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Albedo steps on another stray patch of grass on the trail as you head towards Dragonspine. You follow closely behind him, a little giddy that you’re joining your new boyfriend for some on-the-field research.
You sneeze as you pass the trail leading to Dadaupa Gorge and Albedo stops walking.
“You’re cold?” he asks you with furrowed brows.
“No?” you reply. You’re not even at Dragonspine yet. The weather is perfect. “It’s super sunny right now–”
“Take my jacket anyway.”
You narrow your eyes at him as he removes his blue coat with gold-colored trim. He extends the arm holding the jacket but raises a brow after seeing your expression.
“What is it?” he asks.
“You seem suspicious,” you tell him. “What are you up to this time?”
“Now why would you think that?” he says with a light chuckle.
“You gave me a bouquet of flowers using alchemy,” you reply, crossing your arms. “I wouldn’t have known if Klee didn’t blurt that out.”
“Ah yes,” he says. “They were quite lovely.”
“They were…,” you say, distracted by the memory of the soft smile as he confessed to you. “But you still tricked me!”
“Ah,” he smiles at you and you can’t tell if he’s being mischievous. “But if they contained the same essence as the flowers picked from Starsnatch Cliff, does it matter if they were created using alchemy? I merely took their seeds and caused them to sprout.”
He places a hand on his chin. “I suppose it would require more testing to see if there are any discrepancies between the two.”
Albedo glances back at you but you place your hands on your hips.
“Would you like to join me with these experiments as well?” he says.
You cross your arms and stick out your bottom lip and Albedo chuckles at your response. He loves to tease you, but apparently that means you’re special to him.
The two of you have come a long way from when he first saved you in Dragonspine.
You’re nearing the snow and Albedo offers his jacket once again. You slip it on, warmed by the lingering body heat.
“Since we’re dating…,” you tell him, “does that mean I can hold your hand whenever I want?”
“I suppose so. Humans do seem to enjoy displaying romantic affection in this way after all,” he tells you. “Would you like to?”
You punch his arm. “I’m asking if you want to. But I guess it doesn’t seem like you care.”
You increase your pace to walk ahead of him, but he quickly catches up to you and takes your hand. Your fingers are woven together and he strokes his chin with his other hand.
“I think I rather like this,” he says. “How about you?”
Your cheeks heat up, wishing he could be a little flustered about this. But the smile on his lips is more than enough for you.
“Yeah,” you tell him. “I think I do too.”