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"From Albedo?"
Lumine reads the document containing the commission details carefully and is surprised to see that it is from none other than the chief alchemist of Mondstadt, Albedo... who also happens to be her lover.
Katheryne nods to the visibly confused girl. "He specified that he wants only you to do this commission," she explains. "He didn't specify what exactly it is that he needs from you though. But perhaps you have an idea?"
Lumine doesn't. Unless it's another experiment revolving around her being an outlander? But he's already concluded many, many months ago that she is no different from anyone in Mondstadt...
Maybe babysit Klee? It's no secret that Albedo's energetic little sister loves Lumine and always wants to play with her. For her part, the traveler loves the pyro vision user just as much. But Klee is stuck in solitary confinement at the moment in the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, and Albedo specified in the request that he wants to meet her in Dragonspine.
Well, standing here won't explain anything. She might as well go up to the snowy mountains and hear him out. It's been a week since she dropped by to see him anyway. She can’t deny that she misses him.
"I honestly have no idea, but I'll accept the commission anyway. Thank you, Katheryne," Lumine replies, a polite smile gracing her angelic features. Before she could walk away, she hears Katheryne call out to her. She turns around and sees the receptionist holding a package. "I forgot! Mr. Kreideprinz said to hand these to you should you accept the commission."
Katheryne gives the golden-eyed girl a knowing smile, eliciting a pastel pink color to dust her cheeks. Lumine opens the neatly wrapped package and sees a beautifully knitted red yellow scarf. She feels her lips pulling into a goofy smile.
Albedo is just too sweet, she thinks.
Lumine thanks Katheryne once again before she sets off to Dragonspine, wrapping the scarf around her neck.
Lumine arrives at the alchemist's campsite and finds that Albedo is currently absent from his usual spot.
"He's probably out looking for materials," Lumine mumbles to no one in particular. Deciding to wait for him, she sits herself on one of the chairs near the campfire and adjusts her new scarf. She smiles to herself, feeling warm from both her new accessory and the tenderness in the way Albedo treats her, even when they aren't together.
I should have brought him a gift.
Lumine stands up and thinks quickly. What could she do for him? Oh, how about...
With a determined look on her face, Lumine quickly takes out her supplies and starts cooking. "I hope he's hungry when he comes back..."
Albedo finds himself smiling when he spots Lumine's golden at the campsite. His steps hasten and oddly feel lighter despite the thick snow beneath his boots. Somehow, just the thought of Lumine waiting for him by the glow of the campfire is enough to provide him with newfound strength.
When he finally arrives at the entrance of the site, Lumine's back is still turned to him. His heart soars upon realising that she is wearing the scarf he got her. She is humming an unfamiliar song... and is setting plates on the table?
"Lumine."
The girl turns around in surprise, her golden eyes wide as she looks to find the source of the voice. The way her surprise melts away into a genuine, warm smile when she sees him takes the alchemist's breath away.
"Albedo! You're back! Come, come!"
Lumine runs towards Albedo, dusts off the snow off his coat, and grabs his hand, dragging him to the table. "I made us tea break pancakes," she says, pride evident in her voice. He scans the table and finds that two servings of perfect-looking tea break pancakes had been laid out, obviously one serving for each of them. "Paimon is not present today?"
"Nah, she was tired from the commission I took earlier today so she told me she'd stay and sleep at the room Acting Grand Master Jean gave us during my visit. I left her a lot of food to eat for when she wakes up, so don’t worry about her. These pancakes are just for us."
Albedo smiles and wraps his arms around the girl. Lumine's heart hammers against her chest - she still isn't used to her lover’s sudden affectionate actions - but she reciprocates and closes her eyes, breathing in his scent. Despite being in the snowy mountains, he still smells like Cecilias.
Cecilias are starting to become Lumine's favorite flower.
"Thank you," Albedo whispers, his warm breath close to Lumine's ear sending a shiver down her spine. They pull away and he is pleased to see a delicate blush gracing the beautiful traveler's cheeks. She looks up at him and smiles. "This is nothing, silly. Thank you for the scarf too. It's so beautiful."
Albedo strokes Lumine's cheek, flashing him a charming smile. "It is beautiful indeed; especially because I chose that scarf for its resemblance to its recipient. However, nothing nor anyone can ever be as beautiful as you, princess,” he says with all the sincerity in the world. He chuckles upon seeing the girl’s face flush red and her sweet, shy gaze. She turns away from him with a huff. “Sheesh. Let’s just shut up and eat, okay, Prince Charming?”
Albedo smirks at the title, but doesn’t tease her any more than he already had. He takes a seat beside the lovely traveler and takes in the scent of the pancakes laid in front of him. She watches him take the first bite, anticipation sparkling in her eyes. She is biting her lower lip. So cute.
It’s sweet, but not too sweet; just the way he loves his desserts. He finds that it’s the second perfect meal to have to energize him after searching for materials in the snowy mountains.
The number one perfect meal is none other than his lover of course, he thinks.
Speaking of his lover, Lumine looks like she’s about to burst, waiting for his reaction. Albedo finally indulges her. “It’s delicious, Lumine,” he says with a smile that grows wider when her lips break into a happy grin. “Ah, I’m glad! Noelle taught me how to make them just right, you know? It’s not as amazing as how she makes them, but Paimon always told me that it’s super close -”
Albedo’s lips pressing onto Lumine’s cuts her off, earning him a soft squeak. The alchemist closes his eyes, relishing in her taste. The pancakes she made were sweet and delicious, but her taste remains to be the most exquisite. Kissing her is like indulging in the most sinfully addictive chocolate cake, and Albedo always finds that one taste is never enough. He pulls away for breath and smiles at the lovely sight of Lumine’s flushed face and her hazy golden eyes. “A-Albedo…” she stammers, flustered. Before she could say any more, he pulls her close to him and presses his lips onto hers once again.
The kiss this time is deeper; something within the alchemist purrs in delight when he hears her give out a soft moan. She wraps her arms around his neck, pressing her lithe body against his even closer than before. He swipes his tongue across her bottom lip, and he’s pleased when Lumine responds by parting her lips, allowing him to enter.
Lumine shivers in her lover’s arms despite the mingling of their body heat and the glow of the campfire. She gasps when he pulls away to nibble her earlobe. His lips are formed into a mischievous smile, but his normally clear, gentle teal eyes betrays his growing desire. She bites her lip to stifle a moan when she feels his gloved hand squeeze her supple breast.
The way he is hungrily devouring her is a surprise; Albedo has always been the perfect gentleman. Though he enjoys teasing her and publicly displaying his affections for her via intertwining their fingers, giving her chaste kisses, and pulling her into warm embraces, he has never initiated anything too… intimate outside the confines of a private room to themselves.
Maybe the fact that they are up here at an inhospitable mountain with barely a chance of another person to see them counts as a private space for him, she thinks. Or maybe… he just missed her.
Archons know she missed him too. But...
“Albedo… The pancakes will get cold,” Lumine says, fending off the hand pawing at her chest. The alchemist chuckles. “Mm, I suppose so. But I find myself wanting to eat you instead,” he replies, a teasing smile on his lips. She blushes and pushes him away. “This is hardly the place for t-that, silly! Besides, we still have to talk about the commission you want me to do.”
“Ah," Albedo pauses. "Of course.”
Lumine eyes her lover suspiciously. “Is… there even a commission?” she asks. “Of course, there is. In fact, you’re fulfilling it now,” Albedo replies, matter-of-factly. She tilts her head in confusion and he chuckles. “The commission is to ask for your company here.”
“What?!
“Is something wrong?”
Lumine gives the alchemist an incredulous look. “You… filed a commission just for a date?!” she spats out. Albedo smirks. “Ah, I’m pleased you consider this a date, Lumine.”
“Get that smug grin off your face, Albedo Kreideprinz! You didn’t have to file a commission to see me!”
Albedo’s smirk morphs into a gentle smile. He gently brushes his fingers on her cheek, making Lumine’s glare waver. This same petite girl could defeat a thousand enemies, but she never looks intimidating to him. To him, she's just cute. Breath-taking. Beautiful. “You’ve been busy.”
“Ah…”
Lumine suddenly feels guilt build up inside of her. “I… I have, haven’t I?” she mumbles, averting her gaze. She feels his hand lift her chin to make her look at him. “It is not my intention to make you feel guilty, Lumine. I understand, and I have been busy myself. I had a small chat with Katheryne and she relayed to me how you have been taking on so many commissions and looked like you haven’t had a moment’s rest. I asked her if I could commission you, and she said yes. Though I did not explain to her the details, I assume she more or less understood what my true intentions were, judging by the knowing smile on her face.”
“So… You commissioned me to make me rest?”
“That, and I missed you.”
Albedo’s confession makes warmth bloom into Lumine’s chest. He said it so earnestly, so sincerely, that she feels her golden eyes water a little. “I… I missed you too, Albedo,” she whispers, her voice filled with emotion. She pulls him in for a short but tender kiss. “I’m sorry I’ve been busy… I still can’t figure out a way to Inazuma, so I’ve been running around here and there for clues. That, and I’ve been collecting some materials for weapon upgrades.”
“Don’t give me such an apologetic look, Lumine. It’s alright. What matters to me is that you are here now in my arms,” Albedo replies and presses a gentle kiss onto her forehead. He gestures for them to resume eating and they dine in comfortable silence.
“I had been in discussion with Acting Grand Master Jean regarding my joining you in your travels recently.”
Lumine stops arranging Albedo’s messy work space and turns to look at the alchemist, a brow quirked upwards. “What?” she asks, not sure if she heard him correctly. He finishes arranging their sleeping bags. He sits down on the makeshift bed and looks up, meeting her uncertain gaze.
The sun has now been replaced by the silver moon and the stars. The pair decided to spend the night together at the campsite, as the snowstorm outside had kicked up. Honestly though, the snowstorm is just an excuse. The both of them knew that neither wanted Albedo’s “commission” to end just yet.
“You… are joining my travels?” Lumine asks, trying not to let the hope bubbling up inside of her coat her voice too much. Albedo smiles and pats the space beside him. She sits down and waits for him to reply. “I’ve been contemplating it for a while now. Joining you would mean that I would be given the opportunity to gather a number of materials in my research, whether those materials be physical or intangible, like insight or ideas. It will be an invaluable experience as an alchemist. I proposed as much to the acting grand master.”
How pragmatic, Lumine thinks.
“And what did Jean say?”
Albedo places a hand on top of hers resting on her lap. “She agreed. Rather quickly, I might add. Lisa, who had been present during our discussion, told me to stop being so serious and simply state my real reason,” he says with amusement in his voice. Lumine’s heart skips a beat. “And what is that reason?”
“I want to be with you.”
Lumine feels herself flush but despite her embarrassment, her lips pull into a wide grin. “So, you’re… you’re going to come with me?”
Albedo nods. Seeing how happy his lover was at his decision convinces him further that he has made the correct choice. He is surprised when Lumine suddenly tugs him towards her and presses her lips with all the passion she could muster. As they kiss each other hungrily, he gently lays her down and positions himself on top of her, his hands holding hers beside her and a knee positioned in between her legs.
When Albedo pulls away, he sees tears falling from Lumine’s golden eyes. He rushes to kiss them away. “Lumine, what’s…”
“I’m just so happy! I mean, you don’t know how many times I’ve fantasized about you coming with me on my journey… I never thought it’d come true today,” Lumine sputters, wiping the tears away from her eyes. Albedo leans down to capture her lips once again, and they feel each other smile against the kiss.
“Thank you, Albedo. Best commission ever.”