Archive of Our Own

“How long are you gonna be gone?” Klee asks, but she’s not crying, she’s not! Her eyes are just a little watery.

She sniffs, rubbing at her eyes as her dad huffs out a laugh and picks her up. “Oh, Klee you know how your mother is.”

She giggles as he twirls her around. “Mom loves adventures, and you never know where an adventure can take you!”

“And that means you can never tell how long an adventure is going to be.” Her mother’s voice continues, coming down the stairs with a comically large bag that makes Klee giggle even harder. Alice smiles, pressing a kiss to Klee’s crown. “Sorry mommy and daddy have to go but Klee likes the knights, right?”

“Mhmm! The knights are all super nice, Lisa gives me candies and Amber lets me play with her baron bunny all the time.” Klee couldn’t wait till she built all her jumpty dumpties, she wonders which of them would have the bigger explosion.

Mom had shown her how to do it, but she still wanted to make her own, wanted to show everyone just how good she was at making them! 

“And you’ve been getting along with big brother Albedo right?” She asked, and Klee laughed all over again when her dad sighed, he thought it was silly but Klee liked having a big brother, even if he still made a funny face when mom told him that.

“Yeah Albedo’s super fun!” He did lots of fun experiments and said Klee could watch if she promised not to touch anything, and made silly faces over dinner whenever mom insisted he call her mom too.

“He’s still getting used to things here though.” She said, suddenly serious, and Klee furrowed her brows to match. Albedo had only arrived a few months ago, and Klee never saw him if it wasn’t here at home or the Knights of Favonius headquarters, she wondered if he’d even been around town yet—maybe Klee could show him around! “So can you make mommy a promise?”

Klee nodded, even as her dad held her tighter.

“Rhine, my friend, cares a great deal about him.”

“Klee does too!” She interrupted, he was kinda weird sometimes, but he was always so patient with her, and listened more intently when she talked about bomb-making than other people.

Her mother smiled, ruffling her hair. “Great, so then this will be easy! Since I won’t be here, can you do us both a favour and watch over him, make sure he doesn’t do anything silly. Protect him, and I’m sure he’ll protect you too—it’s what siblings do.”

Klee grinned squirming in her dad’s grip until he let go, dropping onto the ground and holding her hand out. Klee saw Master Jean doing this all the time when she was talking to someone important looking.

Her mother obliged, kneeling down and taking her hand firmly. Klee pursed her lips, this was super serious, she could tell! So, she had to make sure she looked the part. “Klee promises! No matter what, she’ll protect Albedo—from everything!”

He was family after all, and her mother always said protecting your family was the most important thing.

“Wonderful,” She replied, and Klee thought maybe her smile was a little funny but then she picked Klee up and she was too busy laughing to think about it, “you’re going to do great things Klee; make mommy and daddy so proud.”

Klee nodded, even though she wasn’t really listening anymore. The three of them spent the rest of the day together, until it was time for them to leave.

But she still didn’t cry! She still had the knights and her big brother after all, and that was enough for her.

(And if later that night Albedo awkwardly held her hand while he recited the day's experiments to help her fall asleep, well, Klee thought it was their first secret as siblings.) 

-

In the years that pass, Klee comes to think of the Knights of Favonius as her family too. They’re all really nice to her, they play with her and take care of her. And Master Jean can be scary, but she’s just like dad when he’s telling Klee about something she did wrong. A little scary, but Klee knows that means she cares about her!

Klee loves all of them, so she does her best to show them how much she appreciates everything they’ve done for her. Even if it doesn’t always go as planned… Solitary confinement isn’t fun, but it does give her plenty of time to come up with brand new bombs to build. 

So Klee makes a new promise. She’s going to protect Albedo, and her parents, and everyone else! She swears it on the fancy title they gave her.

“Klee? Are you down here?” A voice calls from upstairs and she jumps, hiding her treasure back underneath the tarp—it was her new treasure! No one could know about it until it was all done.

“Yep!” She replies, looking at her now hidden treasure in satisfaction before running up the stairs, Albedo meeting her at the top, arms crossed.

“What were you doing down there?” He asks, but he doesn’t even try going down the stairs. Klee loves that about him, Master Jean always gets so worried and barges right in but Albedo trusts her just fine.

“Making a brand-new treasure!”

“Is that so?” He asks, nodding along as he begins to walk down the hall, extending his hand so Klee can grab it.

“Yeah,” she replies as she reaches for it, “I think it’ll be my best one yet.” Lisa let her borrow her workshop and she’d made some new gunpowder out of some lizards she found—she was really excited to see how it worked.

“Did you need any help with it?” 

“No, Klee’s gonna do it all by herself!” Her treasure was going to be a big surprise for everyone.

Albedo nods again, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Well if you change your mind I’ll be in the lab all week, you can come let me know.”

“Thanks!” Klee would drop by anyways; Albedo’s and Sucrose’s experiments were always super interesting and sometimes Sucrose even showed her some new things she could use in her bomb making. She seemed less inclined ever since Albedo told her they were for real bombs though, which was kind of boring.

“Anything else?” He asks as they exit the Knights of Favonius headquarters. She giggles, sometimes when Albedo asked questions, he was so silly about it. All stiff and monotone. It was happening less and less though.

“Klee came to a rea-real—”

“Realization.”

“Klee came to a realization today!”

Albedo pauses, tilting his head, but Klee says nothing, waiting. She giggles when he finally sighs and replies, “And what was your realization?”

“Well Klee’s um.” She stops, letting go of Albedo’s hand to do a quick salute. “Spark Knight Klee of the Knights of Favonius reporting for duty!”

“You quite like that title, don’t you?”

“Yup!” She didn’t really get what it meant, but it was fun to say. “And a knight’s job is to protect everyone, so Klee’s going to protect everyone no matter what—that includes you!”

Albedo’s face does another funny little twist, and even though she hasn’t seen those in awhile, it doesn’t really make her happy to see. Something about it makes her frown, even though she had been so happy before.

“You don’t need to protect me Klee, I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.” Albedo replies and her salute wavers, hand falling to her side. She doesn’t like it, doesn’t like his frown, how he seems sad, and how he doesn’t want Klee to help! Klee made a promise and she was going to keep it. 

“Well Klee doesn’t care!” She shouts, gripping the ends of her dress. “Klee wants to take care of everyone, especially her big brother.”

Albedo sighs, kneeling down beside her. “Klee—” He tries but Klee ignores him, pulling at his cheeks until it looks like he’s smiling.

“Dummy! Stupid! You can’t stop me. No matter what Klee’s going to protect you!” Because she promised her mom, because she wants to.

He sighs once again, removing Klee’s hands, holding them between his own. But he’s smiling now, so Klee smiles too.

“I appreciate that, I really do.” He says, and the smile is still there, but Klee still thinks he looks a little sad. “I guess I’ll just have to make sure you never need to.”

She still doesn’t really like it, but that’s okay. She knows a lot of the knights worry, that she’s small and stuff, so Albedo’s probably just worried about her too! 

“Okay!” She agrees, and the sad look goes away so Klee knows she said the right thing. It’s fine, Albedo can think that if he wants, but whenever the time comes, she’ll be right there by her big brother’s side to do whatever it takes to help him.

It’s what any good little sibling would do.

-

There’s someone sitting on the steps to her house, Klee notes as she turns round the corner. She grins, picking up speed. Klee would recognise that hat anywhere!

“Oh you’re early!” Klee shouts as she skips to the door, a bag of groceries listing precariously in her arms.

Mona blinks, looking up from her hydromancy (Mona had tried explaining it to her a bunch, but all Klee really got was that it helped her figure things out), before bolting up and running toward her.

“Klee, watch your step your step you can barely—” 

Klee giggles, hopping to the side as Mona trips, falling face first onto the ground.

“—barely see.” She moans into the ground. “You could’ve tripped.” She says as she sits up, adjusting her hat.

“You’re so silly sometimes, Klee has great balance! And I can see just fine.” The bag was a little big, but she was used to it, she did it all the time.

Mona sighs, like she does a lot of the time when Klee talks, grabbing Klee’s bag as she stands. “I’m sure that’s all true, but it is always best to be careful, even the slightest of miscalculations can lead to disastrous outcomes.”

“Klee’s always super careful.” She says proudly, wilting when Mona gives her a flat stare, “Klee always tries to be super careful.”

Mona sighs again, but she’s smiling this time so that means she agrees! Mona talks funny a lot, and Klee doesn’t always really get it, but she understands her just fine.

“You came early.” She repeats as she unlocks the door.

“Ah,” Mona says as she enters, placing the bag down on the table. “Well I had finished my daily tasks and though it was well before our appointed meeting time I thought I would grace you with my presence. The precious time of the great astrologist Mona Megistus is something to cherish, you know? You should feel quite honoured I came early, there were other tasks I could’ve gotten a head start on instead.”

Klee blinks, “So, do you want some snacks? Klee bought a bunch!”

Her mouth opens, but red colours her cheeks, shoulders drooping. “If you would be so kind.”

She laughs, climbing onto the counter to pull out the veggie crackers Mona likes.

“Thank you, Klee.” Mona says, face still flushed, but she starts eating them right away.

Sometimes Klee thinks Mona should come over for dinner every night, she’s always so hungry when she comes over. But she’s tried asking before and Mona got all nervous and refused. Klee thought it was silly, but Albedo said it was something about pride.

Which – well, that was even sillier! She had no idea what that had to do with eating but at least Mona came over twice a week now. Albedo always tried his best to be home for dinner, but sometimes he was away, and even though Klee liked staying over at the knights' when he was, it just wasn’t the same.

Klee likes helping out with preparing meals, and they never let her help out over there. Jean said she was too messy but Klee always helps clean up after. It’s not her fault things get so messy when she cooks. She’s only allowed in the kitchen there if she’s making apology meals, and sure Klee makes many of those, but that’s also not the same.

“Klee?”

“You like my food right?”

“Oh, well yes, you are quite the skilled chef for someone your age.”

“Yeah!” Klee was so good, and dinner at home meant Albedo would always let her help.

“You are an odd little girl Klee.” Mona huffs, waving a cracker at her.

“Mhmm!” She replies, mom always said weird and odd were just another word for special and Klee knew she was special. None of the other kids her age liked to play with explosives, so Klee was super special. She wished sometimes the other kids would get it, but none of them aside from Diona really liked playing with her. 

Fish blasting was the best though, no matter how much Jean said it was a bad idea. There was no way something that made food so yummy could be bad.

Together they put the rest of the items away, and while Klee wonders what would be nice for dinner Mona brings up her little water circle.

She stares at it, thinking.

“Mom could do that right?”

“I’ve not met Alice, but the old hag always spoke of her in high regards with respect to her astrology among other things.”

“She only taught me about bombs.” Klee replies, she’d said it before, but she liked saying it. Her memories of her mom, showing her blueprints, showing how to make and create different parts. Klee loved them.

“Yes… I’m sure such a hands-on activity was much more… child friendly.”

Klee nods, making bombs was very hands-on, she used her hands a bunch! Though she did that for basically everything, so she wasn’t sure what the point was.

“You think Klee could learn?” She asks, and Mona pauses, the circle dissipating into sparkles.

“While astrology is by no means genetic, your mother's talents are, I think, a good sign for your potential.” Mona’s eyes glitter as she begins to talk. “Astrology and its secrets are forbidden from being revealed to outsiders… but you are not an outsider, you are kin to one of our own.”

“Mom!”

“Yes, your mother. As such, if you so wished it I would be honoured to teach you. You and Albedo have given me much kindness, as such even this would be but a minor act in repaying it.” Mona’s eyes drift, landing on Klee’s bag by the door. “However… my astrology is linked to my use of hydromancy, the reflections of the stars and their answers in the water.”

“Um.”

“With your pyro vision,” Mona clarifies when Klee just stares at her, “I don’t think I’d be the best teacher for you.”

“So I can’t learn?” She’s pretty sure that’s what Mona’s saying.

“Is there a reason you want to learn?” Mona asks instead of answering. “You were never interested before.”

She looks suspicious, but it’s not like Klee’s hiding anything!

“It tells you secrets right?”

“It reveals the truth.” Mona replies primly.

“Yeah!”

“Is there something you wish to know, Klee? I could divine it for you.”

Oh… Klee hadn’t thought of that.

“Could you? Pretty please?”

“I already said I would, Klee. What would you like to know?”

There was a beat, and then Mona repeats her question when Klee does not answer. Klee wants… Klee didn’t know how to ask.

“Mona told Klee about her constellation,” Mona had said a lot of things, Klee remembered her telling Klee she was lucky. “Could you tell me about Albedo’s?”

“You want to know about your big brother?” Mona asks, amused.

“Uh-huh!” Klee wants to know tons of things!

“Well such a request is quite easy, divination is much more clear the better you know the subject in question.” Mona says, already resummoning the circle. “While hydromancy is best performed outside, anywhere is fine on clear days like today.” She says, as if trying to reassure her.

It twists and turns, the quiet sound of it moving clicking through the room. Klee watches Mona’s brows furrow, a frown appearing as her hands slow down, then speed up again like she’s turning it around again and again. 

“Mona?”

She jerks, but her eyes remain glued to the circle, hands shaking just the smallest bit. “Just, uh, give me a moment longer Klee.”

Klee does, but Mona’s expression just gets worse, so Klee walks over and swipes her hand through the image. The circle dissipates with the action, but Mona stays frozen in place.

“Mona.” Klee asks, shaking her. “Mona, are you okay? Are the stars being mean to you today?”

“Mean…” Mona says, almost breathlessly. “The stars are never mean, Klee,” she replies after a moment, “they have no malice or kindness, they simply provide guidance, provide answers. They read to us our fate, and fate can neither be changed or –”

She stops, a strained smile forcing its way onto her face.

Klee frowns, patting Mona’s arm. “Did you see something bad?”

“Nothing for you to be worried about.” She says, grin still in place. “Just that Albedo might be in for quite a fall in the near future. And your brother’s just so careful that I wanted to be sure that I wasn’t reading it wrong.”

 Klee stares at her, because she doesn’t think that’s quite true, but she doesn’t think she’d tell Klee if she asked.

“Well that’s fine!” She answers instead. “If Albedo falls Klee will help him back up, every time, I’ll always be there for him.”

Mona’s smile turns less strained at that, a bit more genuine, and though her water circle is gone her eyes turn like she can still see it. “I’ve said before you are blessed with good luck, right?” Klee nods and Mona continues. “Well, remember that Klee, and when the time comes I hope it serves you well.”

“That’s advice!” Klee exclaims, hands raising, “You said no advice!”

“Oh?” Mona says, laughing. “You remember that little bit? And here I thought you weren’t listening.”

Klee always listens when people talk, she just doesn’t understand sometimes. It’s different! But not many people notice that.

“You’re right, to offer advice is to risk entangling our fates together, for your action to ripple back through to me like stones thrown into clear water. But, and tell no one this, if we could make the impossible happen Klee, if we could somehow change fate, I would be rather grateful. Perhaps destiny in this one case… should be denied.”

“Do you want him to not fall that bad?” Klee asks, tilting her head.

Mona smiles wanly. “If we could prevent Albedo’s downfall, that would make me very happy.”

When Albedo finally arrives home some time later Klee is seated happily on Mona’s lap, trying very hard to understand Mona’s explanation as she points at different parts of the circle, signs and meanings floating untethered inside her head.

Dinner is a quieter affair than usual, and when Albedo asks Mona about the unusual silence he looks at her reply like he does Klee when he totally knows she’s lying about something but isn’t going to look into it, but that’s okay. Klee thinks she’s found a new ally in protecting Albedo, and that’s super good to have!

No matter what, everything will definitely turn out okay.

-

Lately Albedo’s been taking more and more trips, gone for weeks at a time. And Klee doesn’t mind, Albedo’s the Chief Alchemist! And that means he’s super busy and Klee’s super proud of her big brother. It’s not even that bad! Even if Albedo’s away Mona will still spend time with her, and the Traveler drops by every once in a while. Klee still has everyone she had before plus some new friends—it’s the best! It’s been so exciting lately, Klee has tons of fun.

She’s not lonely at all!

But… 

That’s not really the problem, but Klee doesn’t know what the problem is. When Klee says she's worried everyone pats her head and says it’ll be okay. When she says she thinks somethings wrong they tell her she’s just being silly.

Klee wants to believe them but some things just feel wrong. She never worried when Albedo left before, and he’d been gone for over a month before! He spends more and more time up on that mountain, and even Sucrose looks a bit sad whenever Klee brings it up. And other than her Sucrose and Timaeus spend the most time with him. So maybe everyone else may think she’s being silly but no one knows her big brother better than Klee, and if she thinks something's wrong then something must be. 

It’s just… he’s a little funny recently. He looks more tired than usual when he is home, more distracted. But Klee asked if he was sick and he said no. And she’d asked if something was bothering him but he’d said no to that too!

She knew sometimes he kept things from her, but she thinks that whether he’s feeling sick or not wouldn’t be something to hide. 

Sometimes, she thinks, maybe she is being silly. Albedo is brave and strong and oh so smart, he wouldn’t do anything that could get him hurt. He was always reminding Klee to be careful with her bombs, and talking about how important it was to take safety precautions during experiments. He was always so ready in case things went wrong.

Klee had never worried about Albedo before, but lately she was doing it so much. She wanted to drag him home and make him stay there until Klee decided it was okay. Wanted to make sure nothing could hurt him while he looked so tired.

Wanted to make sure he couldn’t go somewhere Klee couldn’t follow.

It was a silly fear but sometimes, these days, when she watched him get ready for a new expedition that would take however long, she felt like he wasn’t going to come home.

She had tried, just once, to get him to stay. Had put on her best pout, her most pleading expression, and tugged at the end of his coat begging him to stay. She wasn’t very surprised when it hadn’t worked. Albedo had looked at her, too sad for her whining she thought, and had firmly said he had to go, that his research in Dragonspine was very important and he was sorry, but he’d be back. And as much as Klee had wanted she couldn’t ask again, couldn’t keep him from his work just because she thought he could use time off.

Despite how often people worried, Klee never really cared that she was young. Anything Klee wanted to do, she could do herself, so why did it matter that she was still small? She could climb really well so things weren’t ever really out of reach, and Klee had all her bombs and treasures so she was always ready to face any danger! Klee was a brave girl, and she could face all kinds of things on her own! It didn’t stop people from stopping her though. After her first failed attempt (Kaeya had promised if she went that way no one would notice, but they’d still found her almost right away) the knights patrolled the foot of the mountain just to make sure she couldn’t get in. 

For the first time Klee wished she was bigger, as old as Razor, or Mona, or Jean so that no one could stop her from doing what she wanted. From going the places she wanted to go, from making sure she could keep an eye on her big brother.

Klee didn’t want to get left behind again.

And if it came down to it, she would make sure she wasn’t.

-

“Klee? Did you lose a treasure again?”

Klee blinks at the floating blue eyes hovering before her and yells, flicking a bomb towards them as she rolls back. There’s the comforting sound of a bomb exploding, fire blooming at the edge of her vision, as she rights herself.

“Klee?! Hey! Watch what you're doing!” 

She blinks again, steadying herself, mouth forming an ‘o’ as she looks at the two people before her. One hovering anxiously over the flames while the other uses hydro to put them out.

“Aether! Paimon! You’re back!” She exclaims, running up to them with a jump. Aether catches her easily in his arms.

“Hey -heeeey, Aether don’t hug her she could’ve hurt Paimon! Your most precious and dearest friend. You’ve gotta be stern with her. Like, like—” Paimon hovers, bobbing up and down before they settle eyes grim and hands on their hips, “—Klee you must always keep an eye on your surroundings, you do not want to cause others harm by mistake.”

Klee looks at Paimon sadly, Aether mirroring her expression beside her, until Paimon deflates, shoulders drooping as they lose some height.

“Okay! Okay! Paimon takes it back don’t look at Paimon like that. Those—those evil puppy dog eyes, you two are terrible!”

Klee giggles as Aether sighs, letting her jump down. “Don’t be so rude Paimon, you’re the one that startled her, she was just defending herself.”

Paimon’s cheeks redden, turning their head away. “Yeah well, Paimon—Paimon already apologized! You can’t be mad at Paimon anymore!”

This time it is Aether who laughs, shaking his head. “You know I’m not mad at you, stop pouting.”

“As if you two weren’t doing the same thing like two minutes ago.” Paimon huffs, floating over the now burnt black mess of ruined grass.

That reminds Klee… “When did you learn to use Hydro?” 

The traveler hadn’t known how to do that the last time he visited, just anemo, geo, electro and dendro. Which, now that he had hydro, was almost all of them! Klee didn’t really understand how he did that—Klee had already had it explained to her how visions worked, and they only let you use one element. Aether used a bunch and he didn’t even have any visions! She wasn’t sure anyone understood, but she did know Albedo thought it was interesting. She’d sat through a couple more casual experiments where he tried testing it, but she’s sure no one other than him got what that was about. Even Aether and Paimon had looked confused! They were funny to watch.

“Ah,” Aether says, rubbing the back of his head, “I guess it has been a while since I last dropped by huh? Fontaine kept me really busy; we didn’t have the chance.”

It had been a while, but Klee knew Aether was busy looking for his missing sister. If Albedo ever went missing Klee knows she’d do whatever it takes to bring him home safe again.

“It was weird!” Paimon exclaims, waving their arms around.

“It was… odd.” Aether agrees, not quite frowning. “Usually, I like to come by and visit more often but it was just so hectic this time around.” His face kind of looks like he’d eaten a lemon, and it reminds Klee of Kaeya after a day of boring meetings. Did Fontaine have lots of paperwork too? She’d never been before, or heard much about it.

“But now it’s over and we’re free!” Paimon cheers, Aether nodding beside them. “Paimon didn’t expect to see you out here though, Klee. Kind of far out from Mondstadt.”

“Oh… um.” She says, twiddling her fingers. The sun was beginning to set, and Klee knows she isn’t supposed to go this far out all by herself, especially not this late. Jean was going to be so mad at her when she got back.

“Did you lose one of your treasures?” Paimon repeats when she doesn’t say anything more. 

“We can help you find it if you did.” Aether adds.

“Klee didn’t lose any of her treasures!” She huffs, sometimes her treasures went missing, and sometimes people tried to take them, but she knew where all of them were all the time! “Every single one is stored right here in my book,” she continues, patting her backpack, “and the last time Klee checked they were all still there.” 

Klee has been extra careful about that ever since the last time one got taken. Her treasures could be dangerous. Though whether to the person who found it or stole it, or the person they used it again, really depended. But she was more careful now! She didn’t want people getting hurt, and besides she put a lot of effort into making her treasures! It was so rude to just take them.

“Well… if that’s not it then what’s wrong?” Paimon asks, floating closer to her. “Did something happen? Did you do something that would make Jean mad again?”

“Nuh-uh! Well… I shouldn’t be alone out here but that’s different. Jean will be mad when Klee gets back, but I’m not out here because of that. It’s just a co-coin-um…”

“Coincidence.” Aether offers.

“It’s just a coincidence!” She says, cheeks puffing out in pride.

“So,” Paimon pushes, “what’s wrong? If you didn’t lose anything, and Jean’s not mad at you, what’s the matter?”

“How do you even know something's wrong.” She pouts.

“Paimon’s never seen a bigger frown on your face outside of being scolded. So, either somethings wrong, or you did something wrong. And you already said you didn’t do anything wrong.”

Klee blinks, she hadn’t known she was frowning. “Paimon, you’re just like a detective!” She exclaims, eyes wide.

“Oh-ho?” Paimon says gleefully. “Are you flattering Paimon because Paimon'll have you know –”

“Paimon.”

“Heheh… don’t give Paimon that look Aether.” 

Aether sighs, shaking his head. “You said you’d get in trouble when you got back, we can walk you back if you want. I’m sure if we told Jean it was our fault you were out so late she’ll forgive you.”

“Aether that’s lying!”

He raises a brow, leaning towards Paimon. “You’re going to talk to me about morals?”

“How dare you!” Paimon shouts, whacking Aether’s shoulder as Klee giggles.

“Anyways,” Aether says loudly over Paimon’s continued cries, “it’s barely a lie, we did keep you just now, it’s not like Jean has to know when we started doing that.”

Both Paimon and Klee gasp and Aether sighs once again. “You know, it’s not that big of a deal,” he says, “it’s barely a lie.” He repeats, stressing the words.

“Aether’s never lied before!” Klee exclaims as Paimon nods beside him.

“That’s not true.” Aether replies. “Everyone’s lied at some point you know, maybe by accident but still.”

Paimon gasps, horrified, and Klee copies them.

“You’re just doing this on purpose now.” Aether says, frowning slightly, and the two of them descend into giggles. “Anyways,” he says firmly, “it’s practically dark out, we should really get you back home to Mondstadt, Klee.”

She frowns, looking off towards Dragonspine. She knows that, knows that if she’d stayed here much longer a knight would’ve found her and taken her home if she didn’t start herself but…

Aether follows her gaze, his expression softening. “Albedo?” He asks, and she nods. “Is he up there again?”

“Yeah…” It had been over two weeks now.

“What’s he even do there all the time? Paimon knows he has his little workshop, but it’s so cold up there! What’s so important about the mountain? Paimon wouldn’t spend a second longer up there than Paimon had to.” 

Klee wishes she knew the answer to that too.

Aether hums, his hand twitching like he wants to summon his weapon, before settling back down at his side. “Are you worried about him?” He asks, kneeling down to look at her.

“Yeah…”

“Why?” Paimon asks, “Albedo’s strong you know, he can handle anything that happens to him up there. Plus he has his alchemy to help him out, he’s like a step ahead of everyone.”

A frown pulls at her lips as Paimon speaks, “I know that!”, and she does. It’s the same reaction she gets from everyone else whenever she mentions it, she knows being worried is silly but…

“But you’re still worried about him.” Aether says, his smile soft.

“Yeah.” She agrees softly.

“Well then how about we keep an eye out for him together?”

“Really? You will?” Almost no one took Klee seriously when she’d say it, she’s used to people just brushing it off.

“Of course!”

“Paimon doesn’t really get it, but if it makes you happy then Paimon’s definitely all for it!”

“What’s there to get?” Aether asks, “That’s her big brother you know, worrying about your sibling is a time-honoured tradition.”

“And I’m sure you know all about that.” Paimon teases, but it’s different than the way they normally do, gentle almost.

“Yeah,” Aether hums, “I do.”

“Your sister!” Klee exclaims as the two of them wince, “Ah, I mean…”

“No, it’s okay.” Aether says, waving his hand, “That’s it, I worry about my sister all the time. I know Lumine’s strong, and that she’s more than capable of taking care of herself but… it’s been a long time.”

“You’ll find her Aether! You’re trying so hard!” Klee says, grabbing his hand as Paimon cheers their agreement.

“Thanks Klee, both of you, really.” Aether replies, then pauses, face growing red. “Ah, I’m sorry, we were talking about you Klee.”

“We’re sharing,” Paimon refutes, “don’t be stupid.”

“Are we?” Aether asks, “Well then, Klee, do you want a secret no one knows—not even Paimon?”

“Yeah!”

“You keep secrets from Paimon?!”

Aether laughs, leaning closer to Klee but still speaking loud enough for Paimon to hear. “I’m the younger twin.” He whispers loudly.

“You told Paimon that you didn’t know! That it didn’t matter.”

Aether’s face is blank as he replies, “That’s what all younger twins say.”

Klee giggles as Paimon whines, swirling angrily around them. “Aether’s just like me then!”

“Just like Klee.” Aether agrees. “And younger siblings have to stick together, so if you’re worried about Albedo then I’ll be worried with you.”

“Yeah?”

Aether nods, “To be honest I don’t really like how much time he spends up there either. It’s… I don’t know.”

“Klee doesn’t know either! Klee knows Albedo is strong, knows he’s super smart but I still… I’m still worried.”

Aether hums, nodding like her words actually make sense to him even when Paimon looks at the two of them in confusion.

“Paimon’s confused but… worrying about people you care about is a good thing, right? It means you love them a whole bunch, that you don’t want them to be hurt. Paimon worries about Aether all the time!”

Aether grins. “Exactly, so you keep an eye on him, and we’ll do the same. The more people the better right?”

“Teamwork is important!” Klee recites, the knights told her that all the time, working together makes us all stronger. “But… but what if something happens and no one’s around to help Klee. I don’t want Albedo to get hurt.”

“I’m Mondstadt’s hero you know,” Aether says, striking a pose that looks even sillier with the two of them sitting on the ground, “don’t worry about it! If that time comes you can count on me to help.”

“Yup!” Paimon chimes, “we travel around at the speed of light, never fear, Mondstadt’s heroes are here!”

Klee laughs, laughing even harder when Paimon huffs indignantly. “Thanks, you two, Klee really appreciates it!”

“No problem,” Aether says with a grin, “but can you promise me one thing?”

“Yeah!”

“Klee! Wait until he says it before agreeing—what if it was dangerous?” Paimon tuts, “Aether would never, but still.”

“I trust Aether, and so do Albedo and all the knights, he would never do something to hurt me.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Aether says, giving Paimon a smug look, before turning a more serious expression towards Klee. “But, really, Klee whatever happens could be dangerous. It could be nothing, but whatever it is, are you sure you’re ready?” 

The way he says it is weird and Klee wonders what he and Albedo talk about when she’s not around. But, “No matter what, Klee’s ready. Klee’s going to protect her brother from everything! I Promise!” If Albedo was involved in something dangerous, then he could count on Klee to help him out.

“You’re a very brave girl Klee.” Aether says.

“Aether… this sounds dangerous somehow, are you sure?” Paimon asks, biting their lip as they look between the two of them.

“It’ll be fine,” Aether assuages, “call it a gut feeling.”

Paimon still looks unsure but they nod, smiling tentatively. 

“Don’t worry too much. We’ll be there to, right?”

 “Paimon guesses…”   

“Thanks again!” Klee says, feeling happier than she has since Albedo left.

“It’s no problem Klee, I care about Albedo too after all.” He says sincerely. “Now let’s hurry and get you back before Jean sends out a search party.”

Klee looks at him, tilting her head at the way the words come out. “Are you gonna leave after? I thought you were coming to visit.”

“I am! Just somewhere we have to go really quick, I’ll be back in a day at most.”

“We do? Uh, Paimon means we do, yeah we totally do!” Paimon says, jumping when Aether turns to stare at them.

It’s dark as they make their way back, the stars in the sky shining bright. Aether and Paimon tell her about their trip to Fontaine up until Klee begins to stagger sleepily. Aether lifts her, carrying her close to his chest and as she falls asleep she thinks about how she can’t remember the last time her and Albedo did something like this.

She misses him, even though he isn’t gone.

-

Albedo comes, and Albedo goes, but it never feels like he’s here for long. Albedo has had long trips before but Klee always knew when he was coming back. Nowadays Albedo leaves and with a frown tells her that he’ll be gone for at least a week.

Trips that were supposed to be one week turn to two, into three, into… Klee sighs.

Klee spends time around Sucrose, or hanging around Albedo’s lab, for as long as she can until Jean comes around to shoo her away. She’s trying her best to stay positive but it feels so hard lately.

She's sure that if she counted the days on a calendar she would find that Albedo had been gone more days than he'd been here, the past few months! Their home has felt so much emptier in his absence.

But that’s okay! Because the last time Albedo came down he promised he’d come home for Ludi Harpastum and stay in Mondstadt for the whole thing.

That was fifteen days where Albedo would be here in Mondstadt. In a row! Klee had been looking forward to it ever since, and she’d even made sure to be super good the whole week before it because there was no way Klee was going to be in solitary confinement when he finally got home.

Besides, Klee had an extra special treasure ready for the event! It was going to be perfect.

Or, well, it was supposed to be but Albedo still hadn’t come back yet.

Albedo promised he’d be here the very first day, early enough that they could enjoy the day's festivities in their entirety. Klee had even made sure to wake up early to not miss a moment of it.

But it was well past noon now and Albedo still hadn’t arrived back in town.

 And Klee would know! She’s been sitting at the gates ever since he hadn’t arrived back to their home in time for breakfast. Plenty of people had arrived since, but none of them were the person Klee wanted to see most.

“You planning on sitting here all day?” A lazy voice drawls, a shadow growing over the patch of grass she’s sitting on.

She tilts her head up, grinning when she sees who it is. “Kaeya!” She cheers, before she remembers why she’s sitting out here and purses her lips, forcing a frown back on her face. “I’m gonna sit out here until Albedo gets back.”

“You sure?” He asks, smirking down at her, “It’s really fun in there.” He whispers, crouching down beside her.

As if in agreement, a loud cheer rings out from inside, followed by applause.

“I think the circus is setting up for their first performance.” Kaeya says, still whispering as he winks.

Klee shakes her head, crossing her arms. “Klee is sitting right here! And you can’t make me move.”

“I’m sure our dear chief alchemist wouldn’t want you sitting here all by your lonesome.”

“Then Albedo can tell me that himself when he gets here!” Which was soon, she hopes.

“Oho?” Kaeya hums, listing towards her, “Is the little firecracker mad?”

“Klee isn’t mad at Albedo, I love Albedo! Albedo just promised to be here by now and he isn’t, and that makes me upset.”

“That’s what being mad means, Klee. He broke a promise to you and you're upset.”

“Klee’s not mad! I’m not!” Klee had never been angry with her family before, they had always meant well. “I’m sure Albedo has a good reason for being late! He would never upset Klee on purpose. He’s always so nice to me.” Albedo cares so much about her, Klee knows. Whatever’s keeping him away has to be important, and Klee is very understanding!

Kaeya sighs, reaching over to ruffle her hair. “Good intentions don’t mean our actions are justified.”

“Kaeya?” She asks, tilting her head up to watch him.

“Nothing,” he replies with a wave of his hand, standing with a stretch, “well, if you’re not going to be swayed from your vigil, can this knight bring you anything?”

“Umm,” she scrunches her eyes, thinking hard, “can you bring me something to eat? It smells so good and it made me really hungry.” Mondstadt’s food was always delicious, but it tasted even better during the festival!

“Radish balls or some grilled fish?”

“Both!” She exclaims, both were super yummy.

“Ever at your service.” He replies with an overdramatic bow, Klee giggling in response.

When he leaves Klee goes back to watching the bridge that connects Mondstadt to the rest of their region.

It can’t be much longer now.

.

The sun has nearly disappeared from the sky when she sees a familiar figure crossing the bridge, she jumps off, throwing aside the Jumpty Dumpty she’d been playing with.

His posture is a bit slumped but Klee pays it no mind, charging at him with a jump and tackling him to the ground.

“You’re late!” She screeches into his ear. He looks so sleepy just laying there, barely even reacting as they land. She frowns, but it’s hard to be upset when he looks exhausted and pale. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he replies calmly, “I apologize for being so late, the time got away from me.”

Klee pouts, rolling off of him. “Klee doesn’t care anymore, it’s getting cold.”

“Ah,” he says, brushing himself off as he moves to stand, “did you want my jacket? Though it lacks sleeves it should still provide you some warmth.”

“No,” she refutes, shaking her head furiously, “I wanna go back home.”

His eyes narrow, watching her suspiciously. “Is something the matter?”

Dummy, stupid, he’s the matter! Coming late when he promised to be home, coming home late all tired and sad so Klee couldn’t even be upset about it. And then pretending everything was okay when it clearly wasn’t.

Klee isn’t stupid! She wants to help!

No one ever wants to let Klee help.

But that’s okay, Klee doesn’t need anyone’s permission to be helpful. “Nope! But Klee’s had so much fun today and now I’m cold and sleepy.”

“Are you sure? I’m truly sorry for being late, I promised to be here and I wasn’t but that doesn’t mean we have to cut the day short. I’m sure the late-night festivities are just getting started.”

“I guess,” she says softly, “I guess, we can walk around together. But,” she exclaims, pointing her finger up at him. “You have to carry me the whole time.”

He sighs, but reaches out accordingly to lift her up, smiling as she giggles. “The least I can do, I suppose.”

“Yeah,” she agrees, “by the way, I think Kaeya’s mad at you.”

The expression on his face is funny as she says it, raising one brow on confusion. “Well then, he can keep being angry, as my present concern is only you.”

She laughs, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Mumbling at him to walk faster when she notices the commotion by the gate, her forgotten Jumpty Dumpty having caused a tiny little explosion.

Klee’s not at fault for that one! It’s not her fault Albedo was late and she got bored waiting for him. She’s not getting in trouble, her big brother’s finally home and she’s going to enjoy every second of it.

But first she’s going to push him into a warm bed and get him nice and rested.

.

Ludi Harpastum is always one of Klee’s favourite times of year. Mondstadt is always fun but it gets even more fun, and everything is so pretty to look at. But this year it feels even better with Albedo at her side. Klee even gets to meet a bunch of new people! Aether invited a bunch of the friends he’s made from travelling around and they’re all really neat.

It’s been a long time since Klee’s seen so many new faces around.

And that’s fun and exciting but nothing compares to just running around knowing Albedo’s close behind. It’s almost enough to make her forget that even now, over a week in, Albedo still looks tired.  Still wakes up late even though he’s always been an earlier riser than her. Every day this week it’s been Klee’s who’s had to drag him out of bed sleepy-eyed and tired, staring at everything like he’s not really seeing anything. And maybe it’s just her imagination, but she almost thinks it's getting worse.

Still, by the time breakfast is ready he’s always ready to go and no different than normal. Dragonspine’s cold, so Klee thinks maybe he’s just a little bit sick, or maybe the mountain is too chilly to sleep well on and he’s catching up.

He’s okay, Albedo’s fine! He’s here and that’s what matters the most.

So Klee drags Albedo around the festival and makes sure they share all their snacks and treats and always pretends to be sleepy when it gets late and Albedo’s feet start to drag. On two of the days Aether even showed up to walk around with them, and those days were especially fun. He and Paimon kept giving her winks that made her giggle whenever they tricked Albedo into trying something else to eat, and it was fun when they won games and Klee got plenty of prizes. The festival is all kinds of fun! It’s like Klee is Albedo’s secret babysitter, taking care of him while making sure he doesn’t figure out what she’s doing. She thinks she’s doing a good job, Albedo stopped giving her suspicious looks around the fourth night of insisting they go home. Though she also thinks that might be because he’s tired and wants to go home too—but it counts! If this is a game then Klee is winning and the prize is a big brother who’s healthy and happy.

It’s the best prize ever! So Klee tries her best and by the end of the festival Albedo looks almost okay. Still sometimes a little tired and spacey but still way better than before. She just wishes he wouldn’t leave again, but she knows that come tomorrow Albedo will return to that far away mountain and she’ll be left here on her own once again.

If Klee could build a bomb big enough to blow up that entire dumb mountain she would. But there’s no way she could build something that big without Jean finding out. Maybe… maybe a bunch of small ones could work? She rubs her chin, pondering, she’d still need a way up there, they’re still on look out to make sure she doesn’t go but she could figure something out. She’s sure of it! Maybe if she just –

“Klee?” Albedo asks, and she blinks looking up at him. “Is something the matter? You didn’t respond to my first call. They’re getting ready to throw the Harpastum, do you not want to go?”

“I wanna go!” The maiden throwing the Harpastum was the best part of the whole festival. “I was just thinking.”

“Oh?” Albedo hums, raising one brow, “What were you thinking about?”

“Uh.” she couldn’t tell him she was thinking about the best way to blow up the mountain! No one would ever let her anywhere near it again if they knew what she was planning. It’s not like she even would! She just thinks maybe it could solve a lot of her Albedo problems if she did.

“Klee?” Albedo repeats, a warning tone to his voice.

“Nothing! Klee’s just hoping that I’m the one to catch it.” She says, jumping in excitement. “I’ve never caught it before.” And it was true! Even if it wasn’t what she’d been thinking about. Everyone had to want to catch the Harpastum, it was one of Mondstadt’s biggest treasures and Klee loved collecting treasures.

“Well, the chances of catching the Harpastum are quite low,” Albedo says, tilting his head consideringly, “Ludi Harpastum brings in people from all over Teyvat, even more this year thanks to Aether’s recent ventures. Though as everyone’s chance is pretty much equal, I suppose you have as much luck as anyone in being the one to claim it.”

“So Klee can win?” She asks, concerns temporarily forgotten as she thinks about it.

Albedo nods, smiling as he kneels. “There’s always a chance, but how about we try to increase it?”

She opens her mouth to ask him what he means, but before she can ask he raises her high into the sky and places her safely on top of his shoulders. She giggles, burying her face into his hair as he begins to walk up the steps to the plaza where the event will take place. From up here it’s easy to see the crowds of people, how packed the streets are when they normally feel so big and spacious.

She looks around, at the shining lights and laughing people and feels so, so happy Albedo came down to spend it all with her.

“Albedo?”

“Hm?”

“I love you.” She says, kissing the top of his head. “You’re the best big brother ever!”

She laughs when Albedo stumbles, the two of them listing to the side for a moment before he rights them, readjusting his grip on her.

“I love you too.” He replies and Klee grins, bright and happy and giddy.

She’s so happy he’s here, and she’s going to miss him so much when he leaves again.

.

The maiden stands so far above them Klee can barely make her out, but haloed by the setting sun Klee still thinks she looks pretty, holding the red ball above her head. Down below her Jean is giving the festival its closing speech, something long and boring even though Klee knows Jean works super hard on it. But Klee thinks she should make it more exciting, maybe add an explosion or something, she would help if Jean just asked.

Albedo taps her leg as Jean finishes, the crowd cheering as all attention shifts to the maiden, who does a little twirl when she notices everyone’s eyes on her. She waves down at them and the crowd cheers once more until her arm stills up in air, hand held high.

“Five!” She cheers alongside most of the crowd.

“Four,” She continues after a moment, the rest of the crowd joining in as they catch on. “Three!”

She wiggles in Albedos grip, “Two,” and he shifts, hands locking firmly around her legs as she stands on his shoulders, “One!”

There is a final resounding cheer as she finally tosses it, the ball flying through the air, the arc of the ribbon making it look like a falling star as it descends. She watches it, eyes wide as it falls, almost vibrating in her excitement, enough so that Albedo’s grip on her loosens. So, when it flies over them, she doesn’t think twice before she jumps, catching it safely in her arms.

There is a moment the crowd cheers and then another as someone gasps, gravity quickly pulling her back down. She giggles the whole way down, clutching the ball close to her chest, smiling up at Albedo as he catches her, arms cradling around her.

Klee is always safe when her big brother is around.

“I didn’t let you up on my shoulders so you could jump off them.” He chides, face pinched in concern, his shoulders slumping in relief.

“But I knew you’d catch me.” Albedo would never let her get hurt while he was around, Klee knew that with full confidence.

He smiles then, but still looks a little concerned, a little sad. “Of course I would.”

Klee grins, letting Albedo carry her up the stage when Jean calls for her, jumping down only once they are there. She holds the Harpustum up as she does, the crowd cheering, and she looks up to where the Maiden was, seeing Amber gently gliding the two of them down.

“This year,” Jean says, the crowd quieting as her voice rings loud, “the Harpustum has honoured our very own Spark Knight with it’s blessing. May it bring her, and all of us, good fortune and luck this coming year.” She kneels, putting her hand on Klee’s shoulder. “Would this year’s recipient like to share some words with us?”

“Oh!” Klee says, spinning the ball between her hands. “Klee hopes everyone enjoys the rest of the festival and um,” she had something else planned for the festival didn’t she… “Ah! Klee made a special treasure for the festival. I hope you all like it. I worked really hard on it.” She says, holding one hand out as she reaches into her bag, the Harpustum slipping from her grip as she does.

“Klee.” Jean says, voice urgent and stern, reaching out to grab her. Klee spins out of the way, still searching. “Klee what do you mean by special treasure? Klee stop looking through your bag.”

She ignores her, smiling when she feels what she’s looking for, pulling it out in one quick motion. “Here it is!” She’d been working on this one for awhile, it was her best one yet.

Just like she had watched the maiden do earlier she raises the device high, preparing to toss it, but just as she does the ground beneath her shifts, and she rises in a familiar way. She wobbles at the sudden change, laughing as she peers over the edge of the rising platform.

“Klee.” Albedo’s voice comes from below, sharp and warning, Jean echoing the same. “Klee you know there are no explosions within the city walls.”

Of course, Klee knows that, as if she would ever forget her survival rules! But Ludi Harpustum was a special day, and special days allowed for special exceptions, she’s sure everyone would agree once they saw. So, ignoring the shouts from below, she swung her arm back and launched it into the air, nearly falling off the platform with the effort.

She watches it spark as the platform descends, bursting into shower of red lights and then after a moment again into smaller white and yellow sparks. It shines, pretty and bright in the darkening sky, looking even better than she thought it would. She hadn’t been able to test it properly, she didn’t want anyone to see it before today. There had been smaller versions she’d tried hidden away in Lisa’s lab but one this big was a first even for her.

Albedo kneels beside her as she lands, the flower breaking apart beneath her.

“You made that?” He asks, as the colours begin to fade from the sky.

“Mhmm!!” She answers, grinning wide. Sucrose and Lisa had helped her when she was still trying to figure it out, but she’d built it all by herself.

“You’ve developed your skills quite a bit in my absence.” He says, humming in approval as the last of the sparks fade.

The words make her smile fade. She was happy, Albedo was proud of her, of what she did. But… but the reminder of his absence just makes her wish he had been here to help her when she’d needed it.

“Thank you.” She replies but it doesn’t come out as excited as she wants it too. “Klee worked really hard.”

She can see the way he frowns, and knows he’s going to ask what’s wrong, but before he can someone in the crowd shouts for an encore, and the rest follow suit.

“Well, it seems your creation was very well received.” He says after a pause, both of them looking out to the chanting crowd.

“Oh, I did bring a bunch…” she wasn’t expecting to need them all though, “Can you help me launch them?”

Albedo’s smile is fond as he nods, motioning at her to spread them all out. She does, and watches with wide eyes as his flowers bloom beneath each of them, shooting up with such speed that each little spark flies higher than she could have ever thrown up igniting high above them.

If one was pretty than all of these is even more so. So high and bright, they shined more than the stars, blinking colours into the sky before fading into nothing. Pretty, but gone so fast, and those had been the rest of them.

“And with that we conclude our festival.” Jean announces as the awe of the crowd dies down. “Thank you to Klee for such a special end to this year’s festival, may you all enjoy the rest of your evening.” There is a strained smile on her face as she speaks, but Klee can tell from her tone there will be no solitary confinement for this.

The crowd begins to disperse with Jean’s parting message but Klee and him stay, sitting side by side watching the sky.

“Are you ready to go Klee? There are still stalls we can visit if you’d like.”

She shakes her head. She'd like that, but tonight’s Albedo’s last night in Mondstadt before he leaves for the mountain again. As exciting as the festival has been, Klee wants to spend the last of their time together, at home, while Albedo tells her about all his experiments and theories until she can no longer stay awake.

“I wanna go home.” She says, hopping up to stand. “Let’s go home Albedo.”

“Okay,” he agrees, standing up alongside her. “Then let’s go home.”

Klee is giddy all the way home, skipping as they walk down the streets, less and less crowded the more they move towards the housing areas. As soon as they walk through the door she drops her bag, dragging Albedo right to her room.

“Sleep here tonight!” She demands, hands on her hips. “If you’re leaving tomorrow than it’s the least you do. Keep Klee company all night!”

 Albedo’s mouth opens, then closes as he watches her, proud and unyielding. “Alright.” He says at length, “I’ll be right back,” nodding his head at her as he steps away from the entrance to her room.

By the time he returns Klee is already in bed, Dodoco cradled at her chest. He joins them, telling her about one of his more exciting experiments in Dragonspine, about some of the more unique creatures he’s seen. A moment so familiar, exactly like she’d wanted, that for a moment it was like he hadn’t even left.

Klee falls asleep, a smile pasted on her face, clinging to Albedo’s arm, and hopes that she never wakes up, because then this moment never has to end and Albedo will get to stay here forever.

.

Despite Klee’s wishes morning comes, bright rays of light streaming through her window as she blinks awake. Albedo is still asleep, but that’s not surprising, not once these past two weeks has Albedo managed to wake up before her. Klee presses a kiss to his forehead and then wiggles out of bed, carefully crawling over him so as not to wake him up.

Once free she hurries down the steps to prepare them breakfast, gleefully racing through each of the steps. She’s just finishing setting the table when Albedo walks in, rubbing his eyes sleepily, his hair still loose and unbraided.

“Klee?” He asks, blinking as he looks around. “What time is it?”

“Early?” She replies, not really sure. She hadn’t checked the time, but the sky had still been a pretty orange pink when she’d looked earlier. “I made breakfast!”

Klee’s specialty is her fishy toast but she wanted to try something different today. Sara had talked about a fancy sounding breakfast sandwich last time she’d gone by Good Hunter, and given Klee the recipe for it. She thought it had turned out well! It smelled good at least.

Albedo sits at the table still looking sleepy and confused, lifting up the cup of orange juice with furrowed brows. “I would have made us breakfast Klee, you could’ve just woken me up.” He places the cup back on the table after taking a sip, smiling at her fondly, “Though I am grateful for the gesture.”

“Klee wanted it to be special! You’re leaving today so I wanted it to be extra super special.” She wants this morning to be so perfect and amazing that Albedo can remember it if he ever gets sad or lonely up there alone on the mountain.

So she tells him her best stories that she’s been saving this whole time, helps him pack his bag and clean up his room and by noon they are walking down to the main gate, Klee swinging their joined hands back and forth. It passes by in a rush, faster than she really wants, but time passes anyways and soon enough they are by the caravan that will take the new supplies Albedo needs all the way to the mountains entrance.

She purses her lips, wondering if blasting it would give them a bit longer together before shaking her head. She’d already told herself she was going to be good these two weeks, she isn’t going to ruin that now no matter how much she doesn’t want Albedo to leave.

“You aren’t going to ask when I’m coming back?” Albedo questions, looking just a bit confused. Because, you know, every time Albedo leaves Klee badgers him until she knows exactly when he’ll be back (even if sometimes, a lot lately, that date wasn’t exactly right), because she worries, because she misses him.

“Nope!”

But not this time.

“Is that so?

“Mhmm.” She says with a nod. “It doesn’t matter how long you’re gone for, Klee knows know matter what you’ll always come back home, that you’ll never leave me behind. So it’s okay! I know you’ll never leave me alone!”

Just like she would never leave him on his own. They would always have each other.

Albedo’s face goes all weird, like he doesn’t know what face he wants to make, before he sighs, closing his eyes. “Of course, I’d never… I don’t want to ever do that to you.”

“I know! Now bye-bye, be safe, I’ll miss you!” She says, wrapping her arms tight around him, squeezing her arms as tight as she can.

“Goodbye Klee,” he says softly, “I’ll miss you too.”

 Klee stands there until the caravan disappears far into distance, until she can no longer make it out. Until he’s gone, once again. But she’ll see him again soon enough.

She would. She knows that. Knows that like she knows the sun will rise, the stars shine. Knows that like she knows she loves Mondstadt and Albedo and her parents. So it’s fine!

Klee can wait.

-

What’s nice about Wolvendom is that most people avoid it, they think it’s scary. Which is so silly, Wolvendom is so pretty and full of yummy berries, but just because some people were scared of the big wolf that lived here almost everyone stayed away. Klee thought it was a bit sad, but it did mean she could always come here to be alone if she wanted to. Klee knew all the best hiding places thanks to someone.

But she wasn’t here for that, she has a basket and a blanket and she’s all set for today!

She looks around, frowning, usually he shows up by now. Somehow he always knows when Klee enters the area. As if answering her thoughts the tree above her rustles and she hops back just as a figure drops. He lands with a grunt, arms spread out for balance.

“Razor!” She cheers, launching himself at his open arms for a hug. He teeters, but Razor has always had good balance.

“Klee, hello.” He replies, patting her back once, then twice before standing, Klee still clinging to his side.

“I brought lunch!” She says as she lets go, landing on the ground and holding out her basket.

“Thank you. I made food too.” He says, reaching behind him and pulling out a package wrapped in cloth.

“Oh, did you make more of those cute hashbrowns?” Some of them had been black and hard last time, but they were little paws and the first thing Razor had ever made for their meetings that wasn’t meat. Klee thought they were amazing.

He blushes, scratching his cheek. “Tried again. Been practicing with Traveler. Much better now.”

“I’m sure they’re great! Klee will eat them no matter what!”

“… Appreciated.” He says, beginning to walk, “Let’s go.”

“Okay!” She agrees, skipping alongside him.

“No bombs.” He says gravely. “No fire. No burning.”

“Of course!” She exclaims. “Klee left all her bombs at home!”

The look Razor gives her, full of doubt, is enough to make her look away.

“I did leave most of them back home.” But she couldn’t leave all of them! What if something happens, she has to be ready to protect herself and everybody. Without her bombs something really bad could happen and she wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop it. “And Klee promises not to use them, they’re for just in case!”

Razor sighs, vaulting himself up a small incline, reaching down to help her up. “It’s okay.” He says. “But no fire.” He repeats, “No burning.” He pauses, like he wants to say something more, before shaking his head.

“I promise! Absolutely no explosions today!” Razor still looks unsure, and that’s probably because the last three times she promised that she still ended up causing a fire and making the big wolf come put it out but she really isn’t going to this time!

“Alright. We go, come. Clearing up ahead.”

“I know Razor,” She sniffs, “we always go to the same place for lunch. I know where it is!”

He nods, but Klee knows when he’s no longer listening, head tilting slightly as he looks around. He sniffs, pausing as he turns.

“Do you hear your friends?”

Razor’s eyes close, and when they open his gaze is focused on Klee once again. “I did. They are gone now. Moved away.”

“You’ll see them again someday!” She assures, smiling. Klee didn’t know all the details but she knew that Razor didn’t live here anymore. He wasn’t always in Mondstadt though, so Klee wasn’t entirely sure where he was living—she’d offered to let him stay over, but he said he already had somewhere to stay. She didn’t know all the details, but she knew that Razor missed them dearly, and probably liked coming here to play still, he was the one who’d insisted on their hangouts still being here.

Razor grins, small but there. “Lupical is lupical. No matter how far.” He grabs Klee’s hand, pressing it against her heart. “Inside here. Always with me.”

Klee understands that well. No matter how far the people she loves are, they were always with her, in her thoughts and her well wishes. “Yeah!” She agrees, using their joined hands to drag him forward. “Now let’s go, the food doesn’t stay warm forever.”

.

Normally the two of them just sat on the grass, but Lisa had brought up the idea of a blanket the last time Razor had brought up their hangouts to her, and he had wanted to try it out. Klee likes sitting on the grass, the grass is green and soft and fun to hold in her hands and Razor always made funny faces at things he thought were too fancy and unnecessary. The blanket felt unnecessary, but it sure did make everything look all special and official. It was a soft shade of purple, and a nice pattern, and with the basket in the corner Klee thought they looked like something out of a painting.

Razor unties his package as Klee lays out the sandwiches and juice she had brought. It was nothing special, but Klee always looked forward to the time they spent together. Razor’s one of Klee’s best friends, and spending time with him is fun and also time Klee can spend somewhere else, not in Mondstadt, not thinking about Albedo or anything else that’s just a little bit sad to think about.

It’s nice to sit here together, like they always do. Klee digs into her sandwich happily, having just finished two of Razor’s hash browns (way yummier than last time), cherishing the different flavours. Mona had come over while she had been making them and helped her out, and it meant it was a fun surprise because she had no idea what she would get! Razor takes a bite out of his and pulls a face, making her giggle.

“Green…” He mutters, sticking his tongue out in disgust.

Definitely one of Mona’s. “Try a different one, there’re a bunch.” She suggests. “You should eat more greens though, they’re good for you!”

“They are bad.” He says, lips curling like he wants to growl. “Small animals eat greens, I eat small animals. It’s the same.”

“I eat veggies, does that make me a small animal?” She asks, scratching her head.

“Klee is… small.” Razor says, head tilted as he furrows his brow, like he’s thinking super hard on it “But friend. Klee is Lupical, not for eating.”

“You’re one of my best buddies too Razor!” She agrees, “I don’t think either of us would be very yummy either.”

“Though. Klee is like rabbit; small, fast.”

“So you would eat me?” She gasps, rolling back off the blanket.

Razor grins, his smile wide and sharp as he raises his hands curling them into mock claws, pouncing so he lands just before her. “No. But will chase. If you want.”

“Play time!” Klee cheers, rolling over so she’s on her stomach and then taking off, Razor following close behind. He’s faster than her, and knows Wolvendom better, but Klee’s small and good at slipping away. Tag with Razor was always so much fun, she loves running around with him, and dodging under bushes until well after sunset.

She yells as Razor gets too close, climbing over a branch and tossing a stray wolfhook at him. He flinches as it hits him, splattering purple all over his face and she giggles at the affronted look on his face. She scrambles away while he’s distracted, leaves and twigs crunching under her feet.

They run until Razor finally catches her, the two of them tumbling through the grass as they roll with the force of his tackle. Klee laughs as they break apart, hopping up on her feet.

“Your turn!” She says, and Razor nods, shaking the leaves from his hair before taking off back towards the clearing. She follows after a breath, chasing after him.

It takes Klee’s best just to keep up with him, which isn’t anything new, but by the time they make it back to the blanket Klee is just a few steps away jumping onto Razor’s back from where he’d plopped himself down. He groans with the impact, mumbling something into the blanket Klee doesn’t catch as he forcibly lifts himself up, Klee falling off as he does.

Razor rights himself, picking up a sandwich to snack on as he does so, but Klee stays on the ground, staring up at the sky. From almost anywhere in Mondstadt you can see that big nail the traveler shot into the air when he’d first been exploring the mountain, and Dragonspine can be seen below it tall and imposing as ever.

She frowns as she stares at it, Albedo is up there like he’s been for over a month now. He doesn’t even come back down for supplies anymore! Just a scheduled caravan that he’s supposed to meet once a month. Klee knows that Sucrose and Timaeus and some of the knights have gone to check on him but they still don’t let her go up. Still don’t let her anywhere near it because of the danger. She wishes the traveler would come by and take her, he was nice like that! But the last time he’d come by he said it’d probably be a while until he could visit again.

She tries not thinking about it, but it’s hard to forget when there’s a reminder wherever she goes.

She blinks, rubbing at her eyes before pausing—is that, she hears howling?

She sits up, confused. “Razor I think I hear one of your f—” Oh!

Razor sits beside her, eyes closed, head tilted slightly upwards as he howls a gentle and rhythmic tune. He sways slightly with the rhythm and Klee watches, attention fully captured by it. He slows as the sound dies down, eyes opening and face reddening when he notices Klee’s gaze.

“Older wolves sang to younger wolves. Always calmed me down. Did it help?”

“It was really pretty! I didn’t know you could sing!”

“Feel better?” He repeats and she blinks, frowning.

“I had a lot of fun today!” Today has been great! She loves her hangouts with Razor, hanging out together in Wolvendom is the best.

“Klee is sad. You miss your family.” He taps his chest. “I understand, me too.”

“Oh. Um, it’s okay! Klee has you and everyone else, it’s not like I’m lonely or anything.”

Razor shakes his head. “You can still miss them. Still can make you sad.” His head turns towards the mountain. “You were happy, and now you are sad.”

“I… Klee wants to talk about something else.”

“Okay.” Razor nods, saying nothing else and Klee purses her lips into the silence.

“Klee just thinks that everyone should stop being so dumb!” She huffs, crossing her arms. “If I want to worry I will. If I think Albedo’s being ridiculous staying up on that mountain I will! But no one wants to listen, they all think I’m over—overreacting. But Klee feels something wrong here,” she says, pressing her hand against her chest, “and I have for months. I just want my big brother to be safe, I want everyone to be safe.”

Razor nods again, his eyes hard. “Humans are stupid, complicated. Worry about silly things. Wolves are straightforward, much more simple. Think too much on things that do not matter. You are small, but strong, capable. No need to worry.” He copies her, pressing his own hand in the same place as her. “Trust instincts, they will guide us well. Older wolves would tell us this. Your brother is your Lupical, family. You protect him, no matter what. No matter what adult humans say.”

“You think so?”

“If my lupical were in danger, would do anything to protect them.”

“Even me?”

“Klee is friend, important. Of course.”

“Aw, Razor, I’d protect you too!”

Razor’s smile is small as he tilts his head towards her, but it’s there. “Wolves train to be strong. To protect. To always be ready. Adults stupid, Klee, don’t let them stop you.”

“Klee’s strong! I’m so strong.”

Razor huffs. “Not as strong as me. No claws, no teeth.”

“But I have my bombs!” She argues, holding one of her Jumpty Dumpties out for him to see. “And they make me strong, and also make such pretty explosions.”

“No bombs!” Razor hisses, but doesn’t reach to grab it. He learned that lesson a long time ago. “Promised.”

“I know, I know! I wasn’t going to, just showing you.” Klee knows she isn’t all that strong physically, but the bombs she makes make up for it!

“We go somewhere else, somewhere safer. We can play fight?” Razor suggests.

Her eyes glitter. “Yeah! That sounds great, lets go!”  He nods and the two of them pack up the leftovers of their picnic before heading out of Wolvendom.

If anything does happen, if Klee’s bad feeling does end up being right. Well, then she just has to be strong. She just has to be ready!

It doesn’t matter what others think, or what they say, or what they tried to do.

If it came down to it, Razor was right. No one was going to stop her from doing what she thought was right.

-

The next time Albedo descends from the mountain isn’t by his own choice, and Klee doesn’t even find out until hours after he’s back in the city. She’s just walking around Mondstadt with Diona when Sucrose runs up to them, out of breath and haggard. She holds her hand out as she takes a moment to catch her breath.

When she finally does, she looks no less worried and tired, fretting so much Klee can’t understand a single word she’s saying. And yet Klee suddenly feels as nervous as Sucrose looks.

“Stop.” Diona snaps, hands on her hips. “Do you need something?”

“Yes,” she gasps, ears twitching at Diona’s shout. “Of course I wouldn’t –”

“Well then what is it?” She interrupts, and her words are harsh but her hand holds Klee’s tight like she, too, can tell something's not right.

Sucrose’s mouth opens and then closes, looking more and more frustrated as she fails to find the words. “My apologies but… it would simply be easier for you to come with me. It concerns Albedo.”

“Is Albedo okay?!” She asks, loud enough that someone walking down the street jumps in surprise.

“He is… his life is in no danger.” Sucrose replies softly.

Diona mutters something under her breath before turning her attention to Klee. “Um, do you want me to come too?”

Klee shakes her head, that was nice but, “You can finish your errands, it’s fine. Klee has Sucrose here to keep me company! Remind me next time to show you my new treasure. I think it’ll really help with your Wine Industry destroying!”

“That’s…” Diona sighs, “Thanks. But come find me if anything goes wrong, there are too many untrustworthy adults out there and—”

Klee giggles as Sucrose tugs her along, cutting Diona off mid-rant in her rush. She waves her goodbye as they walk away even though the worry she feels dampens her excitement.

“Are we going to see him now?”

“Yes, right away. I’m sorry it took so long for me to find you.” Sucrose says, quickening her pace.

“It’s okay, you found me now! And that’s what matters in the end right?”

Sucrose looks over at her, quirking up a smile. “I suppose that’s true. Come now, we’re almost there and I took so much longer than I told Sir Kaeya I would.”

“Kaeya?” Klee asks, but Sucrose does not respond, speeding up once again and going so fast Klee thinks they’re flying for a moment.

Well, she guesses she’ll find out soon enough.

.

Sucrose leads them to the doors of the cathedral and Klee’s stomach squirms. She said this had something to do with Albedo, and Albedo had never cared for praying to any of the Archons. If he was here then… well then he’s probably sick. But… Albedo doesn’t get sick. He’s never…

Sucrose tugs her along when Klee’s feet begin to drag, walking through the pulpits towards one of the far doors. If Albedo is sick or hurt then of course Klee wants to be with him, wants to help him get better it’s just that…

It’s not right.

Tears begin to build in her eyes as she grips Sucrose’s hand tighter, sniffling a bit when Sucrose tightens her own grip for just a moment in response. A hand brushes away her bangs and she blinks, looking up.

“Are you crying?” Kaeya asks with a grin, squatting before her.

“No!” She sniffles, “Klee’s a big girl.”

“Oh, I don’t think age has anything to do with it.” He hums, “Right Sucrose?”

From beside her Sucrose jolts, her smile shaky. “O-oh! Well, um, of course. Tears are a result of s—”

“Exactly!” Kaeya interrupts. “Nothing wrong with crying.”

She feels her eyes water but still doesn’t cry, shaking her head. “Is he okay?”

Kaeya’s eyes soften, “Why don’t we go in and then I can tell you what happened?”

“Okay.” She agrees but doesn’t move, kicking her foot out.

He sighs, rising to his feet and lifting her up along with him. “We’ll go together, alright?”

She nods and Kaeya grins, ruffling her hair as he moves towards the door while Sucrose opens it.

Inside the room Albedo is laying down on a bed in the corner, Barbara standing beside him, hands clenched at her chest and brows pinched in worry. She looks up as they walk in, shoulders relaxing but Klee’s eyes stay glued to Albedo, still and unmoving almost like he’s sleeping, except for the sweat on his furrowed brow.

“Oh good, you’re back.” She says, hands lowering.

“You do know I was just outside, right?” Kaeya asks, sounding just a bit bewildered.

“Of course!” She says, tilting her head to the side with a smile. “However, I didn’t want to leave Albedo unattended and perhaps you were busy, so I didn’t want to interrupt.”

Kaeya shakes his head with a soft sigh, before smiling at her. “Your care and concern are as appreciated as always. Have there been any changes?”

Her smile fades with the question, as she presses the back of her hand against Albedo’s forehead. “No, his fever still hasn’t broken, and nothing seems to be able to wake him up. His eyes reacted just fine when I checked, even if a little red.” She sighs, pushing his bangs back. “I can’t find anything wrong with him aside from the fever, if it wasn’t for that it would just look like he’s having a bad dream.”

A distressed sound leaves her throat as she jumps out of Kaeya’s arms, scrambling over to Albedo’s side. “What’s wrong with Albedo? He doesn’t get sick!”

“Aside from the fever, we aren’t quite sure.” Sucrose replies as Barbara gives her a reassuring smile.

“Why’s he here?” She asks, lifting herself onto the bed ignoring Barbara’s small sound of distress. “Albedo wasn’t supposed to come home yet.”

There is a moment of silence and it is Sucrose who breaks it. “Well, today was the day that Albedo’s new supplies got sent over to Dragonspine, and as just a few days ago I had gone to check on him and agreed to come back with some texts he requested, I rode over with them.” She pauses, pressing the tips of her fingers together. “However, when the appointed time came and went and he had still not arrived I offered to go get him in their stead. Dragonspine is dangerous terrain, and my vision makes me much more equipped to deal with its dangers. One c—ah, I’m getting off topic again. It is simply that…” she shakes her head. “I requested one of the stationed knights to alert the headquarters. Mr. Albedo is rarely unpunctual, so while it was possible for it to be nothing I wanted to be safe.”

“Which is why I’m here.” Kaeya chimes in, giving a quick salute. “Given our dear Chief Alchemist's status I thought it would be best to assure his safety myself.”

Sucrose nods along to his comment, though doesn’t look like she actually heard it. “Yes, thank you. As I was saying I ascended the mountain to his camp and there I found…” she trails off before huffing, clenching her hands together. “Upon arriving at the camp I found him collapsed before one of his study tables, curled up and shivering but unresponsive to my attempts to rouse him. While I approached him immediately, I am ashamed to say it took me a moment to gather my wits enough to react. As Barbara said, despite his shivering he was warm to the touch and at first seemed to resist my movements. I was able to move him to the cot he sleeps on and when a cursory assessment deemed him in no immediate danger I set to looking around his ongoing experiments. None of those seem to be the cause of this either, the various ingredients used would not cause a reaction like this. I was pondering how to get Albedo down the mountain in his indisposed state when Kaeya arrived with two other knights.”

Sucrose pauses at that, looking over at Albedo with poorly disguised concern and so it is Kaeya who continues. “Between the four of us we were able to get him and any objects of interest back down, thankfully the caravan was there for easy transport back to Mondstadt.” He shrugs, leaning back. “And now here we are.”

Albedo’s hand is warm between her own and she frowns as she clutches it tighter. “So… he’s sick?” A bunch of words had been said, but Klee understands the important parts. Sucrose found Albedo, he hadn’t been well, so they all brought him back.

“That’s pretty much it.” Kaeya replies with a casual wave of his hand. “Doesn’t seem to be anything life-threatening though.”

Barbara’s lips purse at Kaeya’s wording but when she looks at Klee a smile is back on her face, her eyes gentle. “Aside from his fever your brother is just asleep right now. My healing helped a bit and I’m sure he’ll be right as rain before you know it! Nothing to worry about.”

“Albedo doesn’t get sick.” She says, staring at his closed eyes trying to will them to open.

“Oh Klee, I know seeing a loved one ill can be hard but he’ll be better before you know it.” Barbara says, reaching over the bed to put a hand on Klee’s shoulder.

She shakes her head. “He doesn’t.” She repeats, looking behind her for support.

The face Kaeya is making is one she can’t quite understand, while Sucrose looks at her nervously. “I understand that in my time working with him I have not seen Mr. Albedo ill, but it does not mean he has never fallen ill. Sickness is a normal part of human life, and given his prolonged exposure to the cold temperatures of Dragonspine it’s not surprising that he fell ill. He did look a bit tired when I had visited. I knew I should have insisted on Timaeus and I making more frequent visits but Mr. Albedo had become more and more averse to the suggestion. Still, ultimately I am confident he will make a full recovery even if as of now the cause is unclear.”

They just don’t get it, she fumes, looking away. “Albedo doesn’t ever get sick. He doesn’t!” Albedo can’t get sick. Klee knows this the way she knows Albedo doesn’t ever really get hot or cold. Knows this how she knows Albedo can go so long without sleep, the way he can get by on way less food than her. Klee’s always known that her big brother is different, it’s how she’s known somethings been wrong. It’s how she knows something's wrong right now.

Albedo’s been her big brother for years. She knows him better than they do, but just like none of them have listened before she knows they won’t listen now. Already they’re just looking at her like she’s being a silly little girl. Klee knows everyone gets sick, she’s not dumb. But Albedo isn’t everyone. And she knows this isn’t right.

For the first time in a long time Klee wishes her mom was still here. Her mom knew Albedo was different, it was why she had wanted Klee to look after him when she left. And she hadn’t understood why at the time, but she did now. Albedo was a great big brother, and he took care of her and he loved her, but he was also so stupid sometimes. He could forget about things, he didn’t always get things right away that seemed obvious to her. Klee could help and protect Albedo in her own ways!

But not here, here she was just a little girl surrounded by adults who all thought they knew better than her. But if her mom was here, they would’ve listened to her. Her mother was an adult and she was well respected and she could use her words so much better than Klee, who could only say that this wasn’t right, but couldn’t tell them why, or how she knows that.

She just does! And she wishes that was enough.

“Klee?”

“Never mind…” She mumbles, there wasn’t a point if they weren’t going to listen to her. On the bed Albedo continues to rest motionless, his breaths unsteady. If he was awake he could explain this better than her. But if he was awake, if he was fine, then this wouldn’t be a problem in the first place.

Klee doesn’t think she’s been here for very long, but she feels very tired all of the sudden.

“Can I stay here?”

It is Barbara who replies when the silence drags on. “Though his condition is stable, he still has a fever. Normally I would suggest space to prevent spreading but…”

“Just one night would be fine, I’m sure?” Kaeya suggests and Barbara nods quickly.

“Of course! I’m sure having his little sister here will give Albedo all the energy he needs!”

With that decided the three of them begin to talk about something else but Klee no longer cares, curling up at Albedo’s side.

It’s fine if no one believes her, she’ll make do herself. She’s going to figure out what’s wrong and she’s going to fix it. That’s a promise she makes between Albedo and herself.

.

In the morning Albedo does not wake, nor the day after, or the day after that.

And it is not until days turn into a week that people truly start to worry. A couple days in the knights moved him to their headquarters, to clear up space in the cathedral and also because it was easier for them to care for one of their own there. Barbara or another Sister would come down once a day to check on him, and once it had even been that scary looking Sister that Kaeya was friends with. She'd just stared at Albedo as if with just her gaze she could force Albedo awake and to explain his current state, and Klee had sat at the edge of the bed almost hoping that could somehow work. It hadn't but even then Rosaria had stayed until Kaeya appeared to escort her away. Rosaria flipping her veil as he did and declaring that Albedo was just as he'd been since being brought back, for better or worse as that meant, and stalked out the room, leaving a vaguely smiling Kaeya behind before he bid Klee goodbye and followed after her. Klee wasn't sure how Rosaria knew that when she'd barely even approached him but it was fine. Klee had liked her though, she'd been the first Sister to not look at Klee with sad pitying eyes as they checked her brother's condition. So that one day had been a bit weird, but overall it was probably easier this way. Klee moves herself into her solitary confinement room just to be closer to him. They won’t let her stay in the same room as him, so she’ll stay as close as she can.

But it is only after a week passes and Albedo doesn’t wake, that the Knights start to get concerned, start looking into it more, sending squadrons into Dragonspine to see if there was anything there that could explain his condition. Klee hopes they find something, but in the meantime she’ll keep visiting him every day so he doesn’t get lonely.

Albedo’s condition never gets worse, his fever lightens, but he just doesn’t wake up. Like Barbara had said, he just looks like he’s trapped in a nightmare. And Klee, who’s been spending so much time with him, thinks that if that’s true then maybe those are getting worse. Albedo barely moves most days but sometimes his breathing speeds up, like he’s running. Sometimes his hands curl like Razor’s do when he puffs up like a wolf with claws. And he never speaks but sometimes he groans and his lips curl like he’s seen something gross.

None of that is dangerous to his health, so Klee doesn’t think anyone’s particularly concerned about it, but she doesn’t like it. She doesn’t want him to be sad and in pain even if it’s just in his dreams. So she visits every day and curls up beside him and tells him everything that’s happening while he’s asleep. Sometimes Sucrose will come and update him on the status of her experiments, and even Jean and the other knights drop by every now and then. But Klee comes every day, and she’ll tell him about her day, and all the interesting things she sees. Like how just the other day when walking home she saw Diluc and Kaeya arguing about something and Diluc had made a super funny face when he noticed her, but she hadn’t gotten to hear what they were talking about. And how, when she was talking to Katheryne, Fischl had been dragging a near unconscious Bennett to the stand to claim their reward. She’d laughed as Oz had explained the unfortunate situation that had landed Bennett in this state. She even told Albedo about how that nice bard with the pretty two-coloured hair had even handed her a Cecilia with a wink and told her to take good care of it.

Klee stays by his side and tells him stories and about her day just like he always had when she was sick or sad. And it makes her feel happy, that she can do nice things for him like he’s always done for her. But it doesn’t change the fact that Albedo still hasn’t woken up. That she doesn’t even know if he can hear her in whatever dream he’s having.

She hopes he’ll wake up soon.

She hopes it’ll all be okay.

But she’ll be here, either way, no matter what.

-

Klee knows something is wrong the moment she wakes up.

The smell of smoke and burning is one she’s more than familiar with, and she recognises it immediately. And as her sleepiness fades the shouts and stomping from above filter in. She blinks, looking around Lisa’s lab, she had been trying to look something up but… nothing in the room was on fire. This couldn’t be her fault, Klee’s been so busy lately between visiting Albedo and everything else she’s barely had any time to work on her own new treasures!

But the smell remains, the voices above her get louder, and Klee stumbles out of her seat to slowly ascend the stairs. The closer she is to the door the stronger the smell gets, the sound of footsteps passing by on the other side. Lisa’s lab is in a less travelled area, a lot of the labs here are, Albedo said it had something to do with reducing outside influences and casualties or something. So it’s weird to hear so many people around.

At the top of the stairs Klee opens the door slowly, just a smidge, to peek out. A pair of knights run past just as she does, one of them shouting out to head to the cathedral, to whom she can only assume are more knights down the hall, before turning to his companion. “We’re heading to the main gates, they need help dealing with the fires there before people can be properly evacuated.”

The other knight nods and the two disappear out of view, leaving Klee alone in a hallway full of smoke. She waits a moment longer, but when the noise has died down she steps out, closing the door behind her. If they’d caught her she knows they would’ve made her come with, but as much as Klee wants to help she has to check on Albedo first. If he’s asleep then he can’t protect himself, and while she knows Jean would never ever forget about something important like this, even if the other knights might, she has to make sure herself.

Has to see him herself.

The closer she gets to the wing he’s been kept in the worse the building starts to look. The smoke gets thicker, wisps of fire stop cropping up more and more frequently. But it’s not the fire she creates with her vision, nor the fire that comes from her bombs' explosions. The colour is all wrong, too dark and purple to even try to pretend it’s natural. Looking at it makes Klee’s stomach curl, it looks wrong and unnatural and the more of it she sees the faster she moves. She just wants to find him, she doesn’t want to be here anymore. None of this is right.

The walls are crumbling now, dust and smoke mixing in the air and making her cough. She’s never been happier to be small, the thickest parts of the smoke are well above her, and while it's annoying and making her eyes burn she’s not struggling. Still, as she rounds the corner to the hallway he’s in she skids to a halt, breath leaving her.

The hallways on the way here were burning and damaged but couldn't even compare to this one. Her hands curl around her chest as she takes it in, the walls further down, closer to where Albedo’s room would have been, are crumbled and gone in various places, giving view to the outside.

Mondstadt is burning.

And she knew that, the knights she had hidden from had hinted to as much, but seeing it was different. Buildings and plants burning with the same wrong dark fire that lights up the Knights of Favonius base and it takes her too long to take another step forward. She doesn’t need to get closer to know he isn’t going to be here but she still wants to make sure. Maybe he’s still here and hurt! Maybe he’s….

Klee can’t remember a time she’s ever been scared aside from when she’s being scolded by her dad or Jean but she thinks this comes close as she walks through the blackened hallway to the gap in the wall that is Albedo’s room. Her hands shake as she gets close enough to see inside, she can’t make out any of the furniture she knows should be there; Klee can recreate this room from memory with how much time she’s spent in here the past but no matter where she looks its broken wood and glass and burning fabric as well as what looks like claw marks scored into the ground. She fists her hands into her dress, tears building in her eyes as she swivels her head around.

Where is he?

He’s not here so that means he either woke up and left himself or one of the knights took him away. She doesn’t know, if he was awake he’d look for her right? He said he’d never leave her alone. And she took those words as a promise, Albedo was always going to be with her. It’s more likely the knights had taken him, but then where? Had they already taken him to the main gates? That knight had said that’s where people were leaving from but…

Klee looks around at the fire, the same colour as that weird looking sword she’d never liked that Albedo had gifted Aether, and the bad feeling worsens. Everything right now is so confusing, she just wants her big brother safe and by her side.

“Klee,” a voice shouts, “Klee, there you are, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

It takes Klee a moment to turn her head away from the room, still hoping maybe she’s just missed something, maybe he’s somehow still here.

“Jean?” She asks when she finally manages it. “Where’s Albedo? He’s not here, did you guys take him somewhere?”

Klee expects many responses, that yes they did, that he’s fine, that something bad happened but it's okay. She expects many things, but she doesn’t expect the way Jean pauses, the way her face pinches in worry for a quick moment before she smiles.

She doesn’t expect that, but she does notice it.

“Albedo’s fine,” Jean says, and her smile is reassuring as she takes a step towards her but Klee knows what she saw, “come here Klee it’s dangerous.”

“You’re lying.” She replies, shaking her head as she takes a step back away from her.

“Klee? It really is dangerous. I know you like to play with explosives, but this is not the same.”

“Not about that! About Albedo! Where is he?” If something happened she can take it! She’s a big girl, she can handle bad news, she can.

“I already told you Klee, he’s okay.” And her expression doesn’t change this time, but Klee still doesn’t trust it.

“Where is he then? What happened!” Klee can see well enough that whatever happened, it started here. Or at least, around here, since everything looks so much worse here compared to the rest of the building. So if that’s true then Albedo could be hurt, or something worse, and if he is then Klee has a right to know even if the thought makes her heart. “If something happened then I wanna know! You can’t lie to me!”

“I know you’re worried about him Klee but this isn’t really the place to talk about it. Come here and then when we’re safe I can tell you.”

She shakes her head again, taking another step back. That wasn’t an answer, and she remembers when Kaeya had tried helping her learn to lie to Jean better. You aren’t lying if you just answer a different question than the one being asked. Well placed deception and avoidance, Kaeya had said, made for quite easy lies.

“Just tell me if he’s hurt.”

“He’s not Klee, I promise.” Jean says sincerely, and Klee believes that.

And maybe that’s worse.

“Did… did Albedo do this?” It takes a moment for Jean to answer, but that’s enough. Klee said, she said! She’s been saying for so long that something's been wrong, but no one wanted to listen, not even Albedo. “I’m gonna find him!” She shouts, taking yet another a step back.

“Klee,” Jean says hesitantly, holding her hand out, “I… we still aren’t sure what happened here, and I know you love your brother but I can’t let you do that.”

“I promised.” She says, she promised her mom, she promised herself. She would protect Albedo, she would protect Mondstadt, she’d do all of that no matter what adults said or wanted. “And you can’t stop me!” She continues, turning on her heel and sprinting out of the room as fast as she can, ignoring Jean’s calls. If she wasn’t fast Jean would catch her with her anemo powers, and she couldn’t let that happen.

If Albedo was trying to do something stupid, then it was Klee’s job as his younger sister to make sure he didn’t.

And that was a promise too.

.

Klee runs and runs until she just about collides with one of the walls that surround the city. Jean’s cries had long since faded but she didn’t want to risk being caught, if there was even a chance Jean was still following her she didn’t want to stop running. But there was nowhere left to run, and Jean had either given up or was looking for somewhere else. Either way Klee knows if she wants to leave it has to be now, there’s no telling when someone else will find her.

The stone of the wall is cold against her hand despite the fires burning behind her and she grips it tight as she hefts herself up. She climbs up as fast as she can, out of breath by the time she reaches the top. From up here the damage to the city is clear to see. It’s the worst at the Knights base, and the fires have spread quickly to the houses below, but the Cathedral, up so high, remains untouched, and it’s weird to see next to the burning city at its feet.

The longer she stands here the less she feels like moving. This is Klee’s home, where her friends and family live, where pretty much all the people Klee knows and cares about can be found. She doesn’t want to see it this way, can’t believe it could be Albedo who did this. Because Albedo could be bad at showing he cared but she knows he loves Mondstadt just as much as her. Knows he wouldn't want to bring it harm any more than she would.

So there’s just something happening that Klee doesn’t understand yet, but that’s okay, once she does she can help fix it.

She’s still looking at Mondstadt burning below her when something in the house beside the part of the wall she’s standing on explodes, sending a heavy rumble through it, enough so that she stumbles tripping back and off it.

It takes a moment to realise she is falling, staring up at the black smoke rising and higher and higher into the near evening sky. And by the time she does, trying to somehow turn midair to brace herself something cold hits her back and she rolls for a moment landing seated onto a slide made of… ice? She laughs as it twists giggling as she finally safely reaches the ground.

“Again!” She cheers, before she remembers what just happened, and what she’s trying to do.  She looks around trying to find whoever helped her, and spots Aether and Paimon running towards her.

Aether drops to his knees as he reaches her, patting her head and her shoulders while Paimon hovers anxiously over them. “Are you okay?” He asks, still patting her. “We saw the fire and then we saw you and—”

“Hey!” She interrupts, reaching up to grab Aether’s hand before he can pat her again. “Klee promised, I’m ready, you have to help.”

Aether blinks, brows furrowing, but Klee sees the moment he gets it. And Klee knows that promise was months and months ago but Klee never forgot, it was one of the first times she thought maybe someone agreed with her.

“You mean this is…?” Aether’s mouth snaps shut, lips thinning as he looks up at Paimon whimpering beside him.

“You came, just like you said you would, so. So you have to help!” Klee could guess where Albedo had gone off to, and she had to get there first. If Albedo was doing bad things then… she didn’t want the knights to find him first.

“Of course I’ll help Klee, that was never a question.” Aether says kindly as Paimon hums in worry.

“Paimon thinks we should hurry, but Klee you should –”

“No!” She shouts, if they won’t help her either then Klee can do this herself, but either way she’s going to do it. “I’m not going to stay behind, I’m gonna help. Albedo’s my brother and I have to be there for him.”

“Okay.”

“Aether really?!” Paimon screeches, stomping their foot. “This is serious, Klee could get hurt.”

The expression on Aether’s face isn’t one Klee’s ever seen on him before. “Don’t worry Paimon, trust me on this. Albedo said he trusted me to make the right choice, didn’t he? Well then this is my choice, and we’re going to make it whether it’s one he’d approve of or not.”

Klee doesn’t know what Aether’s talking about but Paimon clearly does, their eyes going wide with shock. “If you knew from back then why didn’t you do anything!”

“I didn’t know this would happen! It was just a bad feeling, that something wasn’t quite right.” Aether sighs, shaking his head.

She doesn’t get but, “So you’ll take me, right?”

Aether opens his mouth to reply but before he can Jean’s voice interrupts, loud and cutting.

“Traveller,” Jean says, fierce and imposing from atop her horse, and Klee sees a handful of other knights coming up behind her, “thank you for finding Klee, if you could please bring her here. And if you’d be willing to help we’d be most welcome.

“Aether,” She says quickly, gripping his hand tighter, “Albedo said you know how to move quickly. Please we have to go I don’t wanna stay I don’t want anyone else to get hurt I promised. I can do this.”

“Dragonspine?” He asks softly, quiet enough that only she hears, and she nods furiously.

As their surroundings fade away, Jean’s shout following them, Klee just hopes she can do this right.

That she can bring her brother back.

-

Even though Klee has never been to Dragonspine, she knows it’s cold. It’s what everyone always says, it’s what the knights have warned her about again and again when she tried sneaking in months and months ago. But even then she doesn’t expect how cold she feels as the world fades into view again, ice and blue and white as far as the eye can see. She huddles closer to Aether, who instinctively places a hand on her shoulder pulling her even closer.

Peeking over his hand she takes a closer look around. The wind whips around them, stinging at Klee’s face and making her even colder, but other than a few trees there’s nothing around.

“I thought there would be more monsters.” She mumbles. Along with the danger the cold posed, the fierceness of the monsters who had adapted to live here was never far behind. But the area was clear of even foxes and boars, silent except for the wind.

She didn’t like that.

It felt wrong.

“There should be.” Aether replies, eyes narrowed as he looks around, his sword already raised in his free hand.

“You aren’t going to hurt Albedo right?” She didn’t think Jean wanted to, but Klee had only seen the look in Jean’s face a handful of times before. And though Jean might not want to, Klee knew she would. Klee had always thought that Jean’s ability to do what was right or necessary, even when she didn’t want to, was really cool. But right now was different, Jean didn’t have to! She just… it was okay Klee would fix it and it would be fine.

Before Aether can answer Paimon circles around them, humming in worry. “Paimon doesn’t like this, Paimon doesn’t like this at all.” They rubs their hands together, biting at their lip. “There’s not a single hillichurl in sight, not even Fatui Agents! And those guys are annoyingly stubborn, what could’ve scared them off?”

Aether sighs, looking around as well. “Snow here doesn’t melt… everything looks the same as last time.”

The three of them stand there for a moment before Klee tugs impatiently at his pants leg. “Do you have any ideas? You visited him a bunch. Klee knows he has to be here, but I’ve never been allowed to come visit before.”

Paimon lets out a withering groan drooping sadly in the air. “This is a terrible idea….”

“I do,” Aether says, confident as he looks down at her, smiling all the same, “I was there a couple times myself, and we visited it once together.”

“You mean there don’t you?” Paimon asks with a shudder, “Paimon knows it’s warm there but it just feels so wrong and creepy. Like something is always watching you, or like you’ve gone somewhere you shouldn’t have.”

“It’s warm at least.” Aether says, trying for a joke, she thinks, but Paimon just looks disgusted.

“Probably because it’s full of blood.” Paimon hisses, floating back.

And well, that sounds super gross but, “Is he there?” Wherever there is.

Aether’s face does a funny little twist as he shrugs, looking down towards some really big, curved stones. They kind of remind Klee of the ribs on all those drawings in Albedo’s and Sucrose’s lab.

“Well, it’s as good a place as any to start.” He replies after a moment, gaze still locked on to the distance before he shakes his head, turning to Klee with a wry grin. “Let’s go see, maybe we can knock some sense into that brother of yours?”

“Yeah!” She agrees, feeling energized for the first time since waking up.

“For the record,” Paimon says as Aether lifts Klee, turning her so she can wrap around him like a backpack, “Paimon thinks this is a terrible idea. And if we die Paimon’s going to haunt you all forever.”

“You can’t haunt us if we’re dead too.” Aether replies with a roll of his eyes, jumping off the cliff and letting his glider open behind him.

Klee clings a bit tighter as they fall, worry bubbling in her belly.

It’ll be okay.

It just has to be.

.

Aether was right about where they were going being warm. Gliding through the air the wind stings at her cheeks even with her face pressed against Aether, the cold only getting worse the longer they float gently to the ground. But when they reach the bottom and the ground shifts from blue and white to black and red the chill of the mountain seeps away into a steady warmth. Klee’s only been here for a handful of minutes and the cold is already too much, the warmth of the cavern should be welcome, but Klee doesn’t really want to get closer.

“It’s even worse than usual.” Paimon shudders and Aether nods, watching the purple almost mist-like energy that hovers inside the cavern, leaking out and snaking across their surroundings. Klee doesn’t know what it normally looks like, but if she’s supposed to be able to see inside she can’t, the mist seemingly dense and impenetrable.

But just like Aether had been right, so was Paimon, this place feels creepy and gross and Klee isn’t even inside yet. The nervous feeling in her stomach churns into something gross and icky. Aether lets her down gently and as if sensing her unease doesn’t make any moves to enter after he does. They just stand there for a moment before Klee curls her hands into fists, clenching them tight as she strides forward.

“Hey wait!” Paimon cries out, speeding up till they're right beside her, Aether following close behind them.

As thick as the mist had seemed, it parts uninterested around them, seeping into the walls and the ground and escaping outwards. Klee wonders why for just a moment, looking around the cave, growing brighter and brighter in its red glow, before Aether tugs her further. She blinks, when had he grabbed her hand? And wasn’t she ahead of him? Her head feels fuzzy when she thinks of it, so she focuses instead on moving forward, almost tripping when Aether’s pace picks up to move them deeper in. The mist lifts as they reach the end, mostly floating above them giving Klee a clear view of the giant red thing at the base of it. Glowing and pulsing steadily like it’s alive. And before it…

Her breath hitches, the hand holding Aether’s unconsciously squeezing it tighter.

Albedo.

Klee could recognise him anywhere, even with his back mostly turned to them, hands pressed against that red core. But… black snakes down his arms, ending in sharp claws, horns curling out of his head, black lined with shades of purple and pink. However, what catches her eyes most are the wings arching out from his back, nothing like the soft feathered wings of birds she is used to seeing, instead bare and sharp, the tips ending in claw-like spikes.

At any other moment Klee thinks she could find this so cool. Wings to fly high, with pretty looking horns. But Klee thinks of the claw-like marks she’d seen scored into the floor of the room they’d placed Albedo in. Thinks of the fire burning her home, nothing like the pretty red of the vision she’d been gifted.

Klee just wants to go home and she wants to make everyone dinner and she doesn’t want to be on this cold mountain where her brother looks like someone she doesn’t know anymore.

Before they can speak Albedo turns, the motion slow and precise. “Welcome,” he says, with a sweep of his arm his tone far more peppy and his smile wider than Klee has ever seen it, his eyes glowing the same pulsing red as what shines behind him, the colour mirrored in the diamond at his neck, “you shouldn’t be here.” He continues, in a tone far more familiar to her.

The words she wanted to say won’t come out of her mouth. She's not sure what she was expecting but it hadn’t been this.

“Albedo.” Aether says softly, firmly, taking a small step forward, but Albedo doesn’t react, hands having come to rest behind his back. “What are you doing?”

His head tilts, as if listening to something none of them can hear. “I’m afraid that that is none of your concern.” He says simply, already turning away from them again. “If that is all you came for, then I suggest you leave.”

“That’s not what you said before.” Aether rebukes, taking another step forward, Paimon’s hands digging into his shoulders.

Klee does not wait for Albedo’s reply, doesn’t wait for the conversation to continue, ripping herself from Aether’s hold ignoring his cry of protest. Of course Klee still didn’t get what was happening but she knew that Albedo hadn’t tried to hurt them. And the dismissiveness hurts, the cold look in his eyes as he’d told them to leave was like nothing Klee had seen from him since his first days after arriving to Mondstadt.

Her brother was weird and unfamiliar but still her brother. Still someone who didn’t just needlessly cause harm. Which means he can stop, which means Jean and all the knights had got something wrong, they had to have. Despite everything that was still Albedo, even if right now something wasn’t right.

But she doesn’t get far before she stumbles, breath short. The mist that had been ignoring them seems to surround her now and she feels weak, Albedo's stock-still form leaving her vision as she falls. It hurts, makes her feel confused and fuzzy, like she’s a bottle with a hole punched in it, leaking out slowly but surely.

The feeling is there until it's not, gone in the blink of an eye, and she turns a blurry gaze up towards Aether. His hands are wrapped firm around her shoulders as he lifts her up, Paimon glancing worriedly between them and off to the side as Paimon grips onto Aether's shoulder. His shoulders are lined with tension, his brows furrowed as he looks past her to where she knows Albedo is standing, but she can’t get her head turn, her arms to move.

All of her lying limp and weak and useless.

“Is this really what you want?” Aether asks, and Klee’s never seen him so angry, she imagines if it weren’t for the fact he was holding on to her his sword would already be in his hands. “Paimon and I are one thing, but you would hurt even Klee?”

She doesn’t hear Albedo’s reply, but she wants to tell Aether that he’s wrong. Albedo didn’t want that, he never would. Klee had seen it right before she couldn’t hold herself up anymore, the frown on his face, the pained look in his eyes.

Albedo wanted this as much as they did—which isn’t much at all.

But he can’t stop. Something is making him do this, and that makes sense because it’s the only way it makes sense.

And Klee wants to tell him, wants to tell Aether, but the words won’t leave her mouth, can still barely work up the energy to open it.

But she knows now.

She can help, she just has to figure out how to make the bad influence go away.

The world is still blurry, so she doesn’t know what happens, just that Aether’s hold around her tightens and suddenly they are blown back. Klee feels them collide against something and her eyes slide shut.

.

When her eyes open, they’re outside again and she’s laying on the snow, Paimon hovering worriedly beside her and she can feel the gentle warmth of a fire nearby. It makes her smile, she doesn’t think she’s ever seen Paimon so close to the ground before. And then her vision focuses a bit more and she sees Aether standing in front of them, his sword in hand.

Klee pushes herself up in a rush, her head swimming and her arms nearly giving out beneath her as she does.

“Klee stop!” Paimon cries, but Klee ignores them, stumbling forward and reaching out to clutch at his scarf.

“No don’t!” She shouts, “Please don’t hurt him, please!”

Aether shifts at her cry, lowering slightly so he’s closer to her level. “I don’t want to do this either, but I can’t let him hurt you or anyone else. You know he wouldn’t want that.” And she does, that doesn’t mean she thinks he should do this.

“I can fix it,” she shouts, tears building in her eyes. She doesn’t know how but she has to be able to, she promised she would, she wants to be able to, “I will. I will! So just…” the tears fall and she sniffs, words failing her.

She knows she’s asking for too much, but she doesn’t want to see Albedo or Aether or anyone hurt. She doesn’t want to see people she cares about fighting each other. She doesn’t want to see Albedo smiling while he hurts someone she knows he cares about.

And Aether’s right, Albedo wouldn’t want that.

She doesn’t say anything else, her grip now weak around his scarf, but still he doesn’t pull away, ruffling her hair with a sigh. “Don’t worry Klee, we’ll figure something out won’t we? And then the two of us can scold Albedo for being an idiot who should talk to us more, right?”

She nods, rubbing at her eyes.

“Okay,” Aether says with a nod, smiling, “then I’ll trust you, and you can trust me, and it’ll all be alright.”

She nods again, trying her best to return his smile.

A few moments later Aether shifts again, and Klee follows the movement back to the cavern. Back to where Albedo can be seen walking out.

His gaze falls to the sword in Aether’s hand and his lips twitch up into a smile. At first small and familiar before twisting into something sharp and unrecognisable. And as his smile curves, so do his claws and it is at that moment, as both of them move forward, that Klee feels truly and properly scared.

Of Albedo? For Albedo?

She’s not sure but the feeling builds, and Paimon’s attempts at comforting words do little to offer comfort. She can barely hear them, her attention glued to the two fighting before her.

Klee has seen Albedo fight before, and his movements were always precise, almost pretty to watch—like he was dancing. Klee likes chaos, likes to run around placing her bombs as needed, but Albedo has always been very particular about his movements. And as much as Klee couldn’t ever imagine fighting like that, she admires that about him. Has always loved watching him use his skills and sword to fight in such a practiced and fluid way.

The Albedo before her fights nothing like that.

His movements are fast, with none of the grace Klee is used to seeing. The way he attacks is all wrong, the swipe of his claws wide and his smile wider. And the longer the fight goes on, the less she can recognise him. The more he looks like someone else, just in the shape of someone she loves.

It’s hard to watch, and the feeling it gives her makes the cold seeping in through the snow feel like nothing.

And just like she doesn’t know how much longer she can watch, she doesn’t know how much longer Aether can keep fighting. True to his world Aether isn’t attacking, Klee hasn’t seen him swing his sword to attack even once. Always in defense, always blocking, or to keep Albedo from going around him. But all that means is she can see Aether getting scratched, see how he starts to slump, while Albedo remains relatively unharmed.

She closes her eyes. If Aether was trusting her, then she had to do something, she couldn’t just sit there and watch. She stands on shaky legs, walking over to one of the valley's sides.

She has to do something.

“Klee? Where are you going?” Paimon hisses, flying in front of her in an attempt to stop her. “We shouldn’t move around it’s not safe.”

“Klee’s going to help.” The only way she knows how.

“Don’t get involved!” Paimon shouts, looking worriedly over to where Aether and Albedo are still fighting. “Paimon’s worried too but Paimon doesn’t think we should get involved. What would we do? We'd just get in the way.”

Klee huffs, putting her hands on the mountain wall and beginning to climb.

“You’ll see!” She replies, continuing to climb.

“Klee, come on…” Paimon whines, floating from side to side, hand reaching out like Paimon's considering pulling Klee off the mountain.

“Paimon doesn’t have to come with! If you’re scared, I can do this all by myself.”

“Are you crazy?” Paimon shouts, before looking over to them in a panic as they continue in a lowered voice. “Paimon’s not going anywhere, Paimon’s just worried! Paimon doesn’t want anyone getting hurt, and Paimon can’t stop Aether but Paimon can try to talk sense into you.”

“Klee’s mind is crystal clear!” She says, huffing as she climbs over a particularly large outcrop, ignoring how much colder her hands feel the higher she goes, fingertips numb as her body shivers now away from the warmth of the torch.

Paimon is silent for the rest of their climb, the only sounds the wind and the ongoing battle below them. Klee stops at the first ledge a decent height above the two of them down below.

“Do you even have a plan?”

Klee thinks about her mother, to whom she promised to protect Albedo.

Klee thinks about Mona, who told her she was lucky, and that that luck would serve her well.

Klee thinks about Aether, who trusted in her feelings, who still believes in them now.

Klee thinks about Razor, who would do absolutely anything, even risk his own life, to protect his family.

And she thinks about Mondstadt, her home that she loves so dearly.

“Nope!”

But that didn’t matter.

She disregards Paimon’s gasp, taking out the better part of her store and cradling them close. Aether and Albedo we’re strong, they’d be fine, she just wanted the distraction. She didn’t want anyone hurt, but sometimes there weren’t many other options.

She chucks them into the air, watching them fall for a moment, before jumping off after them.

Klee didn’t have a plan. That was true, but she had the belief that this would end up alright.

And she trusted that to be enough.

.

When Klee lands the smoke of the explosions is still fading away but Klee can make out enough. Aether on one side, kneeling, leaning against his sword for support as he watches her with wide eyes. Albedo is on the other side, wings shielding him but opening as Klee looks over to him.

Both of them look a bit dazed, which is what she’d wanted, moving determinedly towards him. Though neither of them say anything, Klee picks up her speed, doesn’t want this moment interrupted. Wants to do this right now, before anyone can think about it.

It’s Klee’s luck that Albedo’s wings have opened just enough that she can jump in through the gap as she reaches him.

She jumps, arms wrapping around Albedo’s neck, at a perfect height as he rests there kneeled and dazed. She holds on tight, and even tighter when she hears Paimon and Aether’s shouts.

“Albedo,” she says softly, burying her face into the crook of his neck, like she has so many times before, ignoring the way the scales there scratch at her, “wake up.”

The sound Albedo makes in reply hurts her ears, but she doesn’t let go no matter how much she wants to cover them. The wind around them howling like it’s swirling around them.

She feels the way his shoulders shift, his arms raising, but Klee ignores it. Albedo wouldn’t hurt her, she believes in that.

“Klee doesn’t know why this happened, but I know you’re my brother and that you’re nice, that you would never do something like this.”

“—” A garbled start to a word, but nothing she can make out. And then everything shifts, the same feeling as before in the cavern, when the mist has surrounded her, overwhelms her. Thick and choking as his words, the sounds, muffle more. The world blurs but even then Klee holds on. She won’t let go.

She won’t leave him alone.

“I know,” she says, even if the words hurt coming out, “that it’s scary. Whenever Klee does something wrong she’s so so scared of what Jean’s going to do. But, but that’s okay because Jean always forgives me. And people can forgive you too—and even if they don’t Klee will still love you. I’m always going to love you.”

She gasps, shouts and words and sounds all blurring and melding together in her ears.

“I love you so much, so can you please stop? It’s going to be okay I promise.”

And if it wasn’t, Klee would fight everyone who thought it wasn’t.

She breathes, tired and pained but still holding on.

A moment passes, one that feels too long but it’s hard for her to keep track.

Then she feels Albedo’s hands on her, his nails sharp even through her clothes, sharp enough to hurt but not yet doing anything.

“I trust you.” She says, and means it sincerely. There is no one in her life right now that Klee trusts more.

No matter what happens, Klee will love him all the same.

A shudder goes through him, strong enough that Klee thinks if he wasn’t already on his knees he would’ve fallen over.

Another moment, and the pain subsides, the sharp pain at her sides disappears, the air gets easier to breathe. Another moment, and the grip on her changes, tight around her but not in any way painful. With all the sounds dying down, and her head no longer as foggy she can make things out clearer. She hears sniffling, soft and hesitant, and she raises her head from its perch on his shoulder and blinks.

She’s never seen Albedo cry before.

She has seen him disappointed in the result of an experiment and she has seen him frustrated with some task or another, but she has never seen this. The tears building in his still-red eyes, the gentle tremble of his shoulders as he takes a breath.

She unhooks one of her arms from behind him, reaching it up to wipe away his tears.

“Don’t cry!” She scolds, because then she’ll start crying too.

The tears make his eyes look even brighter, bright bright red stark among his pale pale face. And his eyes are wide as he looks down at her.

“Klee I—” he tries but she shakes her head, pressing a finger to his lips. She’s too tired to listen right now.

“I knew you could do it, Klee never doubted you, not for a moment!” She says with a grin, sleepiness pulling at her eyes, exhaustion making her curl up into his chest even more.

She can’t stop herself from falling asleep, no matter how much she wants to stay awake. To let him know that she loves him and she cares about him. But weak and groggy her body refuses to listen to her, eyes sliding shut.

The last thing she’s aware of is Albedo adjusting his hold, untangling her arms to cradle her closer, and the words he whispers softly to her.

And, despite the worry and fear that has followed her since she woke up, Klee falls asleep with a smile.

-

Klee wakes up some time later, still curled up around Albedo, a hand carding gently through her hair. She blinks slowly, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she looks around. She’s… back at the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, in a room much like the one she’d woken up in what felt like forever ago. In that it was seemingly untouched by the fires that had burned across the building. By the door sits a knight, dozing with a book in his lap as he leans back against the wall, and in the opposite corner, right next to the bed she’s resting on, Aether and Paimon are curled up together in a sofa chair, Aether wrapped in various bandages. They aren’t sleeping, Aether gives her a wink when he notices her looking over, but they sure do look comfy. She wonders where they’d dragged that sofa in from though, she knows there aren’t too many in the building.

Finally, Klee makes herself look up to face Albedo, who smiles softly when he notices her gaze.

“How do you feel?” He looks sad as he asks it, and Klee wants to wipe the expression away, erase it like it was never there.

“Your eyes aren’t red anymore!” She says instead of answering, because they aren’t! His eyes are once again a familiar teal, the diamond at his neck its former yellow. And while the red is gone, everything is not as it was. The horns on his head are smaller, but still there, and though black no longer crawls up his arms she can see his pointed nails, faded scales ending at his wrist like a glove.

She can’t see the wings though, did those disappear?

Albedos eyes drift to the side, to where Aether and Paimon are seated. “No, that danger has passed. We have the traveler to thank for that.”

She shifts, sitting up, mumbling a sorry when Albedo huffs out in pain as her hand presses against one of his bandages. “How’d he do that?” They’d still been red when Klee had lost consciousness.

He looks away at the question, his cheeks tinged the slightest bit red.

“Aw tell her, tell her you’re a dummy.”

Albedo’s eyes flash, turning to look at Aether sharply before he steadies himself. “I am no such thing.” He says calmly instead.

“I think that refusing to tell anyone what was happening makes you stupid. Especially refusing to tell me, who you know, has funky purification powers, which you’ve seen me use before.” Aether says, ignoring Albedo’s indignant huff.

“Yeah you had to be all cryptic and self-sacrificing and make everyone all worried! Do you know how scary that was?” Paimon adds.

“As I’ve said,” Albedo replies, “my choices are my own, and though I am grateful I will not apologize. You two, after all, brought Klee to such a dangerous situation, and you both should be thankful nothing happened to her.”

“And, as I’ve said,” Aether huffs, “I don’t think you have any right to criticize our choices.”

The two stare at each other, before Albedo sighs turning away once again. It doesn’t sound like it's the first time they’ve talked about this, and she wonders how much she missed while she was asleep.

But, “Aether’s right, you’re stupid! Klee’s been worried about you forever and you can’t be mad at Aether or Paimon, I was gonna go whether they helped me out or not. You’re my big brother. If you’re scared or in danger or anything then I wanna help!”

Albedo sighs but he’s still smiling when he replies. “As the elder sibling I think that’s supposed to be my responsibility.

“Older siblings, Paimon.” Aether says dramatically, “You should be glad you’re an only child.”

She and Paimon giggle even though the comment makes Albedo roll his eyes.

“Regardless, I am grateful for your care, your support—from all of you. I… would most likely not be here without it.”

“You’re so silly Albedo! You don’t need to thank Klee for that, I’ll always be here no matter what!”

He winces, but the smile remains. “I see that now.”

“Is everything okay?” They weren’t in a prison cell or anything at least. “Was Jean mad?”

Aether laughs in unison with Albedo’s sigh. “Thankfully by the time Jean and her knights arrived Aether had already done this,” he says, gesturing towards his hands and horns, “so it was no issue to allow the knights to apprehend me and escort me back. However, despite my misdeeds, Aether was insistent on supporting my innocence. And, despite the destruction I caused, given my more amenable state at that point, Jean was willing to listen. It is to my favour, and my eternal gratitude, that despite the destruction the knights were able to act quickly enough that aside from a few injuries, there were no casualties.”

His lips purse, looking over to the sleeping knight by the door.

“He’s just upset he’s basically on house arrest when he thinks he should be exiled or something.” Aether says into Albedo’s silence, ignoring the other's pointed look.

“Do you have something you wish to say? Your words have been quite sharp for some time now.”

Aether does not reply, but Paimon does, smirking as they say, “He’s hurt you didn’t trust him!”

“Paimon!” He hisses, reaching his hands out to cover Paimon's mouth as he pulls them closer. He looks as flustered as Albedo looks surprised.

“Aether I—”

“—I should go!” Aether interrupts, still holding onto a struggling Paimon. “Someone needs to tell Jean that Klee woke up, I’ll be back soon.”

And then he’s gone, the slamming of the door enough to startle the knight awake, blinking blearily at the two of them before nodding to himself and promptly closing his eyes again.

“I would perhaps be more okay with this situation if they could at least assign me a guard that was more concerned about all of this.

“It means Jean trusts you!”

“I’m sure it’s rather she is unaware of the incompetence of this man.”

She pouts. “I like my answer better!” She’d like to believe he thinks that too, because he doesn’t say anything in reply.

They sit there in silence for a while, until Klee starts to talk about anything and everything. She smiles at his every reply, laughs when he smiles.

For the first time in a long time Klee feels no worry, no concern. Just happy, just so, so glad her brother is here by her side and that nothing else is going to take him from her.

When the door to their room opens again, Klee giggles as people pour in. Jean rushes over to the bed to check her over, Kaeya joining at her side. Aether follows in after, along with Lisa, Sucrose, and Mona. Klee tries to keep a straight face as both she and Albedo receive separate scoldings but it is hard when no amount of reprimand can tamp down on the happiness she feels right now.

Everything is finally okay, and there’s really no better feeling than that.