Chapter Text
The door to Angel’s Share swings open, letting in a gust of cold air and two visitors.
“Master Diluc,” a cheerful voice greets.
The cheerful voice, or rather, Kaeya, swiftly takes a seat on a stool, resting an elbow on the table, his fist supporting his cheek. He waves at Diluc with a deceptively sweet smile. He takes up much of the space on the counter and the stool, his presence exigent - demanding attention.
The other guest is overshadowed by the former, and she takes a seat on the stool next to Kaeya. Her expression is not influenced at all by the cheerful nature of her companion, and the two could not be any more dissimilar to each other. Her arms are crossed, legs crossed, and her chin is raised and turning away from Kaeya. Eula Lawrence is a bit of a frosty one, so this kind of body language is normal. She attracted attention in a different way to Kaeya. While his charisma drew people to him, Eula turned heads because of a family history she was never a part of.
Diluc would like to ignore Kaeya (and by pure association, Eula - sorry, Eula) but the pair of them attract so much attention that it is literally impossible to ignore them.
Giving in to social etiquette, Diluc turns to face them.
“Evening, Kaeya and Eula,” Diluc says, a notebook and pencil ready for their orders, “may I get you started?”
Diluc guesses what they’re going to order. Kaeya’s going to order tonight’s special; Rumplesnuggler - a warm cocktail that consists of peppermint, liquor, hot chocolate, and whipped cream as garnish. Diluc recalls it was always the drink Kaeya had his eye on as a child because of the chocolate. Diluc was not around when Kaeya turned 18, but Charles told him that Rumplesnuggler was what he drank. Commemorating his 18th birthday with his child self’s ideal drink must have been nice.
Eula, on the other hand, usually orders dandelion wine. Even on the coldest of nights, Eula still orders it cold. But lately, she’s been bringing Amber with her, and Amber would push Eula to try other drinks. Amber isn’t here now, so there is nobody stopping her from ordering her usual.
Thinking about the pair further, the duo is strange. While Diluc is not usually bartending, he knows that Eula is a loner at heart and only really comes to drink by her lonesome or with Amber. Kaeya is much more social, bringing about all sorts of people with him. Only on the coldest of nights is he spotted by himself. If Diluc had to guess, Rosaria was his drinking buddy of choice. So what was Eula and Kaeya doing here together?
“Rumplesnuggler,” Kaeya orders, and Eula follows his order with “one glass of dandelion wine.”
Just as expected.
But before Diluc can walk away to get started on the drinks, Kaeya calls his name once more.
“Yes?” Diluc responds, grabbing glasses.
“How do you feel about playing Santa this year?”
Diluc stares at Kaeya. Then at Eula. Then back at Kaeya.
This was not expected.
❅
Kaeya takes a swig of his cocktail, and Eula sips her wine.
“I left the Knights of Favonius years ago. I don’t see how ‘playing Santa’ is my responsibility anymore.”
Kaeya sighs, “Jean is too busy to play Santa. I can’t be Santa, because how would Santa get a tan in the North Pole. Everyone will notice if Amber is missing so she can’t be Santa. Albedo, no offense to him, is too short to play Santa. Lisa might kill me if I ask her to play Santa. Eula was Santa last year,” he looks over at Eula, who gives him withering glare, “and she’s not doing that ever again.”
He puts down his drink, “so, what do you say?”
“No.”
Kaeya rolls his eye, and Eula smirks.
“Come on, Diluc. Old times’ sake?” Kaeya says.
“Old times’ sake? You’ve done this before?” Eula inquires, eyebrows raised in surprise.
“That’s the past,” Diluc mumbles, beginning to scrub empty glasses a bit too thoroughly, “it’s irrelevant now.”
“Oh yes, he’s done this before,” Kaeya intercepts, adorning a playful grin, “picture 17-year-old Diluc donning that famous red coat and hat - and don’t forget the white beard - handing out presents to the young’ins and listening to their wishes.”
Kaeya dramatically presses his hand against his heart, leaning so far backwards Diluc feared he would fall, “warming the hearts of every passerby, child and adult alike. In retrospect, he’s probably the best Santa we’ve ever had.”
Eula is now leaning towards Kaeya, showing much more interest than before. A smile tugged at her lips, and her crossed arms were no longer drawn to her chest, but resting on the table. Diluc notes that the only other time he’s ever seen her show this much interest is when her and Amber are snickering in the far corner of the bar. Amber is the only person he’s ever seen to get Eula comfortable enough around to uncross her arms.
“Though, the moment he was given the thumbs-up to leave his post as Santa Claus,” Kaeya throws Diluc a mischievous grin, “he immediately ran off with Jean. No idea where those two were for the rest of the night.”
Eula’s eyes widen to turn to Diluc, and Kaeya follows suit. Diluc can feel his face burn as he stares down at the glasses he just cleaned. He picks one up and begins scrubbing it.
“You and Jean?” Eula exclaims incredulously.
“That was in the past,” Diluc clarifies uselessly, still not looking at them.
“Not long enough of a past to be forgotten, though,” Kaeya says, turning his head to Eula, “they dated publicly for about a year.”
“Publicly?” Eula repeats, sipping her wine.
“Yep. Publicly. Master Diluc and our Acting Grand Master Jean were actually dating two and a half years in total. I believe the only reason they even revealed their relationship to the rest of us was because Barbara found them at the back of the church, mak-”
“Are you done with this? You’re done with this,” Diluc interrupts, grabbing Kaeya’s half-full glass. He ignores Eula’s laughter which she is badly hiding with one hand.
“Aw, did I make Master Diluc upset?” Kaeya asks, choosing to ignore the loss of his drink, “or perhaps, embarrassed?”
Diluc stays quiet.
“Oh, don’t be like that, Diluc,” Kaeya frowns, “at least entertain your guests. Tell us more about you and Jean. Or maybe I’ll keep talking, since you’re so stubborn.”
“I’d rather a dragon maim me.”
“Or maybe, you’d rather play Santa this year,” Kaeya suggests.
Diluc stares at him.
Bastard.
Diluc gives in.
“Fine. I’ll play Santa this year,” Diluc grumbles.
“Hooray!” Kaeya cheers, “now, I’d like my drink back, please.”
Diluc grabs Kaeya’s Rumplesnuggler and pours it down the sink, earning a frown from Kaeya and the smallest snicker from Eula. He pours cold water into one of his very clean glasses and passes it to Kaeya.
“Drink up. You were here yesterday, too,” Diluc states.
“Worried about me?”
“Not at all.”
Kaeya drinks the glass of water quickly, and Eula finishes up too. They leave, opening the door and letting in another gush of cold wind.
❅
The moment they step outside, Eula mutters a few obscenities as Kaeya opens his palm expectantly. Some snow falls into his outstretched palm, which he quickly shakes off.
“I told you I could get him to cave in,” Kaeya says proudly, “you shouldn’t have doubted my abilities.”
“Shut up,” Eula snaps, handing him twenty mora, “I’ll have vengeance for this.”
“Twenty?” Kaeya looks at the mora, “you only bet ten.”
“I’m paying for Amber, too.”
“Oh, of course you are,” he rolls his eye, beginning to walk back to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“If only Albedo expressed his love by paying off my bets and debts. Amber’s so lucky.”
“What are you talking about.”
Eula stays rooted by the entrance of the tavern - she doesn’t even think she can move. Kaeya turns around to face her. To her agony, she feels her face grow hotter and hotter and Kaeya’s one visible eyebrow raises is realisation.
“You two aren’t dating?”
“No, we are not,” Eula huffs, refusing to meet his eye.
Kaeya pauses, and while they aren’t the closest, she knows he’s exploring every possible response and determining which is the best.
She refuses to give him any chance of responding.
Quickly, she begins moving towards the headquarters, passing Kaeya in only a few strides. Arms crossed and chin raised, Eula’s walk to headquarters takes a third of the time it usually does. Though, it bothers her that she heard a chuckle from Kaeya when she passed him.
❅
“Eula!”
Amber bounces down the stairs to greet her.
“Amber,” Eula acknowledges.
“So,” Amber rubs her hands excitedly, “did we win the bet?”
“No, we didn’t,” Eula answers.
“What? Wait, how?” Amber splutters, “Kaeya actually succeeded in getting Diluc to play Santa this year?”
“Yes, you should’ve seen him,” Eula smiles, “he’s not a total degenerate, surprisingly. He is annoyingly skilled when it comes to dealing with people.”
“You could learn a thing or two from him, huh?” Amber nudges Eula playfully.
“Amber!” Eula scowls.
“What? I’m not wrong, am I?”
Eula does not answer. No; she will not answer.
Amber giggles at Eula’s silence, and links arms.
“Come on, let’s go back inside. It’s too cold out here!” Amber says, dragging Eula into the headquarters.
“Weren’t you going somewhere?” Eula asks, recalling Amber bouncing down the steps.
“Yeah, I was going to go looking for you. But you’re back so...” Amber flashes Eula an endearing smile, “let’s go back inside. The library is really warm.”
“Oh!” Amber says in realisation, “I also need to get some mora to pay Kaeya.”
“I’ve taken care of that.”
Amber stops walking, and looks at Eula in (fake) terror.
“Taken care of the mora or Kaeya?” Amber asks, and leaving Eula no time to clarify, she cries, “oh archons! That’s why Kaeya’s gone! What have you done to him?”
“No, no!” Eula huffs, “I paid your sum already. Besides, I’d have my vengeance on you before I waste my time on that male.”
Amber laughs, opening the door to headquarters.
“I know, I know! But seriously, I’ll pay you back.”
She lets go of Eula’s arm to race to the library, and Eula can’t find it within herself to call Amber back.
❅
By the time Eula is in the library, Amber is already seated by a table and chatting with Lisa. The archons are on Eula’s side, because Lisa excuses herself to go… well, Eula doesn’t really know what the responsibilities of a librarian are, but that’s what Lisa goes to do. Amber pats the seat to her right and Eula sits, crossing her legs, and propping her elbow on the table to lean her cheek on. Amber mimics her pose with a cheeky smile and Eula rolls her eyes.
“You should’ve accompanied Kaeya,” Eula begins, “he verbally slaughtered Diluc in there.”
“Of course he did,” Amber sighs, “Kaeya’s like that. With Diluc in particular, he likes to throw a lot of digs and quips. Diluc’s a lot more sensitive than he looks, so I should’ve known Kaeya would’ve gotten under his skin somehow. It’s one of his talents.”
Amber groans and rubs her forehead, “he bothers me all the time, how could I have betted against him not annoying Diluc?”
Eula pats her back.
“You should’ve been there. Diluc stood absolutely no chance against Kaeya.”
“Why?”
Eula leans towards Amber and Amber scoots her chair much closer to Eula to close the distance. At such a close distance, she can feel Amber’s overwhelming warmth. Eula’s breath is cold as she whispers into Amber’s ear.
“No way!”
They pull apart, and Amber stares at Eula’s grinning face, utterly dumbfounded.
“Diluc? And Jean?”
Eula nods.
Amber shakes her head.
Eula keeps nodding and Amber throws her head back, her hands covering her face.
“Amber,” Eula says, to no response, “Amber.”
“I cannot believe it,” Amber mumbles, “those two? When?”
“When he was still a knight, I presume.”
“How long?”
“A year, publicly.”
Amber finally takes her hands off her face and faces Eula, her expression now confused.
“Publicly?”
“Two and a half years in total. Kaeya said something about them being found out when Barbara walked in on them mak-”
“Stop!” Amber exclaims, gaining a laugh from Eula, “you’ve got to be making this up.”
“Don’t accuse me of lying. I will have vengeance for that,” Eula warns.
“Talking about the Acting Grand Master’s love life, are we?”
Eula nearly jumps out of her skin when she hears that voice. Looking behind her, Lisa stands tall, holding a book. It is upside down.
“Listening in on civilian conversations, are we?” Eula shoots back, meriting a soft elbow from Amber.
“Hey, Lisa,” Amber waves, as if they didn’t just get caught for gossipping.
“Hello, Outrider,” Lisa gives her a warm smile, “back to business, if you’re going to talk about Jean’s love life,” Lisa sits to Eula’s other side, “let me listen in.”
Eula looks at Lisa incredulously and Lisa winks at her.
“Not everything is in the books.”
❅
Kaeya stands under some shade to avoid the falling snow. It was ironic how the moment Eula left, the snow came down harder.
There really was no reason to go to headquarters. Jean is out, and part of him fears Eula might kill him with her icy glares.
There really was no way he was going to be welcomed back into Angel’s Share , either. Diluc is still bartending, and he’s sure coming back so soon might just put him off.
There really was no way he would be able to trek to Dragonspine in this weather. As much as he’d like Albedo’s company, he doubts the snow would allow their meeting.
So, he was stuck.
Well, Kaeya thinks, I’ll just dash for my apartment.
Lonely, but Kaeya figures it’s the kindest place for him to go.
He dusts the little snow on his shoulders, readying himself for the cold journey. He likes to think that he’s accustomed to the cold - cryo vision and all - but the truth is, he favours the warmth. Hot, tropical weather has always been his preference. He prepares himself, and just as he’s about to leave the shelter-
“Kaeya Alberich,” a voice calls out from behind him.
He turns to find the owner of the house. She is much shorter than him, but with that big hat of hers, it doesn’t feel like it. Mona Megistus frowns at Kaeya, and Kaeya notices that her usual clothing has been swapped out for warmer clothes. Her leotard was swapped out with a purple, long-sleeved shirt with golden stars placed randomly throughout the shirt, tucked into long, black pants. On top of that was a thick coat with some white faux fur around the neck. And of course, there was her hat. Just the same as always.
“Mona Megistus. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Kaeya flashes her a smile.
“I should be asking you that. Do I have to remind you who is on my doorstep?”
“Since you’re so curious, I’m just using your doorstep as shelter,” Kaeya pokes at the cover. It’s made of cloth, and is cold and damp to the touch. He should’ve known it would be cold, but the biting chill still shocked him.
“Kaeya, do you want to come inside? Or at least, borrow a coat?” Mona offers, concerned by his surprised reaction.
“No, no,” Kaeya resets his face - back to that charming smile, “I’m used to the cold. Where are you heading in this weather, anyway?”
“Dragonspine. I have some matters to discuss with Albedo,” she answers, “would you like to come? It’s a long trip all by myself, anyways.”
Kaeya ponders for a moment, genuinely considering it.
He shakes his head.
“It’s too cold to go up to Dragonspine.”
“You just remarked you were ‘used to the cold’-”
“Well, the weather is too dangerous for that. If it’s this snowy here, you can only imagine the conditions in Dragonspine,” he deflects, trying to stifle a shiver.
Mona looks at him curiously, “are you sure you don’t want a coat?”
He smiles.
“I’m sure, thanks for the offer.”
Mona observes him, and then the snow that’s been piling up as they conversed. A short conversation, but the snow is falling faster than it was before. She submits, sighing.
“You’re right. It is too cold and dangerous to go there.”
She turns back.
“Kaeya, you should come in. It really is cold out here.”
How many times do I have to tell her?
“I’m fine, thank you, Mona.”
“Okay then, Kaeya. Stay warm.”
She shuts the door on him.
❅
By the time Kaeya is at his apartment door, he has no control over his own hands. They’re shaking uncontrollably, and he just can’t seem to correctly insert the key into the lock. He stabs the key into the lock but he misses, misses, and misses again. Suppressing a shiver, Kaeya has to steady his right hand with his left to get the key in. Twisting and turning the doorknob, he stumbles into the apartment like he’s drunk.
He takes no time to throw wood into the hearth and set it alight. Kaeya collapses next to the fireplace, narrowly avoiding lighting his half-cape aflame. Leaning against the brick hearth, Kaeya just warms up by the fire, closing his eyes and beginning to drift asleep.
❅
Dawn Winery is so pretty at Christmastime.
Father went all out, as usual, and he always got his two sons to help out with the decorations. Kaeya smiles, admiring the tree. Red and gold, with a star on top. Diluc had let him put up the star this year. He climbed onto father’s back and stuck it on, almost falling in the process. Diluc had panicked and shouted when he saw Kaeya losing balance, only to laugh out of relief when father’s balance steadied.
Speaking of Diluc…
Where was he?
Kaeya spins around the room, but to no avail. He isn’t hidden behind the hot hearth, sitting in father’s big chair, not even hiding under the Christmas tree to scare him.
He checks the rest of the ground floor. No dice.
He climbs up the stairs. Kaeya is so small; the stairs are so tall.
Kaeya turns to his left, and the hallway expands far past the limits of reality.
He does not question it. He wants to find his brother.
For a while, only silence echoes in that hallway. But after a while, he can hear whispers. Doors from either side of him whisper in familiar voices.
“...a Pavo Ocellus. Destined for greatness and grandeur…”
“... I might only need three strokes of the pencil to sketch…”
“…is the best…”
“...Kaeya? You can only trust half of what he says... at best…”
Most of the voices are unfamiliar, but he can ascertain Diluc’s voice out of them all. He sounds much older, much deeper, but he doesn’t concern himself with that.
He presses his ear against the door his brother’s voice originated from, and sure enough, those whispers belong to Diluc.
He reaches to his belt and unhooks a large ring of keys (was that always there? Kaeya can’t seem to recall properly) and begins testing them out on the door.
Each and every one.
And then each and every one has been tested.
Kaeya’s eyebrows furrow, and he can feel a lump rise in his throat. He begins to jab a key into the lock - it doesn’t fit, but he doesn’t let that stop him - and twist regardless.
Kaeya does it again with a different key.
And a different key.
And now the voice is fading.
He tries a different key.
The voice is barely audible.
Another key. Please.
The voice is almost gone.
The last key. One more time.
His brother’s voice is gone.
He presses his ear against the door, straining himself to hear something. But instead, nothing. It’s agony to hear nothing.
A bitter chill makes his body shiver, and the young boy sinks to the ground.
❅
Kaeya wakes up.
The fire is out, and he is cold.
Begrudgingly, he stands, grabs the last of the wood and sets it on fire.
Rather than laying by the hearth, Kaeya takes a more refined seat on the couch, crossing his legs and watching the flames flicker.
It takes him a while to notice the frosted tear on his cheek.