Chapter Text
Over the next few days, the true plot of the Golden Apple Archipelago had been revealed and Kaeya couldn’t say he was surprised.
He hadn’t met Alice in person but from what he’d heard of her, it sounded exactly like the kind of thing she would do for her daughter. Kaeya was at once honored that he’d been chosen to accompany Klee on her quest and wary at the fact that Alice seemingly knew about his past.
Well, he supposed that wasn’t so surprising. He knew Alice was blessed with a longer life than most beings on Teyvat. Hmm, perhaps he’d have to speak with her sometime.
Soon enough, spirits were lifted and hearts relieved. Their little group stuck together for a time before ultimately splitting up and going their own way.
When Kaeya waved at Jean with a grin, watching as Klee dragged her away to blast fish, he was suddenly struck by the fact that he was now all alone.
Ah well, perhaps not all alone.
Yes, he if glanced over to his right and peered out over the golden sand and rolling blue waves, he could just make out Diluc’s red mane fluttering behind him as he tilted his head back, a calculating frown on his face as he stared up at a monster infested mountain.
Of course. Even when left to his own devices, the man was still driven to endless battles. Now that he thought about it, Diluc reminded Kaeya of a certain Fatui Harbinger he’d met on his travels.
Shaking his head to dismiss the thoughts, Kaeya walked over to the shore of the island, wondering if Diluc would hear him if he called out. He was just an island over, perhaps it would work.
Kaeya didn’t even know why he was considering spending his time with Diluc, all he knew was that it was better than being alone. And perhaps he just really enjoyed teasing the man, despite everything.
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Diluc was always one for deliberately ignoring Kaeya. And in a way, didn’t that make it so he always paid attention to him?
Regardless, this was perhaps the first time Diluc heeded his brother’s call right away. He was just staring up at one of the mountains, wondering why so many monsters had converged there when Kaeya yelled his name.
“Diluc! Oh, Diluc! Dear brother~!”
He told himself it was the clear taunt that made Diluc turn his head immediately. He squinted, glaring at the Captain from across the strip of ocean that divided them. Kaeya seemed unperturbed, waving wildly as he gestured him over, a wide smile on his face.
With an exasperated sigh, Diluc rolled his eyes but still ended up wading into the water and swimming over to his once brother. He watched him warily when he hit the shore. He hadn’t missed the way Kaeya’s visible eye had dulled in… sadness? When they were talking about what was written in their letters.
If I told you honestly what was on my letter? I wonder how you’d react…
Would things go back to normal? Would you only hate me more?
Agonizing over the questions would do no good but at the very least, he could tolerate Kaeya’s incessant teasing and respond when he called his name. He waited for the inevitable poking and prodding, the sarcastic remarks, but instead what Kaeya said was a mere question. One that he definitely wanted Diluc to answer honestly if the excited tone of voice was anything to go by.
“Diluc, you’re a man who knows his own mind. So, help me decide. Is it seabird hunting time? Or seashell collecting time?”
The question was so absurd that it took all Diluc’s willpower not to laugh incredulously. A man who knew his own mind? What the? Diluc’s composure threatened to break so he huffed out a disbelieving laugh and raised an eyebrow.
“What is that supposed to mean?” He asked, not sure if he should be amused or confused.
Kaeya seemed to think he was annoyed, a slight frown on his face as he spoke again.
“Come now, Diluc. Be nice! Do you really want to stay here and do nothing at all? We might as well find a way to pass the time. I simply thought collecting seashells might be fun. It was last time. Although, we were much younger then.”
Diluc’s eyes widened slightly at the comment because-
He actually remembered that?
They’d gone to the beach exactly one time. It was even foggy in Diluc’s memories. A calm sunset, Crepus posing the question of adoption to Kaeya, Diluc watching him hopefully. Kaeya had obviously agreed, seashells clutched tightly against his chest. Diluc vaguely remembered the young Kaeya asking hesitantly if he could keep the shells.
“Of course you can.” Crepus told him. “You found them. They're yours to keep!”
“Mine to keep?” the boy had asked, eye wide as though the concept was foreign to him.
“Yes, brother!” Diluc chirped.
“Brother?” Kaeya echoed, eye growing wider.
“Mhm, we’re brothers now, ok?” Diluc said, eyes twinkling as he grabbed a shell off Kaeya’s little pile. “That means we share everything, ok?”
“Now, now, Diluc.” Crepus laughed. “Find your own shells, don’t tease your brother.”
“N-no, it’s fine.” Kaeya said quickly. “I like sharing. A-and… since you two found me… does that mean I can stay with you forever too? Just like these shells will stay with me?”
“It’s a little different with people.” Crepus had grinned. “But as long as you’re ok with it, you can stay with us as long as you want. Even forever.”
The memory was like a punch to the gut and Diluc breathed out a little gasp, before mentally shaking the thoughts from his head. At length, he responded to his brother.
“I didn’t know you still remembered anything from back then…”
For some reason, Kaeya only responded by way of a smile, though Diluc immediately caught the sad glint in his eye. Because of course , he’d remember. That was the day Kaeya’s life had changed for the better. Not that it lasted very long but… if Diluc thought about it, perhaps not much had changed since then.
A rift was there between their brotherhood but was it really as insurmountable as it appeared? Or was it as easy to bridge as swimming across the islands just now had been?
Kaeya’s distant voice brought him back to the present once more.
“You can go back to whatever you were doing.” He said with a sad smile. “I can… look for seashells on my own.” Then with false bravado: “Don’t worry, I know you’re just worried about your reputation, hehe~ The mighty Darknight Hero collecting seashells with his brother? Not the image you’re trying to sell, I’m sure.”
“I-” Diluc’s mouth opened before he had a chance to think through what he’d say.
In the end, he ended up saying something straightforward and lame, even to him.
“It doesn't matter to me. If you want to collect seashells, let’s do it.”
But regardless of how dry and pathetic the words sounded to him, they somehow made Kaeya smile brightly and that prompted Diluc to smile as well. Perhaps Kaeya thought he mustn't let his stroke of luck go to waste.
So he said nothing in response, simply nodded and began searching for shells.
Diluc kept an eye on him, searching aimlessly for shells while his mind struggled with what to do. His mind was at once loud with conflicting thoughts and silent with uncertainty. For a time, he simply wandered, not really looking for shells at all at some point.
Then all at once, a glint caught Diluc’s eye. Turning his head, he caught sight of a beautiful shell just on the edge of the shore. It was a glittery, bright blue shell, not too far from where he and Kaeya split ways. Kneeling down, he swiped it off the ground before the tide could carry it away and grinned when it reflected the light of the now setting sun.
Something clicked and Diluc’s heart felt lighter all at once as he came to a decision in his mind. Reaching into his pocket, he took the crumpled letter out and stared at the words once more.
The last of your family seeks out the deserted islands. Make haste.
The last of his family. His brother.
Holding both shell and letter in the same hand, Diluc stood, his steps quick and purposeful as he walked over to Kaeya. He grinned to see that he’d made quite a collection already. Seashells of all shapes, sizes and colors were strewn across the shore and Kaeya himself was wading in the water, fishing out more of them.
When he heard Diluc approaching, he stood and made his way back to shore.
“Think this would make a good crowning jewel?” Diluc asked, a hesitant smile on his face as he held out the shell and letter.
Kaeya spared the shell a glance, laughing at his words. He hadn’t seemed to notice the letter just yet.
“Truly magnificent, Diluc.” Kaeya mused. “To be expected, I suppose.”
He held a hand out for the shell and Diluc handed both things to him, walking away almost immediately, muttering something about looking for more shells. It was a risk he was willing to take, giving Kaeya the letter and letting him know he’d come for him rather than an Abyss stronghold.
But he was also terrified to see what his brother’s reaction would be. Would it make things better? Worse? Would he-
“Diluc, wait.”
Diluc stopped but didn’t turn around, waiting anxiously as Kaeya’s footsteps sounded from behind him. Before long, his brother was beside him once again and Diluc lifted his gaze to him.
Kaeya didn’t say a word, but Diluc knew something had changed immediately. Both the shell and letter were clutched tightly in his hand, his to keep. His visible eye was shining with tears but the smile on his face rivaled the light of the sun.
Diluc matched his smile and with the comfortable silence of truth and loyalty, the brothers walked together towards the distant sunset.