Chapter Text
“What do you like to do for fun?”
“I uh, like to play the piano. But I’m not very good at it yet.”
“Really? That’s cool! Will you show me?”
“You want to learn?”
“Yeah!”
“Eya. Kaeya!”
Kaeya sat up in bed with a start, almost knocking his head against Diluc’s. “Luc, what the fuck?”
“You slept through your alarms, idiot. You’re going to be late for class if you don’t get your ass up right now.”
Kaeya groaned, running a hand down his face. “It’s just Analytical Geometry. I can afford to miss a class or two.”
“And mess with your perfect attendance? Yeah right.”
“I don’t give a shit about my attendance.”
“You know, the cool guy façade works with those that don’t know you, but not me. Now get up. I’ll make you some coffee.”
“Aww, you love me, Luc.” Kaeya teased, laughing as he dodged the pen Diluc threw at him. After Diluc was gone, Kaeya tried to think back on the dream he’d been immersed in but now he couldn’t remember anything about it. With a resigned sigh, he got up to get ready for class.
“You have paint on your face.”
Albedo blinked in surprise, reaching up to wipe at his face with the back of his hand, smearing more paint on the cheek.
Sucrose laughed and grabbed a cloth to wipe at Albedo’s face herself. She noticed a couple of students elbowing each other, pointing to Albedo, and she glared at them until they looked away. “There. All gone.”
“Thank you. I got lost in what I was doing.” Albedo touched his palette with a finger and frowned. “Did I finish my titanium white off?”
“Yes. Do you want me to get you another bottle? What’s the next white? ”
“No. I can do it myself.”
“Okay.” She said cheerfully before muttering under her breath as he walked away, “Stubborn.”
“I heard that.” Albedo said, reaching into his bag for the tube of paint, having placed each tube carefully inside to make things easier for him. When he sat down in front of his easel again, he could still sense Sucrose behind him. “What?”
“You’re drawing that diamond again. It’s been the subject of your last three pieces in various ways.”
“Mm. I saw it in my dreams again last night. I thought it would suit as a star in a night sky this time.”
“The contrast will be great.” A bell rang overhead, and Sucrose stood up. “Class time. I better run. I’ll pick you up afterwards?”
“I’ll meet you outside your classroom.”
“Good.” Sucrose gave his shoulders a quick squeeze, before following the other students out.
Albedo let out a breath of relief at the silence. He was grateful for a professor who allowed him space of the classroom when there was a free period. When he finished sometime later, he washed his brushes and came back to his canvas. He envisioned the painting he had created and hoped the image in his mind was similar to the one before him. Carefully, he set the painting aside to dry and checked his watch, paying attention to the embossments. There were still fifteen minutes before Sucrose was free. Albedo knew this area of the building would be mostly empty in between classes so he reached for his cane, and made his way out, free hand trailing along the wall, counting in his head the distance he was covering.
When he arrived at the spot, he was glad to note the musical lilt of a piano in the air. Since the semester started, without fail every Tuesday and Thursday, someone played the piano in the nearby music room. There wasn’t a class in there at this time. Albedo knew that. So, he wondered if a student was preparing a piece for an upcoming show. But it was never the same piece that was played, and Albedo was fascinated by the variety. He wanted to approach the person, commend them on their artistry. But he held back. If the person was an asshole or thought they were too good for Albedo’s company, eh, the image in Albedo’s head of the person was a lot nicer one so he would stick to that. Instruments fascinated Albedo, especially the piano. He had tried to practice it, to be good at it. But he did not have a knack for it sadly. Checking his watch again, he hurried off to meet up with Sucrose.