Work Text:
Most of the archaeological remains of Dragonspine are concentrated in the Entombed City - Ancient Palace. Despite passing through this area multiple times, it had not interested me beyond a brief exploration. However, this changed when I found stone tablets containing ancient messages, from what I assume is a civilization that previously inhabited the mountain.
As my assistant says, you have to give credit where credit is due. The publication of this research is possible thanks to the traveler, who collected the missing ancient carvings, Sucrose, who was able to see beyond the story on the tables, and to Timaeus, who is in charge of publishing.
Albedo nods to himself, after rereading what he just wrote. He’s not used to writing a prelude to his investigations, but it has stuck to him after reading those that Sucrose writes.
He places it on his desk so that Timaeus can add it to the pile of papers that contain his hard work. The chief alchemist has omitted one or two things in his investigation for the general public, but he has not misrepresented the truth. He just needs to check one more thing on Dragonspine, before it's eligible to post.
With that in mind, Albedo leaves for the frozen mountain. The sooner he gets back the better.
☽✧ ✦ ✧☾
The little bell in Albedo's workshop rings when the door is opened by Klee. The little girl's steps seem to jump with joy since she noticed that the “Experiment in progress” sign is not hanging, which means that her brother has time to play with her.
Or, that's what she hopes, but looking around, she can't find him anywhere. Her feet stop when she sees the shop empty, but Klee doesn't let that ruin her mood. She can wait!
Not only is she good at waiting, but she and Albedo have another code besides the sign on the door that is super-mega secret . When he's gone, Klee is allowed to use his diary to draw as much as she wants on the pages that don't have anything written on them. Thus, she will not miss him so much as to go looking for him, and the adventures that she wants to tell her brother will stay in his diary. Even better, once they’re on that paper, Master Jean will never know what happened!
The little girl sits on a chair, takes out the pencils that her brother has for her in the second drawer of his desk, and diligently draws her latest adventure in her diary. The minutes that she spends concentrating on her work seem endless by the time she finishes, but the result is worthy of admiration.
It's so good that it actually motivates her to start another adventure.
The bell rings once more when Klee leaves the workshop, accidentally leaving the diary forgotten on her brother's desk.
It sounds once again a while later, but it is not Klee who enters the shop to keep the super-mega secret, a secret. It’s Timaeus, who is tired and tasked with picking up a part of the research on Albedo's desk.
"Ah... The chief said that he was going to review the results, but does he have them ready?"
The alchemist scholar finds it a bit strange that the Kreideprinz left him a book plus a sheet of paper, so he gives it a quick look just to check.
The message is as follows:
"... ...its soul, and Starsilver its bones. But the one who could wield it, the ice-breaking outlander, Imunlau...
The next paragraph is too long to read on. So those are the missing results? - Timaeus hoped he had a little more time before publishing the research, but well…
"... Never underestimate a genius, I guess."
☽✧ ✦ ✧☾
Sucrose is extremely excited to have Albedo's new study in her hands, which are shaking with excitement.
Of course, she has the opportunity to be around him almost every day, and yes, she has helped him a lot in his research, but all of that doesn't quite compare to reading the results written by him.
She doesn’t mean to be ungrateful for preferring to read him rather than listen to him speak - as his assistant, she is deeply grateful for all that he has done for her - but Sucrose would be lying if she said they are not vastly different experiences.
When listening to him, it is not that he falls short of something; she feels a deep respect for each of his words, explaining methodologies that she isn’t even capable of imagining.
However, upon reading him, his words reveal Albedo's talented way of thinking for her mind to scrutinize, and she marvels as if it were her first time reading an investigation.
Albedo is where alchemy meets art, and reading the process is a thousand times easier for her than deciphering it in his expression.
Sucrose starts reading as soon as she gets home. The fact that he included a prelude touches her heart, seeing her name within the people who made this possible makes her almost want to cry.
She is completely focused on reading, until the content suddenly changes and Sucrose's eyebrows furrow at the sensation that something is wrong. Albedo's usual tone of writing is much more professional, and definitely much more explanatory. She feels like these are more his personal thoughts than the polished investigations she's used to.
I have found a message near the statue of the seven, and have decided to return to Mondstadt to analyze it.
The message is as follows:
"... ... ...its soul, and Starsilver its bones. But the one who could wield it, the ice-breaking outlander, Imunlau... ..."
Could it be that Timaeus has made the wrong publication? That was the most likely option.
She is ready to drop the papers and go to the lab. Until Albedo returns from Dragonspine, the investigation is to be taken down. She’s ready to do so when a glimpse of her name in the next paragraph catches her eye.
Sucrose insists on staying alone for a while longer in the laboratory. Her determination is worthy of admiration, of course, but due to previous experience - where she has told me the same thing just to fall asleep here, I am forced to stay with her while she investigates.
Her expression when sleeping is certainly not unpleasant.
Sucrose's face begins to take on a certain crimson color.
She doesn't know exactly what to do with this information. A part of her wants to stop reading immediately, guilt building up from knowing her mentor's private thoughts. It's like an adverse effect of the excitement and curiosity that she feels running through her veins, because another part of her repeats those words with Albedo's voice in her head. And despite everything, Sucrose continues reading.
Somehow, seeing Sucrose when I wake up seems more like a pious dream than reality. It is a respite from the nightmares that I am used to, a piece of paradise that I have found right next door.
A symmetrical face. Long eyelashes. Soft hair. Sweet pink lips.
Beauty is the sensitive appreciation of the world... Sensitive, because beauty is a sensation. It produces an emotional reaction and this is born of affections and knowledge. I am unable to say if it is the knowledge that she meets certain beauty standards, or perhaps the time I have worked with her has affected me - I would be lying if I said that I do not have any kind of affection for her, but this is blurry and misleading, and even I don’t quite know how to define it.
… But it seems, to me, that Sucrose is utterly beautiful.
She buries her face in the precious papers that contain his diary instead of the research, and a shriek of embarrassment rises from deep within her. Her heart pounding in her ears, which press against her head to hide from Albedo's imaginary voice. It sounds so much like him, analyzing something almost philosophically just to give her a compliment.
Sucrose is physically unable to continue reading, because suddenly everything makes sense.
Those looks that last longer than usual. The firm hands that suddenly become doubtful at closeness. That blush at the tip of his ears that she assumed was cold, but didn’t quite understand.
Oh, Albedo. How can he be so complicated and simple at the same time?
☽✧ ✦ ✧☾
Dragonspine's chill is still at his fingertips by the time Albedo returns to Mondstadt.
The renowned alchemist tries to maintain his composure as he walks through the city to the laboratory. He’s able to feel the gazes on him, filled with an amusing kindness that, rather than being welcome, is slightly terrifying.
Arriving at the alchemy table, Timaeus is nowhere to be seen, but his research is on the table, research that shouldn't have been published yet, open to a page that seems too familiar to be overlooked.
The meaning of the looks becomes clear. His eyes reread the paragraph, making sure it's not a bad joke. The words tangle up in his head, sweat runs down his cheek, and Albedo has to make a conscious effort to slow down his breathing.
How much was published? How long does he have to take it down? And more importantly, if there is any chance she hasn’t read it as well?
Cooling his head, Albedo enters the alchemy shop. His blood runs cold when he sees Sucrose there, waiting for him.
There is a gleam in her golden eyes that tells him that she knows. Albedo can't help but wonder if he, too, was destined to fall from the moment he lost himself in that color. A familiar, yet terrifying golden that has read his most private thoughts — as half the city probably has as well. The consequences of this misfortune becomes real in his chest as she approaches him.
"I’ve already taken down the post, so don’t worry about it.” He would sigh in relief if it wasn’t for the guilty look on her face. Nervousness, he recognizes, is what makes his fingers stiff as she bows her head down, and then looks back at him “Still, I'm sorry, Mister Albedo. I know I shouldn't have read this without your permission… I also know that I am too curious for my own good and that this does not justify my actions, but… I am happy I did. "
Her soft but determined voice drowns his own heart loudly beating in his ears. It's like a dream, again, when Sucrose takes his hands gently into hers. He feels helpless when she looks at him like that. Even if he is destined to fall, then Albedo would fall again and again, unable not to fully immerse himself in the kindness that she offers him.
Sucrose is waiting patiently for him.
To other eyes, it might seem that he is the one who is ahead of her, but for him, it has always been the other way around.
She smiles when he laces his fingers with hers.
“Now I finally know about your feelings. If this is an investigation where you need company, I will be happy to assist you, as always… I'll be happy to be by your side in another way, too, if you'll allow me ... Albedo."
He feels his breath catch,hearing it. Warmth rises from his hands to his heart, more powerful than any alchemical reaction Albedo is capable of creating, the result being so evident that he has no choice but to accept it completely.
It is adoration that has built in his chest, capable of transferring from ink to paper. It started sometime around Sucrose and has stayed that way for so long that Albedo dares to say it has an endless duration.
Only Sucrose could bring out these feelings from him.
And it is only her who exists at this moment within his world, when his hand rests softly on her cheeks, and his heart melts when she leans into his touch.
He was absolutely correct back then, Sucrose is utterly beautiful, although her lips have never looked as delicious as now.
"Let's investigate, then."
Albedo murmurs with finality and tenderness, closing his eyes to fully feel Sucrose's lips against his. Her hands grip his clothes as she slowly pulls away, eyes half open and ears twitching with excitement.
When a mischievous smile graces her lips, Albedo thinks he should have known that not only is she smart, but that she is also sly.
"May I make a suggestion?"
Albedo huffs a laugh before accepting a kiss from Sucrose, who raises her curious arms up his neck to hold him in place. And it seems that just like the preludes, this will stick to him too.