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“What did you wish for?” He hears you ask from behind him just as the shooting star flew by. Diluc didn’t even flinch at how close your voice was to his ears, your lips practically brushing against his ear. He was not embarrassed in the least bit.
Why would he be?
You were his lover.
Diluc feels a fond smile curl up on his face at your presence, his gloved hand crawling to hold your smaller hand. You smile at his gesture and kneeled next to him. The atmosphere was warm and although there were no words exchanged, it felt like he and you were both exchanging loving words with one another telepathically.
“I remember you saying before that telling others what you wished for would equate to it not coming true, didn’t you?” Diluc chuckled softly, his gloved hand squeezing your hand gently, planting a soft kiss on your knuckles.
You turn red at his gesture but didn’t pull your hand away, genuinely enjoying him openly expressing his affection for you. A smile cracks on your face as you leaned onto his side. He welcomes your warmth, nuzzling against you tenderly.
You smile at him. “I guess so.” You shoot him a smug grin. “So you do remember everything I say!” You laughed.
Diluc flushes red slightly. “I just have good memory.”
“That’s not what you said last time!” You tell him through a fit of giggles, pushing his shoulder playfully.
Diluc smiles at your amusement, his eyes spotting the ruby on your ring on your left hand as you began playing with his fingers through the gloves. His eyes softened at the sight of it. His heart melts, leaning more onto the body warmth you provided, relishing the little moments he spent with you.
“I bet you wished for that.” You smiled at him.
Diluc didn’t say anything, only a smile visible; only listening to the soft pounding of your heart. It was so peaceful, so serene.
Then there was silence.
Silence — just quietness and stillness aside from the occasional cricket noises and chirping of birds.
Diluc frowns, his hands curling into fists as he presses his side onto the tree beside him in desperation, clinging onto the warmth he had imagined you were giving him. His eyes felt glassy, his heart quenching in pain as his face hardened at the reality that you weren’t here.
It was cold. It was gloomy. It was so quiet and freezing, he wanted you here. He needed you here.
But you weren’t here anymore.
You were dead.
You were gone.
No longer did you sleep in his arms. No longer did you smile at him. No longer did you exist. No longer did you babble nonsense he could catch up to.
You were gone, gone, gone, gone. But why did he still cling onto the hope that maybe you were still alive?
Even when he witnessed your body be put into a casket and covered. Even when he was there to watch you be given a space to bury your casket to. Even when he watched as every remaining piece of you get tucked away with your cold, lifeless body.
He still couldn’t move on.
He couldn’t accept it.
Just a few months ago, you were in his arms, sharing a heartwarming moment. But as if as quick as lightning, the moments shredded into cold, distant memories that no longer dwell to the citizens of Mondstadt.
…
Diluc missed you.
He missed you a lot.
He missed you so much, it was hurting him inside not having you beside him.
He pathetically hit his head on the tree trunk, feeling the tears roll on his cheeks as he grits his teeth.
No matter how many times he wished on the day you died, you will never come back.