It was a chilly night, or so it seemed to Albedo, as he glanced outside, through the window of his home in Mondstadt. He had just finished writing down the results of his latest experiment when he heard a couple of loud knocks on the front door. With a sigh, he got up from his desk, dreading that it was most probably something serious. After all, not many would disturb the Chief Alchemist for something less than urgent at this hour.
The wooden door to his home opened to reveal a single, tall man standing there. His usually well done hair was now more of a blue mess, but he was standing with the very same confidence as he always does and with his usual, sly grin on his face. His one, visible eye moved from the ground, over the entire body of the man before him, and locked on Albedo's eyes in just a moment.
"Why, hello there. Missed me?" The tall man said, his tone calm, casual, somewhat warm.
"You reek of alcohol and cigarettes." The blonde alchemist noted in a matter-of-fact voice.
"Sounds about right." The man before him only chuckled to his remark.
"What is it, Kaeya?"
"How cold." The man named Kaeya pouted sarcastically. "Won't you even invite me in?"
"It won't matter if I do. You'll either come in or pester me until I invite you." Albedo said calmly, however with a faint, short-lived smile on his face.
He moved to the side as he spoke, implying that the man outside could enter the house, which the latter instantly picked up on and stepped inside in one, swift movement. Shortly after, Kaeya was already sat on the couch, as Albedo brought him a glass of clear water, before sitting down next to him.
"Are you implying I'm drunk?" Kaeya said, faking a surprised voice.
"Are you not?" Albedo answered, skipping the false surprised voice however.
"Fair enough." The blue-haired man sighed, taking a sip of water. "Say, prince, why did I have to find out you're back from Dragonspine from some random knight at the tavern?" Kaeya asked, casual voice as always, but curious and expectant at the same time.
"Because you talk to too many so-called random knights." The blonde noted, receiving nothing but a short laugh. It didn't take the genius alchemist more than a second to figure it was entirely false however. "What is it? I wasn't informed I had to report back to the Cavalry Captain on my return."
"Aghh, you..." Kaeya, the aforementioned Cavalry Captain, started saying, obviously less collected than usual. However, one glance at the blonde was enough for him to regain his slightly lost composure and pause. "Less about reporting to the Cavalry Captain, more about notifying your..." but he paused, once again, realizing he didn't exactly know what to say to end that sentence. "Just telling me."
Albedo did nothing but look at Kaeya's reactions. Part of him was somewhat confused, as he just witnessed the man go through this entire range of emotions, trying to say one, quite simple sentence. He frowned, frustrated. He didn't see how someone could take such a thing personally, but knew perfectly well that Kaeya did, which brought his thoughts back at his unfinished sentence. "Notifying my... what?"
"Tch..." The other man clicked his tongue. "Who can say?" He asked as he shrugged nonchalantly, without expecting any answer.
"Did you come here at this hour just to ask that? I don't understand why-" Albedo started, but was cut mid-sentence by a loud, seemingly forced laugh. "K-Kaeya?"
