Chapter Text
Ever since the Stormterror incident, Diluc has been painfully aware of how the Knights of Favonius have been treating Jean. Coupled with some stories he heard from the traveller, Diluc found himself taking time out of managing the world's largest winery to check in on someone who’s label would be closest to ex-friend. This isn’t natural, as they haven’t held a proper one on one conversation in years since a certain incident regarding delusions. And yet the red haired gentleman does it anyway, because no matter how scarred or tired he is, Diluc is a man who cares for his friends.
That’s how he found himself walking everyday to the Knights headquarters with a basket of freshly baked bread and a thermos full of complimenting soup. He didn’t make the soup or the bread however he finds himself wanting to try to learn. People greet him on the way, being friendly with the uncrowned king of Mondstadt can bring nothing but benefits of course. So he smiles and waves back, regretting his decision to not take a back street. A particular girl had a bit of an over reaction which Diluc got a bit of a chuckle out of.
The Knights guarding the door let him in with ease, due to how many times he’s replicated this scenery already. Diluc walks with confidence and a little rush, eager to check on Jean. As much as he would deny it over and over again, he would care for any of his friends and that includes Jean. Especially since the borderline torturous job she has.
He opens the door, and to no surprise there’s Jean furiously writing on some sort of tax document. There's dark circles over her eyes, blinds in the room are wide open and there's several mugs on the floor no doubt to make space for the uncountable number of documents on the table. The only thing that’s different in Diluc’s visit to Jean daily is Lisa, who is currently lounging on the couch that’s near Jean’s office.
Lisa: “Oh, I was wondering when you’d be back.”
Diluc: “Someone needs to look out for her. Look how tired she is.”
Jean: “You act like I am not here. I am fine.” She did not sound fine. Jean sounded like she was trying to convince herself she was fine.
Diluc: “When did you last eat?”
Jean: “Breakfast.”
Diluc: “That was 5 hours ago.”
Lisa: “Darling, what did you eat?”
Jean: “ A fisherman's toast from Good Hunter.”
Lisa: “You haven’t left headquarters all night. Jean, sweetie, you shouldn’t lie.”
Diluc: “You’re not fine Jean. You need food and sleep like everyone else.” There was barely hidden annoyance in Diluc's voice, probably from repeating himself so many times.
Jean: “Fine, fine, just allow me to complete this last document.”
Diluc: “No. You’re eating then taking a nap. How long did you sleep last night?”
Jean: “I am fine.”
Diluc: “Lisa, how long did she sleep?”
Lisa: “I wouldn’t know, but she’s been awake past 8:00 and awake before 8:00.”
Jean: “Lisa! We are friends, you could at least cover for me.”
Lisa: “I don’t have to if it’s hurting you this much dear.”
Jean: “It is not hurting me. I am telling you I am fine.”
Diluc: “Jean. Take two hours of your time off. The rest can quit drinking and share even a fraction of the work you’re doing.”
Jean: “I can not just shirk my duties like this.”
Diluc: “How much overtime pay do you have?”
Jean: “That is none of your business.” The answer was quick and full of spite, knowing that Diluc brought up a good point. Jean had more overtime pay than her original paycheck.
Diluc: “Fine. But I’m getting you to take a break.”
It’s like this everyday Diluc visits. The two of them are too stubborn enough to deny giving the other any sort of victory, in their version to make Jean’s life better. Jean only wants to work herself to death, then work some more, all to make the lives of Mondstadt’s citizens just a little bit better. Diluc wants Jean to stop working and take care of herself, not having to rely on him or Lisa to tell her to eat or get proper sleep.
Jean: “The work I am doing is important, I can not just complete it halfway.”
Diluc: “If the knights are so competent, then why don’t you hand a portion of it to them? Not enough to shirk your duty like you’re saying, but enough to lighten this load you have here.”
Diluc looked at the stack of papers in such an insulting manner you would think he practiced in a mirror. His disgust was written all over his face as he attempted to vaporize the eye level pile of papers simply by staring at them. The scene was almost laughable as Jean was expected to fill out multiple stacks of papers that were eye level with a man as tall as Diluc. It’s a miracle the desk was able to burden this amount of weight.
Lisa: “You’re really pushing it Diluc. You never constructed such a good argument before. Even insulted the knights while you’re at it.” Lisa's tone was full of tease and laughter.
Jean: “Fine. I will allocate some paperwork I didn’t start yet to any and all knights in or around the Angel’s Share. Are you satisfied yet?”
Diluc: “You already know my answer to that.”
Lisa: “I’m going to track down some rule breakers and make some tea sweetie. Be back in 10 minutes. I do hope you remember to keep your clothes on, though you definitely need the stress relief.”
Diluc was caught completely off guard with that statement and promptly became a Jueyun chili in a physical sense. Bright red, very hot and unable to speak. Jean continued writing as she has throughout this whole conversation. Diluc doesn't even think Jean heard what Lisa said, not until the door closes and Diluc notices that Jean’s ears are bright red. Diluc takes this moment to admire Jean and her dedication. She’s clearly embarrassed, and what Lisa said clearly broke through her facade, yet she carries on showing as little indication as possible, determined to work her way through an inhuman amount of paperwork. That brings him back to reality and the fact he needs to protect his friend from herself, nothing more, nothing less. A friend.
Diluc: “Jean please. Just relax for a couple hours.”
Jean: “I am almost done filling out this document. Allow me to finish this and I promise I will take a short break.”
Diluc: “I’m taking you somewhere once we’re done.”
Jean: “W-What?”
Diluc realized what he just blurted out on a whim and what it suggests. What Lisa said earlier doesn’t help either, making the whole office unnaturally hot. His first instinct is to backpedal and attempt to make it clear it’s in a friendly manner. Completely friendly and 100% platonic.
Diluc: “I have to make sure that you won't slip out of my sight to run yourself ragged on doing paperwork. You’re addicted to this Jean.”
Jean: “You are acting like I like doing paperwork, but somebody has to do it.”
Diluc: “There are plenty of knights who could take care of this. You, Kayea, Lisa and Amber are practically shouldering the entirety of the knights.”
Jean: “You are forgetting Eula and the Honorary Knight. They saved us more trouble than I thought we could cause.”
Diluc: Keyword there being honorary. They don’t count. I’m fairly certain they’re in Natlan right now.”
Jean: “They still do our commissions whenever we post them.”
Diluc: “Just hurry it up with that form. I want to get out of this place and you need to eat something. The soup I brought is going to get cold.”
Jean: “I am not sick, you didn’t need to bring soup.”
Diluc: “Well you’re going to be if you keep this up.”
Jean: “I am finished. Are you satisfied yet?”
Diluc: Not until I see you get some rest. Let’s go.”
Jean: “Where are we going?”
Diluc: “I know a good spot.”
Jean: “That does not answer my question Diluc.”
Diluc: “Consider it a surprise. If I tell you, you wouldn’t want to go.”
Jean: “I already don’t want to go.”
Diluc: “We’re going. Now.”
Diluc had no idea where to take Jean, but he knew he had to for her own sake. A quiet and calming place away from work and people. It took him a couple seconds and he believes he found a suitable location for these conditions. They walked out of the Knight’s office with Jean in the front, like escorting a prisoner. Diluc also makes this connection and doesn’t want to make Jean uncomfortable, just to help her relax. He speeds up his walk and matches it with Jean’s to be directly beside her. Jean is more like trudging, slightly dragging her feet in the most regal way possible. She barely had the strength to stay awake filing documents, he doubts she could walk all the way to Starsnatch Cliff. It seems her brain finally clicked that Diluc is walking right behind her, and she straightens up even more, that blush in her ears practically glowing and creeping on to her cheeks. She quits shuffling and doesn’t show any signs of the fact she hasn’t gotten a break in more than 14 hours. Diluc’s wondering what caused this change when he notices a certain estranged brother walking down the corridor. Kayea. He’s been talking with him more and more in passing, but talking about that specific issue all those years ago is something neither of them could seem to bring up. Mentally preparing himself for the shenanigans that seem to follow Kayea, he involuntarily breathes a heavy sigh and crosses his arms.
Kayea: “Well hello. Where are you two headed?”
Diluc: “Nowhere.”
Jean: “Diluc, answer the question. I would also like to know where we are headed.”
Diluc: “I don’t know yet. Just away from your paperwork.”
Kayea: “Oh? You two going on a date? About time really.”
Diluc: “It’s not a.. Sigh.”
Jean: “It’s not a date. Diluc is simply making sure I don’t overwork myself.”
Diluc: “Exactly. Now I would like to get moving.”
Kayea: “Alright. I won’t get in your way. Just remember to take it slow Diluc.”
Diluc: “You should be telling that to her.”
Kayea: “No, I mean you’ll ruin the mood if you strip her too fast.”
Jean: “Keep this up and you’ll be fired.”
Kayea: “Alright. Have fun.”
Kayea throws a trademarked smirk at the two of them and continues on his way. The assumed couple goes on their way as well, wondering what has been going on inside their friends' heads.
Diluc: “Does everyone think we are a couple?”
Jean: “It would seem so. This outing is not helping either.”
Diluc: “I’d rather deal with rumors than see you torture yourself anymore.”
Jean: Sigh. “Have you decided where we are going yet?”
Diluc: “I have. We’re going to Starsnatch Cliff.”
Jean: “Starsnatch Cliff? Isn’t that where lovers go?”
Diluc: “Did you say something?”
Jean: “No. Nothing at all.”
Diluc: “That isn’t you just being stubborn is it? Nothing is wrong?”
Jean: “It is nothing that you can fix Diluc. Unless you can get everyone to stop thinking we are a couple.”
Diluc: “I think you’re right about that.”
Both of them came to the conclusion of what needs to happen if they want to stop being perceived as a couple. Diluc would need to stop coming over. However neither of them would want that. Jean has become inexplicably happier over the past month with Diluc visiting and she finds his snacks and occasional Pile ‘em Up specialty delicious and just what she needs after a long day. Of course she would want him around. And Diluc is simply worried about his friend’s health. There’s no way any human could do the amount of work Jean was trying to accomplish by herself. From his point of view she’s practically running the entirety of Mondstadt without getting help from anyone else. That viewpoint isn’t a grand stretch either.
They continue on to Starsnatch Cliff. Diluc allows Jean to take short breaks underneath a tree every so often and Jean insists that she does not need them, however the slightly muffled heavy breathing and small shuffles of the feet beg to differ. They make the journey either way and simply talk. They catch up on how their lives have been like ever since Jean graduated from the Favonius and took Diluc’s place when he used to be a Captain of the Knights. They bonded over what it’s like to be in an authoritative position and how it is managing people. Diluc even managed to share some stories of Liyue and what it was like being away from Mondstadt for so long. Jean ate some of the bread and soup from the thermos and was very obviously better for it. The lady probably hasn't eaten anything since last night.
An hour later they make it to Starsnatch Cliff. They’ve already run out of things to talk about though, and have just been walking in silence for the past 10 minutes.