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Albedo only knew the cold.
It encased his entire being, right down to his very center. His extremities were numb, beyond the point of pain, and his head felt like it had been repeatedly bashed against the ground. Each breath introduced thousands of tiny blades into his throat and lungs.
How did he end up in this situation? His thoughts were sluggish. Recalling information was such a burden, like wading through mud, but Albedo persisted. Right, he was on Dragonspine. They had been attempting to proceed further up the mountain. And then…and then…
An avalanche.
That’s right! His team was caught in an avalanche.
Albedo attempted to move but his limbs wouldn’t listen. He vaguely recognized that his body was shivering violently. That was a good sign. His body hadn’t given up.
Not that he thought it would. No matter how painful, he was built to withstand harsh conditions. Lasting damage would be minimal, at least in comparison to the rest of his team. They ran the risk of dying if someone didn’t manage to dig them out in time.
He had no way of knowing how long it had been since the avalanche struck, but he knew that time was a precious thing. Exposed to such blistering cold, they ran the risk of frostbite or hypothermia. If he didn’t figure out a plan quickly, they could all die.
But as much as he willed it, he just couldn’t move. His mind was lost in a fog, so far gone he didn't even have the capacity to panic. As he lay helpless, he could only believe in their training and hope they would make it out safely.
~~~
The warmth was blissful, divine even.
Albedo was cocooned in it, a soft and gentle embrace. No matter how much pain ran through his limbs, that agony was easily overlooked by how nice it was to no longer be freezing to death. He could make out voices around him, but the words were a garbled mess. He could tell people were moving around him, but his eyelids were like lead.
He tried to open his eyes and sit up, but a hand came down over his own. It was a bit on the cool side, strong and worn from wielding the sword. The person whispered something to him, and although Albedo couldn’t understand the words, he understood that the person wanted him to lay back down and rest.
Strangely, he felt inclined to listen to those words. He allowed himself to be lowered back down. As he was drifting off into sleep’s embrace, he could still feel that cool hand over his own and he knew he was safe.
~~~
“You are extremely lucky, I hope you know.”
Albedo smiled awkwardly and took the mug of hot chocolate that was being offered to him. Kaeya’s eyebrows were furrowed, arms crossed. Despite the fact that he had hardly left Albedo’s side since he woke up, the Cavalry Captain seemed… disappointed in him.
“You could’ve died,” Kaeya continued. Albedo resisted the urge to inform him that no he wouldn’t have died, as hypothermia would hardly kill a homunculus. Instead, he busied himself with sipping the warm drink.
“You were able to save everyone else in your party, but left yourself completely defenseless!”
Though Albedo had no recollection of doing such a thing, he had apparently managed to create enough solar isotomas to lift his companion to safety just before the snow reached their location. The combination of geo and cryo also managed to shield them from further harm. The only person in any real danger was himself.
In the alchemist’s opinion, this was no big issue. Kaeya clearly had a different view on the matter. Albedo found it hard to meet the knight’s eye.
“Sorry,” he said.
Kaeya sighed, “Don’t apologize if you don’t mean it.”
Albedo flinched and the cavalry captain sighed, scratching the back of his neck.
“It was scary, you know,” Kaeya’s voice came as a whisper. Albedo could hear the raw terror in his voice. “When I heard what had happened, I thought that you might’ve…I was worried about you. So please, take care of yourself? You’re not invincible.”
Albedo recalled a time when he had said very similar words to Kaeya and felt guilt wash over him. He remembered the fear that had wrapped itself around his heart, the thorny vines that choked him as he rushed to get to Kaeya’s side. To think that he had caused Kaeya to fear in such a way.
“I’m sorry, Kae,” he said, this time making sure to look Kaeya in the eye. “Truly, I am. I promise I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Kaeya cleared his throat and surreptitiously wiped away a stray tear, “Thank you. I’m glad that you’re okay.”
Albedo smiled back, reaching out to grab Kaeya’s hand, “Me too.”
~~~
Unlike the healers, Albedo was unsurprised at the minimal injuries he had sustained. A minor case of hypothermia, but not a touch of frostbite. They had been concerned about a possible concussion, but after a few tests they found nothing concerning. He was essentially as healthy as ever.
Even so, Jean ordered him to rest. Kaeya was all too happy to whisk him away back to his place in the lower city. The cavalry captain hardly left his side the first day, tending to his every need. It wasn’t until Albedo finally convinced Kaeya to let him have some time to himself that the knight busied himself with paperwork he had taken home with him.
It felt strange to be taken care of in such a way. His chest burned with an emotion he could not place. Not even during his childhood was he cared for so tenderly, so lovingly. His Master was not the warm type. His days had always been filled with study, experimentation, and other means of acquiring knowledge and precious little else. Even art had been a means to an end back then.
Now he slept in until the sun was already high in the sky, awakening to the scent of coffee and cinnamon. Kaeya even once served him breakfast in bed, which would’ve been a much more relaxing experience if Albedo wasn’t so concerned about ruining the expensive blankets with egg yolk and honey.
He would sit on the cushioned window seat, bathed in sunlight, and read for hours. Kaeya had a vast collection of books, more than he had originally thought. Seeing how Albedo devoured the books, he even offered to run to the library to get more.
It was almost overwhelming the amount of time and attention Kaeya spent on him. It was sweet, and Albedo certainly appreciated the gestures. But as much as he loved sweet things, this was just too much.
“Kaeya, I really am okay,” he said as the knight tested the water temperature. Albedo was never one to take baths, the last time he had done so was after the time they had engaged in…certain activities. In his eyes, baths were an unnecessary use of water and time. But Kaeya was insistent.
“I know, but how often do you get to treat yourself this well, hmm?” Kaeya replied. He rummaged through the cabinets and pulled out a small container filled with tiny crystals and a box of candles. He put a few small scoops of the crystals into the water, the scent of lavender and wolfhooks spreading throughout the room as they dissolved. The candles were arranged neatly around the tub.
Kaeya opened the tiny window above the tube and then gestured to the bath, “All yours.”
Albedo sighed and relented.
Kaeya left the room to give him some privacy. Albedo stripped down, neatly folding his clothes. He briefly rinsed off before getting into the bath. Albedo ran his hand through it, watching how the water and soap bubbles rippled under the motions. The water had cooled a bit, but it was still a bit on the warmer side of comfortable.
He eased himself into it, leaning back against the porcelain. It was even more comfortable than expected. The water was just the right temperature. Albedo couldn’t help but compare it to the gentlest of embraces. The weight was lifted from him and he allowed his eyes to slip closed. He felt his heart rate slow and his breathing even as the tension was released from his body.
Lavender and wolfhook was a surprisingly soothing scent, light enough to not bother the senses but ever present. Albedo let his head lay back, water submerged up past his ears. He stared at the ceiling and listened to the movement of the bubbles. Sounds were morphed under the water’s influence. He tapped the surface, just enough to splash, the sound satisfying to the ear.
Eventually, the feeling of having his ears submerged in water prompted him to lift his head back up. It was at that time that a knock came at the door.
“I hope you’re not falling asleep in there.”
Albedo huffed a laugh, “Not this time, no.”
“May I come in?”
“Of course.”
Kaeya had brought with him a bar of chocolate and a book tucked under one arm. Albedo sighed, a shy smile upon his face.
“You really are spoiling me too much.”
“Nonsense,” Kaeya replied playfully. He took a seat on the edge of the bath, crossing one leg over the other. He broke off the first row of squares from the chocolate and handed it to an eager Albedo. He licked the broken pieces off his fingers, laughing slightly at the way the alchemist savored the sweets.
Albedo eyed the book in Kaeya’s hands with both caution and curiosity. It was so close to a watery death, but he wanted to know what the knight had picked. Kaeya took one glance at him and knew the question in his eyes.
“It’s a folktale from my childhood, nothing textbook worthy,” Kaeya said. “I thought I’d keep you company for a bit, if you’re interested.”
Albedo’s heart ached with fondness, something so sickly sweet he might just explode. It was like sparks igniting in his chest, blooming into the all powerful might of a star. He wasn’t sure how to handle such a feeling. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could handle it.
“Kaeya…,” he said and hesitated. The knight tilted his head towards him, inviting discussion. Albedo took a deep breath.
“I’m not going to up and disappear, you know that right?”
The silence stretched between them. Kaeya’s eye was wide open. Albedo could see all four points of his star-like pupil. The cavalry captain moved to speak, but no words left his mouth. Albedo continued.
“I appreciate your thoughtfulness and care, truly. It’s just…it feels like you’re worried that I’m going to leave.”
Kaeya’s jaw was tense, pain welling up in his eye and his brow drawn together.
“I know,” Kaeya whispered. Albedo reached out and held the hand closest to him. Kaeya leaned down, holding that hand up to his lips. His breath ghosted Albedo’s knuckles as he spoke. “I know that. Logically, I know that you’re here and safe and you have no intentions of leaving. But I just…”
His voice wavered,“...when I saw you laying there, so cold and hardly moving, I was terrified. What if you didn’t wake up? What if one day you left for the mountain and never came back?”
Albedo reached out with his free hand and cupped Kaeya’s face. The knight leaned into his touch.
If I were ever to leave you behind, I would only do so by your hand, Albedo thought. They were words he couldn’t say aloud, and ones he would not bother to dwell on. He was tied to Mondstadt now, he had taken root in the land of wind and had every intention of staying as long as he was permitted.
“I’m right here,” he said instead. “And I already promised to be more careful, remember? I don’t think I’ve broken any of my promises. The mountain won’t change that.”
Kaeya nodded and planted a kiss on Albedo’s knuckles, “I know.”
Albedo reversed gripped Kaeya’s hand and copied the action, “Good.”
Even if he didn’t fully believe it, the alchemist thought it was a start. He would just have to remind the knight every once in a while. Perhaps he would take Kaeya up the mountain with him some time, if only to ease his worries.
Tension still lingered in the air. Kaeya shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say. Being the agent of change that he was, Albedo leaned coyly against the side of the tub, letting his head rest on his arms. He smiled warmly.
“So Kae, are you going to read your book or would you like to join me?”
Kaeya was taken aback by the shift in topic before laughing quietly to himself. The air grew lighter between them, and Kaeya copied Albedo’s playful tone, “How about I do both?”
“Don’t you dare get into the bath with a book in your hands.”