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The first bouquet arrived on a Tuesday morning, when Diluc was discussing the recent developments on the winery’s partnerships with Elzer.
“Pardon my intrusion, Master Diluc. A bouquet just arrived for you.”
“Mn, please place it in a vase,” Diluc says, not looking up from the contract on his desk. “From whom did it come from?”
“From the Knights of Favonius, sir.”
The master of the Dawn Winery stills before shooting a disdainful look at the bouquet innocently sitting in Adelinde’s hands. His frown turns a touch inquisitive at the sight of white clovers.
Clovers are good for the soil, Diluc’s mind supplies, already thinking of where to best plant the flowers for optimal growth and additional agricultural benefits.
Diluc resolutely ignores that small part of his mind that whispers think of me.
“Leave it by the entrance, Adelinde. I’ll take care of the bouquet later.”
“Yes. Master Diluc.”
As Adelinde leaves the room, Diluc wonders if he should send a thank you note before dismissing the idea in favor of returning to his contracts.
—-------------------
The second bouquet is delivered to Angel’s Share, an hour after Diluc takes over the night shift.
Patton comes into the tavern, a perplexed look on his face as he seeks out the owner. Diluc merely raises an eyebrow at the handful of irises presented to him.
“They’re for you, sir,” Patton explains, unhelpfully shrugging his shoulders. “The adventurer who dropped it off said that the order was for here.”
Diluc gently sets aside the glass he was cleaning, before taking the bouquet. He inspects it for a few moments, noting the fresh state of the flowers. Diluc sets the entire bouquet to one side of the counter, where it wouldn’t hinder a night of bartending.
The tavern owner draws a handful of mora and passes it to Patton.
“Thank you, Patton. Please hand these to the adventurer as a tip. You may return to your post after.”
“Alright, Master Diluc.”
As Diluc resumes his bartending duties, his eyes occasionally stray to the bouquet.
Good for enhancing flavor and color, the businessman in him thinks. If handled correctly, it could work as a limited offer.
A smaller voice pipes up in his mind, faith and trust.
—----------------------------
Diluc finds the third bouquet along the route he takes when he patrols Mondstadt. It sits at the exact spot Diluc likes to stand in when he surveys the entirety of the city.
He scowls at the flowers – red carnations, his mind notes – and snatches it up aggressively. A note waves in the wind, attached to the string holding the bouquet together.
For Mondstadt’s Darknight Hero, it reads; the looping script familiar to the redhead.
The scowl on Diluc’s masked face deepens and he contemplates just leaving the flowers where they are.
As he moves to turn away though, a twinge in his right ankle has him pausing. While the injury – if he could even call it – wasn’t
Carnations can reduce swelling, he recalls, having learned that piece of information from a kind grandmother in Sumeru who had helped him take care of a nasty sprain.
The Darknight Hero clicks his tongue and grudgingly tucks the bouquet under his arm.
It is only when he settles into his bed at the Dawn Winery that his mind torments him with the meaning of the flowers —
You fascinate me.
With a groan, Diluc tugs his blanket over his head and wills himself to sleep.
—---------
The fourth bouquet – a cluster of pink camellias – is repurposed into a salve to help deal with accidental burns from using his vision.
Longing for you, supplies the small voice.
—--------
The gardenias from the fifth bouquet are processed into dyes which Adelinde uses for the old curtains whose colors have faded.
Later, while having his tea in front of the fireplace, Diluc admits to himself that the bright color suits the interior of the winery, making it seem warmer and more homey.
As Diluc watches the freshly-dyed curtains sway in the gentle wind, he waits for the meaning of the flower to come to him.
And the little voice gleefully whispers, s ecret love.
—--------
As Diluc steps into Mondstadt, Flora immediately waves him over and hands him a bouquet.
“A gift from an admirer,” she says, a knowing glint in her eyes. Diluc politely thanks her before leaving for his tavern.
That night, amidst the rush of customers and clinking of glasses, Diluc finds his eyes straying to his newest bouquet.
Pink Astilbes and a single Calla Lily in the middle.
I will be waiting for you, the voice in his head whispers reverently.
—--------------------
When Diluc steps into the room, he notices the potent smell of roses before his eyes could even land on the flowers.
After ruby eyes make contact with the flowers, Diluc shifts his gaze to the room’s other occupant who stares back unabashedly.
The Cavalry Captain wordlessly picks up the large bouquet from his work desk and presents it to Diluc. And in that short span of time it took for Kaeya to extend the flowers to him, Diluc sees a side to Kaeya that he hopes no one else has seen before. A soft, almost vulnerable side that reminds Diluc of afternoons hidden amongst the grapevines, two heads leaning towards each other and whispers of dreams and promises shared between the two.
When Diluc reaches out to receive the flowers, that vulnerability in that lone eye turns into palpable relief. Unbridled happiness blooms on Kaeya’s face, and the tiny voice in Diluc’s head sings .
Love, love, love, it says. I love you. I love you. I love you.
Diluc cradles the bouquet in his arms, gazing at the vermillion flowers with a gentleness he didn’t think he was capable of anymore. But the warmth in his chest is hard to ignore and Diluc feels his lips turning up into a small smile.
A soft, besotted sigh draws Diluc’s gaze back to Kaeya, and the redhead feels a blush climb to his cheeks at the smitten look Kaeya directs at him.
Elegant fingers deftly pluck a rose from the ensemble. Kaeya pauses briefly, giving Diluc the chance to pull away. At the lack of resistance from the older man however, Kaeya brings up the blossom, tenderly slotting it behind Diluc’s ear.
The Cavalry Captain gazes at Diluc, a satisfied smirk forming on his lips.
“As I thought, even the most beautiful of flowers pale in comparison to Master Diluc,” the bluenette says softly.
Diluc valiantly ignores the heat in his cheeks, acutely aware of the tingling left behind in places Kaeya’s fingers brushed against.
The wine tycoon collects himself with a slow inhale.
“Hmph, nonsense.”
“Haha, you only say that because you can’t see yourself right now, Diluc!”
Diluc rolls his eyes, but a smile returns to his lips. The bright grin on Kaeya’s face makes Diluc’s fingers twitch with the urge to do something, and the winery owner allows himself to indulge, just this once.
“Then, I could say the same about you, Sir Kaeya.”
Kaeya’s snickers come to a halt, his entire body stilling at the feeling of gloved hands brushing against his hair. Kaeya feels the soft brush of a petal against the shell of his ear before a light, barely noticeable weight settles behind it.
“Beautiful,” Diluc whispers, and it takes Kaeya’s breath away.
And, at that moment, everything else ceases to exist for Kaeya. His entire being focuses on the expression on Diluc’s face; full of love and warmth and the memory of days spent running through the fields hand-in-hand with this very man —
Neither of them knows who leaned in first, but the kiss they share tastes of happiness.