Goodbye

1

"Lumine!"

"Aether!"

Both twins yelled as they both saw each other from a distance, it's been years since they both saw each and this day made it felt like the last. The siblings ran up to each other and hugged each other tightly afraid to lose each other again.

Aether and his friends, along with Albedo smiling warmly at the reunion feeling relieved that they both saw the two together again. Albedo was yet to be happy, but then felt as if a part of himself will be gone forever. Just like an unfinished puzzle piece.

"Albedo!" Aether yelled, running up to him, hugging him tightly. "Thank you so much for helping me." He said, wholeheartedly thanking Albedo. "Y-You're welcome." Albedo stuttered, still hugging Aether. He felt his heart slowly break every second that had passed, knowing that the person who made him feel human; will be gone.

Feeling lost, Albedo remembered all those memories of the days they had fun. The days where it feels like there were only people on Teyvat.

"Albedo?" Aether called out, looking at Albedo who was lost deeply in thought.

"Albedo..?" He lightly shook him, a worried expression splattered all over his face. A tear left Albedo's eye and Aether felt shock.

"Hey! Albedo!" Aether was starting to panic as Albedo didn't even flinch. The braid-headed male felt a wave of relief rush within him when Albedo turned to look at him slowly. It was eerie and silent, and Aether's 'relief' slowly turned into concern.

"Your sister must be waiting." Albedo wiped the tears away from his eyes, his smile was crooked and Aether knew it didn't feel right.

"I know that but-"

"Then go." Albedo said, his voice threatening to crack as his expression was trying so hard not to break. Aether didn't know why, but his hand moved towards Albedo's face.

That was it, the alchemist's tears started flowing like a rushing river, but as painful as it was, it felt like lava. He couldn't take it, Aether's touch only made him melt like metal.

"Don't think about me, go to your sister." Albedo forcefully smiled, hiding his feelings deep inside him. Not wanting to make Aether worried, he laughed but it soon turned into painful sobs.

Sobs that he tried so hard to hold back.

Aether hugged him tightly again one last time, knowing that he couldn't do anything but say farewell.

After a few minutes of standing there in silence, Lumine called out to Aether to say that it's time to go home. Albedo heard it and wouldn't let Aether go, he held on his clothes tightly. "A-Albedo?" Aether yelped, seeing Albedo holding onto him for dear life, not wanting to budge.

"Master Albedo?" Sucrose called out, seeing the situation. "Master Albedo, you need to let go. Traveller has to leave soon." She touched his arm but he didn't budge, he was frozen in place. Sucrose knew that they weren't in Dragonspine, but Sucrose could see Albedo's hand trembling.

"Aether? What are you doing? Let's go." Lumine looked at Aether who was frozen in place. She was confused. "W-Wait a minute Lumine. H-hey Albedo? Please let go." He said, slowly shaking Albedo off, who only shook his head. Albedo was acting like a child and Sucrose wasn't having it.

Sucrose knew he wouldn't let go once he's in this phase, so she grabbed his hand tightly and tried to forcefully pull it away. Timaeus helped her because he knew she was too weak to pull him away; he grabbed his other arm and tried to pull it.

"No!" Albedo's voice cracked as he hid his face on Aether's neck, crying and holding on. "Aether please.." He sobbed, Aether could feel his grip tighten. Aether then called desperately, "Lumine! Help me out."

With the strength of four people combined, they had managed to weaken Albedo's grip. Albedo felt like he was being held back with chains covered in sharp thorns as he felt his whole world shatter. Jean and Kaeya, who was minding their own business, had seen the commotion and decided to take action.

"Don't leave me..!" Albedo screamed so much, trying to back free from the hold of the people trying to stop him. "Aether!" He screamed once again, his voice breaking every second. He kept repeating Aether's name again and again like a broken record.

"Don't leave me again! We made a promise, please." He begged, his voice becoming hoarse as he struggled to break free. Kaeya and the others tried their best to hold him in place with him only screaming, tears going down his eyes rapidly.

"I'm sorry, Albedo." Aether said, a tear leaving his eye as he held Lumine's hand and flew away. He looked back once before vanishing away. "No...! Let me go!" Albedo finally broke free from their hold and tried to follow them but he couldn't.

He watched as they both drifted away slowly, he tried following them, running to get close to Aether but he was already far away. He panted, his legs giving out as he did nothing. He felt as though he had finally given up. He couldn't escape the true face of reality.

He held the area of his face that the traveller had touched, he wanted to cry or sob but his body was too exhausted to even do so. Instead he did what he had done before.

He laughed, trying hard to calm himself down and tell himself that he shouldn't be selfish. He told himself that everything would be alright.

He told himself that Aether was happy, and that was enough, right?

Albedo felt a small yet warm embrace hug him tight. "A-Albedo.." The child spoke. He turned around and saw Klee, holding back her tears. "D-Don't cry, o-or I'll cry too." Klee continued, wiping the tears off Albedo's face, whilst tears started streaming down her own.

Albedo turned around and started sobbing once again. His sobs were raspy, painful and unbearable to hear. He hugged Klee tight, and whispered something into her ear.

"Albedo will be fine, so Klee, don't cry anymore okay?" He said, facing Klee with a smile on his face, only to receive a small nod from the little terrorist.

He then said something to himself, which was inaudible.

"When you go through this too when you grow up, cry your heart out. I'll listen to you and hug you, just like you did for me."