I've decided to reanimate this dead account. I'm doing it before I'm going to think it's not the best idea. Also want to compare Wattpad and AO3. You know, algorithms vs no algorithms. Nick on AO3: MervArdent.

The fic? You know, Aether has a braid... Albedo has braids... It would be a pity not to take advantage of it, it's as simple as that.

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Dragonspine was cold and dangerous. An obviously obvious statement. And yet, Aether this one time underestimated it a little. A few snowflakes falling from the sky surprisingly fast transformed into a snowstorm which kept getting stronger and stronger.

"P-Paimon doesn't want to become a flying icicle."

Even though she was right next to him, Aether could barely hear her through the storm.

"Well, technically speaking, at this moment, you're not flying."

"An unremarkable detail," answered Paimon from under Aether's coat. The wind would blow her away if she tried to go on her own. "Are we near?"

"I think so, it's hard to notice anything."

To be honest, he had no idea where they were. All he could see was the whitest whiteness possible, with occasional spots of gray. Was he even walking in one direction, or just kept going round in circles?

Then he noticed something green. It was the weirdest possible color in a place like this, and the most beautiful one at the same time. A whole wall of green! He sped up.

Up close, Aether noticed that said green wall was in fact a densely growing ivy. He could think of only one reason why it was here: someone made it. And he knew someone incredibly good at alchemy who was his only hope in this situation.

"Albedo? Albedo, are you there?"

Silence.

One.

Two.

Three.

"Al-"

"Come in."

Aether carefully pushed the ivy aside and stepped in. The camp looked exactly like always, except the fact it was now cut off from the world. Even though he could still hear the wind, it was much calmer inside.

"It isn't wise to stay in the mountains during such weather." Albedo stood with his back to Aether, looking at two bottles with unidentified contents. Probably he was in the middle of some experiment, like always.

"I could say the same about you."

"But you would be in trouble if I wasn't here, wouldn't you?"

"I don't deny that."

"Look, maybe that's the reason I'm here – to save the lost wanderers?"

"Both of us know it's pretty unlikely."

Aether couldn't see his face, but he's got the feeling Albedo smiled, at least a little.

"Sit down. I'll be done with it soon. You're freezing, I assume."

"And you're right!" Paimon got out from under Aether's coat and flew closer to the fire. „It's a true nightmare outside, NIGHT-MARE."

Nothing was said since then for some time. Tired, Paimon fell asleep on Aether's lap while he was silently watching precise, smooth movements of Albedo. Sometimes he muttered something under his breath. He was in his own world right now, and Aether definitely didn't want to be the one who will get him out of it. It was weirdly relaxing to watch him like this. Finally, the alchemist turned around.

"Done. What are you doing on Dragonspine right now, again?"

"Just a commission."

"Just a commission isn't worth your life."

"The weather was nice most of the time. It got worse after we started going back."

I see." Albedo sat down next to Aether. „Why are you still wearing the hood?"

"Ah, I've completely forgotten!"

The moment Aether took off his hood, Albedo smirked.

"Your hair is a complete mess."

"Well, it was a hard day for them."

"Yes, indeed."

A bit of awkward silence. Crackling fire. Wind noise. Dim light.

"Let me braid your hair."

"Huh?"

"Just like you said: it was a hard day for them. They deserve some love."

"Y-yeah, sure."

Aether let his hair down and turned to Albedo. After a moment, he felt a delicate touch on his head. He shuddered slightly. It was this a little weird yet pleasant feeling when someone was brushing your hair. Kind of electrifying and relaxing. Suddenly a second felt like an hour.

"You have really long hair. I don't notice it so much when you have them in a braid."

Aether didn't know what to say, so he was just sitting still.

"It has to be kinda troubling to take care of them, isn't it?"

"Well, yes, sometimes. To be honest, there was... someone who always was helping me with braiding my hair because it takes me so long to do it myself."

A few seconds of silence.

"Your sister, right?"

"...Yeah."

Thoughts of Aether gone very far away. Even he didn't know exactly where. To the time when they were travelling together? To their first meeting in Teyvat? To the Abyss? What was she doing right now? Was Enjou with her? Was she safe? Why didn't she want to be together with his brother, just like in good old times?

"Don't slouch." Aether would probably have thought up a thousand more questions, but Albedo made him come back to the camp.

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize."

Albedo was slowly finishing his hair. Aether didn't know why, but he got the feeling the alchemist was deliberately taking his time with it.

"You know, my master gave me... a rather weird goal. But there must be a reason why, isn't it? Sometimes we simply cannot develop when we stay forever with the same person. Just as flowers, we need time to grow."

Aether smiled.

"Kinda poetic."

"Maybe." Albedo moved away. Aether immediately felt emptiness. "I finished."

"Thank you."

"No problem."

"No, not for this! I mean... also for this! But for your words, too."

„No problem, I said."

They sat just as before, but now it was more awkward. Out of nowhere, the silence was broken by Paimon's snoring. They both burst out laughing.

"W-well... Now... Let me braid your hair," said Aether without looking at Albedo.

"But they're perfectly fine."

"As a thank you!"

"You already thanked me a moment ago."

Aether sighed in frustration.

"Why do need to make everything so complicated, Albedo?"

He smiled. He must have smiled!

"Okay, if you insist so much..."

"I insist."

The roles changed. Aether mentally pleaded his hands not to tremble so much. It was normal. Perfectly normal. Nice and normal. Something all friends do.

Albedo looked up at the ivy. The snowstorm continued. It should be midnight by now.

"It looks like you will have to stay here till the morning."

"Yes, sorry about that."

"No problem." Albedo turned to face Aether. He hesitated about something.

"Hey, I didn't fini-"

He came closer. And closer. And then their faces were as close to each other as possible.

Snow. Wind. Dancing shadows. Perfect silence.