ᴄʜᴇᴍɪᴄᴀʟ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ - ᴀʟʙᴇᴅᴏ x ᴏᴄ

Chapter 12 - The Cat's Tail

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"Wait just one moment."

Melanie spun around quickly upon hearing the smooth voice sound from the outside. Light footsteps crunched in the fresh snow, revealing the black boots of a certain blue-haired captain. He clapped slowly and chuckled hard enough to throw his head back.

Kaeya strolled into their camp callously, taking a place on the edge of Albedo's alchemy table. Its bright glow dimmed at the other man's touch. She narrowed her eyes and set down the crate to cross her arms instead.

"Don't you know what the day is?" he asked them cheerfully. Something about his sarcasm irked her. "No, it's not Monday. Even if that were the answer, it's incorrect!"

"A trick question," Melanie replied bitterly. Usually, she didn't care much for the captain, but he was really getting on her nerves. He was a true Knight, one who should always be loathed. You could never trust one.

Her gaze landed on Albedo, and she cringed, instantly rebuking her previous thought. He was good. He was true. Albedo could be trusted with her life, something she'd already done on the cliffs of the elevated terrain of Dragonspine. If all Knights were bad, he could have simply dropped her and rid himself of her criminal filth. But he didn't.

Albedo dipped his head to the captain. "I expected to meet you on the way, though it seems you beat us to the punch. What can we do for you this time to ease your lingering headache?"

The blue-eyed man laughed wholeheartedly. "The purpose of this visit has already been fulfilled. That one over there," he pointed at her, "is still here. I see she's working too! But my, my... it seems you're heading out?"

He walked over to the crate beside Melanie and popped the lid off to reveal the glass beakers filled to the brim with Diona's mixtures. A skeptical look fell over his face as he squatted down to get a better look.

"Diona requested unique flavoring for her event at the Cat's Tail." Albedo took the lid from Kaeya and returned it back to its rightful place. "If you'd like to sample some, you'll just have to wait for her reopening."

Kaeya's expression lightened considerably at the mention of the feline bartender. Though he preferred his brother's commodities, Melanie often spotted him at Diona's tavern, chatting away with a drink in his hand. Anybody knew of his obsession with alcohol.

"Oh, ho ho! Drinks you say? Goodness, I believe Diluc will have to compensate for the loss in business from your partnership with the competition! Do you think he'll mind?"

Albedo answered without blinking once. "He'll have to talk to me about it, then we can work out a proposition to benefit his tavern, too."

The two men exchanged an emotionless stare, but something about it was unknowing to her. It was like the two captains were speaking to each other in a language she did not understand. Albedo had always been one to speak with his eyes, but did Kaeya, too? He seemed more like the kind to do more with his words than anything.

Eventually, Albedo looked away to pick up the crate from the ground. He brushed some of the snow off of the wood by balancing it on one of his thighs and using his free hand to wipe it away. No further conversation between them was sparked, resulting in Kaeya turning his attention to her.

Melanie leaned against the rock wall with a huff. His gaze gave her a sense of discomfort, especially with the way he looked her up and down with a devilish smirk. She cast a desperate look at her boyfriend, but he only watched the two with his arms crossed.