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Rain pounded heavily on the windows of the Dawn Winery. Diluc observed the storm from the safety of the sitting room of the manor. It had set on quickly; more quickly than the winery owner was used to. The candles inside the manor were lit some time ago.
"Master Diluc," one of the maids said, rounding the corner, "there is someone at the door. Shall I let them in?"
Diluc stayed silent for a moment. "Take your leave. I shall answer it myself."
"Thank you, Master Diluc." The young girl bowed and left the room.
He took his time answering the door. He had a feeling it wasn't anybody he'd want to see.
And he was correct.
"Kaeya. What are you doing out here?"
The slightly taller captain was leaning heavily against the door, soaking wet and out of breath. "Sorry for interrupting your evening." He winced. "I didn't know where else to go."
Diluc grimaced for a moment, taking a good look at the soaking man. He had shifted all his weight onto one foot— had something happened to him?
"...Hillie, Moco," the winery owner yelled, "prepare to mop. Bring a fresh change of clothes as well as a blanket."
"Yes, sir!" One of the two maids yelled back. Diluc reluctantly helped Kaeya into the sitting room, letting him flop onto the couch with a wet thud.
"What happened to you?" He demanded, sitting on the opposite side of the room.
"My, my, Master Diluc, I wasn't aware you still cared for me," Kaeya teased.
"Answer me." He was in no mood to put up with the captain's coyness.
"Alright, alright. I was out scouting for Jean, until I managed to stumble off the edge of a cliff. Not too high, mind you— my other foot is fine. However, my right foot is almost unusable. Anyway, I started to stumble my way back to Mondstadt, but it started raining, leaving me no choice but to show up on your doorstep. Quite a lucky day for both of us, no?"
"Hmph." Diluc leaned forward in his chair. "And you still manage to use all of your snarky comments."
"What can I say? I'm always charming," Kaeya offered a smug grin.
"...Is your foot in pain?"
"Quite. Thank you for inquiring."
Hillie entered the room, holding a cotton blanket and a change of clothes in her arms. Moco and Adelinde trailed behind her.
"Master Kaeya? What are you doing here?" Hillie asked, setting down the bundle on the table beside Diluc.
"There's been a bit of an accident. Send a messenger to Mondstadt. Ask for Barbara and someone who can take him back. If they're in Mondstadt, the Honorary Knight will suffice."
Thunder clapped as Hillie nodded and ran off. Movo and Adelinde began to mop up the puddles on the wooden floor.
"It'll be best for you if you change quickly. It should prevent you from catching a cold."
"Such a caring older brother," Kaeya smirked. "However, I'm afraid if I stand up, I might not be able to walk."
"Then just take the blanket."
As Kaeya settled back into the blanket Diluc handed him, the room went silent. A clock ticked, and every so often thunder would sound in the distance. Diluc laced his fingers together and rested his chin on them.
"I'm not your brother," Diluc muttered.
"What was that, Diluc?"
"I said, I'm not your brother. Don't call me that."
"Oh, but you are. Despite your bitter feelings, despite how much you don't want to admit it— he was my father too."
He stayed silent.
"What, is it that hard for you to admit?"
"...You watched. You stood there and watched."
"What was I meant to do, Diluc? What did you want me to do? Did you want me to save him? It was his choice."
"You watched him die in my arms. And you said nothing. You said nothing as they told us to keep it silent. You don't deserve to call him Father."
"Diluc—"
"Maybe it would have been better if you died in his place."
Thunder clapped, leaving both men silent.
"...What?"
"You should have died. And I hope you do."
He regretted his words almost immediately. But Kaeya, after a moment, simply smiled somewhat sadly.
"I hope we both do."
The rain became heavier as the silence dragged on. Finally, Kaeya spoke. The man’s usually calm and smug voiced cracked with emotion.
“Do you think you’re the only one who was affected by Father’s death? Do you really think you’re that alone?”
“When I needed somebody, anybody… you weren’t there. You weren’t there for me. So yes, I do.”
“But I’m here now, aren’t I?”
The wind crashed into the building, carrying heavier and heavier rain with it.
“You don’t have to be alone, Diluc. You choose to be,” Kaeya said, moving to stand up.
“I choose to be because I’m not dependent on social interaction to survive.”
“…You blame yourself, don’t you?” Kaeya asked, standing up. He winced as he avoided putting weight on his most likely fractured ankle. He walked over to where Diluc sat, now slumped against the back of the chair. “You blame yourself for his death.”
“If I was just strong enough—“
“You were, Diluc. You were the Cavalry Captain, and at such a young age too. What he did isn’t your fault. None of it is. However, the people you’ve pushed away…”
“If I was just strong enough, he’d still be here.” Diluc, voice laced carefully with concealed emotion, shoved Kaeya away, standing up to walk to the middle of the room. He held his arms close to himself as Kaeya stumbled and tried to keep his balance. The captain, after a moment, limped over to him.
Was he… was Diluc crying? He rested his face in his gloved hands, hoping to conceal the fact. But there wasn’t any fooling Kaeya. He knew him too well. He knew when his brother was crying. Kaeya moved Diluc’s hands from his face gently. He was still soaked from the rain.
“I’m sorry,” Diluc whispered. “I’m sorry.”
Kaeya held his brother’s wrists. Until, he pulled the shorter man into a hug.
This surprised Diluc. It was certainly the last thing he was expecting. But he melted into it. He cried even harder. Why did he trust Kaeya this much? It didn’t matter. He rested his face on his shoulder. The captain was crying as well. Although, it was certainly less messy than Diluc.
“You don’t have to be strong for everyone, you know?” Kaeya whispered. “It’s alright to break sometimes.”
Diluc didn’t respond for a moment. He let the rain drone on instead of speaking. He must have stood there crying for a long time, because by the time he was nearly done, Hillie stepped into the room.
“Master Diluc, Barbara and the Honorary Knight have arrived. Shall I… ah, are you… busy?”
“Let them in, Hillie,” Kaeya muttered. “It’s about time I leave, anyway.”
Hillie bowed and rushed to let in the traveler and deaconess. And Paimon, whatever she was.
“Thank you,” Diluc said quietly.
“For what?”
“For… you know.”
“The hug? Was it really that helpful? My, you must still really like me.” Kaeya teased, pulling Diluc away at arm’s length. Diluc reached up and kneed him in the stomach, sending him reeling back onto the couch.
“Does that answer you?”
“…Yes,” he wheezed. “Yes it does.”
Diluc grunted, although it was less with contempt and anger and more with amusement. He still wasn’t the best at emoting, sure, but he was making progress.
“Make your way to Mondstadt safely, Kaeya.” Diluc prepared to leave him to the capable hands of Barbara and the Honorary Knight.
“Next time you bartend at Angel’s Share, can I have a free bottle?”
“…No.”
With that, Diluc left the room, leaving Kaeya with a small smile.