Mieko's birthday flew by, and the woman was right back at working again. Albedo was worried about her, but he also didn't stop her from doing what she felt was necessary. It was becoming harder and harder for her to pay shop rent, and she was fighting hard every day to make it work. Albedo didn't want to take that from her. But some days, he felt like he had to distract her, force her to sit and rest. It didn't usually work for long, but Albedo would exploit the fact that she listened to his requests and would turn up the charm to get her to agree. "You're terrible." She would tell him while smiling. "But I'll rest, just for you." However, her sleep schedule was deteriorating quickly. And one day, after one of the sleepless nights, someone came by to visit.
"Miiieeee!" A brunette with blue eyes ran into the workshop, nearly knocking Albedo down in the process before clinging to Mieko. The woman gave an exasperated sigh before petting the girl's head.
"Natalie. What are you doing here?"
"Let's go out, Mie!"
"Out where?"
"To fight some monsters!" Albedo was surprised that someone was asking his workaholic partner to hunt monsters, he was sure everyone else in Mondstat thought Mieko was just a shopkeep, save for the Knights of Favonious vision holders and Koyuki's family. Who was this girl?
"Introduce yourself to Albedo first, then. I'll go and change so we can go." She sighed, getting up from her chair before heading to change out of her workshop outfit. Albedo quirked an eyebrow at the brunette, who turned to him with a big grin on her face.
"Ohh, so you're the one Diluc told me about!" She smiled. "I'm Natalie, I've known Mie and Diluc since I was little." She grinned. "So, so. You're her partner? Her boyfriend?" she questioned, inquiring about how Albedo treated Mieko and stopping when the woman returned. "So, let's go!"
"Go where?" Mieko asked, seeming exasparated but not willing to let this girl go anywhere herself, much like how Jean treated Klee.
"I got a commission, so let's go to Brightcrown Canyon!"
"Goodness, you picked the most infested place." Mieko grumbled. "Did you introduce yourself?"
"I did, I did!"
"She did, Mie. Are you sure you're alright to go fight monsters in your condition?" Albedo asked her, knowing her stress was high and her sleep had been limited.
"I can't exactly turn Natalie down. Diluc will throw a fit." She replied simply, smiling. "Want to join us?" She asked.
"I haven't been there in a while. I will accompany you, to sketch the scenery." He said, smiling at her.
"Very well." She nodded. "Then let's go."
Upon arriving, Natalie went right to work and Mieko just hung back and let her hunt down her monsters by herself. "She was always clumsy when she was little, and I think it got worse when she got her vision." Mieko explained. "Diluc has always worried that she might impale herself on her sword if she isn't careful, so I got used to escorting her around on missions since her return from Liyue, and she got used to coming to ask me so Diluc wouldn't scold her."
"You must see her like a sister, the way you worry about her." Albedo pointed out.
"I do, I do." She nodded. "If Yuki had grown up… I think she and Natalie would've been good friends." She smiled a little sadly. Albedo understood now why she was so willing to stop everything she was doing for Natalie's request. He took her hand and squeezed it, making Mieko turn to him.
"I'm glad, that you have something other than work to do."
"Ah, have I been overdoing it?"
"I think you have. You clearly need a break from the shop."
"Hm… Very well. I'm sorry, if I've been causing you to worry." Mieko squeezed his hand back.
"You can make it up to me later."
"Hey. C'mon you two, over here!" Natalie waved from the top of the cliff. "I think I found a good one!"
"A good one, huh?" Mieko sighed. She began walking up the hill with Albedo. "Probably a big camp of Hilichurls…" as they arrived at the top, Natalie pointed at the camp, telling Mieko that they could attack from up here when Mieko froze, whipping around and blocking an attack from hitting Natalie, eyes wide. "Oh no…" A Pyro and Electro Abyss Mage appeared in front of them. "Of all the rotten timing…"
"We need to take care of the Electro first, the Pyro can wait." Albedo told her, the woman nodding. They fought as well as they could against the two enemies, but something was still bothering Mieko about this. It didn't feel right. As Albedo was thrown back and away from her, something caught his attention. "Mie, move!" She managed to side step a stray bolt of electro coming at her, glaring at the appearance of a tall being cloaked in purple.
"Another being of the Abyss…?"
"What a fascinating little specimen you are." It cooed, staring right at Mieko. It clearly held some interest, but why? "You fight so hard… Why don't you just go to sleep?" it asked. Natalie was occupied with the Pyro Abyss Mage, and Albedo with the electro one.
"You're not convincing me any more than a burglar breaking into my house telling me to sleep." She stated.
"How dreadful." The Abyss Lector laughed. "If you sleep long enough, you can go and see your best friend again. Wouldn't that be nice? Her name is Yuki, isn't it?" He asked, Albedo's eyes going wide when he heard the being say Yuki's name.
"Mie, don't listen to him!" the intrusive thought of losing her to the Abyss terrified him, a feeling that he was very unused to. But she simply stood there, listening to the Abyss Lector talk.
"What do you say, hmm?" The Abyss being asked after offering her the "sweetest dream" of being able to spend her days happily with her dearly departed friend.
"What do I say?" Mieko laughed, confusing the Lector. She looked up at it with a dark look on her face, her eyes strangely sharp and dangerous. "You don't think I hold onto Yuki's memory because I would give anything to see her, do you?" She slashed the Lector across the face, causing it to stumble. "How dare you say my dear sister's name, trying to bait me." She slammed the broad side of her weapon into the Lector's head, then stabbed her polearm through the Lector's robe. "Natalie. I believe Diluc will forgive us in this circumstance. Go ahead and do it." She activated her skill, causing dark, dangerous rainclouds to form above the beings of the abyss. Mieko took a few steps back from the Lector and walked over to Albedo as he flung the Electro Abyss mage towards the other enemy. Natalie grinned when she realized what Mieko meant and flung the Pyro Abyss mage, causing it to barrel into the other two. It began to rain heavily around the place Mieko's weapon was plunged into the ground, the circle of rain ending just short of Mieko, Albedo, and Natalie.
"Alright!" The brunette exclaimed, raising her hand to the sky. "Time for a Snow Day!"
"A… Snow Day?" Albedo asked, confused as Mieko took his hand. The sky grew darker and the air chilled. Little white things began to fall from the rainclouds at frightening speed. "Are those…?"
"Snowmen." Mieko smiled. "Natalie is one dangerous kid, when it comes down to it. But combined with my powers?" She chuckled. "It's much worse." the snowmen rained down on the Abyss Mages and the Lector, pummeling them. When it was over, the Lector stood up, ripping his robe from the weapon. The mages were long gone.
"You think that was enough to stop me?!"
"No." Mieko replied. "But this next one certainly might be." She smiled, a flash of orangey red slammed into the Lector. When the dust settled, there stood the red haired young master of the Dawn Winery. "Great shot, Diluc~"
"Mie." He sighed. "You can't always count on me to show up…"
"But I can when Natalie is involved." she smiled, the red haired man clearing his throat.
"Heyyy, Diluc you melted my snowmen!" Natalie exclaimed, hands on her hips and a pout adoring her young face. Diluc paused as he turned to the brunette, sighing as she pouted at him more.
"Is that what you imagine Yuki would have been like?" Albedo asked, Mieko nodding while holding his hand. "I see… What an interesting personality." He replied.
"Mie?" Albedo walked into the kitchen to see Mieko sitting on the kitchen counter again, staring down into her cup of tea. "Is something wrong? It's well after 1am."
"No… I just can't sleep again." She stated softly. "I'm alright…"
"You hardly seem alright." He stood in front of her, placing his hand on her thigh. "This is the 4th day in a row you couldn't sleep, isn't it?"
"I'm really okay, Albedo." She shook her head, placing her cup down. "Don't worry, I just-"
"Don't say another word." Albedo's finger came to rest on her lips. "Come along. Bed time." he helped her down off the counter and took her to her room. "I'll make you another potion, if it will help." he said as he sat down with her.
"I took the one you left for me… It didn't do anything." She replied, leaning on his shoulder. "You help me sleep far more than any potion… But even now, it's hard to rest, for some reason."
"Then, let me stay with you until you manage to fall asleep." he said, reaching to play with her hair. She was clearly exhausted, and Albedo was getting concerned again. "Since you won't sleep yet… Windblume is coming up, isn't it?"
"Yes. I'm hoping that perhaps I'll make some good sales." She replied. "Windblume is a big event… I can only hope it will be lucrative."
"I see… I… Wish you the best of luck with that."
"Hmm… You sound disappointed." She looked up at him from his shoulder, smiling. "Were you perhaps… Hoping to go together?"
"I was." He admitted, staring back at her before kissing her forehead. "But if you'll be busy, I don't want to bother you."
"It isn't a bother." She replied. "I will spend some time with you for at least 1 day." She added.
"That would be lovely… Thank you darling. Now, try and sleep." He had her lay down and pet her head, sitting at her side until she fell asleep finally. He sighed, staring down at her. "Mie… You keep pushing yourself so hard… Why won't you take a break?" He pondered, smiling a bit as she grumbled in her sleep. He sighed, staring at her for a while before laying down at her side, gently playing with her hair. "One day, perhaps, I will understand that behavior of yours, darling."
Mieko was practically running herself into the ground, and Albedo could see how tired she was. But she pushed through until the week before Windblume, and now he finally had her to himself for a short while. He took her to Dragonspine and kept her with him, the isolation from her shop finally allowing her to decompress a little. He knew her living above her workspace made it hard on her, because work was always on her mind. But this felt different. He took a deep breath as she laid there on his cot, continuing to work on his experiments with a potion brewing on the side for her. The urge to protect her only grew stronger with every passing day, every incident of her not feeling well or pushing herself. Albedo put a hand to his chest, taking a deep breath.
"Mie… What is it about you that makes me feel like this?" he asked, glancing back at her as she rested. He was becoming fearful for her health, for her state of being. "These feelings have grown so deep, Mieko… Can you explain them to me, one day?" He asked as she stirred, smiling as she sat up.
"Did you say something, Albedo?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Just musing to myself, my dear. Did you sleep well?"
"Mmm, for the short while I was asleep, I think so." She yawned. "It's almost dinner time, isn't it?"
"That it is." he nodded. "Are you craving anything in particular?" He asked, putting down his work.
"Honestly…? I'm not all that hungry. I'm hoping the smell of good food will work my appetite up." She admitted, tying her hair back up with the hair clip and ribbon Albedo had given her. "Did you want me to make Sunshine Sprat?"
"I don't mind cooking."
"I mind, you've been babying me since I got here." She said, eyeing him from her seat.
"Perceptive as ever, darling." He chuckled. "I'm concerned for your health. Your lack of sleep worries me. It's been getting worse."
"I… I know." She sighed, looking up at him as he walked over to her. She pulled him gently by the hand to sit in her lap and leaned her forehead against his shoulder. "Since that fight with the Abyss Lector, I've been sleeping less and less." She nuzzled him as he moved to wrap his arms around her. "It's bothering me… The way it called me a specimen… And the way it talked like it knew me and my past…" she clung to his shirt, releasing a held breath as Albedo rubbed her back. "It doesn't feel right, Albedo."
"What does it feel like, Mie?" he asked. "Can you verbalize the feeling at all? Explain to me the closest thing it reminds you of?"
"I can't tell…" she shook her head. "It just feels bad…" she said softly. "I… I just feel strange… It feels kind of like when…" she paused. "Oh… It's… Similar to the day before Yuki died…" she said softly. "That's the closest thing I have to compare to…" she added to Albedo.
"I see… Well, I'll do my best to stay at your side, so you don't have to worry."
"I… Alright…" she nodded, not denying his assistance and company. "I don't know what the feeling is linked to, but hopefully it at least settles my nerves." she smiled a little, hugging him back. "For now…" she kissed him. "I think having you right here is helping more than anything else…"
"Then, let's enjoy a light dinner and the evening air." Albedo smiled back at her. "Then you can take what you need from me, my Mie."
Mieko always had trouble falling asleep, but somehow the way Albedo would slide his hand into her shirt and gently rub the small of her back was so soothing to her. She felt so safe when he wrapped his arms around her that it usually lulled her right to sleep. She would nuzzle into his shoulder or the crook of his neck, depending on how he was holding her. Albedo would plant soft kisses to her forehead or the top of her head, and hold her tight. "Goodnight, Mie, darling." He would whisper as she began to fade. Mieko knew that now, there was no one else for her. Albedo was her one and only, as long as he wanted her. But even then, a little voice inside her head told her that wouldn't be enough. That not even Albedo could save her from what was coming, even though she had no idea what that thing was. She sighed, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.
"Yuki! Yuki!" Mieko sighed, opening her eyes. Again with the nightmare about Yuki dying. This happened often enough, but recently it had been getting louder, more painful. She watched as her younger self cried over losing her sister, her best friend. But then something changed. Mieko looked up to see Yuki's parents and brother staring at her. She steeled her nerves as they opened their mouths to speak.
"You're the reason Yuki died."
"That's a lie." Mieko muttered.
"You killed our daughter!"
"A lie." She repeated.
"That damn vision of yours, why didn't you die instead?!" Mieko shook her head, shaking a little.
"I don't know." She replied honestly. "It was my fault…"
"It wasn't." Mieko paused, turning to hear a very familiar voice. "Big Sis, cmon, don't cry." She couldn't see who was talking, but she felt a hand on hers. "I'd never blame you, Mie."
((Mie struggling with her nightmares. Have you ever experienced a recurring nightmare that just got worse and worse with every iteration? It's quite awful.
-Winter Cheshire))