Chapter Text
"Another three orders of Dandelion Wine for table four."
Looking up, Diluc saw another of the nightly patrons leaning on the bar, wide grin on their face and a slight flush to their cheeks.
With a simple nod, he started lining up the glasses, bottle in hand and silently prepared the drinks, all while the patron kept talking about a near encounter with a Hilichurl. Kept speaking even after the tray was set up and ready to go.
“Was so lucky there’s was only one,” the patron slurred, grabbed the tray and wobbled back to their table, trying not to spill the drinks.
Diluc merely sighed, rolled his eyes and was prepared to go back to cleaning glasses, when the front door was opened. Glancing up and frowning at the downpour currently invading the warm tavern, the pyro hesitated only a moment before continuing his motions.
As he always does whenever this particular person enters.
“Master Diluc!” Kaeya greeted, shaking off the rain and taking the barstool. The ever-present grin was on his face, despite the annoyed glance he received from the bartender.
“Shouldn’t you be working, Sir Kaeya?” Diluc asked, setting up the glass he was cleaning and reaching for the champagne and absinthe, setting them down in front of the Knight.
“Done with the paperwork for the day and currently no imminent threat is present. Although I can always check the cellar if you worry?” the cryo offered a wink as he started mixing his drink.
“You set one foot in my cellar and I cut it off,” the redhead snipped back easily, not even looking up as he prepared another glass.
Smirking, Kaeya lifted the drink to his lips: “That almost sounded like you don’t trust me.”
“What gave it away? Maybe I should be more obvious next time.”
“The little twitch you do in your brow when someone is talking too loudly in your ear, or when they’re chewing with their mouth open.”
At the words, Diluc’s head snapped up, a glare directed at the cyro, who merely laughed, one elbow on the bar.
“Just like that! Perfect!”
“Why haven’t I banned you from here yet?” with a resigned sigh, the pyro mixed up another Apple Cider for someone in the back.
“Because I’m amazing and irresistible?” came the smug reply. “And I pay well.”
“None of those are true,” another glare, another bout of laughter.
“Then I don’t know. You tell me, Master Diluc?” Kaeya’s eye had a twinkle in it, the sort of amusement when they were young and unabashed. The one he had when they would run outside, in the rain, and laugh about who could catch more of the raindrops.
A pang in his heart made Diluc look away, down at the glass. Those were good days. Better than… this.
He missed them.
Saved from answering by a woman walking up and looking for the ordered Cider, the rest of the evening passed in a… not uncomfortable silence between the two. Kaeya would mix his Death Afternoon and Diluc would mix the others, putting up a new bottle if the previous one was used up.
This was the now. This was safe. This was… not as good. But it’ll do.
-{o}-
The rain had lessened, but it was still pouring outside. The sound of it against the wood and glass were filling the now nearly-empty tavern. Kaeya was one of the last patrons, still in the same spot. There was a drunk pair in the corner and one stumbling out at the moment, but in general, it was clearing out.
Diluc still hasn’t said anything to him, even if he was wiping the counter and tables. Even when he woke up the drunks, told them he was closing up and that they should head home.
He either doesn’t care the cryo is still there or is back to ignoring him.
Kaeya wasn’t sure which option was worse.
Drowning the remaining of his glass, the knight turned it upside down, indicating he was done. The redhead was back behind the counter, one eyebrow slightly raised in question.
Shrugging the knight stood up: “Can’t drink it all in one night.”
No reply, just a steady look. The only sort of look he got out of Diluc anymore. He’s grown to accept it. Try and read it. But it’s damn near impossible.
A moment of hesitation, before Kaeya gave a small nod: “Good night, Master Diluc.” And turned on his heel to walk out into the rain.
He thought he caught the pyro’s mouth open, a movement from the corner of his eye before it was closed again. A moment later, when the door was opened and the cold was creeping into the tavern he heard a reply.
“Sleep well, Sir Kaeya.”
And he walked out, closing the door behind him. He was instantly soaked to the bone, but couldn’t care less. As a cryo user, he had a natural resistance to the cold, but that wasn’t where the issue lay.
It was somewhere he couldn’t hide from the cold, no matter his Vision. From deep inside, spreading out and numbing his blood. A bitter smile was on his lips as he started walking towards his house.
Whoever says he’s the cold one, has never been on the receiving end of Diluc’s hate. Not like this. Never like this…
There was a time, long ago, when Diluc was all smiles and laughter. When he was as warm as the sun. But those days are long past, and he’s the reason for them…
Kaeya was so lost in thought, he barely caught another person rushing through the rain, hood up. Managed to twist his body out of the way, but their shoulders bumped anyway and the stranger’s hood slipped off slightly.
“Oh my apologizes, I didn’t see you there,” the knight was quick to say but unable to not glance at the stranger.
“No worries, my own fault,” there wasn’t much to see – most of their face lay in the shadow of their hood. But there was some orange hair, a shade darker than usual likely due to the rain. And eyes a striking yellow.
Something about those eyes made him pause. Like trying to remember a dream from long ago, fuzzy and clouded. Yet familiar. Before he could even utter another word, the stranger was moving again, heading for an Inn – likely where they were staying. Strange that he hadn’t heard of visitors in Mondstadt – maybe they just got here? He’d have to ask in the morning.
-{o}-
Watching Kaeya leave felt like he was the one standing in the rain, not the other man.
Diluc stood by the counter for a few seconds longer, simply staring at where the knight had been, then down at his slightly raised arm. It had been a stupid idea. It was for the better that he hadn’t managed to ask.
“Would you like to attend this year?”
As if he had a right to ask that. To ask for comfort. To ask for someone to stand there… He had a brother, once. Then he tried to kill him and drove him away instead.
Serves him right.
Clenching his palm into a fist, the redhead finished up with the cleaning, put away the bottles, stepped outside and locked the door. He ignored the rain bearing down on him, even if it always made him uncomfortable. And not only because he got soaked.
Only bad things happen on nights like this.
A scream. A beat of powerful wings. Icy rain. His father. The black flame of a Delusion. Blood.
So much blood… Bodies, strewn about.
His father. Dying. Turning to ash in his hands.
Their father, screaming in pain. “Make it stop. Please…”
He didn’t know who he was begging but then noticed the hand clasped atop his own, moving towards the hilt of a blade.
No.
“Please…” Diluc could tell it was a slow and painful death. Just… fading away. If only he could do something!
He could… Could make it easier… Less pained…
With trembling hands, sobbing, he raised the sword. His father smiled at him. Maybe even said ‘thank you’ but the boy couldn’t hear anything. The last noise he registered was the blade breaking skin as he opened his father’s throat, crimson liquid spilling out like fine wine.
And then his father was gone, nothing more but ash and dust.
Tears. Everyone was crying, even the heavens.
The rain washing the blood off his hands, his face.
Blood tears running down his cheeks.
Kaeya screaming.
Hands, pulling him away from the ashes.
More screaming. More crying.
Warms arms around him, holding him.
Numbness. He couldn’t look away from the massacre.
Words of comfort he couldn’t understand. Couldn’t comprehend.
‘How could anything be okay ever again?’
Looking at the sky, Diluc let the rain wash away the tears gathering there. It’s been years, and that night is never far from his mind. How could it be, if that’s not even the worst thing to happen?
Kaeya, saying he had something to explain.
Diluc, hardly feeling anything, the blood not washed off yet. Eyes hard and sore from crying. Wanting nothing more than his brother to comfort him. Wanting to comfort him back. He was their father.
A confession.
He wasn’t in a state to understand and hear everything. Not properly. But certain words stuck out.
Kaeya was a spy. A traitor. Been one since he was found.
More words, a pleading tone. Worry in his eye.
A voice in his mind hissing that Kaeya did this. He was a spy, a traitor. He set up the ambush.
A voice in his mind begging for him to see reason. That Kaeya is his brother and would never do this.
Diluc had no idea when he summoned his claymore, but he took a swing anyway. Kaeya at least managed to doge, still pleading, calling out to him. He didn’t care. He just wanted it all to stop. Whoever this liar was, this Kaeya, it wasn’t his brother. He’d never say that. Would never be reason for any of this.
So he screamed in pain and anguish, grabbing the weapon with both hands and striking. The other man’s eye was wide in fear, and he did his best to avoid the strikes, but parrying them was damn near impossible.
The pyro couldn’t even hear anything besides his own animalistic screaming and the beating in his ears. Not until the claymore caught fire. He saw it reflect in one blue eye. And then he kept attacking until-
With a frustrated growl, Diluc slammed his first into a wall, just to dislodge the memory. To have something else to focus on. Took a few seconds to just breathe, calm himself, ignoring the rain still coming down. Maybe he’ll catch a cold.
He just caught someone else dashing through the rain and let out a huff, heaved a sigh and headed towards the city gates. It’s a long walk back to the Winery and hopefully, he’ll have cleared his mind by then.
-{o}-
Arriving at the house he rents, Kaeya peeled off his soaked jacket and threw it over a chair to dry. Next were his gloves, turning them inside out as he set them on the table. His boots were lost somewhere between the bedroom and hall. When he finally did arrive at the bed, he fell face-first into it, not caring he was probably soaking it as well. Lovely.
Flipping on his side, the knight closed his eye and just… breathed. It’s always worse, this time of year. He wishes things were better between him and Diluc. That maybe, they could… just talk about it. But the pyro made his thoughts clear all those years ago.
The death of their father hit them both hard, Diluc more so. He was a mess that day, and Kaeya was worried out of his mind. Cerpus never knew of who he took into his family. And Kaeya was always too afraid to tell him.
Telling him on that day… Yeah. He wasn’t sure why he chose that day. Maybe because there was a connection and he just thought of it? Maybe because what could be worse than a death? Maybe it’d be just the right amount of insanity that Diluc would… wouldn’t react badly?
How wrong he was.
Finding him there, still bloodied and shaking, he first made sure his brother was safe. He wasn’t responding too much, but Kaeya still held him close, trying to calm him down. Told him things would be alright. But he couldn’t hide the horror in his expression as he watched the remains of their father be swiped away by the wind and matted into the muddy ground.
The rest of the knights that came were tending to the dead and most of them decided to head back. To report and… have this area checked. Figure out what happened. They weren’t going to get much out of his brother.
So he took Diluc off to the side, away from… everything there. They would have some privacy, especially with the rain. Maybe even for a… different conversation.
His heart started beating faster. A small tremble was going through him as he led his brother deeper into the forest. He’ll have time to mourn later.
So he thought.
“Diluc,” he said softly, trying to catch his brother’s eye. Panic was rising in him as well. “I have something to explain.”
He regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth, but the way the pyro’s eyes focused on him, Kaeya realized he couldn’t back out. Not now.
“I… I have to confess to you…” words were hard, his heart was beating in his ears. “I’m from Khaenri'ah… My- My real father left me here to spy on Mondstadt.” The words were jumbled.
Delusions were of Fatui origin but… maybe. Maybe it was connected somehow? He didn’t know. Maybe there was a grander plan here.
Then he saw Diluc’s head turn up, looking at him. Saw them widen and the way his breathing picked up.
Shit.
“Diluc, please, listen, I didn’t- I never wanted to-” of all the times for words to fail him, this is the worst.
“I didn’t want this to happen, I swear to you, I had no idea about-,”
He barely saw the claymore swing at his head. Barely threw himself backwards to avoid being decapitated. Barely caught himself in the muddy ground. And he knew at that moment, he made everything worse.
There was absolute hate in Diluc’s eyes, wide and half unseeing, hidden in the shadows and rain. Only burning with anger. It made Kaeya freeze, his own eye opening wide in fear.
Another swing and he stepped back.
“Luc, please, please, listen to me!” he called out, voice shaking. He barely caught the pyro’s arms tremble as well with each attack.
The next swing was barely deflected with his own summoned sword, but Kaeya didn’t want this. He didn’t want to fight his brother, not like this, not now. Not when the redhead was looking at him with such murderous intent.
“Diluc! Please!” he had to yell over his brother’s own screams, icy fear gripping his heart.
“Ple-,” he was cut off when the claymore slammed into his side, sending him sliding across the floor. Everything hurt and he barely caught himself on the tree. It was hard to see.
Then everything was lit up and he saw his brother’s flames licking up the weapon. A Vision. A fire so strong it wasn’t doused by the rain.
Diluc’s hatred of him. If it had been any other moment, with anyone else, he would’ve been impressed. As it stood, he felt nothing but fear and horror.
He was going to die. His brother was going to kill him. He closed his eye.
And suddenly, felt colder than ever before in his life. A shout of surprise made him look again, and he saw Diluc, panting and shaking, holding his still flamed blade. And he saw two icicles dancing around him, like a shield. There was one shattered on the ground, slowly melting.
It blocked the attack.
Just as suddenly, his left hand was freezing and he watched in fascination and wonder as something formed in his palm, bright blue with a snowflake. A Vision.
And the world stood still.
Neither of them dared to move until the flames were doused and the ice faded away. The pyro’s face was a mix of horror, fear and confusion. Kaeya wasn’t sure about his own expression, but he assumed it was along similar lines.
“Luc-,”
“Get out of my sight.”
The ice felt warmer than those words, that tone.
“I never want to see you again. You’re no brother of mine.”
And with that, Diluc, his brother, what remained of his family, left him there in the pouring rain, hurt and lost.
And Kaeya simply watched him, sliding to the ground, unaware he was crying until his vision clouded. And then he sobbed, loud as he pleased. Not like anyone was around to hear him.
Serves him right.
Wiping away a tear, Kaeya sighed shakily, before it turned into a wet laugh. Honestly, it’s been so long, he should be used to it. Accept it. But he can’t. He doesn’t think he ever will.
Maybe he should ask Jean if she can give him a task. A long one. At least for the next week. He doesn’t want to be here… He doubted Diluc wants him here.
Sighing, the knight crawled further onto his bed, pulled up the covers and readied himself for sleep. Well, try to, will likely take an hour or so before he finally does sleep.
It always gives him too much time to think.
So he settled in for more nightmares, but hoped maybe, just maybe, it won’t be the horror he faces almost every day.