Finding The Real You - Kaebedo

Chapter XVI - Everything Goes According To Plan?

"Uh, Albedo?"

Kaeya stepped into Albedo's lab and just as expected, one of the Albedos was there.

"Hm? Oh, good afternoon, Kaeya. Apologies for the mess, your visit was unexpected."

"Albedo" glanced at the visitor, but as soon as their eyes met "Albedo" looked away and started cleaning up the area. This thing was imitating Albedo well, it seemed to have learned through their past interactions.

"I have some Cecelia for you, and some home cooked spaghetti and bolognese if you'd like to try some."

Kaeya advanced toward the other, still carefully holding the food and flowers. Once he was close enough, he lifted it towards "Albedo", hoping for a response. He kept his eyes glued to the ground, and he kept trying to pretend that this was his Albedo.

"Ah, no, Kaeya. I'm Albedo."

Kaeya feigned confusion but on the inside he was panicking.

If this was Albedo then he'd look like an idiot, but if this was a test then if he failed the whole plan would be ruined. But if he could just take one look... But Albedo was observant, and if he was observant then his "brothers" would be too, if not more observant.

".. Yes..?"

He hadn't realised that Albedo had taken the package and flowers, to Albedo it probably looked like he was just in a daze. That should be fine, right? He could already feel his body heating up. Well if he ended up red, then that would make it more believable, so it should be okay.

"Is there anything you wanted to do? We could go out on a date."

Guess there was no need for half of his clothes anymore, his body had already become a heater. Even if he knew it wasn't his Albedo, it looked and sounded just like him, so of course his mind would think that it was the real one. That's normal, right?

"Uh-, I can watch you do experiments? As long as you're okay with it of course- I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable by being here."

He thought he was doing a pretty good job acting, even his body language seemed legit. He was looking down, holding his arms across his body and rubbing circles into one of his forearms with his thumb. He was doing excellently, even if most of it wasn't acting.

"I see no problem with it. Would you like to share the spaghetti with me?"

Well that opened up a new problem for him. His brain seemed to malfunction again while he tried to think of what to say to avoid eating it. If he said that he had already eaten, that would place suspicion on him. He would've already been observed so he probably couldn't say that he was allergic, if everyone he spoke to was also being watched then he couldn't say he ate while making it because they'd know that Lisa made it. His only option was to say that it was a gift for him, which was true but it was weak.

"This was a gift for you, I wouldn't want to share my gifts with another person, so why should you?"

That seemed to work, as Albedo busied himself with opening up the package and making a utensil to eat it with. Kaeya would always be left starstruck after Albedo creates something with the art of Khemia. It was always so magical when it happened, and he always made a mental note to never forget those moments, even if it wasn't the real Albedo.

Kaeya watched in anticipation as Albedo took the first bite, his face seemed to light up at the taste.

But Kaeya realised that he'd suspect Kaeya of messing with the food if he started feeling sick after eating it. Kaeya scanned the area for something that he could use to disguise the unavoidable feeling of sickness that would soon take place, and his eyes stopped at the sight of a bottle of wine. Was that there before?

Well that doesn't matter, he approached it and snatched it off the shelf, quickly returning to Albedo who was practically inhaling the food.

"You seem to be enjoying the food, care to wash it down with a glass of wine? Perhaps I could have one too if you permit it."

He worded it weirdly, and Albedo took notice of that. But after a few seconds of questioning it he put the thought aside and agreed.

The transition between sober and wasted Albedo was quick, but Kaeya enjoyed watching every second of it. Soon Albedo was leaning on Kaeya, slurring his words, the whole lot. Even Kaeya felt a little drowsy from the wine.

"Alright Albedo, let's go to my place, you're not sober enough to stay here. We can't have you getting hurt, can we?"

Kaeya was only holding Albedo in a few places, but he knew that Albedo would collapse if he let go. It was a miracle that he was even standing at this point, he seemed just out of it.

Albedo's body seemed to move on autopilot, his steps were sloppy and didn't do much, Kaeya was doing most of the work supporting him.

Was there really no quicker way to get out? Kaeya was still tired from the wine, and he really didn't feel like gliding over a gaping hole  just to go home. They weren't even four steps out of the area and Kaeya was already dreading the trip.

One by one, each step was a little closer to home. Kaeya was feeling incredibly lethargic, and already starting to wonder if they'd make it home.

They weren't home yet, but they'd made it to the part Kaeya dreaded most, Kaeya watched as they slowly moved closer to the edge and just as they'd have to start gliding, a geo bridge appeared. Was this why Albedo was able to make it here so easily? He was even able to do this when drunk. He didn't seem very aware of his surroundings, but it appeared anyway, so was it him or did the place just welcome him or something?

Well, there was no need for Kaeya to worry about it now that they were off the bridge, he could ask Albedo later. Wait, this wasn't the real Albedo. Does the real one do it too? Was Kaeya so tired that he forgot what his mission was about?

They took a small break near a fire, where Albedo sat down and passed out. He just passed out. That would make Kaeya's job easier, but Also harder. He was starting to regret drinking so much..

He was Albedo to carry Albedo, but barely. His legs were only obeying him because there was no other choice. Even his mind seemed to give up as he spaced out and walked on autopilot for the rest of the walk, his steps getting slower and slower by the minute, without him realising it.

The last few steps to Mondstadt were slow and painful. He could barely use his voice to call a guard and give him instructions. The poor guy had to work off of what "Give... Lisa.." meant.

Kaeya was able to lay Albedo onto the ground, right before collapsing on top of him with a gentle thud.

:)

I've been trying to fix my sleep schedule so I sleep at 11:30 PM instead of 1 but it's 3 so I'm too tired to do much now. Sorry for any mistakes, I haven't really proofread this so yeah, there's probably a lot of errors and weird sentences. But please, when trying to spell 'able' I wrote 'Albedo' instead.

But uh, great thing that happened today was a spider falling out of my light. Man, I love living in Australia.

Word count - 1212