Chapter Text
Mondstadt had been windy recently, not the raging elements when Dvalin had been upon us, but simply a strong breeze easing the summer heat. Trees tilted and flowers swayed as the windmills gently turned with the wind. The sun was high in the sky, slowly dipping toward the west. The perfect time for an afternoon tea, or perhaps a coffee.
Unfortunately, the breeze had to stay outside of my headquarters’ chambers.
It was a room packed with everything essential, fitting for a high-ranking officer. There was a kitchen corner, a working space, and three doors leading to bathroom, bedchamber, and Knights of Favonius hallway. A whole eastern wall served as a bookcase of sorts, but apart from many books concerning politics and economy, there were stacks and stacks of papers. The vast desk in the middle of the room was especially full of reports, invoices, and contracts. Even a gentle breeze would be devastating if it slipped through, ruffling the many documents.
But not all of Mondstadt’s winds had to stay out, some were more welcome than others.
The rare talent of the Investigation Team, the one who had been chosen to assist the genius Albedo, Sucrose herself, was fidgeting in the doorway to my quarters. I wondered how long it had been since she had stopped by. Given her busy schedule, it was nothing out of the ordinary for her to leave for Dragonspine at the last minute. Most of the time, it was Albedo’s fault. Honestly, the man should stop monopolizing her, genius or not.
“I-If you’re busy, please don’t let me stand in the way of progress–” The short alchemist with sea-green locks was impossibly nervous, her golden honey eyes shifting from me to her skirt. Sucrose’s ears were twitching, I was positive she wasn’t aware of such. If she knew, the young woman would most definitely hide her ears further with the blue and white hat.
“’Crose, it’s fine, I am not busy. Can I help you with anything?” I gently smiled, placing the contracts I had been correcting to the side and focusing my full attention on her.
She was too observant to let such a thing slip, and guilt flashed in her soft eyes as she glanced at her feet. “You’re not busy? Really? It’s fine, I- I get that you have stuff to do. I’m already quite used to working alone–” she said, slowly turning around.
I stood up from the desk, and the motion stopped Sucrose in her tracks. She glanced from her boots to me and back. “My dear friend, I am truly not busy. Actually, I am quite happy to see you.”
“…You’re truly not busy? I- In that case, I don’t suppose you could help me with a few things. Or, you know, we could sit and chat about… stuff.” Sucrose’s nervous fingers were picking at the hem of her skirt.
One would think that she would feel more at ease around me. It had been so long since our first acquaintance and her company had always been welcomed. I had reminded her of that many times.
“I would love that. Come and sit, or do you want to go somewhere else?” I moved around the room toward the small kitchen corner right next to the opened door. I was thrilled that I had her favourite teas and some sweets ready. Missing the alchemist’s company let me restock the pantry– perhaps a bit too much.
“I- If it’s not too much trouble, we could- but it’s nothing really, I would rather chat today. Y-Yes that sounds like a good idea.”
Eyeing the fidgeting young woman, I smiled at her and ushered her inside, closing the door behind her. Thankfully, that motion relaxed some of the tension from her shoulders, as it was only the two of us in the room instead of the whole Knights of Favonius headquarters.
“Alright, you can tell me all about your progress or any new projects,” I happily chirped.
It was always lovely to hear her overly excited, gentle voice when she had talked about alchemy. During those times, she didn’t stuttered one bit.
“Shall I brew us some tea? I bought new patches of the Sweet Flower brew you liked last time.”
“…Yes, please.”
Taking the kettle, I started preparing the brew, then took out a bowl to fill it with sweets.
Sucrose subtly observed me from her spot by the door. It hit me then that she looked ready to bolt. Slowly placing the ceramic on the counter, I turned to face her. A soft blush adorned her cheeks.
“I-I…” she tentatively started. I patiently waited, reassuringly smiling at her. “T-There is no need to agree to this. Mister Albedo just mentioned…“
Silence filled the room.
“Please go on, I will not judge, you know me.” I thought of all the possible topics Albedo could talk about to make her that frustrated. It couldn’t have been more bizarre than some I had heard already. But maybe, my smile widened, “and you have my word not to laugh if it’s on that side of the spectrum.”
Something silly for a change would be nice.
Sucrose nodded, and some of her sea-green locks fell over to cover her honeyed eyes. “W-we talked about relationships.”
With the Chief Alchemist? I had hoped that the shy woman would come to me regarding such a topic.
“Mister Albedo said t-that it is normal for friends to participate in a form of a physical t-touch involving wrapping of arms around one another.”
Oh.
I grinned at Surcose, noting how her ears were starting to catch a strange hue of turquoise. The poor soul was that embarrassed over something so trivial. “Sucrose, you want a hug?” I asked.
Wide honey eyes met mine. “Y-You don’t have to! It just crossed my mind, it was… a long time since-” I stepped away from the kitchen counter toward her. Sucrose pressed her mouth into a thin, anxious line, her eyes darting anywhere but at me.
“My dear friend, can I give you a hug?” I outstretched my arms, keeping out of her personal space so as not to provoke her flight reaction.
“I-I don’t know,” she muttered, but despite her words, Sucrose’s voice sounded hopeful. “Y-You truly don’t have to.”
“Just a small, gentle one?”
Sucrose’s golden eyes stubbornly observed the kitchen corner behind me, but then she gave a subtle nod as she closed her honeyed irises. I crossed the distance and gingerly embraced her shoulders, bringing her to my chest. Her frame felt fragile. “T-This is embarrassing.”
“It is not, don’t worry about it.” I rested my head on her narrow shoulder, soothingly patting the tension from her back.
The young woman carefully hid her face in my neck. As Sucrose took a deep breath, she returned the embrace, her hands were wary as if I was a volatile substance she handled in her lab.
“And anyway, I’ve wanted to give you a hug for ages,” I mused, risking a quick squeeze. Sucrose hummed as she eased into the embrace. After a while, I released her with the brightest smile. “So, what is your assessment, my dear alchemist?”
“I-It was nice, thank you,” her blush turned into a reddish colour that could rival Valberry.
“It was,” I agreed.
Despite the redness in her cheeks, her shoulders slumped, signalling that the nervous alchemist finally relaxed. Smirking under my nose, I thought of something brilliant.
“To some friends, it is a form of a greeting. Perhaps we can make it a habit?”
Sucrose’s eyes met mine, her head snapping up. “I already asked too much.”
“Nonsense, we are best friends.” My grin seemed to ease some of her worries. It had been always a challenge to untangle her stiff webs of anxiety, but seeing her posture so relaxed after the quick exchange made the decision. “It’s settled then. It might need a bit of familiarisation, but I believe that we can work on that.”
“Thank you,” her honey eyes softened, and a small smile graced her lips.
I suppressed the urge to hug her again and instead distracted myself with the kettle. “Now, let me finish the tea and prepare some snacks. I sincerely hope the Chief Alchemist is not overworking you again, but that’s your story to tell.”
✧
“I-I actually tried to hug Mister Albedo.”
The tea I had been sipping came out through my nose. Coughing away the burning sensation and hiding behind my hands, I glanced at Sucrose. “H-How did that go?” I asked, wheezing a little.
It had been almost two months since the introduction of a certain type of greeting. The timid alchemist seemed to be more accustomed to the contact, on occasions, she even initiated a hug at partings. I had never thought that she was that familiar.
Truth be told, I had selfishly thought that Sucrose shared such intimacy, in her own words, only with me.
Sucrose smiled, amused. “I believe you guessed correctly.” Sea-green hair fell to her face as she looked at her folded hands. “U-uhm, it was…” A blush bloomed on her cheeks. “It felt different. Mister Albedo said that such results were to be expected.”
Was it too late to pray to Archons? What had Albedo told to Sucrose?
“H-He said that to him hugs with Klee feel nicer also b-because she is family.”
Alright, still in the safe zone. Cleaning my face with a handkerchief was partly to hide my embarrassment, not that Sucrose was watching anything but her skirt in her anxious state.
“Mister Albedo said that there has to be a certain level of a-affection.” Warily I glanced at the young woman, meeting her honeyed eyes framed by the soft locks. She hadn’t been watching her skirt then. Her slim shoulders were impossibly tensed, her lips pursed before she decided to continue. “T-That in our case,” her beautiful eyes glanced back down and up, her lips slightly quivering, “it might be a different type of affection–”
“That’s it,” I grunted. Sucrose’s owlish eyes widened as I stood up from my desk, marching to the door. She made haste to follow, but my glance back seemed to deter her. “Please stay, sweets.” Her golden eyes widened further, her blush turning crimson. “I’ll be right back, do not worry. I just need to have a little chat with the Chief Alchemist.”
Her lips curved into a tentative smile. “O-Okay…”
As I reached for the door handle, I turned back one more time, “And Sucrose?”
“Y-Yes!” she startled, her honeyed eyes watching me closely as her fingers picked at her skirt.
“Save me one of those affectionate hugs for when I get back, alright?” I grinned widely.
Her blush deepened, and she nodded, a soft giggle escaping her lips. “A-alright.”