Archive of Our Own

“Please, please, pl—wait. What?”

Her face turned a tinge of pink from embarrassment when she realized that he has indeed been nodding the whole time ever since she came into his lab.

“W-Well then, I believe I mentioned where we were going?”

“Eight o’clock to eleven on Starsnatch Cliff. I’ll be more than glad to set aside time to sketch the stars for you, Miss Megistus.”

She stood there, appalled. Had he been paying that much attention to her? A slight grin from him indicated that yes, he has.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll drop by your house to pick you up, if you don’t mind walking together, that is,” he continued smoothly.

Just as Mona had finally recovered, she’s once again reduced to a flustered mess. With the way he worded it, the way he said it, and the way he looked at her as he did, how could she not?

“Y-Yes. Thank you. I’ll see you soon.”

————————————————————————————————————

Albedo gathered all of his art equipment into a satchel and slung it over his shoulders. Though she asked him to bring nothing more than what was needed, he added a fisherman’s toast he made to the bag. To be fair, knowing Mona, she hasn’t eaten and working on a filled stomach is vital for significant research progress to be made. He’s just concerned for her well-being like good friends and research partners do. That’s all.

But of course a certain Cavalry Captain will always take the chance to refute his claims. He’s leaning on the wall right in front of him, a sly smirk plastered on his already smug face.

“And may I ask where the alchemist is going to tonight?”

“I’ll be accompanying Mona to Starsnatch Cliff for her research.”

“Oh my. Starsnatch Cliff? One of the most romantic places in all of Mond?” He chuckled. “Surely ‘research’ isn’t the only reason.”

Albedo continued, completely ignoring the topic his coworker is trying to direct the conversation to. “If you don’t mind, I’ll leave Klee to your care for the night. Please make sure she doesn’t stay up again.”

“Stop dodging the topic, Albedo. You know full well you’ll have to face it eventually.” He took off from his support on the wall and walked closer to the alchemist. “And what better place and time to do so than on a beautiful night atop of the cliff that has brought so many lovely couples together.”

“How many times must I say that we are just research partners?”

“You know, if it makes you feel any more confident, I just so happened to be passing by when Mona left your lab. She looked so red and flustered, it made me think you two were doing something... private earlier.” He was met by Albedo’s deadpan glare.

“She likes you. Why won’t you admit you’re the same in regards to her? You’re not exactly one to clear your own schedule just because of someone’s request.”

Time is precious to the Kreideprinz; always he feels he never has enough of it. But for her? He supposed a few hours won’t hurt. Besides, he is quite interested in what constellations she’ll be able to tell him of tonight, and he does set aside time for Klee and other close friends anyway—albeit not as much and not on as such a short notice as Mona’s request. It’s nothing like Kaeya is implying at all.

“Have a good evening, Captain. I’ll be back in a while,” he said as he walked out of the headquarters.

————————————————————————————————————

Conversations with Mona were one of the most lively you could get from Albedo. He was always actively listening to her, not exactly something everyone has a chance of experiencing when speaking to him since he detaches himself when the topic does not meet his interests, and, to say the least, the astrologist always had something interesting to say with the fact that Mona was, well, Mona.

When it was his turn to speak, it was with even more energy than he does when listening. He explained everything fully because he knew Mona could understand what he said, and if she doesn’t, then he knew she will ask. He knew that nothing he says will fall on deaf ears when he talks to her.

And she respected his need for silence. Not many he knows does that—he can probably name all of them with his fingers. She does not intrude when he’s not speaking unlike other inconsiderate people. She understood that silence is a part of conversation.

But in this conversation, Albedo was looking for something else. He was looking for the signs that Kaeya had kept going on about. He stared at her as she rambled about the stars, relishing each expression she made; engraving it all as much as he could into his memory.

Just as expected, he found none. One can’t put blame on the dark either. The moon lit up her delicate face all too well. Part of him felt... disappointed?

That is, until an unsuspected branch trips her over, and the alchemist, by instinct, catches her in his arms. When he picked her up, they were so close to each other that he could feel her breath upon his face.

Albedo didn’t need a side-by-side comparison to know how much she changed. From confident to shy; from light-skinned to red.

Oh, archons. Could Kaeya actually be right?

She immediately straightened herself once she got a bearing of her surroundings and wriggled herself out of his grasp. He won’t lie. He slightly missed holding her.

It was like she finally remembered who she’s talking to as she was no longer the same as she was for the rest of the way. Her walking became more uncoordinated, legs trembling like she could collapse at any moment. Wanting to make sure she’ll be fine, Albedo walked closer by her side to catch her in any case her legs do give out.

Unfortunately, Albedo hadn’t realized he’s gotten a bit too close. His hand brushed against hers, and she squeaked as she jumped back from the sudden contact.

Mona spared an awkward laugh towards him, waving off into the air and hiding her face behind her hat. “Oh, would you look at that, we’re already here!” She laughed again before sprinting over to the edge of Starsnatch Cliff.

Albedo’s no fool. He can see what Kaeya means now.

————————————————————————————————————

Now that he’s finally managed to sort out her feelings, he decided on whether or not it’s time to sort his own.

The Kreideprinz looked up from where he’s seated on the cold grass, sketchbook on his lap and pencil in hand, and he’s met with the beautiful sight of Mona admiring the stars above. That’s all he needed to decide that he must first do what he was asked to come here for in the first place before anything else. After all, these sketches for her research would make her happier, no?

“Oh, that just above us is Leo Minor. And that one in the far corner towards Liyue is Opus Aequilibrium! The one by the horizon to the southwest seems to be Dracaena Somnolenta...”

Albedo carefully mapped out where each constellation was, almost making an identical copy of the sky into the paper. The joy he felt to see her so happy and engrossed in what she loves is unlike any other. A part in the back of his mind wondered what it would be like to have her engrossed in him, something who he thinks (hopes) she also loves.

He will admit that he does find her face rather... adorable when tinged with red and pink. But on its own, it’s far more than enough. Her bright gray eyes, always filled with curiosity. Oh, he could get lost in her gaze for as long as his life permits. The way she smiled is enough to get him to pause for even a moment. It always made him try to crack a joke, despite his more non-humorous personality, just to see that smile more often.

And that was only her face. There was so much more he could dictate on her beauty. Her voice, so silky that it held a sense of extravagance, and he will never get enough of it. She could listen to her ramble about anything for an entire day. The way her inky hair is tied neatly decorated her already beautiful features, but Albedo noticed that almost always there was at least one curl of it lose, so Mona can twirl it around her fingers as she studied. It was a habit, like many others of hers, that he took notice of.

Her hat, ridiculously big as it may be (luckily, she didn’t seem to notice when he let out an audible chuckle to himself at the thought) happened to fit her so well that as if anyone else were to wear her hat, it would be all wrong, just because they weren’t her.

Oh, archons... Kaeya is right. But he doesn’t just like Mona. He’s absolutely smitten for her.

“A-Albedo? What are you—“

“Hmm?”

“Did you...? Did you draw that? Draw me?”

She pointed to the sketchbook in his hands. His drawing hand was still absentmindedly adding some final details to a beautiful portrait of the astrologist, which contained every detail that had filled his thoughts for the past hour.

“Ah, it seems I have.” He gazed up to meet her eyes, still bold enough to do so even though he can tell how hot his face has become.

The portrait, though many will say is like an exact replica of her, is still nothing compared to the real Mona. Albedo believed he’s sorted out his feelings despite the fact he told himself not to do this yet, but he suspected it was as Kaeya said that eventually, he’ll have to face it. Perhaps that ‘eventually’ was now.

Albedo took a deep breath. All it will take is a few words, no? So why is he so nervous?

“I know that you asked my assistance to map out the stars above, but I couldn’t help drawing the most beautiful one to me.” He smiled and met her eyes. “I hypothesize that this was my mind’s way of pushing me to confess my feelings for you.”

In this instance, however, the real Mona looked nothing like the elegant, composed form in the drawing, after having been reduced to an absolute vulnerable state. She curled herself into a ball, hat concealing her face and knees tucked close to her chest, but it did nothing to silence her beating heart, or hide the blush that has made itself throughout her entire face.

“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden, Kreideprinz?” Her voice was muffled behind her legs.

He chuckled at her question. “All of a sudden? Miss Megistus, it’s been like this for a while now, I believe.”

She peeked at him then quickly went back into her former state. “H-How long?”

“Honestly, I myself am not sure, but the first time Kaeya started interrogating me about it was a month or two ago.”

“Kaeya knows?!”

“Kaeya knows everything. Should we even be surprised?”

Silence.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “You know I’m not the best. You have many suitors around town, surely at least one caught your eye?”

He thought for a moment. No one else has ever peaked his interest in the way that she did. What would it be like? To greet her everyday, not just as research partners? What would it be like? To spend the rest of his life with her?

“I’m very sure.”

Mona feared her heart would beat out her chest any second now. She straightened herself to finally face him. The only thing that changed on him was the blush across his face and the tip of his ears. “Why is this so unfair?!” She playfully punched him on the shoulder. “Why am I a mess, while you are completely composed?”

“I don’t see the matter with that,” he shot her a sly smirk. “I do think red and pink matches you quite well.”

He did his best to suppress a laughter as Mona frantically hid herself again. He wished he hadn’t done it now that her lovely face is gone. It’s funny, he thought, that he was seated on a cliff that offered the best overlooking views of all of Mondstadt, yet he found himself looking for her.

“On the inside, I am far from composed.”

She looks up to him with a raised eyebrow.

“I can keep a straight face better than most, but I’m not emotionless, Miss Megistus. Maybe if you coax it out of me, then you can see,” he said with a teasing voice and a smirk that’s ready to make her faint.

“I didn’t know you had this side,” she mumbled.

“Hmm, neither did I. Do you not like it? I can stop if you wi—“

“No, no! Please don’t! ...I find it quite interesting... it adds onto your charm.”

Albedo felt his face go up into flames, and he was forced to use his hand to conceal it, but disguising it as if he were just thinking.

She laughed, and he wished it lasted longer. “Was a simple compliment all it took to rouse you?”

“No, but I think it was due to the fact that it was you who said it.”

An incoherent stutter left her lips. She gave up. She was never going to win with him in flirting.

But she didn’t mind.

The signature chilling breeze of Starsnatch Cliff joined them in their conversation. Albedo was very much used to the cold by now after spending so much time in Dragonspine, while Mona was trembling, rubbing her hands together in an attempt to warm herself.

Without a second thought, Albedo took off his coat and draped it around her shoulders. She looked so small in it. The astrologist no longer did anything to hide, so neither did he. It was only fair.

She’s never seen him without his coat before, and by the archons, she was missing out. Beneath that coat she saw how sculpted his body actually is. Nothing compared to the likes of other knights but goodness it was far more than she expected for someone who stays in a lab for days.

“I—I didn’t know you were so fine.”

“What?”

She bursted into laughter to hide her shame when she realized she actually said it. “I said that... I am fine! Yes! I am perfectly fine! No need for the coat!”

He grinned and shook his head. “I’m just messing with you. I heard it completely. I’m part of the Knights of Favonius, Miss Megistus. Of course we have to be in at least an acceptable state of fitness.”

“But that’s besides the point,” he continued, “keep the coat for now. I’m sure you would like to admire me for a while longer.”

Mona pulled the sleeves of his coat closer to herself to release some tension as she screamed internally. She could smell the alchemist’s scent on it, the potions he experimented with with a touch of sweetness to it, and she’s not sure if it made the situation any better. Well, he wasn’t wrong; she did want to admire him a bit more—

“Are you hungry?”

The question took Mona right out of her... thoughts... and she replied with a single nod.

“I thought so.” Albedo reached into his satchel and handed her the fisherman’s toast he had prepared for her.

This wasn’t anything new to the both of them. He would always treat her to a meal as she was always using whatever money she had on “more important” things. But this time it was... different, to know that it wasn’t just friendly concern he went out of his way to make food, or spend Mora from his own salary, but it was all because he loved her in a romantic sense.

Only now did she realize that over the past month, he’s been doing it even more frequently to the point that on some days, she’s eaten three full meals. Only now did she realize how much he cared.

Albedo felt his heart flush as she nibbled into the toast, taking small bites to admire the flavor for as long as she could. It was adorable... she was adorable. A sudden urge to just hold her tight, close to him, came. What was he doing? Is this what it is like to love someone the way he did now?

“You’re much more quiet than normal. Still adjusting?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied with a defeated sigh, flirtatious personality from moments ago gone. “Is it strange to say that... that I would like to—um, apologies. I can’t find the right words to express myself right now.”

“Then,” she took off her hat, afterwards, she scooted closer to the alchemist, “let’s just continue enjoying the silence in each other’s company.”

Mona leaned her head onto Albedo’s shoulder. The latter tensed slightly at the sudden contact, but didn’t take more than a second to melt into her touch. It was calming, to feel her warmth upon his.

For the rest of the time they spent on Starsnatch Cliff, the research was forgotten, and the only thing that filled their minds was the thought of their loved one by their side as they admired the night sky together.

“The stars look beautiful tonight.

But they all pale in comparison to you.”