Chapter Text
Hearing the sound of the office door open, Albedo lifted his gaze from the scientific documentation laid out in front of him to the intruder who entered without knocking. The alchemist was about to remind the person of the rules of etiquette, but the words immediately melted on the tip of his tongue and his eyes widened with surprise.
Lumine stood silently on the threshold, holding a box of sweets from the Mondstadt confectionery. Her face was unfamiliarly pale with her eyes fixed on the floor and lips quivering slightly. Her shoulders slumped. She looked extremely exhausted, confused and tired.
Instantly forgetting his project, Albedo was beside the traveler in two steps. Carefully taking the box from her small hands and placing it on the nearest flat surface, he enclosed Lumine in a tight embrace.
It had only been a couple of weeks since their last meeting, but it seemed to him that his beloved had become even smaller and more fragile than before.
The traveler eagerly responded to the embrace. Hiding her face in the folds of his clothes, she involuntarily started crying. Lumine had rarely let her emotions run free, but at that moment she no longer had the energy to pretend to be strong and that everything was all right. All the pain, frustration, and resentment in her heart poured out. Lumine, like anyone else, could not suppress her negative emotions, worries and fears forever. The tears flowed in torrents and she was powerless to stop them.
Normally, Lumine comforted, encouraged and inspired people around her. Only in the company of Albedo she allowed herself to be weak and unashamedly let her feelings flow.
Hearing soft sobs and feeling her body trembling, the alchemist pressed her even harder against him. He put one arm around her waist and gently stroked her golden hair with the other one, trying to calm her down. It pained him to see Lumine in such a dejected state, but Albedo understood that she needed time. He willingly shared his warmth with her and asked no questions. The alchemist preferred not to pry into people's souls. Albedo knew that if she saw fit, she would tell him her troubles and worries. All he had to do was to be there for her, support her and wait patiently.
They stood in each other's arms for a long time, in a comfortable silence. The silence in the alchemist's office was broken only by the measured ticking of the wall clock. The day was drawing to its end and the street lamps were already lit. Outside the window one could hear the knights, unencumbered by night duty, hurrying home to their families. But for Albedo and the traveler, time stood still.
The warmth of her beloved's embrace was soothing and little by little Lumine's tears faded. Without breaking the embrace, Albedo pulled down his gloves with his teeth. With warm palms, the alchemist gently wiped away the paths of tears on her flushed face. Looking into her weeping eyes, he smiled happily as he read in Lumine's gaze relief and gratitude. The alchemist kissed softly her weathered lips, stroking the girl's frail shoulders. Together they dissolved into the kiss, savoring the moment.
Whatever the future had in store for them, together they would overcome any difficulties.