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Diluc turns the doorknob to the master's bedroom, his and Kaeya's bedroom since they've made amends and Diluc has successfully convinced Kaeya to stay here with him, and expects to see Kaeya lounging on the bed or actually sleeping the hours off. But what he sees is Kaeya sitting on a chair in front of the mirror, lazily running his hands through the stray locks Kaeya keeps long. Diluc closes the door quietly so as not to disturb Kaeya's thoughts, and he is stunned to his feet at the sight Kaeya makes.
Kaeya sits on the chair, his gaze fixed on the mirror as he mindlessly runs his fingers through his hair over and over again, entirely unaware of the person who has just entered their room. Kaeya is good-looking, he always has been, but there is something about the look Kaeya gives himself as he stares at the mirror that lacks the usual apparent self-destructive self-loathing. At this moment, Kaeya looks contented, satisfied, and it takes Diluc all that he has to control himself from rushing to Kaeya's side so their hearts could beat together again, free from all the pain they've been through.
I love Kaeya, Diluc thinks. Diluc loves Kaeya so much he would rip his heart out and offer it willingly to Kaeya.
Diluc walks towards Kaeya, slinging his arms around Kaeya, and plants a kiss on Kaeya's temple. Kaeya jolts in surprise, not noticing Diluc at all while he's in too deep in his thoughts.
"What are you thinking about?" Diluc asks.
Kaeya softly laughs, "You."
It makes Diluc laugh in response, "I've been thinking about you too."
Kaeya swats Diluc's arm wrapped around him playfully, "Since when have you learned how to speak like me?"
Diluc doesn't deem him a response, only frees Kaeya from his arms and, gently pats Kaeya's head, and notices how long Kaeya's hair has grown.
"Your hair is getting too long."
Kaeya stares at him from the mirror, one of his eyebrows raised, "As if you're one to speak."
Diluc continues running his fingertips over Kaeya's hair, checking to see how much Kaeya's hair has grown.
"We should trim our hair."
Kaeya hums in agreement, "Is it starting to bother you when you let your hair down?"
"I don't let my hair down," Diluc says as he leans his head on Kaeya's head, his gaze meeting Kaeya's on the mirror, "only with you."
Kaeya laughs, fond and endeared at Diluc's words, "Luc, if you continue to say those things, we won't get any trimming done."
Diluc only smiles knowingly, steps towards his drawers to get his scissors and comb.
When Diluc comes back behind Kaeya, he starts getting to work. He begins combing Kaeya's hair with familiar ease, just as they used to do to each other when they were younger. He takes a look at the mirror and sees Kaeya's eye closed in calm relaxation. Diluc smiles to himself and grabs the scissors to trim the longer tips of Kaeya's silky dark blue hair. Diluc works silently, enjoying the cathartic feeling of tranquility as he works his scissors gently snipping through the hair in his hands.
Too soon, Diluc is done and he holds the stray locks of hair Kaeya keeps on his left shoulder to his lips. Kaeya opens his eye at that and offers, "Thank you, Luc, it looks perfect. How about I do yours now too?"
So they switch places, Diluc sitting in front of the mirror with Kaeya standing behind, holding the scissors and comb in his hand. Kaeya undoes the tie holding Diluc's long vermillion hair and runs his fingers over the red locks over and over, just as he knows Diluc enjoys. When Kaeya takes a peek at the mirror, it's to the sight of Diluc with his eyes closed, and Kaeya hears a few hums of contentment whenever he does it just right. Kaeya alternates between using his finger and the comb to brush through Diluc's unruly but beautiful locks, before he begins trimming Diluc's hair.
Kaeya angles his scissors precisely and lets the scissors do the job. The trimmed locks gently fall to the ground bit by bit, with Kaeya tirelessly getting through all the hair. When Kaeya feels the slight strain in his hands, he switches the scissors to the comb and watches the way Diluc's face rests in serenity. Diluc has always wanted his hair pampered with care, little Kaeya combing through the then shorter locks of little Diluc. The fond memory makes the tips of Kaeya's lips turn upward, and he meticulously finishes cutting Diluc's hair.
When Kaeya's all done, he combs through Diluc's hair for the final time and presses a kiss on the crown of Diluc's head. Still not quite satisfied, Kaeya tilts Diluc's head upward and places a forehead kiss there, their eyes meeting when Kaeya has lifted his lips.
As their gazes are locked on each other, they both reminisce the older beautiful days, their younger selves brimming with energy and happiness because they knew they had each other; their teen selves where they were starting to make a name for themselves, still full of the love they had for each other. And then that frightful, stormy night where they pointed their swords at each other, both hearts broken beyond belief just as much as the years of trust that shattered to pieces.
But that's all in the past now, isn't it?
The beautiful days, the terrible days, they are all a part of the past.
Now, here they were, holding their bared hearts on their sleeves because they chose to make the wrongs of the past right again.
The moment breaks, and Diluc turns around in his chair to properly take a look at Kaeya. He couldn't resist it and reaches out to runs his fingers over Kaeya's long locks again.
"You've kept it long all this time. You don't want me to trim it?"
"I don't. I'll keep it for as long as possible. It's been my only memory of you for a long time, I'll keep it."
Diluc laughs in genuine affection, "You and your romantic antics."
Kaeya chuckles in response, "Only for you."
Diluc shuts Kaeya up by tugging on Kaeya's long love lock, the kiss a sweet, gentle brush of their lips.
"Thank you, Kae," Diluc mutters, their lips still so close to each other, their breaths mingling as they breathe in each other's presence.
Kaeya rubs their noses together and responds, "Thank you, Luc," and leans down again to savor the bliss of the moment.
It's the beginning of the even more beautiful days they will come to experience, this time with their hands and hearts unwilling to ever let go.