Journey | Albedo's Descent Book 3

Chapter 2: Sweet Flowers

Albedo smelled the flowers as he set them in a vase. He smiled as he fluffed a Cecilia, thinking Kaeya very thoughtful for getting him a gift unprompted like that.
Sucrose entered the room muttering to herself as she shuffled through a pile of papers. "Oh, good afternoon, Mr. Albedo."
Albedo smiled as he turned partway, "afternoon."
Sucrose tilted her head as she walked towards her side of the room, "did you go flower collecting this morning for a sketch?"
"No, but that is a good idea," Albedo rummaged through his drawers for paper and pencil.
Sucrose filed away her papers, "did someone get you flowers, then? Oh! Is it your birthday?! I-"
"No," Albedo chuckled as he shook his head, "Kaeya gave them to me."
Sucrose smiled, "oh, they're very nice."
Albedo nodded as he began his sketch.
Sucrose didn't see Albedo smile like that very often. She was glad he had someone to make him happy like that... but she couldn't help but feel a little jealous of his happiness.
"Sucrose," Albedo's voice shook her from her thoughts.
"Uh- yes?" She pushed her glasses up.
"Do you have a tattoo?"
She blinked a few times, "uh, yes... how did you know?"
Albedo smiled, "Lisa said that a lot of the Knights got tattoos of their constellations at the same time. I was wondering if you were in that group."
Sucrose nodded, "yeah, Lisa convinced us all to do it. I- I don't mean to say that it was bad, it was fun to match with everyone. It was just... a little scary..."
Albedo chuckled to himself, "that's Lisa for you..." His voice drifted off as he was sucked into his drawing.
Sucrose wondered why he randomly asked that, but didn't want to interrupt his art-making process. She got to work organizing her papers again.

"And then Klee was like BOW! And ZSHOOM!"
Albedo was listening to Klee tell her dramatic story of how her day went as he was unconsciously spinning his ring over his finger.
"Oh!" Klee interrupted herself, "Klee noticed that Albedo doesn't wear his ring very often! Aren't you supposed to always wear it?!"
Albedo faltered, "am I?... I normally don't wear it when I'm bathing or doing experiments because I don't want to ruin it..."
"Klee is pretty sure you're supposed to always wear it," she put a finger on her chin as she looked around.
Albedo pursed his lips as he stopped fidgeting and stared down at his hand, "oh... I didn't know..."
"When are you getting married?" Klee asked as she ran her finger over the ring, feeling it's smooth, polished surface.
"I don't know, we haven't really talked about it..." Albedo spoke slowly, "we haven't even been together for that long... I'm pretty sure he just gave me this to make you stop bugging him about marrying me."
"No! No! No! Klee is certain! CERTAIN! That Kaeya wants to marry you!"
"Well, maybe eventually, but-"
"No! Right now!"
Albedo sighed, "Klee, calm down... why are you so passionate about this?"
"Because Klee wants you two to be married! Then Klee gets to be an auntie!"
Albedo blinked, "that doesn't make you an aunt....?"
"Klee will be an auntie when Albedo and Kaeya have a baby. That's how Aunties work."
"Kaeya and I won't be having any children..."
"Why not?!" Klee exclaimed, "Klee thinks babies are the cutest!"
Albedo pursed his lips again, "Klee... we just can't..."
"Why not?!" She gasped, "oh! Is it because you're made of chalk?!"
Albedo's eyes wandered away, "... yes..." This would be easier than explaining the real reason.
Klee nodded, "Klee guesses that can't be helped... Klee can't be an auntie..." She hung her head.
Albedo pat her shoulder, "it's okay, Klee. I'm sure Dodoco loves you even when you aren't an auntie."
Klee sighed, "okay... but Klee still wants to be an auntie..."
"Who knows, maybe Kaeya and I will end up adopting someone. Then you can be an aunt."
"Really?! YAY!!!" Klee jumped up and down.
Albedo smiled. He had said that mostly to appease her. He didn't have a clue on how to raise a child... He had been doing his best for Klee, but he wasn't always around to take care of her. It was mostly Jean, Lisa, and Kaeya stepping in when Albedo wasn't on hand. ... no wonder she ended up so crazy.
"Oh! Klee is going to go tell on Albedo!"
"Hm? For what?"
"For not wearing the ring all the time," she laughed evilly.
"But I didn't know..."
"Klee is gonna tell Kaeya and then Kaeya is going to come in here and-"
"What's all this talk about me for?" Kaeya smiled as he closed the door behind him.
"Kaeya! Albedo hasn't been wearing the ring you gave him!"
Kaeya looked over at Albedo's hand, "but he's wearing it right now."
"Yeah, but he doesn't wear it when he's doing experiments!"
"That's just common sense, Klee," Kaeya crouched down and pat her head, "I don't mind that he takes it off every once in a while."
"But Albedo is supposed to-"
Kaeya laughed, "Klee, I don't think you need to be worried about it."
Klee puffed out her cheeks, "but Albedo-"
"Is it your business, Klee?"
She looked away, "no..."
Kaeya nodded, "alright. You should go find Lisa, she has a treat for you."
"Really?!" Klee perked up and ran out.
Kaeya chuckled as he stood back up, "she's so obsessed with it."
Albedo looked over at the papers on the table again, "what brings you in here?"
Kaeya walked over to him, "Albedo, don't feel bad. I really don't care."
Albedo sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair, "I..."
Kaeya put his hands on Albedo's shoulders, leaning over him with a smile, "I said not to feel bad."
"I know," Albedo closed his eyes, "but I can't help it."
"Why not?" Kaeya asked.
"I feel bad because I know I'm not very good at... being available in the way you are..."
"Emotionally?" Kaeya chuckled, "I don't mind that so much,"
"No, I mean..." Albedo wasn't sure how to say it, "Klee is always saying how... 'it's like I forget you exist'..."
"Klee's just being pushy," Kaeya draped his arms over Albedo and sighed through his nose, "she doesn't understand how relationships work or how difficult they can be."
Albedo leaned his head over Kaeya's shoulder, "I know... but I feel like I'm... not doing it right..."
Kaeya laughed, the sound reverberating from his chest, "there is no 'right' way, Albedo."
Albedo averted his eyes without a word.
Kaeya stood back up, "did Sucrose like the flowers?" he walked over to the vase.
Albedo nodded, "she said they were nice," he stood up.
Kaeya abruptly looked over as he heard Albedo's chair clatter to the ground and the table scraping against the floor.
Albedo had his elbow braced against the table, leaning on it. He righted himself, his expression obscured by his hair.
"Are you alright?" Kaeya worriedly hurried back over.
"Fine, just... lost my footing," he gave a smile, "I guess Sucrose's clumsiness is rubbing off on me."
Kaeya picked the chair back up, "is she clumsy? Is that why her experiments always go wrong?"
Albedo nodded, "oftentimes..."
Kaeya turned back to Albedo, "are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, I," he took a quiet breath, "I'm just tired..."
Kaeya gave him a worried look, "okay... you know you can tell me if something's wrong."
Albedo nodded, "I know."
In the moment when he almost fell, his vision blurred and his legs had just simply stopped working. He had probably just stood up too quickly.
Albedo reached his hand out, placing it on Kaeya's arm, "I... I still wear the ring when I'm in Dragonspine..."
Kaeya blinked, taking his hand, "isn't that bad? You shouldn't wear it in that weather, it'll hurt your hand-"
Albedo squeezed his hand, "I don't wear it enough... Klee's right, I do forget... I can't seem to remember important things anymore..."
Kaeya put his arms around Albedo, "I don't care that you forget... because I know that you'll remember when you see me again."
Albedo leaned into him, saying nothing.
"Why don't we get you a nice nap, hm?"
Albedo nodded, "that does sound really nice..."
Kaeya smiled, kissing Albedo's forehead, "I know Lisa has some scented candles that are supposed to help you sleep."
"... does Lisa just have everything?"
Kaeya chuckled, "sometimes I think so."
"Really... why does she choose to just stay a librarian? She could do so much-"
Kaeya laughed, "I'm sure it's just laziness."
"Probably..."