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Albedo was use to observing people up close. It was something he frequently had to do whenever drawing someone- he especially liked to draw Aether, and so, he often got to take a close look at him.
The traveller's face was blemished, with acne and sun spots dotted around it. Albedo had to wonder if he had less sun resistance than the people of Teyvat, though if the answer to that was yes, he would end up finding himself rather worried for Aether.
No matter how blemished his face was, no matter how many times he visited Albedo covered in mud and dirt, he was always beyond gorgeous. The way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, and how his blemishes were all but proof that he's alive and being effected by the world around him. Even the smallest details in Aether's face, be it how he expressed himself or how he just was, Albedo was enamoured. One thing, how ever, stood out to Albedo quite a bit.
Regardless of where Albedo looked- face, arms, or stomach- Aether had no scars.
Having met several other travellers in the past, and knowing just how difficult both the environment and creatures of the world could be, there was not a single person who frequented the wilderness who didn't have some visible scars. Albedo had seen Aether fight many times before, and he sees very clearly that Aether is not several times stronger than anyone in Teyvat.
It had been weighing on his mind frequently, but even now so with his current art piece. Aether was sitting in front of him, head on his hands and elbows on the table as he leaned forward- braid tossed over his shoulder and cecilia woven into his hair. He wore a soft expression, and the lighting of the sunset filtering in from the window of Albedo's quarters enhanced it.
This drawing being a portrait, the focus was on Aether's face, and Albedo was once again left wondering why his skin lacks any signs of combat. Apparently, he had been wondering a little too much, running random theories through his head. He had been staring off into space, but specifically while looking at Aether.
"Albedo? Is everything okay?" Snapped out of his thoughts by the words of the traveller, Albedo readjusted his vision to actually focus on Aether.
Well, it was on his mind. "Actually, I have a question for you, if you don't mind." tapping his pencil to his chin, he set it down and gently pushed his sketchbook aside.
Aether seemed a bit surprised, but he nodded. "Shoot."
"Thank you, I appreciate it." Albedo had to think for a moment, figuring out how to exactly phrase this question that's been bothering him for so long. Luckily for him, it didn't take too long, stopping the energy in the room from becoming too awkward. "You... don't have any scars visible on you. While I haven't seen all your body, would it be presumptuous to assume that there's no scars you're hiding?"
It wasn't the entire question, but it was a start. If it turned out Aether did have some scars that were out of view, there would be no point in continuing. Albedo wasn't sure if he was surprised or if he entirely expected it when Aether shook his head. "No, you're right. I don't have any."
With a swift nod, Albedo was quick to process the information. "Is there any particular reason as to why? Have you never gotten injured deeply enough to scar, or is scaring something that doesn't happen to your kind?"
Sitting back and leaning in the chair in a more comfortable and laid-back position, Aether hummed. "Nah, I'm sure it does, I've just never let wounds like that heal naturally."
This, of course, instantly caught Albedo's attention. "Instantly? What do you mean by that?"
As if a bit confused by the question, Aether shrugged and messed with the end of his braid. "It's not convenient for me to let myself heal normally, so I just eat food."
Silence quickly overfell them as Albedo stared at Aether, trying to understand what he meant and why he was so casual about it. Aether seemed to pick up on it, and sat up straight. "Wait, can you not heal by eating food?" After Albedo shook his head, Aether let out a quiet 'oh' and looked down.
It was definitely testing the waters of how far Aether would go for research, but Albedo couldn't see how at least asking would hurt. He's asked Aether to do more dangerous things before.
"Say, Aether... Would it be alright if you showed me?" Albedo wasn't sure how Aether would show him, exactly, but...
Without an immediate response, Aether pulled his bag up from the ground onto his lap and rummaged through it until he pulled out a small parcel. "I brought some hashbrowns with me in case I got hungry, but they work to heal too."
Was that a yes?
"Thank you. I appreciate it immensely, and as usual, you're welcome to back out if you change your mind." Though... Albedo still didn't know how they were going to go about it.
"Oh, yeah. Well, as long as the knife or scalpel or whatever is clean, I don't mind. One bite of one of these and I'll be fully healed!" Aether started to unwrap the food casually, as the words Aether just said hit him.
A knife? Well, it did make the most sense. If Aether suggested it in the first place, surely it'll be fine. Albedo's sure he has one somewhere. "Of course. I'll be right back."
Standing up, Albedo made his way over to where he did all his alchemy related work to find a disinfectant. Once successful, it came down to getting a knife. He did have the one he used to open up packages and supplies... though, it was more of a box cutter than a knife. Albedo made sure to properly wash and sanitize it, before making his way back to Aether- who he was surprised to find looking a bit more nervous than he'd think for someone who suggested being harmed with a sharp object.
With a warm smile, Albedo set down the knife and pulled his chair around the table next to Aether's. After sitting, he held his hand out. "Would your arm be acceptable?"
Aether took a deep breath, returning the smile, and extending his arm. "Yeah, that's fine!"
He didn't flinch when Albedo carefully grabbed his arm.
He tensed up when the tip of the blade was pressed against the top of his forearm.
Albedo paused, not pressing any harder as he tried to observe Aether's behaviour. Despite saying that it's fine and he'll be able to heal, Aether didn't seem relaxed. Maybe it was normal- he was still expecting harm. He was still able to feel pain.
…Ah.
"My apologies, Aether. I've neglected the mental aspect here." Albedo withdrew the knife, setting it back onto the table and standing.
Aether frowned, following Albedo with his eyes. "What do you mean?" He questioned the alchemist, who was now across the room and back at his in-'home' lab. He didn't respond, instead going through a cabinet before returning with a vial in hand. It was an orange brownish colour, and Albedo held it out to Aether as he sat back down.
"Regardless of if you know you'll be fine, you'll still feel the pain. This potion is able to temporarily numb nerves when consumed. Usually, it would be used for medical patients who need, say, a growth cut out of them, or a limb removed, due to it's strength. It's composed of plants- the oils of seeds, juices of leaves, ground up roots that have been dissolved… It will taste quite bitter, but I hope that's not an issue."
Aether didn't interrupt Albedo's rambling- it's almost as if he enjoys hearing the alchemist's voice- and nodded along, even if he didn't fully understand. Alchemy was far from his strong suit, and medicinal related things even further. He took the vial, unscrewing the lid. It did sound quite powerful- it was definitely overkill. "Do I need to drink all of it?"
With a shake of his head, Albedo chuckled. "No, no. I'm sure just a sip with be enough, sorry."
And so, he downed the potion, and cringed. "Wow, it really is bitter. And tastes kinda like dirt, but vaguely? Like, dirt but to the left."
Albedo raised an eyebrow as he took the vial back, returning the lid to it and carefully setting it on the table so it won't roll away and once again picked up the knife.
Things were back to how they were minutes ago- Aether's arm in Albedo's hand with a blade pressed to skin, but not yet breaking it.
Albedo was hesitating again- and he wondered why. He let his eyes wander back to Aether, and ended up surprising himself by his thoughts. The way Aether's eyes darted up and down between Albedo's grip on him and the knife, his lips pressed tightly together in a thin line and his cheeks puffed out ever so slightly in anticipation for the cut. It was cute, he decided.
With a deep breath, Albedo turned his attention back to where he planned to slice. "I'm going to count down, okay?" After being given a nod from the traveller, Albedo proceeded. "Five... Four... Three.... Two...... One."
The blade pressed down, and Albedo pulled it toward himself, blood very quickly oozing out. The pain killer seemed to have taken effect, at least, as Aether didn't express any signs of pain- Instead, he was squirming and once again cringing as he watched the blade move and split open his skin. It was deep enough to definitely scar anyone normally. The way his nose scrunched up whenever he cringed, however, was cute- Albedo decided.
The cut wasn't long, and Albedo pulled the knife away in mere seconds despite how much longer it felt. With that, Aether took it as the signal for him to reach over to his hashbrowns with his free hand, taking a bite.
Albedo watched in awe as the wound truly did close up, seeming like it was never there as odd particles floating around Aether. "....Interesting." He mused, running his finger across where the cut once was. "This is truly fascinating. Nothing like this has ever been recorded in Teyvat before. You had assumed this was normal, correct?"
Aether nodded, though didn't speak. He was still eating the hashbrown, and didn't want to be rude. He probably would've been reacting more to Albedo's touches had his nerves not been numbed, so all he can do is watch and imagine what it feels like. They've always gotten pretty close to each other in experiments and casual conversation, but they never really touched each other- especially without their gloves on. Maybe Aether should hang out at Albedo's quarters more often.
Albedo made note to quickly get a cloth and wipe any blood from Aether's arm that hadn't vanished with the odd healing, deciding that it was about time he figured out how to develop a stronger stain cleaner. Things like this weren't what he was an alchemist for, but it in the end was still an important part to his job, and he does need money to fund his research into life.
"That's all for day. I'll record this all down later. It's getting late, I apologize for not finishing your portrait today. Next time?" Albedo let go of his concentrated expression to once again give Aether a gentle and warm look, to which he returned after swallowing.
"It's fine, I don't mind being a model for you. Besides, you asked me to do this, it's not like I commissioned you to draw me." Aether's smile was lopsided and playful, and it brought lots of warmth to Albedo's chest. "And, well, yeah. Next time. Though we'll have to get fresh cecilia again..." As Albedo released Aether's arm, he brought it to pluck one of the flowers out of his braid. They were pretty flowers, Aether understood why Albedo liked them so much.
"I can try to preserve them until you return next, if that saves any trouble." It was amusing that of all things for Aether to worry about, it was picking flowers. While, sure, they were only found on starsnatch cliff, it was within a day's walk there and back and Albedo could always do it on his own in advance. Sadly, Aether's stops into Mondstadt were sporadic.
"They won't be the same! Maybe we could get them together next time, though." Aether suggested, wrapping up the hashbrowns he didn't eat again and packing his bag up. "I'll try to stop by more often!"
Albedo nodded. "I look forward to it. I'll be seeing you out, then."
Albedo stood standing outside of headquarters, waving to Aether as he ran off- likely to meet up with his floating companion. She had been hanging out with Amber all day, as she promised Paimon a treatment to Good Hunter.
Returning inside as Albedo didn't wish to be in the presence of other knights hanging about any longer than necessary, he quickly returned to his quarters. The beautiful orange colour given to the world by the sunset had long since vanished, being replaced with a cool but calming blue. He begun to clean up, seeing as his go-to knife for opening things was covered in blood, and it seems he had missed that blood had dripped down Aether's arm and landed on the floorboards. That would be hard to explain if anyone asked.
He found his mind once again wondering as he scrubbed at the floor. How far do Aether's regenerative abilities go? Had Aether lost an entire limb, would he still be able to regenerate with a simple snack break? If he was on the brink of death, is he safe as long as he can still get some food down? Was there a limit to how many wounds at once food would heal? This were all big questions Albedo found himself having, but wasn't sure if it was worth finding out. He felt... uncomfortable the more he thought about it.
Albedo wasn't sure what came over him. His vision became blurred as he realized tears were dripping from his face, his breathing growing unsteady. He didn't understand this reaction. Was it emotional? He would have to do some studying on it. Albedo moved on to trying to clean the bloodstain from the cloth, trying to leave those emotions behind for now.