Work Text:
"M-Mister Albedo?"
"Yes, Sucrose?"
Sucrose opened her mouth but was unable to fumble out the words she wanted to say.
After a few seconds of nothing, Albedo tore his attention away from his clipboard to meet her gaze. "Is something the matter, Sucrose?"
"No!" Sucrose flinched, "N-Nothing's wrong, Mister Albedo! ...I-I just-"
She paused again, her hand nervously adjusting her glasses as she saw him wait ever so patiently, the gentleness in his eyes gradually calming her down. "Actually, never mind. I-It's a little stupid..."
"Well, I certainly don't think it's meaningless if it has you looking so distressed," Albedo said and pressed down the end of his pen, "Are you feeling unwell? I can send you-"
"I was wondering if we could have dinner together!" Sucrose quickly spluttered out, her cheeks blazing already, "A-At Good Hunter? We... We didn't bring a lot up here and I sort of haven't eaten anything since..." She blinked and meekly checked the time, "S-Since this morning..."
Albedo just stared at her, his usual calm demeanour being washed over with concern. "Sucrose, you know I don't mind when you take the time off for a lunch break."
"Of course, Sir. I do know that but I was so excited about our new experiment th-that I hadn't noticed the time," Sucrose rubbed her arm, a sheepish laugh passing her lips, "B-But I also noticed that you haven't eaten either and I wanted to at least... t-treat us."
Her stomach growled a second later, causing the apprentice to yelp and clutch her arms around her waist as she looked at her mentor pleadingly.
Albedo's composure softened, his head shaking. "Everyone in Mondstadt calls you a Harmless Sweetie and while that is true, I'd like to think of you being more of a Stubborn Sweetie," he said, standing up from his desk whilst his assistant sent him another embarrassed smile at his comment, "I wouldn't mind some dinner at Good Hunter. However, I'd like to pay the bill instead."
"W-What?!" Sucrose immediately began shaking her hands, "But Mister Albedo-"
"I insist, Sucrose," Albedo cut in gently, a small smile etching his face as he listened to his assistant's adorable ramble, "Think of it as a well done for your hard work. I couldn't have achieved any of this without your help."
It was true and he made sure to drag out every word again to emphasise that he meant it.
Subconsciously, his hand moved forward to the top of her head but he stopped himself when Sucrose's eyes widened at him, pondering at what he was doing. Despite his usual self, Albedo found that he was hesitating and was about to pull his hand back until Sucrose leaned up to it, her cheeks blooming and her eyes closed.
Albedo couldn't help but stifle out a chuckle, his hand petting her hair before they slowly moved down to pet her ears.
Sucrose looked at him, her lips quivering shut- resisting the urge to purr.
Their gazes lingered on to one another.
And neither alchemist said a word.
Albedo wasn't quite sure what to label them yet. Of course, he was the Chief Alchemist and Sucrose was his assistant, but lately... The both of them had gotten much closer and not just under professional circumstances either.
He was curious at first, realising he would be staring at her absentmindedly whenever she was focused on her work. He thought nothing much of it... Until he found himself secretly doodling small sketches of her on his clipboard.
He didn't try and shake off the feeling at all, letting it stay. It eventually caused Sucrose to notice earlier than he would've liked, yet he wasn't surprised. While she could be very clumsy with a few things, she had a very keen eye that he couldn't help but silently admire.
The Kreideprinz didn't know whether she felt the same way, or wanted to for that matter.
However, one curious kiss turned into another and another and another...
There was some touching- lots of hand holding but those were only confined within the tiny space of their lab. Back in the streets of Mondstadt, it did not occur and they restrained themselves quite well.
Albedo was patient with Sucrose, always had been and always would be. It was all new to her as it was for him. A new... Experiment, he would like to think.
They were slow and tentative. Reassuring the other if this was okay and if that was okay. While the Harmless Sweetie would find herself so flustered, Albedo enjoyed every second of it.
He liked getting to know her more outside of work. He loved watching her speak mindless chatter about something that wasn't alchemy related, she'd catch him staring off for too long though which she'd stammer out an adorable 'M-Mister Albedo!'.
He'd correct her then, telling her to just call him-
"A-Albedo?"
Albedo snapped back into the present, noticing his hand had been pressing upon the side of Sucrose's face. "Oh, I apologise. I did not mean to space out," he pulled back and cleared his throat, "Shall we get going then?"
"Y-Yes, of course!" Sucrose adjusted her glasses again and put away her papers, the slight bounce in her steps towards her desk not going unnoticed by the male as he watched her.
"Sucrose?"
She quickly turned to him. "Hm?"
Albedo stepped forward and took hold of her gloved hand, his lips brushing past the tip of her fingers as a quiet squeak erupted from her. His smile, almost smug but unnerving and calm, grazed his features as he intertwined their hands together. "Is this okay?"
Sucrose looked down, her face red. She peeked back up at him and nodded, her own smile shaping her lips.
"Yes."