Chapter Text
Kaeya, like an absolute masochist, finds himself sitting right behind the counter at Angel's Share. He always visits the establishment for three reasons, divine wine, his drinking buddies, and a chance to see Diluc coming around and checking up on his main bar, sometimes even serving the drinks personally. He doesn't need to do any of that, he's a wine tycoon for a reason, but Kaeya supposes there's something calming in participating in everyday activities of an average man. That and everyone knows taverns are the best sources of information.
And, well, Seeing Diluc is of bigger importance than Kaeya would ever like to admit to anyone so he can't help the warm feeling when he spots the man making drinks for the patrons. He lets a fond smile appear on his face, half hidden behind the palm he's leaning on. He observes the way Diluc fluidly moves, mixing and serving his finest wines, the fierce red hair brushing against his skin and beautifully framing Diluc's face.
Kaeya could look at Diluc all day like a lovestruck fool if his brother wouldn't have a keen sense of observation. His admiring is therefore cut unfairly short when their eyes lock and Diluc gives him an unimpressed stare.
It's in moments like these that Kaeya laments Diluc's military training. He wishes Diluc would be less sensitive to his surroundings and Kaeya could ogle him freely all day without him noticing. Then again that would mean that other clients of the establishment would get to do the same and that makes an unspeakable surge of jealousy rush through Kaeya's blood. It's not even justified because Diluc is far, far from his but Kaeya can't help it. If Diluc is at stake it's enough to turn him hostile towards anyone.
Kaeya watches Diluc give off the latest drink he had been making and then make his way towards him. "Sir Kaeya," he cooly greats.
Kaeya smirks, pulling his face out of his hand. "Why if it isn't Master Diluc."
Diluc's eyes narrow at him, the signs of annoyance already adorning his expression. The temptation to squeeze his cheeks is unreal and Kaeya doesn't doubt that if he wasn't sober he would've given in.
Some part of Kaeya's thought process must've shown itself on his face since Diluc huffs and rather harshly asks, "What do you want?"
"My my, so cold," Kaeya tuts, slightly shaking his head. "Is this how you treat all of your customers?"
Diluc crosses his arms, leaning slightly backwards which really makes him look like the figure of authority that he is, the light causing his eyes to shine like a burning fire impossible to extinguish. It makes Kaeya's heart throb. "Generally I do tend to ask that when I'm bartending , Kaeya. Since I assume they want to order something."
"And you're so impolite about it?" Kaeya harrumphs, taping his fingers against the counter. "I bet the majority of your customers come for your face since you clearly lack manners."
The moment these teasing words leave Kaeya's mouth he regrets speaking them. Diluc gets a, dare he say, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He places his hands on the counter, leaning forward so they're more or less face to face and lowering his voice to ensure Kaeya is a few stray words away from a cardiac arrest. "I see no need to use politeness of strangers with you. And since, according to you, I so 'clearly lack manners', I assume you're here for my face as well, no?"
Kaeya's cheeks burn red, a feat not many can claim they've accomplished. He pulls away, hunching his body as best as he can in a fickle attempt of obscuring his features. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm here for your wine," he says and the lack of an artfully crafted remark is loud enough to ensure both he and Diluc know there's a semblance of truth to it.
Because Diluc is voluntarily and involuntarily Kaeya's greatest demise he presses on, digging the ground beneath Kaeya's laid words for as long as it's needed till they crumble and till Kaeya has no choice left but to offer up honesty as compensation. "You could've chosen any other establishment for just wine."
Kaeya clings to his artful half-lies. "The wine here tastes better." It does. Because Diluc makes it and Diluc also serves it. Which is stupid because Charles serves wine just as exquisite as Diluc does, they work behind the same counter after all, but Kaeya can always tell who served him his drink even without looking.
Diluc levels him with an unimpressed stare. "I ship my wine all over the world."
Kaeya can't help but look away in embarrassment. "Yeah but it's not served by you now, is it? However much it pains me to admit so your skill with drinks is unparalleled."
It's as honest as Kaeya gets and Diluc knows it. So he sighs, straightening back up and grabbing after a clean wine glass, thankfully not further probing about the logistics behind Kaeya's statement and dropping the subject. "You're here for 'Death Afternoon' I presume?" he asks, pulling out Kaeya's favourite bottles of wine to make him a drink.
Kaeya takes the opportunity to pull himself back together, fixing his hair a little and replying with a rather joyful voice. "You know me so well."
Diluc huffs in amusement, carefully pouring and mixing Kaeya's drink. "For a drunkard, your drinking range is rather small."
Which is very offensive. "Hey, I'm not a drunkard!" Also, sue him if he has preferences!
Diluc throws him an unimpressed backwards glance. "Say that again when I don't have to see you shitfaced at least once a week, Kaeya."
"Okay listen," Kaeya measly attempts to defend himself. "I may be tipsy often - for duty, may I remind you, but I'm not full-on drunk ."
Kaeya knows Diluc is rolling his eyes while screwing a cap back in its place to put the used flask away despite having his back facing him. "You call puking your guts out from alcohol 'not full-on drunk'?"
Kaeya grimaces. It does sound kinda stupid when put like that but that doesn't mean it's any less true. "I do that intentionally sometimes when I know I've had too much. It isn't nice working with a hangover." He also likes to remember what nonsense he spouts while drunk lest he becomes too unaware and unintentionally reveals parts of himself he keeps buried under a pile of more important and convenient feelings.
Diluc finally turns around with Kaeya's drink finished and looking as good as he remembers. His estranged brother elegantly places it down in front of him while continuing to lecture Kaeya. "One would think the lesson would've stuck and you'd stop drinking so much."
The words make Kaeya's annoyance spike. "One would think father's death would've taught you to stop meddling with other people's business," he bites back and immediately regrets it. He can see Diluc's gaze harden into a fierce glare and he knows he's struck a nerve he shouldn't.
Great. He keeps digging his own grave.
Diluc leans close again but this time Kaeya's heart jumps for a totally different reason. "Oh sorry for worrying, Kaeya. I'll be sure to let you put yourself into an early alcohol-induced grave as you clearly so desire. Get out of my sight ." He feels like the glare is burning him from the inside out, the lowered voice striking him where it hurts most. And that expression . It makes Kaeya wish he had died back when he was supposed to, all to spare Diluc from ever having to wear it again.
Diluc forcefully turns around and grabs after another glass. To an outsider, he would appear fine but Kaeya can see the way his shoulders tense and his movements gain a rough edge.
They've had their fair share of fights, serious and playful ones, and apologies forgone in favour of pride. Especially since Master Crepus, their father, had died. No matter how many hurtful words they've exchanged, Kaeya can count the honest apologies they've made to each other on one hand. Why should that change now? Why should Kaeya have to apologise when Diluc has pressed where it hurts most numerous times too? Even if Falcon had advised him to try and be 'the bigger man' to their problems, why should Kaeya always be the one who has to change for others and seek the middle ground?
Well, the answer is clear when he watches the tense figure of the one he once called his brother. He doesn't want a bad relationship with Diluc, he's sick of their pointless fights and jabs, and if it means he has to be the one to reach after him he's willing to for all his life, just so he never gets to witness Diluc crumble because of him ever again.
It's hard for him to say it, his throat suddenly dry and lips stubbornly stuck together. He grabs after his glass of alcohol, painfully clutching it in his hand so hard one might worry he'll break the glass. He takes a generous sip for his courage and takes note of how relatively quiet the tavern is and that at least a part of their conversation had been observed by strangers. Then he pushes said observation aside and turns back towards Diluc's back.
"Sorry," he murmurs lowly, quietly, barely enough for Diluc to hear, much less anyone else. A part of him hopes Diluc hasn't heard it, hasn't heard the vulnerability in Kaeya's voice and the honesty a measly word has forced out of his mouth often too filled with lies while another, bigger part of him desperately hopes Diluc has heard him and knows Kaeya hadn't been thinking clearly and spoke what he hadn't meant as a defensive measure before he could've thought it through.
He stands up, intent to make his way to a corner to hide from Diluc but the surprised expression on Diluc's face doesn't go unnoticed by Kaeya.
He heard. He heard and Kaeya doesn't know whether he's feeling relief or dread settling into his stomach. Most likely both.
It doesn't take even a minute of his alone time in a corner when he's joined by a man. "Sir Kaeya!" one of his subordinates greets him and pats him on the back. "What good news do you bring?"
Kaeya quickly collects himself and his scattered, Diluc-filled brain, pulling on his signature smirk. He manages a chuckle, turning his attention to the man and forcefully pushing the mess of emotions in his head into a corner for later. "Well, Coraline had birthed a beautiful young foal a few days prior."
His subordinate waves in excitement. "Oh, I heard! The ones who've already seen the foal are singing praises about him. They say he's going to be quite a runner, just like his mother," he praises and pulls out the chair opposite from Kaeya. "Oh, you don't mind me sitting down here, do you?"
"No, I don't. Sit freely." Kaeya rather appreciates the distraction.
It's not long for people to start piling around him, challenging him to various drinking games, exchanging interesting stories, and occasionally throwing in a flirty line or two as they get drunker the more the night progresses.
And then comes the topic of conversation that completely shocks Kaeya and throws him off his game.
"You know, Sir Kaeya, I'm jealous of your relationship with Master Dilic," Jose drunkenly complains, sighing in a way one would describe a distressed maiden sighing in fairytales.
"Jealous?" Kaeya echos, surprised. He himself has held back on alcohol more than usual and is tipsy at best, trying to take Diluc's comment to heart to an extent. Half so because he feels like he owes it to him because Diluc had shown concern and Kaeya has just shot him down in the worst way possible. The other part of the reasoning is that he really, really doesn't want to get drunk enough to risk a public breakdown.
"Yes, jealous," Jose whines, slurring the words and face-planting into the table.
Kaeya laughs at his antics, reaching over to tap his shoulder. This man shouldn't drink any more alcohol tonight. "Jose, you'll have to elaborate. Why are you jealous?"
He bleary looks up, looking concerningly alike with a lost lamb. "It's just- you guys, fairytale worthy," he babbles out, making absolutely no sense. He at least seems to be aware of it, straightening up and groaning, sending a drunken glare at the drinking buddies sited around Kaeya. "C'mon guys, like, help me out."
Cyrus laughs boomingly, his movements rougher from the alcohol he had downed in a drinking contest with Jack. Which he had won so Jack is fairly worse off than him. "What are you trying to say, you drunkard?" he loudly asks.
Jose gestures as best as he can in Kaeya's direction and then in Diluc's. " Them, " he says and elaborates no further. Kaeya is just as confused about what he's trying to say as he was before.
"Oh, oh, " Cyrus gasps in recognition, his mouth in a perfect ‘o’ shape like some fish thrown out of the water. Then he looks at Kaeya with a puzzled look before turning back to Jose. "But Sir Kaeya is here. We shouldn't talk about it."
"Yeah and Master Diluc is here as well. If he hears us we're gonna get thrown out. Or skinned alive," Quinn intercepts with a hint of fear present in his voice.
“Pretty sure he wouldn’t do that because legal rep- repro…” Jose starts and then pauses, frowning, his mouth apparently not working the way it should. Then he groans and simplifies what he had meant to say. “He’d get, like, thrown into jail.”
Kaeya suspects the only reason Jack doesn't add anything to this confusing pile of words is because he's too drunk to participate in the conversation.
Kaeya grabs after Quinn who is closest to him and pulls him into what one might call a bro hug, ruffling the man's hair in the process. "Okay, you bastards, what have you been talking about behind my back?"
"N-nothing," Quinn yelps, his face flushed. Kaeya suspects his charms manage to warm a whole lot of drunken men's cheeks even if sober they'd deny it to their deathbeds.
"What nothing!?" Jose barks, slamming a fist against the table. "Everyone and their mom can see it! It's sickening to us poor, lonely sods… So unfair," he complains and mumbles off before laying back down against the cool table.
Kaeya finally releases poor Quinn out of his hold to let the man breathe and not get an embarrassing erection in the middle of a tavern, turning his attention to the only actually sober man in their drinking corner.
"Hey don't look at me," Huffman says upon noticing his gaze. "You know I don't frequent taverns."
Kaeya tilts his head. "That may be so but Jose has made it sound like it's something everyone but me and Master Diluc knows about, so it doesn't matter that you rarely join us for a drink. What are they talking about?"
Huffman huffs (hah) and crosses his arms. "Captain Kaeya, I'm not one to partake in gossip either."
“Lies!” Cyrus practically yells, jumping out of his seat. “You told us, and I’m quoting, ‘Captain Kaeya and Master Diluc are fools in denial.’!” He exclaims it so loudly half of the tavern falls silent immediately and directs their attention at them in stunned silence.
"Yah, fools in love," Jose adds, thankfully far more quietly than Cyrus but perhaps even more so jarringly because of it.
Kaeya’s jaw drops from sheer shock. He gapes at the drunk men and then looks back at Huffman, barely remembering to fix his expression into some semblance of normalcy.
To his credit, Huffman looks thoroughly unimpressed. He sighs, crossing his arms. “That’s not gossip. That’s a fact. And would you please quiet down a little?”
“Oh,” Cyrus intelligently says and nods to himself. “I see,” he mumbles, his voice taking on a way too knowing tone for Kaeya’s liking. Knowing of what!? What the hell kind of conclusions are these drunk men coming to!?
“I’m sorry, what!?” Kaeya blurts out in protest, completely flabbergasted. However much he wishes to deny it he can feel his cheeks getting hot and it's definitely not from alcohol.
"Cyrus, you're too loud!" Quinn cries out and pulls the big man back down onto his chair, completely ignoring Kaeya. "What if master Diluc hears you!? We're gonna die!"
Fuck, Diluc! Kaeya scans the crowd whose eyes are directed at him in a panic to try and spot his too perceptive brother. He prays to the fucking gods he hasn't heard Cyrus just as much as Quinn does.
"He went in the back to restock. He hadn't heard," Huffman says to Quinn to calm the man down, yet Kaeya can't help but feel like the comment has been directed at him first and foremost.
Hearing that greatly eases a part of Kaeya's brain. He doesn't need Diluc to see through him because of a stupid offhand comment drunken men have made and detest him even more. Or worse, avoid him.
More importantly… "What kind of ideas have you been feeding these idiots?" Kaeya asks his subordinate, his tone filled with that cold, cutting sweetness promising problems .
Normally Huffman wouldn't even begin with meddling with the personal affairs of others, much less fueling rumours so when Kaeya says he got caught off guard he means it.
Huffman turns to him and lowers his voice. "With all due respect, sir Kaeya, what I said isn't a secret nor is it a new observation. It's a conclusion they've all reached but were reluctant to voice."
Is he being so fucking obvious? Had Diluc noticed then? Surely he hasn't or Kaeya would've picked up on Diluc's behaviour if it would deviate from the norm. On top of that, the only fool in love here is him and it makes him angry how easy he had been for his drinking buddies to read.
He voices just as much. "Well it's the wrong one and I'd appreciate it if all of you would mind your own business," he hisses, glaring at Huffman. It's not often one would coax honest, head-on anger from Kaeya and Huffman seems to know it.
"You are right. Sorry for overstepping."
Unfortunately for Kaeya though, his message is much less clear to the drunken men. "Young people these days," Jose presses on. And Kaeya has half a mind to start personally attacking Jose to make him shut up about him and Diluc.
Huffman's hand on his shoulder and a shake of his head stop him.
"Jose, you're young too," Quinn replies, confused.
Jose pauses for a moment, the cogs in his brain visibly turning like he has forgotten he is in fact, not an old man. Then he reaches after a glass of alcohol that Huffman sweeps away from him and replaces with his own grape juice. "Yeah but I'm not in love with Master Diluc," Jose replies, taking a generous gulp of the juice without noticing it's not alcohol, looking in Diluc's direction. Kaeya presses his lips in a thin line and follows his gaze, noticing the man polishing his glasses and putting them back in place, looking as pristine as ever.
Jose sighs, awestruck. "... Okay, maybe a little," he mumbles, nodding to himself. Kaeya can't help but resonate with that sigh.
"Ha ha, that's gay," Quinn comments, patting Cyrus' shoulder in lieu of Jose's who sits across from him.
"You're gay!" Jose shoots back so quickly Kaeya is forced to believe it's an automated response.
Quinn, to his surprise, flushes. "I'm not!" he exclaims, vigorously shaking his head to emphasise his point. Which, in Kaeya's opinion, isn't smart, the man is gonna get sick from the motion.
"Both of you are gay," Cyrus grumbles in a matter-of-fact way.
"Listen," Jose defends, raising his hands and almost knocking down the wine Huffman has taken away from him. Kaeya grabs the glass at the last minute and puts it far, far away from the musician. "I'm loyal to my muses but Venti's songs lowkey make me gay."
"Jose that boy," Quinn, starts and trails off, visibly contemplating. "Or man? That man is stealing your job, Jose, why are you simping for him?"
Jose groans and faceplants back into the table. "He's such a femboy who has a way with his words, wouldn't you say yes to anything he says immediately?" he mumbles and Kaeya doesn't even want to begin visualising Jose's undoubtedly not family-friendly thoughts.
Cyrus reaches over Jack and roughly pats Jose's back. "That's just you, buddy."
"Noooo, but he's so- you have to see it, c'mon- wait, why are we talking about me? It's him we should be talking about!" Jose exclaims with drunken anger and points at Kaeya.
"Sir Kaeya? What about him?" Quinn innocently replies, the point of the conversation most likely slipping from his hazy mind already.
"His crush!"
Quinn turns to Kaeya, looks him up and down, and then, to Kaeya's complete shock, throws himself around Kaeya's neck which he had never even attempted before. Kaeya reflexively grabs him around his waist and pulls him closer, practically on his lap lest Quinn slips and hits himself on the table or something.
All men around the table gape in shock, Kaeya included. "Quinn, what are you doing?" he blurts out, craning his neck to try and see Quinn's face which turns out to be a mistake because the man in his lap pushes his face into the freely offered open patch of skin, effectively making Kaeya yelp. He prays to God that the man doesn't get any bright ideas to lick or bite him.
"Quinn what the hell are you doing!?" Jose echoes Kaeya's own question, standing up on his wobbly legs.
Quinn doesn't grace them with a response, he just groans and squeezes Kaeya harder, leaching onto him as if his life depends on it. Kaeya tries to gently remove him but Quinn doesn't want to let go. He looks up for help from his fellow subordinates but his gaze slips further down from the table and locks eyes with Diluc who's watching him intently. The fiery eyes effectively halt Kaeya's movements and he stops struggling to remove the man from his lap. Quinn happily snuggles into him and sighs.
Kaeya doesn't know what kind of expression he makes but it seems enough for Diluc's eyes to narrow and for him to start making his way toward them.
"He doesn't deserve you," Quinn mumbles into Kaeya's skin. The feeling of a warm breath against him more so than words is what makes Kaeya tear his eyes away from Diluc.
"Who doesn't deserve me?"
"Diluc. Take me instead," he mumbles to Kaeya's utter horror.
"Okay, that's enough," Huffman intercepts and stands up to help take Quinn off him, grabbing his hands and trying to gently force the man to let go.
Jose openly laughs. "Ha! Quinn that's like a snail competing with a falcon in a battle of speed! You have zero chance against Master Diluc!"
Speaking of the devil. "What about me?" Diluc asks, appearing behind Jose and most likely (one can never be too sure) unintentionally scaring the musician who lets out an undignified squeak, almost toppling over if it wouldn't be for Huffman's reflexes who lets go of Quinn to stabilise him.
The musician in question immediately gives way to the man who sometimes employs him for nightly performances. "M-master Diluc," he stammers.
Quinn, upon hearing that name, looks up from Kaeya's neck (or chest? Kaeya can't really tell) and freezes when he spots the tavern owner. They're in a rather compromising position with his hands around Kaeya's neck, half sprawled across his lap. He's motionless long enough for Diluc to walk the distance and stand in front of him and Kaeya with an expression of annoyance and… Anger? Not quite but Kaeya can't properly place it.
Quinn looks up at him, bleary blinking twice before clumsily stumbling off of Kaeya's lap in a panic. "I haven't done anything to him, I swear, he's yours," he babbles and goes to cover behind Huffman who would admittedly also be Kaeya’s choice of coverage if Diluc's current burning gaze capable of making a man sober in fear would've been directed at him.
"I think," Diluc slowly says, crossing his arms. Kaeya feels the sudden chill of the usually too hot tavern. "It's about time you gentlemen leave this establishment."
The cold words cause even Cyrus to flinch and leave the men at the table fumbling to pay their dues and get out of Angel's Share as fast as possible.
You see, many would argue they are not intoxicated enough to warrant such treatment but when Diluc tells you to leave his establishment there aren't many who'd have the guts to oppose him. Or crave his attention to the point they'd prefer seeing his composure snap and slam them into the counter rather than go home just yet.
Alas, today is not one of those days because of the company surrounding Kaeya so he stands up too and is about to do the same when a hand digging into his shoulder stops him. " You, " Diluc says, turning Kaeya to himself, his fiery red eyes digging into the depths of Kaeya's soul. "Help them get back home and then come back here. Are we clear ?"
Kaeya nods, too stunned for a proper answer. Was that just now… jealousy ?
Diluc seems to be dissatisfied with his nonverbal communication. " Kaeya , I asked you something," he says, his voice imitating a very, very strained form of politeness. It reminds Kaeya of their childhood when Diluc became irritated because Kaeya hadn't paid him enough attention. Which had been rather cute, Kaeya must admit. He can't help but let a little smile blossom on his cheeks.
"Oh, yeah, sure," he answers.
Diluc seems to be taken aback for a moment though Kaeya can't tell why. "Good," he replies, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Don't take too long."
"What time is it?" Kaeya asks and pulls Diluc's right hand to himself, lifting the sleeves enough to uncover Diluc's watch. Past midnight already. Kaeya ought to hurry or he'll be cursing his past self at work tomorrow- or should he say today.
"Past midnight already," Diluc answers the question even if Kaeya can see it himself. He hums and fixes Diluc's sleeve back in place, letting go of his hand.
"Here," Diluc mumbles, stepping closer to Kaeya, his gloved hands brushing against Kaeya's skin. Kaeya has to force himself from shivering at the touch, goosebumps flaring all over his body. He thanks and curses all the gods in existence for gloves on Diluc's hands because he really, really doesn't know what he'd attempt to do if Diluc's bare skin would've brushed against his chest but he also really, desperately wishes to have the warmth of Diluc's hand pressed there.
Kaeya feels a little breathless while Diluc is fixing his slightly disheveled appearance from Quinn's unexpected acts, pulling Kaeya's clothes around him a little tighter than he is used to having. Which is weird. He raises an eyebrow at Diluc in question.
Diluc clears his throat and looks away. "So you won't catch a cold."
Kaeya frowns. "Diluc, it's almost summer."
Diluc huffs. "All the more reason to take care of yourself, isn't it?"
Kaeya can hear Jose snicker. However, when Diluc sends a glare his way he's quick to stifle it down and cover behind Huffman too. It's comical enough to almost send Kaeya into a fit of laughter.
He's too preoccupied with stifling his laugh to notice Diluc looking back at him, with a smile of his own gracing his features. It's only when he manages to somewhat calm down that Diluc sighs, uncrossing his arms, and turns to the rest of Kaeya's drinking circle. "Alright then, pay up and leave."
Cyrus is the first one to step closer (and probably the only one whose knees don't turn weak under Diluc's piercing gaze) with Jack half slumped around his shoulder in a drunken daze, babbling about something incomprehensible and giggling. He pays up the dues for both himself and Jack and starts carefully heading towards the door.
The rest of them follow suit. Kaeya decides to help Cyrus with Jack while Huffman drags Jose and Quinn with him who don't need much more than a little hand-holding to prevent them from wandering off, so to say.
"I feel like being at the receiving end of that glare has really sobered me up," Jose comments the moment they lay feet on the streets.
Huffman huffs and drags him along. "You're not getting any more alcohol."
"Aww, c'mon, bards work best with their drinks and their muses."
"We're not in the middle ages," Huffman sighs in pain, effectively making Kaeya roll into laughter.
"What are you laughing about, huh?" Jose jabs back. "My best love songs can't even begin to compare to you and Master Diluc."
Kaeya feels his annoyance spike. He knows the smile he forces is cold but to Jose, who is still intoxicated despite claiming he has sobered up it looks no different than Kaeya's usually put-on charm. So he fakes cheerful indifference and tells Jose between the lines to shut the fuck up. "Well, you can't compare apples to sunsettias and expect their juice to taste the same."
Which Jose obviously doesn't take as a clue to stop. Instead, it urges him into a monologue. "Boy, do you think I was born yesterday? The looks you throw at that man… Sometimes when you're drunk you start going off about how Diluc hates your guts which makes me want to punch you and shake you to make you see reason!" he exclaims so fiercely that Kaeya is about ready to intercept a fist to his face. "He gives you special treatment so often it's insane. I bet even Lord Barbatos himself couldn't get away with half of the shit you do."
Kaeya can't help but bark out a bitter laugh at that. "What special treatment?"
Jose looks at him flabbergasted. "You're talking like he lets just anyone butt into his personal space, grab his hands and manhandle him to see on his watch when they could've freely checked their own phone or a wall clock ." Oh… Yeah… Kaeya forgot those exist for a moment. "And he literally chased Quinn away like a hawk. And then fixed your clothes! And also ordered you to come back to his side like some overbearing wife."
"We're brothers, Jose. Or at least were. I think that counts as enough for Master Diluc to let me 'manhandle his hands' as you've put it and not treat me like a stranger. And he probably needs me for something. On top of that, he'd never let people get… harassed if he'd see it happening. No matter who they are." Kaeya can see Quinn flinch at that which maybe makes him feel a bit bad because in hindsight it just seems like the boy has a fat crush on him and wants to be closer, he's not someone with ill intentions.
Jose snorts. "Please, Quinn barely did anything, all he did was climb on your lap and snuggle into you. It didn't warrant a reaction so fierce at all. Master Diluc sure is scary when you're putting your hands near things he's possessive of."
Kaeya halts at that, almost causing Cyrus to stumble and drop Jack. " Possessive? Of me? "
“Did you see how he glared at Quinn?" Jose asks, pointing at the man in question and then back at himself. " I felt my knees going weak and I haven’t even been the one at who it was directed!”
“And what exactly is that supposed to indicate?” Kaeya bites back and resumes walking.
"Boy you're blind,” Jose sighs like he is talking with a particularly dense individual. Which Kaeya isn’t, by the way. “He's jealous!"
Kaeya is thrown completely off guard. "But…" he argues, trailing off. "He hates me," he states quietly, with way too much vulnerability in his voice.
It shows because this time it’s Huffman of all people to butt into the conversation. "You two seriously need to talk."
“Oh Barbatos,” Jose groans, rubbing his temple. “Okay, listen. I don’t know what exactly happened between you two but you don't just start hating a person who was once closest to you. It may seem so in the heat of the moment but when anger cools off… You want nothing, and I mean nothing more than going back to the arms of that person even if pride may prevent you so.” It's painful because at least in Kaeya's case… It's true.
But Diluc? "Diluc isn't prideful."
Jose dismissively swings his hand. "He's just a tsundere. And so are you, honestly! Archons."
Kaeya gapes at the musician. "I'm a what!? No, I'm not! How do you even know that term!?"
"How old do you think I am!? Besides, a true artist looks at many sources, and if one of the sources happens to be hentai, well…"
Huffman pushes a hand into Jose's face to silence him. "Okay that's enough, stop."
But Kaeya has just found a new interesting line of conversation he doesn't intend to sweep under the rug easily. "What kind of hentai?"
Jose perks up at the question and struggles to get out of Huffman's hold to eagerly answer but his drunken struggle is no match to Huffman's trained grip. A pity. Truly.
"Uh, what is hentai?" Cyrus asks, a confused frown on his face.
Kaeya is more than happy to start explaining but somehow Huffman finds it in himself to have enough strength to silence Jose with one arm and Kaeya with another. Which, Kaeya admits, is kind of impressive. " Don't answer that," Huffman hisses.
Kaeya licks his hand and Huffman squeaks off all things which Kaeya has never heard him do, pulling his hand away in surprise. The action makes a mischievous smile spread across Kaeya's cheeks. "It seems like you know what hentai is," he taunts. "Care to explain how?"
Kaeya has never before seen Huffman turn red but he's fairly sure the ample street lamps reveal enough to safely claim there truly seems to be a first for everything.
"Okay, that's enough, I can handle them alone from here, go back to Angel's Share," Huffman grumbles, clearly avoiding having to answer.
"Awww, is someone getting cold feet?" Kaeya tuts and would definitely start circling around Huffman like some kind of a predator if he wouldn't have to help Cyrus with Jack. "A bit embarrassed about sharing with their comrades?"
Huffman groans. "You're my boss, why am I having this conversation with you?"
"Because sharing is caring, dear Huffman ," Kaeya playfully answers, his voice laced with sex appeal with an emphasis on his name for maximum effect.
Seems like he isn't as immune to Kaeya as Kaeya thought he is because Huffman gapes at him, his cheeks regaining heat again. He loosens his hold on Jose from surprise and the man tumbles into laughter.
"Archons, don't do that," Quinn helplessly says, speaking for the first time since they laid their feet outside of Angel's Share.
Jose keeps laughing. "Is there anyone here who doesn't fall to Sir Kaeya's charms?"
"None are strong enough to resist me."
Cyrus laughs with them this time. "Credit where credit is due, you're correct."
The conversation trots on in all sorts of cursed directions, the group thankfully deciding to spare him from the Diluc onslaught he'll be forced to face later anyways. Before he knows it they reach Cyrus's house.
"You can go now, I'll handle Jose and Quinn," Huffman tells him.
"Is Jack gonna stay at your place again?"
"Yep, more convenient," Cyrus replies while Huffman takes Kaeya's place under Jack's weight and helps manoeuvre him into the house.
"Alright Sir Kaeya, see you next time!" Jose calls and waves at him.
Before Kaeya can say his goodbyes and turn back to Angel's Share, Quinn seems to work up the courage to approach him. "Sorry for straddling you, I - I don't know what came over me," Quinn apologises, his face flushed and embarrassed.
"Ah, don't worry about it Quinn," Kaeya smiles and ruffles the man's hair. "You just surprised me. Don't let it become a regular occurrence though."
"It won't, Sir Kaeya, I promise!" Quinn exclaims and salutes.
"No need to salute me, I'm off duty. Besides, my ranking is not important enough for you to need to bother with that in the first place. Now get home safely," Kaeya bids farewell, and soon he's on his merry way back to Angel's Share.
He can't help but wonder what Diluc wants. He was too stunned to question it in the heat of the moment but usually, his dearest brother is all too eager to throw him out of the tavern rather than invite him in. It's… weird, unexpected, but Kaeya can't help feeling that childlike giddiness because Diluc had worried about him and then ordered him to come back to his side.
Like an overbearing wife, as Jose so gracefully put it. And, well, is it pathetic of Kaeya if he desperately wishes that had been the case? That Diluc had worried over him because of possessiveness and jealousy like Jose claims? That he had called him back to keep Kaeya at his side and ensure no one else can touch what rightfully belongs to Diluc?
Is it pathetic if Kaeya desperately wishes so?
It is, he decides, but that makes him no less of a desperate man, eager to please Diluc if it means getting any other form of acknowledgment but anger and irritation he has to coax out of him.
He pulls out his phone.
|Owl: Falcon, yo, brother|
It surprises Kaeya how quick Falcon is to reply because he can’t even type out his question before getting a response and deleting his entire message in favour of educating this online Diluc.
|Falcon: I am not your brother.|
Kaeya rolls his eyes.
|Owl: It's slang, genius|
|Falcon: I know, I’m just teasing.|
|Falcon: It’s funny seeing you get exasperated about such little things. Truly reminds me of my brother.|
Kaeya gapes in offence. The audacity!
|Owl: You're mean :(|
|Owl: Also can you drop your formal way of writing???|
|Owl: It’s creepy as hell, who in this day and age types like this|
|Owl: Are you a pedophile?|
Kaeya can’t help a smile spreading across his cheeks as he quietly cackles at himself and his genius. He hopes people on the streets don’t pay him any special attention and think he has officially gone crazy.
|Falcon: Archons, you’re a wild card.|
He can so clearly picture Diluc face-planting and sighing in pain and exasperation.
|Falcon: In any case, what did you need? I am busy.|
Oh, right, he had massaged Falcon with a purpose.
|Owl: Oh, yeah, sheesh, I forgor|
|Falcon: … You “Forgor”?|
|Owl: Forgot|
|Owl: Damn autocorrect|
|Owl: I forget I have to type grammatically correctly for you to understand me|
|Falcon: I pity your friends.|
Kaeya gapes in offence again. What the hell is this slander? This guy is as mean as Diluc!
|Owl: STFU|
|Owl: That means Shut The Fuck Up btw|
|Owl: Oh and that means By The Way|
|Owl: Old man|
|Falcon: Please get to the point.|
Kaeya can practically hear Diluc’s tired sigh while reading Falcon’s response. It makes him snicker.
|Owl: YEAH okay so kinda like|
|Owl: I was drinking with some of my drinking buddies right|
|Owl: And their drunk asses told me that I am obvious as fuck and that both I and my brother are in love with each other but in denial or something|
|Owl: And then one of my drunk buddies who apparently has a crush on me??? I mean I do tease him sometimes but I didn’t think it was getting to him???|
Kaeya seriously thought Quinn is straight as a pole and reacts to his presence when drunk because, well, Kaeya knows how he looks and knows he is pretty enough for people to excuse themselves claiming that he looks feminine enough when they're drunk. And he knows that sometimes he can be a little unaware of the appeal of his actions. Or he just teases a little because he finds it funny.
He didn’t think it was actually getting to the man, doesn’t he have something going on with that childhood friend of his?
|Owl: Anyways he climbed into my lap and all|
|Owl: He didn’t attempt anything too wild tbh, he just, like, cuddled me?|
|Owl: But like, I was surprised and admittedly rather uncomfortable because of that|
|Owl: And my brother saw that and came over and chased the man away by just glaring at him lmao, thinking about it it was so funny|
|Owl: And then, when we left the tavern my friend said that my brother was obviously possessive and jealous and acting like an overbearing wife or sum because he told me to help my drunk buddies home and then get back to him with like, that "I take no objection" voice that promises problems if you don't listen|
|Owl: Which is hot as hell btw you have no idea|
|Owl: Half tempted to not go back just so he could hunt down my ass and "show me my place" or something but how could I ever say no to him|
|Owl: And I know my wishful thinking is a little delusional|
Kaeya is so focused on typing out his response that he walks on a crosswalk without checking for any nearby vehicles. This is, of course, a big mistake as the screeching of brakes pulls him out of his thoughts and makes him jump to the side. He stares at the driver wide-eyed for a hot second before realising what kind of an idiot he is for letting Diluc occupy his brain to the point he puts himself in dangerous situations like this.
He can see the driver heavily cursing him so he awkwardly smiles and hurries off of the road in humiliation, praying to god he wasn't recognised. Dead or alive, the Cavalry captain of the Knights of Favonius almost causing an accident would instantly make it to the news about ‘role models’ and their actions.
When he’s safely off the road, this time a little more aware of his surroundings, he writes to Falcon again.
|Falcon: You’re so openly horny for your brother.|
|Owl: Why do you think???|
|Owl: You think I can talk about this with people I know IRL?|
|Owl: Btw almost got hit by a car typing this, that's why I dipped|
|Owl: That would’ve been a headline|
|Owl: “Died Horny Writing To His Fellow Brocon Asking For Advice” or something|
|Owl: ANYWAYS|
|Owl: I told them they’re being ridiculous and he’d chase away anyone who he sees harassing others which is true|
|Owl: So if your brother would’ve been in my place and you in my brother’s place, how would you react?|
|Owl: I know it’s stupid but somehow I trust your judgement better than the judgement of people I’ve known since I was a kid…|
It takes Falcon far too long for Kaeya’s tastes to reply and he isn't even aware he starts openly pouting like some child when people haven't paid attention to him for like five minutes.
|Falcon: Okay I’ll respond later, I’m too busy at the moment.|
|Falcon: Just so you know what I’ll tell you is from experience directly because something similar happened to me today. And had happened before on numerous occasions.|
|Owl: Okay, sure, I have something to do anyways|
|Owl: But please hurry if possible|
He stores his phone back in his pocket as he continues his walk back to Angel's Share as mindlessly as possible. He is there in no time, greeting familiar patrons for the second time that night and stepping foot into an all too familiar place. He makes a beeline to the bar counter where Diluc is mixing drinks again.
"I see the tavern is no less full after your little outburst. I'm surprised you haven't scared your patrons away," he can't help but taunt to feel a semblance of normalcy after everything Jose has thrown into his face.
"And you're back to your charming self." Diluc's back is to him but by the tone of his voice, he can guess he's getting the 'rolling my eyes' treatment.
Kaeya decides to be a cheeky bitch regardless. "Why thank you."
Diluc looks over his shoulder at him with a deadpan expression. "That wasn't a compliment."
Kaeya leans on the counter, putting his head on his hand and making his best 'damsel in distress' expression while eyeing Diluc’s skilled hands mixing a beverage. "Well if you're going to insult me you might as well make me a drink to wash down the sorrows your words cause me," he dramatically proclaims.
Diluc suddenly turns around, all playfulness washed down the drain. "You're seriously trying to get a drink after what happened?" he asks him bewildered like Keya is being ridiculous.
It makes Kaeya's annoyance spike. "Nothing bad happened," he snaps and sits himself down properly, crossing his arms. "And in any case, I'm not even the one who had been drunk."
" Kaeya. "
" What!? " Kaeya barks back.
Diluc levels him with a pained look of all things, contemplating in silence for a few seconds and then letting out a sigh, looking back down at the counter. "Kaeya…" he starts but trails off, his voice so full of vulnerability it makes all Kaeya's protests die down in his throat.
He quietly observes the strong grip Diluc has on his counter, worrying for a second if his raw strength can crumple the surface like it's a candy wrapper. And then Diluc looks back up, his eyes searching for Kaeya’s and settling there.
Kaeya can't help but stare into the crimson red irises, the air caught in his throat.
"When you looked my way and I noticed what was going on…" Diluc continues. "You had such a panicked expression on your face it made me, I admit, overreact,” he grimaces, visibly not proud of his behaviour. “But know that while Quinn may not have had ill intentions or attempted anything too… scandalous , many people in his stead would and wouldn't stop at something so simple while intoxicated. Or sober. Especially if you're drunk and unaware of your surroundings as well."
Kaeya simultaneously loves and hates Diluc's concern. Loves it because it means Diluc pays attention to him and Diluc cares what happens to him but absolutely fucking loathes it because he's getting treated like a little kid and not an adult who had to take care of himself alone for years. After all, the only person left that he had considered family had tried to kill him in a fit of grief-aided rage and then abandoned him and is now acting like he has the right to lecture him when Kaeya had faired just fine enough without him.
Still, Kaeya tries to keep some of his inner turmoil at bay as his lips stretch into a frosty smile. "You're lecturing me like I'm a kid who has never heard of stranger danger. Don't you think I'm old enough to look after myself? "
Diluc rubs his temple in frustration and Kaeya can see Charles is quick to swipe in and take over the order Diluc had just been making. Charles, like the smart and experienced man he is, knows he should get the hell away as soon as possible and takes over Diluc’s share of work without a complaint, moving to the opposite side of the bar counter.
Diluc’s attention is quick to be on Kaeya again the moment when they're left alone. Or as alone as one can be in a full tavern. Surprisingly very, Kaeya would know more about it than he'd ever like to admit.
"I know you're an adult but that doesn't mean that you don't- I-" Diluc tries to clarify and cuts himself off in frustration.
"You what?"
"I still worry about you regardless."
Kaeya's rage flares. "Don't you think you've given up that right years ago?" he coldly asks.
Again, it’s the wrong thing to say, a flash of what Kaeya selfishly hopes is hurt but knows is just anger, possibly hatred, appearing in Diluc’s expression, but no matter how much Kaeya claims he’d be satisfied with being a punching bag to Diluc, just so Diluc would acknowledge him, the reality is different. Because as much as Kaeya can’t help wanting even a small semblance of his brother back, can’t help wanting more than just that too, his abandonment still hurts and will not stop hurting and Kaeya will never be okay with Diluc so carelessly saying he is worried for him when he has always been the reason why there's ever a need to worry over Kaeya in the first place.
But Diluc clearly doesn't see that. "Fine,” he calmly says, anger simmering beneath the facade, glaring at him. “Let yourself get molested if you so desperately crave it."
He doesn't know what kind of a reaction Diluc expected out of him but it's evident that he hadn't anticipated Kaeya's sad and tired sigh, his voice softly dropping as he asks, "Is that all I am to you, Diluc?"
What greets Kaeya is what one would call a "Huh?" of adorable confusion if it wouldn't be for the pain it brings him to voice his own thoughts and fear them to be a reality.
"You would've stepped in and helped out any stranger, you would've lectured them all the same, is that all I am to you?" Kaeya asks, full of bitterness, and drops his head on his hands, resting on the counter. "A stranger, Diluc?"
A moment of silence envelopes them, Kaeya forcefully keeping his head down and staring at the dark surface of the counter, not being able to bear even looking in Diluc's direction.
Then he feels a tentative touch of gloved hands against his fingers. "Why would you say that?" Diluc asks, full of confusion and sadness.
His fingers twitch involuntarily, begging to be capable of holding Diluc's hand in turn but Kaeya doesn't let himself indulge in such delusions. "You haven't really given me a reason to think otherwise since you came back," he softly mumbles. Jose had claimed that Diluc is possessive of him but he fails to see it. What’s so possessive about pushing someone away and stepping in to help only in an emergency?
Kaeya feels the touch retract and misses it immediately. He doesn't doubt that drunk he would've reached after and clung onto it as if his life depends on it. And it might as well. But he also knows that Diluc doesn't like seeing him drunk and wouldn't let him get close at all if that had been the case.
He can hear the rustling of fabric before he feels warm, this time gloveless hands gently moving against his cheeks, prying his head from his hands and lifting it till he's face to face with Diluc. Which he is absolutely not ready for and he doesn't think he’ll ever be ready to feel Diluc’s warm hands on his cheeks again and not desperately wish that the action means more to Diluc like it does to Kaeya. "If you would've been a stranger to me I- don't you think I'd act a little differently towards you? I don't talk about it, but-"
Kaeya cuts him off. "That's exactly the problem, Diluc, because you never ever talk to me and only push me away !" he hisses out with desperation in his voice, pulling away from Diluc’s touch. It feels like it burns , burns in all the wrong ways and Kaeya just- he just wants to stop hurting . He can feel the tears trying to force themselves to the surface but he doesn't let them, doesn't let Diluc see just how fucking close to the edge Kaeya is and how badly he craves his former brother back, swallowing down heavily as if physically doing so would force his brain to bottle down the painful feelings too.
Kaeya doesn't know what kind of reaction he expects from Diluc. Maybe he expects anger or scorn again, it has become somewhat of a norm between them, like ice and fire clashing together, unable to find a common ground so they keep trying to extinguish each other until one gives way. But surprisingly, Dliuc’s voice carries desperation next to his name that Kaeya never thought he would hear again. “Kaeya, what do you want me to say?”
He blinks at him, a little dazed. What he at least needs to hear is that Diluc doesn’t hate him, that maybe he still likes him, even though he's also deathly afraid of hearing the opposite. But what does he want Diluc to say? So many, so so many things for which he knows, even in his wildest dreams, are never going to happen, impossible to achieve.
He takes a deep breath to compose himself lest he says something too honest in an emotional outburst again. "It doesn't matter," he dismisses his own wishes, trying to force himself to believe it somehow doesn't. But he knows it matters to him. Too much. "I don't think we should talk about this now." Which translates to 'Kaeya doesn't want to talk about it and will never talk about it' and, well, Diluc knows him well enough to read Kaeya's feelings too well for his liking.
Diluc stares at him silently, stares for what feels like an eternity, the fiery eyes digging into Kaeya and trying to gouge out his heart like Diluc doesn't already have it served on a silver platter if he just wishes to have it. Kaeya can't bear the gaze, can't help directing his eyes elsewhere, and itching to say something stupid to distract Diluc enough before he reads into Kaeya's words too much and finds out just how weak Kaeya is for him.
Then finally Diluc sighs. "You should go home," he says, turning his back to Kaeya and grabbing the nearest flask, all in a display of 'I have a duty to upkeep' to further underline that the conversation is over and Kaeya is dismissed.
But he doesn't want that. Not when he hadn't done anything that would even remotely get Diluc to talk to him about what actually matters, anything that would turn their relationship less hostile, less of a wreck it has become from all the unsaid thoughts and feelings they've let faster inside them for five years.
But he's at a loss for words, he doesn't know what to say to change that, and oh no, Diluc is already walking away from him, he can't believe he's such a coward he's just gonna let him waltz away without even attempting to bridge the gaps made between them through time and miscommunication. So he panics. "Wait!" he calls out, his voice so desperate to his own ears he wants to bolt out of the establishment in embarrassment.
Maybe the raw honesty of Kaeya's voice is what makes Diluc pause when he normally wouldn't. He slowly turns around and raises his eyebrow in expectation. "Yes?"
"Could you… perhaps, Uhm…" For all Kaeya seems to never run out of words it's exactly when it counts that he doesn't know what to say. And Diluc is aware of it too.
"What is it, Kaeya? Cat got your tongue?"
Kaeya subtly glares at him. "Very funny,” he says while fumbling internally for a response. And then he realises. He doesn’t need to do the talking today, he can postpone it. “Do you have time next weekend?" he asks.
Diluc crosses his arms, thinking. "I can clear out my schedule a little but why?"
"To go to… Steak"s House. For a meal. My treat."
Diluc eyes him with a suspicious gaze. "Okay," he slowly replies, contemplating. "I could make some time for that."