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“Well if it isn’t my favorite alchemist!~” Kaeya sang, ducking his head into the room; before even spotting the man, he knew Albedo would be here.
“Kaeya.” Albedo greeted, monotone as usual. It wasn’t much of a surprise, but the Captain had something rather unusual for his peculiar friend today. “Is there something you need? I was about to begin a rather time sensitive experiment until I noticed your footfalls from down the hall.”
“You recognize my footsteps? How sneaky, I might have to keep an eye on you, Chief Alchemist.” Kaeya teased in that suave tone he always used, Albedo would have none of his meddling.
“You’d use your only eye on little ol’ me? I’m flattered, truly.” Albedo’s words clashed bravely against his flat tone and expression while Kaeya gawked for a moment.
“Was that- did you just beat me to my own joke?”
“Surely, you don’t believe me to be that much of a stick in the mud, do you?” Albedo teased with a shrug, “So what is it you need from me?”
Kaeya shook his head with a soft chuckle; that could be addressed later.
“Must I need something in particular from you each time I visit? Can I not simply see my two favorite scientists who I’ve so dearly missed?” Kaeya lamented. Albedo raised an eyebrow, but Sucrose didn’t even look up from their current experiment.
“That’s because you always want something whenever you come in here.” Albedo gave a bemused chuckled.
“On the contrary, Starlight, I’ve lounged in here plenty of times,” Kaeya sighed with fake forlorn, “Now I’m starting to think you just don’t enjoy my company, is that it, hm?” He accused.
“No, Kaeya, we do love your company. How could we not enjoy ourselves around our very own Cavalry Captain?” Albedo praised, although his monotone voice gave his words a bit of a sardonic edge.
“Hm, that does sound more like it.” Kaeya mused, his normal grin returning to his face; just the way Albedo liked.
“Don’t lean on that.” Sucrose warned sternly, not even needing to look up from their station to know what the Cavalry Captain was about to do. The man in question took his hand off the small table he was, indeed, about to lean on.
“Well, I might as well tell you both what I did come here for.” Kaeya smiled.
“Didn’t we just-- What did you come in for, Kaeya?” Albedo rubbed his eyes with one hand.
“With the Windblume Festival finally over for the year, things are dying down for the Knights of Favonius, or at least for us out on the field- poor Master Jean.” Kaeya placed a hand over his heart as if saying a prayer for his boss. “But like I was saying, I think it’s time you both get out for a bit!” Kaeya clapped, finally catching the two alchemists’ full attention.
“Absolutely not.” They both answered in unison, glaring in the blue-haired Knight’s direction.
“I figured you workaholics might say that, but fortunately I came prepared to change your minds.” Kaeya opened a storage cabinet he had been standing next to, a metal one labeled “Fire Hazard” in large lettering for obvious reasons. Sucrose looked like they were about to say something until a ball of red came barreling out of the small cabinet, startling the poor assistant.
“Spark-Knight, Klee, reporting for duty!” Klee announced, standing and striking a pose.
“Klee?! W-when did you get in there?!” Sucrose yelped.
“Yes, I would like to know that as well.” Albedo crossed his arms.
“I needed help with an inside job.” Kaeya shrugged like it was nothing, “So I called the sneakiest of the Knights of Favonius to help~”
“That’s right!” Klee crossed her arms, jutting her chin in the air proudly, not realizing she had already incriminated herself for breaking out of solitary confinement.
“Now I get to show you Klee’s Incredible Secret Spot!” Klee cheered, grabbing Albedo’s hand and pulling him towards the door. “Right, Mister Kaeya?”
“That’s right, Captain Klee- in fact, I’ve already signed the three of us off on temporary leave for the next five days.” Kaeya confirmed, watching the young girl light up while Sucrose and Albedo just gaped at him.
“You what?!” Sucrose sputtered.
“Did Jean really approve of that?” Albedo raised an eyebrow, somewhat impressed that Kaeya would make such a bold-faced lie like that. Kaeya shook his head with a chuckle.
“Our Acting-Acting GrandMaster does have the authority to do so.”
“What-”
“Miss Lisa Minci approved our time,” Kaeya held up three request forms signed in purple ink, “She managed to get Jean to take the day off and if anyone knows about relaxation it’s our very own Librarian. Now chop-chop! Let’s not keep our spark knight waiting.” Kaeya rushed Sucrose out the door behind Albedo who was dragged along by his younger sister.
“Where are we even going?” Sucrose asked nervously.
“If you weren’t listening, we’re going to KISS, of course.” Kaeya shouted to their line leader.
“We’re going to WHAT!?” Sucrose shouted.
“K-I-S-S,” Kaeya spelled out with a wide grin on his face that looked like he was trying to hold from laughing at a joke that had yet to reach its punchline, “Klee’s Incredible Secret Spot, isn’t that right, Captain Klee?”
“That’s right! Mister Kaeya and I set up a huge surprise- and it doesn’t include bombs this time!” Klee jumped up and down, visibly proud of herself.
“Your vocabulary is getting better, too, I see.” Albedo complimented with a soft chuckle; a small, yet meaningful comment. It obviously meant a lot to the young girl who gasped with joy and immediately climbed onto Albedo’s back to give him a hug and possibly hitch a ride at the same time.
Mondstadt had become quite chilly around this time of year; time for a change of clothing, the citizens decided. These days Sucrose now donned a short coat and a pair of warm, stylish pants to go along with their usual Favonian getup. Kaeya, although he didn’t require it, wore a longer coat in place of his normal half-cape; “An old gift from Master Diluc” he would say as the asymmetrical fur boa still retained its spotlight over his shoulder, Kaeya stressed that he still needed it to remain recognizable. Albedo, however, kept his same Favonius uniform, not seeing the need to change wardrobe when no change was required at all; though he was seen sometimes wearing a hat that Klee and Noelle made for him. Klee was also made to wear a hat and gloves, but she would only wear the Dodoco themed ones Noelle had also made for her.
Kaeya remained in the back of the group as he usually did, smiling to himself as the other two scientists spoke amongst themselves in that well-learned, scientific dialogue Kaeya wouldn’t dare to try and decipher. Internally, he was proud of himself for being able to get them outside and in some fresh air that wasn’t just for work purposes. Kaeya remembers meeting Albedo for the first time, young, inquisitive, yet largely reserved; not much different from how Kaeya was before he joined the Knights of Favonius. When he got the chance to see him work, however, Kaeya’s view on the young Alchemist had changed completely; it was through Kaeya’s recommendation letter that Albedo became Lead Investigator on top of his position as Chief Alchemist. Wherein now, Albedo became the target of Kaeya’s affections and almost all of his curious interrogation and social tests.
Albedo himself likely hadn’t taken notice to the minute changes in his routine and personality. He had long since stopped trying to predict the events that took place within the Favonius Headquarters, instead he found that if he simply accepted and took into account the various personalities and sporadic tendencies of most all the Company Captains, then it would be much easier to fall into a hectic, yet natural routine- and he did. Albedo had unknowingly grown familiar with(and quite fond of) the Knights, needless to say, Klee, Sucrose, Kaeya, and even Timaeus were all people he was eternally grateful for.
“We’re here! Check it!” Klee ran up ahead, pushing some precariously placed branches to reveal an outcropping almost like a small cave, cradled by a large tree’s roots and shaded by its overhanging leaves. The inside of the divet was decorated with mini lanterns normally used for decoration during the Windblume Festival, a large blanket with tiny flames embroidered into it (looked like Noelle’s handiwork if Albedo studied it closely), a few throw pillows, and a pristine picnic basket left untouched.
“Wow,” Sucrose awed, their face turning red, “It’s so cute!” They cheered excitedly.
“This is quite the sight, I must say.” Albedo couldn’t help but smile at Sucrose’s reaction. “Did you do this yourself, Klee?” He asked the young girl who was already climbing up the wild tree roots.
“Mm, no, it wasn’t all me.” She answered honestly, preoccupied with standing up on top of the outcropping and beckoning for Kaeya to come closer. "Mister Kaeya also helped make it pretty, but I found this spot! Impressed, aren't you?" Klee smirked all too similarly to the blue-haired knight.
Kaeya laughed out loud- caught off guard by the small child's words, but proud all the same as he let Klee hop onto his shoulders.
"Impressed, right?" Kaeya reinforced, matching Klee's sly grin.
"Indeed, I'm very impressed. Though something tells me you two are spending far too much time together." Albedo pointed out.
"Yes, I have to agree. It's far too uncanny how much alike you two are. I don't think Kaeya is too good an influence on Klee." Sucrose shook their head in playful disapproval.
"On the contrary, Sugar. I’m afraid Alice already did much of the bad influencing. Not even the Archons could stop this little fireball from becoming a fearless adventurer like her mother." Kaeya defended.
"Yeah! I'm gonna go on dangerous adventures with Mom when she gets back! Not even Barbatos can stop me!" Klee laughed, throwing her small fists in the air. Somewhere at Windrise, a wandering bard sneezed and wondered if maybe he would need to wear more layers this upcoming season.
“Okay, okay!! Now we have to play the Dodoco game! You promised!” Klee laughed, effortlessly jumping off Kaeya’s shoulders, “Everyone line up right here!” Sucrose and Kaeya began to line up shoulder-to-shoulder, Klee drew a line in the dirt at their feet and fished out a silver whistle from her pocket.
"Not going to play?" Kaeya called to Albedo who looked like he was attempting to sit down on the picnic blanket.
"I'm afraid not. I don't see myself moving around too much today." Albedo replied somewhat sheepishly.
"Is it happening again?" Sucrose asked, their voice clearing up in that sturdy tone again. Albedo nodded and Sucrose rushed to his side. "Let me help you." They offered, taking Albedo's hand gently in theirs and letting him press his weight on them until he was able to sit himself on the ground safely. Kaeya made a face at the blond alchemist, to which Albedo gave a simple thumbs up, Kaeya shook his head softly and returned his attention to Klee with a smile as Sucrose returned to the line.
"So how do we play this Dodoco game?" Kaeya asked expectantly. Klee cleared her throat.
"This Dodoco game is called ‘Don't Step on the Jumpty Dumpty’!" Klee cheered, not minding the nervous look on Sucrose and Kaeya’s faces alike.
"Don't look like that! It's easy! All you have to do is get to the Dodoco on the other side!”
“Uh, Klee, I don’t think this game is exactly safe.” Sucrose smiled with unease.
“Nuh-uh! It’s fine, I made it faaaar away from the city like Lisa said, so I won’t break anything important. Here, watch me do it, okay?” Klee flashed a thumbs up, immediately turning to run across the field to the other marked safe area.
“Wait! Klee!” Kaeya shouted, chasing the girl running freely with her arms out into a live minefield. He managed to stay off course from any bombs, following his intuition and stepping in Klee’s shadow. With one misstep, however, Kaeya was sent flying right into the air and flat on his back.
“See? It’s harder than it looks, right?” Klee laughed, a bit maniacally, all things considered. Kaeya let out a strangled sigh of relief, seeing as Klee had at least made it to the other side.
“What-” Kaeya’s chest heaved, “What on Barbatos’ green earth!?” He huffed out, letting his arms flop on the ground out beside him.
The Cavalry Captain would go on to make many more failed attempts after seeing Sucrose and Klee both succeed in traversing the minefield unscathed, leaving his clothes in disarray after he shed his coat so it wouldn’t get damaged. Sucrose and Klee had long since joined Albedo on the blanket, watching Kaeya desperately trying to get safely across the area while Klee busied herself with Albedo’s hair.
Kaeya retired unsuccessfully in the end; as it was likely that by the time he did so, all of the hidden bombs had already been set off. ‘
“I do recall a certain Spark Knight mentioning there were no bombs included in this ‘Secret Spot’ of hers.” Kaeya panted as he flopped down on the blanket, resting his head on Albedo's lap.
“Oops, I lied!” Klee admitted innocently, but her face was all mischief and sinisterness.
“Had fun out there?” Albedo teased
"Quit it, I was dying out there and yet you mock me?" Kaeya cried, dramatically turning his head and draping an arm over his eyes.
“Oh, Kaeya, I meant to ask you about those painkillers you requested the other day, they’re working well, I hope?” Sucrose inquired, pulling out a notebook and pen suddenly looking a whole lot less nervous when it came to something they needed information on.
“They worked wonders, I feel a thousand times better thanks to your help.” Kaeya praised, always happy to see Sucrose’s eyes buzz with excitement and that red blush rising to their freckled face as they wrote down who knows what on their notepad.
“Hold on. May I ask what you needed those painkillers for?” Albedo asked in between fighting against Klee’s incessant hair tugging.
“Nothing out of the ordinary, just a few muscle sores that’s all.” Kaeya waved off the head alchemist’s worries like it was nothing, “Thanks to your assistant here, though, I’m as fit as a fiddle now.”
“You never tell me anything..” Albedo sighed, making Kaeya laugh out loud.
“Now I can’t tell who’s the child, you or Klee, hm?”
“Shut up.” Albedo grumbled.
“Sucrose! Come braid my hair too!’ Klee shouted, beaming excitedly. Although it sounded more like a demand rather than a request, Sucrose complied and moved to sit behind the small girl, removing her hat, untying her pigtails and getting to work. It wasn’t long before Sucrose became fully focused on their task- that telltale look on their face as they blocked out all other distractions, Kaeya and Albedo knew it very well.
“Wait, wait, you guys can’t have a braid train without me.” Kaeya protested, getting up and settling down behind Sucrose. Kaeya removed his gloves, carefully scooping up Sucrose’s ponytail as well as any loose hairs, letting his fingertips graze along the nape of their neck; he laughed at Sucrose’s sudden yelp of surprise and leaned in closer.
“May I?” He asked.
“Oh- yes, go right ahead.” Sucrose flushed, allowing him to untie their ponytail, card his fingers through their green hair- and if they felt Kaeya occasionally pet their ears, they would pretend not to notice.
Albedo stood, rummaging through the messenger bag he kept on his person at all times, uncovering a few pencils and his reliable sketchbook. This time he sat facing the three, thinking of what angle to capture.
A winding breeze flitted past the three, throwing Albedo’s hair loose from Klee’s lackluster braids, fluttering behind him, platinum striking against the blazing sunset as he focused solely on his sketching. The scene itself looked like a painting, Kaeya thought- and from the way Sucrose stared at Albedo with such an intense longing in their eyes you’d hardly ever see from the alchemist- Sucrose thought so too.
Kaeya stood, putting the finishing touches on Sucrose’s new efficiently-done hairdo, and went to kneel right beside the chief alchemist, pulling Albedo out of his concentration for only a moment as he turned to show Kaeya his drawing- assuming that was what the Knight came over to see, but instead was met with a kiss on the lips, softer than silk.
“Wha-?”
“Albedo,” Sucrose sung out from the other side of him, hoping to catch him by surprise as well. It backfires on her as Albedo reaches to grab their chin and pull them into a full kiss, freezing his mint-haired lover on the spot. “Wh- wha?” They sputtered, face turning bright red again, shimmering eyes squinted in betrayal, “You cheater!”
“Love is war, Dove.” Albedo laughs.
“Eww! No kissing allowed in my secret spot!” Klee demands, turning her back on the three, her Pyro vision glowing threateningly with her innate fire abilities. Kaeya was first to act, emitting a subtle wave of Cryo to his hands as he goes to calm the pouting 8 year old.
“Now, now. Klee is right, get a room you two, have some decency for the children.” He scolds, throwing them under the bus with a bright smile that conveyed his ingenuousness. Albedo just shook his head.
“My apologies Klee, I should’ve been more attentive,” Albedo apologized, causing the blond girl to turn around slightly to peek at his face, searching for proof of his remorse and blinked when she found none. “Sounds to me like you want some brotherly love, isn’t that right? Come give your big brother a hug.”
“No!” Klee perked up; be it out of fear or joy, Kaeya couldn’t tell as she ran out from behind his legs and away from the Chief Alchemist screaming at the top of her lungs.
“Come here!” Albedo laughed, chasing after her. Soon, Klee’s screaming turned to shrill laughter as she ran, becoming more clear to the other two watching on in silent entertainment that this was just how the two siblings interacted with each other.
“Hey, Kaeya,” Sucrose tugged on the sleeve of Kaeya’s winter coat.
“Hm?” He looked over at his partner and was promptly blind-sided by a sweet kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you for getting us out of the lab today. We should do more things like this together.” They beamed; Sucrose’s smile could make any lesser man abandon his faith and Kaeya- oh, Kaeya was a weak man indeed.
“..Yea.. Yeah! Of course, it’s my pleasure, always.” Kaeya stumbled over his words, recovering and kissing Sucrose’s knuckles with all the chivalrous charms he could muster up.
“Nooo!”
“Gotcha!”
“Oww, lemme go!”
The distant sound of Albedo scooping up and squeezing Klee in a bear hug, kissing her excessively on the head could be heard on the hills of Mondstadt as the sun set, another day fading into a watercolor blur of sweet fun. Within the eclectic life of the nation, even some odd trio such as the once-estranged alchemist, a foreigner from a fallen land, and a less-than-organic human of alchemical creation- all found that one thing would always remain the same: Freedom.