Alchemists in the snow
The streets are covered in thick snow, a white blanket draped over the town as the weather turned colder and colder. Among layers of frost, people gathered and walked together, as if to repel the cold with the warmth they share.
Yet even then, some were left alone as they went along the snowy sidewalks, exposed to the harsh climate.
And Sucrose was one of them.
A girl with little to no friends, often locked up in the lab and had very little social skills. She was exactly the kind of person one would call a bookworm, a nerd even.
Not like she would say anything against it, it is true after all.
Sighing quietly, the girl adjusts the scarf around her neck as she looks around. When her gaze lands upon a group of students, perhaps friends, she averts her gaze.
That sight is a little painful to her, even now, as it reminds her of the two friends she was once close to.
And to think a special event is coming...
The girl frowns, walking with her eyes glued to the ground.
Christmas was fun back then, when...
She clutches the books in her arms, holding them closer to her chest as memories of a distant past resurface:
Her childhood friends, along with her, laughing admist the snow as they played together.
"Uwah-"
Her thoughts are cut short when she feels herself bumping against someone, dropping her things.
"I- I'm sorry!"
She apologizes frantically, afraid of offending the other by any means.
"... Watch where you're going, at least."
A sigh from the man and she looks up, eyes widening upon seeing who it is.
"Ah-"
Her face heats up in embarrassment.
The one she bumped into is none other than the former Cavalry Captain of Ordo Favonius, Diluc Ragnvindr.
His fiery hair and matching eyes stand out anywhere, even more so in the whiteness of winter.
"Don't apologize further."
The man shakea his head, picking up her books and handing them back to her.
"Just go on ahead."
Hesitantly, she takes them and thanks him, bowing with a silent apology before excusing herself in a hurry.
"That's quite the way of treating young ladies there, Diluc."
Comes a chuckle and the current Cavalry Captain, Kaeya Alberich, walks out and pats the other's shoulder. Which, results in his hand getting slapped away immediately.
"Be more gentle next time~"
"Shut up."
The redhead rolls his eyes.
"I wasn't mad at her."
"I know, I know~"
A snort.
"You still sounded grumpy, though~"
"Can't help it."
He shrugs a bit.
"Whatever, why are you here anyway?"
"Oh, to see you."
The tanned man smiles at this.
"Isn't it obvious by now?"
"... No."
Despite saying that, he knows how obvious it is.
And understanding that fact well, the other laughs.
"Sure it isn't~"
It's only natural that Diluc denies things of such kind to Kaeya, so he would leave it be.
Sucrose seemingly has her eyes shut as she rushes to the lab, ears burning. Not only did she not pay attention to her path, she also ran into an important figure of Mondstadt.
How bad could a day possibly get?!
Finally, she opens her eyes and looks around. Once a familiar building comes into view, the girl immediately gets inside and shuts the door behind her.
"C- Calm down..."
Taking deep breaths, she tries to reassure herself.
"Calm down now..."
After a few minutes of mumbling to no one, the student manages to scan her surroundings. The halls are empty, as always, but the door leading to the laboratory is slightly open.
Huh...
That could mean two things, though since it is rather quiet as well...
It must be...
"Sucrose?"
She yelps, almost jumping in surprise as she hears someone call her name. Her gaze instantly lands on her senior, Albedo, who's standing by the railings on the second floor and peering down.
"Y- Yes?"
Although it's just the two of them, the girl finds her grip on the books loosening. Somehow, she feels a little more... at ease around him.
"Did I- um... interrupt anything?"
"Oh, not at all."
Shaking his head, the young man moves to walk over to the stairs.
"I was sketching something for research up here."
"Eh...?"
She blinks, approaching him as he reaches the first floor.
No wonder why he has his notepad with him...
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"It isn't something that requires too much energy, I can handle it on my own."
He responds, glancing at her.
"You have something in mind as well, don't you?"
"Uh... yes, I do."
The girl nods, frowning a bit.
"I couldn't focus back at the campus, so... I decided to come here and research instead."
With the curious look sent her way, she adds.
"It was noisy, everyone else was preparing for something."
She clutches her books at this, the thought about her childhood friends earlier resurfacing.
"But... I want no part of it."
Because they will only remind her of the past, of the times she still had close friends by her side.
And it hurts when those memories come up.
`She's always alone, aside from her time with us.`
The conclusion came from Albedo's own observations, having noticed how the members of Ordo Favonius seem to be the only ones hanging around the poor girl.
And even then, she stays in the lab by herself most of the time.
The young man mentally noted down that he should accompany her, or let her come along on his searches for materials and information more often.
Despite not planning to use up too much time on maintaining relationships, which is fairly taxing in his opinion, he finds himself wanting to help the girl in some way.
Perhaps it's the lonesome look in her eyes, the melancholic glances at happy groups of people.
Or perhaps it is simply the image of a lonely young girl that moved him.
Before he managed to process what he was doing, his hand found itself on her shoulder. Even if the touch was gentle, the girl flinched and snapped out of her thoughts, staring at him.
"Mister-"
"Relax, Sucrose."
The man responds, smiling slightly.
"How about we go out for a bit?"
She opened her mouth to protest, but he spoke before she could.
"I know you just got here and all, but it won't hurt to get some fresh air, will it?"
And he squeezes her shoulder comfortingly.
"I'm going to accompany you."
Facing the other's display of kindness, she pauses and contemplates the next course of action. As much as she dislikes being outside right now, the thought of her mentor coming along makes it seem a whole lot better for some reason.
Upon realizing what she's thinking, the girl's face reddened and made the young man blink.
"Is something the matter?"
He asks, slightly confused.
"Did I say something strange?"
"Ah- no, no."
She shakes her head.
"It's nothing, um..."
Shoving whatever embarrassment she had to the back of her mind, she nods.
"We can go, Mister Albedo."
Said man stares at her for a moment, as if reading her features, then chuckles a bit.
"Alright, let's put your books into the lab first though, shall we?"
"Y- Yes."
Nodding again, the girl proceeds to walk to the said room.
After all, they normally don't bring much whenever they go out for information and research.
Once it's all done, she goes back to the entrance and sees her senior sketching, who looks up upon noticing her approach.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
Having finally calmed down, the student responds without a second thought.
"I'm ready."
Smiling, Albedo puts his sketchbook and pencil into the bag hung by his side as he opens the door, gesturing for her to go first.
"Right, let us go."
Mustering a small smile in response, she steps out and he follows suit, closing the door behind them.
The girl shivers the moment cold winds blow by, muttering under her breath.
"Oh B- Barbatos, m- may your blessings be with us..."
Then she pauses.
Why did she just mutter a Demon God's name and ask for good fortune?
That's not how it works-
`"Roam free, for that is what I want you to be."`
She blinks.
Now why did this strange bard appear in her mind...?
"Sucrose."
Albedo taps her shoulder.
"You're spacing out."
"Huh? I- I am?"
She stutters, face flushing.
"I apologize, Mister Albedo, something just-"
"It's alright."
Seeing her so embarrassed makes him chuckle, reassuring her in order to calm her down before she quite literally overheats.
"Let's check things out."
Nodding, the girl proceeds to push her thoughts back once more and walks along the streets with the other by her side.
Snowflakes fall and one lands on her nose, soft yet chilly as it slowly melts away due to the warmth of her skin.
Looking around, she notices the colorful decorations and beautiful pine trees for the first time.
Perhaps it was because she never paid attention to these things, since she had been trying to avoid catching glimpses of groups that would remind her of the past.
Perhaps it was because she thought she didn't fit in, since she had nobody to share those festive joys with.
And perhaps it was because Albedo was a genius, he could tell what was going through her mind.
He knew all along.
About her struggles, her dreams, her drive.
It was somewhat too obvious to him, though he didn't comment and observed instead.
Seeing her grow and improve day by day, he felt accomplished, in a sense he wasn't familiar with.
It's as if he's proud of her.
Humming, the young man takes the girl's hand and smiles as she turns to face him, shock written all over her features.
Smiling in response, he says softly.
"Would you like to prepare for Christmas as well?"
"Eh...?"
She blinks, taken aback by his sudden suggestion.
"Ch- Christmas? But... I..."
She doesn't have anyone close enough to...
"You have us."
He gives her hand a comforting squeeze, turquoise eyes meeting amber orbs.
"If not the entirety of Ordo Favonius, you have me."
The words feel strange even on his own tongue, yet it feels right all the same.
Somehow, he just knows he would be there for her.
Or at the very least, he would try his best to.
"I'll be here when you need someone."
Sucrose stares at the other, rendered speechless by his words.
Warmth blooms in her chest, however, like the growth of Spring upon hearing them.
Her heart seemingly slams against her ribcage due to surprise and nervousness combined, but it isn't frantic in a bad way.
She's just... well, flustered.
Despite the pink dusting her cheeks, the girl smiles.
"Thank you, Mister Albedo."
Yes, she is truly grateful for his company.
"I would love to spend this Christmas with you."