Chapter Text
Lumine must admit that she was the most thrilled seeing Diluc in the Golden Apple Archipelago. From the moment she spotted the long red hair at the coastline from afar, she had hoped that it would be him. When she got closer and he turned around to show the usual soft look on his handsome face, her heart launched into her throat. Such a simple thing made her feel like it was a dream come true. He was always at the back of her mind, but she never realized how much she had missed standing near him.
Kaeya, Diluc’s remaining companion, talked the most about their journey into the remote region before they were deserted in where they were now. She listened to Kaeya’s retelling, but most of her energy went into trying to stop herself from stealing glances at the man standing beside him so her excitement wouldn’t be too obvious. Someone calm and composed like Diluc would only lift his brows and think that it was a coincidence when their eyes met, but even the most feebleminded person would be suspicious after the nth time.
“Dodo-King, huh?” Diluc’s first words were hilarious, but instead of cackling like Kaeya, Lumine was simply entranced. She hadn’t forgotten Diluc’s voice, yet for some reason, it sounded more pleasant. Therefore, she couldn’t help herself when his next words became what she attentively perceived the most.
As the group headed to where she had docked the boat, Lumine kept staring at Diluc’s footsteps on the sand while remembering the last time she was trailing behind him. It was during her last few days in Mondstadt before moving to Liyue, which was a long time ago. He was extremely busy with the tavern during the recent Windblume Festival, so they could only greet one another. All this yearning wouldn’t make her any better than the girls in town who wanted a piece of the richest bachelor in the nation, but unlike them, he called her friend.
“Oh!” she whimpered when she bumped her face on something sturdy. She looked up while rubbing the tip of her nose with her forefinger, noticing that it was none other than Diluc’s back. Her subconscious must have soared too far until she didn’t register her own destination. Had everyone else not gawked at her, it would have been quite romantic. Right now, it was just embarrassing.
“Are you okay?” Diluc asked.
“Yes. I didn’t look where I was going. I’m sorry,” she said before gazing down when his red eyes suddenly became too overwhelming. She heaved a sigh of relief when he didn’t say anything else, but the peace didn’t last long when he started helping the girls onboard. First, he held Jean and Barbara’s hands, then he carried Klee even though the blonde kid insisted that she could jump without anyone’s help.
Lumine had always adored Diluc’s courtesy. She thought about it deeply when it was her turn to be hoisted off the damp ground. His gloved hands were firm like there was no way she could fall even if the land and sky were split in two. In all fairness, there was nothing too special about it since he treated the people before her the same way. If Kaeya weren’t preoccupied with unknotting the dock line, he would have also cared for everyone. Most of the men Lumine had met in Teyvat was good, so why did she only wonder about Diluc?
After sitting on the upper deck, Lumine prayed for no one to take the spot beside her, not even Paimon, who ended up being across with Barbara. When Diluc came up, looked around, and chose to seat himself next to her, Lumine swore to worship the god who had granted her wish. She had never imagined that something so small could make her this happy. It was very idiotic of her, but Diluc could be anywhere. He could stand with Kaeya and oversee the ocean, but he marched toward her like he also wanted to be with her.
“It’s scorching hot out here,” Diluc remarked in a low voice. Lumine was the only person who could hear him, so he couldn’t be saying it to someone else.
She was about to tease his thick clothing, but she remembered that a similar conversation had taken place nine or ten months ago when they had only known each other for a few weeks. Paimon had made fun of his winter outfit but then praised his capability to run around in it while carrying a claymore. He had explained that it was always cold in Mondstadt, and he wasn’t wrong about it. They were walking in the forest near Springvale during a summer day, yet the breeze felt like they were reaching the end of autumn.
“You should take off your jacket,” Lumine advised.
“I really should,” Diluc agreed. He removed the said garment and placed it on his lap, showing a plain long-sleeve black shirt. As one of the world’s most experienced fighters, it didn’t surprise her at all to see a muscular body that was too perfect to be true. His toned arms were almost the size of her thighs, and there might be some battle scars hidden underneath the thin layer of silk.
The journey to the nearest island took several hours, but time felt short when he asked her about her life after the Windblume Festival. He didn’t need to hear the details, but she couldn’t help elucidating everything; how she went back to Liyue and still couldn’t find a way to get to Inazuma, and how she decided to rest for a while in Mondstadt. Her plan was to rent a luxurious inn and drink cold juices every day before she worried about Inazuma again, but then emerged the whole operation in the mysterious archipelago.
“I’m sorry that I have no way to get you to Inazuma. I know some successful businessmen who can help you there, but I can’t break the travel restrictions. I have no power to disobey the rules made by their archon,” he said.
She smiled. “Don’t worry. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
“Yes, and it’s nice having you around,” he added, and she blushed. She knew it wasn’t caused by the increasing heat, but thinking about the truth only made her cheeks burn harder. The place and timing weren’t right. But, even if they were, she wouldn’t know what to do about it.
Unfortunately, it was the last time they could casually chatter. Once they got into the last island and waited for the final puzzle to unravel, he disappeared without a trace. Some unused boats were lying around and seemed to be put there intentionally. Some of them were missing within minutes, so he must have taken one and retreated. She thought of leaving too—perhaps, she could “accidentally” stumble upon him—but the region was too vast that it was more possible for her to meet twenty hordes of hilichurls before finding another human being.
So, she sulked like a child. As the only people left on the island, Paimon, Kaeya, Klee, and Jean dragged her to catch some lizards for fun and fish for dinner, but she couldn’t stay focused when she kept staring at the horizon, hoping that Diluc would sail back to her. Like some magical moment that she would remember forever, their friends would cheer and forced them to talk intimately and privately somewhere else. Maybe then, she would dare to lay her head on his chest and do more than smiling.
“Never hesitate to speak your mind, Lumine. We might not see them again tomorrow.”
Among many things, she recalled what her older brother had told her many years ago. In one of their previous worlds, she befriended a farm girl who often cooked for her whenever she was nearby. Then after half a year, the girl ignored her out of nowhere and found another group of worse friends. It perplexed and saddened her, but she tried to accept the change and move on. However, her brother’s advice made her confront the girl. Although the girl ran away before explaining everything, at least she was satisfied because she could share her thoughts.
The same method should be applied to Diluc. Based on the current situation, she could always visit Mondstadt. The Dawn Winery and Angel’s Share wouldn’t go bankrupt within the next few generations, but there was no guarantee that she would survive in Inazuma. Maybe, she would meet her brother there and they had to immediately leave Teyvat before being able to say goodbye to anyone. Plenty of disasters could happen in the future, so she must make the best of their limited time among these islands.
After sunset, everyone finished preparing a campfire big enough to grill fifty fish at the time. Lumine had presumed that Diluc wouldn’t be back until morning, but he eventually showed up, albeit being the last among those who had left early. He brought some berries and mints with him, which was very thoughtful since there were only inedible trees and bushes around. While someone with a hydro vision like Barbara could produce drinkable water, no one had the ability to create fresh fruits out of nothingness.
This time, Lumine had to be disappointed when Diluc sat alone in one corner after giving the berries and mints to the others. She would love to hand him a piece of cooked fish, but if loud talkers like Paimon and Kaeya noticed it, they would scream and cause a scene. She didn’t want to weird anyone out, so she waited until the gathering was over and everyone scattered around. Some lied down under the palm trees, some took sleeping bags from the boat and tucked themselves comfortably inside, and she quietly followed Diluc, who headed to the northeast part of the island.
“Are you going somewhere?” Lumine asked once they reached the coast. It was dark, but it wasn’t difficult to follow the only red color on her way.
He seemed startled by her voice, but he calmly looked over his shoulder and nodded. “Yes. Why?”
“Can I come with you?”
“No. You should rest.” His refusal was quick.
She clenched the sword sheath hanging on her left thigh. “We’ve ventured into the unknown several times before. You should be aware that I’m not a fussy person. I can rest anywhere, anytime. Let me come with you.”
He stared at her for a while before deciding, “All right.”
From the beginning of their friendship, he had never been the person who prevented her from doing dangerous things. He trusted her, so his yielding was expected. She beamed from ear to ear the moment he walked to the only boat nearby and motioned her to come forward. Repeating what he did before, he lent his hand to help her get into the boat before untying the dock line and turning on the outboard. His grace, concern, and watchfulness were all the things that made her feel at ease every time he was around.
The boat was smaller than the one the group used. It didn’t have an enclosed cabin space or massive storage to keep weeks’ worth of food and could only accommodate six adults. Much to her amusement, they had no other choice but to sit next to one another. He could be behind her or have her face his back, but the worst thing that could happen was if he sat in front of her and made them lock eyes for hours. She wouldn’t be able to handle the tension and would just pretend to fall asleep.
“It’s quite windy. You should have brought a blanket with you,” he said, not even two minutes after they took off. Before she responded, he removed his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. First, she flinched, but then she was glued to the spot. It was sweet and too much at the same time. Her heartbeat hadn’t been normal since she saw him in the morning, but the sudden kindness only made it race. If things like this kept happening, she might run out of breath and pass out.
“Thank you, Diluc,” she murmured, pulled the jacket together, and hugged herself. It was big and warm and had his distinctive earthy scent. She remembered it well because they spent days curing a dragon in Mondstadt, where she often had to stand very close to him. Every little thing enveloping her belonged to him, so she tucked her nose into the collar of his jacket, trying to retain as many memories as possible in case she missed him one day and didn’t know what to do.
“You’ve been acting a bit strange. Is everything good?” he asked.
“Oh.” She lifted her head and glanced at him. “It’s nothing. Maybe it’s the weather. I know I wear a short dress, but I’m not used to this kind of place.”
“Maybe.”
“Yes. There won’t be any other logical explanation.”
“Is that so?”
“I’m sure of it.”
They stared at each other for a few more seconds before she looked away first. Every time their eyes met, she always had the urge to bring her face closer to his, but she had no idea how he felt about her. Was this the perfect time to find out? The dark blue sky was embellished with a million stars until she could see the reflection on the sea. The full moon was the most striking one she had seen so far. She could risk it all, but she couldn’t just jump off the boat when things didn’t go her way.
“What did you do in the afternoon?” she initiated, looking back at the red-haired man. They couldn’t stay quiet for hours, and she had promised not to take the time given to her for granted. The least she could do was keep the conversation going.
“I went to the neighboring islands, trying to find the answer to the letter I received,” he said.
“Did you discover anything?”
“No. Just some brainless Abyss Mages to eliminate.”
She chuckled. “That’s so you, Diluc. I’m sure all the islands are safe now.”
“Not all,” he gently corrected her. “I didn’t have time to explore each one of them.”
“But what do you think of this place? Do you enjoy summer?”
“It’s fine. It doesn’t really affect me.”
“Do you have a favorite season?”
He paused, gazing at the floor for a moment before looking at her again. “Summer is nice.”
“Really?” She raised her brows. “It sounds like you just randomly chose a season.”
“No. I like summer.” His smile was milder and quite melancholic. “When I was younger, my father used to bring me to the beach every summer. We would stay there for about a week or two and ate lots of shrimps. It was fun.”
“I see.” She didn’t know what else to say because it was a sensitive topic. He had only ever mentioned his family situation briefly and coincidently—like what just happened—but it wrung her heart each time. For once, she thought that she had it better because she lived with her brother for far longer than Diluc did with his father.
“How about you, Lumine?” Diluc turned to ask.
“Oh, I think I prefer autumn. The seasonal dishes are spectacular,” Lumine said.
“You like autumn because of the food?” He sounded too amazed for a fact so small.
She scrunched up her nose, attempting to look insulted, but he should know that she was just kidding. “Why? Is there anything wrong with it?”
“It’s funny, but more because I’ve always considered you as a summer person,” he stated.
“Well, I’ve always considered you as a winter person,” she retaliated.
“Because of my clothes?”
She snickered. “You still remember when Paimon said that?”
“Apparently so.”
She laughed a bit louder, and he smiled at her reaction once more. This was lovely. She thought it would be awkward since she had an objective to accomplish, but his receptiveness made the job easy. They continued discussing her favorite autumn recipes; apple pies, pumpkin muffins, slow-roasted pork in cider and sage, and all kinds of stews. He said that his head maid, Adelinde, baked the best pies—and he had tried many of them from other nations—so she must visit his estate when autumn came to judge it herself.
Clearly, he didn’t want to go too far because they only passed by a small island before he stopped the boat. If she didn’t know him that well, she would have assumed that her topics were getting dull, but she believed he did it so the trip on the sea wouldn’t bore her instead. After making sure that the dock line was safe and steady, he helped her hop down. A moment later, he pulled a golden pocket watch from his trousers—a very expensive one that might worth a two-story mansion in Mondstadt’s wealthiest district.
“It’s only ten, so it took us about an hour and a half to get here,” he informed her before shoving the watch back inside his pocket.
“Was it fast? I’ve lost my sense of time here, so I only go by the moon and the sun,” she revealed.
“Yes, but I anticipated it. Boats travel faster when there isn’t any water friction.” He gazed toward the sea. “The surface was calm. Let’s hope it stays this way when we get back.”
“Of course,” she said before taking off his jacket and giving it back to him. “Thank you, Diluc. You’re very kind.”
He knitted his brows. “Why?”
“Huh?” She tilted her head sideways. “What do you mean with ‘why’? Aren’t we going to hunt some Abyss Mages? This jacket is too big for me, so it’ll only hinder my movement.”
He huffed a laugh. “We aren’t fighting anything. Wear it.”
“What?” she squeaked, watching him walk past her like he didn’t want to receive another question because he had explained it thoroughly. As she tried to understand what was going on, she observed her surroundings and realized that there wasn’t a single monster on sight, not even a hilichurl that was easier to find than a wild boar.
She had been to this particular island with three mountains connected by bridges. It used to be covered in fog, but even after the air and land were cleared, monsters kept crawling back every time she revisited the place. There must be an invisible portal that perhaps only the Celestia gods could see or a mastermind who deliberately put them here to disturb the guests. Many things didn’t make sense in Teyvat, but at this moment, Diluc was the one who confused her the most.
“You were here this afternoon, weren’t you?” she asked as she ran after him. She switched back to walking when there was only about a meter of distance between them and wore his jacket again.
“I was,” he answered.
“Then what are we doing here? I thought you would need my help with the Abyss Order.”
“You said it yourself that your plan was to relax, but you were dragged here.” He halted and turned around, looking at her gently. “You need to unwind. I’ve scoured this area, so you can take a walk here without worrying about anything. There’s also a campsite nearby. Of course, we can leave if you don’t like it here.”
I like you. The profession crossed her mind and stunned her like a thunderstorm. She had acknowledged it for some time, but the words rang louder and louder. I like you. I like you so much! You’re the most wonderful man I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. You treat me like we’ve been the best of friends for years. The world is a better place because you’re taking care of it, and I just can’t help falling for you. I like you. I like you. I like you. The thoughts became uncontrollable with each passing second until she felt like breaking down crying.
“Diluc, we’ll stay friends no matter what, right?” she began. Her body shivered slightly as it became harder for her to breathe.
“What kind of question is that?” he asked back.
She shrugged. “I just want to make sure.”
“It depends. You can’t hurt someone and expect them to still treat you well. I’m not that nice,” he said, being as reasonable as always.
“Of course.” Her gaze fell to the ground. She gripped the hem of his jacket with both hands before parting her lips again, “I like you.”
The confession was faint, almost like a whisper. It would be inaudible if they were strolling around the weekend market where everyone was running and yelling at each other. This night, however, they were standing in the middle of nowhere. The sea that surrounded them didn’t make a sound that could bother anyone’s speech. If someone coughed from the other side of the mountain, the entire island would hear it. Her words were clear, so he couldn’t lie about not getting them.
“I’m—hold on, I don’t know what to say…” he said after a suffocating pause that felt like another summer had passed.
“It’s fine! I’m sorry for crossing the line!” she shouted, still not having the nerve to look at him. The only response that wouldn’t hurt her was he felt the same way about her, but it was something that she couldn’t force. His silence was painful, even when a part of her told her that he must be shocked and bewildered. He hasn’t rejected you, silly Lumine! it scolded her, but she was too emotional to think positively.
“Lumine, I don’t…” It was evident that he struggled to find the right answer. “…I don’t know how to be with someone. Is that good enough for you? Do you still want me?”
The two anxious questions were what encouraged her to raise her head. What she found was the same prepossessing man whom she had grown to favor among everybody else, but he flushed like he got lost in the woods for the first time in his life and missed his only source of light. He chewed his lower lip nervously as his eyes wandered around to everywhere but her. She had never seen him this flustered before, and all her worries dissipated in seconds when she realized he was saying that he wanted her too.
“Are you crazy? Do you even notice what other people say about you? There’s no one better than you!” she said. “I’ve always liked you, Diluc. Believe me. You have no idea how happy I was when—”
He stepped forward and embraced her in his arms, stopping her from blabbering any further. “I’ve always liked you too,” he spoke into her ear. “Thank you for saying it, Lumine. I should have taken the lead, but I wasn’t as brave as you, so thank you.”
She clutched into his shirt before letting herself go, holding his hands, and looking right into his eyes. “Be brave now, then.”
At first, she thought she was too ambiguous with what she truly meant, but when he cupped her face in his hands and planted his lips on hers, she knew that she didn’t need to overthink. Another reason why he stole her heart many months ago was how well they read each other’s minds. She only managed to open her eyes for a second before he kissed her again. After four more times, he moved to every other part of her face until she couldn’t count anymore.
“Don’t cry,” he cooed. It was only then when she noticed the teardrops rolling down her cheeks, but he wiped them away carefully.
“Diluc is mine,” she said with a smile. He nodded with a wider grin before kissing her right temple and the top of her head once. Then, he hugged her tighter than before, as if he was afraid of the sea that could steal her away from him. Even though her head was still clouded with the new sensation, she knew that this must be what joy should feel like.