Chapter Text
The presence had been following him through the mountains for weeks now.
I mean, the presence was hard NOT to notice. Everywhere it was, glowing blue butterflies were certain to follow. Yet every time Albedo turned around, it was gone in a dark flash.
As he sat beside the fire, his back to the cave's enterance, he smiled to himself as he felt the presence behind him.
"You know, you're welcome to sit with me if you'd like. I'm not scared of you, whatever you are."
He turned, hoping to have stunned the presence into staying for a bit. And sure enough, there was a shorter man standing behind him, his shoulders exposed.
"Aren't you cold?" Albedo asked. "Your arms are completely uncovered... stay right there. I've got a cloak you can borrow."
The man was too stunned to say anything, so he just allowed the alchemist to wrap him in a cloak and bring him towards the fire.
"Alright, then. I suppose we should start from the beginning. May I have your name?"
Finally gaining the ability to say something, the man cleared his throat, pulling the cloak closer. "It's Xiao."
"Mm, you must be from Liyue. I could have guessed from the clothing style. And I'm certain I won't need to tell you my name or where I'm from. You already know, don't you?"
Xiao was quiet again.
"...I see. You're apprehensive to speak. I understand a barrage of questions may be difficult to answer at the moment. Are you hungry at all?"
"I'm not fond of mortal dishes," Xiao huffed, stressing the word 'mortal' as if he was anything but. "They don't suit my tastes."
"I see. A refined taste, to be sure. Hm... perhaps, Almond Tofu will be satisfactory?"
"How did you--" his golden eyes shone in the firelight.
"Educated guess." Albedo shrugged. "Perhaps something warm alongside it... like a soup?"
"Mm. I don't like soup."
"You will." Albedo got up and began to create the dishes. "I hope you don't have frostbite. I've noticed you've been following me for a while now, yet I only noticed you're barely wearing a shirt today. I might be an alchemist, but I'm not prepared to treat a hypothermic person."
"Alchemy?"
"Indeed." That's all he said on the matter. "What I wish to know is why you've been following me all this time. I know my way around these mountains quite well, and I'm certain I don't need protection."
Xiao stared into the fire, holding the cloak tightly. "I don't want to say. It's... kind of embarrassing. On both our parts."
"Oh?" Albedo set down a pan. "And why would that be?"
"...Well, the Traveler was in Liyue for a bit, and I ended up running into them."
"Ah, the dear Traveler. What did they say?"
"They told me about what had happened last time they were in Mondstadt, how one of their friends was impersonated by an evil Whopperflower--"
"That friend would be me," he interjected.
"I'm aware. But they told me about it, and how they were worried for the friend's safety. They subtly hinted towards wanting my help to watch over said friend."
"They didn't state outright that they wanted your help?"
"...Well, no... but it was heavily implied."
"Aha." Albedo mused, smiling briefly. "Continue."
"And so I decided to go through the mountains, seeing if I could find the friend. And, well, here we are."
"Fascinating," Albedo noted, setting the soup and tofu in front of his guest. "Enjoy. I hope you find my cooking skills up to par with your tastes."
Xiao eyed the food cautiously.
"Don't worry. It's safe to eat." He took his own cup of soup and held it close for warmth.
He took a wary bite of the tofu, before his eyes lit up like fireworks and he wolfed the rest of it down.
"I assume it was alright, then?" He smiled.
"How did you even-- I mean, it was fine. It satiated me, yes."
"Good. Now, your soup."
"I already said that I don't like soup."
"You are a guest, are you not?"
"..." Reluctantly he turned his spoon to the soup. As he took a mouthful, and another mouthful, and a few more mouthfuls... he started to notice that, just maybe, he didn't really hate soup all that much.
"See? It wasn't that bad."
"It was... passable," Xiao cleared his throat. "Edible."
"That's how I intended it to be." Albedo set aside his cup. "Enough of the meal for now. You said the Tfaveler sent you to look after me?"
"Yes."
"Mm. And have you encountered any trouble in the mountains?"
"Nothing besides the regular hilichurl or two. Why?"
"Well, I'm just asking-- if there hasn't been any trouble, then why do you insist on following me around?"
"..." he remained silent for a while. A long while, in fact. "I wanted to fufill my duty."
"Ah, is that all?" He leaned forward slightly, towards Xiao.
"...I don't like your ability to make me talk. I've said what I wanted to say."
"But have you?"
Xiao was silent.
"Alright. If you'd have it like that. You don't have to answer. You don't even have to stay. But I'm glad you did stay-- at least, for a while. And you're always welcome back. I'm highly interested in learning more about you, Xiao."
After a brief stare at Albedo, Xiao disappeared in a flash of black, leaving blue glowing butterflies in his wake.
----------
Xiao's visits to the workshop became more and more frequent as months rolled by. Either it was the food that kept him coming back, or the promise of a warm welcome.
He couldn't tell, either.
He stood at the cave enterance as he always did before his visits, waiting to be given permission to enter.
"Xiao. You can always come in, you know. You always have my permission."
"It's a habit. I apologize."
"No need. Have a seat. I see you still neglect to bring proper clothing."
"It's nothing. You don't always wear snowproof clothing, either."
He smiled briefly, if not a bit bitterly. "I've been speaking with you all these months, I might as well tell you. I trust you not to say anything. I don't feel temperature. Nor do I have body heat, per se. I'm a synthetic being-- alchemy is in my blood, quite literally."
"...I see." Xiao looked down.
"I hope that this doesn't come as devastating news to you. I hope we can still continue to foster our friendship."
"...I'm not human either."
"I know."
"You-- huh?"
"I had guessed a while ago. You're not really that subtle about it."
"Oh."
"But if you're not human, then what are you?"
"Hmph. Seeing as you're not from Liyue, I didn't expect you to know. I'm... something like... a protector, you could say. They call me the Conqueror of Demons. A yaksha. The only one left."
"I see."
"There used to be many of us. But as we all accumulated karmic debt, our numbers dwindled. Some died. Some disappeared. Some..." he shuddered. "I don't like to think about it."
"Fascinating. Somehow, I could sense that something tragic had happened to you in your past. I'm sorry."
"It isn't tragic," he insisted quietly, looking down. "And it's pathetic to feel sorry for something you had nothing to do with."
Albedo sat down beside him, facing the fire. "You know, you don't have to push people away."
"If I get too attatched I'll only be hurt worse when they leave," he growled. "I can't handle that again."
After a moment of silence between the two, Albedo rested a hand on Xiao's bare shoulder. Was it just the lighting, or did the tips of his ears turn red?
"Such is the curse of immortality. But, as long as I'm here, hopefully neither of us will be alone."
Xiao looked into the fire, saying nothing.
----------
"Have you ever been to Mondstadt proper?"
Albedo turned around, in the middle of making Almond Tofu.
"I... don't think so, no."
"Hm." He turned back to the tofu. "Perhaps I should take you."
"Um. Why?"
"Well, I thought you would enjoy it. I know you're quite curious about mortal customs. And the Windblume Festival is happening soon. I thought it would be entertaining for you."
"..." he stayed silent.
"Did... I say something to offend you?"
"No. It's nothing."
He sat down and set the tofu beside Xiao, but before he could snatch it up Albedo pulled it away, staring into his eyes. "Tell me."
Xiao looked away quickly. "I just-- I don't like festivals. Or people."
"Well. I hope that I can change your mind."