Chapter Text
Kaeya gets discharged from the Cathedral a week later, sent back to the regular schedule of work and other activities.
However, every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday night, Kaeya goes to the tavern. And every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday night, Diluc is there.
Diluc wasn’t kidding when he said they’d work on it, slowly but surely.
When he sits at the bar with a drink in his hand, Kaeya isn’t the only one trying to fill up the silence with words. Diluc is more subtle, however, still quiet and reserved - but from the tone of his voice alone, the bluenette can tell that the man is less guarded.
The redhead would announce his presence when they bump into each other in public, which Kaeya has found to happen more often as of late. Occasionally, if they both aren’t busy, they’d go to grab a little snack at the Good Hunter before parting their separate ways. Diluc would read the menu out loud for him.
…-when Jean, Rosaria or Venti got worried about him, they’d let Diluc know. How does Kaeya know that fact? He can hear it in his voice. He can hear it in their voice, when they ask him how he is.
Occasionally, the man would show up in his office. Today was one of those days, but it was different this time.
How? Because Diluc brought someone along with him.
“Master Kaeya,” a voice said, one he instantly recognised to be Adelinde’s. He faces towards the voice, removing his focus from the new braille practice Jean decided would benefit him.
“Adelinde, is that you?” He smiles, which leads the older woman to carefully bring him into an embrace.
When they part, Diluc is the first to start talking.
“Adelinde, would you…”
The older woman must have a smirk on her face, laughing at the redhead's awkwardness. Kaeya can practically smell it. “Master Diluc, wouldn’t it be better if you asked? It was you who brought it up…”
Kaeya smiles, using his abyssal sight to locate the direction Diluc was in to face him. It was silent for a moment before the latter sighed.
“Would you want to join us for a meal at the Dawn Winery?” Kaeya can hear the hesitation in his voice, but also the palpable determination. It almost caught him off guard, but he didn’t show it.
“Well–”
“Master Kaeya, don’t feel shy. After all, your brother is asking.” Adelinde interjects, and the bluenette can practically feel her knowing what he’s thinking.
Kaeya nods. “If you mean it, then yes, I’ll come for lunch.” He smiles, and a satisfied huff is heard from the redhead.
The bluenette starts gathering his items which Diluc helped with, telling him that he’s aware of where his items go. Adelinde comes and readjusts his blindfold, fussing over a coat to wear, as the weather is colder today.
Then, the redhead is taking his hand, guiding him to the door and warning him of stairs. When they exit the city, Diluc is describing the road and the view and the path that Kaeya hasn’t gone down in a long time, the path to Dawn Winery. Adelinde pitches in occasionally with obvious glee in her voice, glad to see the both of them together.
“We’re currently walking past wolvendom.”
“Kaeya, the statue is over there. Do you recognize the humming? I hear that alcoholic bard’s lyre somewhere in the distance…”
“The vineyards have been healthy. The sudden cold has been surprisingly fine, with no detrimental issues.”
“Careful with these steps. We arrived.”
Kaeya smiles and thanks Adenlinde as she takes his coat off, instructing the both of them to sit in the main room, where she’ll bring tea. Diluc and Kaeya sit on the couch, a comfortable silence taking over them. Kaeya starts to talk about work after a bit of time, which the redhead listens to.
“The treasure hoarder activity has decreased, as of late. I think I have a certain nighttime vigilante to thank,” Kaeya teases.
“Hmph. I’m sure said man is fine with doing such a job.” Diluc replies dryly, crossing his arms.
“Are you busy with the winery as of late?”
“Naturally. Weinlesefest is coming up, so the demand for Dandelion Wine will soon magnify. I’m sure Jean and the 5th Company are starting to plan to fit for the occasion.”
“Yes, of course. I and the Cavalry are going to be involved as well. While the 5th Company is busy with decor, my troops will focus on defense. You know how it is, Dear Diluc. We wouldn’t want any criminals stealing wine this year, wouldn’t we?” He chuckles.
“Sure, like the Knights could ever stop Venti from stealing a drink or seven,”
“I’ve lost hope in that regard. Plus, Weinlesefest is a celebration of the return of the west wind… who am I to stop him?”
“Great point.”
Diluc and Kaeya share a mutual hum of agreement.
“Boys, Lunch is ready,” Adelinde announces before retreating back to the kitchen. The two of them stand up, Diluc reminding him where the main room was.
Kaeya hasn’t been here since he was blinded. He ran his hand on the surface of the wooden walls, trying to remember what they looked like. It came up blank, like a piece of his memories would never return. Sometimes, Kaeya forgets what color grass is. The familiarity of the Dawn Winery reminds him of the past, which sends a pang of melancholy his way when realizes he won’t see the view anymore.
Although, the house smells the same. Cedarwood and fermenting grapes, the sweet kind. He recognizes the sound of the floorboards under his feet and the feeling of fur on the dining table chairs.
His face must give away his thoughts, because Diluc quickly squeezes his shoulder before sitting down close to him. Luckily the redhead didn’t say anything.
“Calla Lily soup and Sticky Honey Roast, boys.”
“Thank you, Addy,” They say in sync, falling into old habits. The woman chuckles, telling them she’ll be in the other room enjoying her meal with Elezer and the other maids.
The soup was just how he liked it, not too sweet but not salty. Kaeya was aware of Diluc’s love for meat, so he wasn’t all that surprised when the redhead said he liked the sticky honey roast. He always did as a kid.
Eating has been getting better for Kaeya, though he’s still hyperaware when he reaches his limit. Today, he ate one bowl of Calla lily soup and a bit of roast, which Diluc voiced his want for him to eat more, but he smiled and told him he’ll eat more later.
The redhead let it go, but said that he’ll be waiting for later. When they finish their meal, Diluc suggests they walk around the winery for a bit. Kaeya agrees.
The wind was tame that afternoon, almost like the Anemo Archon himself calmed it for their enjoyment. Kaeya stopped a few times to feel the grapes, remembering the outline of the vineyard. Diluc allowed him, stopping to talk about each patch and their growth.
“Would you like to pick some? Elezar would appreciate it– Only if you want to, however.”
“I’d like that,” Kaeya smiles.
“Would it be hard because of…” Diluc stops himself from mentioning the blindness, but Kaeya picks up on it. He shakes his head.
“No. My… special elemental sight helps me determine the growth of things, if I focus hard enough…”
Diluc passes him a bucket, starting to travel down the row and pick grape by grape. The mention of special elemental sight sparks a conversation.
“How does it work?” He asks honestly.
Kaeya stands silent for a moment, contemplating if he should share this little bit of information. By sharing it, would it be like an olive branch to further their relationship? Or with the knowledge of abyssal sight make Diluc uncomfortable and end with how Kaeya told Diluc his Khaenri’ahn heritage?
The man must have deciphered his dilemma, because he speaks up. “I won’t judge if you aren't comfortable with disclosing that information. I suppose… I suppose I’m just curious how daily life is for you, now.” The redhead says earnestly, with a hint of shyness.
It’s honest enough for Kaeya to feel a twinge in his heartstrings, allowing himself to disclose the truth. “No, it’s all fine. I’ll tell you if you’d like to hear.”
“...That’d be nice.” The redhead continues picking grapes, which Kaeya joins.
“I… have an ability called abyssal sight. Albedo taught me how to use it. It’s very similar to elemental sight, except it helps me map my surroundings. I can feel elemental powers like visions and can see the vibrations, almost, of objects on the ground. It’s how I pinpoint the general direction of people, objects, and surroundings. I can discern the growth of items depending on how much energy emits from it. The ripest grapes give off more energy, while the unripe ones don’t give off anything… so, I just pick the energy I can see.”
Diluc hums. “I understand. I’m glad you're not completely restricted. I see how that helps your fighting style, and how you could tell when I’m close by…”
Kaeya smiles. “Yes, but don’t stray too far! My sight can only be active for 5-10 seconds at a time.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” The redhead mutters.
They fall into silence again, going through maybe two rows of grapes. Kaeya’s bucket starts to get heavy.
“Thank you for trusting me with this information,” Diluc mentions, quietly. “I’ll be sure to keep this information to myself. I’m sure your enemies would benefit from this knowledge, so I’m… glad that you entrusted me.”
Kaeya laughs. “Don’t be so formal, ‘Luc. It’s all good. I trust you,” The nickname slips out accidently. Diluc quickly squeezes his shoulder again as a response.
When they’re buckets are full, they put them by the door and grab new buckets to put grapes in. They manage to get 6 buckets done in total, sweaty and tired after a good hour and a half of picking. They sit by the door as Adelinde comes to give them glasses of lemonade, and Elezer comes outside with surprise and gratitude that they picked them for him. He strikes a quick conversation with Kaeya, mentioning his glee that he’s come to visit.
They sit out there for another hour, talking about meaningless things. It’s been a long time since they’ve been able to do this, comfortably conversing without hidden intentions and a strained bridge between them. It feels real. Kaeya can tell that Diluc can tell.
At 5, Adelinde invites them in for dinner. She cooked a hearty meal of Barbatos Ratatoulie and a portion of Sweet Madame. Diluc shares a story on the time the bard forced him to eat his signature dish, which the redhead had to admit wasn’t all that bad. Kaeya tells Diluc about Rosaria’s murderous Madame, which sparks another conversation on their own signature dishes.
They manage to talk for a long time, only finishing their meals at 7. The sky darkened and Adelinde started a fire in the hearth, which she did every evening.
Elzar comes over to them.
“7 pm, Masters. Adelinde is busy with the other maids, so I took the liberty to come ask about tea. Master Diluc, your regular serving is by the fireplace if you still want it. And, thank the both of you for your hard work! My old bones have started to take over my autonomy, so I appreciate the break you’ve given this aging man.”
Kaeya smiles. “Elezar, you don’t sound a day over 30. It was our pleasure.”
Diluc nods, clearing his throat. “I agree. Thank you Elezar. If Kaeya isn’t opposed, then I suppose we should move to the fireplace for tea…”
“Sounds good,” The bluenette replies. “Do take a break, Elezar. Diluc, if you would remind me where the drawing room is?” He says almost timidly, testing the waters to see how much vulnerability he could expose in front of Diluc.
The redhead softly grabs his wrist as they both stand. “Sure.”
Kaeya felt somewhat comforted by the elemental glow emitting from the fireplace as he sat by Diluc, who poured him a cup of tea while reminding him that it’s hot. They sit and listen to the crackling of the wood as it splinters from the heat, and Kaeya can almost imagine how captivating it looks.
The maids and other staff disappeared into the vast hallways of the Winery after a while, their duties taking up their time elsewhere. It left the two of them in the drawing room with each other's company only without the distant whispering of a maid or the eavesdropping of a bored one.
Kaeya allows his muscles to relax and his body to fall into the rhythm of the distant elemental beating of Diluc’s vision, emitting a slow and unheard hum.
The redhead’s gruff voice enters, tame and intimate.
“...-I enjoyed spending time with you today,"he admits.
“So did I.” Kaeya replies.
“Adelinde was very happy with your visit. She seemed elated earlier, while she was cooking.”
“Yes, I could feel her excitement from my seat. It seems we’ve made the headmaid satisfied.”
The sound of Diluc fiddling with his teacup filled the room. “Kaeya?”
The bluenette hummed. “Yeah?”
“You don’t have to accept this now, or next week, or really ever. I just wanted to say that I’m filled with regret and remorse for what I… what I did to you. For everything that happened that night.”
Kaeya used his abyssal sight to locate Diluc’s general direction, where he instantly sits up to face towards. “No, Diluc, don’t apologize. It’s I who needs to.”
Diluc also sits up, from what the bluenette can tell from the rusting. “Don’t be ridiculous, Kaeya – I was the one that left,”
“But I was the one who forced your hand. Diluc, I wanted to apologize for my timing. For the lies. For the truth.”
A hand takes his, a hand so impossibly warm it feels like a pyro seelie on dragonspine leading the way to hidden treasure. Diluc is holding his palms together with such gentle force that it feels like a crushing yet loving embrace.
“You’ve… you’ve always been too forgiving for your own good. You’re sitting in a room with the man who took your eyesight, and you're sorry?”
Kaeya nods. “Is that…” He wants to say that he deserves to be blind, but that would most likely upset Diluc more. So instead, he sits, continuing to feel the redhead’s warmth emitting from his hands.
“I spent so long being bitter. I shouldn’t have been. I came back to Mondstadt thinking that I was the only one hurt that night, and I feel…” One of Diluc’s hands reaches out for Kaeya’s face, and when it touches the corners of his blindfold it turns so soft it barely registers in the bluenette’s mind. “I’ll forever grieve the part of you I destroyed. I’m deserving of your scorn.”
Kaeya shakes his head. “No, no Diluc– I shouldn’t receive your sympathy. I’m Khaenri’ahn.”
“I don’t care,” The latter exhales. “I don’t care at all. I know you. Mondstadt knows you. I’ve watched you run around chasing criminals in the darkness and subduing them at my bar at the cost of your own health. I’ve seen the wreckage of what happened to you while I was gone, I know about the scars,” Kaeya’s breath hitches as Diluc pulls him into a warm embrace. “I don’t care. I don’t care about anything except for you, because you’re my brother. I will always loathe that I tried to take that away.”
Kaeya tries to stop the light sobbing bubbling up to his chest with no avail. His body shakes at the weight of his emotions, these words left unsaid that haunted him for the past 5 years. He openly cries in front of Diluc, which the redhead also begins to follow.
“I hope you understand how deeply apologetic I am, Kae.”
The bluenette embraces him back. “Please… there is nothing left for me to forgive. I’ve done all of that many, many years ago. I just… wanted you back. I wanted it so much,” His voice wavers.
“I’m not ever going to leave, not again,” Diluc promises. “I’ll– I’ll do all the things I should have done during the years I left you behind.”
Kaeya sobs, near weeps. His cries could most likely be heard in the hallways and down all the spare rooms. Diluc doesn’t say anything, only holds on tighter and tighter.
They stay in that embrace for a long while until the wood in the fireplace turns into complete ashes. They don’t part, even as their cries end and their elements intertwine.
Diluc holds him close. Kaeya does the same.
“Could… Could I stay the night?” The bluenette says in a tone that is barely above a whisper. Diluc’s grip on the latter only tightens.
“Yes, Kae, you can stay. You can stay as long as you want, you can stay forever. This is your house, too.”
The bluenette buries his face into the thick leather fabric of Diluc’s coat, encasing himself in the smell of fermented grapes and mahogany.
He nods, balling his fists tight into the redhead’s warm embrace.
“Then, I suppose, I will.”