out of season (COWT11, week 2, m2)

[hakurenshi]

 

Prompt: fuori stagione
Missione: m2 (week 2)
Parole: 7375
Rating: gen
Warnings: //

Aether likes to help people. Since becoming an Honorary Knight, or maybe even before, he can’t really refuse odd jobs and small missions when people go to him obviously in need. It all started with the Knights of Favonius and then the Adventurer Guild and before he realised he was already doing it just because. Somehow it became really hard for him to refuse those who shared their stories with him, no matter if adults or children, men or women. He had nothing to lose by accepting and only something to gain— friendships and acquaintances, the feeling of being part of this world somehow and despite everything.

It’s a request that brought him in Dragonspine and to Albedo; it was Aether’s will to help the research of an alchemist what made him stay, gain a friend. Something also very different from a normal one, because sometimes Aether feels like Albedo knows and understands in a way nobody else would. Sometimes they are together and silence fills the room and despite this, Aether doesn’t feel pressured to speak. It’s something he rarely experienced with anyone but Lumine.

Aether likes to help people but sometimes the requests are just… terrible. He knows it’s his fault for not refusing, as Paimon already remembered him twice. Still, he looks at the small islands of the Guyun Stone Forest area and one of the rocks where he could climb and see better what he wishes to have mistaken for something else. So he does: in comparison with other mountains it’s quite easy and quick to climb on a simple rock and it helps to have a better view. In front of him, there is a big, wooden box… underwater. When someone asked him to retrieve the content at least, if not the whole box, Aether never thought it would be underwater. A place where he absolutely doesn’t want to go near to during winter but here he is, with no other way to solve the problem.

“Is the box so interesting?” a voice asks, too close for comfort and Aether is unsheathing his sword before his brain can even vaguely process the fact that it’s a human voice (so no hilichurls for now) and a familiar one on top of that. His eyes frantically look around just to notice a blonde head. Paimon’s voice calling a very surprised “Albedo?!” sends a shiver of relief down his spine. Aether puts his sword back into its sheath and jumps down the rock, only to find Albedo a couple of steps afar. The alchemist has no heavy luggage with him and travels alone, which is not very surprising. 

“Are you here alone?” Aether asks, unable to conceal a tiny bit of worry in his voice. Albedo nods “I need some more Magical Crystals but those that came to Mondstadt in the last order I placed are not enough. Unfortunately the closer locations were emptied already.” he briefly explains, leaving no doubts about the rest of the story. Instead of dispatching a team, he came himself. 

“I would have brought them if I knew it.” Aether offers “Since I’m here anyway.” “Another request you enjoy so much?” Albedo humours him, but only a little bit. There is no trace of sarcasm and Aether appreciates it, yet can still give him an apologetic smile because he knows that there’s some teasing there. “Yes,” the Traveler replies as he goes back to look at the box “I’m trying to figure out how to bring the box out of the water.”

Albedo’s blue eyes wander around, searching for something specific he doesn’t seem to find. “I think there are to possible choices.” the Chief Alchemist tells him, so Aether leaves the box alone to focus on the other instead “Either there is a mechanism somewhere, so you just need to find it and activate it so the box could come out of the water, or there is none.” “What if it’s the second option?” “You swim. And dive in.”

It doesn’t sound good. This may not be Dragonspine where it would be way worse, but it’s still the middle of winter and the water must be freezing. Aether really hopes there is a mechanism but half an hour later all the search in the world ends up being useless. Albedo even helps at some point, yet the result is the same and they go back to the rock near the sea. There is absolutely no other way to do this.

“Would your flower…?” Aether starts but shakes his head almost immediately, answering his own question in his mind. What Albedo does thanks to his Vision has always been helpful on earth. Never underwater or on its surface anyway— not even Kaeya could be of some help here, since the ice wouldn’t raise the box enough for Aether to grab it. He must surrender. “But we could try.” Albedo surprises him by saying that, enough for Paimon and the Traveler to exchange a look. This sounds like an experiment the alchemist just came up with.

“How…?” “My flower can actually lift you if I put it here.” he vaguely gesture the sand “You could try to catch it like a fish.” he adds. Aether has to admit that if he actually caught Paimon that way, the box itself might not be impossible if he manages to use something very resistant. Since he doesn’t have a better idea, he spends the following fifteen minutes to look around for some wrecks he could use to build something useful (bless that time he helped with repairs at the Wangshu Inn) and only manages to have some sort of… very long stick not too straight but with a harpoon at one hand. 

Then Albedo uses his Vision. Aether, trusting his abilities, makes sure to be on the flower and then— up he goes, enough to stretch and… and nothing, because the first time the flower is too high. The stick doesn’t even reach the surface of the sea. They try and adjust and in the end he’s almost there, the harpoon pierces the wood and Aether pulls and somehow the box is almost out of the water or at least not so deep in it that he has to dive in… when the flower disappears. Aether totally forgot that they can’t just stay there forever.

He falls into the sea. The water is freezing and Paimon even calls him out of worry. Fortunately enough swimming has never been a problem and he became especially good at it since doing this and that in Teyvat, but Aether’s little friend keeps floating non-stop until panic is stronger than anything else and she pushes Albedo while telling him “Help him!” and that, in the end, makes both of them drenched. Despite the alchemist being used to Dragonspine, the Traveler is quite sure he doesn’t usually take a bath there. His expression, usually unfazed, shows that he’s cold— hopefully, though, he’s not considering awful experiments with Paimon as part of them.

Aether just want to get out and warm himself with a large fire that they won’t have for a bit unless they want to catch the attention of some monsters, but all he manages to do is laugh. A small chuckle in the beginning, he then lets out a proper laughter like the one of a child with not a care in the world. 

“Why are you laughing?” Albedo asks, probably curious about everything in the world including his reaction. Aether notices the looks on his and Paimon’s faces and offers them a light-hearted smile “This is my first time swimming in the sea during winter and it’s awful.” he replies, even if he thinks it’s also nice somehow.

*

Spring comes with nice weather and more warmth, something Aether is very grateful for. He and Paimon left Mondstadt almost immediately after the winter became more bearable, and they have been in Liyue for a couple of weeks, helping around but also enjoying different customs the Geo Archon’s land has to offer. What Aether doesn’t expect while he’s there is a letter from Jean: it’s a brief one announcing that Albedo and Sucrose will be in Liyue soon for research. They won’t be there for long, the letter says, but if you could helo them and show them around, since it’s not your first time there and you are probably very familiar with the place by now, it would let me be at ease and without worries.

Aether doesn’t have a reason to refuse, so he sends a quick reply to tell Jean that he will accompany the alchemist and his assistant. Albedo and Sucrose arrive that same evening, when the sunset makes the sky look reddish and Liyue Harbor lanterns are lit up. They travel light, which suggests Aether that whatever research they are going to do there it is not about instruments but more like observations and taking notes. Despite them having enough time to let the newcomers go as soon as possible to find an inn to stay in, they spend a lot of time in the small square where the general goods shop is, since it’s the same area where it’s possible to craft something. Aether himself has used the place more than once since his first time there. And of course it’s the first thing that catches their attention.

“It’s so different from our in Mondstadt…” Sucrose observes, quiet voice as if she expects someone to come out and doesn’t want to make them feel offended in any way. Point is, Aether has never seen a single soul there apart from those making things from time to time— but no real alchemists or apprentices like Timaeus or Sucrose. Now that Aether knows Albedo and how well-versed he is in alchemy (not to mention what a mistake with an experiment can cause), it looks weird. Maybe, though, it is a normal thing in Liyue. 

Aether accompanies them to the inn almost an hour later, the same one Aether is staying in. It is quite packed but they manage to find accommodation; since there are no single rooms available anymore, Paimon is sent to Sucrose’s so that she isn’t uncomfortable while sharing with a boy. They have dinner at one of the restaurants recommended by Zhongli: even Albedo, who doesn’t have much of an appetite, manages to praise some of the food and to enjoy it. Liyue Harbor has a lot to offer at night, but they travelled all day and what awaits them is an early rise, so Aether offers to give them a tour the night after and then they call it a day once they are back to the inn. Despite the fact that Albedo should be more tired, it’s Aether the first one to fall asleep that night.  

The following day, Aether doesn’t do much other than be a guide around Liyue Harbor, keep an eye on them as the alchemists take their notes here and there, look out for small hilichurls’ campsites and help Albedo and Sucrose to reach some plants and minerals through the quickest (and possibly safest) path. They eat the packed lunch chef Mao has been so kind to make for them when Aether requested him and since the weather is nice it is more enjoyable than the Traveler would have thought. At some point, Albedo takes out of the bag he has with him all he needs to sketch and isolates himself for a good hour. Aether takes that time to simply observe: he likes how focused the alchemist gets when he is drawing and it doesn’t bother Aether that Albedo can’t hear or make any conversation for the whole time, because to see what he sees through the lines he draws is fascinating enough to keep him company. 

They end up back to Liyue Harbor earlier than expected. On the way to the city, Albedo asks him some questions about a tree Aether has not seen yet— but he assures that he’s far from a complete exploration of such a big region, so it could be that he simply hasn’t noticed it where he’s been. “I heard someone talk about it in Mondstadt,” Albedo tells him “and I’m positive they mentioned an area quite close to Liyue Harbor.” he adds. Which, if Aether has learnt a thing or two about the alchemist by now, means he won’t join the night tour in the city that Aether promised him and Sucrose the day before. 

Surprisingly enough, though, Albedo doesn’t go straight for the tree the moment they finish dinner, probably because he’s also interested in how different this city is from Mondstadt. Aether is more than happy to show them around, taking advantage of the magical atmosphere Liyue Harbor offers at night. It’s not too late when Paimon (incredibly) has no more room for desserts of some sort and Sucrose discretely yawn, covering her mouth with a hand. Aether decides it’s time to bring them back to the inn, but Paimon offers to do it instead since Albedo seems too impatient to finally look for the tree. And since Paimon knows the city as much as him and Sucrose doesn’t seem to mind, Aether accepts the offer and lets them go by themselves. 

In the beginning, Aether must admit he’s not very confident about finding the tree easily. The moment one leaves Liyue Harbor, the lanterns don’t follow the path for long, which makes harder to spot something that is not in the middle of the road. Also, they stray from the regular path almost immediately once the city lights are behind them and the Millelith guards are barely in sight. Albedo insists that, if around there, it is probably hidden by some rocks or even a mountain. So Aether tries his best to look for a glimpse of leaves in a not so obvious spot, with no idea of what to search for— he supposes that, to attract Albedo enough, the tree must be a special one and it could mean basically anything: a peculiar shape, a different colour, some rare flowers or fruits. Does Albedo know what does it look like?

“Yellowish and reddish, as they look like in autumn.” the alchemist explains when Aether asks him. This makes it easier: the colours, if not for a very few trees he found more or less everywhere, are totally out of season during spring. So it’s not surprising when, half an hour later, Aether does catch a glimpse right behind a rock very close to one of the Geo Archon statues. No wonder he never noticed it before: Aether clearly remembers of never leaving the path in that part of the road to Wangshu Inn. Luckily enough, it’s not on the top of the mountain and they reach it easily. Aether is not even surprised to see Albedo starting to sketch almost immediately, so he sits down on a small rock and observes— not only Albedo, but also the sky with so many stars.

The tree, he has to admit, is indeed beautiful: not particularly high but with a lot of leaves of warm colours that look like they are about to fall yet stubbornly stay there on the branches. Aether thinks that must be amazing to observe at sunset, when the sky is the same color and the sunlight hits them. They somehow… don’t exactly suit the alchemist, Aether bashfully thinks, his mind still quite struck by the memory of his first meeting with Albedo in Dragonspine. The white of all that snow made him look… Aether doesn’t know which word could describe it, but whenever he thinks about it, the thought makes him shy. Albedo’s voice stops his trail of thoughts anyway.

“It doesn’t bear fruits.” he suddenly speaks “What?” “The tree.” Albedo clarifies as he sits under the tree and invites Aether to do the same with a small pat on the grass next to him. Aether leaves the rock he was sitting on and joins him, adjusting so that they can both put their backs against the trunk in a comfortable position. “So what is it famous for?” he asks. Albedo puts the sketch back into the bag he brought along and then gazes up at the leaves.

“Not exactly famous, unless you read a very specific book about rare and peculiar behaviours of plants outside of Mondstadt, which comes as a single copy in a very tricky spot in our library at the Knights Headquarters.” Albedo reveals as a matter of fact without even glancing at him, but Aether doesn’t mind and simply nods, waiting for the rest that he is sure will come even without him asking. “First of all, its blooming cycle during the seasons is the opposite of the normal one. Meaning that it’s in full bloom during winter, loses his leaves in spring, it’s totally naked in summer and timidly shows some buds in autumn.” he begins to explain in detail, making it easy for Aether to understand why it’s considered out of season. “It has very few flowers that last only for a few days, but the peculiar behaviour it shows is during spring when it loses its leaves. In fact—”

They both stop to talk and listen abruptly, astonished. Without even the slightest warning, the leaves fall all at once. Aether suddenly sees this reddish veil falling over the both of them like a curtain. Everywhere he directs his glance is now completely covered as if grass has never been green and the earth never been naked. Once he looks at Albedo, as if expecting him to explain what just happened, he finds the alchemist as surprised as him; a small frown, slightly parted lips like he’s about to say something but his brain is still processing the thoughts. Aether easily notices a small leaf stuck where the blonde braid is and moves his hand, instinctively. Albedo doesn’t move and he can just pick the leaf and pull it away. It’s nothing special, but Aether feels like it’s something very intimate to do, maybe the closest he has been to touch the other since the first time they stayed together in Dragonspine. His fingers brush against Albedo’s hair and ear and it’s like Aether has just touched something he is not supposed to.

“You had this in your hair.” he says, to justify himself maybe. It sounds dumb the moment it leaves his lips. Albedo mimics him, but instead of removing a leaf, he takes one from Aether’s lap and puts him between his hair, almost the same spot as his was. Aether feels the warmth crawling upon his neck but hopes the alchemist won’t notice. “This colour suits you.” Albedo tells him. Then he explains that the tree tends to have his leaves to fall all at once, but at that point, Aether’s mind is completely distracted.

If it wasn’t for the leaf, would Albedo touch him?

*

Spring slowly turns into summer. With Mondstadt being surrounded by water thanks to Cider Lake, the humidity is unavoidable and sometimes annoying when Aether feels his clothes stick to his skin because of sweat. The fact that he has to fight and defeat pyro slimes that keep coming at him whenever he stops long enough to drink some water and take a break while in the middle of a commission doesn’t help at all. At least the last three seems to not have companions around so Aether can breathe a sigh of relief and sit for a moment, to rest under the shadow of a tree that offers him shelter from the sun. Paimon is kind enough to take an apple from it and give it to him. He’s never been so grateful.

“Paimon will ask Jean to let you rest!” she exclaims, caring in her own way. He smiles, a bit tired, but also shakes his head “It’s just a bit too hot.” he admits “But I’m okay. Jean will worry if you tell her that… I only hope the next commission she needs help with is not where pyro slime gather.”

As expected, once they are back to Mondstadt to give a report of the situation to Jean, she notices Aether’s fatigue easily. Concern is easily shown on her face, light blue eyes lingering on him while the silence fills the room of the Knights Headquarters; once she speaks Aether can recognize both the wish to help him in some way and the authority of the Acting Grand Master she is.

“Thank you for helping with this one. There is only one more thing I have to ask of you… but I think it would be a bit more pleasant than the hot, humid weather we are having here in Mondstadt.” she assures him, a small smile on her lips as she glances at a pile of documents on her desk and takes the one on the top. A few minutes later, Aether is packing enough to reach Dragonspine and a campsite he remembers way too well.

The mountain covered in snow welcomes him with ice-cold just a bit less icy than usual. Aether is not a fan of freezing in the middle of nothing, especially after his first experience there, but he has to admit to himself that it’s a very nice change after so much summer-like weather. He crosses the half-destroyed bridge and it takes him a bit to go past iced paths and too many hilichurls still ready to basically attack anything that moves if said something is closer than four meters. In the end, though, it’s nothing Aether hasn’t already dealt with in the past. Also, this time he can at least orient himself better than the first time.

He reaches Albedo’s campsite with not too many stops for fighting. The alchemist doesn’t notice him immediately, as he is bent over a lot of notes about who knows which experiment. Aether takes his time to look at the place, seeing if he can find something different since the last time he’s been here. The two torches welcome him as usual, offering a small yet pleasant warmth and the ground is not completely covered by the snow, making it easy to walk. On the right, the pot has fire under it and something almost boiling inside; boxes and barrels that Aether supposes are full of supplies are slightly behind it. Shelves are exactly where Aether remembers them to be: one of the left, bigger than the other, half full of alembics and books and instruments he has seen before but wouldn’t know how to use. The same goes for the table, while a painting (still a draft, probably) is on show not too far from it. On the right, the other shelf is used for similar purposes and there’s exactly where Albedo is: at the other table in front of it.

It’s been at least one month since the last time they seen each other, after the fallen leaves incident in Liyue. They met briefly in the Knights Headquarters but there was not much time to chat. Aether thought about asking the alchemist to meet, maybe eat something together… but their schedules didn’t seem to align, so in the end he just greeted him. Aether didn’t even know Albedo was back in Dragonspine until Jean asked him to deliver something to his campsite.

The alchemist notices him earlier than expected. For a few seconds he looks confused, as if not expecting Aether of all the people who probably bring him supplies and other things he requests from Mondstadt, but he doesn’t look displeased at all. In fact he even offers Aether a small smile.

“I didn’t know they would have sent you.” he greets him, inviting him to come closer— the same way he did back under the tree, when they talked about seasons and flowers blooming and when Albedo put a leaf on him and told him that— Aether breathes in, making sure to not let the other notice it. He needs to focus on anything else but this. “Was what I asked for too heavy?” “Not at all, don’t worry.” Aether replies, maybe a bit too fast but Albedo doesn’t seem to mind or find it weird. He tells him where to put the bag, explains what he needs it for, what he’s researching this time: it seems that while taking a stroll around the campsite to check on a few things, he found a herb he’s sure to have never seen before since coming to Dragonspine. After sketching and checking with Sucrose and Timaeus back in Mondstadt (not to mention asking Lisa for books in the library that could have some informations about it and not finding much) he decided to look for it and analyse it to see if can be of some use. Unfortunately, he missed a few useful things to properly do so and that’s why Aether was assigned to deliver what the alchemist asked for.

Albedo talks about the herb for a while, but Aether is okay with it, interested even since he had to collect flowers and plants more than once not only for himself but for other people too. He listens to the alchemist as he goes through some of his notes until Paimon claims to be hungry and Albedo seems to realize that it’s almost lunch time. Whatever was boiling in the pot was checked by Aether every now and then, which is probably what saved their lunch from becoming inedible. Surprisingly enough Albedo takes a break and joins them, so they sit around the pot and eat.

“The weather is a bit nicer.” Aether comments “Maybe is it because it’s summer?” not that he’s convinced that ice and cold can be considered summer but he supposes that in Dragonspine even freezing less than usual could be a big change. Albedo nods, confirming his idea “Yes, it slightly warmer. It makes the ice on water a bit thinner, so pay attention if you go near it in the next few days.” “Are we staying days?!” Paimon asks, incredulous. Aether can’t really blame her, knowing that she prefers the food in Mondstadt that what Dragonspine and its climatic condition can offer. He’s… a bit grateful, even if confused. Jean never told them to stay there after the deliver. Albedo looks quite perplexed as well.

“You are not staying?” he asks, as if Aether just betrayed a promise they made who knows when. An unnecessary feeling of guilt twists his stomach. “No, uhm… Jean needed this to be delivered but didn’t tell us much more than our destination.” he admits “But,” he adds way too quickly “it’s not like we can’t stay. We don’t have something else to do.” Great, he thinks the moment those words leave his mouth, now he’s going to think that I agree to stay only because I have nothing better to do. This is getting hard and ridiculous and embarrassing. Especially when he looks at Albedo and the alchemist doesn’t seem to mind his words too much.

“It would be wiser to stay.” he states, the same way he could explain why and experiment is better done in a way instead of another “Nice weather makes the snow less thick too. It would be dangerous to leave now. It might be summer, but nights come earlier than in the rest of Mondstadt.” and, truth to be told, Aether is not so impatient at the idea of going around Dragonspine when it’s dark. He opens his mouth to say that yes, he really needs to be cautious and stay for a few days to be sure that ice doesn’t break under his feet or that he’s not, who knows, hit by a sudden avalanche that something quite hard and cold hits his shoulder.

A quick look tells him Paimon just threw a snowball at him, while floating at some distance, a chuckle already filling the air. Albedo looks at the both of them, alternatively. “Why did you do it?” he asks and he sounds honestly curious. Paimon changes her expression in a know-it-all one, as if Albedo just asked the most stupid question yet she’s still kind enough to explain this to him. “For a snowball fight. Paimon is feared around aaall Teyvat when it comes to it!”

Aether would highlight that there’s almost no snow at all where they have been until now, but Albedo’s expression stops him. “A snowball fight.” he slowly replies, not looking convinced at all. Even Paimon seems to notice something sounds off. “You do know what a snowball fight is, right Albedo?” she asks, slightly tilting her head on the left, both her arms behind her back. “Heard of them.” the alchemist replies “But never experienced one.” he adds. Before Aether can say anything, a snowball hits the other’s chest and Paimon’s laugh fills the campsite. It doesn’t take long for them to actually engage in a snowball fight. For real. Albedo still takes too much time in the beginning, probably concerned about making the perfect snowball, but he soon adjusts to the situation and gets not only quicker but more competitive.

In the end, Aether is the first one to surrender, followed not much later by the other two. He’s still catching his breath when Albedo sits next to him to do the same. His hands are okay since they were covered by his gloves the whole time, but his cheeks are red because of the cold and the fight. He looks adorable. Aether hates himself for this thought and the tragic awareness he has for his feelings at this point. “You had fun.” he comments, a small smile as his eyes stay glued to Albedo. The other doesn’t deny it. “It was an interesting experience, even if I’m still not sure what the purpose is.” he admits. This time Aether can’t help but let out a quiet laugh. “Only to have fun” he reveals “so you basically did all you needed to do.”

“Did you have a lot of snowball fights?” “Not so many.” he admits “But I saw the snow in other occasions.” in other worlds “And me and my sister played with it.” I wish I could still do it. “Ah, but this is my first time playing with the snow during summer. Usually it melts in spring, doesn’t it?”

Paimon calls for them to have another portion of the warm soup they ate before and Aether can’t help but agree. He stands up, ready to join her at the pot to warm it up a little bit before serving it, when Albedo speaks.

“It would be nice.” he says, waiting for Aether to look at him interrogatively. “To have you here for a few days at least.”

To be honest… Aether doesn’t know if he can (wants to) be honest, but he feels warm and his stomach probably just made a couple of funny things, and he has this urge to take Albedo’s hand and tell him that he wants to stay so, so much. But he doesn’t.

*

Autumn makes it easier to run around for commissions and explorations. Aether has been able to enjoy the calm of Mondstadt in the last few weeks. Albedo let him and Paimon leave Dragonspine without him, but promised to meet them later that month. They did, in fact, meet but it wasn't for long. Apart from the time Aether accepted to help Lisa with some work in the library, nothing more than going door to door to pick some books people forgot to take back to the library (again) and put them back where they belong. The silence of the library really helped him to relax, making the hours pass quickly while surrounded by books and warm daylight. Even Paimon helped with some of the lighter books that had to be put on high shelves, while Aether was in charge of the lower ones. During their break, he met Albedo and joined him for a light lunch and some small shopping at the general store. They never really talked about the visit in Dragonspine if not for Aether asking if he discovered something useful about the herb they talked about on that occasion. After that, they simply went back to their work without making plans or anything like that.

Today all Aether did has been going around the city for a few errands (almost half of them personal), including the last one that is leading him to the flower shop. This is not the first time he helps Flora, but part of him hopes it's not about putting flowers in Dragonspine because he not only messed up one of them the last time he went, but he really doesn't have it in him to go there again. It's been a lazy morning and it somehow affected him— Klee even asked him if he was sure to not have caught a cold but Aether reassured her. He doesn't feel sick, only a bit under the weather. 

Flower Whisper is as lively and colourful as always, with different flowers in small vases to show the potential customers what the shop offers today. She immediately recognises him and doesn't make him wait. "Traveler" she greets him, "Lawrence told me you were going to come by." she explains and it takes Aether some seconds to associate Lawrence to one of the guards at the gate. He nods, smiling back "Do you need help?" "Yes... you see, I was thinking of adding something special to our store this month." she begins to explain "And I have heard that someone found a rare flower around the Wolvendom area. I would check and eventually take it myself but..." but Aether remembers the area. Packs of wolves are there, not to mention the abandoned arena where he fought Andrius with the help of Razor. There are also hilichurls there, so it would not be safe for someone like Flora, all the more if she went alone. He nods.

 

"But... is it a flower that blooms in autumn?" he asks because he may not be a florist but most of those that bloom in Mondstadt are usually there during spring and part of the summer— excluding the mist flowers and other special ones like those. Flora's eyes express nothing less than pure enthusiasm. "They do! In fact, they only bloom during autumn, isn't it amazing? It's a rare species that used to grow here ages ago, my grandmother— " Aether loses her more than once in that very detailed explanation full of memories from her childhood and a lot of studies she must have done to become the florist everyone trusts with small or important gifts in Mondstadt. In the end he gets that these flowers have to be picked now, or they will wither soon because of the change in seasons. 

An hour later he's about to leave through the gate when Albedo appears next to him as if the agree to just meet there and go together. Aether tries to ask a couple of times but all he obtains from the alchemist is a brief and unsatisfying explanation about something alchemy-related. Not very surprising, but still suspicious since Albedo tells him to lead the way. Aether does it, because it's not like he doesn't want some time with the alchemist, especially if it's out of luck. 

The road is familiar, totally different from when they went around Liyue during spring and Aether had to make sure Albedo and Sucrose were following him. They stray a bit from the usual path because they spot some wolfhooks and decide to take them back to the city, since they can be useful and they won't have to go there again anytime soon. Aether keeps his eyes open, not only for monsters but mainly in case he notices grey hair that could mean an unexpected meeting with Razor. Unfortunately by the time they reach the area Flora marked on a small map for them, the wolf-boy is nowhere to be seen. 

"Did you lose something?" Albedo asks him when Aether puts the map back into his pocket and starts to look around for the flower "No, why?" "Because you seem to be searching for something that has nothing to do with what Flora asked you." 

Aether smiles, even if he wonders how this is about Albedo being perceptive and how much it's his fault for being way too easy to read— he hopes it's the first case. He really doesn't need to know that Albedo can guess everything about him. "I was just checking if Razor was around. Ah, he is—" but the alchemist tells him the name is not new to his ears, probably thanks to Klee. They talk about small things while they look around. Aether still doesn't know if Albedo is actually searching for the flower or for whatever took him there, but he supposes that's okay. They check the safest area first, then move a bit deeper where tree and rocks make the path more unsteady and where hilichurls are. There's not many of them but just to be cautious and not engage in avoidable fights, both Aether and Albedo make sure to move as quietly as possible and not being spotted. Once they are in another part of the forest where it's safer to move, they begin to check everywhere, bushes and empty trucks and behind rocks included.

"Have you ever seen a flower that only blooms in autumn instead of doing it in spring?" Aether asks out of curiosity, because if someone knows about it, the chance of this person being Albedo is incredibly high. The alchemist stays focused on the task at hand but he's obviously paying attention to Aether's words. "I have read about it in some books. There is a species in Sumeru, apparently." he tells him "And this one in Mondstadt. But it's a rare occasion. Most of the known flowers in almost all the regions bloom in spring." "So this is another out-of-season thing like the tree in Liyue."

Aether regrets having said that immediately, but he knows that he's the only one so focused on not remembering that moment too much when he's with Albedo— point is, now that he knows what made his heart flutter he can't help but feel embarrassed. At the same time, the urge he had in Dragonspine during summer never really disappeared. Part of him just wants to... tell the alchemist that he's an important existence Aether never thought he would find in Teyvat, not when his first thought has always been (and it will always be) to find his sister. To be reunited. Does his wish to spend so much time with Albedo make him a horrible brother? Is it weird? Does the alchemist wish for the same thing when he tells him that it would be nice to be together or when they promise each other to meet as soon as possible despite Aether often being around Mondstadt or even in Liyue? 

A hand touches his forehead. Aether blinks, only to realise that Albedo is the one checking his temperature. 

"Are you feeling sick?" he asks. Aether swallows but shakes his head. Albedo doesn't look convinced at all "Tell me if you do." it's the only thing he adds, though, as he goes back to look inside an empty trunk. 

They are about to leave after spending a lot of time without any results, convinced that Flora either heard a false rumour or that the flower still belongs to the past, when Aether catches a glimpse of something whitish close to a few bushes. Once he checks, it is a flower he has never seen before. He vaguely reminds him of a Cecilia but the petals are completely different from it and from the Liyue's Qingxin too. The flower is smaller, gives him the idea of a very delicate one, even more than how a flower usually looks. Before he notices, Albedo is next to him, curious eyes on it. 

Aether knows this is not really the moment to think about it, but... it somehow reminds him of Lumine. And no matter how much he wants to be enthusiastic about them finding the flower, he can't help but feel a bit dejected. "What is it?" "Do you think the flower will wither soon?" Aether asks, eyes not daring enough to have eye contact with Albedo. He feels the alchemist's gaze on him though. "Eventually." he hears him reply and it makes him smile because no matter what, the way Albedo seem to always be able to rationalise everything sounds almost comforting to Aether. "Why do you ask? Did you want to give it as a present to someone?" 

Aether chuckles, nothing more than a brief sound. "If I could see my sister anytime soon, I would love to." he admits, wearing his heart on his sleeve like it's the most natural thing to do. But at this point Albedo is not exactly someone Aether is able to lie to. He wants the alchemist to know more about him, weak sides and worries and sadness too.

Albedo doesn't ask him if he misses her, because it's obvious. So Aether just keeps talking "I knows that she's stronger than me. I think— no, I know that she's safe, wherever she is. But..." but that single flower looks so delicate, so easy to step on. So—

Albedo's hand takes his. Aether suddenly feels his fingers slip between Aether's, clumsily but in such a caring gesture that it's not even a matter of so-called butterflies in the stomach or heart beating faster than usual. It's like suddenly being in the safest place in the world. Like being understood on such a deep, personal level that it makes Aether want to cry like a child comforted by their mother. He holds that hand back.

 

"A flower blooming in autumn, when the weather starts to get chiller and the sun sets earlier as winter approaches is the proof of how high its adaptability is. So it's not wrong to assume that it will be stronger than others. It disappeared ages ago and now it's here. In your hand. It probably survived all this time without anyone knowing it until recently. It was just a matter of finding it." Albedo tells him, quiet voice and a softness Aether rarely heard before. He squeezes his hand, almost afraid Albedo will let go the moment he's sure Aether is feeling better. Instead, the alchemist intertwines their hands more. 

"Thank you." Aether whispers. He only notices now that Paimon is nowhere to be seen. He doesn't know if it's what gives him courage or what makes him reckless. "Albedo, is it okay to tell you something... personal?" he asks, beating around the bush and getting cold feet now that he just thought about— "Yes. What is it?" Albedo stops his useless stream of consciousness before it can get out of hand. Aether looks at the unknown flower as if it can solve all his problems. Then, he breathes in and speaks.