Work Text:
“You're zoning out again.”
Your head snaps up at the soft voice, eyes locking with the familiar crimson eyes currently swimming with worry and concern.
You blink a few times, shaking your head a little to clear your head, rolling your tense shoulders. He was right, you were zoning out – quite a lot these last few days, to be honest. It was as if your brain forgot how to function properly as if your energy was being sucked by some unknown force. You often stumbled upon your words, brain freezing up in the middle of your speech and blowing away all of your thoughts, leaving you frozen, not knowing what else to say – or what you were going to previously say.
“I'm alright, really..” you mumble, not knowing how to elaborate, your eyes focusing on the glowing red Vision on the wooden desk in front of you instead. The subtle glow in the dim lighting captured your attention, soothing your disordered mind.
Diluc sighs, shifting in his seat slightly before putting one arm over your shoulders and gently bringing you closer.
“You can tell me what's bothering you, you know. I'll try my best to help you solve what troubles your mind.” He breathes out, gently pressing a kiss to your forehead.
A soft smile plays on your lips as you wrap your hands around his torso – albeit a little awkwardly in this position. You nod your head, humming in confirmation that you indeed heard him and would tell him if anything.
You were sitting in the big chair along with Diluc as he worked, looking over the paperwork and signing off some documents. He didn't mind you clinging to his side while he worked, knowing that his presence made you feel at peace. You reminded him that every chance you got.
Everyone noticed how closed off you got after the incident two weeks ago. How you went from a cheerful individual able to hold a conversation without any issues to your now almost timid self. You clung to your brother, the confidence you once held cracked and slowly withering away with every failed conversation you tried to hold. It always ended up in you stumbling over your words, freezing mid-sentence, or forgetting how to speak. The world felt like it was spinning and the blood in your veins froze, your body bathed in a cold sweat.
It was in those moments that Diluc would put his hand over you, curling you protectively to his side while excusing you both from the conversation, slipping away somewhere private where you would get yourself together back again while being showered with his comforting words.
Frankly, the incident shook everyone involved, but it seemed that you took it worse than others.
The Abyss Order's ambush was unexpected that day and many were injured because of the sheer magnitude of the attack. You amongst others.
First time in years, Diluc had felt cold fear wash over him when the news of your injuries had reached him. Upon vising you and seeing that you recovered just fine, with a few bandages around your head and body and a smile on your face upon seeing him, he assumed things would go back to normal. What he wasn't prepared for was the confused way you'd stumble sometimes, both mentally and physically. It led you to a few breakdowns and when he asked what happened that day during the attack, you'd always reply the same.
“..I.. don't remember.”
He asked a few people that were there, a few knights as well (as much as it pained him to do so) they all said that you along with others went head-on against the Abyss Mages threatening the city. You had been injured by an Abyss Mage, the blow throwing you back a few feet and plummeting to the ground.
Barbara warned him that you might have had a concussion.
But.. even then, that didn't explain your behavior.
“Brother?”
Your voice broke him out of his thoughts.
“Yes? Would you like me to get us dinner?” He looks down on you, already putting his pen down and preparing to stand up.
You hum, standing up from your spot next to him and watching him as he does the same, stretching his back and legs before smiling a cheeky smile. “Could we make something ourselves this time?”
He raises an eyebrow, “Oh? What would you like to make?”
“Dunno! I wouldn't mind anything, as long as we can make it together. Just like when we were kids.” You swing on your heels, hands clasped behind your back, looking at him with pleading eyes.
He rolls his eyes, but the corner of his lips tugs upwards at your childish antics. As long as you were content, he didn't mind where you wanted to cause trouble this time.
He leads the way towards the door, opening it and waiting for you to exit his study first with a playful glint in his eyes. You giggle, running towards the door and down the hall with Diluc hot on your heels, chuckling to himself.
The few of the staff that is still cleaning up after the long day shake their heads slightly with soft smiles on their faces at the Rangvindr siblings, knowing that the kitchen would need to be cleaned again later in the evening.
“What do you think?”
Diluc snorts from his spot behind the counter, “Is this supposed to be our dinner?”
You pout at him, looking at the sad creation before you.
“Well, it certainly is better than nothing!”
“I wouldn't even throw that to the dogs, to be frank.”
You gasped dramatically, throwing a bit of flour at him. “You take that back!”
Rare laughter escaped his lips as he took a small amount of the dough he was rolling up until this point and flicked his wrist in your direction.
You squeaked, ducking under your counter, your hands immediately trying to find whatever was the closest to you and throwing it.
Hearing his yelp, you straightened up from behind the counter, eyes wide and searching.
“Did you just throw a cup at me?!”
“I don't know, I panicked!”
Dulled laughter fills the normally quiet mansion, bringing loving smiles to the faces of the silent workers who resume their work.