Journey | Albedo's Descent Book 3

Chapter 6: Awake Again

"You guys are working late," the Cavalry Captain smiled as he stepped in.
Sucrose looked up, "oh, hello! Uh- yes. I didn't mean to keep Mr. Albedo so long... We got a little caught up, heh heh..."
Kaeya's smile grew, "it's not a problem."
Albedo removed his glasses as he looked over at the clock, "it is getting late..."
"I'll clean up," Sucrose smiled, "you go get some sleep. You'll be heading back to Dragonspine soon, right?"
Albedo stood up, "actually I've pushed back my trip a bit."
"Really?"
Albedo nodded, "don't stay up too late, Sucrose."
"I won't," she started putting materials away.
Albedo exited the lab with Kaeya, holding onto his pinky finger.
"What is it? You seemed in a hurry to leave," Kaeya noted.
Albedo took a moment before speaking, "We've been doing experiments with a lot of chemicals today... it smells very bad in there."
Kaeya chuckled, "I'm sure poor Sucrose thought you were upset with her."
"You think so?"
Kaeya nodded, "she was shocked by how you changed the subject so quickly."
"Oh... I'll have to apologize in the morning," Albedo stared down at his feet.
As they went up the stairs the Alchemist took Kaeya's whole hand and held it tightly.
Kaeya smiled a little bit, "did you miss me that much?"
Albedo shook his head, "no, I'm just-"
"Ouch, my feelings," Kaeya clutched his chest. "Way to throw me under the cart!"
Albedo blinked, "oh... sorry, I wasn't even thinking about..."
Kaeya rolled his eyes, "I know, I'm only teasing."
Albedo sighed, "I am... so tired... Those candles are going to get me on a proper sleep schedule..."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
Albedo halted, "oh... right..."
Kaeya squeezed his hand, "sleep is good for you. Having a healthy sleep schedule will make you feel better. I guarantee it."
Albedo looked up at him as they started walking again, "really?"
Kaeya nodded, "ask anyone. You may not get as much done, but you get it done better. Quality over quantity."
Albedo smiled a little bit, "alright, I'll take your word for it."
Kaeya felt rather proud of himself, "I promise sleeping isn't that bad."
"Actually, I've noticed that it's quite nice to not wake up after I fall asleep."
Kaeya looked over at him, "you wake up often?"
Albedo nodded, "I'll feel anxious and it'll wake me up. Then I'll work on something until I'm too tired to finish..."
Kaeya shivered, "that sounds like a vicious cycle."
Albedo nodded, "yes. ... thank you for the candles..."
Kaeya stopped in front of Albedo's door, "thank Lisa for sparing me."
Albedo seemed shocked by something.
"What is it?" Kaeya asked with a hint of worry in his voice.
"Nothing, I just didn't expect to get here so quickly." He still held on to Kaeya's hand as he pushed the door open.
Kaeya willingly followed him in, "are you sure you're okay?"
"Is anyone ever sure?" Albedo chuckled.
Kaeya rolled his eyes, "I guess that's true..."
Albedo finally let go, moving over to his dresser "how late do you normally stay up with Rosaria?"
Kaeya laughed nervously, "I think the latest is around 3:00 AM... We try not to be so late... Oh! That reminds me! The craziest thing has been happening!"
Albedo went into the bathroom, "keep talking, I can still hear you."
"Diluc has actually been talking to me!"
Albedo smiled to himself, just listening to how excited Kaeya sounded.
"I think he's finally decided to get over himself," Kaeya sat down on the edge of Albedo's bed, "he and Rosaria get along surprisingly well. ... it's actually kinda creepy."
Albedo chuckled as he walked back out and tossed his dirty clothes into a hamper across the room. "I'm glad, I hope he hasn't been too rude to you."
Kaeya shook his head, "not much meaner than Rosaria's usual bullying."
Albedo walked around to his usual side of the bed. "I hope you two can reconcile... I don't think I've told you, but I have a brother as well," he pulled a match out of the nightstand drawer with a sigh.
"You do?!"
Albedo nodded, turning to face Kaeya, who had already turned to face him, too. "Well, not biologically, of course... but he is... sort of dead... It's all very complicated. I don't think he would talk to me if he could... he hates me."
"Why? Have you done something against him?"
Albedo shook his head, "not unless you count existing..."
Kaeya took Albedo's hand, "I'm sorry..."
"I guess we both have our own family issues to work out," Albedo smiled in a sad way.
Kaeya nodded, closing his eyes for a moment, "I'm sure everything will work out in the end."
Albedo pulled his hand away as he lit the match, "I hope so."
Kaeya laid down, using his arm for a pillow instead of using an actual pillow.
Albedo heaved a quiet sigh as he laid down and pulled the blankets over himself. He then noticed that Kaeya was still beside him. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He did this a few times, but ended up not saying anything.
Kaeya chuckled, "I'll leave in a little bit."
"Oh, I... I wouldn't mind if you stayed..." Albedo murmured, his mouth obscured by the covers.
Kaeya smiled wider, "you've been strangely clingy today. Did something happen?"
Albedo paused to think, "not really..." he yawned.
"How long does it take for the candles to affect you? You were out immediately the first night."
Albedo smiled tiredly, "just a minute or so... they don't seem as strong as they were the first night."
"Really? It always taken me the same amount of time every night," he paused to think, "maybe Lisa changed her recipe."
"Maybe," Albedo closed his eyes slowly.
Kaeya chuckled as he reached over Albedo and snuffed out the candles. He sat up, putting his hand over Albedo's forehead.
Albedo's eyes opened, staring at Kaeya. For a moment he seemed scared, then he looked tired again.
"You're leaving?"
Kaeya nodded slowly, a bit disturbed. "Are you alright? I can stay if-"
"No," Albedo shook his head, almost asleep, "you go sleep, too... I'll be fine..."
Kaeya reluctantly stood up, "you'd tell me if something was wrong, right?"
Albedo's quiet breathing was the only response.
Kaeya sighed internally. He knew Albedo would tell him if something was a problem... but he still doubted it occasionally... Albedo had almost died a couple of times because he didn't tell anyone he was having problems...
Kaeya made a mental note to deliberately ask Albedo how he was feeling every time he saw him. He quietly slipped out of the room and locked it from the outside with a spare key he had crafted - for emergencies, of course.