I do not own Genshin Impact.
Chapter One
"Big Brother Albedo, guess what?! It's Christmas, it's Christmas! It's finally here!"
Albedo smiled as his young charge skidded around the corner and into his laboratory. "Indeed it is." Although only just barely. He glanced at his clock, suppressing a chuckle at theextremelyearly hour. I wonder if she has even fallen asleep since I tucked her into bed. He set his notebook down on his desk, taking care to scoot it away from the edge before Klee reached him.
The little girl bounded up and threw her arms around him. "Merry Christmas, Albedo!" She peeled off him and bobbed in place, her big eyes filled with sparkles. "Look, look, look! I made something for you!"
At the sight of the small present, a wave of apprehension swept over the normally unflappable alchemist. "Ah—you made a present for me?"
Klee nodded as fast as she could. "Yes! But don't worry, it's not a bomb this time!"
With a chuckle, Albedo accepted the gift and patted Klee's beret affectionately. "Very well. Thank you, Klee. I'm sure I'll love it."
"You can't say that yet! You haven't opened it! C'mon, open it quick!"
Carefully Albedo tugged off each awkward layer of paper, taking his time to appreciate the effort that had gone into the ugly attempt. Perfection doesn't matter when it's made with love. "Did you wrap this by yourself, Klee?"
"Yeah! Last year Klee asked Uncle Kaeya to help me, but this year I did it allllll by myself!" Klee shimmied in place, barely containing her excitement.
Finally the last piece of wrapping paper fell away from the small box. Albedo gently tilted the lid open, watching Klee out of the corners of his moss-green eyes. Judging by the way she was holding her breath, she was almost more excited about his present than her present. Smiling, Albedo returned his attention to the gift.
Set in a cozy nest of tissue paper was a small keychain, a tiny version of Klee's Dodoco. Albedo lifted it from the box, and it swung free on a tiny chain, brown eyes winking in the light of the nearest flask. Albedo blinked at Klee. "You made a Dodoco for me?"
At his question, Klee squealed. "Yesss! That way when I'm not with you, you have someone to watch out for you, too! Just like my Dodoco! But yours is an Albedoco."
Albedo broke into a rare laugh. "Thank you, Klee, I love it very much. I'll put it on my sketchpad. Oh, and while you're here—" he turned and rummaged on his desk, shifting flasks, burners and beakers. He stopped with a frown, one hand placed theatrically on his hip as he thought. "Hm, there was a present here earlier, addressed to a Miss Klee."
Klee's mouth rounded in a gasp. "That's ME!"
"It is?" Albedo blinked in exaggerated confusion. "Ah, yes, you're right. Perhaps you could help me find it, then?" He tucked a strand of creamy white hair behind Klee's ear so he could see her beaming face. But she didn't stay still for long.
As soon as he was finished, she bounced into action, the errant sprig of hair flying out from behind her pointed ear. "Oo, this is so exciting! Who's it from?!"
Albedo watched her race around his laboratory, grateful that he'd had the forethought to remove his more volatile potions. "You'll just have to find out when you open it, I suppose. Oh, I think you're getting warmer. I seem to remember it being near that table."
Little leather boots thundered closer to the corner. "Over here?"
Albedo pursed his lips, then shook his head. "No, now you're getting colder. Warmer… warmer…"
A yelp of delight escaped as Klee pounced. "I found it!" She sat down right on the stone floor and tore into the present. Wrapping paper flew everywhere as Albedo strolled around the nearest table and crossed his arms to watch. Finally the explosion ceased, and Klee tugged open the box, her eyes shining. "It's Klee's favoritest treats! Yayyy! And—what's this?" Her brow furrowed as she pulled out a little piece of wood, carved into the shape of three vague figurines. One tall, thin and female, one shorter with a braid looping around his hair, and one very small with an enormous backpack.
The alchemist knelt beside her. "It's a very unusual piece of wood, with the light and dark striations through it. And it's just big enough that I could carve—"
"—Our family." Klee's voice was hushed. "Oh Albedo, I love it so much. It's the best Christmas present anyone has ever given me!" She barely remembered to put the carving back in the box before lunging at Albedo in another hug.
Peace settled in Albedo's chest as he held his little charge close. "Merry Christmas, Klee."
