Chapter Text
Kaeya let out a low whistle.
Diluc’s claymore and Jean’s sword had connected at exactly the same time, causing a shockwave around them.
A couple of the knights-in-training next to Kaeya had shrunk away behind him, peering out from behind him with wide eyes as a group of about fifteen knights watched Jean and Diluc spar.
Like most of the training knights already knew, Jean was absolutely relentless when it came to bettering her training, asking to spar with Diluc multiple times a week. Most of them valued that drive, but there were a small handful of trainees that were embittered by her tenacity, rolling their eyes as they were forced to watch another duel between Jean and Captain Diluc.
After a few seemingly close spars, Grandmaster Varka had decided to order Diluc to spar with Jean in front of the other knights-in-training to buff their battle skills. To Diluc, this was simply a way to step up his game just a little bit further. Any improvement was worth it. To Jean, it was a means of redemption.
After a sharp shink, Jean and Diluc’s swords ripped off each other, and Kaeya smirked, gesturing to his friends to watch him before making a finger gun with his hand, mouthing a “pew” before their swords slammed into each other again. Kaeya’s friends snickered.
“Man, how many of these spars have you seen?” One of them asked, leaning forward on the railing.
Kaeya hummed, shrugging languidly.
“Probably eight-hundred at this point. They’re non-stop.”
“No kidding. Doesn’t she sometimes come home with you and Diluc because she stays out to spar so late?”
Kaeya sighed, tossing his head back. “Yep. She practically lives with us.”
Another boy snickered. “I mean, I’m not sure why you’re complaining, Kaeya. Jean’s cute. I’d kill to have a cute girl like her stay around all the time.
“Yeah, but good luck getting any kind of flirting done with her. Believe me, I’ve tried.” Kaeya explained, placing his hand on his chest. “She focuses on knight training so much she really doesn’t have any time for romance--”
“--Which is good, because that leaves Diluc free for the taking.”
One of the female knights-in-training came up beside Kaeya, turning her head toward the rest of the boys.
Kaeya rolled his eyes dramatically.
“Oh, Beth, you wound me. I’m much more charming than my brother,” he cooed, gently placing his finger under her chin before she jerked away.
“Yeah, but you’re also not Cavalry Captain, Kaeya.” She teased, letting Kaeya mess with the ends of her ponytail idly. “And you don’t have a vision.”
Kaeya scoffed, feigning offense.
“You don’t need a vision to be a good knight, Beth--”
“No, but it helps.” She finished, before her and the other knights heard a heavy thunk and all snapped their heads to the middle of the ring.
In less than a second, Diluc had managed to knock Jean on her back, and he slammed the tip of his claymore down into the ground next to her, breathing heavily before she gingerly sat up.
Grandmaster Varka clapped, and then the other knights-in-training responded as such, Kaeya sniffing an amused hmph through his nose before muttering gleefully, “As expected, dear brother.”
Another female knight came up behind Bethany and grabbed her shoulders, sighed dreamily before placing her head on her shoulder.
“I think I’m a pyromaniac~” she cooed, Bethany sighing as well.
“Not you too, Annalee!” Kaeya called, whipping his head around before gasping again.
“Buzz off, Kaeya!” She called back, sticking out her tongue.
A couple of Kaeya’s friends snickered, then shifted to attention when Diluc bent over to help Jean up, prepping for him to give them further orders.
“You okay?” Diluc asked Jean through heavy breaths, cracking a smile, who returned it and the heavy breathing before letting out a small laugh.
“Yeah, I’m alright, you just knocked the wind out of me.”
Diluc snorted.
“Nice joke, Dandelion.” He complimented, handing Jean her sword back.
Grandmaster Varka nodded in approval and then clapped his hands together.
“Alright knights, dismissed! Enjoy your day off tomorrow, because we’re coming back the day after harder than today.”
After all the knights gave a unified “sir!” they all dispersed, some immediately heading home, others sitting and chatting, some flocking to other friend groups. Diluc headed back over to grandmaster Varka after giving another diplomatic wave to Jean, then Kaeya came up behind her, slowly clapping.
“Nice work, Jeanie.” He praised, slinging an arm around her.
“Thanks, but I still haven’t beaten sir Diluc yet.”
“Ahh, you’ll get there soon enough.” He comforted, patting her shoulder. He wanted to tell her ‘good luck ever getting there,’ but with Jean’s determination, he couldn’t be sure. Maybe someday she would surpass Diluc. She was well on her way to at least being on par with his battle tactics, and just that was impressive enough.
Jean glanced over at Diluc and couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy when a few of the female knights crowded around him, congratulating him on his win. Kaeya caught on to her longingly staring and sighed.
“It’s almost annoying how popular he is, isn’t it.”
Jean, who hadn’t noticed she was staring, snapped out of her daze and shook her head with a small smile.
“I mean, he's the captain of the cavalry, of course he’s popular.”
“Uh huh, I bet that’s it.” He teased, patting her shoulder. “By the way, dad said you’re welcome to come have dinner with us tonight. His treat.”
Jean beamed.
“Oh, wow! That sure is nice of him.” She said, dusting off her pants.
“He likes you.” Kaeya responded, placing his hands on his hips. “He likes any hard worker, but part of me thinks he might have wanted a daughter--” Kaeya noticed Diluc walking in their direction and raised his voice, “--instead of that ol’ numbnut.”
“Ha, ha, very funny.” Diluc replied flatly once he was in their vicinity, smirking before yanking Kaeya’s long tuft of hair, who yelped and sent a good-natured punch to his shoulder.
Jean giggled and covered her mouth, trying to hide the bashful smile that often found itself creeping up when she was in both of the Ragnvindr boys.
Once Diluc and Kaeya had finished their brotherly tumble, he trio set off for the mansion close by the winery, entertained by Kaeya’s ramblings along the way. By the time they’d finished dinner and received their dedicated doting from Master Crepus, the crystalflies from the winery were high in the vines, lazily drifting along, leaving trails of sparkles behind them.
Once Kaeya said goodnight to Jean and retired to his room, Crepus, as the head of the household, saw it necessary to have Jean escorted home. Although she’d told the Ragnvindrs endless times that she would be fine on her own, Crepus never saw to it that she went home alone. That particular night, Diluc was deemed in charge of her safety.
After they were out of earshot from the mansion, Diluc’s eyes scanned the horizon, and the two of them walked in silence for a while. Jean kept her eyes to the ground, almost too nervous to look up at him. With Kaeya in their company, it was easy to relax, but being alone with Diluc was much more daunting, even if he’d never been anything but kind to her.
“You’re really improving,” Diluc began, offering Jean a small token of conversation with a smile.
Jean looked up and shrugged bashfully.
“I’m working really hard, sir.”
“I can tell. Your reflexes are really coming along well. Before you know it you’ll be up there with me.” Diluc chirped, hoping to melt the nervous atmosphere. Jean nodded emphatically, stopping once they both reached the Gunnhildr household.
“Thank you, sir, for escorting me home.” Jean murmured, standing in her doorway. Diluc nodded respectfully and gave her a loose salute.
“My pleasure, miss Gunnhildr.”
Before Diluc could do more than take a second breath, Jean swallowed and immediately shot forward, giving him the smallest peck on the lips before yanking open the door and immediately closing it behind her.
Stunned, Diluc froze, hardly even blinking as his brain tried to comprehend what had just happened… Had that just happened? After a few spare seconds, Diluc finally released his held breath and swallowed tightly, shifting uncomfortably before turning, his eyes still drawn to the house before heading back to the mansion, his face burning the entire way back.