"Mieko's birthday?" Albedo asked. "Oh, no, I haven't asked her when it is."
"You haven't? My goodness, Albedo." Lisa chuckled. "You'll have to do something nice for her. It's only a week away."
"Oh, right before Valentine's day? Then I missed it last year."
"Yes. Poor Mie works herself to the bone every year right before Valentine's Day because she gets an influx of orders." Lisa cooed.
"Usually she tries to work through her birthday. Lisa has attempted to give her a surprise party, and she was very unhappy about it." Jean sighed. "We usually just stop by to drop off some food, but since you two are dating… Perhaps she would be more open to having your company? You might even be able to convince her to take a break and enjoy her birthday for once."
"She doesn't enjoy her birthday?" Albedo asked.
"No. Not for many years." Jean shook her head. "Even when we were young, people would give her gifts that were reminiscent of Valentines Day, like chocolates and such. This lead her to dislike the holiday as well."
"That is problematic." Lisa sighed. "Not to mention that her ex broke up with her around this time of year."
"I see… Perhaps I could…" Albedo pondered, turning on a heel and leaving. Lisa and Jean glanced at one another, then smiled.
"Do you think Albedo can convince her?"
"I'm less worried about him convincing her, and more worried about how she'll react." Jean sat down. "What did she do last year?"
"Oh, you didn't hear? I thought I told you~" Lisa grinned, resting her chin in her hands. "She went to Liyue with Albedo for Lantern Rite."
"Oh, that's right… Has it been that long?" Jean asked. "I didn't realize they had been together for a year."
"More than a year. It's quite something. Isn't it?" Lisa smiled cheerfully. "Our dear Mie seems much happier in Albedo's presence."
"I do have to agree with that." Jean nodded. "But, I hope she isn't working too hard… I know she's been stressed about her Mora recently. Her rent went up recently."
Albedo made sure to prepare things in advance, and on the day of Mieko's birthday, he went to see her. The workshop door was open, so he walked inside. "I'll be right with you." He heard her call from her work room. Koyuki rushed out to greet the guest, smiling as Albedo motioned for her to be quiet about who it was.
"Welcome to Echoes, please have a seat." Koyuki said, grinning and trying not to laugh. Albedo took a seat and let Koyuki go through the motions of greeting a guest and serving the tea. When Mieko emerged, her eyes went wide.
"Albedo?"
"Good afternoon, Mie." He said to her. "You seem quite busy."
"Ah, sorry, I got an influx of repairs and orders thanks to Valentine's being right around the corner. Have you been waiting long?"
"Not at all. I don't mind waiting. Go ahead and do what you need to. I may borrow your kitchen, though."
"By all means." She nodded. She went right back to work, Koyuki pouting a little.
"Has she been working like this all week?" Albedo asked the girl. Koyuki nodded. "Then how would you like to help me with something?"
"Okay~" Koyuki went to tell Mie she was going to help Albedo, returning with a smile. "She said 'Whatever you need', Mister Albedo."
"Then let's begin." He went to cook the dinner he prepared, Koyuki being a diligent assistant. "Do you like assisting Mie, Koyuki?"
"I do. But… I know I'm not very good at a lot of things. Miss Mie is always really patient with me, though." She smiled as she helped Albedo mix the sauce for the Sunshine Sprat. "But sometimes she looks really sad… I try to help, but I think I make it worse sometimes."
"I'm sure that's not the case." Albedo smiled at her. They finished making the food, and Koyuki's mother, Finneh, came to get her. Albedo walked her out.
"Oh? Spending the evening with the birthday girl?" Fiineh asked, smiling. "What a good boyfriend you are." She chuckled. "Thank you for looking after Mie…"
"Of course. After all, I don't ever want Mieko to feel neglected." He replied.
"Very good." The mother and daughter left for home, Koyuki waving to Albedo as she went. The blonde alchemist smiled and headed back inside to check on Mieko, who was still knee deep in her work. He went to set the table before going to retrieve her.
"Mie, dear. It's dinner time." She jumped a little, looking up at the clock and sighing.
"So it is…" She placed her tools down and went to the door, taking Albedo's hand. "I'm sorry… I kept you waiting." she smiled sadly.
"Not at all." He lead her into the kitchen where he had set up the table. He had filled the room with candle light, placed a tablecloth onto her normally barren table, and filled a small vase with flowers. "I have heard you dislike Valentines Day as well as your own birthday, so I tried to keep it simple. But I also thought if I made it a bit romantic, you would appreciate it more." He explained as Mieko stared at her kitchen.
"You… Did all this for me?" She asked, turning to him finally. Albedo nodded and lead her to sit.
"I realized when Lisa told me that I missed last year, so I wanted to make up for it. As such, I wish to spend the evening with you and make it memorable. Preferably, I would also like for you to enjoy it."
"Ah, you talked to Lisa and Jean." She smiled.
"I did. Is the information I was given correct?"
"Yes, it is." She said as he sat down across from her. They enjoyed their meal, Albedo serving dessert as well.
"I hope you don't mind the flavor of this. I wanted to get you something different." He said, plating a piece of Muscat Cake for her.
"Oh… I don't mind at all. That's one of my favorites, actually." She smiled at him. "You really do know me very well."
"I do my best to do so." Albedo smiled at her. They enjoyed their dessert and sat down together for a while, soon moving to the couch with some tea. "How have you been holding up with Koyuki being here every day this week?" He asked, Mieko smiling sadly.
"It's... Difficult, since Yuki's been gone for so long… This year makes... Oh, has it been 13 years already...?" she asked softly.
"It's been that long?" he asked, gently playing with her hair. "Oh... I suppose, even though we've been together for over a year now, I never actually asked... How old are you?"
"Only you would dare to ask a woman her age, Albedo." she smiled, chuckling. "But to answer your question, I'm turning 28 this year... Yuki passed away when I was 15."
"Then, you only spent 3 years with her...? I thought it was longer than that."
"To others, 3 years seems like too short a time... But to me... Those three years were equivalent to a lifetime." Albedo listened to her talk for a while, staring at her and being attentive. He was so fascinated by her speaking, he had never felt like this before now. After a while more of her talking, she turned to him. "I'm sorry. You're not here to listen to me rambling."
"I honestly don't mind at all." He replied, smiling at her. "But since you're done for now… Perhaps I could interest you in something more… Befitting, for your birthday? Such as a present?"
"Huh? B-But you already did so much…" She said, cheeks burning as she realized the look he had on his face. "O-Oh… You mean…"
"Only if you like." He smiled at her. "You certainly enjoyed it the last time. I did as well." He pulled her into his lap, smiling as she braced herself on his shoulders instead of the couch. "And your weight is very comfortable in my lap… I rather enjoy it…"
"I do hope you don't want to do it here on the client couch…"
"Oh, no, I just wanted to embarrass you a little." He chuckled. "I'll let you up so we can go elsewhere, but I won't join you until I clean up the dishes." he allowed her up and out of his lap, enjoying how red she was. But something stirred in his chest when she retreated upstairs. A feeling he wasn't aware he could have. In all his years, he hadn't felt quite like this before. Not towards a person. He stood at the bottom of the stairs for a little while, smiling as he heard clothes rustling. He smiled to himself, heading up the stairs to her, admiring her from the door before entering the room. She was sitting down on the bed, having changed into something more comfortable. Mieko's eyes were closed and she was taking deep breaths. Her hair was cascading down her back, showing off how long it was.
"Are you going to keep staring at me to make me more nervous?" Mieko asked him, Albedo smiling as he walked closer, standing in front of Mieko before she opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"Are you nervous, Mie?" He asked her, lifting a lock of her hair to his mouth, kissing the end.
"You make me nervous, staring like that… It feels like you're going to eat me." She replied, Albedo smiling still at how red she still was. She offered her hands and Albedo took them.
"I just might." He chuckled, moving to kneel over her lap with one knee on the bed next to her thigh. "But you have nothing to be nervous about. I promise, if it's something we haven't done yet, I'll ask permission first."
"Th-That isn't the point, Albedo." She replied as he cupped her cheek.
"Oh? Then what is?" he asked. The smug expression on his face made Mieko feel like she would melt into a puddle. She didn't resist him as he gently pushed her back onto the bed, reaching up to help him undo his hairtie as he moved to straddle her hips. Since she didn't reply, he leaned in to kiss her. "May I, Mieko?"
"By all means, Albedo."
"Mieko, are you still awake? Go back to sleep, dear." Albedo chided his lover as he felt her tossing and turning.
"Nn, I can't sleep…" she muttered, shaking her head. He turned to look at the clock.
"Mie, it's 4am."
"I'm sorry… I tried, but my brain just won't calm down…" Albedo turned on his side and smiled softly at her.
"Did I overwhelm your mind with too much?" He teased as she turned to face him.
"Perhaps… Why are you still awake? Or did I wake you?"
"Nn, don't change the subject my dear." He played with her hair. "Alright, come here. Let me hold you." he pulled her to him, his hand resting on her lower back.
"No, I'm really alright…"
"Shhhh, don't protest, you need to be up in a few hours, don't you? Sleep, darling."
"Mnnn…" Mieko melted into Albedo's arms, the blonde running his fingers through her hair and letting her relax. Once she was asleep in his arms, he chuckled.
"You fill my head with thoughts… So many thoughts, Mieko…" Albedo said softly, smiling a bit as she got comfortable and let out a contented sigh in her sleep. "How is it that you, who sees so little in yourself, entices me so?" He spent a while just watching her sleep. "I'll have to continue testing this… And boosting your confidence." he chuckled, holding her hand before dozing off himself.
The following morning, Lisa and Jean stopped by to deliver Mieko her late birthday present, only for Albedo to open the door. "Oh?" Lisa chuckled. "Goodness, you two must have had fun last night." Lisa smiled, Jean's cheeks red as she realized what Lisa was getting at. Albedo's hair wasn't in it's normal and neat updo, and clearly he had come to open the door in a hurry, as his shirt was only half buttoned. "Is our dear Mie still asleep?"
"She is." Albedo said rather proudly, something that made Lisa giggle. "Do you want me to wake her?"
"No. Sleep is good for her. Just let her know we dropped this off." Lisa said as Jean handed Albedo the box. "Have fun treating her to the best post-birthday and Valentine's Day she's ever had~" The brunette sang as she led Jean away. Albedo went back inside, going to get ready for the day before making Mieko some breakfast and coffee. He felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist.
"Good morning, Mie."
"Abedo… Who was at the door?" she asked. Clearly she was still half asleep, only wearing her sleep shirt.
"Jean and Lisa." He replied. "They dropped something off for you." Mieko went to inspect the box, placing it's contents on the counter.
"Mmm, lovely coffee and tea." She said happily before going to brew some of her present to share with Albedo alongside his cooking, Albedo enjoying the sounds of her humming to herself while she worked. "Are you going back to work after this?"
"No. I was hoping I could stay with you? I have missed drawing you as of late."
"Oh…? You have?" She asked.
"Yes. You are fascinating to draw, especially your hair." He replied. "I am only sorry I didn't get to draw your hair last night." He smirked, her cheeks turning as red as he had ever seen them go. "Perhaps tonight, you would give me another opportunity?" He watched her turn away out of embarrassment. "Is that a yes, my dear Mie?"
"You'll have to compensate me."
"Of course. How would you like me to do that?"
"Allow me to patch the holes in your coat." She said simply.
"Holes?" He looked down at his coat, realizing that indeed, there were some small holes. "Mm, very well." he smiled, shrugging off the coat for her. "Now, let's see… What view would be best?" He muttered to himself, perching himself somewhere so he could draw her while she worked.
((When your birthday is so close to a large holiday, you often get gifts that remind you more of that holiday. I'm sure there are at least a few of you out there who understand this sentiment.
- Winter Cheshire))