Against The Cold ~ Alberose

Chapter 17

Suddenly, Lumine barged into the medical tent, Amber hot on her tail. The bow-wielding Outrider seemed to have recovered from her earlier injury.

When the two saw Albedo and Sucrose, they plastered matching smirks on their faces and snickered.

"About damn time," Amber teased, watching as the two alchemists jumped up in shock, their faces redder than Amber's outfit.

"Archons, you two . . . privacy exists, you know," Albedo said sheepishly. Lumine laughed and playfully smacked the back of Albedo's head, to which he scoffed and grinned back.

Albedo's expression quickly fell, and he stood up quickly. "Dammit, I'm sorry, I abandoned my post, I need to get back out there-"

"Woah, woah, slow your roll there, kid." Albedo saw Captain Julart limping into the tent, blood dripping from a cut on his shoulder. "Battle's over," Julart said simply.

"A-Are you sure? There's no . . . surprise attacks or . . . um . . . ." Sucrose asked, eyes full of worry.

Amber folded her arms over her chest and nodded. "Yep! Everything is oka-"

"Lumine!"

The traveler whipped around suddenly. Over her shoulder, Sucrose saw Xiao standing at the entrance of the tent.

"Barbatos' gnosis has been stolen," Xiao informed them lowly, his hands curling into fists.

"Shit. Venti," Lumine mumbled. "Is Venti okay?"

Sucrose's eyes widened. Why would she wonder about Venti? He's that drunken bard, is he not? Sucrose then let out a quick breath. Oh. She locked eyes with Albedo. He'd come to the same conclusion. Barbatos and Venti were one and the same.

Xiao nodded. "Yes, just shocked. I've been sent by that Grand Master to find you all and bring you to the Knight's Headquarters."

"Acting Grand Master," Amber corrected. "Come on, Albedo, you and I can support Sucrose."

Albedo bent down and looped Sucrose's arm over his shoulder. "I got her myself."

Sucrose shakily got to her feet and, leaning against Albedo, slowly followed everyone back to Mondstadt. On their way, they saw the Knights of Favonius packing up equipment and beginning the march back to the city.

Albedo waved over a cart that a knight was towing back by horse, and he lifted Sucrose into the back of it. Once she was settled, Albedo helped himself up. Sucrose let out a long sigh.

"I know," he murmured, gently brushing Sucrose's hair away from her face. He seemed to read her mind, seemed to know that she was feeling lost and terrified.

"What . . . what happens now?" Sucrose said quietly.

Albedo sighed. "You . . . we humans are so focused on what can be, on what happens next. Why can't we just appreciate what we are now?"

Sucrose nodded and leaned her head on Albedo's shoulder. "Well," she started. "I'm okay. You're okay. Amber, Eula . . . everyone is okay, more or less."

Albedo grinned. "We . . . are something, now. Whatever that is, I'm not sure, but . . . ."

Sucrose laughed. "But it's a good thing, right?"

"Of course it is," Albedo replied, kissing the top of Sucrose's head and wrapping an arm around her. "We now know the truth about me as well."

"Lumine came back," Sucrose added. "I was beginning to think she'd never return."

"This whole thing . . . even if it was just one time . . . it's too much," Albedo confessed. "After we saw the Fatui in the cave, everything seems to have . . . fallen apart."