Chapter Text
Amber walks into Angel's Share to find the two brothers, but only one of them was present- Kaeya.
"Oh? Fancy seeing you here, Amber" the outrider takes a seat next to him. "Kaeya, I need to inform you about something regarding their grace."
He raises an eyebrow. Setting the glass down, Kaeya turns his full attention to Amber. “This is rare for you to mention them, tell me about their grace"
Amber clears her throat, "I've already sent out a search team to look for them, what I do need you to do is to go down to Dawn Winery and look for them there. I'm guessing they haven't ventured far from where we first met. I'll go look in the city and report back to Jean as soon as you find them. Okay?"
Kaeya nods and stands up "you already know you can leave it to me"
The tall male downs his drink before heading out of the tavern.
Amber sighs and follows suit. "I'll make sure we find you, your Grace."
As the three of you travel to Liyue, you slowly get closer to Dawn Winery. A thought comes up in your head, why are you walking instead of using a waypoint?
"Hey, Aether, you're not planning to go to Liyue on foot, are you?" The boy chuckles, "perhaps, it's easier this way, [Name]."
You look at him confused. What is he talking about? At this point, you're going to arrive at sunrise.
"How about we just use a teleport way point instead..."
"Careful!" Aether steps in front of you and takes his sword out. Glancing over his shoulder, your notice a lawachurl and a few hilichurls around it.
This would've been a big deal if they started attacking you guys, but they didn't.
"Aether, they don't really look hostile right now. In fact, they're not even attacking us at all. Can't we just go around?" Aether ignores your request.
"Paimon, [Name], both of you step back right now"
Paimon complies and takes your arm. Taking the hint, you step back.
Aether begins to strike at the lawachurl, his sword moving to its vital points. After defeating it, he moves on to the hilichurls. But one seems to slip from his attention and charges at both you and Paimon.
"Traveller, you missed one!" Paimon calls out, you shield Paimon and hold her in your arms.
"Got it" and of course he defeats them with ease. You release Paimon from your arms.
You turn to look at Aether with a question on your mind. How did he manage to miss one? isn't he supposed to be powerful or... whatever. You brush the thought off.
Aether puts his sword away. Stepping towards them in a fast pace, he swiftly brings his hands up to cup their cheek, angling their head as if he's checking for any injuries.
"Are you okay? Did it hurt you?" He asks in a worried tone, his thumb moving gently across their cheek.
you shake your head, "I'm okay"
Aether lets out a sigh of relief. Upon scanning their face, Aether's eyes meets theirs and his breath hitches. Archons, he could look at them forever.
He quickly hugs their form.
In reality, he intentionally missed that hilichurl, making it run towards them and Paimon. Ultimately using that as an excuse to touch their face and get closer to them.
You start feeling awkward with his arms wrapped around you, the close proximity makes this feel... intimate. You don't want Paimon to look at this.
"Aether, I'm fine, they didn't touch me at all. You can let go now" you try to peel his arms off of you.
He frowns at your indifference but, albeit reluctantly, removes his arms off your body.
"I'm sorry, [Name], I got carried away" Aether gives you a solemn look.
"It's fine, let's continue walking-" you stop yourself. "Hey, aren't we supposed to be using teleport waypoints instead?"
Noticing their reaction, Aether immediately speaks up.
"Uh, we should go now before the sun starts to set" he takes their hand and starts walking. "Let's go, Paimon!"
Paimon, watching the whole scene, could only sigh to herself as a result.
"Those two... Coming!" Paimon floats next to Aether.
"Paimon's been wondering this, but how about we pay a visit to our good friend, Diluc!" Diluc? Ah, that guy. You remember him, he was the red hair knight, didn't Donna have a crush on him?
"[Name]? Is everything alright?" Aether's voice snaps you out of your thoughts.
"I'm fine. We were talking about Diluc, right?" "sure, we're heading to Dawn Winery right now, by the way" you look at Aether in confusion. We are? Mmm, you suppose it's better than travelling through Dragonspine, and you're not quite finished with exploring Mondstadt yet.
Paimon floats to your side, "So, what were you doing at Mondstadt in the first place?" Oh, right, you need to make something up.
"You see, Paimon..." You begin to tell her a made up story about arriving at Mondstadt on a boat.
As the two of you are talking, Aether contemplates.
[Name] knows about teleport way points? They don't seem like an adventurer or anything, perhaps they're a civilian? Although, how could a civilian know about teleport way points... Aether glances at them.
And what could they be thinking about to be so unfocused... it couldn't have been another person, was it? They shouldn't think of anything apart from him who's right by their side. No one else matters.
Oh, he hates the fact that they'll have a chance to meet that geo archon...
"I don't want [Name] to see anyone else... Why couldn't Paimon be quiet? I hope Diluc is too busy to see us, he doesn't need any visitors anyways..." Aether mutters under his breath, subconsciously gritting his teeth.
He gazes at them, who's currently having a conversation with Paimon. His gaze turns icy cold.
Why do they look like that, why do they look happy? A part of Aether starts to feel insecure.
Is Paimon more interesting than me? Can't they remember I'm right here too? Am I boring?
He shakes his head, what is he doing? Aether shouldn't let his jealousy get the better of him. Especially at his companion, Paimon.
"The grapes look good enough..." "Diluc!" The tall male looks up from the grapes and turns his focus towards the trio.
"Paimon, traveller and..." His attention pans to you."You are?" "I'm [Name], are you-" "Diluc" ...You nearly said his name, of course he'll need to introduce himself before you say anything. Thankfully he cut you off.
"Nice to meet you, Diluc..." Damn, what do you even say? Talking to a character has never been more awkward.
Aether, as if sensing your uneasiness, speaks up.
"Paimon suggested we'd come and pay you a visit before going to Liyue" his gaze turns to Paimon, "that's right! Paimon thinks that it's been a while since we last met you" "Ah, is that so? Then you're welcome to come in, let me make you a drink"
Diluc glances at you, perhaps he's wondering about your preferences? "You can give me anything" he takes his eyes off of you, seems like his worries are settled.
Inside, Diluc prepares a drink for the two of you and grape juice for Paimon. You sit down on a chair and Aether takes a seat beside you.
"So, Aether-" "what is it?" His immediate answer catches you off guard, but maybe he just wants to talk.
"you know those teal elements on your clothes?" You gesture towards the colours, "what about them?" "You can use Anemo, right? Can you show me a bit of it?"
Aether's eyes widen by a fraction before smiling. "Of course I can."
He unleashes a wind that fans your face. Aether stares at you. Oh, you look amazing.
His companion lights up. "Oh, try it on Paimon!" he shifts the wind to Paimon and her bangs fly up. "Hey! Stop that!" You let out a laugh, "haha, Paimon, you look silly"
Paimon fixes her bangs and Aether stops using his Anemo powers as she playfully hits her companion.
Just then, Diluc sets down the drinks on the table, Paimon picks up her glass and gulps it down. Aether follows her.
"Thanks, Diluc" you taste the drink. This tastes pretty good and kinda... Tangy. Maybe it's just the alcohol.
After you finish your drinks, the three of you make your way to the entrance where Adelinde opens the doors for you all.
"Thanks for the drinks, Diluc! They were great, as always" Paimon grins, "same here, it's my first time having a drink made by you and you did great" you add in.
"It's my pleasure, I'm glad to be serving you all. And thanks for visiting me."
Before leaving the mansion, Diluc stops you. "Can we have a talk?"
You turn to face him, "what's up?" he glances at Aether and Paimon. "Is it fine with you two?"
"Oh, we're kind of in a hurry-" "sure!" Aether shoots Paimon a glare, she shrugs her shoulders. "Let's meet up with them later. First, we have to get to Liyue" Diluc smiles faintly at her words. "Thanks, Paimon" he puts a hand on your shoulder.
"Bye, [Name]!" Paimon waves you goodbye, "see you, Paimon."
The door closes, now it's just you and Diluc.
At last, your grace is finally here with me. All alone. I could tell it was them at first glance, I mean, who wouldn't?
That little slip up of theirs about nearly saying my name was cute. Of course they'd know who I am! After all, they made me.
But who would've guessed the creator was so oblivious. Your Grace drank the glass despite the sleeping drug inside, I noticed the way they tasted the unusual hint, it was so cute.
You and Diluc stand in the lounge area near the entrance. "So, Diluc, what did.. You... Want to talk about...?"
What the, why do you suddenly feel so sleepy? Hold on... Did Diluc put a drug in your glass? No wonder it had a weird taste to it.
As if reading your mind, Diluc speaks up. "I'm sorry, your grace, but I had to do this. The drug was necessary, I can't have you leaving Mondstadt now, can I?"
You slowly feel your consciousness slip away.
As their eyes begin to close, they fall into Diluc's embrace. He wraps his arms around their body tightly, burying his face in the crook of their neck.
"Ngh... Your Grace, you smell so good... I wish your scent would imprint into my very soul" his breathing starts to quicken and he shifts his body closer to theirs, closing any gap that was between you two.
"You're so defenseless right now, your grace.. I- I can't hold back..." Diluc's hands slip down and...
Clack. "Good afternoon, master Kaeya" Diluc groans at the voice of his maid, his hold on them loosens and he looks up at the door.
"I figured you would be here, Diluc" Kaeya strides to his brother, "and keeping the creator to yourself? How greedy, I didn't know you had a side like that"
Diluc sighs and turns their body away from Kaeya, his grip only tightening in the slightest.
"What is it, Kaeya?" "Amber sent out a search team for their grace," he inspects then.
"And why are they unconscious right now?" "I put a sleeping drug in their drink," Kaeya's eyes widen, "how bold, you went as far as spiking their drink?"
Diluc frowns at his comment. "I had to do it, Kaeya, now what are we planning to do with their grace now that Amber sent out a search team for them?"
Kaeya thinks about reporting to Jean about it, but that thought vanishes as quickly as it came. "I know informing the others about this would be the right choice but... Can't we keep them for ourselves just for a little bit?"
His brother sighs, "Kaeya... That's called kidnapping" "What? don't act like your morals are absolute, considering you spiked their drink. Plus, I know you want to keep them too, and no one will know~"
Diluc glances down at their unconscious body in his arms before turning his gaze back up to Kaeya. "Fine, but only for a day."
Kaeya smiles faintly at his answer. "Great, now could you let go of their grace? I hope you know what you're doing right now isn't exactly reasonable" Diluc glares at his brother before setting them down on the sofa. "I don't want to hear it."
It seems like luck isn't on your side right now...