Chapter Text
Diluc walked along the road, looking at the countryside during sunset was possibly his favorite part of working shifts at the bar. He knew every fast route and their scenery, but by far this one was his favorite. He of course always made sure to plot extra time for if something the morning dew still hanging on a leaf just so glimmered in the twilight, outshining all the stars and captivating him. So he was a little bit strange, finding beauty in droplets of moisture, but it was nice, peaceful even. It just so happens that that morning dew was positioned just so, and he so he stopped and looked at it gently, soaking in its beauty, amazed at how simple yet elegant it was. Suddenly, he heard a little rustle in the bushes, much bigger than any animal usually was. He reached for the picker knife he always tucked in his boot, just to be cautious as the rustling continued. In what seemed like an instant, a tall blonde figure with a peculiar marking made its way out of the bushes. Correction. A very handsome, tall blonde figure with a peculiar masking. He started to pull out the knife when he heard a chuckle. His breath hitched ever so slightly
“Oh no, it’s okay, I mean no harm, I came to simply look at the scenery, sorry for disturbing.”
The blonde’s voice was quite alluring, not quite low, more, velvety. He put the pocket knife down back in his boot, though staying on guard in case it was a ploy.
“So, you come from the bushes, extremely sneakily, and you then say you mean no harm?”
He heard that little chuckle again, the mysterious blonde pushing moving their hair a bit.
“I’m sorry for being sneaky, it was not my intention, honest. I just didn’t want to startle you.”
“Isn’t it less startling to walk up on the path?”
“Yes, that is true now that I think of it, my bad. I’m sorry, please feel free to go back to enjoying the scenery, I should probably take my leave”
“But isn’t looking what you came here for? Why leave now?”
The mysterious man gave a little chuckle before saying
“Oh? Do you want me to stay?”
Diluc felt himself going red, face heating up at the comment for unknown reasons
“No, it’s just, well, you see, I mean, well-“
“No no it’s okay, I’m just teasing you. Now that you mention it, might as well. Mind if I join you then?”
“I mean sure. I have some time to spare.”
“Oh? Urgent matters?”
“Work, over in Mondstat”
“Ah”
The man let out, before quieting down, taking in the lovely view before him
A couple minutes had passed, as his better conscience told him, though it felt like hours Diluc. He finally broke the silence, asking a simple question
“Hey, how come I’ve never seen you around before?”
“Oh, I’m not from around here, I travel a lot, Mondstat is where I currently reside though, so I’m not sure”
“Do you live in the city?”
“No, more countryside, closer to stormterror’s layer.”
“Really?”
“Mhm. Ever since the storms around there cleared up I’ve been able to really look at it, it’s quite beautiful.”
“So, how come I’ve run into you all the way out here?”
“As I said, I travel. I’ve been exploring Mondstat a bit more, I guess.”
“Makes sense. And while I hate to say it, but I really should get going.”
“Ah of course, I wouldn’t want to cause you tardiness. Oh but before you go, I have something for you.”
“Oh? But this was a meeting by chance?”
“Yes, I was originally taking it with me, but it will fare you better. It’s a flower from Stormterror’s layer, originating from Khanre’ah. It never wilts when picked, and can be replanted easily, just as you would plant a new flower, I thought it looked nice, but I want for you to have it.”
“Oh thank you, but um, why?”
“It matches your hair I noticed!”
The mysterious person said with a bright gleam, possibly able to melt the freezing tips of Dragonspine.
“Thank you.”
Diluc said, flush overtaking his face
“I’ll replant it when I get home”
He probably sounded like some schoolgirl from a fantasy novel right now, possibly looking like one too. However he didn’t really register it, giddiness overtaking him as he took the flower, flush only growing redder as their fingers brushed when it was handed over.
“Hehe, your face matches your hair!”
The blonde said, causing it to only prove his statement more
“Shut up.”
He mumbled, causing one of those damn chuckles that made his heart flutter.
“Well I should really be off, and I believe you should be too, have a nice night though!”
He waved with a cheerful little smile as he headed off back into the bushes, and only then did Diluc realize
He never caught the blonde’s name
—-
Later that night, the frequents at the tavern noticed that something was different with Diluc, but nobody said a thing, all silently agreeing that it was better left unsaid. Because as the bartender made drinks, people noticed a certain red flower
A certain red flower that almost distracted from a goofy little grin on that man’s face