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He knew he couldn't control her. Seeing her face filled with nostalgia and a gentle smile on her lips… he couldn't also help seeing the sadness hidden in her gaze. Taking the habit of going up the spiral abyss stairs and stargazing every night after finishing her working day.
She was as usual humming those foreign songs to herself, balancing her legs to the rim of the platform. How she sweetly tells him every of her amazing adventures she had when she was still traveling in Teyvat or how the stars looked the most beautiful on the peak of the Starsnatch hill. How she convinced him that the moon in Khaenri'ah will never be as beautiful as the one she talks about.
He knew. He couldn't control his feelings too. The every waking thought of her leaving him gives him a bitter taste. The him from one year ago would laugh at him, letting a mere human make him feel such unpleasant and greedy feelings.
She was to him only a stranger. An astrologist with whom he had to work with because his Master was friends with her Master. Alchemists didn't need anyone but spending their entire life researching and the fruits of their research. He wouldn’t expect an astrologist to teach him things that he already knows, as Khaenri’ah is already at the summum of technology and knowledge.
And yet, he wants her to stay. By his side.
It is easiest to notice the dimmer stars when they shine, and for him, she was the brightest star in the darkest sky. Albedo was always planning his days, organizing his day to not let a single minute go to waste into trivial things or useless activities that wouldn’t make his research advance properly. He never ever once felt a single day was wasted with her, how it was easy for him to spend hours by her side, refreshing the usual daily life he had. How could trivial conversation with her be so fascinating ?
Days turned into months, and months turned into years. He couldn’t deny it anymore but to feel more and more greedy and insecure about the thought of her leaving him. Letting him taste once again the loneliness that he thought he was used to.
Sitting next to her, she was once again talking about that time where she climbed Dragonspine highest peak, how the stars and the moon were the prettiest and the reflecting light of the moon on the snow was ethereal….She was too.
“Do….you want to go back ? To your homeland ?”
She stopped talking for a second to assimilate the weirdness of his question. Feeling lost in his icy blue eyes, his stelliform pupil, signature of his belonging to the Khaenri’an civilisation. She didn’t need to use her abilities to read his facial expression, she could read he was anticipating a really, really specific response.
“W-what ? If I do, are you going to miss me ?” She laughed nervously, trying to break the usual too serious tone of their conversation.
“I will”
“Oh. I-I see-”
She stayed silent, pulling the edge of her hat and hiding her face under it, he wasn’t as good as her when it comes to reading expressions but her body language, the lack of proper response and the heavy silence frustrated him even more.
He took off her hat and threw it as far as he could, his hand on her waist, closing the distance between them, gripping her wrist and making her face him once again.
“Mona I’m serious-”
He didn’t expect that. She was blushing, the prettiest hues of pink and red were painting her face. She hoped she’d be able to hide the tears welling in her eyes under her hat. Her heart wasn’t prepared for such a sincere confession, the rising heat of their pressed bodies and his eyes focusing on her only, she felt like he could see through her. Her arm wrapping around him and hiding her face against his chest. Mumbling softly-
“I- I know ! You dummy-”
“Are you going to miss me ?” He chuckled. Intertwining his fingers with hers, his hand cradled her cheek, softly caressing her with his thumb.
“I will…A lot…”
Their native starry sky wasn't the same, no matter how much she missed her homeland or talks about how she missed the stellar tapestry of her childhood. She could at least say he was her favorite star.