After returning to Mondstadt and working out a plan for Echoes with Albedo's assistance, Mieko had been doing outside jobs for a while. Repairs and other such work in neighboring areas and around the city, as well as doing some side jobs for Albedo when he came calling. Today was one of those days, and while she was exhausted, she loved being able to spend time with him. As they talked and she stood at the kitchen counter, she suddenly got dizzy, Albedo managing to catch her as she leaned too far to one side. "Mie!" he cradled her head, the worry in his eyes clear to Mieko as she focused once her vision was clear again.
"What just…?" she asked, regaining her composure and rubbing her eyes.
"Are you alright? You were leaning so far to one side, I thought you were going to fall down."
"I… I got dizzy, sorry… I think I almost blacked out too."
"Blacked out?" Albedo pulled her to a chair and checked her over, kneeling in front of her once he was done. "I can't see anything wrong externally. You must still be exhausted."
"I… I shouldn't be…" she shook her head. "I've been sleeping more, and I've been alright as far as staying asleep."
"Even so… You're clearly suffering." he replied, laying his head on her knees as she sat there. "Mie… Please, I know you need to keep up with rent but please, rest." he whispered to her. "I'll cover the shop rent for you for just one month, so you can sleep. I know you don't want me to, but please? I don't want you to get hurt." The look he gave her made her heart ache. She pet his head, sighing as he stared up at her.
"I'll do my best, Albedo. And you don't need to pay my rent. I have Mora…"
"I know you do, but you shouldn't work in this condition. You're clearly suffering." he replied, making a face at her. She giggled, cupping his cheeks.
"And you, my darling little Albedo, are making a face that makes me want to take you to bed." she teased. "I'll be fine… I appreciate your concern, really I do." she added, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs, smiling at him in a way that made him feel like he might melt away in her hands. "Thank you for always looking out for me. I promise, it'll be alright. I'll do my best to rest for a few days. Is that acceptable?"
"You still won't let me help with the rent?"
"No. You help me enough with potions for my insomnia, making food for me, and taking emotional care of me every day." she leaned over and pressed her lips against his forehead. "I promise, that's more than I could have ever asked for, Albedo. That's all I need from you. I don't want you to put yourself out because I'm not handling things well." she added, gently playing with his hair. "Okay?"
"Yes, Mie… But I don't at all consider it to be putting myself out."
"I know you don't." she smiled. "Now. Let's get some tea and go to bed, hm?" She didn't want to admit it, but she knew he was right. She needed to rest. In fact, she craved the rest, even though her mind kept telling her that wasn't allowed. "We can just relax and cuddle under the blankets for a while, okay?"
"Very well." Albedo said, standing up and offering his hands to her to help her from her chair, grabbing the tray that she kept on the counter for their evening tea and escorting her upstairs to her room. "So long as you rest."
"Me?" Mieko looked up at Jean and Lisa. "You need a Hydro user?"
"Yes. For some reason Hydro and Cryo together seem the most effective according to the rumors. I will accompany you as well, of course."
"But judging by the map, that cave is better covered with a 4 person group in case of separation." Mieko said. "Assuming Kaeya is the Cryo… Who's the fourth? Traveler isn't around, and Natalie is all but useless in a cave. Lisa won't be of much help either…"
"That's why we need you, Mie, to convince Albedo." Lisa smiled at her. "He detests Kaeya, but if you ask him, he'll go anyway."
"... You want me to bribe Albedo into coming on a mission?" She sighed. "Lisa, that's a stupid idea…"
"But it will work." She waved a finger at Mieko. "Because he wants to keep an eye on you."
"But why do you need me?"
"Because I know your fighting style." Kaeya said, sauntering into the room. "So? What do you say, Mie?" He grinned, offering his hand. Mieko sighed, narrowing her eyes at Kaeya. "What, don't trust me?"
"I don't trust that smug look on your face." She replied, sipping her tea. "You're up to something."
"I swear I'm not." He chuckled. "Besides. You've been cooped up in your shop and I'm sure your paramour hasn't let you train much at all recently." He shrugged. "Call it a good excuse to get some air. I'm sure you need it."
"Very well." Mieko grumbled. Kaeya wasn't wrong. Albedo had been babying her more since returning to Mondstadt, especially after she got dizzy and nearly fainted. She was still upset about it happening, and Albedo treating her like she was fragile wasn't making it any better. "I'll talk to him…"
"A mission…?" Albedo was making a face, the sort of face that made Mieko worry. "But you… After the fainting spell…"
"Albedo. I'm not fragile. I keep telling you, all that happened was that I was dehydrated." She said, Albedo squeezing her hand. "Please? Jean usually doesn't ask for my help because of the shop. The fact that she's asking is clear proof that it's important." Albedo thought about it for a good while before sighing.
"I suppose…" He got up from his chair, walking over to her and leaning in to kiss her. "Just… Promise me. If you feel unwell, even if just a little, you'll let me know?"
"I will." She nodded, Albedo smiling softly at her. "I promise, Albedo."
"Good girl…" he leaned his forehead against hers, closing his eyes and resting there for a moment. She let him do so, closing her eyes as well. "Mie… My Mie…" He whispered under his breath, Mieko's heart fluttering as she felt his ungloved hand on her cheek, sliding behind her head to undo her hairclip. "May I?"
"You know I won't refuse you, Albedo." She smiled, keeping her eyes closed. "So long as it's you." He opened his eyes to look at her, then leaned in and kissed her forehead. Albedo wondered still how she trusted him so much, but his heart felt so light, hearing that from her.
"Then, forgive me for indulging so heavily." he smiled. "Keep your eyes closed, okay?"
The following day, they set out for the cave and began to explore it, Kaeya and Mieko in the lead, with Albedo and Jean following closely. Kaeya was bantering with Mieko along the way, and Albedo was getting jealous again thanks to his darling Mie laughing at Kaeya's statements every now and again. "You're always saying stuff like that."
"Of course. Your sour face needs to be smiling sometimes, or you'll look like some sort of demon. Maybe an exorcist will come at you." he teased, Mieko laughing again. Albedo kept walking with Jean, but even the Acting Grand Master could see that he was jealous.
"Albedo, don't worry. Kaeya has known Mie since before even I have. They're just friends. Kaeya has-" a deep rumbling stopped the group in their tracks, the four of them looking up at the ceiling to see the stalactites trembling, Mieko feeling something behind Kaeya and turning to help him block not 1, but 2 Geovishap Hatchlings.
"What the hell-?" Kaeya jumped back, Mieko following suit. "What are these doing all the way out here in Mondstadt?"
"Maybe this cave connects to Liyue?" Mieko said, looking over at Albedo and Jean also fighting one. "Crap, there's three?"
"This is bad, we need to regroup." Jean said, Albedo nodding in agreement. But as they were going to make their way over, a stalactite crashed down from the ceiling, causing more to begin falling. The hatchlings scattered, burrowing into the ground while the cave came down around the group. As the dust settled, Mieko felt someone over her. She looked up, seeing Kaeya protecting her. "Kaeya! Mie! Are you two alright?!" Jean called out.
"We're fine! How about you two?!" Kaeya replied.
"We're okay! But the path is blocked off!" It was an unfortunate truth, the path was jammed now, by fallen rocks and debris. They couldn't punch through, even Albedo's skill wasn't enough to lift anything out of the way. It was too heavy.
"We'll split up and we'll find a way out of here! You two go back to the entrance and see if you can find another way out somewhere from the outside!" Kaeya said. Albedo gripping his hand in a fist. He wanted to stay, but he couldn't get to Mieko like this.
"Albedo."
"Yes, Mie?"
"It'll be okay. I swear." She smiled. "I'll get out of here as fast as I can, okay? So wait for me?" Albedo took a deep breath and got up, dusting himself off. Hearing her talking to him was at least soothing, even though he wished he could get over to her.
"Only for you, my Mie." He replied. "Be safe... Kaeya. You had better not let anything happen to her."
"Oh, don't worry. I won't." He replied, helping Mieko to her feet before they went into the cave, searching now for a way out. "You two are sickeningly sweet." He teased, Mieko shaking her head.
"Don't be rude." she told him. "I'm not in any mood for that right now."
"Oh? So moody." He shrugged. "Not even a thank you for saving you?"
"You got hurt doing so." She retorted, turning to narrow her eyes at him. "I told you not to get hurt for me ever again."
"You getting hurt would've set off our Chief Alchemist." he chuckled. "But I should know better than to hide these things from you."
"I would've been fine explaining it away." She stated sternly. "The cave came down on us, it's a wonder we didn't all get trapped separately. And I would prefer to be the one who got hurt. My job doesn't require me to be up and about all the time."
"Always the big sister, ready to get hurt for someone else." He said, walking ahead of her. "That's a bad habit of yours, Mie. You don't owe anything to any of us just because Yuki isn't here anymore." This made Mie freeze mid-step. "She wouldn't want you getting hurt for her…" Mieko stood there as Kaeya kept walking, hands shaking a little.
"I know that…" She replied. "But I still… I want to keep everyone safe, but I know I'm not strong enough."
"You keep us safe in plenty of other ways." He replied. "You comfort us by letting us talk at you… You listen to what we say… You're considerate, and you protect our state of mind." He stopped walking, turning to her. "Even when I had a crush on you as a kid, you let me down gently." He grinned.
"Y-You remember that?" Mie asked, suddenly flustered. Kaeya laughed, nodding.
"Of course I do." He said. "It was just a stupid little puppy-dog crush, but you still were gentle about it." He grinned wider. "You're still my big sister, even if I'm taller now." he added, Mieko's eyes watering a little. "Hey, don't cry." He walked back over and ruffled her hair. "Albedo will kill me for real if you cry."
"Sh-shut up, he won't." She wiped her tears away. "You don't talk to me hardly ever, I thought you forgot about calling me big sis…"
"Nah. Just didn't wanna make it awkward, since Diluc stayed close to you." He shook his head. "Plus I didn't want to trigger you. When Yuki died, you were a mess." He added. "The kids around town that called you big sis always made you look like you would break down in tears." He added.
"Idiot, why do you notice that kind of stuff? G-go make out with your girlfriend or something, don't look at me." Mieko blubbered. Kaeya just kept his hand on her head, letting her try in vain to wipe all the tears away.
"You're the only one who ever gets to be big sis, you know. Even Yuki wasn't worthy of that title." He added, letting Mieko cry as much as she needed, keeping an eye out for monsters. Thankfully none came. When she finally calmed down, Kaeya gave her a moment to clean her glasses. "Ready to continue?"
"As I can be." She said, looking up at him. "Thanks, Kaeya."
"Thank me when your boyfriend takes you home." He grinned. "I'm sure he's going to be upset that his darling Mie was stuck with a hooligan like me." he chuckled. "He'll want to hoard you for a week."
"K-Kaeya, hush."
"Aww, embarrassed?" He laughed, walking with her through the cavern. "Save it for your boyfriend, big sis."
Hours later, Kaeya and Mieko finally found an exit. Kaeya helped her up first, following after her. "Wow, this is high up…" Mieko said, looking around. They were standing on a mountainside, Mieko looking around for landmarks. "Albedo would love the view from up here." She mumbled, Kaeya chuckling at her as he heard someone calling for her.
"Your prince charming is coming for you." He told her, making her look up at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Mie!" Mieko turned just in time to be grabbed by Albedo, her cheeks burning as she felt him bury his nose against her chest, nuzzling her as he hugged her tight. "Mie. Thank goodness."
"A-Albedo?"
"Mie! Kaeya!" Jean caught up with Albedo, looking exhausted. "Albedo, you're too fast…" She said, catching her breath. "Are you two alright?"
"Yes, we're fine." Kaeya said, chuckling. Mieko let herself pull Albedo closer, the ashy-blonde leaning into her arms.
"I'm sorry for worrying you…" She said softly, Albedo shaking his head.
"Are you hurt? Did you encounter more monsters?" He asked.
"No, thankfully not…" She replied, her heart fluttering as Albedo clung to her. "I… Missed you, Albedo."
"I missed you too." He looked up at her, smiling at her. She looked up at Jean, Albedo pouting a little but burying his face back against her chest.
"Jean, sorry… Guess the mission was a bust." She said.
"Actually, it wasn't." Jean smiled. "Albedo actually found the source of the information to be false, and we got the correct information."
"Oh?" She turned back to Albedo, petting his head. "Good job, Albedo, darling." She smiled happily at him, Albedo staring up at her and allowing her to do as she liked. He was reveling in her attention, enjoying every second of it. Kaeya and Jean headed out first, Albedo sitting down with Mieko and enjoying the scenery since he wanted to keep her to himself for a while longer. "The view from up here is amazing."
"Yes it is." Albedo replied, eyes not leaving her. When Mieko turned to him with a smile, he pulled her closer. "Mie…"
"Yes?"
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm doing surprisingly well." She chuckled, Albedo nodding and kissing her cheek. "I don't know what it is…" She added, holding his hand. "But I'm glad you came running for me, Albedo."
"Are you?" He nuzzled her. "I'm glad…"
((Albedo worrying about his darling? Of course. Does he understand why? Absolutely not.
-Winter Cheshire))