Chapter Text
The day Diluc Ragnivindr’s entire life collapsed, Mondstadt was unnaturally peaceful. For once, there were no sinister Fatui ploys, Treasure Hoarders had been sulking around after Traveler had raided their camps and Abyss Order seemed to have disappeared from the face of Teyvat, or, Mondstadt at least. It was concerning, very concerning.
On that day Diluc couldn’t shake the feeling of wrongness seeping into the entirety of Dawn Winery. He wasn’t alone in this, he could see it also in Adelinde’s expression. Elzer and Connor were pensive and contemplating.
Diluc had no idea what felt off, only that it drove him mad.
He was agitated to the point that he canceled his scheduled trip to Mondstadt and stayed at the winery, moping around his office. He pondered about this ominous feeling in his gut. Like something was about to happen.
What is it? Was Mondstadt in danger? His spies were quiet about it, a bit too quiet.the last piece of intel was about Fatui operations in Inazuma and Traveler’s role in foiling their plans.
“What is it?” Diluc murmured quietly. “What am I missing?”
He had no idea. He had absolutely no idea. That foreboding wasn’t dispersing, instead it was intensifying tremendously.
Suddenly, Diluc’s legs shook under the weight of a headache that attacked him with vengeance. The pain was immeasurable, like his head was about to be split into two. He sank into the floor, as his legs buckled under the pain.
With pain came clarity.
With clarity came understanding.
With understanding came horror.
Precious memories from his childhood were flooding his mind. One after another, tender moments he shared with Kaeya, they–
“When can I play with Kae?” he whined to his father, when Kaeya got sick again, just after he recovered from another sickness.
“Kaeya’s health is fragile. He can’t run around with you, especially just after he finally recovered from his illness. Be more careful with him” Crepus scolded him.
Diluc pouted.
“But he’s always sick! I want to show him all of my special places! And he insisted he was fine!”
His father signed.
“Diluc… do you want Kaeya to die?” he asked seriously.
Diluc gasped, shocked at his father’s words. That scary notion made him cry.
“No! Of course not! Never!” he squawked tearfully.
Crepus crouched in front of his son.
“You are an older brother now, Diluc. You need to understand his limits. Kaeya can’t go out a lot and he can’t strain himself. You have to observe him and protect him, even from himself. Are we clear?”, he asked seriously.
“Yes! Yes, I’ll protect Kae!”
“We’ll be always together, Kae!”
–disappeared from his mind, from his memory, mercilessly replaced by–
Red-haired child was running around winery giggling and playing by himself, watched over by sharp eyes of Adelinde.
He was an only child and had no friends to play with. He was fine alone.
–lonesome childhood with no close companion. With no Kaeya Alberich in sight. Because there was no Kaeya Alberich growing up beside him.
Because Diluc Ragnivindr grew up alone in big house with a loving father–
“But Kae, you were always so sickly, you could never leave the house, are you sure you want to join the Knights? I don’t want you to drive yourself to death.”
Kaeya chuckled.
“Yes, I–“
His reality shattered.
He met him on the way to the Winery. Mysterious stranger with darkened skin, flowing long azure hair, the prettiest starry cerulean eye he had ever seen and an alluring smirk on his face.
Diluc’s heart was beating, as his cheeks glowed. He gaped at beautiful stranger.
He recovered quickly. It was unsightly, for a newly appointed Cavalry Captain to behave this way, especially with unknown individuals.
Diluc smiled, as he recited Knights of Favonius Handbook.
“Welcome to Mondstadt, strange yet respectable traveler! Please state your identity and intended destination. The Knights of Favonius are here to ensure your safety."
Smirk on stranger’s face widened.
In blink of an eye he disappeared. Before Diluc could react, he felt the sharp pain on the back of his neck and knew no more.
Only low chuckle welcomed him into the void.
Diluc wheezed, his heart racing.
More memories with his adopted brother, as they were playing, teasing each other mercilessly, taking care of each other, up to the age of 14, were dissipating. His real memories, of spending most of his time alone, be it reading, training or running around the winery, were back.
There was no Kaeya Alberich in these memories.
Kaeya, who was sickly as a child and couldn’t leave the mansion.
Kaeya, who joined Knights of Favonius after Diluc became Cavalry Captain, despite his sickly constitution and actually excelled at it.
Kaeya, who was a fucking traitor.
Kaeya, who fucking planted these fake memories into his mind to become a Knight and destroy Mondstadt from within.
Diluc seethed.
Oh no, no fucking way.
He will kill the bastard.
He sprang to his feet, materializing his claymore. He let go of it quickly, realizing Kaeya is most likely in Mondstadt, nowhere near Dawn Winery. Plotting his evil plans unaware his brainwashing faded away.
He slammed his office door open, making the door-knob-sized dent in the wall. He almost ran into Adelinde, standing at the door.
She looked at him with wide eyes, tears flowing down her face.
“Master Diluc!” she exclaimed.
She was shaken, unsteady on her feet.
Diluc quickly realized she must have been brainwashed too. With whatever Khaenri’an magic Kaeya had used. Thinking about it made his blood boil hotter.
“W-Where are you going, Master Diluc?” she asked alarmed, when he just passed her with clear destination in his mind.
“To kill the traitor” he grunted.
“Master Diluc, wait!” he ignored her cries.
When he reached Mondstadt it was night already. Timmie went home, the guards at the gates were slacking, as inefficient as always. They greeted him as he passed but he payed them no mind.
At this time of the day, Kaeya could be only at one place. Diluc headed to the Angel’s Share.
The tavern was empty, which was surprising. At this hour patrons should be half-drunk and rowdy. Knights drinking away another “success”, Barbatos knows what exactly that entails.
There was only one patron, sitting at the bar, waiting for him.
Kaeya was toying with his half-empty glass of Death After Noon. His gaze was contemplative, his thoughts probably far away from reality.
His eye focused on Diluc when he entered tavern rather loudly, with door slamming into the wall.
A signature smirk graced his lips, as he took a sip from his drink. Diluc’s blood boiled.
Kaeya knew his memories had returned. And he was waiting for him.
“KAEYA!” Diluc roared, instantly materializing his weapon.
Kaeya glanced at him unfazed. He finished his glass with appreciating hum.
“YOU–!” seethed Diluc. He knew he was being provoked.
Kaeya smirked.
“Me?” he pointed at himself.
“YOU… TRAITOR!” Diluc shook from head to toe enraged. His claymore caught on fire, as his Vision glowed.
Kaeya chuckled. He raised his empty glass looking at it in admiration.
“It’s impossible to be a traitor when you are not on the same side from the very beginning” he stated with a smirk, glass slipping from his fingers and shattering on the floor. It echoed in the empty tavern.
At the same time, all hell broke loose. Diluc could hear cries of horror and pain, cackles of triumph and explosions.
Mondstadt was under attack.
Kaeya’s eye gleamed.
“The Abyss is here.”