When Albedo returned, Mieko looked drained and pale. She obviously hadn't been sleeping either. He indulged Koyuki's curiosity for a bit, answering her questions while Mieko brewed more tea. He felt extremely concerned for his partner, knowing that it had only been 2 days. When Yuma came to get his daughter, Albedo went to check on Mieko. "Mie, what's wrong?" He asked, noting her shaking.
"Nothing-"
"Mieko." He made her turn around and put his hands on either side of her, pressing her back against the counter. "Please. Don't hold it back. It's clearly bothering you."
"I… I'm sorry." She let out a sob, laying her head on Albedo's shoulder. "I'm sorry…"
"What are you sorry for?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to him. He let her calm down before he asked again. "Mie, what are you sorry for?"
"I… It's been so long since Yuki died, why can't I just make it stop hurting?" She managed, clearly distraught. "Albedo, I can't make it stop…"
"No one would expect you to do that, Mie." He said, soothing her as well as he could before having her sit while he cooked dinner. As he placed the plates of Sunshine Sprat on the table, she looked up. "Are you feeling better now?"
"Not quite." She said softly. "But I missed you." she smiled up at him before he took his seat.
"I missed you as well." he did his best to keep the dinner conversation light, knowing she was currently thinking too hard. After they ate, he had her go to bathe and relax a bit, doing the dishes for her. It was painfully obvious that Mie was suffering, seeing Koyuki and mentally apologizing the whole time to her dead friend. He sighed to himself, wondering what to do. How could he assist her? His chest felt tight when she cried and was upset like this. But this was something Mieko had to resolve herself. It wasn't as though he could use Alchemy to help her. As he contemplated these things, he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Do you feel better, Mie?"
"I do." She said, hugging onto him, seeming much less tense. He took her hand and smiled over his shoulder at her, letting her press her nose against his cheek. "Thank you, Albedo."
"You're welcome. You should get to sleep soon." He added. "You're taking Koyuki to study the flowers tomorrow, right?"
"Yes." She smiled. "Hopefully the air and the work will help."
"I hope so as well. Where will you two be going?"
"It will likely be around The Whispering Woods and Starfell Lake… Thankfully the concentration of monsters is lower around there."
"Oh? What a coincidence. I have to head that way tomorrow afternoon for some work. Shall I meet you for lunch?" He asked, Mieko chuckling at him.
"If you like." She said. They planned on a place to meet before Mieko went to lay down, Albedo staying with her for a little while. She went to bed smiling, and once she was asleep, he tucked her in and pet her head, staring at her for a while.
The next morning after Albedo left, Mieko took Koyuki out with a promise to bring her home before the sun started to go down. They spent the morning observing and sketching flowers, Koyuki trying her best to mimic Mieko's work. It was a good day for them both. They began to head to the spot where Albedo was going to meet them for lunch when Mieko got a bad feeling. She glanced around, seeing something barreling their way. She whipped around and met the flaming club of a hilichurl with her polearm. "Damn it, Koyuki, move back! Go to the trees!"
"Y-Yes, Miss Mie!" Koyuki ran to the tree line to hide, Mieko throwing the hilichirl back before blocking another. There were 4 of them, and something large and looming heading for them.
"A mitachurl too? Crap." She bit her cheek. Mieko did her best to keep them away from Koyuki, bit one of the hilichurls got past her. "Koyuki, climb the tree!" She called, the young girl scrambling up the tree. The hilichurl that had gone after her stomped the light blue ribbon thay had fallen from Koyuki's hair, trying to get at her by clawing at the tree. Mieko managed to throw The remaining two hilichurls off of her and hurried to dispatch the one trying to get to Koyuki. "Stay there. I'll take care of the rest of the monsters." She reassured the girl.
"Y-Yes, Miss Mie." Koyuki nodded, Mieko going back to fighting. As the mitachurl slammed its axe down on her, she managed to move away, but then she saw it. An Abyss Mage And 2 more mitachurls coming their way. "Shit… Really?" She wasn't going to be able to take all 3 out at once. "Alright, Snow… Time To put Albedo's training to the test." She took her stance in front of the approaching enemy, prepared to fight as hard as she could against them. She had to protect Koyuki. She began her attack, doing alright against them until the Abyss Mage summoned it's flame spewing dragon heads to surround Mieko.
"Miss Mie!" Mieko was certain she was done for in that instant, but strangely she felt movement beneath her. She looked down as a flower-shaped platform lifted her above the flames, even the Abyss Mage looking surprised. She smiled though, seeing one of the mitachurls stumbling as it was pushed back, a flash of white rushing out from beheath her. "Mister Albedo!"
"Thank you, my dear. Now this will be much easier." She smiled, adjusting her weapon in her hand before jumping down on top of the Abyss Mage, utilizing her vision to whittle down the shield in front of her. The two fought off the Abyss Mage and the remaining mitachurls before retrieving Koyuki from the tree. "Koyuki, are you okay?" Mieko asjed as the girl started to cry. "Whats wrong?"
"I…" She sobbed, trying to rub away her tears. "I ruined Aunty Yuki's ribbon!" She cried, which surprised Mieko. "Papa said not to lose it cause it was special!" She sobbed. Mieko, with no hesitation, untied the red ribbon from her own hair that Yuki had gifted her so many years prior.
"Don't cry, little one." She smiled, petting Koyuki's head before she tied the new bow into place where the light blue ribbon had been. "Your Aunt would never want you to cry over a ribbon. You can have this one. Your aunt gifted me that when we were around your age."
"She… did…?"
"Yes, she did. She would also have been very glad that you were safe, and given you all the ribbons you wanted to replace the old one. But, since she isn't with us, I hope this will be a suitable substitute." Koyuki managed to stop crying as Mieko continued to pet her head. "Now, let's go back and get you home safe. I think from now on, we'll need to have you just stay in Mondstat for the apprenticeship. At least until you're older, or if we have more company."
"Y-Yes Miss Mie… Thank you for protecting me."
Albedo escorted them back to Koyuki's house before he took Mieko to her workshop so she could rest, knowing that ribbon was all she had left of Yuki.
"Will you be alright?" he asked her as he boiled some water.
"Not as alright as I always pretend to be." She replies to him from her seat.
"Well, thank you for your honesty." He replied simply.
"Can we make coffee instead of tea? I should probably stay awake."
"We can." he smiled, grabbing the coffee instead of the tea. Albedo remained quiet for a while, and once the coffee was ready, he sat with her on the couch. He brushed out her braid with his hand, smiling as she leaned into his touch once he was done, cupping her cheek.
"Get some rest. I'll return later, there's something I want to give you."
"Give me…?" She asked. Her stomach growled, and her cheeks colored. "Oh… I forgot to eat…"
"It's alright. I'll bring you some food too." He smiled. "So close your eyes for a bit. I'll be back shortly." He left her with a kiss to the top of her head, Mieko sinking into her seat once she was alone. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Yuki. Are you proud of me?"
Upon Albedo's return, he had a dark blue ribbon in hand, along with food from Good Hunter. The ribbon was accented with the same motifs he had on his coat. "You may find this a bit much, but perhaps… You could wear this instead?" He handed her the ribbon after placing the food down on the table. He stood in front of her, not wanting to push her too far. Not when she was this fragile. "I know emotionally it's not nearly so precious to you, however-" Mieko wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him to her, burying her face against his chest. "Mie…?" he asked, bracing himself on the back of the couch, kneeling over her lap now.
"It's more precious than you could ever know… Thank you, Albedo." She managed to say, tears forming again. He smiled and moved to sit in her lap, allowing her to hold him. He let himself relax, leaning into her arms. Albedo played quietly with her hair for a while, just enjoying being close to her before speaking.
"Would you like me to put it into your hair for you?" he asked.
"Yes, please."
The following week, she had changed her entire look to match Albedo's ribbon. When he got a closer look, he saw many little motifs that matched the ones he wore, making him smile. He liked it when they matched, perhaps a bit too much. He was most amused by the armband motifs on her leggings and shirt cuffs. She really studied his attire for this. Not to mention, this new outfit seemed to give her confidence that made her seem happier. He supposed that he should maybe give her gifts she could use like this more often. And perhaps see if she would make herself match him more.
"A good experiment." He mused to himself.
Albedo walked over to her when she came to visit him up on Dragonspine one day, picking her up and making her squeak In surprise.
"A-Albedo? What is it?" She asked, Albedo smiling at how red her cheeks were.
"Nothing in particular. I just wanted to show you some appreciation. For the outfit you made to accompany my gift."
"I can walk though…? You don't have to pick me up."
"Mm, call it a countermeasure."
"A countermeasure to what exactly?"
"To the feigned resistance and embarrassment in reaction to what I'm about to do to you." he smiled, Mieko's face getting even redder. "I can't begin to tell you how much I wanted to do this when we were in Mondstadt when I saw you wearing this outfit. But I resisted to avoid you panicking." he chuckled as he carried her into his camp. "So now that we're alone… Will you let me, Mie?"
"L-Let you? Let you do what, Albedo?" She asked.
"Oh, I see. Feigned ignorance as well." he nodded. "I will have to take more notes." he smiled up at her, putting her down on his desk and leaning in close to her.
"Mie… I wish to do more than just cuddling tonight. If you would prefer I elaborate, I will do so. But the last time I said the word 'fornicate' you-" he stopped when her hand covered his mouth.
"I get it, I get It." she said, her hand shaking a little and her cheeks as red as Albedo had ever seen them. "Enough already, Albedo… You promised, as a part of the agreement. No toying with my heart."
"Oh, does it seem like that's what I'm doing? Forgive me. I thought this was called flirting. Is my research incorrect?" Albedo asked as she withdrew her hand.
"It isn't wrong, but… You're also a lot more straightforward about it… Too honest." She added.
"Oh… But you like honesty, yes?"
"I do. Very much so."
"Then, Mie. I want you." he felt his own cheeks flush a bit pink at his statement. "Will you allow for that…?" Mieko smiled softly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"Archons, you're being cute again. You know what that does for me." She leaned in a little and chuckled. "If that's what you want, Albedo. Anything for you."
((Albedo has learned over his first year dating Mieko her habits and her usual methods of escape from situations that embarrass her. And he's learned ways to keep her from running from them, using her clear adoration of him to his advantage. Such a sly thing, isn't he?
-Winter Cheshire))