Chapter Text
It was nothing short of a miracle to be traveling aboard a magnificent dragon, being able to watch as the world flew by below you. Finally being able to see the bigger picture you fit into.
But for all the magnificence, Diluc found it quite easy to ignore the sights and focus on more important issues. After all, it wasn’t his first time riding the dragon, like it was for Kaeya, Albedo, and Razor.
He’d clung onto Dvalin’s scales the first time around, watching in awe as the harsh winds settled down, revealing the vast world below him. Now he barely spared the scenery a glance, mind solely focused on the events leading to the present.
Diluc wasn’t sure what to think when Kaeya didn’t show up to the tavern last night as he usually did. Kaeya knew it bugged the hell out of Diluc, to show up just before the tavern closed and force him to stay longer than he would have liked.
Regardless of how… shaky his relationship was with the man, Diluc wasn’t going to shut the doors on him. And no, that had nothing to do with the fact that Charles always threw him a glare whenever he so much as insinuated that Kaeya leave.
He’d gotten so used to Kaeya’s unwanted presence that he’d begun to expect it, even look forward to it, though he’d never admit that to him. The man hated Diluc enough to seek him out and taunt him endlessly, reminding him of the mistakes he’d made in the past.
And while he didn’t appreciate that, he took solace in the fact that his brother was still around, that he hadn’t left when his only family rejected him.
So when Kaeya didn’t show up last night, Diluc instantly felt like something was wrong. But in the end, he decided it wasn’t any of his business. Kaeya was probably busy and wouldn’t take kindly to his estranged brother seeking him out.
He closed up the tavern at the usual time, trudging back home in a heavy silence, vaguely wondering about his brother. He was so lost in thought, he hadn’t realized he was home until he nearly crashed into the front door. As it was, the only thing that had stopped him from doing so was the distinct sound of crumpled paper.
Glancing down, he frowned as he lifted his foot before reaching down to pick up the piece of paper he’d stepped on.
Written on it was a single sentence that instantly sent chills down Diluc’s spine.
The last of your family seeks out the deserted islands. Make haste.
~ Dodo-King
Thinking back on it, Diluc felt that he shouldn’t have reacted so adversely to the cryptic note. After all, it was worded amiably enough. The note hadn’t said Kaeya was in any danger. Only that he was seeking something out and that Diluc should make haste. Indicating that he only needed to follow Kaeya to these islands for whatever reason.
Something about the phrase ‘the last of your family’ struck him however, and all he could think about was the fact that Kaeya was the last of his family. Meaning if anything happened to him, Diluc would truly be alone.
And so, at the time alarmed by the words, Diluc began his search for Kaeya. His first instinct was to look in Jean’s office. The Acting Grandmaster had gone to deal with something or other, he had no idea what. He had a feeling it had something to do with the dragon people had spotted in the sky a couple days ago but now was not the time to be thinking of that.
Seeing that the office was empty, Diluc wracked his brain for where Kaeya could be. He urged himself to think as he scoured the whole of Mond in mere minutes. He eventually found the Captain standing near the statue of Barbatos in front of the Cathedral. He was speaking to a familiar green clad bard. Venti.
“Oh? Master Diluc? What a surprise~”
Kaeya was indeed looking for deserted islands and strangely enough knew exactly who to go to for them. Diluc had shot a look at Venti, wondering if this was perhaps a scheme of his. In the end, the bard merely smiled as he led the way to Dvalin, agreeing to take them to these islands.
Now they were here, soaring above the islands, each of them no doubt wondering what the heck they were doing here. Diluc was only here for Kaeya and every time he asked the man what he came here for, he’d reply with the same cryptic smile.
Diluc wasn’t going to press if he didn’t want to tell but-
“Wha- Razor, what are you doing?!”
Kaeya’s shocked exclamation brought Diluc back to the present. He looked up, eyes widening when he saw what was happening.
Razor was standing on the dragon’s back, somehow managing to keep his balance. At Kaeya’s incredulous question, Razor merely pointed down at the islands, crimson eyes narrowing.
“I sense something.” He said cryptically.
And without another word, he leapt off the dragon’s back, rapidly descending to the surface. The remaining three hesitated for all of a second, before pushing their shock to the back of their minds, leaping off the dragon as well.
Diluc deployed his wind glider, squinting as he descended to the surface below. It had only been a second but they couldn’t be sure where Razor had landed. In the confusion, the three of them began calling out different directions, eventually converging onto one island, knowing it was safer to stick together.
Once Diluc’s feet touched the ground, he turned in a circle, letting his eyes travel across the archipelago. Glancing up briefly, he cast a sheepish look at Dvalin who had descended slightly, hovering a little away from them.
The dragon didn’t say a word but Diluc could tell a resigned stare when he saw one. Dvalin inclined his head as if to say good luck, before flapping his great wings and heading back the way they came.
Sighing heavily once Dvalin left, he turned to Kaeya and Albedo.
“Seeing as you two are down here with me…” He sighed. “That definitely wasn’t my imagination.”
“No.” Albedo agreed, shaking his head. “Razor did indeed jump off the dragon’s back. You two didn’t happen to see where he went, did you?”
“I was too shocked to make sense of it.” Kaeya said. “He can’t be far though.”
“We should try searching the surrounding islands. I think he jumped off when we were around… there.” Diluc said, pointing in the vague location they’d been in on Dvalin’s back. “Come on.”
“Hold on.” Kaeya said, deep in thought. “I’ve been in situations like this before. I think it’s best to stay put and he’ll come looking for us. Razor’s a smart kid. I’m sure he probably saw us jump after him. He probably saw us land as well. In time, he’ll come find us when he’s done checking out whatever caught his attention.”
“Are you sure?” Diluc asked, frowning as he crossed his arms. “He looked awfully focused on whatever he saw. I doubt he even knows we followed after him. I think we should look for him ourselves.”
“Hold on . Shouldn’t we at least wait a bit first? I told you I’ve been in situations like this before. More often than not, it’s easier for one person to spot a crowd than it is the other way around. If we start moving around, poor Razor won’t be able to find us. Albedo, you agree with me, don’t you? Albedo?”
A beat and then Kaeya glanced over to where Albedo was.
Albedo was no longer there.
Kaeya and Diluc shared a glance, blinking in confusion. Diluc tore his gaze away, clicking his tongue in annoyance. Arms crossed and eyes glaring, he spoke.
“Well, what do you suppose we do now?”
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For a time, they ran around the small island, calling Albedo’s name and searching for him in hopes that he had probably just wandered off. But soon enough, they caught sight of the alchemist, using his Solar Isotoma to elevate himself and glide across the ocean.
He was already halfway to the neighboring island when they saw him. Calling out to him proved fruitless as well. Albedo merely glanced back with a barely veiled smirk and wave.
Diluc sighed in irritation but found that he didn’t really blame the alchemist for leaving them there. He imagined anyone would get tired of his and Kaeya’s constant arguing.
Finally, Kaeya agreed that they should get moving and follow after Albedo if they could. Diluc didn’t want to think about it too much but he couldn’t help but wonder if he was suddenly so willing because he didn’t want to be alone with his estranged brother.
With a frustrated glare, Kaeya froze the surface of the water and stepped onto the ice bridge he formed.
“Come on.” He sighed, gesturing for Diluc to follow as he continued walking and freezing.
Diluc didn’t say a word, merely sighed as well before stepping onto the ice with him. Kaeya had already formed a bridge of decent length, working quickly. Diluc had half a mind to tell him to slow down lest he tire himself out but decided to hold his tongue.
It had been some time since the two were alone together and Diluc didn’t like the awkward situation any more than Kaeya did.
But when Diluc caught up to Kaeya, stopping behind him as he formed the next part of the bridge, an alarming crack sounded from beneath them. Eyes wide, he glanced down to see the ice melting and cracking beneath him alarmingly fast.
Kaeya turned to see the chaos and simply made a frustrated noise, grabbing Diluc’s arm and pulling him onto the new, sturdier patch of ice. That began to melt rapidly as well and soon both brothers slipped into the water, steam rising around them.
“I had a feeling something like this would happen.” Kaeya grumbled, swimming back towards the island without sparing Diluc a second glance. “Just my luck being stuck with you .”
Diluc stayed silent, though the words stung. He hadn’t meant to melt the ice but somehow… Cryo and Pyro were just so incompatible. Perhaps it was just their messed up fate.