Journey | Albedo's Descent Book 3

Chapter 19: Unwanted Guests

Kaeya sighed quietly to himself. "Albedo... what am I going to do with you?..."
The captain tucked a bit of Albedo's hair behind his ear, "you've been making me so worried..."
Kaeya was speaking in the quietest of whispers, hoping not to wake anyone. He wasn't sure what time it was, but it was so hard to sleep knowing Albedo might get up in the middle of the night again.
"I'm sure Lisa and Klee are worried, too... you said you would only be gone two days... When I was in town, I let them know it would be a few extra days, and I told Lisa what's going on. She said she would look into it... but that carving seems so old...
"And... what if this really is all in your head?..." Kaeya gently rested his hand over Albedo's cheek, "would there even be a way to fix that?... It started in your dreams, that makes it seem like it would eventually go away... but from the looks of it, it seems everything is only getting worse and more confusing...
"Please... can't this just be over...?"
Kaeya dropped his eyes from the alchemist's face, "I can't loose anyone else..."
Albedo's hand slowly drifted to lay over Kaeya's, "you aren't going to loose me..."
Kaeya pulled his hand away, "sorry, did-"
Albedo held Kaeya's hand in place, "sort of. I would have woken up whether you were talking to yourself or not."
Kaeya felt bad for not noticing Albedo was awake and for saying all those stupid things. "I..."
Albedo squeezed his hand, "you don't have to worry about me... I promise it'll be over soon. I've already started working on a plan. And a backup plan, just in case."
"When is 'soon'?..."
"I'm... not sure right now..." Albedo heaved a sigh, "I'm too tired to think that hard..."
"What if I just..." Kaeya wrapped his arms around Albedo tightly, "never let go?..."
Albedo chuckled, "we both know that isn't possible. Besides, we'd eventually freeze to death with no one to tend the fire."
Kaeya frowned, "stop ruining my arguments with your logic."
Albedo hugged him back, "trust me, letting me go is much better than not."
"Why?" Kaeya asked.
"Because right now I can't kiss you," Albedo smiled to himself, very pleased with his big brain-ery.
Kaeya hesitated for a moment, "are you saying that if I let go you'll kiss me?"
Albedo shrugged, "that all depends."
"On what?..."
"It wouldn't be any fun if I just told you."
Kaeya paused, "Albedo... now I don't know what to do..."
"Do whatever you want..." Albedo closed his eyes and got comfortable, "we need to go back to sleep, anyways. It's only a matter of when."
Kaeya was seriously debating his options, here. He ended up settling for a simple idea, "whether or not Albedo actually kisses me, I'll just grab him again. So... double win?"
Kaeya started to second guess himself as he let go of Albedo and moved back.
Albedo sighed, muttering tiredly, "and I was just about to fall back asleep..."
Kaeya waited a moment, but Albedo didn't do or say any anything else. The cavalry captain poked him, "Albedo?..."
"Hm?" He opened one of his eyes.
"You... you said-"
"I never promised anything," Albedo closed his eyes.
Kaeya frowned, "that's dirty..."
Albedo blew air out of his nose tiredly, "are you really that desperate?"
Kaeya puffed out his cheeks, "only because you're so mean when you're tired."
Albedo came closer to Kaeya with a sigh, "fine... but you have to promise to let me leave camp by myself tomorrow."
"What? Albedo-"
"Hold on, just... just calm down..." Albedo forced his eyes open. They were red and irritated from lack of sleep. "I need to talk to Durin again, and I don't think he's too fond of people. I want to avoid as much conflict as possible..."
Kaeya sighed heavily, "Albedo, are you trying to make me loose my mind?"
Albedo chuckled, "it won't take long. I promise I'll come back as soon as I've sorted things out. And you can sort of see the area from here, too."
Kaeya closed his eyes tightly, "alright... but only because I love you."
Albedo smiled, "thank you." He leaned in and placed a kiss on Kaeya's lips.
Kaeya held Albedo there for longer than was probably necessary. When he let go he went right back to smothering Albedo in his embrace.
Albedo blinked a few times, "uh, Kaeya-"
"Shhhhh," Kaeya squeezed him, "it's bedtime..."
Albedo hesitated before slowly putting his arms around Kaeya as well, "but-"
"You might wake Rosaria," Kaeya stated.
"I've been awake this whole time."
Kaeya and Albedo froze.
"Yeah. I heard all of that. Absolutely disgusting. Now be quiet so I can go back to sleep. Okay? Okay."
Kaeya and Albedo felt incredibly embarrassed and didn't say another word.