Chapter Text
Diluc feels a tremor wrack through his body as he clutches the barely alive ginger in his arms, grip firm but nervous, scared.
He shuts his eyes forcefully to keep the tears at bay, hoping they wont slip down his reddened cheeks. But they do, they slip through the cracks in the corners of his eyes, and do fall down, onto the snowy ground below.
It’s snowing, is all Childe can think as his brain scrambles even worse than before. He can distinctly feel someones arms around him, a voice mumbling in his ear, droplets landing heavy against his face.
But he doesn’t know why. How did he get here, where was he? Finally it appears he’s gained the mobility in his face again, as shown when he manages to crack open his eyes again. ‘When did they close?’ he thinks idly to himself, before his gaze focuses on Diluc’s face above his own.
He doesn’t know why his Firefly is crying, or even why they’re here in this situation, but Childe only has the overwhelming urge to press his hand against Diluc’s cheek at that moment, and so he does.
Feeling a cold hand against his cheek Diluc startles and his eyes snap open, immediately noticing Childe, his eyes open and hand stroking his cheek.
“Ajax, ajax im sorry.” Diluc whispers out, a sob forcing it’s way out of his throat.
Childe’s brows furrow, confused. He keeps stroking his Firefly’s cheek and opens his mouth to reassure him, reassure him of what? But is startled when all that comes out is a croak.
He tries again, this time successfully getting words out. “Diluc, it’s fine, i’m fine. This is just another inconvenience I’ll shake off in a few days time.” He tries to laugh, intending for it to come off as light hearted as possible, but it only succeeds in startling coughs out of him instead.
Diluc removes a hand that had previously been wrapped around the male, going to press Childe’s bangs away from his eyes as he tries to put on a wobbly smile. “Uhuh, i’m sure you will.” He mumbles out, tears still falling but he’s staring at Childe with a fond expression, even though he can feel his heart cracking inside.
The ginger male grins up at him, the corners of his eyes crinkling in happiness as he rubs his thumb against Diluc’s cheek. “See! That’s more like it.” He mumbles back in reply, his heart jumping when he sees the others attempt at a smile. Although the heart thing, might be due to his current situation.
“Firefly, I love you.” He whispers out, hiding his words from whoever may hear them, although they’re surrounded by howling wind, in a desolate freezing land.
Diluc shakes his head, more tears falling, he raises his eyes to look past Childe, spotting his infamous scarf strewn across the ground. He looks back down at Childe and leans down to press his forehead against the others. “Why does it feel like a goodbye?” He questions meekly.
“I- Well surely I won’t be gone forever, haha.” He makes an attempt to lighten up the mood, but inside he can feel his heart stuttering more despite him not moving this entire time. He can also feel the wind and how it bites into his skin, and unlike all those other times he was unfazed, now he shivers.
Diluc tilts his head just a fraction so he can press a tender kiss to the others lips, tears falling and hitting Childe’s cheeks. He pulls back a second later, removing his hand from the others face to try and wipe his cheeks to free them from the seemingly endless stream of salty water cascading down them. “You better not.” He finally replies, voice wavering slightly. “I love you too Ajax.” He looks at Childe like he was a star, his gaze steady and affectionate.
“I love you so much.” Diluc says again, his hair a curtain of red around them.
Childe can only hum in happiness, his eyes finally closing as he’s overcome with an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.
They both know what will come next, yet neither of them move, neither of them dare to say another word.
If Diluc had to explain to someone how he felt losing yet another person he cared and loved, watched as they turned to dust in his arms, he wouldn’t be able to. But now, right now, as he watches the ginger he’s loved so much dissipate right in front of his eyes, well, he can no longer keep the tears in.
They stream down his face again, the only evidence of Childe ever having been there, with him, talking to him in his final moments, was the darkening blood staining the snowy terrain and the scarf he always wore with him no matter what.
wait, the scarf. He scrambles up from his sitting position, stumbling a bit as his legs had grown numb from sitting there for so long. He races to the scarf and scoops it up gently like it too would disappear right in front of his eyes if he were to even look away for just a moment. “Ajax.” He whispers.
His heart feels like someone is squeezing it harshly, and Diluc grips the scarf before burying it against his forehead, sobbing freely now in a frozen land, with the howling wind not resting still, while it succeeds in muffling his cries once more from prying ears.