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“My prince-”
“Close the door, if you will.”
“Yes, my prince.”
Dainsleif shut the ornate oak door to Kaeya’s office and turned to face him, relief washing over him at the sight of his prince alive.
“You know, you don’t have to call me such a thing. Our home is gone, I have no castle nor citizen to rule,” Kaeya sighed and smiled sadly at the man before him.
“I am aware, but as a royal guard I still have a prince to protect.”
Kaeya just sighed again.
“Dain, come here.”
Dainsleif made his way to Kaeya’s side, holding back a shocked noise when Kaeya slumped against him, still in his chair, and wrapped his arms around the bough keeper. It took everything in him to not cry as he carefully held Kaeya close to him, one hand carding through his royal blue hair.
“My prince, I am grateful to see you in good health,” Dainsleif choked out.
“I’ve missed you,” Kaeya breathed, gripping his guard’s coat. He breathed in the lingering scent of ley lines on him and he felt tears prick at his eyes. Kaeya pulled away from the embrace and looked up at his companion. His fingers felt as though they were made of lead as he took off his eyepatch, bearing the mark of his royal lineage to the man before him.
Dainsleif reached out to cup the right side of Kaeya’s face and brushed away a tear as mismatched eyes bore into him.
The pair held each other’s gaze for a moment before Dainsleif sank to his knees before Kaeya, gently holding the man’s face in his palms.
“You’re beautiful,” Dainsleif whispered, brushing away tears as Kaeya had started to openly cry. Dainsleif began to cry with him, tears that had been held back for half a millennia finally found their way to the surface and bubbled over.
“Dain… Dain… Is our home truly…?” Kaeya trailed off, silently hoping for an answer different from what he expected.
“Yes, my prince,” Dainsleif gave him a look that spoke of an eon of suffering. “It is gone.”
Kaeya covered his mouth to prevent a wail from escaping him. He had expected it to be true, yet reality hurt no less. He crumpled forward, clinging to his last remaining guard for dear life as sobs wracked through his form.
Dainsleif held him tight to his chest, pulling his prince off of the chair and onto the floor in his lap.
The only two to escape divine damnation clung to each other, mourning a land and a life that could never be returned.
“You’re all I have left,” Dainsleif breathed out, not missing the way Kaeya squeezed him in response.
“What do we do now?” Kaeya whispered into the fabric of his coat.
“You should stay, you are happy here. There is a home and a life for you here,” Dainsleif pulled away to look Kaeya in the eyes, “you have people to protect, you have family here, y-”
“I have no family here. Not anymore.”
“I see. The ley lines, they have kept watch over you. It appears they might be wrong. Forgive me, my prince.”
“Dain, what about you? What will you do?”
“I have to punish them, I have to right their wrongs.”
Kaeya leaned forward and held Dainsleif’s face in his palms. “No, no you don’t. You musn’t hold the weight of Teyvat on your shoulders. It is too much, even for you. Please, please stay here with me.”
For the first time in 500 years, Dainsleif was rendered speechless. The last time, ironically, was by the crown prince himself when they were both far too young.
“Mama! Mama! Please let me stay with Dain! Please let me stay!” A much younger Kaeya had cried out, reaching for a much younger Dainsleif.
But they were here, finally reunited.
“Yes, my prince. I shall stay with you.”