Journey | Albedo's Descent Book 3

Chapter 3: Scented Candles and Brother Bonding

Lisa wore a smile, "and what can I do for you two?"
Kaeya's face lifted, glad she wasn't in a bad mood. That would have made it harder to coax a candle out of her. "Afternoon, Lisa. We need a favor?"
Lisa looked at them both in turn.
Albedo nodded, "yes, this isn't just something he wants."
"Good," Lisa smiled, "so, what can I do?"
"We need one of your-"
Before Kaeya even finished Lisa sighed loudly as she stood up from leaning over the table. She turned around, "you know, maybe I should start making you pay me for all the candles I give you."
Kaeya laughed nervously, "you can call me whenever you need a favor as well..."
Lisa rolled her eyes as she brought over two short, lavender-colored candles.
Albedo looked up at Kaeya, "do you have trouble sleeping?"
Kaeya thanked Lisa, "ah, sometimes..."
Lisa smirked, "that's a very bold lie~"
Kaeya refused to look at her as he picked up the candles, "thank you, Lisa."
"So passive aggressive," she waved her hand as he turned to leave, "he's so sensitive sometimes. You go have your nap." She ushered Albedo out, "and tell Kaeya that he doesn't actually have to pay me. But it would be nice to have help gathering ingredients every once in a while."
Albedo nodded and left to catch up with Kaeya. He grabbed onto his sleeve, holding it between his fingers and speaking softly, "Lisa said that she doesn't want you to pay her..."
Kaeya sighed, "I know... I would just appreciate if she would keep her nose to herself... Maybe that's where Klee gets it from."
"Alice is the same way... I think Klee would have turned out the same anyways."
Kaeya pushed Albedo's door open, "at least Lisa has some morality in there somewhere."
Albedo nodded as he took off his coat and placed it on its hook.
Kaeya set out the two candles on the nightstand.
"How do they work?" Albedo asked as he sat on the edge of his bed and started - a bit violently and straining with the effort - taking his boots off.
Kaeya shrugged, "I have no clue. They just work... Do you have a lighter?"
Albedo gestured with his eyes, "over in the middle right drawer."
Kaeya walked over to to Albedo's desk and found the lighter easily. The drawer seemed to have miscellaneous items in it. The lighter, a knife, scissors, charcoal, a few hair ties, and a surprising amount of just... sand...
Kaeya pushed aside his confusion as he went back over to Albedo and lit the candles.
Albedo moved back to lean against the headboard as he watched Kaeya light the candles.
"You're going to sleep in that?" Kaeya asked, giving him a skeptical look.
Albedo looked down at himself, "it's comfortable..."
Kaeya shrugged, "whatever makes you happy."
Albedo hesitated before saying quietly, "Kaeya... you're kind of a hypocrite..."
Kaeya sat down by Albedo's knees, looking over at him with no expression, "how so?"
Albedo wouldn't look up from his hands, which were clasped in his lap, "you... you said I could tell you anything... but you keep things from me, too..."
Kaeya looked away, "Lisa was over exaggerating... I only get one or two candles a month or so... they last a while if you just light them for a few minutes and don't have any windows open..."
Albedo's voice lowered in volume even more. But maybe that was because the candles were making him sleepy already. "Why do you need them?..."
Kaeya didn't say anything.
Albedo looked up, "I don't sleep because it's inconvenient for me or because I just forget..."
"Nighttime is when all the intrusive thoughts come. I think about things I don't want to. Remember things I don't want to." He reached over and snuffed out the candles with his ice-coated fingertips. "The candles just give me a push in the right direction."
Albedo folded and unfolded his hands a few times. He didn't know what to say to this and his mind was already feeling incredibly sluggish. "I'm sorry..."
"Don't be, you haven't done anything wrong," Kaeya put his hand over Albedo's with a smile.
Albedo's eyes were closing slowly, "but sleeping is important..."
"Look at who is talking," Kaeya chuckled.
The edges of Albedo's mouth curved upwards slightly for a moment before his eyes fully closed and his expression slowly melted away.
Kaeya moved to sit beside him, placing his arms around him, "I should be the one who is sorry..."