One-shot book! requests open :)

Albedo - Tea Time!

Hiking your boots up further, you cursed as you nearly dropped the parcel of very important alchemy things you didn't entirely understand. As much as you loved spending time with the Chief Alchemist himself, having to climb this cursed mountain each time was at the very least frustrating.

Albedo has been holed up in this god forsaken place for months and every couple of weeks it's your job to bring him essential items as well as any needed materials to aid in his studies. As tiring as it can be sometimes, you can't help but look forward to your chance to finally see him.

While it may just make your job a small bit harder, you had remembered to bring some tea he had mentioned liking as well as a couple pastries you could hopefully enjoy together. You couldn't help but get a little flustered at the thought of being able to bask in his presence and simply speak with him...

you really need to manage your expectations.

You knew just how passionate the man was about his work and that he may very well thank you for your services before ignoring your existence and going back to his work. Despite reminding yourself of your previous encounters in which he, admittedly, was very polite you couldn't help but slightly deflate when you recall your short conversations with the man. He tended to be fairly blunt and would rarely start conversation himself and yet you enjoyed hearing his smooth voice talk about stuff you didn't understand.

One strange thing you had noticed was the fact that although he would hardly say anything that could even be considered a full sentence, you felt his eyes on your back each time you unloaded and properly sorted the materials you had brought up that stupid mountain as well as each time you made the trek back down. Although it may have made you a little self-conscious at first you soon got accustomed to his lingering gaze and just accepted it as part of the guy.

snapping back to the present, you steel yourself as you approach the home stretch. The warm amber glow of a fire illuminates the entrance of the small cave you've seen countless times over. Gently shaking the snow off of you and peeling your hood off, you enter the little lab with a polite "excuse the intrusion" and head over to the small table near the entrance to unload your bag.

"you weren't here last time"

You almost jump at the sudden sound of his voice, not expecting Albedo of all people to start up conversation, let alone notice your apparent absence from the last delivery he received.

"Oh, yeah I was a little under the weather so they had a traveller or something supply you for the month, I didn't think you had noticed haha."

Although your laugh was meant to ease the tension, the feeling of his icy stare on your back was enough to tell you it hadn't worked.

"I see"

Really? You had known this guy was socially inept but this awkward interaction really took it to the next level.

"I did bring a gift of sorts though! Think of it as a way to make up for your favourite pack mule's absence!!"

You finished the sentence off with a joking tone, of course but it seems the alchemist failed to pick up on it.

"Am I truly that transparent?"

"What?"

What? it seems that word was all you could express in your mind and speech. Although to be fair, what? Turning to face him, you're surprised to see his face holds a small smile of all things! Oh. Ohhhhhh.

"Haha! I never knew you'd make very good banter with how little you speak, you truly had me fooled for a second, sir."

"Just Albedo is fine, please"

Despite your urge not to let it slip, you feel a smile form in your face with the amount of progress you've made in this one visit!

"Alright, Albedo it is! Now about the gift I mentioned,"

Turning back to the pack you'd left on the table beside the very heavy parcel you made sure not to shake too much, just to be safe, you take out the tea mix you'd brought up as well as the box of pastries you precariously tried not to smoosh.

"I remember you saying this tea was something you enjoyed so I brought some for you to warm you up! I also have a couple macarons and such although I didn't know what kind you'd like so I kinda just bought one of every flavour..."

Meeting his gaze, you noticed a little bit of a lost expression in his face, weird. Was he not used to receiving gifts? Just as your face takes a worried expression, Albedo breaks the short silence.

"That's very kind. I do apologize I have nothing to give in return."

"Oh It's really no problem! Just your company is enough!"

After realizing what you said made your relationship seem too familiar and far beyond anything a worker would tell their client, your face took on a bit of a bright red shade.

"I-I mean... well not like that but I meant it's..."

Your stammering had partly distracted you from the fact there was another person involved in the conversation and you jumped a little when hearing his voice.

"That's an acceptable deal, you did bring up the gifts after all."

Oh wow. You know you really need to manage your expectations but he really just said it would be acceptable to take up a little more if his time! Noticing he had taken a seat near a small firepit of sorts, you grab a kettle from his cupboard and fill it with water from your thermos before carefully hanging it over the fire.

"Don't tell me you redecorated just for me, did you have company over or something?"

At your question he seems to pause, perhaps contemplating his answer.

"Yes, actually. There was a bit of an issue and a few fellow knights as well as adventurers helped me resolve it."

"No way, really? I guess it's just my luck to miss out on something important like that, sorry I couldn't help you too..." You look down at your lap as you finish, feeling just a little left out.

"Please do not worry, think of it more like you're a good luck charm. Perhaps without you here, I just couldn't handle things alone."

He's looking at you now, your reddening cheeks weren't helping as you felt your embarrassment reach an all time high. Oh Archons, you couldn't even meet his gaze... did he mean that or was he teasing once more?

"I-"

You're cut off by a sharp screech as if even the kettle couldn't stand your flushed face. You quickly grab the thing and speed over to the small desk to prepare the tea and plate the sweets. What's worse, you can still feel those eyes on you... did he really have to stare after that mess?

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Hello again!! This chapter was actually requested although that was quite a while ago, sorry!!(;﹏;)
I hope this was to your liking even if it's a little cringey, i really didn't like how it turned out haha. I started writing this on Albedo's birthday so as you can see there was a lot of changing what I originally planned and going back on ideas... Please leave any critiques or requests you might have in the comments,  I love reading them :D