Chapter Text
The night was cold. Silence coated the streets of Mondstadt, swallowing all sounds that dare interrupt the stillness. Veils of darkness clouded Albedo’s vision. Even angels held their breath as Albedo entered the mouth of the monster that was the empty streets.
Lives were frozen, as was the air, to allow this stillness to cloud the city. Albedo’s footsteps were the only ones to hear in the dead of the night.
Then, like silent tears, the cavalry captain completed the flawed humanity of the night.
“Why, my good Chief Alchemist! What a surprise to find you wandering the streets at this hour.” Kaeya’s cheery voice echoed throughout the empty streets far too easily.
“I suppose it would be,” Albedo responded, pausing to get a good look at the captain.
Kaeya’s blue eye was bloodshot, yet a smile dominated his face. Another dark veil the night wore, gifting it to the captain in order to protect himself. The captain clearly thought that the shadows were thick enough to disguise the cracks, but chalk could see every hairline fracture. He decided to take “pity” on the man and pretend he couldn’t see.
“If I may, what has you awake at such a dreadful time?” Kaeya asked with his usual poise and tentative grace.
“Is it so strange to have the need to wander?” Albedo answered with a question, as it hid the truth, yet satisfied the one asking, for some bizarre reason.
Kaeya chuckled. “I suppose not. Yet, not many seek to wander when they are asleep, or near to it, in their safe, warm home.”
“And you?” Albedo inquired. “What drew you out of your safe, warm home?”
“That is, indeed, a fair question to ask. I guess I was merely curious about the bizarre stories I hear from the Favonius headquarters.” A lie. A horrible, terrible lie.
Albedo felt a twinge of annoyance. This charade was getting annoying. Pity, remember? A voice strangely similar to a past mentor’s whispered in his ear.
“Well then,” Albedo said curtly, “Care to wander with me and hopefully spot a few anomalies on the way?”
“Why, I would be delighted.”
They succumbed to the silence once more, and the night was as it was before.
Albedo decided to take a chance, and maybe find a way to make Kaeya drop his mask, or even don a different one. “I do hope you don’t struggle to sleep at night, captain.” Albedo’s voice was firm, yet curious.
“I guess it’s a good thing that I chose to stay up this late,” Kaeya responded smoothly. “I would hate to cause you to worry.”
“I believe that this walk should help you sleep.” Albedo completely ignored Kaeya’s response.
Kaeya looked at him with a confused expression. That was genuine, so Albedo’s strategy worked at least a little. “I just said-”
“I’m not stupid, captain.” Albedo caught himself, realizing that his patience was slipping. “I wish to help you, but if you make this difficult, then I will be less encouraged to do so.” The words weren’t sharp, they weren’t even cold, merely facts Albedo felt he needed to say.
Kaeya didn’t respond.
How fascinating this man was. He managed to push people away by being kind and charming, and remained incredibly unpredictable, although Albedo knew that that factor would fade with time. Time he had and will spend looking into this strange man with Khaenri’ahn eyes.
It seemed that Kaeya was just as confused about Albedo as Albedo was about him. The response from Kaeya was a strange defeated yet confused expression, like a puppy being yelled at. Albedo found Kaeya’s handsome face just as adorable. He almost chuckled.
The rest of the walk was performed in silence. The stage showed the two actors to what Albedo assumed was Kaeya’s home.
“Well, it was fun strolling with you. I hope our predicament becomes a little less troublesome.” Kaeya gave a small bow and opened his front door.
Well, that was unexpected. Kaeya just accepted the fact that Albedo would know about his struggle instead of fighting- wait a minute…
“‘Our?’” Albedo frowned.
“‘I’m not stupid, captain,’” Kaeya echoed, raising an eyebrow.
The twist was so unexpected, Albedo had to laugh. Of course, Kaeya was wrong. Chalk merely didn’t need as much sleep as flesh.
Kaeya gave Albedo a smile, one that was mostly fake, based on what Albedo knew about the man. “Have a good rest, captain.”
“Albedo.”
The word made Kaeya tilt his head curiously.
“Kaeya, although I suppose you already knew that,” Kaeya replied curtly. “Goodnight, Albedo.”
“Don’t stay awake staring at the ceiling for too long, Kaeya,” Albedo replied, a smile tugging at his features. How strange. He thought. Usually, his smiles were things he could control.
Kaeya chuckled as he closed the door behind him, leaving Albedo alone in the cold.
He’d have to continue conversing with the cavalry captain. He was quite the interesting character.
Papers hit Albedo’s desk with a sound that seemed larger than it actually was. Albedo spun from his position by the window in the back of the room, and his eyes met Kaeya’s mirthful grin.
Albedo groaned. “Really?”
Kaeya’s hands went up in fake surrender. “Jean asked me to deliver them. Don’t shoot the messenger.”
Albedo’s face contorted in confusion. “Why would I shoot you?”
“You-?” Kaeya paused, genuinely caught off guard. “It’s a figure of speech.”
“Oh.” Every day, Albedo felt as if people came up with a new moniker just to confuse him.
“So…” Kaeya began. “Aren’t work hours meant for working, not staring out the window?” He leaned forward slightly. “What exactly are you working on?”
“I’m…” Albedo paused, realizing that Kaeya probably wouldn’t understand half of the experiment sitting to his right. “It’s complicated.”
Kaeya unexpectedly sat down in the one seat in Albedo’s office. “I have time.”
Fascinating. Albedo thought. Did Kaeya actually have an interest in alchemy, or was he simply being polite to Albedo?
Albedo didn’t really care as much as he cared about alchemy. He pounced on the opportunity to explain his current studies. Kaeya followed surprisingly well, and asked relevant and thought provoking questions.
The sun was just beginning to set when Kaeya finally stood up.
“Well, this is the time I take my leave.” He gave a small bow, then moved towards the door. “It was delightful to spend time with you.”
“That’s good. Rest well.” Albedo then turned back to his experiment, like a cat finding something better to prey on.
Albedo barely heard the sound of the door closing.