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Alchemy was an art lost between the centuries by the time Albedo appeared, Cecilia flower in hand and eyes shining like Shivada jade gemstones.
To say that it had been like being reborn from the ashes was not an exaggeration and at this point Sucrose doesn’t remember well what life was like without Albedo's critical comments on her works when she needed it or the kind words he blurted out when she once again concluded an investigation earlier, just to start with another.
Talking to people had always been difficult, mostly because she didn't know how they could react and she was afraid of offending someone or sounding rude. With Albedo, on the other hand, it was incredibly different. The insatiable curiosity of both met in a middle ground and it was impossible that time itself didn’t get lost in the hours that they could spend talking without getting tired. It was fun and instructive at the same time, she learned a lot from him and although Albedo told her that he also learned from her, Sucrose was not sure of what exactly he learned.
She must have noticed it then; the natural course she was letting herself go.
As an alchemist, Sucrose has always been very interested in the pursuit of truth.
The truth. That, which undoubtedly and irrefutably exists on the same plane as her, perhaps oblivious to reactions when meeting, but which is essential for her to live, to separate the fantasies and paradises from her head with what reality is and what propels her to do her ideas, part of the truth.
Beyond lost paradises or fantasies created by herself, Sucrose does not question the truth.
But the truth in this case, however, is that she likes Albedo very much.
… And she must have known, the moment he called her alone on the outskirts of Mondstadt, that a genius like him would be the first one to notice.
"Mr. Albedo... How much longer will we have to walk?"
Not that it bothered her, at all. Sucrose had well enough stamina to keep walking and the will to follow him to the farthest corners of Teyvat. Despite that, the starry night along with the tiny lights of the fireflies surrounding them, made her feel like they are traveling through space completely alone.
It's too much for her poor heart.
"It won't be long ..."
Turning around to check her condition, bright light blue examined her golden eyes and Sucrose could see the sign of longing that was visible in them. She knew exactly what he wanted to say, Albedo always wanted her to call him solely by name.
... But if she renounced this little formality that bounded her, then she would fear that the respect and admiration she feels for him will become something more noticeable in their interactions. She would not dare to leave the sphere of acceptability that unites them as alchemists for something that she well knows, could not be.
Her mentor's steps stop and even though she knows they are the same age, when the lights of her hometown shine below him and make his figure conspicuous, Albedo feels incredibly far away.
"Do you have something to say, Sucrose?"
Unsure of what he might be talking about, she walks over to stand next to him. Her eyes widen when she looks down, from here one can see the giant statue of Archon Anemo in all its splendor, behind this the cathedral with its lights and in the height, the windmills are free from the castle wall of stone that surrounds them. The nerves that have accompanied her on the way dissipate as she marvels at what it really is, the city of freedom.
"Mondstadt’s view is beautiful, Mr. Albedo."
She doesn't want to take her eyes off the landscape, but the small laugh of the man next to her forces her to.
Ash blonde hair in a ponytail moving to the rhythm that his shoulders do when he laughs and at the end, a subtle affection on his face directed towards her. As with the city, it is impossible for Sucrose not to marvel at the view.
"I didn't mean that." Giving her a familiar look, the one Albedo gives every time he wants her to tell him the answers to something correctly. Her mind tries to connect some point that she may have passed to answer, but really, she has no idea what it is that he wants her to say. "... Well, if you are not going to do it, I feel obliged to teach you as your mentor"
There is stardust running through her veins, one of the first lessons he had ever taught her. Per se, it’s already difficult for her not to think about the explosion that could be formed by joining with his touch, starting perhaps with her pinkie intertwined with Albedo's. But even that sweet thought doesn't prepare her for when his hand gently takes hers, and she can feel entire galaxies forming and burning on her skin when his fingers - which are rough from so much brushless painting from time to time and the ash he handles when doing alchemy - make their own chalk path along her palm, until meeting with her fingertips and sliding next to them to hold her hand.
Sucrose's face is burning and equally, this is the first time she has seen Albedo so embarrassed and determined at the same time.
“Another lesson especially for you, when you have feelings for someone else, you should tell them. No exceptions.” With great care, Sucrose closed her fingers to hold Albedo's hand just like him. The happy smile on his face when she did, almost sent her heart flying along with anemo slimes up in the sky. “I really like you, Sucrose. I honestly think it's more than just like, but maybe it's too early to tell you that now."
She feels her eyes watering at the scene. Something that she always thought could not be more than a fantasy, was now part of reality.
She wanted ... No, she needed to tell him.
"I-I feel the same way, Mr. Albedo."
Always doing what he wants, Albedo brought his hold on her to his lips to briefly place a subtle kiss on the back of Sucrose's hand. Before she could scold him for such an action, he tugged on her hand so that her weight fell almost gracefully into his arms.
"If it really is so, Sucrose, you could start by calling me without formalities"
She missed his hand the moment he released her, but the hug he gave her instead was enough to make her forget it. Fireflies all around them, the scent of chalk that is so familiar to her that it’s even comforting, Sucrose can't help the tiny tears that slide down her cheeks as he strokes her hair.
"So be it then... Albedo"
She felt that she could die this very instant, but if she was unable to finish her pursuit of truth, that would be a very sad outcome.
And the truth is that, in Albedo's arms, Sucrose is very happy right now.