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The sky beyond the thick brick walls of the Dawn Winery was dark. The night air completely silent as the falling snow muffled every noise. The world seemed to stand still, a scene frozen in time, yet none were awake to enjoy the quiet beauty.
Except for me. But I was not at the window admiring the sparkling snowflakes as they fell upon the glass as I should have been, I was barely even aware that snow had begun to fall. The massive bedroom was filled with only the light of the roaring fire that had filled the hearth, the shadows of the flames dancing erratically on the walls. The crackling of the burning wood tried it’s best to be heard, but it was not enough to drown out my muffled sobs. I had curled myself tightly into a ball on the hardwood floor, the collar of my shirt pressed tightly against my face as I tried my best to suffocate the sharp cries that escaped my mouth.
My knuckles were white as I clenched the fabric, body shaking as I tried with all of my might to become as small as physically possible. Small enough to where the thoughts in my head didn’t matter anymore. Small enough to escape the agonizing inferno that engulfed my chest and had seeped into my very soul.
“It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.” I mumbled like a mantra to myself, going against my desire to keep silent, but unable to bear the anguish that enveloped my body without some sort of release.
I was too consumed by my own suffering to notice the soft creaking of the door as it opened. Nor did I notice the footsteps that hurried to my side on the floor.
“Hey! Are you alright?!” a deep voice broke through my cries and I froze. Slowly, I cracked my eyes open as much as I could stand.
It was difficult to see clearly through the ocean of tears that drowned my vision, but it wasn’t hard to mistake that prominent mane of bright red hair.
“D-Diluc..?” I stuttered, surprised but not quite relieved to be looking directly into his piercing crimson eyes.
I fumbled as I hurried to sit upright and try to pretend that I wasn’t just breaking down completely a moment before. I swiped harshly as my eyes, as if trying to erase myself from his gaze. But just as suddenly, my arms were stopped, held in place by two gloved hands.
“Please, calm down! You’re scratching yourself.” With tears no longer filling my vision, I saw Diluc's concerned expression, his brow furrowed.
I relaxed my arms in his soft grip, but could not bear to meet his eyes. I looked down in shame, my own eyes glued to the dark hardwood floor. I didn’t know what to say, so I settled for biting my lips as I struggled to swallow the lump in my throat.
Diluc sighed, but there was no hint of irritation. He simply wrapped his arms around me and lifted me up, gently carrying me to the nearby, plush velvet sofa. He sat and halfway laid down against the armrest, carefully settling me on top of him. At some point I had mindlessly begun to clench his heavy black coat and buried my face into his chest. I was shaking as new tears threatened to rise, the searing agony of my emotions still ripping through my heart.
I stilled when I felt a gloved hand gently stroke the top of my head. “Breathe, love. I’m right here.” Diluc’s honeyed words broke the dam and I was sobbing once more. His arms only squeezed tighter around me.
He maintained the same tender tone as he continued to hold me through the storm. He shushed my cries and spoke sweet words into my ear. Eventually, the torrential sobs quieted to soft whimpers and my body lay limp against his, exhaustion flowing through my veins.
“What happened, darling?” His question brought fresh tears to my eyes as I thought about it, but I managed to blink them away.
“Today… Was just so much… I’m just so tired... “ I raised my head, looking at the man in front of me with puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks. “I wish you were really here.”
Diluc’s eyes widened at the statement, his body stiffening, but soon softened. When he said nothing, I continued.
“I’m just… I’m just alone… All of the time. A-and I watch you, and I hear your story… And all of the other stories of this world. And I want to be here with you so bad! There’s… Not a place for me out there...”
My head starts to droop again, but Diluc placed a hand underneath my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. “Listen to me. I know things are hard, and I can’t promise you that it will be easy, though I wish that I could. But you can keep fighting. You are strong, and someday you will find your place in your world. And no matter what happens, I’ll always be right here besides you.”
A choked sob rose up and escaped from my mouth. Once he released my chin, I dove right back into his chest.
“Can… Can I stay here? Just for a bit longer.” My words muffled against the fabric of his shirt.
I did not see it, but Diluc turned his gaze to the world beyond the windows of the mansion as he continued to stroke my hair. The snow had stopped, leaving the world outside a blanket of white. A fresh canvas to begin once more.
“Of course, darling. Stay as long as you need.”