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Sucrose remembered that day vividly.
There was blood, there was screaming, there were crowds of people with their swords drawn out, their swords pointing at something... at someone.
She remembered seeing Albedo, on his knees, skin threatening to crack and wither away as his eyes lost their green, gradually turning into a mixture of purple and black.
No.. No...
She ran-
People were yelling for her-
She ignored them-
She collapsed in front of him, protecting him-
And then she felt a blade skewer into her backside-
She saw Albedo's eyes widening at her and he cried out her name-
There was more blood-
She felt pain. There was so much pain-
And then- everything stopped.
When Sucrose awoke, she was terrified of the world she was now in.
She looked at herself in the mirror in a daze, hands hesitantly reaching up to touch her ears.
Her human ears.
She no longer owned the hereditary cat ears she once had.
She didn't know whether to feel happy or... feel sick to her stomach.
She just didn't know.
.
.
"Who is this 'Albedo', dear?" Her mother asked at the breakfast table one morning.
Sucrose flinched, her idle pokes into her pancakes coming to a halt. "W-What?"
Her mother only gave her a confused look before smiling softly. "Albedo. You keep mumbling that name in your sleep. Is he a customer that you met at the cafe?"
Oh.
She felt her heart momentarily soar at the name but she stopped herself before it got too far, swallowing down the lump against her throat.
"No," Sucrose mumbled, "He's no one..."
It was impossible to meet someone who was from another life.
It hurt.
When Sucrose met Timaeus for the first time, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her and she almost bumped into a stop sign pole when she was taking the trash out. She was still the clumsy and frantic girl everyone once knew, tripping over her own feet.
She thought she was still asleep, still dreaming.
This world's Timaeus had no indication of knowing her. He laughed in kind and helped her up, checking to make sure she was okay before going into the cafe to order.
Sucrose followed him and got to making his food, handing him a paper bag full of sweets and cinnamon rolls with a cup of coffee. He said he was new in town and found the cafe along the way before he saw her. He then said he would become a regular in the store, taking a bite out of his food in glee as he made his way out.
Sucrose saw him every day and made a nice conversation with him, just to get to know him and see if there were any differences between him and the Timaeus she once knew.
Both Timaeus's were still incredibly kind and ecstatic about science.
She met Diluc and Jean next.
They were sitting at one of the tables, speaking to each other in hushed tones.
She was so accustomed to being intimidated by them because of their high-ranking nature, that she was so taken aback by their casual modern-day attire and attitude.
Sucrose took a deep breath and walked up to them. "M-May I take your order?"
"Sucrose," Jean smiled at her while Diluc nodded politely in greeting, "How are you?"
They knew her here, but again, showed no indication of knowing their past life and duties. Slowly, her eyes settled down on the rings around both of their fingers and she hid a small smile against her notepad.
"I-I'm fine," Sucrose stammered, blushing at the fact that she was staring for so long, "Thank you for asking."
"Have you been sleeping okay?" Jean then asked worriedly, noticing how tired her eyes were.
No. Her dreams had been brutal.
In her dreams, in her past life, she remembered Jean and Diluc had their very swords against the tip of his throat before she had intervened. They were two of the many knights that crowded around him.
However, even before she did appear, the both of them looked like they didn't want to do it. They were remorseful.
Sucrose just smiled and laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head. "J-Just a mild case of insomnia, Mast- Jean," she corrected herself quickly and waved the matter off, "I'll be fine! W-What would you two like to order?"
She was happy for them.
Was any of this real? Was she just hallucinating?
Was she the only one who remembered what happened?
Was she the only one who was going to live like this?
Was... she going to be alone through all of it?
Sucrose threw herself into work, baking her favourite treats to serve for her customers, doing some of her homework, going through chemistry books- doing anything. Anything to distract herself with.
Because it was too much to bear.
"Timaeus..." Sucrose said numbly, pages flicking over her chemistry book, "Do you ever think it's pointless?"
"What?" Timaeus's eyes widened at her, "What do you mean, Sucrose? Are you alright?"
Sucrose immediately snapped out of her daze and looked at her friend in panic. "O-Oh! Nevermind. F-Forget I said anything!"
The concern was already too overwhelming for her.
Timaeus looked like he wanted to pry but only shook his head. "If you say so. But if you need to talk, I'm all ears."
She appreciated that greatly.
Sucrose wondered... That if she ever died, would she wake up again in the next life with another set of memories? Two sets of memories? Would that make her feel more alone?
She didn't want to die. However, then she'd be a hypocrite for saying so, the feeling of the sword cutting through her edging her very mind. She knew what she was doing before she jumped right in, attempting to save him.
Dying was... painful. She would be lonely.
She didn't want to live either, not with the memories in her head. Not with her dreams plaguing her sleep.
So she just existed, waiting for something to happen. Waiting for the inevitable.
But nothing would happen, would it? Her anemo powers no longer existed. There was no such thing as Barbatos. There was no such thing as a threat from any sort of God.
Everything was just... normal.
So what else was there to do than just live?
The sudden smell of Cecilias made her stomach drop.
There was only one person- only one person she knew-
When Sucrose dared to look up, she saw him. She saw him entering the cafe, seating himself in one of the secluded areas, near a window, away from everyone else as he brought out a device and sketchbook.
Her feet were pinned against the floor and she was unable to move.
She couldn't breathe. She felt paralyzed.
He was the same. He looked the same. His hair was the same. His eyes were the same- everything-
Move. She needed to move.
Go to him.
She was scared.
She couldn't bear the thought of seeing him up front, talking to him as if he were a stranger to her, to see and realise that he wouldn't know her.
But then... just seeing him look content. Just seeing him look at peace. Just seeing him not at anybody's mercy. Just seeing him look normal.
Wasn't that what she wanted?
Her selfishness could never overtake that. Her dreams of their previous life didn't matter because he wasn't in pain anymore. He wasn't carrying a burden. Nobody was turning their backs on him.
There were no more secrets.
Sucrose clutched her notepad and made her way towards him.
"H-Hello," she managed in a breath, heat naturally making its way across her cheeks, "May I take your order?"
It looked like he didn't hear her, for he only stopped what he was doing when she appeared in the corner of his vision.
When he lifted his head up, Sucrose felt the rate of her heart quickening.
Their gazes locked.
Her eyes threatened to water because she was so weak- so so weak.
She wanted to say so many things. She wanted to talk to him. She wanted to hug him. She wanted him to know that she was happy to see him alive.
But she couldn't.
"Are you alright?"
Sucrose snapped out of it, eyes widening. "I-I'm sorry?"
He looked at her with a lengthy unsure stare. "...I asked if you were alright?"
She blinked at him and her face became even redder, which earned another concerned look from him. However, she quickly got a hold of herself and nodded. "Y-Yes! I apologise!" Sucrose quivered a forced smile upon her lips, "W-What would you like to order, Sir?"
She felt slightly uncomfortable calling him 'Sir' under different circumstances, but she pushed the feeling down immediately. Strangers. They were strangers to each other.
Ignoring the sense of nostalgia when he ordered Tea Break Pancakes, Sucrose nodded, her voice cracking and wavering when she asked, "And... A-And your name, Sir?"
She didn't even need to ask, she didn't have to.
She just needed to hear it.
He smiled at her.
"Albedo."
The flutters awoke in her stomach and refused to stop, her hand shaking when she mindlessly wrote his name down on her notepad.
She felt something wet brimming her eyes and then sliding down her cheeks.
Oh.
Sucrose realised she was crying and just as she took a moment to wipe off her tears in sheer embarrassment, she saw that his eyes had widened.
"S-Sorry!" Sucrose squeaked, hastily wiping her cheeks one last time before smiling, "I'll be right back with your order!"
He looked like he wanted to say something but she took off without a second glance, her body shaking.
Albedo didn't come into the cafe quite often as the others. The days were random. Sucrose remembered from their past life that he would sit at Good Hunter at the most unexpected time and days, no schedule whatsoever. It would sometimes put Sara off guard as well.
She would take his order, still nervous around him. However, he'd wait for her patiently with an ever-so-soft smile and it took so much willpower not to burst out crying in front of him again.
She would yearn for a conversation with him but she didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable with her eagerness.
She would chastise herself then, remembering that it wasn't the time. They had just met.
So she would smile and admire him from afar, even if it hurt.
She slept better.
She didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Was her mind trying to subconsciously remove her feelings towards her past life? Was it because she met her mentor again? Was that it?
Her chest would clench at the thought of it.
Was moving on even an option for her? Was it worth the pain and loneliness?
Perhaps.
But then she saw it.
Sucrose didn't know why, but her stomach churned when she attempted to walk past a flower shop. For some reason, she felt compelled to go inside and buy something from there.
Her hands instinctively grabbed the bouquet of windwheel asters and cecilias without questioning why they were together in the first place and made her way towards the counter to pay.
But she saw it.
Her eyes landed upon a drawing of her.
She would be concerned for other reasons, as to why there was a drawing of her in the first place.
But that concern faded when she inspected it closer, the feeling of immediate reminiscence following after when she realised that drawing of her was no ordinary drawing.
The alchemist uniform... Her concealed cat ears... Her anemo necklace...
When she heard footsteps coming, it didn't take a second for her to realise who owned the flower shop.
"Mister Albedo."
Just saying his name like that again already sent a rush of tears down her face.
Those footsteps stopped abruptly and she lifted her head up, gold meeting teal.
He looked as though he'd been caught, the surprised but yet slightly frantic expression on his face being a sight she was not accustomed to seeing.
He looked guilty.
"You knew," Sucrose croaked out, her throat dry, the heavy feeling in her chest giving her the difficulty to breathe, "You knew..."
Albedo moved towards her. "Sucrose-"
But Sucrose only moved back, dropping the flowers, her hands covering her mouth as she choked on her words. "M-Mister Albedo... You knew..."
"Please let me explain-"
He reached for her arm but she shook her head, pulling it away from him before he could touch it.
Even though she wanted to run, her footing weakened, and her legs kept shaking.
Exhaustion caught up with her body. She felt dizzy. Everything became a blur within seconds.
All she remembered was Albedo's frantic face as her world met black.
She woke up in a bed that wasn't hers.
Her eyes slowly opened, quickly settling on the person sitting on the chair beside the bed.
Her mouth slipped before she could stop it. "Mister Albedo..."
Albedo quickly slid his attention away from his book and looked at her, standing up from his chair. "You're awake."
Sucrose sat herself up against the headboard, wincing at the ache from her neck.
"Here."
She looked to see him pressing a cold glass of water against her lips. Her gaze hesitantly flickered over to the man in silent contemplation before she held the glass, taking a long sip. Once she was done, he put it away and sat back down.
The silence was deafening.
But surprisingly, she was the one who broke it first.
"H-How long have you known?"
The guilt showcased on his face again, momentarily making her regret asking, but he answered her anyway. "A while."
Sucrose swallowed down the lump against her throat as she nodded. "...I see," she said, her voice turning into a soft whisper. She peered at him again before curling her hands into the covers, a blush cascading over her pale cheeks. "Y-You look good in those clothes."
W-What was she saying?!
However, her panic went away when he let out a chuckle, looking at her with his own cheeks dusting pink. "You too."
Sucrose felt hotter, her lips fumbling. "Th-Thank you, Mist-" She stopped short and then meekly corrected herself, "Albedo..."
He leaned in, taking hold of her hand as he locked their fingers together. "It's fine."
She teared up again and gave in, wrapping her arms around his neck before gently crying on his shoulder.
Fine.
They were going to be fine.
"H-How have you been sleeping?"
They were at a park, sitting under a tree. Apparently, this was his favourite spot to draw.
Albedo paused in his pencil strokes to glance back at her, before leaning his head back against the tree with a soft sigh. "Some nights are okay. Other nights are quite daunting."
Sucrose nodded, quietly examining his face. "Is there anyone else that remembers?"
"No," he answered simply, "Do you know anyone?"
She shook her head.
"Then I guess it's just us," Albedo smiled quite solemnly.
She squeezed his hand in comfort. "I'm sorry."
He blinked at her. "Why are you apologising?"
Sucrose only shook her head again, resting her lips against his shoulder as she continued to mumble, "I'm just sorry."
She heard him let out an exasperated huff before relaxing. "Stubborn as always, aren't you?"
The comment drew a giggle from her.
"Big Brother Albedo, who's that?"
Meeting Klee sent a new wave of emotions to Sucrose.
"This is Sucrose," Albedo answered and gestured her to the little girl, "...Sucrose, this is Klee."
Klee's face lit up as she smiled. "Are you Albedo's girlfriend?"
Both adults turned red.
"Klee...!"
Klee giggled behind her hands. "Sorry, Klee just always sees you drawing her in your sketchbook!"
Sucrose's eyes widened as she looked at Albedo. "W-What?"
Albedo had a hand over his face, but she could see the tint of red painting over his cheeks. "Klee..."
Klee took Sucrose's hand. "You're really pretty. Klee likes your hair a lot!"
"Thank you, Klee," Sucrose said, flustered but nonetheless gave the girl a warm longing smile, "I-I like yours too."
"Come meet Mama and play with me and my dollies! We're going to have a biiiig tea party!"
Sucrose let Klee pull her along, shooting a glance at Albedo. He hid a laugh behind his hand and shrugged, following them.
"Have you met Timaeus yet?"
Sucrose wiped the last bit of the countertop. "He comes in every now and then."
"...I see," Albedo rested his chin against his fist in thought, "How is he?"
"He's doing well," Sucrose replied honestly, noticing the solemn look on the male's face, "He's a chemistry teacher. The kids really love him."
"Truly?" Albedo chuckled, his fingers fiddling with his coffee cup, "I'm glad."
She gnawed against the corner of her lip in contemplation before asking, "I-I was thinking if all three of us could meet up together sometime this week? I'm sure he would be happy to see you. I-I've... I've actually told him a little bit about you."
"And he reacted well, I assume?"
Sucrose stifled a laugh. "Of course! He hasn't changed at all."
He hummed before nodding. "That would be ideal then."
"Would you be okay with dinner tomorrow night?"
"D-Dinner?!" Sucrose almost lost the grip of the cups as she shot him an incredulous look, "With... W-With you?!"
Albedo gave her a bemused stare. "Who else?"
"I-" Sucrose blushed and rubbed the back of her palms, "I-I thought you were prone to restaurant food."
"Oh, I wasn't talking about going inside a restaurant," he said and then clarified, "I meant dinner at my apartment."
At his place...
She fixed up her glasses and fumbled for a response until realisation seeped in. "L-Like a date?"
"Yes."
Sucrose was taken aback, not expecting such a quick answer. She blinked at him, the flurry of butterflies rushing inside of her stomach.
When she didn't say anything, Albedo's calm expression turned into worry. "Sucrose, if you're not comfortable then we don't have to-"
"No!" Sucrose cut him off frantically, causing the both of them to jump. She gulped and momentarily twiddled with her thumbs.
She took a deep breath and smiled. "I-I would love to."
"The food is really good, Albedo!" She used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of grilled fish with some crab, putting it inside of her mouth as she chewed it with delight, "I-I never thought you were much into cooking."
"Alice taught me a few dishes," Albedo explained and took a bite out of his own food, giving her a meek look, "Of course, it took a lot of trial and error. Though, I'm more looking forward to trying out your dessert."
"Still quite the sweet tooth you have, don't you?"
"I could say the same for you."
"W-Well, the dessert isn't anything special!" Sucrose insisted, suddenly shy, "I hope you're in the mood for some cheesecake. I topped it off with your favourite fruits..."
Albedo gave her a knowing gaze. "Did you now?"
She nodded and buried her face into her hands, leaving a gap between her fingers so she could see him. "P-Please don't look at me like that. I noticed the berries you would leave at your desk back in the lab!"
He huffed out a laugh. "It's alright. I'm flattered you thought that far into it, Sucrose."
"O-Of course!" She pulled her hands away and timidly looked down at her lap, "Anything for you..."
They continued eating, laughing and talking without any worry.
"You have a lot of books, Albedo," Sucrose claimed, noticing that many were related to alchemy, "Y-You still read stuff about alchemy?"
"It's more of a luxury to pass time these days," Albedo said, mindlessly drawing in his sketchbook.
"Y-You wouldn't mind if I borrow some of these...?"
"Of course not. Take however many you like."
She beamed. "Thank you!"
"It's late so let me take you home."
"A-Alright," Sucrose said and watched him put on his coat, "Um..."
Albedo looked up at her. "Yes?"
Sucrose wanted to say more but expelled her words in a breath.
Actions spoke louder.
Shaking a little, she planted her hands on his shoulders, ignoring the rapid beating from her chest as she raised her lips to his in a slow kiss.
It was her first so she was messy... and very clumsy.
But who would she rather share her first with other than him?
When she pulled away a few seconds later, she was met with wide eyes.
...She panicked-
But he already pulled her back in for another, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her even more against him. Sucrose complied quickly while her hands went up to drift across his hair, combing through his braid and locks.
His lips were soft, just like how she expected them to be.
They pulled away again and what Sucrose wasn't expecting was to be lifted off of her feet, her legs dangling down his hips, her back gently pressing against the wall. "A-Albedo?"
"Sorry," Albedo said, his voice almost straining, "I'm being selfish-"
"No," Sucrose whispered softly and wrapped her arms around his neck, their foreheads touching, "You're not."
He quietly sucked in a breath. "Are you sure?"
She responded with another yearning kiss. "I'm sure."
Sucrose trailed her hand along his bare chest, taking a moment to admire his pale but beautiful complexion.
She held his cheek, hearing his breathing sound in a steady pattern as he slept peacefully.
She hoped he was dreaming about something nice.
Fingers grazing carefully around his neckline, the mark that was once on his neck didn't exist.
And she... couldn't help but lean in to leave a kiss there, just to acknowledge it had been there, just to acknowledge it had once been a part of him.
"...Sucrose?" Albedo stirred in his sleep, his eyes opening in small slits.
"G-Good morning," she replied bashfully, her voice wavering with a welcoming feeling, "Are you okay?"
He gave her a tired smile, taking hold of her hand to peck small kisses against her palm. "Yes," he said, pulling her closer to press his lips on her shoulder, "Are you okay?"
She felt her eyes threatening to water as everything piled up on her at once.
Happy. She was happy.
"Yes," she mumbled smiling gleefully, "I'm okay."
Albedo continued running his flower shop.
Sucrose continued running her cafe.
Diluc and Jean invited them to their wedding.
They reunited with Timaeus as a group again.
She introduced Albedo to her mother, who was more than happy to get to know him.
Klee would steal her away from Albedo, asking her to play with her doll house and to do her hair.
They met some old faces, thus creating new memories.
The dreams were still there, but they didn't have to suffer alone anymore.
So they lived.
They lived.