Chapter Text
"No."
"What? But- but why?" Huffman asked, dismayed by the answer.
Albedo looked up from his notes and then shook his head. It was difficult for him to refuse but he knew that he had to do it.
"Dragonspine is too dangerous. I couldn't possibly agree to have you stationed on that mountain."
The expression Huffman wore almost made Albedo change his decision, but in the end he managed to stand by it. There was simply no way that he would allow Freyr to go to Dragonspine with him. The number of things that could go wrong was simply too great to even consider it.
"If it's so dangerous, then that's even more of a reason for me to accompany you. Have you already forgotten what the mountain did to you the last time you were there?" Huffman asked with poorly concealed desperation in his voice.
Albedo had to admit, it was a good argument, but not good enough. “I made a promise to your mom that I will keep you from danger no matter what, and I intend to keep it.”
That made Huffman quiet. The knight knew that no one could win with his mother, not even Albedo. However… “How about we won’t tell her?”
“No.”
Freyr rubbed his face in frustration. He hated it when Albedo went to Dragonspine on his own to run experiments on dragon’s vitality which crystallised all around the mountain. In the end, he sat down on one of the chairs that stood next to the table where Albedo worked.
“But can I visit?” Freyr asked.
“No.”
“With the Honorary Knight?”
“No.” Albedo replied sternly.
Huffman crossed his arms over his chest. He was getting angry. How come Albedo can go everywhere he pleases but he has to ask for permission to set foot on Dragonspine?
“It’s unfair! I’m a knight too, so why do I have to be limited to only one patrolling area while everybody else is getting shifts all over Mondstadt?” He slammed his fist on his thigh.
Albedo took a deep breath, it wasn’t often that he had an argument with Huffman, but today it got quite serious. The problem was, he didn’t really know how to deal with it. He knew that he couldn’t keep Freyr in the city against his will but at the same time Albedo was afraid that his beloved will one day leave the walls of Mondstadt city and won’t come back. Because just as Freyr put it - he is a knight too - and that’s a dangerous job in itself.
The pages in Albedo’s hands were put down on the table and the alchemist walked around it to stand next to Huffman who looked up at him not knowing what to expect. Albedo moved his hand to gently stroke Freyr’s tousled brown hair. His palm ventured downwards to cup Huffman’s cheek, a gesture which had the knight calm down.
“I am an alchemist and I have a Vision at my disposal. I know what to expect from that mountain and even though I let my guard down once, I feel well enough to not do it again. You, on the other hand, have no way of fighting with Dragonspine’s malice.” Albedo said while looking Freyr in the eyes. “I can’t guarantee to be there to protect you every time some new calamity crawls out of the Wyrmrest Valley. And I have a few dangerous experiments to carry out as well. That’s why I can’t let you come with me.”
Huffman looked away in disappointment but otherwise didn’t move. “You’re leaving me again…” He whispered.
“I’m sorry, I have to.” Albedo replied as he began stroking Huffman’s cheek with his thumb. “I promise I will be back soon.”
Freyr brought up his arms and wrapped them around Albedo’s waist, his armour making it a little difficult for him to do so. He rested his head on the alchemist’s chest and sighed in defeat. “I love you, and I miss you when you’re gone.”
Albedo hugged Huffman back and began stroking the knight’s hair again. “I love you too, and that’s why I can’t let you go to Dragonspine. Know that I miss you quite a lot as well and I think of you all the time, sometimes it hinders the flow of my research.” Albedo laughed and then he bent down to kiss the top of Huffman’s head. “I promise to be back after three days, in the meantime, please keep Sucrose, Timaeus and Klee from reducing the city to dust.”
“I would do it even if you didn’t ask it of me.” Freyr murmured into Albedo’s shirt. He didn’t want to let the alchemist go yet, but he knew that he would have to soon. After that he will only have Lisa’s words to make him feel less miserable: If he loves you, he’ll come back.
And Albedo did promise to return, as he always does.