Chapter Text
Durin and Albedo walked side by side. Durin’s steps were clumsy, swinging one leg in front of the other while his hands were clasped tightly behind his back. Albedo's steps, on the other hand, were measured, subconsciously ensuring that stumbling was an impossibility. Albedo glanced at Durin, tilting his head to study him. By Albedo's analysis, Durin's expression revealed contemplation and a hint of worry. As his older brother, it was his duty to ensure Durin's well-being, so he cleared his throat to ask, “Is something bothering you?”
Of course, their fight with Dottore had just ended, so the possibilities of Durin's troubles were endless. He could be in shock from the carnage he had faced or maybe worried about what that battle meant for Teyvat’s future.
...But it was neither of those. Durin turned towards him with a frown and replied, “I’m worried about Hat guy. He left so suddenly and barely gave himself a moment to rest after receiving his core back. What if he’s still injured and just didn’t say anything?”
Highly unlikely, Albedo mused internally. Durin's compassion for his friend was an amiable trait of his, even if misplaced. He bit his amusement down with a cough, committing to his role as a good older brother. “Well, Durin,” Albedo said softly, “do you trust Hat Guy?”
“Of course I do; he’s my best friend!”
Albedo turned back towards the path and began walking, silently queuing for Durin to follow behind. “Then trust in his words. Hat guy told you he was fine, right?”
Durin ran up behind Albedo before matching his pace, gaze directed at the other. “Yeah. I-I know, but this is Hat guy we’re talking about. He could be dying, and he would still say he’s fine.” He paused, eyebrows furrowing up in worry. “I mean… he didn’t even warn us in advance before sacrificing his core.”
Durin’s words trailed off into silence. His pace slowed as his anxiety grew, and eventually he stopped walking altogether. He fiddled with his hands nervously before setting them back at his sides.
Stopping in his own tracks, Albedo once more turned back to observe Durin. The boy was lost in thought again. His gaze was pointed towards the ground, and his fists remained clenched at his sides. His posture revealed stress and possible tension, causing Albedo to frown and circle back towards him. While it was endearing for Durin to be worried about the wellbeing of his friend, he was likely not going to stop sulking until he got to see the man alive and well for himself. This stubborn streak was probably learnt from that man, so perhaps it was only fair that he makes this his problem.
Sighing, he ruffled Durin’s hair. “Once we check up on everyone in Mondstadt, we can make arrangements to visit your friend in Sumeru.”
Although it was a tad last minute for Albedo's usual preferences, Sumeru had been on his vacation destination list for a while now. Besides his relevant desire to visit the Akademiya's library, he also found the plant life in Sumeru to be exceptionally intriguing compared to that of other nations. He already had a friend there whom he could converse with about it. Additionally, Master Jean was almost certainly going to approve vacation time for him after this whole ordeal. He hardly ever requested time off, making it long past due. Durin's happiness was just the trigger he needed to finally push this vacation into action, and it seemed to be worth it with the way Durin's eyes were looking up at him with excitement.
“Really!? That’s great! Then let's go quickly, no time to waste!”
Mondstadt was as lively as ever. With the recent return of troops stationed in Nod Krai, most families were out and about reuniting with loved ones. The bulk of restaurants were packed with customers, and visiting the taverns seemed unthinkable with the crowds. Although the two were not fond of large gatherings like this, they had their merits. While the attention was on the returning troops, Albedo and Durin used the crowd as a means of escape. Durin kept his hand clutched around a pocket of fabric on Albedo's coat as he maneuvered them through the streets and into the Favonius building.
“Albedo!” Klee, who was conveniently exiting solitary confinement, rushed up to Albedo and threw her arms around his legs. Albedo chuckled and picked her up, settling her on his waist. With fond eyes, he looked down at her small, cheery face.
“Hello Klee, I see you’ve gotten yourself into some trouble.” Albedo mused, finding the situation amicable. Jean, who had overheard the commotion, came out to greet the pair from within the timeout room. She looked over at Klee with a deflated look, likely noting the lack of remorse from whatever she had done. Albedo smiled fondly at the familiar situation. He gave her a short nod and set Klee back down on her feet.
She rushed over to Durin next, pulling at his arm. “You’re back too! Does this mean we can play today?”
Eyes lighting up, Durin nodded to her hastily. He seemed almost as excited as she was, his face brimming with enthusiasm. “Yeah, alright!” He paused, looking back over at Albedo. His mouth morphed into an “oh” of recollection, and he quickly gathered himself, “But, uhm, only for an hour. Me and Albedo are going to go somewhere after.”
“Yay!” Klee ignored the rest of Durin's sentence (which likely would have upset her if she was paying attention) and focused on his agreement. She clutched his arm close and led him away, rushing past Jean, who sighed and called out, “Remember! No fish blasting!”
When the two were out of sight, Jean turned back towards Albedo. Her mood lightened up, and she gave him a warm smile as she approached. “You’ve returned early. That eager to get back to work?”
Albedo smiled politely in return before replying. “Actually, quite the opposite. You don’t suppose I could get an early vacation?” His tone was confident despite the way he phrased it. After all, he was already positive that the response would be in his favor.
Jean paused in surprise and looked at him quizzically. He hardly ever took time off and usually seemed to be quite bothered at the notion of having nothing to do. It was natural for her to be somewhat shocked. When Albedo did take vacation days, it was usually to do more work—albeit unrelated to his position. She quirked an eyebrow, settling her hand on her hip.
“I mean, you have certainly earned yourself one, but I’ll need more details before I can approve it. Let’s write up your official request in my office.” She turned, opening the door, and Albedo stepped in after her. He settled down on the chair opposite to hers, politely resting his hands in his lap with a perfectly neutral expression.
Although hard to see, Albedo could hear Jean take out a paper as well as a pen and begin scribbling down the official documentation of Albedo's leave request. Her desk was stacked with paperwork, no doubt all relating to the recent expenditure. It was practically piled to the ceiling, which made it difficult to see her through the paper. It seems she had her work cut out for her per usual. She clicked her pen shut and parted the paper down the middle to get a clear view of him. “Alright, first things first, how long do you plan to be gone for?”
“Only around a week if all goes well. I will keep in contact if something goes awry.”
“And in case of emergency contact, where can we expect your address to be located?”
“I will be in Sumeru City.”
Jean paused at this, looking up at Albedo, who still seemed completely unbothered. “Sumeru? That's a long journey for someone who just got back.”
“It’s more for Durin's sake than for mine. He’s worried about a friend who was with us in Nod Krai.”
Her eyes softened at the explanation, and she set down her pen. “I see. Well, if anything comes up, just make sure to keep us informed. You have plenty of vacation time after all, so make the most of it.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before straightening up. “However, I’ll need your report of the past few weeks on my desk before you leave. Enjoy your vacation, Albedo.”
Albedo sat in his room, legs crossed, with an unfinished report in front of him. Durin lay on the floor behind him, doodling with artistic skills comparable to Klee. Speaking of which, the knight had gone to take a nap after tiring herself out playing tag with Durin. It was a shame that he had to leave her alone again so soon, but he would definitely make it up to her when they got back. The thought brought a smile to Albedo's face, but he quickly shook it off to focus on his work. Reports were second nature to him by now, and he was quite certain he could get this done in less than an hour. The only issue remaining was considering what should be left out. Personal interactions with the Wanderer were skipped, while some conversations with Sandrone were summarized and added in. Conversing with Fatui harbingers usually resulted in a report in itself, but this scenario would likely receive an exemption.
Durin jumped to his feet with his completed masterpiece and walked to Albedo's side to show it off. He held it up proudly. “I think my art skills are improving! What do you think?”
The drawing consisted of three blocky figures. One had what he presumed to be a large hat, one had golden hair, and one had black horns. The artistic style was practically chicken scratch, but the colors Durin had picked out did harmonize well.
“Your coloring is pleasant, but perhaps a lesson on anatomy would benefit you. Overall though, I agree. You’re improving by the day.” He laid his hand between Durin’s horns and ruffled his fluffy hair. Durin seemed to have accepted the criticism gracefully and nodded eagerly.
“Alright! I’ll keep practicing."
Albedo nodded in return and went back to his report. He decided that the knowledge he attained about what had happened in the energy fields was a suitable focus. He also vaguely described the Wanderers rescue, then left the rest of it by saying he “stood watch” in the town for safety. Grandmaster Varka would surely cover everything else, so he set down his pen and neatly folded his report. He slipped it inside the envelope, gave it a seal, and then stood up.
“Alright, Durin. Start packing your things. We should be ready to head out soon.”
Durin dusted himself off and went to find his luggage. “I haven’t unpacked yet, so I'm basically already finished.”
“Then that makes two of us. When do you wish to leave?”
Apparently, the answer to that question was not soon, because Durin insisted on saying goodbye to all of his friends first. It had been two hours, and he still had not returned. Albedo sat at his desk and sketched the flora he had seen abroad to the best of his memories, trying to pass the time feeling something other than restlessness. He had already turned in his report, packed his things, and tidied his space. Now he just had to wait until Durin was back.
As he drew, his mind wandered over the last few days. It was truly a shame that he was taking a vacation so soon when there were so many potential new changes in Tevyat's atmosphere to research. However, seeing the Wanderer again wasn’t too bad of an alternative. The man himself was a mystery. Although he was a puppet, he looked so perfectly human that Albedo yearned to know the formula behind it. Asking would just push the Wanderer away, though, so he would just have to be patient. Maybe bringing a gift would help bring them closer. Gift giving when visiting someone's home is a tradition in Inazuma and, to a lesser extent, Sumeru.
Albedo closed his notebook and stood up from the chair. He plucked his wallet out from the cubby of his desk and slid it in his coat pocket. He quickly scribbled a little note telling Durin he would be out shopping in case he came home while he was out and set it on the nightstand. After that he exited his home and made the short walk into the marketplace.
The shops were still packed, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. With a breath, Albedo squeezed past large groups of people standing in the middle of the street conversing. He pushed himself into the entrance of a well-known trinket shop and straightened back up to look around. Tourists were always fond of this location, from what he could tell, so this was his best bet.
Hat guy did not seem like the type of person to appreciate random objects or novelty items. If he showed up to the man's door carrying a snow globe or a personalized magnet, he would likely throw it away right then and there. The safer bet was to bring a specialty snack or garment local to Mondstadt. Both were practical, potentially enjoyable, and personalized. Albedo walked further into the shop to observe his options.
Unfortunately, all of the specialty food items seemed to be perishable. They either consisted of meat or fish, which would not keep on their journey to Sumeru. Bringing a preservative drink could be an option, but he wasn’t sure if the Wanderer would appreciate something sweet or alcoholic. The only thing he remembered seeing Wanderer consume in Nod Krai was either tea or coffee. While Mondstadt didn’t specialize in either of those departments, Wolfhook juice was known to be bitter yet refreshing. Ultimately it was as close as Albedo was going to get.
Turning towards the clothing options, there really wasn’t much to go off of. Hat guy wore the same outfit daily, and bringing him something new was not going to change that. Picking something out was primarily for the thought behind it rather than the hope of it going to good use. He scooped up a light blue scarf that reminded him of the others pallet, grabbed the juice, made his purchase, and then threw it all in his bag. Now he just had to hope Durin was back and finally ready to go.
“Sorry I took so long Albedo.”
Durin was waiting in Albedo’s room, sitting on his bed with his bag packed and on his lap. He was idly swinging his legs while his tail flicked nervously behind him as he awaited Albedo's response.
Albedo gave him a small smile, reaching for his own backpack. He placed the gift as well as a few miscellaneous vials into his bag. “No need to apologize, Durin. Though I must ask, what held you up?”
“When I went to tell Lisa I was going to visit my friend, she suggested that I write a letter to him in advance so he wouldn’t be caught off guard when we showed up. I spent the whole time trying to write something that he would be able to read…” A flush of embarrassment crept on his cheeks, and he looked to the side.
“That’s very thoughtful of you, Durin,” Albedo replied, sliding his backpack on one shoulder at a time. Realistically, it was unlikely that the letter would get to the Wanderer before they did. He wouldn’t tell him that though. Lisa had utilized the situation to give Durin another lesson on proper etiquette, and he would not undermine her efforts.
They both exited the house and made their way towards the city gates. The streets were less crowded now. Most families probably went home to eat dinner. Albedo looked over at Durin, who was practically skipping in excitement. He walked a little faster to meet his pace by his side.
Albedo then turned his attention towards his thoughts. The journey would be about two to three days for a common merchant. Durin could make the trip in a few hours if he were travelling solo. That means the most time-efficient strategy would be to utilize Durin's flight. Luckily, he already had a plan. His brother was not physically capable of carrying too heavy of a weight during flight. So, to compromise, Albedo had created a solution, which, when used on an object, could temporarily alter its weight. He had made it awhile ago to help the knights carry his equipment up to Dragonspine, and now its purpose was rejuvenated.
Once they had crossed the bridge out of Mondstadt’s gate, he paused, bringing his bag forward, and rummaged through it. “Durin, would you be interested in helping me with an experiment on the way there? It may consume some, if not all, of your current energy.”
Durin paused as well and turned back towards Albedo with a thoughtful expression. He tapped his chin in feigned contemplation, then replied, “Yeah, sure. I don’t mind.” He watched with curiosity as the older man took out a vial and uncorked it. The liquid inside was a faint blue.
“I would like you to fly us to the outskirts of Sumeru,” Albedo directed and tilted up the potion towards his mouth. “Get ready.”
Wanderer's desk was piled with books and papers. Half of it was academic work he had missed, while the other half was official paperwork that needed to be completed following the confrontation with Dottore. He was slumped over his desk mindlessly writing a half-assed report that would end up being essentially useless at the end of the day. But, if lesser lord Kusanali wants to hear about it from him, there’s nothing much he can do.
Hearing the sound of the door creaking open, he paused his writing. Wanderer already recognized whose presence had entered into his room, and he loathed the thought of receiving whatever she was about to present him with. Didn’t he have enough on his plate?
“Hat guy, you got a letter!” Buer giggled, extending it towards him. “It was delivered by bird too. That means it must be important.”
No it did not. He grimaced and snatched up the letter. The last thing he needed was more trouble. Wanderer ripped it open carelessly and leaned back in his chair to analyze what was written. His face softened when he noticed the handwriting, then immediately fell as he read what was written.
Dear Hat Guy,
Albedo and I are going to Sumeru to visit you! We’ll probably be there soon. I was told it's common courtesy to send a letter to someone before showing up at their door. Miss Lisa said I'm supposed to send this a week in advance, but I only had a few hours. Sorry about that.
Talk Soon,
Durin
Wanderer tilted his head back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose. His face was the epitome of frustration, with eyes scrunched up, eyebrows furrowed, and teeth gritted. “You’ve got to be kidding me…”
Nahida grinned and clasped her hands together. “How wonderful! Your friends are coming to visit you!” Of course she already knew. She probably snooped through it first.
He spun his chair around in her direction. Wanderer directly glared at her and gestured towards his cluttered desk. “Do you not see the piles of work I have to complete? There’s no way-”
Nahida cut him off before he could continue. “I’ll buy you some time. Hanging out with friends will be good for you. Alhaitham can handle most of the work I gave you, and the rest can be completed after your break.” She gave him a bright look that screamed, "I’m not taking no for an answer", and he let out a sigh.
“Whatever.”
Durin landed, panting, right outside of Sumeru like Albedo instructed. He staggered over to a tree before laying all of his weight against it, trying to catch his breath. Meanwhile, Albedo steadily regained his mass as the potion wore off. He rumaged through his bag and took out a water bottle, silently offering it to Durin. He took it gratefully and downed the whole bottle.
“Your flight stamina is exceptional, Durin,” Albedo praised. “Take all the time you need to rest.”
Durin nodded breathlessly at that and slumped to the ground underneath the tree. Albedo moved to sit next to him. He shuffled his bag to lay on his lap and took out his sketch book to pass the time. Although he wasn’t officially in Sumeru yet, he may as well get a head start in sketching the wildlife. Or at least, what he could see of it from the border. After a few minutes, Durin leaned his head on Albedo's shoulder to watch. His breathing had returned to normal, although fatigue was still evident with one glance. Albedo smiled softly in amusement. He flipped the page of his sketchbook and began sketching out the base shapes of a human's anatomy in a beginner-friendly way. “Watch closely, Durin.”
Durin watched as Albedo drew, but before long his eyes closed and his breathing evened out. He’s fallen asleep. Not surprising. Albedo sighed and closed his sketchbook once more. It was dark outside now. He would have preferred to make it into a village before resting, but with Durin passed out, that was looking very unlikely. The area they were settled in was secure enough. No monsters or humans could be seen anywhere near them, and it was fairly high up on a cliff. Albedo would just make the best of it tonight.
Tomorrow, they will likely see Hat guy. Would he be pleased to see them? Probably not. Hat guy had left early for the sole purpose of continuing his work in Sumeru, yet here they were, planning on interrupting him only a week after the man returned home. Durin will be happy to see him though, and hopefully this visit will put his mind at ease. If they were lucky, maybe Hat guy would even allow himself a checkup. After all, Albedo's specialties did not lie within mechanics, and putting the Wanderer's core back in may not have been done with complete accuracy. Another look to make sure everything was alright would surely help.
That would make a wonderful excuse to study him too.
Yes, Albedo wasn’t doing this out of selfishness to indulge his own curiosity. He simply wanted to make sure the man was alright after a prolonged period without his core. If that just so happened to mean analyzing his biology, then so be it.
Taking one last look around, Albedo settled back against the tree next to Durin, and drifted off.
When he woke up, Durin was already hunched over his journal and scribbling words down. Albedo let out a small yawn and stretched his arms over his head before taking a look around. Their bags were slumped together, his notebook was to his left, and his pencil had vanished beneath the grass. Everything was just as he left it.
“What are you writing about, Durin?” Albedo inquired, leaning forward to take a glimpse of his work. His vision was still a bit blurry from waking up, and his voice was slightly raspy. Even with a clear view, he couldn’t make out the letters. Durin's handwriting still had a long way to go. Frowning slightly, he leaned back before replacing his expression with neutrality.
“Just keeping it up to date.” Durin mumbled, lost in his own thoughts.
The other nodded and allowed him some space. He stood up, dusted his own clothes off, and slid his backpack over his shoulder. Sumeru City should be less than an hour from here. Once they arrived, he would buy a room at an inn while Durin interacted with whichever friends he’d been meaning to see. There’s no telling if they would find Hat guy today, so he would leave it as a possibility rather than an inevitability in his schedule. In that case he should prioritize the Akademiya’s library and perhaps try local cuisine. Both would likely be nearby, so he could leave the following days for his forest goals.
Albedo hardly even realized Durin had gotten packed and ready until the boy tapped his shoulder. Albedo snapped out of his thoughts and glanced in Durin's direction. Durin had put his journal away and combed out his hair neatly, anxiously awaiting Albedo to give the signal. “Oh! Ready to go?”
“Yes, I believe so.” Durin replied, “I want to get there as soon as we can… i-if plausible, of course. No rush.”
He smiled and spun back around, leading the way. “Then let’s get going.”
They arrived in Sumeru City around the time Albedo had been anticipating. The city was still waking up, so there was no reason to worry about crowds just yet. Aside from coffee shops, it seemed that it was still too early for most stores to open. In that case, finding a place to sleep was top priority. There was no use in carrying around these heavy bags all day, and it wouldn’t hurt to freshen up before exploring. Albedo turned to Durin, who was taking in the sights with excitement.
“I haven’t been to the city since I was mini. I used to think the signs showing the shop names were for decoration,” Durin mused. His pace slowed as a look of recognition flashed across his features. Albedo paused with him, following his gaze, which was pointed at a woman with red hair conversing in a small group.
“You don’t have to stick with me, Durin. If you want to go talk to some of your friends, you’re free to do so. I’m just going to find us a place to sleep for the week.”
Durin shook his head and caught up with Albedo. “No thanks. It’s still so early. I don’t want to bother them while they’re just waking up.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t be bothering them,” Albedo replied, but he didn’t argue further. Instead they walked in silence the rest of the way as Durin looked around the city. Albedo was positive that most of the inns would be located closer to the akademiya. Conveniently, that area would align with both of their goals as well. It was close to Hat guy, and close to the library.
At some point along the way, Durin had decided to take the lead. “I recognize this area!” Was all he said, before rushing in front of Albedo to act as a line leader. Albedo chuckled to himself and followed close behind.
Eventually they finally stopped outside of an inn. Durin looked both ways before turning towards him. “I think this one is the closest to where Hat guy is. I remember seeing this place outside of his bedroom window. There are two more though down the road in case this one is full.”
Albedo nodded gratefully, moving towards the door. “Thank you, Durin. Your expertise is quite appreciated.”
Durin beamed at the praise and slid behind Albedo and into the building. He stood idly by the waiting area as Albedo spoke to the innkeeper, glancing around at the decor with mild interest. Once he returned with a key, Durin followed him to their room wordlessly.
They sat their bags down on the table. Albedo moved to the window to inspect the view, while Durin jumped onto the bed to inspect its comfort. He curled up into the sheets and squished his cheek against the pillow.
“Hat guy usually goes out early for coffee. I don’t really want to barge in on him though…”
Albedo hummed in response and sat on the bed across from Durin. He crossed his legs and laid his face in his palm. “I plan to visit the library today. You can join me if you’d like.” He paused, then continued, “Maybe Hat guy will be there. He is a student after all. If he’s already working, he won’t mind a slight interruption.”
The other looked over at Albedo and considered his words. “That’s true. He did visit it quite a lot.” Durin flopped onto his back and looked up at the ceiling. “Maybe I’ll see the Dendro Archon too. She’ll definitely know where he is, at least.”
That’s right. Hat guy did seem to have a fairly close relationship with her from what he had gathered. The man would frequently complain about her in situations in which she was not even relevant. Not to mention he had his own nickname for the archon. Knowing his personality, he likely spoke directly to her with such disrespect. Perhaps that betrayed their close bond. No ordinary servant would speak to an archon like that.
Hat guys mysteries were bottomless. Albedo wondered if he’d even be able to hide his intrigue from the man for any longer. He had been taught better than to push himself on others, yet his own questioning nature betrayed him even now.
No problem. He would persevere. The Wanderer did not owe him answers, and he would not entertain this matter any longer. He would be kind and courteous, as he always strived to be, because that is what being a “perfect human” means. With that thought, he stood up from the bed and held his hand out to Durin.
“Then let’s get to it.”
Durin nodded and took Albedo's hand, hoisting himself up from the bed and onto his feet. He straightened out his coat and flattened the back of his hair. “Alright. I’m kind of nervous, though. Most of my friends probably won’t recognize me looking like this.”
Grabbing his wallet from his bag, Albedo replied, “Likely not. However, I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you nonetheless.” He slid his wallet in his pocket and turned to Durin. “Lead the way.”
Durin nodded hastily and quickly took responsibility as a line leader once more. Although they had only been in the inn for a short period of time, citizens of Sumeru City seemed to have woken up and begun their daily routine. Stores were just starting to open, and the streets were lined with more people than before. Durin happily led the way through with clear experience. He cut through an empty alleyway, which quickly led onto the path into the akademiya. From there the journey took only minutes.
After they had settled themselves in the main hall of the library. Durin rushed off to look for Hat guy or any of his other old friends. Albedo was left alone in the building surrounded by books. An ideal beginning to his day.
He roamed the isles, marveling at how much bigger this library was than the one in Mondstadt. It was no surprise given that they specialized in research. If his master hadn’t sent him to the knights, would he have ended up here? Very likely.
Albedo slid a few books that intrigued him off the shelves and into his arms. There was no better way to pass the time than to learn a few new things in his eyes. The books he had chosen revolved around psychology—an area he hadn’t yet perfected. Since this was supposed to be a vacation, he would use this time to indulge in non-alchemist-related work. His master had given him the task of coming up with new questions before he met with her again, and knowing her, psychology-related queries would be his safest bet.
He settled down at the end of a long table, making sure to leave adequate room away from other researchers. While flipping through his first academic journal, he had hardly noticed that someone had sat next to him, save for the screeching of the wooden chair. Was Durin back already? Surely the researchers at this academy weren’t interested in small talk in the middle of a library. He paused his reading and gently slid a bookmark on his page. He politely glanced at the seat beside him and held back his mild shock as he noted the indigo hair.
He cleared his throat, keeping his voice low. “Ah, Hat guy. Durin and I were looking for you.” Albedo closed his book and set it back down in the pile he had gathered before turning his body to give the other his full attention. This man was the reason he was here after all.
Wanderer scoffed, rolling his eyes and gesturing towards the pile of research. “Were you expecting to find me in one of these books?”
Albedo didn’t stutter at the retort, his face betraying nothing but perfect tranquility. “I figured Durin had that covered. He rushed off without a word as soon as we arrived.” Settling back in his chair, he added, “I assume you saw him too? You don’t seem very surprised to see me here.”
“I got his letter yesterday.” Wanderer set his elbow on the table and leaned his head into his palm. He looked off into the library halls. “I told you two I’d be busy. I get why Durin wouldn’t listen, but I’m surprised you actually went along with this. Don’t you have better things to do besides bothering me?”
Hat guy's words were harsh, yet Albedo had experienced enough of his antics to guess at the underlying meaning. Calling him out on such was Durin's realm of expertise, though, so he would try another approach. “Perhaps I was worried about you too. Durin's fears weren't unfounded after all.”
The other made a face and turned his head towards him. His eyes were a mixture of disbelief and doubt. Or at least, that’s what he was trying to make it come off as. “I already told you I was fine. I highly doubt you would come all the way out here just to give me a checkup.” He paused, then looked down at the books Albedo had gathered. A knowing smirk crossed his face before adding, “I see why you’re really here.”
Before he could add anything else, Durin rushed towards them at lightning speed. He practically pounced on Hat guy, leaning over him with unbridled elation. As if on instinct, Wanderer quickly shoved his hand over the other's mouth before he could get a word out. “We’re in a library. Keep your voice down when you speak.” Then, he retracted his hand. Durin's face fell slightly, but the excitement was still there.
“Ah? But I didn’t even say anything yet?”
Wanderer gave him a deadpan expression and crossed his arms. “Please. I could see it in your eyes. It’s not like this would be a first.”
Durin didn’t reply to that, cheeks flushing in slight embarrassment. Instead, he politely took a step back from the Wanderer and changed the subject. “Me and Albedo are here to make sure you’re ok.” His tail swished behind him, betraying his eagerness.
Adding onto that statement, Albedo once again looked towards the other man and made an offer. “If you’d like, I could give you a checkup. Although I’m not well versed in your biology, I’m sure with my experience in other biological matters I would be able to identify potential issues.”
…
“Really?” The wanderer's question was laced with agitation and doubt. He tapped his fingers impatiently against the wood of the table. “I told you two countless times that I felt fine. I shouldn’t have to keep repeating myself.”
“Ugh.” He stood up, attempting to end the conversation right there and then. Did the idea of a checkup make him uncomfortable? Turning to leave, he added, “I have work to do. Go bother someone else.”
Unfortunately for him, Durin latched himself onto Wanderer's arm and used all his strength to keep him from moving. He looked at the other with a pitiful frown and pleading eyes while his tail wrapped tightly around his leg. “Please Hat guy! I know if you were injured you would never tell me, so how am I supposed to not worry when you keep putting yourself in danger!”
The other tried to free himself from Durin's grip, but the dragon just clung tighter. He couldn’t get a word out before Durin added more. “Friends look out for each other, don’t they? Aren’t we your friends?” He squeezed the other tighter. “I won’t leave until I’m certain you’re ok!”
Hat guy paused, thoroughly lost for words. He looked down at Durin with an expression of both shock and annoyance. He opened his mouth a few times, trying to formulate a response, but eventually he gave up. Instead he looked to the side with feigned aggravation and put his hand on Durin's head. With a sigh, he grumbled, “Is this really just about my core?”
Frowning, Durin slowly released the other before politely placing his hands behind his back. “Well… Actually, I’m a little upset about how you chose to sacrifice yourself without saying anything to us first. I-I know that I don’t have any right to tell you what to do, but…” His breath hitched and his voice wavered, “What if I never got to speak to you again? You didn’t even warn me.”
“...”
The older man took a deep breath. With reluctant movement, he began patting Durin like a small child. “Look, I’m fine. Really.” Taking a long glance in Albedo's direction, “But if it will make you feel better..” He tilted his head back with an annoyed huff, already regretting his decision.
“Fine.”