Mieko spent a few weeks with Albedo, keeping their engagement quiet and just spending their time together. Upon returning from his work one day, Albedo found Traveler talking to Mieko in front of Good Hunter. Traveler needed a place to stay the night, since the knight's headquarters was under renovation, so of course Mieko and Albedo offered them a room. "I don't want to intrude."
"It's fine. I'll be working through the night, I have an experiment that needs completing." Albedo stated. "And Mieko doesn't mind the company."
"Exactly. Since cooking for one is boring." Mieko smiled. "So. What would you two like for dinner?"
The next morning, Traveler walked into the kitchen, shocked to see the blue-haired woman already sitting there, drinking coffee.
"Oh, good morning Traveler." It was hardly even 6am and Mieko was already wide awake. "Did you sleep alright?"
"What are you doing up?"
"I'm not exactly the most sound of sleepers." She replied simply. "Want some coffee? Or tea, or juice?" She asked. "I also have some pastries if you like."
"Is Albedo not here...?" Traveler expected the woman's other half to be present, but he wasn't around. Surely he had come back at some point.
"He had something to do, so he left around 5." She yawned a little. "He said he would return soon." She sipped her coffee again as Traveler sat down.
"Sorry to bother you two, I'm sure having someone else in your house is odd."
"Hardly, Traveler." She chuckled. "Albedo and I don't mind the company. Besides. Now that I'm out of work after selling the shop, all I do day in and day out is either follow Albedo around or go help the Knights with work."
"Even so... It's not awkward to have someone else in your house?"
"If it were, we wouldn't have offered."
"Precisely." Both of them turned to see Albedo walking into the kitchen. "Sorry for leaving so early, Mie. I hope you got to sleep a bit more."
"Not really, but I'll be fine." She pet his head. "Sit and have some breakfast, Albedo. You and Traveler can talk. I have to go and drop something off to Koyuki." She kissed his cheek.
"Very well. Don't be long." He replied, smiling as she left the room. "Traveler."
"Yeah?"
"I know Mieko said you're welcome to stay. But she is very stressed after losing the shop."
"I noticed. Don't worry, I get the hint." Traveler replied. "I'll be out later today. I mostly stopped by to see how she was doing."
"Good." Albedo smiled. "She needs to rest."
"Is it not enough anymore? You sleeping next to her?"
"It hasn't been enough since she lost the shop." Albedo replied. "She's getting worse."
A month and a half later, Mieko had gone up to Dragonspine with Albedo, and was helping him gather Star Silver for his paint. "They've got to be here!" Mieko looked up when she heard the voices, turning when she heard Albedo step away.
"Oh, Traveler. Paimon. What a coincidence, seeing you here." She heard him say, picking up the pieces of Star Silver and heading their way.
"There you are! And where's Mieko?"
"Albedo, is that Traveler and Paimon?" Mieko asked, smiling as she carried the chunks of Star Silver, brushing her hair back with her free hand. "Hello, you two. What brings you up the mountain?"
"Timeaus sent us, because he said he didn't want to interrupt you two again. We left the bulky stuff back at the camp, like the blankets." Paimon said as she floated around and Traveler handed Albedo the important items from Timeaus.
"Blankets? Oh. Yes I do recall asking him to find me something warmer for my Mie." Albedo said as he took the wrapped parcel from Traveler's hand.
"Albedo, you made Timaeus do that? I could have gone back to Mondstadt for that myself." Mieko said, pouting a little.
"You need more rest. That is non-negotiable." He retorted.
"Non-negotiable, huh?" She sighed, giving him the side eye. "Oh, alright…"
"Is your condition still bad? Has the insomnia gotten worse? And what about the dizziness?" Paimon asked, floating closer to Mieko.
"I'm okay, Paimon, really. Being up here on Dragonspine seems to make me more at ease. Plus, I get to spend all my time with Albedo now that I'm not working in the shop. And if he has to go into the field, I can always just go and assist Jean with small errands." Mieko said, smiling a bit nervously.
"Well, if you say so…"
"I do, really Paimon. Thank you for your concern." She said, relieved that Paimon believed her for the moment. It wasn't exactly true, but she didn't want to cause any concern here. Albedo walked up behind her and took the Star Silver gently from her arm.
"Let's go back to camp, so we can treat you to a meal for bringing these things up the mountain for us." He said, Mieko feeling his hand on her back.
"Now you're talking!" Paimon cheered.
"Then I'll make dessert too." Mieko added.
"Alright!" They headed back towards Albedo's camp, Mieko walking and talking with Paimon while Albedo walked with Traveler. They were clearly talking, but Mieko didn't mind. She knew Albedo was probably informing Traveler about her condition worsening. Mieko got to work on the food and dessert, looking over at Paimon.
"So, Paimon. How have you been? Any stories to tell?"
"Not much. It's been the same old, same old for us." She said, making Mieko smile.
"Hmm, I see. Well, that happens sometimes, right? The calm before a storm." She smiled a little more.
"Hey, don't say it like that! You'll jinx us!" Paimon exclaimed, making Mieko chuckle.
"Sorry, sorry. I'll try not to." She said, finishing up her cooking. When she was done, she got up to go and fetch Albedo and Traveler, who were talking outside of camp. "Albedo. Traveler. Food's ready." She said, smiling at them. "Come and eat."
"Hurry up, if you want any!" Paimon chimed in, flying up next to Mieko. Traveler walked to join them, Mieko stepping aside as they walked in. Albedo stopped in front of Mieko.
"You aren't tired?"
"I'm alright." She said. Albedo made a bit of a face, shaking his head and turning away.
"I shall return shortly." He said brisket, Mieko watching him go. She sighed a little, feeling her heart ache. He was… Frustrated? Of course he was, he must have thought she was feigning being alright because they had company. She turned and walked back into camp, sitting down next to Traveler.
"Huh? Albedo isn't coming?" Paimon asked her.
"He's been doing that, when he gets upset… It's mostly because I can't stay focused, and he's having to watch over me more." She said, smiling as she served the food to them, not feeling hungry. She always lost her appetite when Albedo was frustrated with her.
"Watch over you more? What do you mean?" Paimon questioned as they ate.
"I'm not really… Doing as well as I let on." She said. "I put up a front because I'm trying not to worry anybody else, but…" Mieko sighed. "I'm sure everyone has seen through that already…" She looked over at Traveler. "Albedo told you weeks ago, didn't he?" She said, watching them nod in reply. "My condition is getting worse, clearly. And no one can pinpoint what's wrong with me… I'm causing Albedo so much stress, and I'm worrying everyone around me." She gripped her arm to steady her shaking hand. "I'm honestly terrified, because I feel like Albedo will find me to be a burden…"
"Mieko…" Traveler's eyes caught a small wisp of darkness over her shoulder. As they wondered what it was, Mieko spoke again.
"I just wish I could make it stop… I'm a disaster, I know I am… And Albedo keeps protecting me… I worried Diluc, Lisa, even Kaeya… I can't even work right now… I'm useless." Traveler dismissed her statement of being useless, telling her that someone would scold her. She knew Albedo was close by, he never went far. "Ah, you're right, but…"
"Mie."
"Yes, Albedo?" She turned her head, looking over her shoulder at him. His hand came to sit on her head, gently stroking her hair.
"You look tired." He said gently, clearly apologetic in his own way for walking away.
"You do too." She smiled in reply. "I'm sorry… You heard me, huh? I'll go and lay down…" She got up from her seat, bowing her head to Traveler and Paimon before heading to the corner where the sleeping space Albedo set up for her was, taking one of the blankets Traveler had brought with them along. Albedo was about to reach for her, but stopped and sat down.
"Thank you for talking to her."
"You don't have to thank me for that. She's my friend. You'd usually scold her if she's like that."
"I can't bring myself to scold her, not when she's like this. She's fragile right now." Albedo said softly.
"So you're just worried about her? She seemed terrified that you'd leave her behind." Paimon said.
"That fear has been progressing immensely. It's been especially intense since she lost the shop." He rested his head in his hands. "I can only watch her slip away… I haven't been able to find a single thing that helps." He was clearly very frustrated by his inability to assist the woman he had been in a relationship with for over 4 years.
"D-Don't worry, you'll figure it out!" Paimon said, concerned for the Chief Alchemist, not used to seeing him like this.
"Thank you for the sentiment… I can only keep trying… In the meantime, could I ask you a favor?" He looked up at them, doing his best to regain his composure.
"A favor? Sure. What kind of favor?" Albedo glanced over at Mieko laying down before turning back to Paimon and Traveler.
"If at all possible. Can you two take her somewhere tomorrow? If you aren't already occupied."
"Take her somewhere? Like where?"
"Anywhere is fine. I just need her to not be at home, and not here. I have something I'm working on, and I can't let her see." He stated simply.
"Ooh, sure. We can do that. Right, Traveler?" Paimon grinned. Traveler laid out some options, trying to lift Albedo's mood by joking about taking Mieko to Starsnatch Cliff, or Fish Blasting with Klee. Albedo was mildly exasperated, just enough to be noticeable.
"In any case, please just keep an eye on her for me." He said. Once Traveler got up and left the camp, Albedo looked over to Mieko, who sat up from her "sleep". "Did you manage to nap?"
"Not much…" She looked over at him. "I… I'll try and go back home… I don't want to bother you while you work."
"You wouldn't be."
"That isn't what it sounded like to me." She replied. They stared at each other before Mieko stood up. "I'll go back to the city."
"You aren't well."
"You're right… But I'm clearly burdening you, even if only emotionally." She stated.
"My emotional state is fine."
"Is it?" She asked him. "You're frustration is getting clearer by the day…" She said softly. "And you're clearly working on something that you don't want me to see… The surprise in your eyes tells me you thought I wouldn't notice because I haven't been at my best." She smiled again. Albedo wanted to retort, but nothing came out of his mouth when he opened it to speak. "I'm sure taking care of myself constantly is impeding your work. So…"
"... Very well. I shall return to the city tomorrow." He stated. Mieko nodded, walking past him and out of camp, heading down the mountain alone. Every step felt heavy, and her heart ached. Her hands felt like they were burning as she thought about even the remote possibility of Albedo being upset with her enough to show this level of frustration. Even though he said it wasn't her, it still hurt. It reminded her of her ex and the way things had been left.
"Mie you idiot." She cursed to herself quietly as she walked down the road, feeling a light rain start to fall. "See what happens, when you get too happy?" She scolded herself. "You went and upset him…" She took her time heading home, the rain picking up as she arrived near the outskirts of the city. "Ahh, calm down. You're overthinking it." She looked down at her hand, seeing the engagement ring on her finger. Tears started welling up as she headed home to Albedo's house, opening the door and locking it behind her. The thoughts were becoming overwhelming, and although she was able to tell herself they weren't true, the pain still radiated through her like if she had just received confirmation of the words being true.
Every thought hurt, every insecurity bubbled up, and she felt like she was going to drown in it. She did her best to calm down, going to take a warm shower to wash away the rain. Somehow it didn't help her feel any better, but at least she hoped it would stave off any chance of illness. She laid down on the bed and stared forlornly at Albedo's pillow, feeling the tears rising in her eyes again. "Albedo… I miss you." She whispered, gripping the blanket and closing her eyes. "I'm so sorry… For causing you distress…" She muttered to herself as she did what she could to silence the thoughts, and for the first time in years, the words she never thought she would say again left her lips. "This is my fault…"
((Sorry for the delay! Here's the new chapter! My brain felt a little soggy.
I hope yoiu're enjoying this story thus far, and please feel free to check out my instagram to see my event posts with pictures~
- The Wisterian Cheshire))