Chapter Text
Silence.
No words are said since the leaving of the Ragnvindr Manor.
Kiddo almost asks a question a couple times, but all his words die on his tongue.
The two versions of one another sit around a fire.
They eat meat and vegetables.
Neither says a word.
It’s been hours.
Kaeya-M inhales.
“You were happy.”
Kiddo flinches, taken off-guard by the sudden dialogue from his formerly painfully silent companion. “What?”
“You were happy with him,” Kaeya-M repeats, his voice audibly strained from what Kiddo may have mistook for crying were he not with the adult the entire day. “Weren’t you?”
“Of course I was,” Kiddo replies with a shrug. “I finally got to meet dad - well… your dad.”
Silence stretched out for another long moment, and Kiddo is almost sure Kaeya-M won’t utter another word at all. After a few minutes, though, the man speaks again.
“I am just… trying to protect you.”
It’s Kiddo’s turn to introduce the silence now.
“You’re right, I… I was only trying to protect myself. It just…” He swallows hard, but the perfect cranberry alcohol is replaced only by ash and smoke and blood. “It still hurts.”
“Your hands?” Kiddo asks softly, staring at his food instead of daring to look toward Kaeya-M.
“No.”
You aren’t my brother… not anymore.”
“I just didn’t… I didn’t want Diluc to hate me anymore.”
The world is quiet as both of them think of what to say next, though neither have any great ideas for a while.
“I still want to be with them. I want to have a brother and dad and live in a hot-ish home with new food.”
Kaeya-M knows what he means to say. He knows what he means to do. He knows he should let him. He just…
“Be so very careful,” he instructs, though it sounds more like a plea. He continues as he stands and walks over. “Don’t you dare tell him where you came from, you hear me? Not if he places a sword to your neck.”
“Okay.”
Kaeya-M crouches and pulls Kiddo closer, wrapping his arms around the child and never planning to let go. “Promise me,” he begs as his voice begins to crack under the pressure of the salty water his eyes are holding back.
“I…” Kiddo takes Kaeya-M’s shirt in his hands, nodding against the older man’s shoulder. “I promise.”
The world blurs around them, and as Kaeya closes his eyes, he’s left alone in a world devoid of all which he holds dear.
Music and clinking mugs and laughter and silverware against plates crescendo as they flood into Kaeya’s ears. His head lifts to reveal a wood backdrop that comes into focus to reveal the dim-lit tavern known as Angel’s Share. A redhead bartender wipes a glass in front of him, his back turned.
The man turns around and stares at Kaeya for a long moment before grabbing a bottle from the shelf behind him and popping the cork so he can pour the contents into the freshly cleaned glass. “What’s wrong with you?” He asks, and if Kaeya didn’t know better, he’d be sure there was a hint of concern in his brother’s voice.
Kaeya is about to ask what in the world Diluc could be referring to, and if this is another one of his jabs at Kaeya, when he feels something roll down his face, leaving behind a warm trail.
Reaching up, he realizes it was a liquid coming from his eye. Had he been crying in his sleep?
Kaeya is quick to wipe his face clean and offer a half-hearted smile, grabbing any excuse from anywhere. Despite being fully prepared to lie, something adjacent to the truth escapes his lips.
“I was simply… recalling old times. I miss when we were children, I suppose.”
Diluc’s eyes narrow as if he’s trying to read Kaeya’s mind, but he doesn’t press the matter. “I suppose that’s understandable,” he deadpans, sliding over a Death After Noon Kaeya’s sure he didn’t ask for.
“Luc, I was thinking: it’d be nice to hang out sometime, talk, catch up. How about it?”
Diluc partially turns his back to his brother to fake counting inventory, and he’s silent for so long that Kaeya almost fully convinces himself he’s equipping his claymore for murder. Instead of flashing a weapon, though, Diluc speaks, and Kaeya can almost see him cracking the slightest of grins as he does. “I will see what my schedule allows.”
Kaeya’s grin softens slightly as an anticipating warmth fills his chest. “I look forward to it.”