Genshin Oneshots [ch x ch]

❄️Kleesitting🔬

"Klee, come on, it's time for bed," Albedo called with an exhausted sigh. Currently, the young girl was dashing through the house in protest.

"No! Klee's not tired! I wanna go to Liyue with big brother Albedo and fly kites, and then see the fishies!" she shouted, stamping her foot and clutching her nightgown.

"I told you, Klee, we can go tomorrow. The sooner you get to sleep, the faster tomorrow will come."

"But Klee wants to go now!" Albedo pinched the bridge of his nose and let out another deep sigh.

"I know, but right now, it's bedtime for you and me."

"That's unfair! You grown-ups get to stay up late!" Albedo sat down in defeat. Klee was especially persistent today, more than usual as she had allegedly taken a nap earlier that afternoon in the Knights of Favonius Headquarters after being placed in her solitary confinement room.

Just then an idea popped into his head. If there was one Knight of Favonius that could convince Klee, it was Kaeya. He had a way of following others' narratives and easily manipulating them to get what he wants. 

At least, Albedo thought so. That was a trait he realized after he had been convinced to follow him to Windrise after specifically telling him he could not leave his experiments. And after all that, it turned out that Kaeya only wanted to "hang out" and it wasn't anything important.

"How about this, let's take a walk through Mondstadt, and if you're still not tired, we'll go and pack for Liyue." Klee immediately agreed and headed for the door to put on her shoes.

Albedo followed and held Klee's hand as they strolled through the cobblestone streets, crickets chirping and the wind gently carrying loose foliage through the air.

As they reached the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, a familiar voice spoke up,

"Oh, well look who it is," Kaeya approached, flipping a coin in one hand.

"Big brother Kaeya!" Klee rushed over and held her arms up to him.

"Hey, why are you out so late, Miss Spark Knight?"

"Big brother Albedo said we're gonna take a walk and then go and get ready to go to Liyue!"

"Liyue, huh?" he asked, looking at Albedo with a raised eyebrow.

"She won't go to bed, so I was hoping a walk would tire her out," Albedo spoke quietly.

"Well, that certainly sounds exciting doesn't it? But, don't you think you should get some rest first?" he asked, crouching down to Klee's height.

"No. Klee's not tired!" Kaeya glanced up at Albedo, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. He smiled to himself and stood up again, walking over to face him.

"I don't know why she's so insistent tonight," the alchemist admitted, "I have no clue how Alice deals with situations like this." Kaeya stepped closer, disregarding personal space. Albedo, caught off guard but not willing to give up his ground, looked up at the knight, heartbeat increasing by the second. The cryo user nudged the alchemist's arm with his elbow.

"Go get some sleep," he said, "I'll deal with this little rascal and bring her back. Ten minutes, tops." He turned back around to challenge Klee to a race around the cathedral plaza, which she enthusiastically accepted and started jogging up the stairs towards the statue of Barbatos. Albedo was hesitant, but finally nodded to the man and headed back to the house. 

Once home, the room felt even more empty than it was due to the lack of Klee's antics. It was almost relaxing if it weren't for the fact he was already worried for the girl. What if she fell and scraped her knee, or worse; what if she couldn't be persuaded by Kaeya, and ends up running away to Liyue on her own this late at night? 

Feeling slightly overwhelmed with worry, Albedo decided he would wait for Klee to return, sitting on the couch so that he could go and check on the two if they didn't return in time.

He waited, and waited until his eyes felt heavier and his torso refused to keep him upright. Slowly, his eyes closed and he unknowingly drifted to sleep.

"Big brother Kaeya, you're so slow!" Klee shouted behind her as she crossed the designated finish line, meters ahead of her opponent.

"Maybe you just may be super fast," he told her, finally completing the lap himself. "Now tell me, little miss, how come you don't want to go to bed?"

"I said already, Klee's not tired! Besides, why do all the grown-ups get to stay up later?" she pouted.

"Tell you what," Kaeya reasoned, "If you come back with me and go to bed, I'll come with you guys and buy you a kite in Liyue. How does that sound?" Klee's eyes lit up slightly, her face still in a pout. Suddenly, unexpected to even herself, Klee yawned and reached to wipe her watery eyes.

"Ok," she said quietly, and Kaeya picked her up to escort her back to Albedo's place. He knocked on the door and entered to see a sleeping Albedo passed out on the couch. He smiled and looked back to Klee, who also seemed to be asleep in his arms, nuzzled into his fluffy cape. 

Quietly, he searched the house until he found what was undoubtedly Klee's room, and tucked her into bed, closing the curtain in hopes that she wouldn't wake the moment sunlight shone through the window the next morning.

He then went to confront the unconscious Albedo, who was still unaware of Klee's return that he was waiting for.

"Alright, Sleeping Beauty, it's your turn," Kaeya whispered as he carefully scooped the sleeping man into his arms. He carried him into the other bedroom he had seen and set him down on the sheets, where he stirred for a moment. His expression was soft while he slept; contrary to his serious disposition out-and-about. 

Kaeya smiled as his gaze softened as well. What an intriguing knight you are, he thought, brushing Albedo's face lightly with the back of his hand. He jolted when he realized what he had done, standing to leave the room. 

"Heh," he chuckled to himself in the doorway. "You got me good, doctor," he smirked, looking back one more time at the man. "How special you are."