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“You’re leaving again?”
He turns on his heel, internally cursing himself for interrupting your much-needed sleep. You clamber over to his side of the bed, and he closes the distance, a gloved hand gently combing through your hair. He hates leaving you alone like this, but he’d rather keep his business affairs and personal affairs apart.
“I won’t be long.”
Your eyes stare earnestly into his, finding a love in his crimson orbs reserved for you and you alone. He always says that, you realize. Whenever he leaves, he never fails to promise his return, and for what you know- he’s never broken that promise. Even when he comes bloody and bruised, and on the brink of collapsing, he never fails to return. But each time he comes back like that, you can’t help but feel your heart shatter a little more.
He cradles your face, knowing that there’s no real way to quell your worries. Instead, he uses his thumb to stroke your cheekbone soothingly, and to his delight, you lean into his touch.
“Do you want anything while I’m gone?”
It’s Diluc’s own way of steering the conversation, but when you don’t reply and instead, lean forward and press a feather-soft kiss onto his lips, it’s only natural that he would grow concerned- brows bumping together in a light scowl as he searches your unwavering expression for answers.
“Only for you to return. That’s all I could ever want.”
Diluc’s heart soars with complete affection and adoration, and he feels a strain in his throat. He captures your lips in a slow, tender kiss, and even though it’s a chilly morning, the warmth that curls underneath your skin is more than enough to dispel the cold.
He only pulls away when you push lightly on his chest, both of you breathing heavily from the exchange. Pressing his forehead against yours, he traces the curve of your cheekbones to the edge of your chin, dedicating each and every detail to memory for the long and weary nights where he couldn’t be by your side.
Your scarlet knight presses another short kiss onto your lips, no less tender than the one before.
“I’ll come back. Always.”