I still haven’t seen Klee.’ Albedo said, standing and leaving the office, letting the door close behind him.
‘He never changes. He’s really quite lovely.’ Dottore said to Jean, and Jean sighed.
‘Don’t cause trouble, Il Dottore. I know how much of a handful you can be.’
Just as Jean’s words left her mouth, the door opened again.
The sunset blared through Jean’s office, and the woman had not yet lit any candles, so the shades of purple, orange, and pink glazed over everything in sight. The dust trailed and floated in the air like pixies, and as Dottore looked toward the door, he could have sworn he had been transported back 15 years, to a more poetic time; a time with more semantics and less bloodshed. It reminded him of the time they were out horse-riding and he nearly ran straight into a tree because of how stunning she looked in the sunlight. She was tanner then, fuller, too. She had the fire of youth in her eyes and in her heart.
But they had long been beneath the earth, and whatever they were was 6ft buried under mountains of chains, gold, and empty hourglasses.
Lisa brushed by Dottore, not meeting his eyes, and walked straight to Jean, planting a firm kiss on the blonde woman’s lips.
Dottore looked to the ground, walking out of Jean’s office without a word. There was nothing to be said. They were just kids back then.
After all, Lisa could probably hardly picture the days. She could probably hardly remember it.
The atmosphere around dinner was hardly bright, silence interspersed by Klee’s endless chatter. Perhaps it was because they were confined to the dull halls of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, but Dottore didn’t find himself in a particularly talkative mood.
Klee finished before the two men, placing her silverware on the table with an excited clang. There was gravy at the edge of her lips, and Albedo beckoned her over to wipe it for her before she run out of the room, her backpack heaving from side to side on her small body.
Dottore watched as Albedo’s gaze left his sister, a proud and fond smile on his face. Dottore really didn’t want to think about the human side of his lover, not at that time.
‘So.’ Albedo said, breaking the silence.
‘So?’ Dottore replied, lazily cutting into his food, his eyes down at his plate.
‘You know Lisa.’ Albedo said, and Dottore paused.
He looked at his lover, his gaze sharp and accusatory.
‘Why are you so caught up on that? You should just drop it.’ He insisted, returning to his meal.
‘She has a very mysterious past. She has enough talent to know everything; be better than everyone, yet she does not use said talent. How much do you know about her, really?’
Dottore stood promptly, pushing forward his near-empty plate and grabbing the full glass of wine in front of him. He walked over to a window that overlooked the small training grounds that the Knights had.
‘Just drop it. I’m not talking about that with you. I knew her a long time ago.’
Albedo looked at the glass in his hand.
‘You don’t drink. Ever.’ Albedo said, also rising from his seat, walking over to join Dottore.
‘How observant of you, kreideprinz.’ Dottore said, and Albedo sighed, taking his lover’s hand into his own.
‘And you don’t ever just call me ‘kreideprinz’ either. Tell me why you’re so miffed.’ Albedo asked, and Dottore looked out over the deep midnight blue sky, dotted with stars, and sparse with clouds that were missing in the absence of the contrast the sun above them provided.
‘Emotions aren’t your strong suit, Albedo. Tell me, has Master Jean provided a place for me to sleep or should I have to return to Dragonspine.’ Dottore gave Albedo’s hand a soft squeeze to reassure him, and Albedo shrugged.
‘You can stay in my room, but it would probably be best if you’d be gone by dawn.’
Dottore nodded, placing his glass back down on the table, leaving the room, and leaving Albedo to stand alone under the dim candlelight and the stark moonlight.
‘I’ll go say my farewells to Klee now then. I’ll see you when we sleep.’ Dottore said, but he was caught by Albedo’s who grabbed his sleeve, pulling him back.
‘Wait.’ Albedo said, reaching up and kissing his lover softly. Dottore chuckled as Albedo pulled back, and gave the blond man an affectionate hug.
‘I love you, my dearest kreideprinz.’ He muttered into Albedo’s hair.
‘Mm.’ Albedo responded, which Dottore took the liberty of translating to ‘I love you too.’