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Dragonspine was dangerous, something every Mondstadt citizen knew well. Yet for Albedo it was a familiar mountain. He often worked alone on it, getting lost in his work. Most enjoyably so.
There were some downsides but Mondstadt was just a trip away and Dragonspine's base camp was even closer so there was little issue at the end of the day. At least the end of most days.
Today was one of the exceptions.
Sitting in bed he watched the snow outside flutter down in large thick flakes. The snowstorm was supposed to die down a couple days back yet was still on-going. The wind howled violently but the snow piled over most of the entrance blocked most of the chill.
“How unlucky.” Albedo sighed as the sheets were pulled over himself, bundling into bed and settling down for now.
If only he had left a few days back, he could have at least spent his time feeling ill somewhere warm.
“I'll just sleep a day or two until I feel better.” Mumbling to himself softly as his eyes closed. Normally sleep took him a bit however his exhaustion forced his eyes to be unable to open again. Quickly he fell asleep.
___
Though he woke up, sleep kept pulling him back.
It was comfortable. Warm. Despite the sunlight warming his face his eyes kept closed.
Turning over kept the sun from reaching his eyelids. Upon doing so he felt something cool and wet slip down his face and onto the bed.
“I just placed that damned thing.” The voice was hard to discern; it sounded across the room.
Feeling whoever spoke reached the overtop of his body and replaced the damp cloth onto his forehead.
Albedo struggled against the instinct to sleep, curious who was caring for him. Yet he was losing. It was all against him; the soft crackle of a fire, warmth of his bed and the comforts that came from being taken care of.
So he slept some more.
___
When finally he woke his caretaker would turn out to be an unexpected one.
Albedo's eyes flicked open just as he felt the other's fingers make contact with his skin.
There stood by his bedside was his caretaker, leaning back a bit with the cloth having dropped from his hands like it came as a surprise that Albedo was finally awake.
“Dorian..” His voice rasped, a complicated series of small expressions crossing the other homunculi's face as he spoke.
“I-I-” He stammered for excuses and so Albedo easily gave him one.
“Were you looking for my research again?” He slowly pushed himself to sit up, he wasn't feeling perfect but he had surely slept through the majority.
“What I was doing is hardly any of your business.”
Though Albedo had wanted to laugh, all that came out was a bit of a cough. This made Dorian push him to lay back down, glaring at him as if trying to threaten him into feeling better.
Keeping the smile he felt hidden from his lips, he glanced around his room. It was a bit messier then he remembered but overall it looked fine.
“Could I bother you for a drink? Water is fine.” Dorian scoffed yet stepped away seeming to do as he asked.
It was just a moment later he was given some water then Dorian left again seeming to heat up the cooking pot.
Albedo watched him.
Sparking a flint and letting the pot heat up. Adding ingredients, tilting his head as he looked at it before double checking a note in his hand.
It was a bit crumpled and from here the text wasn't legible but assumedly it was a recipe.
Their eyes met for a moment and he used it as an excuse to look elsewhere.
___
Dorian nudging him awake made him realize he had fallen asleep again while watching the snowfall.
Hands pushed his body up to sit up again, their eyes met again.
Who knew what those eyes looking back were thinking?
“Soup is done.” Dorian said simply, pulling away to grab a mug before handing it to him. Albedo took it and blew on it a few times, sipping it casually, he could feel the other watching him.
Their eyes met again, he tried to tell what Dorian might be thinking. The tiny hints that may hide in his expression, the small furrow of his brow.
“The soup is good, thank you.” Perhaps it was the wrong answer as the other man scoffed and crossed his arms.
“ Is it ?” Glaring down at Albedo as he drank his soup.
“Yes? I enjoy it.” Simple and truthful. It was a fairly basic meal honestly, most meals for sick people were so he would have nothing to complain about if it was cooked well. Which of course it was.
“I see.” Though he looked displeased, on the other hand he sounded a bit happy about things.
“Have I been sleeping for a long time? A couple days?” He clarified a moment after the first sentence.
Dorian watched him a minute before replying.
“Nearing a week. Maybe a week.” Finally he muttered.
“Odd.” Being sick itself wasn't common yet on top of that, he was unconscious for a week. He'd have to look into it more after he felt better.
Pushing his thoughts aside for now, he realized Dorian taking care of him made more sense with that in mind.
“You must have noticed I never left after the storm died down and found me sleeping then?”
“Something like that.”
Albedo watched Dorian for a moment.
“Come here.”
There were some things you only picked up after knowing someone for as long as they had.
He hesitated a moment but ultimately stepped over to his side, sitting by the bed. Albedo reached out and let their fingers meet, Intertwining them gently.
“I'm feeling much better already.” Eyes locked with one another as he spoke before a long moment of silence. Finally a smile came to Albedo's lips. “What benefit would I have lying to you about this?”
“Fine..” He went to pull his hand away only for Albedo to keep hold on it.
“Just for a bit?” Asking as he handed his empty mug to the other. Though he scoffed in the end of course he agreed, taking the mug from Albedo.
___
Much warmer than before, he could feel someone else breathing. Eyes opening to the chest of the other before peeking up at his face to see those normally sharp eyes were closed. Sleeping.
It was such an odd sight. He didn't even remember having ever seen Dorian's sleeping face. Maybe it was just odd since they shared a face and rarely did people watch themselves sleep.
Regardless he stayed where he was. Taking in the unfamiliar yet familiar moment.
It had been rather unexpected to wake up to Dorian tending to him. Had he really seemed that ill?
His thoughts drifted as he gazed upon the other.
Dorian had claimed he slept about a week before waking, assumedly he must have looked in rough shape.
It was a little ironic however that for all the trouble Dorian gave him that he would be the one nursing him as well. In a way it made sense as by now they were both the others longest known relationship.
“Albedo?” His eyes had barely opened, a tired gaze staring back.
“Everything's fine, you can keep sleeping.” Smiling as he spoke.
Dorian watched him a moment before pulling Albedo down to lay with him again and settling back to sleep.
Albedo doesn't protest any, comfortable letting Dorian do as he likes.
___
Epilogue doodle:
