Chapter Text
“I want you to come on a mission with me, Traveler.”
Aether glanced up from where he was examining notes with Sucrose immediately, interest piqued. She had been explaining important instructions and the science behind the potions they had just made to increase stamina in high altitudes—something that was suddenly so much less interesting. These invitations weren’t unfamiliar, nor were they any sort of difficult task. The commissions he got these days were much more of a challenge. Still, he met Albedo’s cool gaze curiously. Warmth speckled in his viridian eyes, beckoning and curious. Sucrose shuffled her papers anxiously, clearing her throat as she did.
”You send him on an awful lot of adventures with you, sir. Perhaps you should consider payment?” Her smile was soft yet serious, the slightest tint of humor within.
Aether only laughed. “The company is payment enough,” his smile softening as he met the other man’s gaze. “What sort of mission?”
And just like that, there was that look. The way the corners of Albedo’s lips turned inwards oh so slightly, his eyes lidded in a knowing sort of smile, ever confident. Aether felt his heart speed up slightly. Unconsciously, he squeezed his hand hard enough to leave small crescent indents in his palm.
“I’m collecting starsilver. I’d like to analyze its effects on—“
Aether zoned out as he watched Albedo, the way his hands moved throughout the air so elegantly, as if the action had been rehearsed a thousand times over before. His mouth was moving poetically as he explained some sort of process or experiment that Aether didn’t have the capital to understand. He nodded along absently, as if he was actually capable of following. Sucrose chimed in beside him, a concerned retort on her breath that Albedo easily countered. Aether watched the two blankly, not comprehending any sound beyond the honey-like melody of Albedo’s laugh as Sucrose hid her face with a flush.
”Well, traveler? What do you think?”
Aether stilled, thoughts interrupted as his eyes returned to Albedo.
”Do you know how long it would be for?” He asked, as if the answer mattered at all when his mind was already made up.
It didn’t.
“I’m estimating about 5 days, but if the snow isn’t so bad, closer to 3. How does that sound?”
Really, Aether was more disappointed to hear it was so short. With the changing seasons, he knew that it would be weeks, maybe even months before Albedo asked of him again.
Before he could answer, Sucrose piped up again.
“Sir, in this weather? Dragonspine is freezing all year round, but especially now with it being the beginning of winter. Are you sure this idea is… safe?” Her voice was permeated with worry.
It wasn’t safe, not at all, but Aether had stopped worrying about safety after his first few missions. If random substances Albedo would have him take hadn’t hurt him yet, this surely wouldn’t.
“Of course.” Albedo replied nonchalantly. He waved her off dismissively. “I wouldn’t ever harm our dearest assistant. I packed many furs and ingredients for goulash.”
Aether flushed but only nodded. “I trust you, Albedo.”
”I’m glad.”
That smile again.
His breath hitched.
“So is it a yes?”
Aether distantly heard Sucrose muttering a dozen different warnings beside him, and heard future Paimon already complaining about the cold, but he couldn’t help his immediate desire to say yes. He hated the sheer cold of Dragonspine, and the need to bundle up so much that movement was harder. He much preferred the sunny peaks of Liyue, bathed in golden light and in constant warmth, save for the occasional drizzle. But the allure of himself, with Albedo, for five days, was too much.
Aether forced back a grin and nodded.
“Of course.”
“Paimon hates this cold, and this idea, Aether!”
Aether distantly shrugged with a guilty smile.
”Albedo isn’t even paying us and you willingly agreed!? Grrr!”
The small fairy crossed her arms sternly from where she was sat on the wagon.
“I hate to agree but I think Paimon is right,” Amber quipped, brows pushed together in confusion as she glanced at Aether. Bundled up in her thickest wool coat, Amber looked like an ablaze pine cone. Aether snickered under his breath but didn’t reply.
“I mean, it’s the almost the middle of winter and you choose to go to Dragonspine? Did Albedo coerce you somehow? Just give me word and I’ll beat him down for taking advantage of your kindness.”
There was a hint of laughter in her voice as she spoke, pumping her fist in the air with a wisp of fire just to demonstrate. Aether laughed at her faux threat and shook his head.
”It’s nothing like that.” He assured, adjusting his gaze back to the trail ahead. “I enjoy the time I share with Albedo. He’s a knowledgeable man, and I value what he shares with me. It’s a fair price for my assistance, I think.”
”Hmm.” Amber hummed thoughtfully.
”Well, Paimon thinks an even better price would be tons and tons of Mora! Or even a lot of good food! Hmmph!”
Paimon managed to cross her arms even further. She leaned into Aether’s side, an overdramatic pout on her face.
Aether chuckled and brought his arm around her side.
”We’ve only been traveling for two hours. You still have time to fly back down the mountain and stay with Sucrose until I’m back.”
“Too late!”
”…or you could fly on ahead and wait with Albedo for us.”
”Too far!”
Aether hummed to himself and focused on the beaten path ahead. The cart they were traveling on was one of the old draft carts used to travel up the mountain by the folks in Springvale who would occasionally come up. Amber, with all the connections in Monstadt, had pulled some strings so that she could have them travel up in one, pulled by an old workhorse accustomed to the rocky terrain. It was slower than if they’d gone on foot, but with all the packs they had brought, including some more of Albedo’s equipment, this was much more reasonable. And Amber, being as kind as she was, had offered to take them as far as she could.
A few more hours passed before they finally made it up the windy path and into Albedo’s designated campsite.
Jostling Paimon awake, Aether pushed to his feet with a stretch and a yawn. It was about an hour away from sundown, leaving just enough time to unpack before the night’s chill set in.
Albedo easily greeted them as he stepped out of the rocky incline his camp was set under, eyes alight with a friendliness that made Aether’s heart ache.
”Welcome, he said, pulling Amber and then Aether into a gentle embrace. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come—and you brought my equipmen. Excellent.”
Amber casually engaged in conversation with the alchemist as Aether unpacked, Paimon begrudgingly helping along with the tiniest loads on the cart. By the time they finished setting up, the sun was starting to dip at the horizon’s edge, casting the normally silver clouds a godly, pink-golden hue. Amber glanced to the sky briefly, expression falling.
”Whoopsy!” She started, immediately rushing to undo the workhorse from the cart. “I hadn’t realized it was so late. I should head down before it gets too dark.”
”Of course,” Albedo nodded. “May your journey be safe.”
Aether nodded, thanking her briefly.
”Thank you both,” she smiled, pulling at the reins to turn the horse around. “So I come for you in five days, yes?”
“Five days if the weather proves to be nasty, three if it’s clear like today.”
Amber raised a brow but didn’t question it. “As you wish. I’ll see you all in a few days, then!”
And just like that, she was descending down the snow-covered path, bounding away quicker than they had come. Aether waved her off alongside Paimon, feeling a sense of security sink in his chest.
Before he could turn back to Albedo, a pair of strong arms were wrapping around his form in a hug.
“I’m glad you came.” Albedo said once more.
”And I’m glad to be here.”
“Aaaand Paimon’s hungry!” His companion cried. “You better have good food for sending us all this way! And it better not be goulash! Paimon is still sick of it from last time!”
They both broke into laughter.
”Of course,” Albedo answered through a chuckle. “And besides, if this weather keeps up—or I suppose the lack of it—I doubt we’ll need any. How does sweet madame sound?”
”Yes!” Paimon cheered, foul attitude.
Albedo beckoned her to follow him to the campfire, where a pot was already broiling with something that smelled delicious.
Before Aether turned to follow them, he glanced back out at the darkening sky.
It was strange to have ‘normal’ weather on Dragonspine.
The climate was uncharacteristically calm today, clouds soft enough to let sunlight peak through and paint the icy mountain with its rays. It wasn’t warm but it also wasn’t as nearly as cold as other instances Aether had been up. He still needed a coat, but not the heating packs he would usually bring with him, and he certainly didn’t feel like he consistently needed to be within several feet of a fire. It was hard to believe it was winter.
As Aether stared out at the sky, he briefly wondered if this was a sign that this mission was going to be a success.
“Are you coming, traveler?” Albedo called.
Aether travelled from something besides the cold, and called back a quick ‘yes’.
Moving back to the camp, he turned his back to the sky above.
Success was far from their situation.
They had only managed to spend a day collecting ore before luck seemed to strike out of their favor.
Just as unnaturally as it has come, the calm weather they’d been greeted with disappeared, leaving no trace of the sunny afternoon they had traversed to. Aether had awoken to the sound of crashing and Albedo yelling out. His eyes fluttered open immediately, only to be met with the a gust of icy wind, so cold it immediately numbed his skin. Aether gasped and shoved himself to his feet, sleep long forgotten.
In the dying embers of the fire, he could just manage to make out what was happening. His eyes fell to the roof, where the tarp that kept out snowfall had fallen, caught by the wind that had picked up so suddenly and violently. Albedo called his name, and Aether was darting to the opening to help him secure the tarp. The two struggled to wrestle it as it fought with the wind and danced between them. At some point, the gust was strong enough to knock him back.
By the time Aether was back on his feet, Albedo, along with a suddenly appearing Paimon, had managed to grasp it just taut enough for it to not be grabbed again by the wind. Paimon shouted something inaudible about his abilities, not that Aether needed to be told twice. With a trained movement, Aether summoned a large node of rock to trap the tarp against the cliff wall. It managed to hold it just enough for Albedo to secure it once more with a rope.
They all remained quiet and the wind, finally shut out, bear against the tarp side angrily.
Aether didn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until he released it, the camp finally quiet enough to hear himself think.
The first one to speak was Paimon.
”What’s with this sudden change in weather? Paimon remembers that it was just sunny!”
”That was a few hours ago,” Albedo remarked. “Though it is strange… I had an anemo forecaster back in Monstadt predict what the next few days would be like. There was a storm coming, but it wasn’t this bad.”
Albedo hummed thoughtfully, leaving Paimon to burrow into Aether’s side as she shivered.
”Well, whatever! Let’s just get the fire started again!”
“Yes, of course.”
Aether watched adeptly as Albedo took a fine powder from a pouch and blew it into the barely warm coal. Within moments, it sparked to life once more, casting their dancing shadows along the rock wall.
Aether sighed in relief and moved closer, bathing his icy hands in the heat of it.
”Well, what do we do now?” He asked.
Albedo turned his gaze back to him, eyes dark with a thoughtfulness that Aether recognized.
“For now, all we can do is wait. By morning the storm may have cleared. If so, we can go ahead and continue. If not, well…”
”Well what?” Paimon asked, voice raising anxiously.
”Well, I’m not sure.”
Aether winced.
”You don’t know!?” Paimon nearly screeched.
”Not for certain. I suppose we’d camp here until it disappeared, or if need be, we could try and descend the mountain. We’d have to be careful, though. Heavy snowfall like this is sure to make it dangerous. And we’d have to leave the equipment and bring only ourselves…”
Aether frowned as Albedo went on, rambling on all the intricacies and problems they’d have if they attempted to leave if the storm didn’t let out.
“May the Gods help us,” Aether only murmured, letting his eyes close thoughtfully.
He would try and stay hopeful, for Albedo, for their mission.
Several more hours went on, as they took turns keeping watch of the tarp and the ferocity of the storm outside. It had only grown worse. The wind had eased, but now the snow outside was piled so heavily that it’s sheer weight made the wooden structure holding the tarp groan. Albedo awoke easily from the sound of it, tired eyes dark with a worry that Aether hadn’t seen him bear before.
”Traveler, I need to request something of you.”
Aether perked at the sound of his voice, turning his gaze to the alchemist.
”Yes?” Aether asked.
”I don’t think this storm will let up. And even if it should, these conditions aren’t ideal for mining anything. I would like you to descend the mountain with Paimon.”
“What?” Aether nearly jumped out of his seat, eyes wide in disbelief. “And leave you here? I don’t think that’s a good idea. And we already traveled here, we may as well wait this out.”
Albedo’s face remained neutral.
“If you leave by tomorrow morning, you can make it back before sundown.”
”I said no.” Aether repeated.
”We only have enough rations for a week,” Albedo continued once more, expression deadpan. “I’m afraid that after that, I won’t know what to do.”
”We aren’t leaving you behind.”
”This mess is my responsibility, let me take care of it myself, Aether.”
Aether’s name felt foreign on the other’s tongue, given how often he resorted to the formal nickname Teyvat seemed inclined on holding him to. Aether grimaced, eyes falling to the smallest bit of light peaking through the tarp. A gentle crackling caught his attention, bringing his gaze to the dying fire.
”I’m going to get more wood.” He said abruptly, moving to pull on the wolf-skin coat he’d been gifted by Razor many moons before. He very carefully moved a once sleeping Paimon out of his lap where she’d been napping, and onto the fur they had shared.
Albedo didn’t try to stop him.
It was absolutely freezing outside.
Aether hadn’t truly understand the severity of the storm until he had stepped outside.
In just a day, it had managed to pile halfway up his thighs, and it was still growing. He’d have to make this quick. Slowly, he trudged through the piling snow up what he thought might be the path down the mountain. Down this way a little, there was a small grove of birch trees that had been slowly eaten away by Albedo’s axe. Aether rummaged through the powdered snow, hissing at the bite of the cold against his uncovered fingers.
Eventually, he managed to find the familiar pile. He pulled tarp up, just enough to pull out the largest log from the pile. He pulled the axe out and set to splitting it into several small pieces, just enough to fit in the fire.
As Aether swung down the ax, he felt a cool trickle of something freeze against the skin of his cheek. Tears.
Groaning in embarrassment, he wiped them away. He didn’t know why he was suddenly feeling so emotional. The disappointment of their trip coming to a swifter end than anticipated had been devastating, but not so much so that he needed to cry over it. He felt pathetic.
Sniffling, he let the last few stray tears run their paths down his face.
He reached down to pick up the small pile of wood, only to hiss out at the sudden nausea that surged through his gut. Aether grabbed his mouth, struggling to hold back the vile threatening to escape his mouth.
All too quickly, his head was cotton-filled and he was dizzy on his feet.
Before he could even try to stand up, his legs gave out and Aether’s vision was going black.
When Aether opened his eyes, it was to the familiar divets and stalagmites of the camp’s rocky ceiling. He could only softly groan and squeeze his eyes shut at the sight of it. The dim lighting inside was still too much, too harsh on his sensitive eyes. His head was swimming and the saliva pooled in his mouth was thick and foul. Aether weakly tried to roll over, before a sudden presence on his side stopped him.
”Shhh, don’t move too much.”
Ah. Albedo. Aether felt his heart warm just at the familiar tumble of his voice.
Beside him, he could feel tiny hands move to bring something cool and wet to his forehead. Aether whined, trying to turn his head from the cloth.
”Ah, he’s awake! Thank the Gods!”
”Not quite…”
Oh. He must have fallen. Aether very briefly recalled the events prior to his sleep, the overwhelming sickness that had came so suddenly, and collapsing into the snow when it became too much. Had they realized he was gone far too long and come all the way up to find him?
A stirring at his sides pulled him out of his thoughts.
Even with his eyes pulled shut in a half-asleep trance, Aether could sense Paimon pouting anxiously.
”What do we do now!? He’s sick, we can’t just wait this out anymore!”
”I am aware.” Albedo murmured, deep in thought.
”So!?”
”I can’t send you and him down anymore, for obvious reasons. But maybe…”
Aether knew where this was going. He desperately wanted to tell Albedo that no, Paimon needed to stay by his side. If anything were to happen, he would never forgive himself. The companion that had been alongside him the entirety of his journey meant so much more to him than he would ever let on. But the lull of unconsciousness kept him at bay.
”You want Paimon to go down? Alone?”
”Yes,” Albedo responded. “I would offer to go down myself, but I can’t risk leaving you with him when this mountain is infested with hillichurls and all sorts of beasts. Aether is too sick to help if something happens. So I need you, Paimon.”
”But…but what if Paimon gets lost?”
”You won’t, I know you won’t. I even have a map you can take. As soon as the sun is up, I need you to take it and fly down. Find Amber and the Knights of Favonius, see to it that they organize a party to ascend.”
”And if they can’t?”
”Then… then I’ll take care of him until the storm clears enough for me to carry him down myself.”
Aether’s heart was beating so fast in spite of his sleep, now audible in his ears. The situation was dire, and the thought of Paimon descending the peak alone in the midst of a storm was terrifying. But the sincerity in Albedo’s voice as he offered to stay behind to help him… Aether couldn’t explain the heavy feeling in his chest. But it felt too good to be true.
”Paimon… does not like this idea. But knows that this our best choice. So… yes.”
”Thank you. I’ll do my best to care of your companion.”
”You better!”
The two continued to ramble on, bickering about his own safety and the irresponsibility of the situation they were in. Suddenly too tired to pick out the specifics of what they said, Aether felt himself falling back into the deep unconsciousness that had taken him before.
The last thing he could feel before sleep overtook him was a small warmth at his side, Paimon coming close to cuddle him.
By the time he had awoken again, Paimon was gone.
Aether desperately patted the fur beside him when he sat up, only to find the familiar presence there long gone.
”Good,” a familiar voice broke through the silence. “You’re awake.”
Aether turned his gaze to the man, a book in hand as he sat before the fire. A pair of glasses that he had never seen him wear were sat low on his nose as his eyes darted through the pages.
”I was beginning to worry. You were out for quite a while. You took quite the tumble.”
”P-Paimon?” Aether managed to ask, his throat painfully dry and rough.
Albedo was quick to catch onto his thirst, setting the book down and promptly striding over, a cool metal flask in hand. He brought it to Aether’s lips immediately, earning a surprised yelp before Aether obeyed and hungrily drank the cool liquid. It did wonders to ease his pained throat, but before he could get his fill, Albedo pulled the metal opening from his lips.
”Ah ah ah, not too quickly now or you’ll get sick.” Albedo’s voice was gentle and nurturing. One of his hands came to catch Aether’s cheek.
The blond tried not to flush.
”Your friend left about two hours ago. She’s headed down the mountain to seek help. I’m sure she’s more than halfway down at this rate.”
Aether paled at that. “Ah, but she’s so small. S-she can’t go down on her own—“
He struggled to his feet, only to be firmly pushed back onto his rear.
Albedo sighed. “I can’t let you do that. You’re in no condition to travel right now. At least fill your stomach before you start charging to risk your life.”
Aether wanted to protest, but found that he had no energy to. Dismayed, he plopped back onto the fur and crossed his arms in discomfort. Albedo was quick in serving him a bowl of the soup he must have made just minutes before he woke up.
It was delicious—Albedo’s food always was—but it didn’t quell the ache in his gut.
”I…need to go take a leak. I’ll be back…” he mumbled quietly. Before he could even take a step past his fur, he felt something horribly wet and thick roll down his thigh. Aether’s eyes widened in fear.
Had he pissed himself? Out of all embarrassing things to happen, why this?
But before he could run go hide his shame, a sickeningly sweet smell seemed to punctuate the air.
Oh.
”Is everything okay?”
Aether was snapped out of his sudden realization, as he glanced at the alchemist before him. Albedo’s eyes were stuck on him, brows quirked up in worry.
Before he could speak, more slick dripped down his leg, catching the other’s curious green gaze.
”…Aether?”
Distantly, he felt his insides throb with need.
Fuck.