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The tips of the fingers of Kaeya’s right hand are burned. They're not the same colour as the rest of his skin. Small children seem to find it fascinating.
They take his hand into their own tiny ones and inspect his fingers with both wonder and care.
They always ask how it happened. Kaeya used to reply by joking about pyro wilders not knowing how to control their own strength, but ultimately stopped when he saw the look it elicited on Bennett’s face.
The kids like Kaeya’s fingers, but Kaeya himself doesn’t.
It’s not hatred that he feels, nor resentment, but it is something else. Something more ugly, something more complex.
Kaeya flexes his fingers. To him they are a reminder, both of his failure and of his naivety.
Vile is a new recruit into his informants circle, still a sprout. Which is why she makes the mistake of meeting Kaeya directly in his office and not somewhere less conspicuous. She’ll learn to know better with time. For now, the intel she brings is satisfactory enough.
Kaeya lays the report on his desk and hums. “Good old fashioned corruption, then. How dull.”
“It seems so. What do you plan on doing next?”
“I’ll deal with them obviously, though Eroch has been arrested there’s still much to do. But first we need more evidence. I’m not making the same mistakes twice.” Kaeya taps his fingers, the ones that have been burned, against the surface of his desk. “I have to ensure I rid the Knights of all the filth.”
There’s only one problem. A new headache so kindly caused by the Grand Master Varka. With the appointment of an Investigation captain—and of himself as head of the cavalry—Kaeya has lost access to many key documents that do not fall under his authority anymore.
It’s not like Varka to be so generous when it comes to promotions. He must be preparing something. Something huge, that requires him to decentralise his authority to knights half his age and less than half his ability.
Vile is long gone when the door of his new Cavalry Captain office opens once more.
“Congratulations again, Sir Kaeya.”
“Jean,” he says. “I should be the one congratulating you.”
She takes a seat in front of his desk.
“Nonsense. Being a captain is far more praise-worthy than being an assistant,” she shakes her head. “Still, I wonder what the Grandmaster is thinking.”
“If he hasn’t told his right-arm, then it is most unlikely that he would have told me.”
“Have you met the new chief alchemist yet? Everyone calls him cold and scary. I’ll be meeting with him later today so I’ll find out for myself. I wonder if he’s anything like everyone says.” Jean has never cared for gossip, but perhaps hanging around Lisa too often has been rubbing off on her.
“If he’s as reclusive as the rumours make it seem, I don’t think we need to worry about him too much. As long as he is cooperative enough of course.”
Jean rests her chin on her palm. “Perhaps. But with whatever big plan Master Varka is concocting on the horizon, it’ll be best if all the newly appointed captains get along.”
Kaeya could not care less about getting along with his fellow captains. “I guess you’re right,” he says.
“Anyway,” Jean continues. “That’s not what I’m here for. There’s been a hilichurl camp sighting not too far from the city walls. Amber isn’t available to take care of it, and because we suspect the presence of an abyss mage we can’t send one of the lower knights. Do go take care of it Sir Kaeya.”
“More work, why thank you Sir Jean.”
“You know you love me.”
“I loved you more when you didn’t have authority over me,” he sighs and lays his head on his desk.
“Kaeya.” Jean says with her serious tone. Ah, there goes another lecture. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but you really look awful, I can tell you haven’t been sleeping. Please take this opportunity to go get some fresh air and try to rest a little afterwards. The world won’t crumble if you take a break for a little while.”
“Do I have to…”
She grins. “Of course, this is an order from your superior after all.”
The walk is nice, at the very least. Though Kaeya spends it planning the next step of his revenge on Eroch’s henchmen.
At the location Jean marked on his map, there is no camp, no abyss mage, and certainly no hilichurl. Only a stack of broken wood and the last remnant of a small fire remain. The smell of the smoke covers the stench of blood at least.
Whatever was there has already been dealt with.
And a small kid dressed in all red is clinging to the branch of a nearby tree.
“Hello little one, I haven’t seen you around here before. Do you need help getting down?”
The child doesn’t answer, Kaeya tries to look as friendly as possible. He raises his hands in the air, far from the handle of his word.
“My name is Kaeya, I’m a knight of Favonius. Can I ask what your name is?”
“I’m Klee,” the kid says, her lips wobbling around the syllable.
Kaeya smiles. “Hello Klee, can you tell me what happened? Are you hurt?”
She shakes her head frantically. “My big brother told me to come back before dark and not use my bombs and not get into trouble but—but—,” she explains between sobs. She’s soldiering on to keep the tears from escaping her eyes. “It’s late and all my bombs exploded and I ripped my dress when I climbed the tree. Big brother is gonna be soo mad…”
“I’m sure your brother is only worried about you. Let’s get you down from that tree so we can go look for him, shall we?”
“I made big bro worry!” Just like that, the dam of tears breaks. Snot runs freely from her nose as she cries loudly.
Kaeya considers himself to be good with children, he likes them and they seem to like him as well.
He approaches Klee and opens his arms, to help her get down from her branch. She holds onto him like a baby bear would hug a tree.
“Say Klee, want me to teach you a magic spell?
“Magic?” she sniffs.
Kaeya nods. “My brother taught it to me. He used to say this spell is stronger than the hydro archon herself. I think he learned it from a Fontaine nursery rhyme.”
“You have a brother too Kaeya!?”
“I do,” Kaeya smiles. “He told me, sometimes the sky is grey and we feel alone but it’s okay. Because the stars will shine, and then the sky will not be so grey anymore, so we don’t have to worry. Everything will always turn out fine.” he says. The words taste strange against his lips. He has to unearth them from a part of his memory he had willingly buried. “So when we feel alone, we just have to look at the sky and say brille, brille, to remind ourselves that the stars will always shine.”
“Brille brille!” Klee repeats. And just like that, it’s as if the cloudy evening has given way to hope.
Kaeya holds her small hand in his and they walk back to the city together. She skips her step, singsonging ‘brille brille’ between small hops.
At the city gates, a knight runs up to them. “Miss Klee, you’re here! Your brother is worried sick. We’ve been running around everywhere to look for you.”
“Sorry…” she looks down at her feet.
The knight takes up her hand and leads her away. “You promised you wouldn’t run away again. Come, it’s already past your curfew.”
“See you later, Klee,” Kaeya waves.
“Bye bye Kaeya!” she exclaims, even as the knight continues to lecture her. He waves at her until her silhouette disappears.
Kaeya makes his way back to Knights’ headquarters silently. The office of the Investigation Captain is empty again. The new guy must not be taking his duty very seriously.
Kaeya rounds his desk and sits on his chair.
He has no qualms consulting the classified documents occupying the drawers.
He leaves through the papers, the many reports and balance sheets and other useless documents. In them, he’s sure, lies the demise of those damned insects; all of Eroch followers that still plague the ranks of the Knights.
Names, dates, records of transactions.
What more, what more. If he’s not doing something, Kaeya feels as though he will implode.
//
The Ragnvindr estate uses eagles to take care of their mails. One especially is responsible for all the personal letters of the family. A proud eagle with brown feathers and piercing eyes, that has been handling the correspondence of the Ragnvindrs even until now, even as the heir has long left the house the eagle was raised in.
The Ragnvindr eagle is named Aurore. She’s a beautiful specimen, both graceful and vigorous. Ever since the young master left Mondstadt, she has been the one carrying his letters to the people in the city.
Every time she visits, it’s a whole event. Many wish to be blessed by the presence of Aurore. People keep cold meat and dead mice with them on the off chance that the Ragnvindr eagle comes to them.
One time Kaeya found her in Jean’s office. It had been hard to recover from such a betrayal.
Aurore never visits Kaeya’s quarters. No matter how many letters he sends, a response never arrives.
He sends updates, he sends taunts, he sends prayers. The eagle never comes to him.
The Knights of Favonius have their own postal service. Trained pigeons carrying missives all around Teyvat. They lack the splendours eagles have but they do the job well enough. Although Kaeya finds himself blaming his lack of reply on their ability as of late.
He attaches his message to the leg of the grey bird. At this point, it wouldn’t make such a difference for him to send the paper via a bottle carelessly thrown into the sea.
“Sir Kaeya, is that right?” a voice asks.
The man has a long white coat and pretty blond braids that end in a tiny ponytail. Several letters surround him. There is also a bird resting on the top of his head.
He continues. “I believe you are the one who has helped Klee the other day.” The shaking of his head makes the pigeon fly away. “You have my thanks.”
“Oh and how would you know it was me?” Kaeya enquires.
The man shrugs. “She said blue hair and an eyepatch, I doubt it’d apply to many people around here.”
“You’re the new chief alchemist, if I’m not mistaken.”
“And Captain of the Investigation Team. Yes, that would be me indeed.”
Kaeya hums. “You seem friendlier than I heard you would be.”
“I wouldn’t give too much credit to rumours, but I can admit I tend to mostly keep to myself. Hence why some would find me rather odd,” he says pensively. “You see, I dont think it’s a good idea. For me to get close to people. It’s dangerous.” He taps the geo vision around his neck with the pad of his finger. Above, traced directly on his skin, shines the star of Khaenri’ah.
It’s clear enough for Kaeya to understand.
People like them, they can never truly escape, can they? Albedo the alchemist is aware of that. Roots, roots, roots. They both have been marked in the deepest ways, they have roots they cannot possibly detangle themselves from. And in time, those roots will choke them until they are unable to breathe again.
“Maybe you can understand me, Kaeya Alberich,” he smiles. The way he emphasises the first syllable of Kaeya’s last name betrays a deeper knowledge of their shared circumstances.
The alchemist offers a hand. A peace offering. After all, two dangerous people are less dangerous to each other. “I am Albedo, by the way.”
The same overwhelming sensation before making a grave mistake fills Kaeya’s lungs. It turns him breathless. It tells him to go away. Now.
He swallows the feeling. Kaeya of the Alberich clan has more control than that. Albedo’s hand feels strangely cold in his.
“Anywho. Captain, I believe you’ve been infringing on my investigation, I’ll have to ask you to stop,” Albedo says.
Kaeya forces himself to keep his smile. “Think nothing of it. Just helping out a fellow captain.”
“No need. I’m sure you must be busy enough as it is.”
“It really is no problem,” Kaeya replies pleasantly.
Albedo regards him with some amount of intensity. “I’m being serious, Sir Kaeya. Whether you choose to trust me with this or not, I’m afraid it does not affect the fact that it is my duty to carry out and not yours. Plus I don’t enjoy having others break into my office.”
He gathers his papers together, not looking up at Kaeya anymore.
“You have a lot of worries, Captain. Perhaps you should learn to rely on others.”
//
Back when he was younger, Kaeya enjoyed watching his father tend to the eagles. Once they had been properly trained, he’d let him feed them little bits of meat.
Taming a bird of prey is a long and arduous process. No eagle can ever be truly tamed, Kaeya’s father would argue. But with time, some kind of common understanding between man and bird can be formed.
He’d walk Kaeya through the whole manning procedure. Many think they’re going to be able to create a deep bond with the animal, but wishful thinking is all that is. An eagle will never be friends with a human, it is the first thing Kaeya is taught.
And because they can never be friends, it’s necessary to always regard the eagle with some level of suspicion.
Trust is not needed, what matters is to appear inoffensive to some degree. Thus the bird will lower its guard, becoming itself less of a threat.
Kaeya uses his informant network to make a rumour reach Captain Albedo’s ears. ‘Kaeya’s unable to use his burned hand fully. He is very vulnerable to attacks since he cannot properly wield his sword.’
Now all there is left to do is wait. Wait for Albedo to make a move.
At night, when he goes home, Kaeya endeavours to make himself appear as harmless as he can. He puts his vision and his sword in a corner away from his bed. Away from his reach.
He waits. It never comes.
No surprise attack in the dark of the night, no hands squeezing his throat as he lies asleep.
During the day, Kaeay stops wearing his sword on his person. He keeps his vision clipped to his hip, but only because it would raise suspicion for him not to have it on him; and embolden those waiting for a chance to cause trouble.
He waits for it, even as he tends to the horses in the Knights’ stable. He keeps an ear out for the littlest sounds. Those who betray a hunter stalking its prey.
He waits, he waits. The horse huffs when he stops his grooming to focus on the sounds of steps coming in his direction.
It’s not Albedo. The steps are too heavy, too impetuous.
“Hi there, Klee,” he smiles. “Do you want to play with the horses?”
“Horses!” she exclaims, but she gets interrupted by the rumbling of her stomach “I’m hungry…”
“Oh.”
Albedo’s house isn’t too far away. Klee gives him a set of keys adorned by a dodoco keychain and they enter without ceremony.
Albedo’s house is certainly well kept, but it doesn’t look very lived in. He has nothing in his cupboards except for teabags and the most basic necessities such as flour and salt. Nothing suited to feed a growing child.
“Maybe let’s buy some groceries first,” Kaeya hums.
“Yay!”
There is this dish Adelinde used to make every time Master Ragnvyndr was away on a business trip for several days. It always reminded Kaeya of the food his mother cooked back home. When he asked, Adelinde said she got the recipe from a travelling merchant of Sumeru.
“Let’s go fetch your brother while we’re at it. I’m sure he forgot humans are supposed to eat at some point during the day.”
Kaeya buys some fish fillets and the best looking lemon and bell peppers he can find. He adds a bouquet of coriander to his basket, as well as several spices Blanche gets imported specially for him. Salt and pepper are simply not enough for Kaeya’s palate, no offence to Mondstadt’s cuisine. He buys some sunsettias as well, for Klee to snack on while dinner is being made.
In the laboratory, as expected, Albedo is hunched over his papers, a test tube bubbling in his left hand.
“Alright chief, this is an intervention. Let’s eat dinner before poor Klee starves and you pass out from lack of good work-life balance.”
As soon as they reach the house, Kaeya ushers them to the bathroom to wash their hands, and gets started on the fish. Soon, the smell of aroma starts to fill the entire room. Klee’s stomach rumbles again.
In hindsight, it does feel strange to be cooking up dinner for the man he has been imagining murdering him all day long. Now that they’re all seated around the table and silently feasting on grilled fish brochettes he made, it almost feels stupid.
Kaeya tends to expect the worst out of people, yet perhaps the worst of Albedo is simply him being a workaholic with a badly hidden secret. (One that Kaeya happens to share, for better or for worse.)
“I think it has been some time since I last saw Klee enjoy a meal so much. She hasn’t had an appetite lately,” Albedo yawns after they are done both eating and cleaning up. “Thank you, truly. Sometimes it’s as though I have no idea what I’m doing in raising Klee.”
Kaeya finds himself chuckling. “What would you do without me, I wonder.”
Albedo settles his head against his palm, watching him. “Indeed, what would I do?”
He offers him to stay the night. It’s already so late, after all. It would be the perfect opportunity for a surprise attack, but somehow Kaeya isn’t worried.
Especially when Albedo immediately leaves him in order to tinker with his experiment once he’s made sure Kaeya will be comfortable enough in the living room.
The couch is stiff and there aren’t many cushions. But when it comes to sleeping, Kaeya has found that rather than comfort, what is important is a peaceful state of mind.
Klee’s snores can be heard from the living room, as well as the muted clatter of glass apparatus coming from Albedo’s chamber.
Kaeya does not rouse for many hours.
//
“You look happy today Kaeya,” Jean remarks during one of their weekly meetings.
“Aren’t I always jolly and full of smiles?”
She shakes her head. “No, your many smiles don’t necessarily imply happiness. But lately you’ve seemed…at peace, I guess.”
The rest of the meeting goes uneventful, and eventually they both focus on their own paperwork, not exchanging many words.
At some point, the door opens. Lisa barges in with a trail of tea and sweets, but leaves the moment she hears of Master Varka’s prompt return.
The door opens, the door closes. Some knights have documents to get stamped. Civilians enter with what they swear are very urgent requests. More knights come by to get their orders because their direct superior has vanished. The whole organisation of the Knights of Favonius is already heavily relying on Jean. It must be exactly what Varka had wanted.
The door opens once more. Albedo deposits a folder on Jean’s desk. “Hello to you, Sir Jean, Captain Kaeya. Here’s the paper on ley line disorder you commissioned.”
“Thank you Albedo.”
He stops at the door before making his exit, looking towards Kaeya this time.
“Klee wants you to hang out with us later.”
“If that’s what Klee wants, who am I to deny her.” An escape from his work sounds perfect right about now.
“Why not just take the rest of the day off,” Jean intervenes. “You too Albedo, there’s not that much to do today, and you haven’t been properly resting like I told you to.”
They talk a walk around Windrise, settling to lie under the giant oak tree. Klee runs off to look at the bugs climbing its trunk.
If there is something Kaeya loves about Mondstadt, it has to be the wind. The breeze is kind as it kisses his skin. It calms him, it lulls him to slumber under the blaze of the sun.
“Can I ask a question, Sir Kaeya?” Albedo speaks.
Kaeya immediately perks up at this, already coming up with a well-constructed response before even hearing the question. It’s a reflex by now to prepare many pleasant-sounding lies every time he has to open his mouth.
“Go ahead.”
“How do you get people to,” he hesitates on the last word, “appreciate you. Upon a first meeting I mean.”
“Why do you ask?”
“I’ll shortly be meeting my new assistant. I worry about inconveniencing them. I'm not the most sociable person as you know.”
“I don’t think there’s anything to be afraid of,” Kaeya says, because despite his own doubts, Albedo has proven himself to be a very attentive person. “It’ll sound cliché, but I’m sure being yourself is enough.” He relaxes once more against the grass.
“Of course you wouldn’t understand, as everyone loves you. Social interactions are actually complicated for the rest of us.” Albedo rolls his eyes. The sight is both endearing and funny.
“Yet, somehow, with you, I’m not afraid,” Albedo continues, turning to face the sky above them. He says it like a question. Like it’s another enigma that needs figuring out. “I wonder why that is.”
“Well, we’re friends after all,” says Kaeya. The words come out before he can think too much about it.
“Friends?”
“Am I not your friend?”
“I’ve not had a friend before so I wouldn’t know what it entails. But that must be it, friend,” Albedo acquiesces.
He has a funny way of talking, devoid of shame or of timidity. He always sounds like he’s thinking of one thousand different things while he is speaking.
He’s mesmerising, in a way. It’s most frightening.
They fall into a routine, somehow. Klee reminds Kaeya to take breaks, and Kaeya reminds the two siblings to have proper meals. Soon, Albedo's cupboards start being filled with paprika, cumin, ras el hanout, as his kitchen often welcomes Kaeya.
He learns many things. Too many things; routines are very terrifying. About the way Klee likes her food to be presented, where the good knife is hidden, or the kind of desserts Albedo enjoys the most.
Roots, roots, roots, Kaeya tells himself. He’s letting himself put down roots in this house, with these people, in their life. He shouldn’t. Really, how dare he, after everything, yearn for the warmth of a brand new home. This page was turned a long time ago for him.
In the end there’s nothing to do. He dares. Albedo shows him his mastery of Khemia. He dares. Klee teaches him how to properly pet Dodoco. He dares.
//
The bird’s claws tap on Kaeya’s desk, threatening to scuff the wood.
With her, Aurore carries a piece of parchment attached to her leg, rolled inside a ribbon of a ruby red and gold.
Kaeya opens it with haste and stares at the content.
It’s nothing much. A letter with three lines.
Kaeya counts them and counts them some more. 27 words. 4 sentences. One comma. Nothing else.
He dedicates it to mind, this letter of three lines. He keeps it in his inner pocket. It makes his chest feel tight. Its paperweight is a heavy burden to carry.
The bird chirps, waiting to be rewarded for its work with a meaty treat. Kaeya doesn’t have any to offer her.
It rains outside, and the streets are empty. Aurore stays in Kaeya’s office, where it is warm and dry. Simply looking at her makes Kaeya nauseous.
He needs to escape it all, the eagle, all the letters left unanswered, the paper in his pocket with 27 words and one comma.
He goes out into the storm. He could easily avoid getting wet, but he doesn’t. He lets the rain drench him. Plop, plop, plop, the rain follows its own rhythm. An unforgiving one.
His feet lead him to Angel’s Share. It technically isn’t open yet, but that has never stopped Kaeya. He sits himself in front of the bar.
“It’s early, sir Kaeya.” The bartender says with a frown, before turning to make him his drink anyway.
“Thank you.”
He takes a sip. It doesn’t help undo the twisted knot in his throat. Surely, one drink isn’t enough to numb the uneasiness in his limbs. The day is still young and Kaeya has enough mora in his pocket to order many more. Until the ache recedes, until he gets too drunk to be able to feel anything.
The doors of the tavern open with a loud slam and a swoosh from the wind.
“Oh! Oh! It’s Kaeya!” The red form of the little girl appears in the tavern. She’s completely drenched and swamping the parquet.
“Hey there, Klee. What are you doing here, this is a place for grown-ups.”
She beams at him. “I was looking for you! The hat lady said I would find you here! Come with me Kaeya!”
“We can’t go out, Klee, it’s raining.”
“It’s okay, it'll stop raining in no time! And then we’ll see the sun again,” Klee says. “Big bro Albedo told me the sun is a star too!”
Brille, brille, Kaeya recalls the voice of a tiny Diluc with freckles. There is no rain that lasts forever.
“Is that so, Klee?”
She grins. This little girl, she shines brighter than any star.
“Of course! Hurry now Kaeya, Albedo said you can eat dinner with us. Oh! He also said I shouldn’t force you.” She takes his hand and forces him to stand. “Let’s go, Kaeya!”
He follows her into the rain. This time the muted chatter of the droplets feel kinder, though the storm has not relented in any way.
Klee laughs very loudly. “Come on! Last one to the house loses!” She takes a head-start, not waiting for him.
The first steps Kaeya takes are tentative, unsure. If he goes too fast, he could slip and fall.
The rain is cold. His clothes are wet, his hair clings to his body.
“You’re so slow Kaeya! Ha ha! Brille brille!”
Kaeya dashes to Klee’s side.
It must make for a funny sight to behold. The captain and a kid, running together and laughing under the shower of a rainstorm. It’s only then, his boots and socks and shirt completely drenched, that Kaeya remembers about his glass of wine, barely touched and still sitting on the bar.
//
They end up ruining Albedo’s carpet. To his own credit, he manages to perfectly conceal his annoyance, if he feels any.
“Come here, Klee. Before you get a cold.” He nudges her deeper into the apartment. A trail of water droplets follows her in her wake
Albedo never really gets mad at her, no matter how much trouble she gets herself into. Being an older brother is not an easy task, but he’s been doing a good job so far, in Kaeya’s opinion.
“Are you alright, Kaeya?” Albedo comes back with a towel. “I’ll make you some tea, it’ll warm you up.” he wraps the towel around Kaeya’s head and starts rubbing his hair when Kaeya doesn’t take it. “You should stay here, at least until the rain stops.”
Ultimately, that’s all Kaeya wants.
Kind words and kind touches.
To hold someone’s hand and not think about anything. Not about loyalty, not about revenge, nothing. To hold someone’s hand because it is warm. To hold someone’s hand and to not let go.
The letter weighs heavy in his pocket.
“You’re my friend, right, Albedo?” Kaeya fails to conceal the vulnerability in his tone.
“Kaeya.” Albedo fully meets his eye. “I’m willing to become whatever you need me to be.”
Klee and Kaeya sit around the table with each a warm beverage in their hands. A hot cocoa with cream for Klee, a tea with no sugar for the other. Albedo sits and watches them drink with his head resting on both hands.
“Oh, right,” he says, “about the corruption case.”
He brings a binder from one of his drawers. “I have gathered all the evidence against Eroch’s associates, including proofs of misdemeanour and embezzlement of the Knights’ funds. It should be more than enough to get them laid off.”
He lets Kaeya riffle through the files. It’s amazing all he found on such a short notice.
“Now they’ll be unable to bring harm to anyone. Grand Master Varka assured me they’ll be properly dealt with,” Albedo announces with a proud satisfaction and a clever smile. “I hope it’ll put your mind at ease at last.”
Kaeya swallows. Warmth blooms in his stomach for a reason he cannot explain.
Even after a few hours, the rain still tapping against the window, Albedo doesn’t chase Kaeya out of his house. Even after night has completely set. After they have eaten dinner, after Klee has been put to bed.
“Can I truly stay longer, Albedo?” Kaeya asks. He needs to make sure. “Can I stay even after the rain has stopped?”
Albedo smiles easily. “You can. And it doesn’t have to be raining or us needing you for you to be welcomed here.”
Kaeya asks, “Can I hold your hand?”
He doesn’t mean to be greedy. Yet he wonders how much of this he is allowed to have.
Albedo entwines their fingers together, holding Kaeya’s burned hand with his own perfect one. “You can.”
“Can I show you even the parts of me that are ugly?” Kaeya says in khaenri’ahn. There, he has completely and entirely bared himself to the other. His guard is down and he now makes for the perfect target. Albedo’s smile widens.
”You can,” he replies in kind.
Perhaps it doesn’t have to be any more complicated than this. Perhaps the softness of a touch is enough to bury an ache that was birthed long ago.
Outside it rains, just a little. And the sky above them is overcast.
Brille, brille.
Kaeya closes his eye, giving in to his fatigue. Oh, he’s been so, so tired. “I think I might be very lucky.”