Work Text:
Nod Krai is no less strange than Mondstat's streets. He supposes he wasn't given enough time to really imprint them into his brain, burn the scent of dandelion seeds and camelias into his nostrils, or trace the cobbled paths into his hands.
Or perhaps Mondstat was never his. Albedo is wonderful, but confusing on such topics. When Durin asks him, he always responds in some odd manner.
"Wherever you think your place is, you're free to go."
"This home is always welcome to you."
"Only you can decide, but they say to follow your heart."
Other times, he will simply look at Durin, his sky blue eyes devouring all words lingering on Durin's tongue. In the books Albedo keeps stored on his walls, they talk of densely populated rainforests, towering mechanical beings, and desolate island storms. Each feels as fantastical and distant from the last. He thought the wonderland he once came from was strange and unusual, but the world beyond the fairyland makes him long for something familiar. Like a home.
If his place with Albedo is not a home, then where is?
He's elected to push the thought to the back of his mind for now. Now as he strides through Nod-Krai's purplish grass, he catches a glimpse of brilliant blonde hair. It's the Traveler, flanked always by the elvish fairy Paimon and another stranger with white hair, though there are streaks of black seeping into the strands as it falls behind their back, tied securely.
Almost immediately Durin shrinks behind Albedo. Even with a familiar face like the Traveler, he still quails at the sight of strangers; especially one with an aura like theirs. But it's also been so long since they met in the fairyland, Durin wonders if the Traveler has forgotten.
The Traveler converses with Flins while the stranger, a lady with a refined face Durin notes, heads inside the hideout. Then Albedo gives his greetings and Durin knows by now that social conventions expect him to join the conversation soon. The Traveler's eyes flick over to his hidden figure, not hidden for long as Albedo steps to the side.
"Hello, Traveler," Durin starts, one hand pressed over his chest. "Do you... still remember me?"
Was he wrong? Did he interrupt something, or speak out of line? The Traveler's eyes narrow as they examine him. Durin stands there awkwardly, his gaze moving inch by inch until he finds Albedo, silently asking for help. The dots connected eventually as something clicked in the Traveler's mind.
"Nice to meet you, Durin." The Traveler extends their hand out to him. Paimon on the other hand, squeals excitedly and flies over his head, darting around his figure with a quickness he finds hard to keep up with.
"You're so cute! Aw, and you have horns, just like back then! Do you have wings too?" Durin feels his face heat up with the sheer enthusiasm of Paimon's questions, and he backs up involuntarily. Just as quickly as she had flown over, Paimon returned to the Traveler's side, attention now directed to Albedo.
"How did you two end up in Nod-Krai?"
Albedo quickly explained Varka's calls and the reason for their departure. Durin shuffled over to them after a while, waiting when it suddenly struck him: he forgot to shake the Traveler's hand. They had given it out, and he practically ignored it- Albedo's multiple lessons in greetings and other basic gestures tossed out the window in the heat of the moment. Durin glanced at them through the corner of his eye.
The Traveler seemed unbothered, exchanging words with Albedo smoothly before gesturing for them to enter the hideout as well. Durin watched their every movement, jotting down the motions in his mind. He'd pictured the Traveler as a fiery, outspoken figure, the kind that turned a room on its head. In reality they seemed more reticent, of few words and fewer expressions. He supposed Paimon did enough talking for the both of them. That hair was still unmistakable, and the manner in which they carried themselves almost otherworldly. It must come with the territory of being multi-nationally famous.
The buzz of fighting a nation level threat had not worn off yet. Varka was pushing some heavy praise onto Albedo, who was deflecting it without much issue on Durin. He'd tried to deny it, remembering his mantra of "Stay humble. Stay nice. Stay helpful", but Varka's energy eventually proved too much for him. He tensed around the arm Albedo placed on his shoulder, but it did nothing more than pat him reassuringly two or three times.
Durin wondered how much longer this party would last until his attention was drawn by the soft clicking of heels along the wooden boards of the bar. The Traveler and their ever present companion had joined them, standing over the table.
"Honorary Knight! So glad you could join us," Varka cheered, one hand outstretched welcomely. He directed it toward Albedo and Durin, the former looking nonplussed and the latter shrinking back slightly at being pushed onstage again. Although, Durin thought in the safety of his own mind, at least it was just the two of them.
"The redirection was a marvelous effort," the Traveler spoke, words directed toward Albedo. "How was it pulled off?"
Albedo looked to Durin. "The channeler is here," he said smoothly, pushing Durin out with his arm. "His affinity with Abyssal energy is one of a kind. He was one half of the solution."
"Really?" The Traveler's tone of voice made Durin raise his head and look at the Traveler's face. He smiled, though he couldn't help the shiver that ran through his spine. Their eyes, nearly slits, evened out with a matching formal smile. "That's an amazing ability to have. We're lucky to have you."
"Exactly what I've been saying! But he was hesitant to even start," Varka chimed in, his hearty laugh echoing in the tavern. The Traveler gave a small smile, Paimon cheerfully agreeing beside them.
They soon turned and walked away, drifting to another table to talk to the others that participated in the effort. Durin felt Albedo's arm slide off his shoulder and away and reflexively turned to look at him.
"Do you want to stay behind and talk to anyone else? I have something I need to do elsewhere." Albedo's gentle tone soothed him, making Durin release a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"I think..." His eyes trailed over to where the Traveler was wrapping up conversation with the enigmatic Sumerian woman Nefer.
Albedo followed his gaze, the corners of his mouth twitching up into a knowing smile. "I see. I'll leave you to it. You know where to find me?"
"Yes." Durin watched Albedo's retreating back with a sense of unease. Not that he felt wary around the Traveler, with the amount of people left in the bar rapidly diminishing, but he rarely handled conversations alone. Albedo's lab was perfectly isolated from most and Durin hadn't ventured out much.
But the Traveler was someone familiar. He could handle this.
"Hello, Durin. You stayed behind?" The brilliance of their eyes caught him slightly off guard as the Traveler walked over to his side. Durin pulled his arms close to himself, averting his gaze before he replied.
"I was just wanted to know if you're okay. That battle was rough... And you were mostly in the front of it all," he got out, hoping his meaning got across. Words had a hard time conveying exactly what he felt. Albedo would give him tips sometimes, but he picked them up with the gracefulness of a newborn pony.
"Oh.. that's sweet of you. I think I could say the same for you. Without your help, it might have been an entirely different outcome." The Traveler wore a soft smile, one that disappeared as quickly as it came. Their eyes glittered with something Durin couldn't identify as they seemed to stare past his right shoulder at something.
"Rubedo... Is that your title?" They mused softly, so low that Durin wouldn't have caught it if they weren't standing so close to him. He opened his mouth, but the Traveler's expression was immobile, as if they were talking to no one in particular.
"Well, Rubedo makes it sound like you're Albedo's twin." The Traveler gave him a small smirk, eyes finally returning to his. Their tired expression leaked out a sense of warmth as one hand reached up and awkwardly ruffled his hair. "I think Durin fits you much better."
"No one calls me Rubedo anyway," Durin said after a while, looking at the hand forlornly as it retreated from his head. They both stood there in silence, the conversation having spluttered and died.
"Get a good rest Durin," The Traveler broke the silence. "It's been a long day." Durin watched as they turned and plodded down the inn's hallway, a half formed 'goodnight' on his lips. The sound of a door opening and closing snapped him out of his stupor.
He realized he was alone in the bar and a strike of awkwardness hurried his footsteps to the door. It hit him as he left the tavern that he had missed it again, the ritual of greetings and partings, and with the same person as well. He'd get it right someday.