Work Text:
The result was the same.
While not unexpected the outcome was still somewhat disappointing. Albedo wrote down the results in his chart regardless, already calculating the amount of ingredients needed for the next experiment. He already knew it came down to two key ingredients, the only thing left was to figure out the appropriate concentration to get the desired reaction. As he got up to get the ingredients he had not readily available at this desk he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Albedo stopped, turning his attention to the sole chair standing off to the side where—to his surprise—Aether was still sitting, watching him. There was a book open in his hands but when Albedo had turned to him Aether had been looking straight at him. Apparently just as surprised as Albedo felt, Aether quickly turned a soft shade of red and returned his attention to his book, leaving Albedo confused. Was Aether still waiting for him? The traveller had asked Albedo to accompany him on a commission and Albedo did intend to join him once he was done with his experiment.
“Aether? I told you there’s no need to wait. I’ll join you at the adventurer’s guild once I am done here.”
Aether—still looking somewhat embarrassed at having been caught staring—looked back up, smiling sheepishly.
“It’s alright. I don’t have anything important to do anyway and it’s, uh, interesting to see you work.”
That statement made Albedo pause. Hadn’t Aether been reading that book? Was he instead interested in the experiment and just too shy to ask?
“Would you like to help me? It might be faster with two people,” Albedo suggested. Even if he had to explain a few steps along the way, Albedo knew the traveller already understood the basics of alchemy and was a remarkably fast learner. To his surprise Aether’s eyes widened, the blush on his face only deepening.
“I-is that alright? I wouldn’t want to get in the way.”
“Not at all,” Albedo smiled, “the help would be appreciated. Let me just get the missing ingredients.”
As he went to do what he had intended from the beginning Albedo couldn’t help but wonder about Aether’s peculiar behavior. The traveller seemed unusually shy this afternoon. Had Albedo done something to cause his sudden insecurity?
He absentmindedly took a jar of slime concentrate from the top shelf and some energy nectar from another one.
Or was it just his imagination? Maybe it wasn’t embarrassment at all and it was actually just a little too hot in the laboratory? No, that seemed unlikely.
It probably didn’t matter, Albedo decided, focusing back on the task at hand. If it did he was sure Aether would have mentioned it.
When Albedo returned Aether was already standing behind the work desk, curiously studying the laid out ingredients.
“As an adventurer I’m sure you’re familiar with those materials,” Albedo said as he joined him.
“Oh! Yes, I gather them rather frequently.”
“Wonderful. Then let me explain what we’re trying to achieve. Sucrose asked me to take a closer look at this…”
As he walked Aether through the steps explaining the experiment along the way Albedo couldn’t help but marvel at the traveller’s innate ability to learn new things. As expected—even with his guidance—Aether recreated the experiment perfectly barely taking any longer than Albedo himself. Sadly the result was the same and Aether looked dejected.
“Don’t worry. I expect it will take a few more tries until we see the desired result. Would you still like to help me?”
Aether nodded turning to clean up the desk while Albedo wrote down the results.
“A little more energy nectar this time then,” Albedo mumbled to himself. “Would you mind preparing the slime concentrate while I work on this?”
And just like that they fell into step, going through the experiment one more time together. It was weird and yet not weird at all to have Aether work alongside him. In fact it felt weirdly natural if Albedo had to put it into words, but he couldn’t help but notice that Aether seemed… jittery . He made no mistakes, and worked silently for the most part but he seemed overly surprised whenever Albedo would lean closer to inspect something or to take something from —what had quickly become— Aether's side of the table. He always blushed and apologized quietly when it happened as if he was in the way. Albedo knew the traveller to be polite but it seemed excessive today, especially after Albedo had asked him for his help. It was definitely peculiar, Albedo decided, but overall didn’t detract from how well they worked together.
Albedo was still lost in his own thoughts as he reached for the jar with the dried sweet flowers when his hand suddenly collided with Aether’s who had been about to do the same. It snapped Albedo’s attention back to the present as Aether quickly retracted his hand — again blushing furiously at what he presumed to have been his mistake.
“I’m so sorry!” he exclaimed, loudly, and with much more vehemence than Albedo would have expected.
Albedo blinked, taken aback for a moment. “It’s fine, I should have paid more att—” but Aether cut him off. “No! I mean! I mean…”
Whatever had been bothering Aether this whole time had clearly reached a tipping point and Albedo could only stare at him in confusion as Aether bowed before him in apology.
“I'm so sorry! There is no commission! In truth I just…,” at this point Aether’s voice grew noticeably softer, “I just wanted to spend some more time with you.”
Albedo was at a loss. Of course he had noticed Aether’s peculiar behavior but this… was not what he had expected. In fact, he hadn’t even considered it. Unfortunately it was also something he had absolutely no experience with.
“Does that mean,” he started carefully—but it was hard to misread this situation, wasn’t it?—“you like me… in a romantic sense?”
It seemed almost impossible but Aether’s blush only deepened as he looked at Albedo with almost pleading eyes.
"Do you really have to make me say it...?" Albedo was surprised by that question. Was it such an unreasonable thing to ask? He really had no idea. "Yes…,” the traveller admitted softly, “I… I like you.”
“Oh.”
In retrospect it was obvious his reaction would be taken badly, but Albedo was just completely unprepared for this situation. He didn’t have any time to think about that, however, as Aether’s eyes widened with obvious hurt and Albedo was barely quick enough to react and grab onto his arm before he could turn away .
“I’m sorry.” Albedo flinched inwardly when that response only added to the disappointment in Aether’s eyes. “No, I mean…,” it was a rare occurrence that Albedo had to search for words, "I am not exactly knowledgeable in this area but… perhaps… you could teach me?"
Albedo couldn't even begin to explain the embarrassment he felt at making that request. Yearning to learn something new or to deepen his understanding was not something to be embarrassed about, normally , but — regarding this particular subject — his lack of knowledge had always seemed like a flaw. A flaw he hadn’t been in too much of a rush to fix because it hadn't seemed important at the time, but now…
Aether was stunned for a moment, and then he laughed, but Albedo quickly realized it wasn't malicious laughter. It was bright and jovial, and Aether's eyes were brimming with happiness when he caught himself a few moments later. He grasped Albedo's hand — that was still clinging uselessly onto his arm —and intertwined their fingers. Albedo was entranced by the action, unable to explain why it felt so intimate.
"In exchange for you teaching me alchemy, you mean?" Aether asked with obvious mirth. That was not actually what Albedo had meant, but the traveller quickly interrupted his thoughts. "I'm not exactly an expert myself,” he admitted quietly.
That made sense. At least in appearance Aether seemed hardly any older than Albedo, although that didn’t matter much. After all, Albedo never would have been capable of what Aether had just done.
"It may be unwise to learn from an expert when you barely understand the basics," Albedo replied, merely voicing a factual statement, but to Aether it seemed to mean more.
Those golden eyes looked straight at him for a moment before Aether slowly leaned closer, connecting their lips. Albedo was caught off guard, but only for a moment, carefully leaning into the motion. He had no idea what he was doing, however—from what he could tell—neither had Aether, but Albedo could feel him smile against his lips and suddenly none of that mattered. It was a peculiar feeling accompanied by a sudden realization. How strange that he had never noticed how much Aether’s happiness mattered to him, so much so that he had even blindly agreed to a commission that apparently didn’t even exist. He had had no reason to question it in the first place.
They separated slowly, and Aether—with big eyes and his embarrassment again clearly visible in the color of his cheeks—was looking at him as if waiting for an answer.
"It's a deal, then?" Aether asked jokingly but with a hint of insecurity.
It took Albedo a moment to remember the exchange they had had just moments prior, and he couldn't say if he was amused or just honestly, inexplicably happy when a smile found its way onto his own lips as he replied.
"It's a deal."